CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 A tense meeting on North Padre Island put a spotlight on a major funding mystery surrounding the city\u2019s $30 million seawall reconstruction project.<\/p>\n
RELATED: City of Corpus Christi awards $2.1M contract to reconstruct East Surfside Boulevard on North Beach<\/a><\/p>\n The Island TIRZ board spent nearly an hour and a half debating the island seawall project and whether to approve an extra $2.1 million for the Briscoe King Pavilion upgrade. Engineers say costs jumped once the 90% design was completed. County Commissioner Brent Chesney, who sits on the TIRZ board, said the overruns were unavoidable when the project details were finalized.<\/p>\n But the real fight came when Gulfstream Condo Board President Luto Stanski told the board that the seawall project has a $5.5 million shortfall and \u201cno way to get this project done.\u201d That comment alarmed both city and county leaders, who stressed the seawall is a priority that cannot be allowed to stall.<\/p>\n County Judge Connie Scott told the board they can\u2019t approve projects without secured financing, while Councilwoman Carolyn Vaughn said the city must stop starting projects without all the money lined up.<\/p>\n City Manager Peter Zanoni pushed back on claims the seawall is unfunded, saying there is currently $6 million set aside in the TIRZ. He said his office is now working to secure more money, possibly through the one-eighth-cent flood control sales tax or a future bond program.<\/p>\n Zanoni promised to return to the council with a clearer funding plan soon.<\/p>\n More from 3NEWS on KIIITV.com: \u00a0<\/p>\n