The Board of County Commissioners Oct. 21 approved awarding a contract for the Sector 5 Hurricane Ian and Nicole beach and dune restoration project and separately approved a construction‑oversight work order.

Quincy Bergman, coastal resource manager in Natural Resources, told the board Sector 5 (a roughly 3.1‑mile area spanning the city of Vero Beach and part of Indian River Shores) will receive approximately 153,000 cubic yards of sand and more than 100,000 dune plants as part of the restoration work. The project is designed to restore dunes to pre‑storm elevations but not to exceed pre‑storm elevation profiles, Bergman said. Construction was anticipated to begin the month following the Oct. 21 meeting and to finish by April to avoid turtle‑nesting season in May and beyond.

County staff said the project received six competitive bids and recommended awarding to Getler Brothers Construction at the apparent low bid (staff transcribed the low bid as roughly $6.0 million; the county’s engineering estimate was $7.5 million to $8.5 million). Bergman said awarded funding includes more than $3 million in potential reimbursement from FEMA, Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM), and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP); the county share was estimated in the presentation to be about $3.3 million. Natural Resources staff emphasized that beach‑management work is funded by a portion of the tourist development tax rather than the county general fund.

The board also approved a construction administration and oversight work order with APTIM (APTEM in the agenda text) for $412,630.55 to perform inspection and permit compliance work during construction. Board members praised Natural Resources staff for competitive bidding and the department’s reputation; commissioners noted the low bid came in under the engineer’s estimate.

The motions to award the construction contract and approve the construction oversight work order passed unanimously.