County recommends contractor for Hudson Bayou project

Sarasota County officials have recommended a contractor for a project to filter polluted runoff that flows into Hudson Bayou.

Spectrum Underground, Inc., of Sarasota, had the lowest bid for the project — at $1,406,739.

Two other contractors had submitted bids, for $1,467,378 and $2,093,534. Under the county’s bid policy, the contract will be awarded to the “responsive and responsible” bidder that submitted the lowest total bid. The County Commission would have to approve the contractor selection before construction work could begin.

The county project would add in several elements along the bayou’s watershed designed to ensure cleaner rainwater empties into the bayou. One element of the project will focus on Lukewood Park, a park near the bayou in the Hudson Bayou neighborhood, adding wetlands and a vegetated bioswale.

A few blocks from the bayou and closer to downtown on Ringling Boulevard, a pair of “modular wetlands” and more of the small vegetated swales are planned. Modular wetlands are concrete boxes filled with plants that would also filter rainwater.

The project is estimated to take nine months to complete.

The cost will be split, with the county paying for half and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) paying the other half. The project was initially estimated to cost $1.1 million.