County Brings Bra-Win Palms Dredging Dispute To Close

A dredging dispute more than a decade old seemingly came to an end Tuesday when county commissioners voted to charge 12 Bradenton homeowners for a project they say was botched.

The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a measure to assess costs of $3,437.75 to 12 residents whose properties in the Bra Win Palms subdivision abut a canal leading to the Braden River. The payments, lowered from an original staff recommendation of more than $12,000 per homeowner, can be made over 10 years.

Sia Mollanazar, the county's deputy director of engineering, said that while the engineers for the 2006 dredging project may not have fully met the expectations of the property owners, who first petitioned for the work in 1999, the county had no obligation to pay the full tab.

"It has no benefit to Manatee County taxpayers," Mollanazar said.

Mollanazar presented several reports and photographs that documented the dredging did take place and said it provided a special benefit to the residents. He also noted the 71 percent reduction in charges to the property owners for the dredging was significantly lower than those paid by residents in the past three similar cases.

Homeowners who spoke at Tuesday's meeting argued the dredging left a pile of muck and mud against the seawall adjacent to their properties that prevents them from putting a boat in the water, especially during high tide.

One resident said witnessing the contractors in action "was like watching Laurel and Hardy out there," referencing the famed comedy duo.

"Why didn't they choose somebody who knew what they were doing?" asked 21st Street East resident Dorothy Aldrich. "It was a pitiful job."

County Commissioner Joe McClash said that "regardless of how bad the contractor looked out there ... I have to make my decision based on surveys that do show there was material removed."

In other business, the board:

• Voted down a proposal by Commissioner Larry Bustle that would send a letter of support to the Bradenton City Council for the proposed Riverwalk project. Dissenting commissioners argued the county should not officially get involved in a city matter even though most said they personally approved of the project. Bustle's motion failed 5-2, with Board Chairwoman Carol Whitmore also voting in favor.
• Heard a presentation from attorney Fred Busack, on behalf of the Heartland Regional Transportation Authority, who urged the commissioners to consider the role of Port Manatee in the creation of a new regional shipping hub in time for the 2014 expansion of the Panama Canal.
• Heard an annual report from the county's Natural Resources Department.
• Officially recognized Engineers Week (Feb. 20-26), Gulf Coast Senior Games Week (Feb. 22-27), the Whitfield Estates Historic Home Tour (Feb. 27) and Women's History Month (March).
• Presented certificates of appreciation to members of the 2011 Manatee County Fair Committee.
• Accepted a donation of $4,313.45 from the Robinson Preserve Fit2Run Twilight 5k Run through Florida West Coast Resource Conservation and Development.