Briefs: Longboat Key 2.25.16

Beach project bid delayed

The bidding process for a $3 million New Pass sand dredging project on the south end of the Key has been delayed due to questions from state and federal agencyies about the town's ability to handle turtle nest relocations.

The concerns stem from the amount of beach the town will cover during both the New Pass project and a $10 million mid-Key beach project scheduled to begin in April, according to a Feb. 18 email from Town Manager Dave Bullock to the Longboat Key Town Commission.

Bullock said the town is contracting with Mote Marine Laboratory to handle relocations. 

“We might also have to secure additional access points to minimize the amount of travel on the beach for the projects,” Bullock said.

The town is scheduling meetings with condo managers at the south end to explore additional access points. 

“My primary objective is to issue the pass dredging bid as quickly as possible,” Bullock said.

Validation hearing set for Gulf of Mexico Drive bonds   

A hearing has been set to validate the issuance of bonds for a $25.25 million Gulf of Mexico Drive undergrounding project.

The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. March 24, in Courtroom 7C at the Judge Lynn Silvertooth Judicial Center, 2002 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

Sarasota County Circuit Court Judge Rochelle Curley will preside over the hearing.

The town sought the validation hearing, at which public comments will be allowed, in case of legal challenges.

Information about both the hearing was posted to the town's website, longboatkey.org, at the direction of the Town Commission last week.

Red tide fish kills don’t warrant cleanup

Country Club Shores residents wary of dead fish from red tide concentrations returning to their canals recently learned that the latest fish kills didn’t warrant another town-authorized cleanup.

Commissioner Lynn Larson, a Country Club Shores resident, informed Town Manager Dave Bullock in an email Feb. 8 that "we are seeing dead fish in our canals again."

Residents worried that strong northwest winds associated with a cold front last week would bring more dead fish to the area. Town staff monitored the situation and didn’t authorize a cleanup because the number dead fish was significantly smaller. The town does not clean up minor fish kills from its shores but assists with moderate to severe fish kills if deemed necessary by the town manager.

Red tide is a harmful algae that causes respiratory irritation in humans and serious health issues in marine life and pets. Medium concentrations in Manatee and Sarasota counties are still lingering.

In November, dead fish associated with red tide were removed by the town. 

Meetings & Agendas

• Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday March 7

• Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, March 14

• Zoning Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17

• Town Commission Statutory Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, March 22

• Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 22

• Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 23