HOLMES BEACH – On May 5, Holmes Beach Public Works Director Sage Kamiya received a project update from Manatee County on the water main replacement project that’s been underway for several months along 62nd through 65th streets between Marina Drive and Holmes Boulevard.
Dated March 31, the AMI Water Main Replacement PH 42 43 schedule that Kamiya received from the county and shared with the mayor and city commissioners calls for the current portion of the county project to be completed by mid-to-late June.
Kamiya’s email update included the May 2 email that Manatee County Public Works Infrastructure Inspection Officer Scott Burnard sent Holmes Beach Public Works Project Manager Matt Gorman.
“Currently connecting water services to new water main. Still need to tie-in the water main at 62nd and 63rd at Marina,” Burnard stated in his email. “Dewater is still in place at the end of 62nd and Marina and 63rd and Marina for tie-ins. Hoping to do these next week but not confirmed as of today. As part of this overall project there are three other streets to be done. These have not been scheduled at this time. They are 54th, 55th and 65th.”
On April 8, city Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Dan Diggins asked Kamiya to provide a project update and both commissioners said they received inquiries from impacted residents.
“I think we’ve all driven by it and there’s an odor that’s coming from it,” Schaefer said.
“You’re smelling the sulfur that is naturally occurring,” Kamiya said of the odor created by the dewatering process needed to accommodate the pipe installations.
Kamiya also noted that the city has no control over a county project.
A visit to the worksite on May 8 indicated the dewatering process remained ongoing, the odor was still present and barricades and other project-related items were still in place in some areas within the project area.
