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Police department boat lift back on track

Police department boat lift back on track

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift has repositioned and repaired the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier and expects to complete the installation of a boat lift for the Bradenton Beach Police Department next week.

The boat lift installation is expected to be completed well ahead of the Sept. 30 grant funding deadline for the boat lift project.

On Wednesday, Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift foreman Tom Schied said the boat lift installation would take two to three days to complete once that work started. On Friday, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the Duncan crew planned to start driving the boat lift pilings on Saturday or Monday. The floating dock was open Friday afternoon and being used by boaters.

Duncan’s work crew, barge crane and other equipment arrived on Tuesday and made quick work of repositioning the floating dock 8 feet to the east, toward the T-end of the pier. That work included the installation of four new pilings.

Police department boat lift back on track
Duncan foreman Tom Scheid installed a cap on one of the new dock pilings Wednesday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The dock repairs also included the installation of new roller brackets that connect the floating dock to the dock pilings. The new roller brackets replaced some of the roller brackets that Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company used when installing the floating dock in July and early August of 2019. Some of the brackets installed in 2019 were later deemed unsuitable for that specific location and application.

Police department boat lift back on track
The Duncan crew also replaced some of the roller brackets that connect the floating dock to the pilings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Duncan was brought in to complete the dock repositioning and repairs as a result of discussions that occurred during the Sept. 2 and Sept. 14 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings.

Grant deadline

During the Sept. 2 meeting, Perry and Lt. John Cosby told the CRA members the long-desired boat lift installation must be completed by Sept. 30 if a $50,000 West Coast Inland Navigation District Grant (WCIND) approved by Manatee County commissioners in May 2017 was to pay for the boat lift.

During that meeting, Duncan Seawall General Manager Steve Porter confirmed that the boat lift had to be connected to the west end of the floating dock after the repositioning and repairs were completed.

Police department boat lift back on track
The police department boat lift will be attached to the west end of the repositioned floating dock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During the Sept. 2 meeting, the CRA members reconfirmed their previous authorization for Hecker Construction Company to complete the dock repairs and repositioning for $11,600. The CRA members also authorized Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift to install a 10,000-pound-capacity boat lift for approximately $37,813 after Hecker completed its work – if that timetable could be met.

During a follow-up emergency CRA meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, the CRA members authorized Duncan to reposition and repair the premanufactured floating dock. CRA chairman Ralph Cole said a Hecker representative told him that company could not complete the dock repairs and repositioning in time to meet the Sept. 30 boat lift installation deadline.

“They couldn’t do it until October. We need this done right away,” Cole said. “I want to thank Duncan for stepping in and doing this. This has gone on long enough and we just need to get it across the finish line.”

During Monday’s meeting, Perry read aloud a written statement regarding Duncan’s offer to complete both projects before the boat lift grant money availability expires.

“Chairman Cole has dedicated significant time trying to work with Hecker and finalize the installation of the floating dock to no avail. It has been clear that Hecker is not in a position to accomplish this goal in a timely fashion. Fortunately, we have Duncan and Ronáutica who have understood the different challenges we have faced, and both have jumped in to bring this project across the line,” Perry said.

Regarding past events that also involved the Technomarine Group originally contracted to install the floating dock in 2017, Perry said, “Thank you to Oscar Saá and Ronáutica for providing the materials, shipping and releasing of them from U.S. customs to Bradenton Beach. Ronáutica had every right to retain possession over the floating dock; however, it looked out for the best interest of Bradenton Beach and made sure the city received the product it had paid for even at Ronáutica’s financial loss.

“We all know of the problems following the installation work of Hecker on the floating dock. Understanding the importance and needs of the city, Duncan Seawall has generously offered to undertake the work proposed by Hecker. They will also meet the critical deadlines of the WCIND grant so that our police department will have an essential resource for its marine patrol unit,” Perry said.

Police department boat lift back on track
Some of the previously installed roller brackets have been removed and replaced. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Thank you to Steve Porter, Steve Liebel and all of Duncan Seawall for your support of our law enforcement officers, the city and all of our visitors who will enjoy the Bridge Street Pier even more because of you. This project would have failed but for Duncan’s strong ties and commitment to our community,” Perry said.

She also noted CRA-contracted engineer Joe Foster had already produced the engineering documents needed to repair and position the floating dock and install the boat lift.

Related coverage

 

Police boat lift project may lose funding

Police boat lift project may lose funding

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) finds itself in a race against time to complete the long-desired installation of a police department boat lift next to the Bridge Street Pier.

The boat lift project must be completed by Sept. 30 in order to take advantage of a $50,000 West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) grant approved by Manatee County commissioners in May 2017.

The police boat currently sits on a trailer parked near the police station and must be trailered to a boat ramp to be placed in the water.

Complicating matters is the necessity for the boat lift to be connected to the floating dock that must first be repositioned to the east by approximately 8 feet by Hecker Construction Company, which installed the pre-manufactured dock in mid-2019 for $11,600.

Police boat lift grant funds in potential peril
Before the boat lift can be installed, the floating dock must be repositioned approximately 8 feet to the east, toward the far end of the pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Further complicating the boat lift installation timetable is the need for contract engineer Joe Foster to separately engineer the dock repositioning and the boat lift installation.

During the Wednesday, Sept. 2 CRA meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said Mayor John Chappie had sought an extension for the WCIND grant in vain.

“Moments ago, I received the information that we do not get an extension, so it must be completed by the end of the month,” Perry said.

Lt. John Cosby, of the Bradenton Beach Police Department, also addressed the growing sense of urgency.

“This WCIND money for this boat lift has to be expended by Sept. 30th, which means we have to approve this vendor and they have to get this boat lift installed. It has to be invoiced, it has to be paid and I need a canceled check by Sept. 30th in order for us to receive this money,” Cosby said.

If installed as planned, the boat lift will be placed perpendicular to the pier and floating dock in the open space between the west end of the dock and the corner of the pier walkway near the Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s outdoor seating area.

Police Chief Sam Speciale and the CRA members originally envisioned installing the boat lift on the north side of the pier. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection would not approve that location because it would infringe on the riparian rights of the neighboring Pines Trailer Park.

Police boat lift grant funds in potential peril
The proposed boat lift would be located at the west end of the repositioned floating dock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Aug. 27, Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift General Manager Steve Porter submitted the only response to the city’s request for proposals to install the boat lift.

Duncan’s bid response proposed a $41,279 cost to install a 16,000-pound-capacity aluminum and stainless steel boat lift manufactured by Golden Boat Lifts and supported by four pressure-treated, marine-grade pilings driven into the bay bottom.

Before Wednesday’s CRA meeting began, Porter emailed Perry an additional quote for a 10,000-pound-capacity lift that would cost $37,813.

During the meeting, Porter said the cost estimates include the water and electrical lines and connections, the remote control, the security lighting and a walk-up catwalk. Porter said the lift, as currently designed, must be located at the west end of the floating dock.

Porter said the police boat weighs 3,000 pounds and he recommended a 10,000-pound-capacity lift.

“Give us two weeks after approval and it’s installed in a week,” he said.

Police boat lift grant funds in potential peril
This illustration shows the proposed boat lift configuration and location. – Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift | Submitted

CRA Chairman Ralph Cole said Hecker Construction needs a barge to reposition the floating dock and he did not know how much advance planning that would require. He said he would do his best to get that work done as soon as possible.

Perry said she would help coordinate the efforts to get all the needed work done in the remaining timeframe.

“If I cannot get this engineering done and I cannot get the dock moved in time, we’re probably not able to move forward and I don’t want to bind the city to expend $50,000 at this time. Truth be told, we don’t have it in our budget to do that,” Perry said of the boat lift project’s current reliance on WCIND funds.

The CRA members were divided on the need for Foster to engineer the boat lift installation but given the time constraints, they approved doing so.

The CRA members approved the installation of a 10,000-pound-capacity boat lift, contingent on the WCIND funds being available, and Porter said he understood the CRA’s position and time constraints regarding the grant money.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use

Bradenton Beach’s new floating dock now in use

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The new floating public dock next to the historic Bridge Street Pier is now open and being used by boaters.

The Hecker Construction Company completed the dock installation last week and City Commissioner and Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) chairman Ralph Cole led a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Aug. 2. Cole thanked Manatee County officials for partnering with the CRA on the dock project.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
Community Redevelopment Agency chairman Ralph Cole, center, cut the ceremonial ribbon Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Friday morning’s attendees included CRA and city commission members John Chappie and Jake Spooner, Manatee County Commissioners Betsy Benac, Steve Jonsson and Carol Whitmore, Deputy County Administrator John Osborne, Manatee County Tourist Development Council member Eric Cairns, congressional aide Gary Tibbetts, Anna Maria Oyster Bar president and pier tenant John Horne, Anna Maria Oyster Bar managing partner Lynn Horne, Bridge Street Merchants Vice President and Paradise Boat Tours’ General Manager and pier sub-tenant Sherman Baldwin, City Attorney Ricinda Perry, City Treasurer Shayne Thompson and several others.

Before Cole cut the ribbon, John Horne produced a tray of Bloody Marys and proposed a toast.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
Anna Maria Oyster Bar president John Horne, right, serves up Bloody Marys and proposes a toast. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The new dock replaces the storm-damaged floating dock removed from that location in 2016. The new floating dock is 10 feet wide, approximately 256 feet long and once again provides recreational boaters with free short-term dockage.

It also provides limited short-term dockage for tour boats, water taxis and other commercial vessels to load and unload passengers. Fishing and overnight docking are prohibited on the new dock.

After the ribbon cutting, attendees walked down the gangplank and onto the new dock.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
Former Mayor Jack Clarke, right, was among those who visited the new dock Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“It took a while, but it looks awesome. This was a team effort that included all our department heads and especially our police chief, Sam Speciale,” Cole said.

Cole also mentioned the public discussions and strategic efforts CRA members and city staff engaged in during the past two and a half years that ultimately resulted in the long-delayed dock project being completed without any lawsuits filed.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
These boats were among the first to use the new dock on Friday. –
Lynn Horne/Anna Maria Oyster Bar | Submitted

“The process was frustrating at times, but thanks to our CRA board, our city attorney and our city staff we now have one of the best publicly-owned docking sites on the west coast of Florida,” Spooner said.

“It’s been a long time coming and we’re glad the county was able to work with the city to get this floating dock. It’s another example of everybody working together toward the common good of Anna Maria Island,” Whitmore said.

“This is fabulous. It’s going to be phenomenal to see the boats back out here again this weekend. It’s going to bring people to Bridge Street. People enjoy going places by water and this will help get some cars off the road,” John Horne said.

“This is a big day for all of Bridge Street. This is even better than I expected,” Baldwin said.

As a boater, Baldwin said he appreciates the rubber rub rail running along the outer edge of the dock that will help prevent docked boats from getting scuffed up.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
The new dock was in use again Saturday morning. – Sherman Baldwin/Paradise Boat Tours | Submitted

“This connects the Island to Tampa, St. Pete., Clearwater and other places you can come from by boat. There’s great shopping and restaurants here and they can even go to the Moose Lodge,” charter fishing Captain Scott Moore said.

“It’s another great day for the city,” Perry said.

“This is a great example of what working as a team can accomplish,” Thompson added.

“I’m glad to see that this project finally came to a long-overdue completion,” Speciale said later in the day.

During the previous night’s city commission meeting, Chappie thanked Cole for his efforts.

“It’s been a long struggle. I know it’s a team effort, but you have to have a leader. Great job,” Chappie said.

Project costs

The CRA and Manatee County co-funded the dock project. According to Thompson, the final cost is $191,524. That is $71,544 more than the $119,980 originally contracted with the North Palm Beach-based Technomarine Group in early 2017.

In 2017, county commissioners agreed to reimburse the CRA for half of a dock project’s total cost, not to exceed $250,000. That agreement, which was later renewed, means the CRA and the county are each contributing $95,762 to the project. The county’s contribution comes from the 5 percent tourist tax levied countywide on hotels, motels and vacation rentals.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
The dock cleats bear the name of the Technomarine Group that was dismissed from the dock project earlier this year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Earlier this year, the CRA discontinued its contractual relationship with Technomarine due to the prolonged and ongoing delays. The CRA then turned to the Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Group to install the dock decking sections previously premanufactured by Spain-based Ronautica Marinas and shipped to Florida in mid-2018.

As the city’s Pier Team facilitator, Speciale served as the primary project liaison until mid-April. Cole, Perry, Thompson and Building Official Steve Gilbert then guided the project to its completion.

Bradenton Beach's new floating dock now in use
CRA chair Ralph Cole and City Attorney Ricinda Perry helped guide the dock project to completion. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project

Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach’s long-delayed $119,980 floating dock project may now cost an additional $45,302 to $69,456 to complete.

On Wednesday, April 3, Police Chief and pier team facilitator Sam Speciale presented Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members with two dock installation estimates he received from Hecker Construction Company Operations Manager Eric Shaffer on March 25.

Hecker estimates $81,600 to install the previously-purchased floating dock components using yet-to-be-purchased wooden pilings, or $105,754 to complete the project using yet-to-be-purchased composite pilings.

These estimates took CRA members by surprise and they requested a special follow-up meeting on Wednesday, April 10. The members asked Speciale to bring back a second opinion from another engineer regarding the number of pilings needed. Speciale was also asked to bring back a second opinion from Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift regarding Hecker’s cost estimates. In 2015-16, Duncan built the Bridge Street Pier; the floating dock will be installed next to the pier.

The original $119,980 contract the CRA and Technomarine agreed to in early 2017 included $27,000 for dock installation, pilings included. Earlier this year, the CRA released Technomarine of its remaining contractual obligations due to the lengthy delays incurred.

Technomarine had already contacted Hecker Construction about serving as a dock installation subcontractor.

Until Wednesday’s meeting, CRA members assumed Hecker would install the floating dock for the $27,000 cited in the now-invalid Technomarine contract. The CRA does not currently have a new contract with Hecker or any other firm to finish the dock project.

Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project
The premanufactured dock sections are being stored at the Hecker Construction Company yard in Gibsonton. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

The aluminum-framed, composite dock decking sections have been sitting at Hecker’s construction yard in Gibsonton since being delivered there in September. Technomarine then delivered the dock floats to Hecker on March 4. The float delivery fulfilled the contractual release agreement City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Technomarine attorney Julianne Frank negotiated in December.

A few hours after the April 3 CRA meeting ended, Speciale received an email from Shaffer that said, “Per our phone conversation, the price of $27,000 that Techno gave the city was for us just to assemble floats and deliver them to the job site. Technomarine never spoke to us about the pilings or anything else to do with the project.”

More money

Hecker’s $81,600 estimate includes $37,000 to provide and install 36 PVC-wrapped wooden pilings and an additional $17,800 to provide and install the additional hoop brackets and rollers needed to attach the dock sections to the wood pilings.

Hecker’s $105,754 estimate includes $67,704 to provide and install 25 composite pilings and an additional $11,250 for the hoop brackets and rollers.

Both Hecker estimates include $20,000 to attach the floats to the decking, $2,800 to remove the existing pilings, $2,000 for mobilization and demobilization and $2,000 to transport the floats to the pier job site.

Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project
Police Chief Sam Speciale, Chad Kelly and Eric Shaffer from the Hecker Construction Company and Community Redevelopment Agency chairman Ralph Cole visited the pier on March 14. – Sherman Baldwin | Submitted

During the April 3 meeting, Speciale cited financial figures provided by City Treasurer Shayne Thompson. According to Thompson, the CRA paid Technomarine $83,682 of the $119,980 agreed to in 2017. This leaves $36,298 in remaining budgeted project funds.

As part of its 50 percent cost-sharing agreement with Manatee County, the CRA has received $41,841 in county reimbursements. In March, the CRA and the county extended that interlocal funding agreement until year’s end.

Speciale told CRA members the county originally agreed to contribute up to $125,000 for a project not to exceed $250,000. Perry questioned whether the county is willing to reimburse the CRA for the additional costs now being discussed. She suggested asking the county’s engineer to review the engineering work Clarsen Consulting Engineering did on Hecker’s behalf.

On Feb. 6, CRA members discussed but never formally approved a $9,200 estimate from Hecker Construction for engineering and permitting services. According to Thompson, the CRA has not yet been invoiced for those services.

Speciale said if wood pilings are used, Hecker’s engineer calls for a piling every five feet. Speciale said Building Official Steve Gilbert questions whether Hecker’s engineer is “over-engineering” the number of pilings needed.

Speciale said he was told the piling requirements increased after Hurricane Irma hit in September 2017, but he did not specify which agency or building code now requires more pilings than would have been required when the project was contracted in 2017.

On Friday, Gilbert said he’s not aware of any changes to the Florida Building Code that would require more pilings. On Friday, Perry said she was not aware of any new engineering requirements imposed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“This issue concerns me,” Perry said.

The packet for the April 10 CRA meeting includes two proposed budget amendment requests. If approved, the proposed $45,302 CRA budget amendment would cover the additional cost to complete the dock project using wooden pilings. The proposed $69,456 budget amendment would cover the additional cost to complete the project using composite pilings.

Increased costs anticipated for Bradenton Beach dock project
What remained of the previous storm-damaged floating dock was removed in August 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun