A consent order placed on Sarasota’s city wastewater system by the state Department of Environmental Protection was closed Monday following improvements to a number of lift stations, including one where a massive spill occurred in 2005. But a long-term project to install a new station at Luke Wood Park continues its long trudge forward. 

Mitt Tidwell, city utilities director, said the decision by DEP to close a consent order put in place a decade ago shows recognition of a commitment on Sarasota’s park to capital improvements. “The reliability of the wastewater collection and treatment system in the City of Sarasota has been enhanced and the surface water in Sarasota Bay is cleaner,” he said. In meeting recommendations of the consent order, the city conducted significant rehabilitations for eight lift stations, did pipe replacement and lining citywide, and installed a monitoring and alarm system that allows for control of remote equipment. The final improvements made before the consent order was lifted were to Lift Station 7, where 550,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Hudson Bayou in 2005. There, a new 500-kilowatt generator was recently installed, ensuring the heavily-used station would remain functional in a storm.

Tidwell said some of those improvements had been put off because the city is in the process of building a new station, Lift Station 87, at Luke Wood Park, and LS7 will be taken off line when that project is done. He notes that while neighbors remain concerned about the aging LS7, public works staff visits that station daily and there has been aggressive upkeep on the site. “It’s 35 years old, but virtually the only thing that still exists from when it was built is the concrete,” he said. “We’ve replaced pumps, motors and components. A new generator was the last thing.”

Of course, City Commissioner Susan Chapman, who as a neighborhood activist pushed for problems at LS7 to be addressed, said the improvements have been disruptive. “A lot of maintenance issues have been taken care of, but a lot of it is a retrofitting of a worn out lift station,” she said. “I don’t think the city had any choice. The station was at risk if there was a storm event. But why spend that money? Because of the slowness of finishing the Lift Station 87 project. It’s just spending more good money after bad.”

Meanwhile, the city continues to discuss the long-terms plans at LS87. A special meeting will be held July 7 to discuss elements of the project, including the design of the pipeline to the station.  

Read about the history of Lift Station 7 and 87 in the July issue of SRQ Magazine

Gary Tuhro has joined the Sarasota Tile Outlets of America team as the Pro Services relationship manager, having recently transferred from the Tile Outlets store in Tampa. Tuhro will work directly with industry professionals such as tile installers, general contractors, builders and designers. The primary responsibility of the Pro Services relationship manager is to cultivate, develop and maintain close business relationships with professional customers in the marketplace. Tuhro will work closely with trade professionals both in the store and at customer job sites, helping to provide appropriate product solutions within defined budget requirements. 

Tile Outlets of America

The Venice Golf and Country Club was recently named as one of America’s Healthiest Clubs by Prevo Health Solutions, an honor recognizing the community’s commitment to its members’ overall health and wellness. Prevo Health Solutions’s five-category rating system examines and analyzes club fitness facilities and program offerings as well as the training and health of club staff and the menu options available in all club-dining operations. The health report praised The Venice Golf and Country Club for earning exceptionally high marks in the fitness and golf departments of its survey.  

The Venice Golf and Country Club

 The SCOPE Board has selected Carolyn Johnson, civic leader, educator, businesswoman, fundraiser and philanthropist, as the 2015 Boundary Crosser. Carolyn has created positive change in the Sarasota County community through her focus on issues ranging from the arts to healthcare to youth development. Her passionate leadership has inspired others to get involved with Ringling College of Art and Design, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Florida, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and many other organizations.  

SCOPE

First Watch announced the addition of two restaurant-industry veterans to its dynamic leadership team. The breakfast, brunch and lunch cafe hired David Gonzalez as vice president of franchising and Danny Foster as vice president of design and construction. Gonzalez joins the First Watch team after serving as vice president of franchising at Le Duff America. At First Watch, Gonzalez is responsible for developing new franchise partnerships and fostering the brand’s current franchise relationships. Foster joins the team after spending 15 years in purchasing, construction and development at companies including Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill. He will lead First Watch’s construction team and oversee design and development for both remodels and new restaurant openings. 

First Watch