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Susan Jackson, a spokesperson for the Corps in its Jacksonville office — where Lido Renourishment Project manager Milan Mora is based — told the News Leader on Jan. 27 that the material was on schedule to be released in mid to late February. "It is in peer review," she added, explaining that subject matter experts in other Corps districts are reviewing the modeling and reports. LOCAL PEER REVIEW During the Jan. 21 meeting of the Siesta K e y C o n d o m i n i u m C o u n c i l m e e t i n g , Commissioner Nora Patterson called for a peer review of the Corps' plans "by some people who don't have their wallets in this game …" Responding to that, Lepore of the Best Western Plus added in a Jan. 24 email to Patterson his suggestion that Jono Miller, a member of the New College of Florida faculty be asked to undertake that peer review. During a Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) pre- sentation on Jan. 13, Miller "was extremely convincing that any dredging of Big Pass (which has never been dredged) will result in loss of both the dredged channel as well as the current natural channel since a chan- nel needs the outflow from [Sarasota] Bay to maintain it," Lepore pointed out in a Jan. 20 email he sent to all the commissioners. He added that Miller "possesses significant credentials in the field of barrier islands and inlets and has studied ours for many years." Lepore also noted Miller's documentation that Siesta Beach/Crescent Beach is the only non- eroded beach in three counties, so "gambling with the natural process of shoals" could lead to problems for Siesta Beach. Lepore did not dispute the need to stabilize Lido Beach, however. "Everyone knows and agrees that Lido Beach needs re-nourish- ment, which it has received many times, and will likely in the future as well," he added. Nonetheless, he agreed with Miller's recom- mendation that just the critically eroded area in front of several condominium complexes and hotels be renourished. Lepore also warned that if the Corps project is allowed to proceed, a lawsuit almost surely can be expected "while Lido languishes." % Don't have your own subscription to The Sarasota News Leader? Subscribe for FREE and receive a weekly notification when the latest issue is available online. FREE SUBSCRIPTION Sarasota News Leader January 31, 2014 Page 24