Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/301152
Siesta Seen In that correspondence, a Siesta resident explained to Patterson that the barge has been anchoring overnight in Big Pass along the seawall in the 4800 to 4900 block of Ocean Boulevard, where a vacant lot sits (the same site Shay had noted). The writer continued, "The barge pulls in, its crew goes home for the night, and it goes back out into the Gulf in the morning. This is clearly for [the crew's] convenience, and is serving no legitimate work purpose." He added, "The problem is that they drive huge pilings into the pass each night to anchor the barge." Patterson related that to her colleagues on the commission: "Every night, they're pounding in stakes to anchor the barge." She asked County Administrator Tom Harmer to have staff check into the sit- uation and find out how long it was going to continue. Harmer promised to do so. Late that afternoon, Isaac Brownman, the county's director of public works, reported by email to the commission that the barge was scheduled to leave the site the following after- noon, adding, "outfall diffuser installation is complete. Final inspection of the diffuser will take place next week from a standard power boat." A group of children seems well entertained with each other and their smartphones as adults stroll past them in Siesta Village. Photo by Rachel Hackney Sarasota News Leader April 25, 2014 Page 102