SRIA finds funds for new restroom, public safety building
BY LISA NEWELL Gulf Breeze News lisa@gulfbreezenews.com

The Santa Rosa Island Authority is accepting bids on a new restroom facility/public safety building on Pensacola Beach.

Bids are due back by July 26 and SRIA General Manager Buck Lee hopes construction will begin by late August.

However, SRIA Public Safety Director Bob West says he's going to wait to see if the bids are within the Island Authority's $2 million budget.

The planned two-story building will include restrooms and a lifeguard ready room for quick breaks or to provide shelter during a storm, a first aid room to treat minor injuries such as overheating, a senior lifeguard office and a storage room on the first floor.

The second floor is scheduled to have locker rooms to accommodate 50 lifeguards, a training/break room and administrative offices.

West said the lifeguard areas will operate as a command center, with a Public Address system, computer for weather radar and may possibly become a Weather Bug station affiliated with WEAR TV3.

"We clearly need (the new building) for training and everything else," West said.

If all goes according to plan, the building may open in time for the