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Patterson, who lives on north Siesta Key, pointed out. "This is thinking like a business, the way I look at it," Chairman Charles Hines told Cash. "Thank you. That's good thinking." With Cash's reassurance that staff could time the project around the generally busiest tour- ism months of February and March, Patterson made the motion to allow staff to proceed. The vote was unanimous in awarding $101,714 to Stantec Consulting Services of Sarasota for the design of the new 16-inch water main. That firm already is the engineer of record for the force main project, Cash explained. The wastewater plant has to be decom- missioned by the end of 2016 under an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), according to a June 11 memo from staff to the commis- sioners. Although postponing the force main project to allow for the design of the water main would delay the start of the sewer work, the memo points out, the project still would be completed by FEDP's deadline. THE WATER PROJECT In discussions about the sewer work, Cash said, his department employees and members of the Capital Projects staff began consider- ing the future of the water main that serves more than 13,000 residential units on northern Siesta Key; the water main is referred to as the "North Crossing." The existing 14-inch water main was constructed in the early 1970s, Cash noted. "Although we don't have any existing issues with it," he continued, "it is [made of] the same type of material that was used for the Siesta Key/Case Key Crossing that was recently replaced." Water customers on southern Siesta Key and northern Casey Key endured multiple spells of leaks in that pipeline — and "Boil water" advisories — before a new water main was constructed in the fall of 2012 to serve them. The North Crossing has not had the same repair frequency as the former Siesta Key/ Casey Key Crossing, Cash added. However, repairs were made to it in 1992 after exten- sive corrosion was discovered, he said. "We felt that it would be a real missed oppor- tunity if we didn't go ahead and install [a new 16-inch] water main" at the same time the new force main is constructed, Cash told the board. Dave Cash, interim director of public utilities for Sarasota County, addresses the County Commission in May. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader June 20, 2014 Page 67