News Briefs

+ North-end sand arrives this week
Sand should be flowing from a pipe onto the sand-starved north today.

Work to mobilize a dredge and pipe that will bring sand to the north end of the Key has been ongoing near Beer Can Island. A pipe is being positioned from the north end of the Key to begin the sand flow to the island.

Equipment for the project was placed at the Broadway beach access. The North Shore Road beach access is closed until the sand project is completed in July.

Sand will be pumped six days a week, 12 hours a day and the town’s noise ordinance won’t apply to the contractor.

+ Longboat changes water source
Longboaters who detected a difference in the drinking water coming out of their pipes last week aren’t crazy.

Town staff shut off the Manatee County interconnect pipe May 7 that funnels water from Manatee County to the entire island and turned on the emergency water interconnect pipe that sits under Sarasota Bay on the south end of the Key.

In an email to the Longboat Key Town Commission May 8, Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross said the move was made so Manatee County could replace a water meter for the north end water pipe on Coquina Beach on Anna Maria Island in conjunction with an upcoming Longboat Pass water main replacement project.

“We used the city of Sarasota’s safe drinking water to avoid a service interruption, pressure changes, and an island-wide precautionary boil water notice for two days,” Ross said.

The town didn’t notify residents of the switch to assess how many residents would call to inquire about a difference.

“Some people are more sensitive to changes and we received three calls,” Ross said.

The town was using Manatee County water again May 9, but Ross warned that when the water pipe replacement project begins later this year, the town will utilize the city’s water from time to time to avoid service interruptions.

Meetings & agendas
Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Monday, May 19.

Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.

Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, June 2.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.