Commission awards Phillippi Creek 'high‑spot' dredging contracts and approves $14.5M program funding
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Summary
The county approved a $14.48 million appropriation and awarded two construction contracts to dredge the Phillippi Creek high‑spot conveyance channel, part of multi‑phase stormwater work tied to HUD flood‑recovery funds and county reserves.
Sarasota County commissioners authorized funding and contracts Oct. 21 to begin a two‑group dredging of Phillippi Creek’s prioritized “high spot” sites, approving a $14,482,224 appropriation and two construction awards.
The board approved the capital program addition and budget amendment that added the Phillippi Creek High Spot stormwater conveyance dredging project to the county’s five‑year capital plan. Commissioners also authorized construction contracts with Continental Heavy Civil Corporation: Group 1 for $3,300,000 and Group 2 for $10,397,200. County staff said the contracts address immediate conveyance constraints in the lower creek and will proceed under established stormwater procurement rules.
Stormwater Director Ben Quartermaine briefed the board on the work, saying the contracts cover a 30‑ to 50‑foot wide central channel in parts of the creek, with additional modeling under way to determine whether adjacent oxbows and side channels should be added to the permit and dredge plan. Quartermaine said county staff is preparing permit modifications and further modeling to determine whether dredging should be widened or extended into oxbows upstream.
Funding and context: Commissioners funded the project from stormwater capital budgets and noted the work is a priority use of both county capital and potential HUD‑funded recovery dollars. Quartermaine said the project is intended as a “force multiplier” for a larger $45 million HUD allocation for Phillippi Creek area projects: initial work will be done now, and the board may use HUD reimbursements and future state or federal appropriations to replenish or expand the program.
Contracts and schedule: County staff said the two awarded contracts will be mobilized quickly and that staff will support contractor access and operations as needed. The county anticipates subsequent permit modifications and additional dredging phases after further hydraulic modeling; staff also said they met with the congressional delegation to request further assistance for the project.
Why it matters: Phillippi Creek drainage issues and high‑spot conveyance restrictions contributed to damaged homes and impassable roads during recent storms. The dredging is intended to increase conveyance capacity, lower flood levels upstream and improve flow in key oxbows and side channels — although county technical staff said the effect on floodplain maps will depend on broader permit approvals and modeling results.
What commissioners said: In voting to approve the CIP and contracts, commissioners emphasized speed and accountability. The board approved the CIP addition and contracts by unanimous vote.
Ending: County staff will begin field access planning and mobilization with the contractor and return with permit modifications and further project phases as hydraulic modeling completes and additional funding sources are secured.
