Politics & Government
Coast Guard May Give Up Sign Duties in Dunedin Channel
Clearwater city leaders are set to discuss spending an estimated $700 a year to maintain navigational signs in Dunedin Pass and Mandalay Channel Thursday (Nov. 3).
Clearwater Harbormaster Bill Morris understands the importance of navigational signs.
He once watched a boater crash into docks as they stared at their GPS system.
So, he is hoping city leaders will approve the estimated $700-a-year cost to take over maintenance of 17 navigation signs along Dunedin Pass and Mandalay Channel at the city's council meeting Thursday (Nov. 3).
Morris said the Coast Guard first asked the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners to cover the sign maintenance; it declined.
The Coast Guard asked Morris, who heads the Clearwater's marina, to add about 17 navigational signs to the 398 others he already maintains, because cost cutting and the shallow channel do not allow 24-hour access.
The signs have to be changed out every few years because the sun fades them, Morris said. The sign boards cost about $50 and the pilings, which last about 15 years, are about $300, Morris said. The crew to run the tug boat and crane to install the signs cost about $250 an hour, Morris said.
If Clearwater does not take over the maintenance, the Coast Guard will pull the pilings and signs, which could result in boats running aground.
This has happened in other areas of Pinellas, like Blind Pass and Stump Pass near St. Pete Beach, Morris said.
Clearwater council member Paul Gibson sees the potential safety issue.
“Everyone’s used to using those channels and people will continue to use them even without the markers,” Gibson said.
The council will discuss funding the navigational sign maintenance at its meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at .
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