PELICAN PRESS
YourObserver.com
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
print changes. The project is out to bid and work is on track to start in February.
+ Beach Road fix
Tropical Storm Debby worsened an already damaged portion of Beach Road. The county got a permit for and conducted an emergency fix in June; it worked on another emergency patch Oct. 3. That portion of Beach Road completely collapsed Oct. 29. County Administrator Randall Reid authorized a $250,000 emergency procurement request for another temporary fix Nov. 5.
+ Siesta tourism up, then down
The Sarasota County Tax Collector showed tourism was the strongest it’s been in more than 10 years, with a tax jump of nearly 50% from May to June. Siesta Key accounted for 38%, or $367,476 of the $1.03 million collected in tourist taxes in June. The string of record-breaking months for tourist development tax collections
ended in July, with short-term rental units on Siesta Key contributing $358,796 — 14% less than July 2011.
July + New contractor chosen
Championship Landscape Professionals was chosen as the new Village maintenance contractor July 20, with a $97, 417 contract. According to the contract, Championship must keep the Village in “resort-style” condition. Sarasota County commissioners voted to approve the deal Aug. 21. Championship Landscape took over Village upkeep duties Sept. 10.
+ Seaweed cleanup starts
During the month of July, Sarasota County removed more than 140 tons of seaweed from Siesta Key beach. The unattractive seaweed had washed up and accumulated as an after effect of Tropical Storm Debby.
The task of removing the seaweed was accomplished while bending to the needs of endangered sea turtles and snowy plovers, avoiding days with heavy beach traffic and squeezing an already strained budget.
August + Plover babies spotted
Two plover chicks were spotted Aug. 7, in the sand dunes near Beach Access 8. Volunteers from the Sarasota Audubon Society and Siesta Key Association roped off nesting areas and placed warning signs in strategic locations to prevent startled plover mothers from abandoning nests.
+ Turtle hatchlings on Siesta
Despite Tropical Storm Debby’s devastating blow, Siesta Key experienced a record-setting sea-turtle nesting season and, as of Saturday, Aug. 4, 322 nests were recorded on Siesta Key.
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+ Issac causes false alarm
Tropical Storm Isaac whirled past the tip of Florida into the Gulf of Mexico Aug. 28 and took an unexpected left turn, leaving Siesta Key and Sarasota largely unaffected with the exception of a storm surge that, once again, put parts of Beach Road under water.
September + Crystal Classic gets buses
Siesta Key Village Association members, during a Sept. 4 meeting, learned that 10 buses would be trucking people to the island from the mainland during the popular five-day event. A new bus route allows an additional stop in the Village and streamlines vehicle activity. The Crystal Classic kicks off Thursday, Nov. 8.
SEE WELCOME BACK / PAGE 14A
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