Dredge contractor given partial 'stop work' order

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - The County Department of Public Works Wednesday issued a partial "stop work" order to the contractor handling the Hernando Beach dredging operations until the deficiencies outlined by the state are corrected.

Assistant County Engineer Gregg Sutton said his department "immediately jumped on this" and issued the order to meet the conditions of the dredge permit.

In a memo, DPW Director Charles Mixson said the order does not preclude Orion Dredging in Tampa from continuing to place pipe necessary for hydraulic dredging at the site.

"It is imperative that Orion take immediate corrective action," wrote Mixson, adding that the county "will not tolerate future complaints."

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a warning to the county citing noncompliance issues. During an inspection, FDEP officials saw the use of sand and rock placed outside the limits of construction and on top of seagrass.

The agency also noticed the following problems:

• The size of the rock deposited on the spoil islands had a diameter of less than one foot on two of the spoil islands. The state requires a minimum of one foot.

• The county has not sent DEP the required water quality monitoring reports.

• The county has not displayed the proper manatee awareness signs.

On an inspection visit, FDEP noticed rock extending below the mean high water line with no stakes marking the spot and also saw what looked like mangrove trees negatively affected by rock placement.