Commissioners shoot down plan for jetties along Singer Island

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The battle has been going on for years -- how best to protect Palm Beach County's shoreline, particularly Singer Island, from erosion. 

County commissioners were digging into the topic once again Tuesday evening. 

In a 4 to 3 vote, commissioners opted not to move forward with a proposal to build a series of rock jetties, or 'groins, to trap sand along Singer Island. Instead, the commissioners decided to continue with the current beach renourishment efforts.

Commissioners discussed the option before a large crowd at the County Government Center in West Palm Beach. The plan called for the construction of jetties along a one-mile stretch of beach. 

A state and federal study presented to the commission showed the jetties would help prevent sand from moving north to south, but not from moving in and out to sea. The project had a price tag of $1.7 million per year for 50 years. The expense would have been shared by the county, the state and the city of Riviera Beach.

Work to slow erosion on Singer Island has happened before, with loads of sand being dumped along the beach eight times during the last eleven years. Under the newest proposal, sand would have to be hauled in, but less frequently. 

If nothing is done, than experts said the beach could continue to erode, which would impact property values, sea turtle nesting and tourism.

"My husband and I probably would not have bought here at Singer Island had we known about a 15 year battle with erosion," said Audrey Burnstein, who purchased a condominium on Singer Island in May of 2011.

Many residents have been urging the county to find a permanent solution to the erosion issue because they say renourishment projects disappear each year.

The commissioners agreed to continue the county's current beach renourishment program on Singer Island, though it is unclear when that process will pick up again.