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County approves design funding for Phillippi Creek dam removal, residents push for faster emergency dredging
Summary
Sarasota County commissioners approved $1.13 million to design and permit removal of the Phillippi Creek dam and partial construction including a sediment sump; residents urged immediate, targeted dredging ahead of hurricane season.
Sarasota County commissioners approved funding on April 8 to design the Phillippi Creek dam removal and cover limited construction tasks, while residents urged faster emergency dredging to reduce local flood risk.
The board added project 75885 to the county Capital Improvement Program and approved a subrecipient grant with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (H1132) to cover $304,291 of design costs; the board also appropriated $1,131,091.24 to begin design, permitting and limited construction work on the Phillippi Creek project.
Why it matters: residents who live along Phillippi Creek told commissioners recent language on the agenda — which said “partial” — created confusion. Neighbors and civic groups said they were promised full dam removal and dredging in earlier studies; they pressed the county to identify emergency options before hurricane season.
Residents: ‘we were told full removal’ and fear the delay Deb Hayes,…
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