Bradenton residents grow tired of living in shadow of Ware's Creek project

BRADENTON -- There have been many predictions from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as to when certain segments of the $57.8 million Ware's Creek flood mitigation project would begin, end and, in some cases, restart. Rarely have they been accurate.

In October, the Corps announced Miami-based PAC Comm was "95 percent done" work in an area between 17th and 21st avenues west, where it took over after the original contractor, Air Ideal, was fired. PAC picked up the work last summer and it continues. According to Corps spokeswoman Amanda Parker, two modifications were made to the project to better secure the creek walls from erosion that brought PAC back into that area.

"Both of those are wrapping up," Parker said this week. "We are 99 percent done. Fencing, handrails, sod

and asphalt repairs are the major items left to be completed. Pre-final inspection between the Corps, sponsor and the contractor is scheduled within the next two weeks. We anticipate all work to be completed in the next 30 days."

Residents have heard it before.

"I've been living through this for two years, almost to the day," said Mark Cosgrove, who lives on the creek at the corner of 18th Avenue Drive West. "It was May 2014 when Air Ideal first got into the creek and everything was going along pretty good for about a week. Ever since then, it's been one thing after another after another. Air Ideal were at least nice people. They were respectful to the residents, but they were just way in over their head."

When PAC was awarded the $6.2 million contract for Air Ideal's segment of the project, the company set up its storage area right outside Cosgrove's home.

His home security video cameras have captured some unfortunate activities.

Cosgrove showed the Bradenton Herald photos and videos that show PAC workers throwing trash out of their vehicles and leaving it on the roadway, cutting vegetation and leaving it to slip into the creek, throwing trash into the creek and using the storage area outside of his house as an outside restroom.

Cosgrove documented an incident where a PAC employee slid his backhoe into the creek, which took 24 hours to remove. Video shows PAC employees consistently parking in front of a nearby fire hydrant, blocking his driveway at all hours of the day and instances of employees driving their trucks backward through the neighborhood, in one case almost hitting a child on a bike.

A PAC spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Cosgrove said he has complained numerous times to Corps representatives, although: "They are rarely out here."

Parker said the Corps of Engineers has a policy all complaints must be submitted in writing and there were no complaints on file.

"They never mentioned that to me when I was talking to them, twice in person and once on the phone," said Cosgrove. "I'm very frustrated and I've had no answers from the beginning. They just stonewall you and act like, 'We're the Corps, we can do whatever we want.'"

Jeremy Violette and other residents said they simply stopped trying to clean up the daily dust, and a few said pile driving and heavy equipment have shaken their houses to the point of cracks in the plaster. Some now worry about their foundations.

"The house was shaking all the time," said Violette. "It's been a terrible experience. It should have been done a year ago."

PAC has been praised by the Corps and Ward 3 Councilman Patrick Roff for the work they've done. Violette acknowledges PAC has done a much better job than Air Ideal. Cosgrove does, too, but said if city or county officials lived on the creek as he does, they wouldn't be handing out praise.

"They have no idea what I've been through," said Cosgrove. "They keep telling me stuff that isn't true. I would love an acknowledgement from someone about everything I've put up with over two years, but I don't think that's forthcoming. There seems to be no sense of urgency to get this done."

Parker said the project is projected to be significantly under budget. According to the last financial report filed in the U.S. Congress, the project cost is estimated at $33 million.

"In other words, we estimate the project will be completed 27 percent below the congressional budgeted amount," said Parker.

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

This story was originally published March 18, 2016 at 11:27 PM with the headline "Bradenton residents grow tired of living in shadow of Ware's Creek project ."