$1.4-million budget amendment OK’d, with undertaking not expected before end of 2027
The Sarasota County Commission has approved a $1,409,069 amendment to the 2027 fiscal year budget for the upsizing of the gravity sewer line along Sandy Nook Street on Siesta Key.
Wastewater Digest explains, “Gravity sewer systems are a network of underground pipes that use gravity to move raw wastewater to a regional wastewater treatment plant.”
A county staff memo in the board’s agenda packet for its regular meeting on Nov. 4 pointed out that the undertaking will replace “approximately 1,400 linear feet of existing 8-inch gravity sewer [line]” with a 12-inch line “sized to convey the peak wet-weather flow associated with the [county’s] 10-year, 24-hour [storm design].”
Among the work that will be done, the memo added, will be the replacement or rehabilitation of affected manholes. Further, it said, the project calls for “full restoration of pavement, driveways, sod, and landscaping.”
On Dec. 16, 2025, the memo reminded the board members, they voted unanimously to approve the 10-year, 24-hour design “as the basis for the County’s wet-weather level of service.”
During heavy rain events, county Public Utilities Department staff has acknowledged in the past that high precipitation accumulations have contributed to sewage spills on Siesta Key.
In fact, a count CIP document about the project, which was included in the Nov. 4 agenda packet, points out, “The project reduces the potential for sanitary sewer overflows and risks to public health, water quality, and regulatory actions, and advances County Capacity Management Operation and Maintenance.”
That document also was showed expenditures for the initiative in the 2028 and 2029 fiscal years.
The public hearing was listed as one with presentations only upon request, and no one had signed up to make public comments, Chair Ron Cutsinger noted. However, Commissioner Mark Smith did say that he had one concern to raise with Brooke Bailey, director of the county’s Public Utilities Department.
Smith asked her about “impacts to the neighborhood,” adding, “Everyone’s for [the initiative], as far as I can tell, but they are concerned about what’s going to happen to their street when [the project is underway].”
“We’re excited for this project to come forward to you guys today,” Bailey told the board members. The undertaking, she explained, is one of the first phases of her department’s 10-year level of service initiatives for Siesta Key, which the board members had approved.
“Then she said, “We will be over-sizing the Sandy Nook gravity main,” which will run from Higel Avenue to Sandy Beach Avenue.
However, Bailey pointed out, though the agenda item noted that the project would begin this month, that is not true. Further design work must be completed first, she told the commissioners. Staff’s expectation, she continued, is that the work will get underway “towards the end of 2027.”
The Capital Projects Department will take it over before the work begins, she further noted.
“This project does not encompass the lift station at all [in that area],” Bailey further explained. The goal of this initiative, she continued, is just to increase the capacity of the sewer line. After the wastewater reaches the Oxford Road lift station, she continued, it will be transferred to the Siesta Key Master Pump Station and then travel off the island for treatment.
The pump station is adjacent to the Siesta Isles neighborhood on the barrier island.
Smith also asked whether she had an estimate of the project timeline.
After the design work reaches the 60% mark, Bailey replied, staff should have a better idea about how long the project will take. “We’ll work with the residents,” she assured him.
“I know Capital Projects [staff] does a great job of sending out postcards [to notify property owners of upcoming initiatives]. … We’ll be working closely with them on this,” Bailey added.
“Thank you very much,” Smith told her.
Smith then made the motion to approve the project, and Commissioner Mast seconded it. The motion passed 4-0, with Commissioner Joe Neunder absent from the meeting at that time.