Palmetto seawall contractor dispute resolved; work could begin in mid-January

PALMETTO -- It's been almost six months since the city of Palmetto discovered its seawall, stretching hundreds of feet on both sides of the Green Bridge, was in a "near failure" state, but repair work could begin soon.

City commissioners were expected to approve the contract with Palmetto's Quality Marine Construction in early December, but Punta Gorda-based Marine Contracting Group filed an appeal against the city's bid process, which delayed finalizing the contract. Naples attorney Michael Randolph, representing Marine Contracting Group, filed the appeal, questioning the validity of Quality Marine's bid and that his client submitted the lowest bid.

Marine Contracting Group submitted a bid of $327,269 compared to Quality Marine's bid of $346,610. However, costs of the project were secondary to timing. The seawall must be completed prior to a planned Florida Department of Transportation multi-modal project spanning from the Green Bridge into Riverside Drives east and west, as part of a six-phase project to be completed in 2021. That project is expected to begin shortly after the Feb. 6 Bradenton Area River Regatta.

Quality Marine, in their bid, stated they could start the project within five days of a notice to proceed and have the project completed within 43 days. Randolph questioned that claim, noting that out of the 10 quotes submitted from various contractors bidding on the project, the average timetable was about 100 days longer than the Quality Marine estimate. Quality Marine later clarified the 43-day estimate was "working days."

The appeal process is threefold. The city clerk first makes a decision and then that decision can be appealed to the mayor and finally, the city commission. City Clerk Jim Freeman said Marine Contracting Group "indicated they were not going to appeal to the commission."

Freeman said the appeal is resolved and that he and Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant "upheld the decision from our procurement office and we both issued a formal response."

Bryant expressed confidence that Quality Marine can meet its 43-day deadline.

"We spoke with both of them during the process and they both were asked about the time frame, because that is the most important part of this with all the work lined up after the seawall is done," said Bryant. "I have every confidence that it will be done and in speaking with Quality Marine, they have assured me that they are going to put every single one of their crews on this job to make sure it's done on time."

Freeman said there are financial penalties that the contractor will incur if the construction deadline is not met. He said it appears Quality Marine has the resources in place to meet the deadline.

With Marine Contracting Group ending its appeal, the city commission is expected to take up the contract with Quality Marine Construction at its Jan. 4 meeting. Bryant said work should begin Jan. 12.

The second part of the seawall project is the implementation of a living shoreline, what is being called the first of its kind. The living shoreline will be built 10 feet off the seawall and will consist of man made materials mimicking a coral reef that will encourage marine life and vegetation to thrive. It cannot begin until the seawall repairs begin.

"Once the seawall project moves forward, the (Community Redevelopment Agency) can follow up with the living shoreline, which right now is in permitting with the state," said CRA Director Jeff Burton. "Once that is out of the way, we look forward to FDOT coming in to do the improvements on the multi-modal project, which includes (Southwest Florida Water Management District) environmental development impacts with the red brick pavers and bioswales. There are a lot of players involved here and we are doing our best to make sure we work within all of that."

Bryant doesn't believe work on the seawall will affect the Bradenton Area River Regatta.

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Palmetto seawall contractor dispute resolved; work could begin in mid-January ."