Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/157038
Sarasota News Leader August 23, 2013 Page 93 Siesta Seen the way the County and contractors have affected Gulf & Bay Club residents/beach front, County officials would cite violations, most likely issue fines and shut the project down until resolution was made. Instead, Gulf & Bay Club residents are met with a large (County sponsored) project continuing to progress with NO ACTION. ing worked on or [was] corrected earlier this week. In the end, the intent of the storm water project as designed is to reduce the rainwater outflow to the beach area rather than the reverse." Patterson continued, "I appreciate your concern and it is shared by staff and project manager and very apparently getting immediate "I find the situation disgusting and unaccept- attention from all." able." Later that same day, Curtis Smith, the project Patterson responded on Aug. 16: manager of the stormwater initiative, emailed Patterson: "I have relayed an earlier series of correspondences from the board and manager of Gulf "Your explanation of the matter is both thorand Bay to county staff and they are working ough and accurate, and we have nothing to with the contractor to correct the situation. add at this time. Please be assured that staff Indeed, during the recent heavy rains, the will continue to monitor the situation daily project itself had a temporary measure that and take appropriate action when needed. apparently exacerbated the situation, which I Thank you very much." believe has been or will shortly be corrected. However, just a few minutes later, Thomas Prior to the recent heavy rains and the start of Fastiggi, general manager of the Gulf & Bay construction our staff also met with the Gulf Club, wrote Patterson — copying the preand Bay folks on the beach itself to view what viously mentioned owner and others — to has been a long-term issue, although to a lesssay, "I have not seen or had a site visit from er extent. I was present on the request of Gulf any county staff since my initial meeting last and Bay to see the issue. In fact, a good bit week. of the problem prior [her emphasis] to construction was apparently caused by the storm "In order to protect the interests of Gulf and water facilities of the complex itself, built at Bay, we have hired an environmental engian earlier time when storm water outflow neering firm as well as a lab to test the surwas less regulated. Discussions were had as face contaminants deposited on our property to how to alleviate [the long-term problems]. during this project. "The current issue that may have been made "Upon receipt of their reports, I will be in worse temporarily during construction is be- touch with the county as to the extent of re-