Commission awards Phillippi Creek dredging contracts and appropriates $14.48 million

The Sarasota County Commission approved a capital improvement program addition and budget amendment to fund Phillippi Creek high-spot stormwater conveyance dredging and authorized two construction contracts totaling about $13.7 million for the initial work.

Why it matters: Phillippi Creek drains a large portion of the development basin in southern Sarasota. County staff described the dredging work as a high-priority stormwater project intended to improve conveyance, reduce flooding risk and enable additional downstream dredging and maintenance.

Details: County staff presented a multi-phase plan. The board adopted a CIP amendment to add project number 75888 and approved a budget amendment of $14,482,224 to fund the work. Staff then presented two construction contracts with Continental Heavy Civil Corporation: Group 1 for $3,300,000 and Group 2 for $10,397,200. County stormwater leadership said that the contracts and added funding would allow immediate work on the corridor’s high spots and that some portions could be covered later with additional state or federal grants; staff also indicated they had submitted appropriation requests to the state.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Cutsinger moved and Commissioner Smith seconded approval of CIP addition, the budget amendment, and both contracts. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: Staff said the contractor will begin access planning and preliminary work immediately; county operations crews will provide support as needed, and staff will return with further modeling results and recommendations for any additional dredging or oxbow work.