www.amisun.com
AUGUST 29, 2018
THE SUN
11
Day dock in limbo Technomarine has missed its latest projected delivery date of Aug. 22. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – As of Monday, the composite decking and aluminum framing for Bradenton Beach’s new floating day dock remained in storage at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. According to a representative of Ronautica Marinas, the Spain-based company contracted by Technomarine to manufacture the dock components, the dock sections shipped by cargo vessel arrived at Port Everglades on Aug. 17 and a storage fee of approximately $550 per day began accruing on Aug. 21. The Ronautica representative told The Sun his company will not release the dock sections for ground transport to Bradenton Beach until it receives from Technomarine a payment of approximately $29,000, plus the additional storage fees. The Ronautica rep said the shipment does not include the floats, cleats and additional hardware that are to be provided by Technomarine or its installation subcontractor. Technomarine is the North Palm Beach-based company contracted by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in early 2017 to install a new floating dock next to the historic Bridge Street Pier at a cost of $119,980. As of Monday, Ronautica had not received payment from Technomarine, but the company was informed that payment could be forthcoming
RONAUTICA MARINAS | SUBMITTED
These floating dock components, as shown when manufactured in Spain, remained stuck in a Fort Lauderdale storage facility as of late last week. within the next 48 to 72 hours. The Ronautica representative said his company would be willing to deal directly with the CRA if the situation with Technomarine remains unresolved. On Friday, Aug. 24, CRA chair Ralph Cole contacted the port directly. He was told the shipment from Ronautica destined for Bradenton Beach arrived in port on Aug. 16 and was currently being held in storage. On or around Tuesday, Aug. 21, Police Chief and Pier Team Facilitator Sam Speciale communicated with Technomarine CEO Erik Sanderson. According to Speciale, Sanderson
did not acknowledge the dock components had arrived in port. Speciale said he was told he’d receive a full update from Sanderson later in the week, but as of early Monday afternoon that had not happened. “I haven’t heard anything from them,” Speciale said.
PAYMENTS AND TIMELINES
According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the CRA sent Technomarine a check for $29,961 on July 31, and the check was cashed on Aug. 2. The July payment met the CRA’s contractual obligations for the dock fabrication and shipping phases of the project.
According to Thompson, the next payment due to Technomarine would be the $13,500 due once the dock parts have arrived in Bradenton Beach and installation begins. An additional $13,500 would be owed to Technomarine 30 days after project completion, along with a $9,298 fabrication retainer. This would amount to $36,298 in remaining payments to Technomarine, if the dock project is completed. To date, the CRA has made three payments to Technomarine totaling $83,952. The CRA made an initial payment of $29,995 to Technomarine on April 11, 2017, and a second payment of $23,996 on Aug. 16, 2017. Per its matching funds agreement, Manatee County has already reimbursed the CRA for $26,995 for the first two payments made to Technomarine. Thompson said the CRA has not yet submitted a reimbursement request for the July payment. The most recently updated construction schedule provided by Technomarine was dated May 25. It stated the dock components would be delivered to Bradenton Beach by Aug 22. The construction schedule stated installation of the dock sections and support pilings would begin on Aug. 27, and the project would be completed by Sept. 12. In April, Technomarine President Jat Talton sent Speciale a revised construction schedule and an email that said, “Technomarine’s plan is to have the day dock open prior to this Fourth of July weekend.”
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