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Sarasota News Leader December 14, 2012 Page 30 Then William D. Waddill of Kimley-Horn ran down a list of 10 optional amenities that could be included in the project at a total cost of $4,125,000. Among them were a covered storage and work area structure in the maintenance section of the park ($90,000), replacement of the existing dune walkovers ($300,000) and adding more light poles and fixtures as well as upgrading the lighting to state-of-the-art, turtle-friendly amber LED lights ($990,000). ment of the 800 MHz emergency radio system, he noted, 70 percent of the county���s revenue would be going toward debt service. Botelho told the board that a $14 million bond issue would provide the funds needed to complete the project at $21.5 million, as the county already had $7.5 million in hand from surtax revenue. ���We wouldn���t even be coming back with the borrow until late next summer,��� Botelho added. Schneider referred Barbetta to a staff memo about the project dated Nov. 9, which included the 27-month timetable. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS The first commissioner comment to be parried by staff focused on the amount of time anticipated to complete the project. After Barbetta mentioned the county could take advantage of lower construction costs by issuing bonds for the funding and getting the work finished in 18 (A note regarding the walkovers pointed out, months, Schneider told him, ���We���re proposing ���This will upgrade one of the walkovers to al- 27 months [of] construction time.��� low vehicle loads for maintenance equipment ���At once? All at once?��� Barbetta replied. ���I���d ���.���) be a little shocked at that.��� Then Waddill jumped in: ���My opinion is that the project could be constructed in a shorter period of time.��� However, if the county issued those bonds and Commissioner Charles Hines agreed with Bar$26 million in bonds to pay for the replace- betta about the need to have the work done all (From left) Sarasota County staff members Rob LaDue, Carolyn Eastwood and Curtis Smith ��� all of whom have been involved with the Siesta Beach project ��� listen to public comments during the Dec. 11 County Commission meeting. At right is Lourdes Ramirez, president of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations, who is a Siesta resident. Photo by Rachel Hackney