02-05-2025
Cape San Blas beach restoration project left out of Senate Bill
GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Cape San Blas residents used to have 350 feet of beach, before hurricanes, tropical storms, and winter storms eroded most of it.
Two homes have already been condemned and 30 more are at imminent risk. If more homes are condemned, residents fear the state road could be next, which is the only way on and off the cape.
'The road is about to be washed out. These homes are falling in, and we don't even get a dime. And we just want answers. And we know, you know, we're calling people hundreds of people call and just nobody's communicating with us as to what happened,' Coastal Community Association Board Member Kelly Mills said.
Before this year's legislative session, residents met with their State Senator Corey Simon and State Representative Jason Shoaf. Both said they would submit appropriation requests for the last $10 million needed for the beach renourishment project.
Both kept their word. But as the 60-day session progressed, something happened to the requests.
'Well, as they bargained back and forth, Jason put in the $5 million, and we were told that was going to be accepted,' Mills said.
The news about the Senate's version of the budget is not as promising. Residents don't understand what happened with Senator Simon.
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'He allocated $0 to our beach renourishment. Whereas Jason Shoaf, who said the same, he allocated $5 million, and without Corey Simon's $5 million. I think it's my understanding I could be wrong, but it's my understanding that we won't get the funding,' Sunrise Sunset Townhomes HOA President Michelle Massingill said.
Both Senate and House members have been in conference committee this week, trying to agree on a single budget to send to the governor.
There's still a chance the project could receive some funding, but residents are now looking for other solutions.
'We have reached out to Neil Dunn's office, and he's been very helpful, but he's getting mixed communication with the county. And so he's just trying to. You know, they say they can't help us unless the county asks for help,' Mills said.
Gulf County is not eligible for federal funding due to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act. COBRA restricts funding in undeveloped coastal areas.
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