Sarasota County stormwater director: Philippe Creek dredge 75% complete; phase-two permits due later this year

Ben Quartermain, Sarasota County’s director of stormwater, told the County Commission during a monthly update that the Filthy/Philippe Creek dredging is on schedule and “we're about 75% complete.” He said phase two permitting is under way, with one permit granted recently, plans expected later this month and a permit submittal planned for May; the team expects the main permit toward the end of the year.

Quartermain said two dredge contractors will operate in Philippe Creek concurrently and that the dredge scope remains a “maximum allowable dredge — 10 foot off at each side.” When Commissioner Smith asked whether the plan would remove islands in the creek, Quartermain replied, “That's part of it,” confirming island removal is included in the permitting scope.

The director described a rolling review of the county’s capital improvement program (CIP) intended to shorten and better define projects and associated budgets. As part of that review staff developed a sediment-abatement program to sit alongside the county’s SWART program and the five-year CIP. Quartermain said staff and consultant engineers will present the revised CIP to the board once final details are complete.

Commissioner Mast pressed for transparency on money the city remits under the interlocal agreement, saying there is “a $4 million approximately collection that is made every year from the city.” Quartermain said staff has breakouts of recent years’ work and costs and will summarize that data for the board. Mast also asked for an update on St. Armand's pumps; Quartermain said the city is leading communications and staff is developing a project charter focused on hardening, redundancy and limiting flood depth and duration.

On localized concerns, Commissioner Nunder raised repeated flooding in Everglades Estates and asked staff to inspect Blackburn Canal, Shacket Creek and areas such as Linden Road; Quartermain said the county has ongoing surveys and maintenance and will report back. Quartermain also described a planned survey of Cowpen Slough near Philippe Creek to confirm structural integrity.

An unnamed commissioner and residents have been using the county’s new asset-management mapping tool; Quartermain said the Florida Stormwater Association awarded the county for an internally developed web app integrated with its asset platform (Cartegraph) and that residents use it to check maintenance histories. The director said staff will expand public outreach about keeping debris out of ditches and storm drains, citing water quality as “1A and 1B” alongside maintenance.

Quartermain reported on a priority crossing east of The Oaks that staff will upsize from an 18-inch pipe to three 36-inch pipes in coordination with FPL to relieve a major bottleneck. He also said the county has received an appraisal for a Gulf/Golf Gate property and is scoping remediation costs with capital projects. Finally, Quartermain said several Resilient SRQ projects within the city and county are proceeding and that staff will hold stormwater workshops across north, central and south county.

Next steps noted in the update: staff will bring the Florida Stormwater Association award to a future board meeting; Quartermain will provide the requested interlocal agreement spending summary and updates on St. Armand's design and Cowpen Slough survey results. No formal motions or votes were recorded on these items during the update.