ABWIG President Len Berkstresser at the Nov. 12 town hall meeting. Berkstresser emphasized that the donated money is in place, has not been mismanaged and is available for dredging that now, in conjunction with Hillsborough County, is expected to begin in April 2016. Michelle Traphagen photos.
The Apollo Beach Waterway Improvement Group, better known as ABWIG, held a town hall meeting on Nov. 12 with representatives from the nonprofit organization and officials from county government presenting. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an update on the now-delayed project of dredging the channels in the waterfront community.
“We’re getting very close,” said ABWIG president Len Berkstresser. “We made promises we couldn’t keep, and tonight we will explain why it didn’t happen. But you’ll be glad to know where we are.”
Berkstresser emphasized that the money collected, totaling nearly a quarter of a million dollars, has not been mismanaged. The money came largely from corporate donors but also from individuals within the community, through years of fundraising efforts.
The initial contractor chosen by ABWIG and whose quote for job completion provided a financial target for the group, backed out of the project. Subsequent contractors quoted more than the organization could afford. With ongoing environmental restoration work at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, ABWIG, with the support of Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman, has since sided with Hillsborough County to ensure the project will be completed.
“A Memorandum of Understanding between the county and ABWIG governs our ‘partnership’ to dredge the three channels and use the sand to restore the beach,” said ABWIG vice president Pat Austin. “The county is using its connections to leverage a contract for dredging, building the dewatering area, and pushing the sand to create a 2-acre beach at the northwest bay side of the Nature Preserve.”
He said, “The county expects to be able to ‘piggyback’ on an existing contract signed by another county or use its own contractors or use its expert purchasing department (or any combination) to lower the cost of the project.”
Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman spoke and took questions at the town hall meeting in Apollo Beach.
Murman, along with Deputy County Administrator Greg Horwedel and Ross Dickerson, Hillsborough County Environmental Lands manager, were at the meeting.
“There are a number of strategies we can deploy and the county is committed to doing this,” Horwedel said. “We are confident we have the time to do this in a methodical, planned way.”
When asked by a member of the audience about the confidence level of finding an affordable contractor to do the dredging work, Dickerson responded in a forthright fashion.
“We’re not sure,” he said. “But we are committed to getting this project done.”
Horwedel added that a future contractor would be chosen from a county-approved list.
“These contractors have multiple resources and continued motivation to bid competitively on projects the county brings them,” he said.
The dredging work is currently scheduled for April through August 2016, a time frame chosen because it will generally be after manatees leave the area. The work will be somewhat in concert with ongoing county work at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, which will be closed during much of the dredging.
“We want to bring the beach back to Apollo Beach,” Dickerson said. With breakwaters and other work already in place, the environmental manager reported seeing various marine life at the park that previously had not been seen there. A 2-acre beach is planned for the benefit of all area residents.
Dickerson also asked visitors to the preserve to do no harm. Some people have reportedly been removing the mangrove trees planted there, which not only provide habitat but also help to reduce erosion. Dickerson reported that of the 180 mangrove trees planted, only about 50 remain.
As for the dredging, ABWIG and the county are looking for a cost of $16 per cubic yard removed, with a total of 11,000 cubic yards to be removed. With containment and other related costs factored in, the new estimate for the project ranges from $280,000 to $325,000. Since it is tied to an existing county project, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners voted to allocate $50,000 toward ABWIG’s efforts.
Although delayed, the project, with the support of the county, appears to be well on course again. Horwedel credited Commissioner Murman for working to keep things moving.
“Thank your commissioner,” he said. “She has done a great job.”
Meanwhile, fundraising efforts continue, primarily through a program entitled Mark Your Marker, which allows names on channel markers in return for a contribution. Volunteers from ABWIG will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the aids to navigation in the north, south and main channels from Tampa Bay.
“Sponsor one of these channel markers by making a donation and we’ll put your name on a plaque on that marker,” Austin said.
There are also opportunities to sponsor navigation lights.
The second main fundraising activity as Patrons of the Plants at the Park, is entitled, “Picture Your Plant at the Preserve.” The program emerged from ABWIG’s agreement with the county in working to restore the park, while maintaining it in the future.
Organization volunteers, along with other community members and groups will be planting 3,510 mature native plants on a 3-acre upland inside the preserve. ABWIG is currently seeking donations for the purchase of the native plants. A day called “The Big Plant” is planned for July 2016, after the completion of dredging and once the new beach is in place.
“The Apollo Beach Nature Preserve allows public access to the shoreline of Tampa Bay and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife,” Austin said. “Visitors can fish and watch the shorebirds, manatees, dolphins and sunsets. The native plants in this unique setting will be appreciated by those who replaced the plants and all who enjoy visiting this county park.”
The preserve is located at 6760 Surfside Blvd. in Apollo Beach
According to Austin, memorial donations are encouraged for both the markers and plants. The names of donors will be publicized and listed on the ABWIG website, except for those requesting anonymity.
Donations may be sent to ABWIG at P.O. Box 3251, Apollo Beach, FL 33572.
“Please enclose a note, designating your donation for the plants [or channel marker] and give us a phone number so we can contact you for further information,” Austin said.
For more information visit www.abwig.org.
