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Lido Key Residents Association President Carl Shoffstall told the commissioners on Monday that high tide in the Gulf of Mexico already reaches the base of one condominium tower on Lido Key. Something has to be done to pro- tect homeowners on the island, he added. He was among those who voiced support for expanding the Debby renourishment, but he said that project is only a "drop in the bucket" when it comes to a solution for Lido's ero- sion problems. Patterson's suggestion about using TDT money to help the city was well received as well. "I think it's great," said Siesta resident and boating advocate Peter van Roekens. "This is something that will make a difference now." He concurred with Patten that being able to pursue the short-term project would allow time for further study of the Army Corps report, along with extensive public input and a county peer review of the Army Corps' modeling. One potential proverbial monkey wrench in the works, however, is an elevated cost esti- mate for the upcoming renourishment of South Siesta Key. (See the related story in this issue.) PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MORE REVIEW The feasibility of the Army Corps' proposed $19 million project will come down to more input and more review over the next few months. On July 23, residents will be able to offer comments on it when the City of Sarasota hosts two public sessions. They will be considered the beginning of the Army Corps' "scoping process." Additionally, over the next few weeks, at the direction of the county commissioners on Monday, county staff will focus on how the proposal affects county property, with the Army Corps planning to put one groin on the site of the county's Ted Sperling Park on South Lido. The other two are planned to be constructed north of that one. The commis- sioners also asked Laird Wreford, the county's director of coastal resources, to be prepared to advise them next month on whether they should hire an independent consultant to review the Army Corps' report, particularly in regard to those points. Patterson said Monday that she would like to see the county hire a consultant who has no ties to Army Corps projects, a completely independent firm that would win the approval of both Lido and Siesta residents. "One of the qualifications [is] that they don't make a sub part of their firm's living doing work for the Army Corps, which will immedi- ately create some questions, whether they are justified or not," Patterson pointed out. Patterson added that she also would like to see the consultant take a close look at poten- tial impacts to Siesta Key, navigation in Big Pass and the long-term future of Lido Beach. "There are a lot of firms that do this kind of work," Commissioner Barbetta noted. "What I want to avoid is the public being skeptical if we choose a local firm or a firm we have worked with before." Patterson requested details, too, about whether the county would have to approve an easement for the city to allow the groin to be built in Sperling Park. "It may be that the consultant may have some suggestions, in addition to our county attorney," Patterson said. "Maybe that needs a little more fleshing out." % Sarasota News Leader July 4, 2014 Page 42