BRADENTON BEACH – The engineering services for a state-funded flood control project will cost the city an additional $15,978.
The engineering for the flood control project was completed earlier this year by the Colliers Engineering & Design firm after former City Engineer Lynn Burnett and her LTA Engineers firm did the initial engineering for the project.
The $2.1 million flood control project is expected to improve drainage and reduce flooding in the vicinity of 20th Place North, 21st Place North, the southern end of Avenue A and the southern end of Avenue B.
The project is being funded by a $2.6 million state appropriation that also provided the city with the funds to purchase a new street sweeping and vacuuming truck.
The additional engineering costs were discussed during the Dec. 1 city commission meeting. City Attorney Ricinda Perry said she originally feared the cost overages could have been in the $25,000 to $27,000 range. She noted the $15,978 in additional engineering costs provides the city with slightly less money to spend on the actual installation of the flood control elements that will include repaving the streets and installing V-shaped curbs that help direct rainwater to the desired outflow points.
Perry said she hopes to recoup some of the additional engineering costs by potentially reducing some of the $191,000 budgeted for the project management and oversight to be provided by Mark Porter and his Utility Consultants of Florida firm.
Mayor John Chappie noted the city will be audited regarding its use of the state funds and Utility Consultants of Florida Project Administrator Arne Lash will provide his expertise and assist with the audit and the oversight of the flood control project.
Perry said the engineering work is now completed and the city is waiting for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to inspect the proposed work site and sign off on the completed engineering plans.
Perry noted the city previously experienced a $76,000 increase in anticipated engineering costs for the project after the commission directed Collier’s to completely re-engineer the flood control project plans initially engineered by LTA.
In November 2021, FDEP approved the city’s request to spend more of the allocated state funds on engineering costs and less on the actual construction of the project. At that time, FDEP also extended the project completion deadline from June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
Perry said the city hopes to issue a request for proposals in December seeking contractors to install and construct the flood control project engineered by Colliers. She said she hopes the commission will have a contractor selected by the end of January and be presented with a proposed contract for the selected contractor in mid-February.
“If I can do that, I’m only two months behind schedule and think there’s enough breathing room to complete the project. I was told I will not get an extension beyond the 2024 date for completing that construction,” Perry told the commission.
“We’ve just got to make it work and get it done. That’s the bottom line,” Chappie said.
