News briefs: Longboat Key 6.11.2015

Country Club Shores boat stolen

A 32.7-foot Grady-White boat with a custom observation tower and two Yamaha four-stroke motors was stolen from the boatlift behind a home in the 500 block of Outrigger Lane June 2. 

A boat service company reported the boat wasn’t at the home when employees arrived for an inspection. After the boat owner’s father-in-law, who lives down the street, confirmed it was gone, he called police. 

The boatlift was sitting in the water, and the boat couldn’t be located, according to a police report.

Two companies that have performed recent work at the home, both on the boatlift and the boat itself, were contacted so police could interview employees who worked on the property. 

A worker last saw the vessel May 18 .

Police confirmed the keys to the boat, located in a lock box in the garage, were not taken. 

Neighbors didn’t report suspicious activity. The boat and its motors have been entered into the Florida Crime Information Center as stolen property. Police are continuing to interview employees in the ongoing investigation.

North Shore Road beach access opens

The town announced Tuesday that a $2.5 million project to construct two groins to hold sand at the North Shore Road beach access is complete, and the popular beach access that provides access to Beer Can Island is open to the public. The project also placed 9,300 cubic yards of sand from the center of the state via a dump truck haul.

The town plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the beach access soon. 

County plans Big Pass study

Sarasota County will proceed with a third-party review of plans to dredge Big Pass.

Consulting firm Atkins North America Inc. is expected to complete the peer review by the end of September.

The county will spend more than $49,000 for the study, which will analyze the city of Sarasota and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project aimed at pumping more than 1 million cubic yards of sand taken from the inlet between Lido Key and Siesta Key onto Lido Beach. 

Correction

Free turtle walks take place at 6:45 a.m. Saturdays, beginning at the public beach access at 4795 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The June 4 issue of the Longboat Observer incorrectly listed the days on which the walks take place.