|
No town funding for sand removal
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 |
|
 |
BELLEAIR SHORE – Spending town money to redistribute sand which has swallowed up steps and seawalls is not a good idea, Mayor John Robertson told the Town Commission at its Nov. 19 meeting.
About a third to half of the town’s 55 residential properties are affected by an excess of sand resulting from three strong hurricanes in the gulf this summer. The town had considered hiring a contractor to redistribute the sand. The plan was to push the sand out about 10 feet into the water where it would get into the tidal flow and redistribute, Robertson said. But a multitude of problems have surfaced with the idea.
First, movement of sand is expensive. Robertson said he had finally obtained a quote on the job from Ronald Finke and Co. of Clearwater, a firm he said is well known in the business. The cost is $800 per household for standard lots, $1,500 for double lots and more for larger properties.
“This is way more than we budgeted for and can afford,” Robertson said.
Also, the cost burden is uneven. Up to half of the homeowners have had no problem or have lost sand, Robertson indicated. Having the town pick up the costs of sand distribution “would be less fair to some people and overly generous to others.”
Complicating the situation further is the question of liability. Homeowners desiring removal of sand must obtain the permission of adjacent property owners. Robertson said some people don’t want their neighbors to do it.
What Robertson called an onerous and complicated permitting process from the EPA is also involved. The mayor said the difficulties presented with the sand distribution process “puts the town really in a hard place. It is the wisdom of this commission in saying we’re going to get out of it.”
Robertson added that he felt the homeowners could get a better quote on their own for removing the sand. Those who want to do a sand redistribution project should make an individual application with the EPA, which is required for properties on the west side of Gulf Boulevard, Robertson indicated.
Commissioner John Hayes Jr. said the beach in front of his home is fine. Likewise Commissioner Robert Schmidt Jr. said there was “not much change at all” in his beachfront.
Unlike neighboring Belleair Beach and Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Shore does not participate in the periodic renourishment projects done by Pinellas County. A requirement of that service is that the beaches be totally public. Residents of Belleair Shore own the beach in front of their property to the wet sand, Robertson noted. So, permission must be obtained from property owners to undertake any project involving the beach.
Home burglaries up
Break-ins have become an on-going problem, Robertson told the commission. The commissioners shared stories of the methods used to enter homes.
There were burglars who jimmied a garage door, and thieves who broke down a front door and came in. Police also found people camping inside a home where the front door had been left open.
Town attorney John Elias said short-term rental properties may have contributed to the problem. The number of vacant homes up for sale in town could also be a factor, Robertson speculated after the meeting. Fewer residents are around to keep an eye on their neighbors’ property.
|
Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
