Save Our Beach

SO FRUSTRATING - yet another delay.  The Army Corps had posted a “sources sought” again for the project work that ended on July 21 - a sources sought is just to look for potential contractors and gauge interest and capabilities in the potential project.  It is not an RFP or request for proposal.  Here is the sources sought from the SAM.gov website -  Schedule 1 – Project is for Shallow Draft Maintenance Pipeline Dredging of the Mouth of Colorado Entrance Jetty Channel and Detention Basin and will include varying advanced maintenance and 2’ over-depth. Schedule 1 includes dredging of approximately 876,000 cubic yards (CY). Material will be placed west of West/South Jetty in nearshore zone; Construction of Terminal Groin and 4 of the 5 planned nearshore breakwaters at Sargent Beach, 25 miles East of the Mouth of Colorado. Estimated duration is 490 calendar days. Option 1 includes Beneficial Use beach placement of dredged material along the breakwate...

Got some good news late last week. The corps finally sent the county the executed lease. That means a lot of things but specifically it means that the county can legally start spending money on the west side of the island. I could go into what I think of the corps real estate division and the way they handled this whole thing, but it wouldn’t be productive and efficient with my time.  You all will start seeing some activity on the west side of the island very soon. I am meeting with the contractor and their engineer next week to begin the process of rebuilding that road that is already funded. I would love to turn the contractor loose with a dozer to start the road today but the corps requires it to be engineered so that’s a process and expense we have to deal with. At the same time the county will be executing an MOU with the Port of Bay City who have graciously committed to rebuild the boat ramp. This will get that process started with their engineering and all. While the road is...