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A resident of Siesta Key, Patterson has heard island owners of homes and businesses voice concerns about the potential impacts on Siesta's beaches regarding the COE's proposed dredging of Big Pass and the con- struction of three groins on South Lido Key. As presented in several public meetings last year, the COE plan calls for the dredging of more than 1 million cubic yards of sand from Big Pass for the first renourishment of Lido Beach under a 50-year-long project. Subsequent renourishments of Lido would take place every five years, with sand alter- nately coming from New Pass, COE Project Manager Mora has said. The approximate cost of the work is $22 mil- lion, with the federal government to handle about 63 percent of the expense. The rest of the cost would be covered by the city — through county Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenue allocated for beach renourish- ment — and state funding. PUTTING THE COUNTY ON NOTICE In the meantime, a Tampa attorney has noti- fied Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer that he and his firm have been hired by Best Western Plus-Siesta Key to "assist it in legally protecting its interests and in ensuring that the proposed project to renourish Lido Beach does not adversely affect Siesta Key." In the April 17 letter, Donald E. Hemke of Carlton Fields Jordan Burt added, "I under- stand that we may be similarly representing other organizations through SOSS2, Inc., 'Save Our Siesta Sands 2.'" SOSS2 was founded as a nonprofit organiza- tion to oppose the dredging of Big Pass. The letter points out that the ownership of the hotel, located at 6600 S. Tamiami Trail near Siesta Key, "does not oppose renourishment at Lido Key, but insists that any renourishment does not jeopardize Siesta Key in any way and that alternatives to obtaining sand from Big Pass be appropriately explored and used." Hemke asked Harmer to include him on any email or notice list to ensure he receives infor- mation about the Lido Beach project. He also requested that Harmer provide him a point of contact "for coordinating any requests for public records," pursuant to the Public Records Act, "in any way relating to the pro- posal to renourish Lido Key." Maria Bankemper, co-owner and general manager of the Best Western Plus, is the immediate past chairwoman of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. She and her father, Mike Lepore, are directors of SOSS2. % Army Corps of Engineers Project Manager Milan Mora addresses the Sarasota County Coastal Advisory Committee in September 2013. File photo Sarasota News Leader April 25, 2014 Page 59