Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/198837
Sarasota News Leader October 25, 2013 Page 67 Patterson told her colleagues that one of the primary points of their agreement to pursue the construction all at once — instead of spreading it out over 10 or more years, as the original plan proposed — was to save money. Referring to the Aug. 28 County Commission meeting, she added that she would prefer to have the project manager come back to the board to seek approval for each of the eight ranked items before work proceeded on any except the first two: the replacement of the existing portion of dune walkovers, with an estimated cost of $214,500.00; and the West Pavilion, at an anticipated expense of $241,697.50. "It still sticks in my craw that we're spending the money for pavers … in the entirety of what's a much broader and nicer sidewalk with a fancy name," Patterson noted of the design for the 15-foot-wide esplanade that will allow people to move from one end of the park to the other without having to walk through the parking lots. When Patterson asked the project manager, Brad Gaubatz, whether he could come back to the board for the go-ahead on any ranked items if it appeared savings would permit their inclusion, Gaubatz replied, "It's not an impediment to us." The historic Siesta Beach pavilion will be renovated as part of the improvements. File photo to be completed within a tight time frame instead of spread over the two years of work, Gaubatz told her that, generally, the bidding by subcontractors would be handled "all at once." Nonetheless, he pointed out, it was the construction manager's prerogative to handle that in the manner he felt best. Ross Russo, vice president of Jon F. Swift Inc. of Sarasota, is the construction manager. That was when Barbetta lodged his protest. "As far as I'm concerned, the [Aug. 28] vote stands," he said. However, he said, "We may be asking the board "That's just where I am on this," Hines added. to allow us to come on a moment's notice. "We're not going to all agree on whether the … If that's the board's desire, we would be umbrellas should be blue or green," he pointed happy to manage the project that way." out as an example. "We're getting down to the When Patterson then asked whether the bid- point of constantly holding [the construction ding for specific parts of the project was going manager] up."