Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/309372
of the Bay Island Seawall Replacement Project," approved a budget amendment for the work, awarded the contract to Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift LLC of Sarasota in an amount not to exceed $950,551 and hired Erickson Consulting Engineers Inc. of Sarasota for $90,000 to keep a keen eye on the work. In response to a question from Commissioner Joe Barbetta, Brownman said Erickson repre- sentatives "are going to be required to be out there pretty heavily … to make sure this proj- ect does not go off-track as the last one did." WAY OFF-TRACK On March 5, 2013, the County Commission awarded a $997,379 construction contract to CB Construction Services for repairs to the 40-year-old Bay Island Park seawall after staff advised the board the structure was in bad shape. A May 7, 2014 staff memo points out that the park "is heavily used for recreational fishing and is an easily accessible [facility] that is used by the public." The City of Sarasota, which owns the western portion of the park, was a participant in the original project. Bay Island Park is highly visible to drivers heading onto Siesta Key via the north bridge on Siesta Drive. That fact has fostered the barrage of public complaints Patterson and Barbetta said they have been fielding about the construction materials and fencing. CB Construction Services began work on the county side of the park on April 25, 2013, according to a county staff memo. Less than two months later, however — on June 10, 2013 Construction materials have been piled up for almost a year in the county portion of Bay Island Park. Photo by Rachel Hackney Sarasota News Leader May 9, 2014 Page 60