Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/116876
Sarasota News Leader March 22, 2013 Page 47 two-thirds of the cost of the project, and I During their presentation to the board, Eastgather that they must have valued the project wood and former Project Manager Spencer Anderson provided a history of the project, highly.��� noting it was conceived in 2005 after ���no When she asked whether SWFWMD might swim��� advisories had to be issued on Siesta consider increasing the grant above the cur- Key Public Beach because of bacterial counts rent $975,000 limit, Program Manager Car- in the Gulf of Mexico deemed unsafe by Saraolyn Eastwood explained that staff already sota County Health Department staff. had been corresponding with SWFWMD on that point. ���They���ve asked for some additional The high bacterial levels were linked to storminformation in regards to the benefits of the water runoff. project,��� Eastwood added, as well as informa- ���I still have a problem with the fact that we���re tion about the bids the county received. eating $3 million,��� Commissioner Joe Barbetta ���They haven���t indicated a ���Yes��� or ���No��� answer,��� told Eastwood, referring to the higher bids the county Procurement Department received on Eastwood noted. Jan. 23. ���It���s pretty bad when you���re off by that The county���s Procurement Department has amount on a $1.5 million estimate,��� he pointed recommended the project be awarded to out. ���It���s unconscionable, but we���re between Forsberg Construction Inc. of Punta Gorda, a rock and a hard place, and the community whose bid was $4,550,683.28. Eastwood said needs to know that to correct the problems the commission is scheduled to vote on that out there and move forward ��� we have to eat this. But it���s horrible.��� bid during its April 23 meeting. A photo shows about 5 feet of fill material covered in grass at the temporary location of Fire Station 9 at the intersection of Apex Road and Palmer Boulevard. Image courtesy Sarasota County