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SiestaKeyFitness.com JANUARY 2023| 941.312.0665 | 27TH STATE MEDIA LLC | www.SiestaSand.us | COMPLIMENTARY
Smiles with a Siesta Santa
A sand haul from hell? 100 dump trucks each weekday for 60 days will soon be headed toTurtle Beach By John Morton
The Nelon kids, visiting from Lake Lure, North Carolina, share a Santa smile with the man himslef at the Daiquiri Deck’s south Siesta location on Dec. 18. From left are Owen, 2; Traveler, 8; and Oliver, 5. Bill Jotham played the role of Santa as part of his volunteer work with Sarasota Rotary. (photo by John Morton)
In the thick of the Siesta Key spring break gridlock, a project is slated to begin in March that will see a convoy of 100 dump trucks each weekday head onto the island along the south bridge and then turn south to Turtle Beach. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., those trucks will be hauling a total of 92,505 cubic yards of sand to renourish 2.1 miles of the southern portion of Turtle Beach that was washed away during 2016’s Hurricane Hermine – just four months after a previous $21.5 million renourishment project. This new window of opportunity is only about 60 days long because sea turtle season begins May 1 and the species is federally protected. The trucks will be accessing the shoreline through the county parking lot at the beach. The project was originally projected for 2026, and then moved up several times by Sarasota County officials due
to pressure from FEMA. Now, it goes into hurry-up mode because the $4 million grant FEMA provided has been determined to expire June 30 of 2023. The agency gave out several grants to area’s impacted by Hermine, and Sarasota County is the only entity to not yet utilize it. In short, FEMA wants it off its books. Bob Luckner of the Siesta Key Association civic group has expressed concern in recent months regarding traffic, road wear, resident and tourist safety, and whether or not the plan is even realistic. It goes out for bid soon. “I don’t think they’ll be able to pull it off,” Luckner said. “Who out there right now has the manpower and the equipment that can do it all in such a short amount of time?” Still, the county took step one in October by hiring a firm Continued on page 43
Grant is SSK’s focus
State Rep. Mike Grant of District 75 addresses the audience at the Dec. 6 public meeting hosted by the Save Siesta Key group that is looking to incorporate the island. (photo by Travis Dudley)
New delegation member has the swing vote, and all eyes are upon him By John Morton He’s only been a member of the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation for a few months, joining the mix by inheriting a small portion of southern Sarasota County due to redistricting. Nonetheless, Mike Grant suddenly finds himself the most important member of the delegation as far as Save Siesta Key is concerned. And the good intentions of a non-required straw vote are also causing a bit of anxiety for the incorporation
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group. It was suggested by the delegation last year, but Save Siesta Key took it upon itself to conduct the poll. Now, the results could mean everything. At Save Siesta Key’s Dec. 6 public information meeting at Siesta Key Chapel, which drew roughly 200 people, Grant had all eyes on him when it became clear that the absence of state Rep. James Buchanan, who now serves as chairman of the delegation, would Continued on page 41
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Later live music Perfect place for 75 years for New Irish pub is open at south end hours supported strolling, trolling the Beach Club • Village Map/business listings PAGES 24, 25 • Crescent Beach Map/ business listings PAGE 28 • Music Calendar PAGE 32 •Gulf Gate Shops PAGE 39 • Accommodations Map PAGE 47
YOUR VOICE MATTERS REASO TO VOTNS E
YES!
RETURN YOUR STRAW BALLOT BY MAIL TODAY!
NO MORE MEGA HOTELS
STOP ILLEGAL SHORT-TERM RENTALS PRESERVE OUR ISLAND’S UNIQUE
CHARM AND PRISTINE ENVIRONMENT
If you are a registered Siesta Key voter and haven’t received a straw ballot, please contact 941-287-8024
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