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the southern end. As part of the undertak- ing, the Army Corps would also install three groins to help keep that sand in place, and it would add more sand to the beach every five years. The agency will conduct public meetings on the report on July 23 at Sarasota City Hall at 2 and 6 p.m., during which time residents will have the opportunity to voice comments. During that same period of time, according to Army Corps Project Manager Milan Mora, the agency will submit a permit application for the project to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). In a written response to the News Leader, Mora said that if the project is approved, the Army Corps will make certain federal officials watch over the work closely to determine whether any problems arise, either on Lido Beach or on Siesta Key. "We have standard monitoring for all of our projects, and we are assuming that additional monitoring will be required for this project," Mora added. As a result of the recent modeling, the cost of the project dropped from $22.7 million to $19 million. The Army Corps is responsible for 65 percent of the expense, while the City of Sarasota will be covering the rest, using Tourist Development Tax revenue set aside for that purpose and state funds. For residents and property owners on Lido — the island created in the 1920s when circus entrepreneur John Ringling filled in the key — the project cannot begin soon enough. Little of South Lido Beach remains for people to walk at high tide. Photo courtesy Cindy Shoffstall Sarasota News Leader June 20, 2014 Page 18