New timetable for channel dredging work

Hernando County officials hope to have all required permits and the funds gathered by October.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT, Times Staff Writer
Published August 16, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando Beach residents and others who have been waiting 10 years for the long-promised dredging of the Hernando Beach channel to begin now have some new dates to mark on their calendars.

The county expects to have by October all required permits and the money needed to complete the $9-million project, Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton told county commissioners on Tuesday.

The county has a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for part of the dredging project but still needs two other permits including one that will allow the contractor to dump the dredged material, called spoils, on property near the work site.

Another permit for the overall project is needed from the Army Corps of Engineers.

But Sutton said he was confident those permissions would be in hand this fall, clearing the way to begin work in February. If that happens, he said the project could be done by January 2009.

The commission on Tuesday formally supported the gubernatorial appointment of John G. Saittis to the Florida Small County Dredge Program Board of the Florida Ports Council.

Saittis told the commissioners, "I've been involved with three dredges. I've seen one completed and we're still working on the third one."

Residents frustrated with the delays in the dredging project brought a petition with 400 signatures forward Tuesday supporting the project.

Commissioner Dave Russell said he understood frustration at the delays. "It's time to bring this in for a landing," he said.

The dredging project is expected to bring the channel to a depth of 6 feet and a width of 60 feet. A dangerous S-turn in the channel also is supposed to be straightened, Sutton told the commission.

The county is expected to pay $3-million of the cost with the rest coming from state dollars. Sutton said he expected the final $3.5-million in state dredging funds will be available to the county in October.

Commissioner Rose Rocco said she was hopeful the project was finally on track.

She said she traveled with county staff last week into the channel to see what it was like and she agreed the time was now to get the work done.

"I know it's been slow going with the DEP. It's kind of like one step forward and two steps back," Rocco said.

Sutton said he has been surprised at the amount of time it has taken to get the project permitted. "We want to get this thing out to bid and start pumping sand by early next year," he said.

But Hubert "Wayne" Dukes, president of the Hernando Beach Property Owners Association, said he was not so optimistic that the project will begin soon.

"I tell people, 'Hold your breath and believe it when you see it,' " said Dukes, who is running for County Commission.

Reach Barbara Behrendt at behrendt@sptimes.com or 352 848-1434.

[Last modified August 15, 2007, 21:02:18]