Price tag for Hurricane Ian cleanup in Venice drops to $10.3 million

VENICE – The city's expected cost of cleaning up after Hurricane Ian has dropped from $17.7 million to $10.3 million, Venice's finance, building department and public works directors told the City Council this week.

The big drop came from a reduction in the projected cost of storm debris removal from $8.6 million to $4.5 million, Finance Director Linda Senne told the council.

The next biggest ticket item involved damages to buildings and equipment, including the Venice Municipal Airport building and T-hangars that pilots rent to store their planes.

That totaled $2.58 million, with about $2.2 million at the airport.

Final figures will depend on insurance settlements.

Related: Venice anticipates $17.7 million cleanup bill from Hurricane Ian

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Repair of stormwater control facilities – specifically at the foot of Alhambra Road and Osprey Ditch – are projected to cost $372,434. About $220,000 of that is attributed to the Alhambra Road repair.

Venice Building Official Steve Beckman said the estimated overall residential damage in the city is $71.1 million, while the estimated commercial building damage is $18.78 million.

Beckman noted that 18 buildings were destroyed, 108 received major damage, 1,942 minor damage, with another 2,476 "affected" by the storm.

Public Works Director Rick Simpson told the council that CrowderGulf, the contractor responsible for hauling away Ian debris, completed removal of all debris piles in the city right of way on Dec. 9.

In all, 141,833 cubic yards of vegetative debris and 6,900 cubic yards of construction and demolition debris has been collected.

He added that by the end of Tuesday, the portion of Wellfield Park where CrowderGulf had been taking the debris, prior to it being hauled away for disposal, should be cleared.

“That is huge news to get Wellfield Park back up,” he added.

Simpson said that communication between public works and CrowderGulf, as well as Witt O'Brien's, the monitoring company for FEMA recovery, was great.

Simpson added that all parks have been cleared of debris.

Assistant Public Works Director Ashlee Castle said Wellfield Park is safe, with the Venice Falcons soccer teams already using those fields. Repairs still need to be made on permanent fencing and lighting.

“Within the next couple of weeks we’re hoping to have all of the lights there, so we can open all fields for nighttime play,” she added.

Chuck Reiter Park, the Little League field on the island of Venice, suffered the most damage.

Castle said fields 1, 2 and 4 have been cleared for play during daylight hours but field 3 is closed because of a large piece of fence missing and damage to the dugout roofs.

Field 1 is the only field safe enough for nighttime play.

Lighting inspections have been finished at Hecksher Park, which has also received damage to the fences.

Simpson said the city is still working on replacement of decorative street lights and other repairs.

“I have a very strong team but we would appreciate everyone’s patience through the process, because it’s difficult,” he said.

In other action

Also on Tuesday, the Venice City Council:

• Approved on a 6-1 vote, with Council Member Mitzie Fiedler in dissent, the second reading of an ordinance allowing the sale of alcohol on Venice beaches during daylight hours at the Venice Pilot House at Venice Beach and Jetty Jack’s at Humphris Park. Fiedler had voted for the move during first reading but said she changed her mind based on a more recent surge in complaints. Former council member Bob Daniels emailed two complaints about Jetty Jack’s to the council. One involved signs that designated specific spaces for Jetty Jack’s employees and another that the owner of the snack bar had purchased additional picnic tables for outdoor seating – which Daniels contends is additional use of the public park not covered by the lease.

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance prohibiting smoking at Venice parks and beaches.

• Approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing a one-time permit fee for restaurants and shops that provide outdoor dining on city sidewalks. T

• Approved the first reading of a new noise ordinance.

• Approved a legislative referral that will add study of the impact of the proposed Ocean Era Aquaculture Demonstration Project to the purview of the city’s Environmental Advisory Board.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Lower Venice debris removal cost leads to lower Ian cleanup estimate