County approves design funding for Phillippi Creek dam removal, residents push for faster emergency dredging

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, who said she has lived on Phillippi Creek for 38 years, told the board, “Your recent commitments of dredging the creek have really given me hope,” and later urged clearer timelines and better communication so neighbors are not “woefully and completely befuddled.” Other speakers from the Phillippi Creek area likewise asked the county to commit to full dam removal and to spell out emergency dredging steps before hurricane season.

Staff: design-to-construction sequencing, sediment sump Paul Semenek, senior stormwater manager, told commissioners the current appropriation covers an updated study, design and permitting, and that remaining grant or county funds would be sought to pay for full construction. “The construction would be removal of sediment between Tuttle and Weber, removal of the remnant structure, which is commonly referred to as a dam, and, building of a sediment sump,” Semenek said. He showed a proposed sump excavation on county-owned property intended to capture downstream sediment and allow regular maintenance.

Next steps and timeline With board approval, staff will hire a consultant to update earlier studies, complete designs and seek permits. Semenek told the board those steps could take up to a year; he and other staff also said they are identifying locations that might be eligible for faster "maintenance" permitting or other emergency measures before the June–November hurricane season begins. County staff agreed to provide regular status updates on identified “hot spots,” permitting barriers and emergency work options.

Community concern and county response Residents in public comment described homes that have flooded in prior storms and urged removal of the dam and oxbows. County staff said they will pursue grants to fund full construction and will attempt targeted maintenance dredging where regulatory and access constraints allow. Commissioners asked staff to return weekly or biweekly briefing information on the 200+ “hot spot” locations and on permitting timelines so the board and the public can track progress.

What the board voted The board voted unanimously to: (a) add the Phillippi Creek dam removal design and partial construction to the CIP; (b) accept the FEMA subrecipient agreement H1132 for $304,290.70; (c) appropriate $1,131,091.24 to the FY2025 budget for the project; and (d) authorize the county administrator to execute related grant documents. Commissioners asked staff to pursue emergency maintenance options and return regular status reports.

Looking ahead County officials said the design and permitting work will be the immediate focus; construction timing depends on additional funding and regulatory approvals. Residents who urged “full removal” said they will continue to press for both the long-term project and expedited maintenance work before hurricane season.