Sarasota News Leader

10/18/2013

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Sarasota News Leader October 18, 2013 Page 100 Siesta Seen Forsberg Construction Inc. of Punta Gorda, to pump the water from one to the next. However, Boudreau said this week, staff had learned that it would cost $170,000 to use a diesel pump for that process for three months. "We don't have enough money in the contract to do that," Boudreau pointed out. Even Forsberg's estimate for one month of pumping exceeded the amount in the project's contingency fund, he added. Then staff looked into whether electric pumps could be used, he told me. Florida Power & Light representatives said they could erect a Sarasota County Project Manager Alex temporary pole to provide power on the site Boudreau was a guest at the Oct. 3 Siesta Key for electric pumps, Boudreau said. That would Association meeting. Photo by Rachel Hackney cost about $200 to $300. However, because county Procurement Department received — the electricity usage would be limited, pumps was $4,550,683.28. The difference primarily with a capacity of about 20 horsepower would was attributed to a much higher expense for have to be utilized. the pipeline into the gulf. When I spoke with him Monday, Boudreau "It's got that cloud over it," Boudreau noted was waiting to hear back from Forsberg about of the project as a result of the cost factor. "If the electric pump option. we don't have to spend [money in the continHe also pointed out that those pumps are not common. Therefore, it could be costly to locate and bring them in for the effort — another factor to consider in the cost analysis. "We're trying to think outside the box," he pointed out, in the effort to control the additional expense. Boudreau is well aware of the consternation of county commissioners when they voted in April to award the contract to Forsberg. Although the project estimate was about $1.5 million, Forsberg's bid — the lowest the gency fund], we won't spend it," he said. One way or the other, he added, he hoped the pumping would begin no later than Oct. 21. During a presentation to members of the Siesta Key Association on Oct. 3, Boudreau explained that the pumping would allow sediment to settle out of the water and enable the ultraviolet light from the sun to lower the unhealthful levels of bacteria before the water could be directed into the Gulf of Mexico through the new 3,000-foot pipeline that is part of the project.

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