MANATEE -- County officials held a conference call last week with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to iron out details of the groundbreaking for the long-delayed Wares Creek project.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, is set for 10 a.m. Nov. 14 at the former Bradenton City Hall site, at 15th Street West and Manatee Avenue, according to Nick Azzara, county information outreach coordinator.

“We’re going to make every effort to recognize everyone involved in the project, from its inception in the 1980s,” Azzara said Friday.

Among those likely to be invited to speak will be federal officials, such as U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota; U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.; Corps and local officials, such as Charlie Hunsicker, director of the county’s Natural Resources Department, Azzara said. “He will be in tegral to that ceremony because he’s spearheaded that project for several years now,” said Azzara, referring to Hunsicker.

The ceremony will focus on “showing our appreciation for all the parties involved throughout the years,” he added.

The county is also planning an informational session for the public, slated for 6 p.m. Oct. 25, at Ballard Elementary, 912 18th St. W., said Azzara.

“We’re really hoping that at the meeting we’re going to have materials with FAQs; expect maps of the scope of the project, and maybe some past and present photos of the creekbed,” he said.

“It’ll be for the public to let everyone know what’s going to happen, and know the time frame in which the work will be done,” said Azzara.

In June, the Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District announced it had awarded a $3.5 million contract for Phase I work at Wares Creek to TransWest Dredge. =

The first phase will entail dredging an estimated 37,000 cubic yards of silt and mud from between the Ninth Avenue bridge and the Manatee Avenue bridge, corps officials have said previously.

The total cost of the three-phase project for dredging, bridge replacement and other related work will be about $45.5 million, they have said.

The work focuses on the east branch of Cedar Hammock, which flows north through Manatee and into the city of Bradenton, where it becomes Wares Creek. The project is designed to reduce flooding and related issues in the Cedar Hammock-Wares Creek Basin.

Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at (941) 745-7031.