Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/92622
DEMAND FOR ACTION TOP STORIES County Commission, Siesta organizations asking for answers on costs and phasing for the public beach improvements as soon as possible — Rachel Brown Hackney Adding his frustrations to those voiced just a couple of hours earlier at the monthly Siesta Key Village Association meeting, Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta demanded to know during his board's regular meeting on Nov. 6 why "everybody's frozen in place" on the Siesta Public Beach improvements project. Moreover, the county's chief engineer reported to the County Commission at that meeting in Venice that an open-house meeting on the project scheduled for Nov. 13 on Siesta Key might have to be postponed. Barbetta pointed out that when the board last saw the plans for the improvements, in June, the board had asked staff to move ahead expeditiously with completing the design work and proposing funding options, including use of bond revenue, because construction costs and interest rates were low and jobs were needed. (Full story here) 'A TERRIFIC MILESTONE' With the Siesta Public Beach stormwater project out for bids, county staff feels a water district grant for the work should remain secure — Rachel Brown Hackney While wrangling continues over the timeline for renovations of the Siesta Public Beach, one previously stalled part of the project is moving forward: the construction of the new stormwater system. Just as project engineer Curtis Smith had predicted for members of the Siesta Key Association on Sept. 6, the $1.5 million project went out for bid this month, with all responses requested by 2:30 p.m. Nov. 28. "It's a terrific milestone to reach," he told The Sarasota News Leader on Nov. 5. The Sarasota County eProcure website also has set a mandatory pre-bid meeting for 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Sarasota County Operations Center, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd., to make sure representatives of firms interested in the project are fully aware of its scope. (Full story here) AT A GLANCE