Town receives groin permit

The town of Longboat Key has received a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct two groins on the north end of the island to hold sand in that area.

Town Manager Dave Bullock informed commissioners in an email that town staff will now issue bids to select a contractor.

“After many months (years) of work, this project is ready to move into the construction phase,” Bullock wrote in an email Tuesday to the Longboat Key Town Commission. “I'd like to express my appreciation to Congressman Vern Buchanan and his staff for helping us in this effort.”

The town cannot start construction on the groin project, though, until work is complete on a modified Erosion Control Line for the north end. Once that line is redrawn and approved by carious enities and Governor Rick Scott, the selected contractor can then begin the work.

Bullock told the Longboat Observer he’s “pleasantly surprised the permit was receiver earlier than expected."

The groins, which were expected to be installed in summer 2015, can now be built earlier.

Public Works Director Juan Florensa said the groins could begin construction in late fall or at the beginning of 2015.

“With any luck, some of the sand being put down on the north end in a couple of weeks will still be in place when we install the groins,” Florensa said.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].