Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/161733
Sarasota News Leader August 30, 2013 Commissioner Nora Patterson, who lives on Siesta Key and long has been supportive of efforts to reopen the pass, told The Sarasota News Leader on Aug. 26 that her primary concern at this point is how much it would cost the county to revive the project. Page 39 to $2 million every two to three years to keep the pass clear. "The county's got a lot of straws reaching into its budget right now," Patterson continued, referring to the 2014 fiscal year spending plan. "And while we hope for the best in terms of "I have mixed feelings about [the new initia- adding to our tax base, I think [the pass project] is a pretty unknown quantity." tive]," she said. The 2008 estimate she recalled for physically THE FDEP MEETING reopening the channel was about $5 million, After FDEP sent the county an informal letter she added, with an extra expense of $1 million in 2008 to indicate a denial of its application A 2006 graphic shows how the lack of tidal water exchange has allowed nutrient build-up and degradation in Little Sarasota Bay. Image courtesy of Sarasota County