Okaloosa County commissioners have tentatively approved a plan to sink an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico off Okaloosa Island.
The board placed several conditions on the proposal to construct the Shirley J. Brown Memorial Reef in about 60 feet of water. Under the plan, the county would sink the Tenneco, a 125-foot, concrete-hulled recreational boat being donated by Ted Brown in honor of his father, Shirley J. Brown. Shirley Brown owned and operated Brown Marine, a company involved in numerous maritime operations along the Gulf Coast.
Read a presentation on the project. >>
The boat is moored in Pensacola.
“There’s an awful lot of unanswered questions before … I want to sign up and say, ‘Yeah, move that boat,’ ” Commissioner Dave Parisot said. “I think it’s a great idea, but it still has not had the Coast Guard inspection. It has not had the hazmat inspection. … We don’t have a firm estimate on the cost.”
Parisot said he was concerned that various permits could be delayed and the county would be stuck paying for the boat in the meantime.
Commissioner Kelly Windes also voiced concerns about the timing of acquiring the vessel.
“We’re going into hurricane season,” he said. “We don’t want that thing … as a liability unless absolutely necessary, and I don’t think it is.”
Public Works Director John Hofstad agreed, but urged the board to allow his staff to make a commitment to Brown to accept the boat.
“What we don’t want to lose is the opportunity to secure this vessel,” Hofstad said.
Commissioners said they will approve the acquisition of the boat provided it passes a Coast Guard inspection for seaworthiness and a hazmat inspection.
Hofstad said he will work with Brown to keep the boat in Pensacola until the permits have been issued.
The cost of the project is estimated at $75,000 and would be funded with bed tax money. The funds would cover towing the Tenneco to Okaloosa County, securing permits, preparation and sinking.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.