Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 Page 63 a $4,550,683.28 bid to Forsberg Construction Inc. of Punta Gorda to undertake the stormwater work that is designed to prevent future "No swimming" advisories at Siesta Public Beach because of unhealthful bacterial counts. Mexico through the new pipeline or pumped into the existing ditch that runs across the beach, through which the water would flow into the gulf, he explained. Staff is working on obtaining permits to pump the water through the pipeline, Boudreau added, in the event The innovative 3,000-foot pipeline into the that appears to be the better option. Gulf of Mexico — one of the project's primary elements — has been completed, Boudreau He was hopeful that a combination of the bactold the News Leader. However, high bacterial teria's exposure to sunlight — with less rain counts in rainwater pooled at the site where a this week — and natural evaporation have new one-acre retention pond will be built have produced desirable enough results to enable held up the rest of the work, he pointed out. the contractor to get back to work. Results of water samples collected on Sept. 11 Forsberg Construction did create a number should be back in about 24 hours, he noted. of settling ponds on the site when it began Then, Boudreau continued, staff would work the project, Boudreau pointed out, to allow with the contractor to determine the next sediment to settle out so the water could be allowed to flow through that existing ditch steps. across the beach. However, no one anticipatIf the bacterial counts are low enough, the wa- ed the amount of rainfall the region would see ter either could be pumped into the Gulf of this summer, he added. The Gulf and Bay Club condos tower over the site where clearing was under way in August for the stormwater project. File photo