Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Electric school buses come to Sarasota County Schools

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/0...outputType=amp

Three battery-run school buses are now in use for Sarasota County Schools, and at least 10 more will soon be added.

Superintendent Terry Connor took the first ride on one of the electric school buses this morning as it brought kids to school.

“It was really interesting to see how smooth the rides were, how quiet the ride was, “said Connor. “Everything functioned as it would on a normal school bus, with the exception of the real quietness and the fact that we were able to accelerate, I think when you are in these electric buses it’s real interesting to see how smooth the ride really is.”

The new deal is worth $$4.28 million, but the district is getting help from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. That department will pay for most of the hefty check, with the school district covering about $1.4 million.

The deal will require the district to get rid of 10 of their oldest buses as the new ones come in.

It could take up to four years before all of the electric buses are in use in Sarasota County.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

City Commission votes to fund Commissioner Battie’s legal fees if sued

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...3c495877&ei=57

The City Commission has voted unanimously to fund Commissioner Kyle Battie’s legal fees if he faces a lawsuit associated with a social media post made last month.

The issue was brought before the commission on Jan. 16 after a social media post was put up containing racial slurs.

Commissioner Battie accused a citizen of the social post. The woman accused denied the post.

If legal action is taken, the City of Sarasota will pay Battie’s legal fee’s up to $15,000, and has requested an update on the issue within six months.

More details here:

Battie doubles down on false claims, Sarasota City Commission agrees to pay legal expenses

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...legal-expenses

The Sarasota City Commission voted Monday to cover the legal expenses of embattled commissioner Kyle Battie up to $15,000, with more installments possible as he faces an impending lawsuit.

Battie, who is Black, publicly accused local activist Kelly Franklin of referring to him and local business owner Tanya Borysciewicz as "gorillas" in a Facebook post. The evidence Battie presented before the commission was later found to be a hoax.

Franklin's attorney, Richard Harrison of Tampa, told the Herald-Tribune Monday he expects to file a formal lawsuit against Battie next week. During public comment, the attorney called on Battie to resign.

Battie remained indignant in the face of blistering outcry against his conduct. He said that he is a victim of discriminatory attacks, and he reprimanded his critics and their enthusiasm to “malign an African-American man.”

“I did think [the allegation] was true, and I still think that it is true until proven that it’s not,” Battie said during the meeting. “Maybe there are ‘experts’ out there that say it’s a hoax. I hope that it’s not, to be honest with you.”

City Attorney Robert Fournier told the commission that Battie could not vote on the matter due to his inherent conflict of interest but could participate in the discussion. He also must seek outside legal counsel in the case.

The city commissioners maintained support for their embattled colleague. Commissioner Eric Arroyo proposed the initial option to pay Battie’s legal fees on a rolling basis, with further funding to be voted on by the commission as they decide it is necessary.

Mayor Liz Albert and Commissioner Trice said Battie himself was as much a victim as Franklin and that they did not believe he would act maliciously.

Alpert said when she first met Battie, when the commissioner was first elected, she thought, “Oh my goodness, he doesn’t know anything!” But he had then proven himself a quick learner and a hard worker. Trice said she didn’t believe Battie would participate in a conspiracy to intentionally hurt Franklin’s reputation.

The commissioners brushed aside Harrison’s insistence that Battie couldn’t be unaware that the document he showed them was fake. During his comment, the attorney presented screenshots of Battie’s text messages to show that the commissioner had seen Franklin’s original Facebook post - a picture of actual gorillas with the caption “Gorillas in the midst of being gorillas are on my mind.”

It appears the caption was photoshopped onto a picture of Battie and Borysciewicz, which is what Battie publicly decried at a Sarasota City Commission meeting on Jan. 16. The exact origin of the hoax image remains unclear.

10 public commenters spoke on the issue, more than for any other item on the city commission’s agenda. Included among the pack was Ron Kashden, Franklin’s husband and a candidate for city commission.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

City of Venice to host New Flood Zone Map Open House

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/0...outputType=amp

On February 12, 2024 the City of Venice will host an Open House to release and inform residents about the new city flood zone map from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The open house will be held at the Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S.

Venice residents will be able to speak to City representative and Community Rating System Coordinator, Christina Rimes.

New FEMA Flood Maps Impact North Port and Sarasota County: Find Out If Your Property is Affected

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/north-port...ty-is-affected

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released new flood maps impacting North Port, Sarasota County property owners. These new flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) may change insurance requirements and premiums. Sarasota County is providing resources for residents to check if their property or business is affected by the new FIRMs.

FEMA and local officials will host public meetings to discuss the new flood maps. These meetings will be held at various locations in Sarasota County, including the Venice Community Center and the Fruitville and Francis T. Bourne Jacaranda Libraries.

The meetings are scheduled for different dates in February and March. The first meeting is on February 12 at the Venice Community Center. Subsequent meetings will be at the Fruitville Library on February 14, and the Francis T. Bourne Jacaranda Library on February 28. A virtual meeting is also planned on ZOOM for March 13.

Residents can visit the NorthPortFL.gov/FloodMaps website to view the new flood maps or for more information. This initiative is designed to inform the community about potential changes in flood risk and insurance requirements.

Visit here for more details:

https://www.northportfl.gov/News-art...new-flood-maps

[wondermint2]

Manatee County installing more streetlights (Video)

County Commissioners say areas like Lincoln Park, Bayshore Gardens, Woodfield Estates, and Northwest Bradenton will be served first. The new initiative will used $3 million of American Rescue Plan funds to launch Light Up, Manatee.

For video:

https://www.fox13news.com/video/1406187.amp

[wondermint2]

‘A racer’s mindset.’ Bradenton man takes 1st place prize after lifelong racing career

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/bradenton-...-racing-career

When he was a kid, Pat Nanney had a fascination with racing.

His desire to race anything, from bikes to go-karts to boats and cars, still brings the Bradenton native joy.

“If it’s got spark plugs and gasoline involved, I’m usually wanting to be in the middle of it,” Nanney said.

The 68-year-old recently won the U.S. Street Nationals 6.50 Index class at Bradenton Motorsports Park in East Manatee. The victory, which netted him $2,500, was the first time he’d won a big race since 2005.

“I’m going, ‘Will there ever be another one?’” Nanney said. “That’s a racer’s mindset. There’s always next week and there’s always another race. I always have another chance.”

Nanney’s journey to racing began as a kid in the Palma Sola area of Bradenton. He said after graduating from Manatee High School, he started fixing lawnmowers and then began working at a Dodge dealership in the early 1970s.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Invites Local Nonprofits and Public Entities to Apply for $45M Resilient SRQ Program Funding

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33237...rogram-funding

Sarasota County has initiated the Resilient SRQ Infrastructure and Public Facilities program. Nonprofit organizations and public entities are invited to submit project proposals. The application process starts today, February 5, and runs until March 18. Nonprofits must fill out a pre-application form to check initial eligibility before submitting proposals. Public entities can also apply for mitigation-specific projects.

The program has $45 million in funding. This is part of the $201.5 million that Sarasota County will get from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds come from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and are meant to aid recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian. All proposals must meet HUD requirements for funding consideration.

Information sessions for nonprofits and public entities will be held on February 13 and February 16. These sessions will provide more details about the application process and will be available both virtually and in-person. Registration for these sessions can be done online.

The Resilient SRQ team will evaluate applications based on eligibility and approved scoring criteria. The scored projects will then be presented to the Sarasota County Commission for final review. Applicants will be informed if their project is recommended for funding.

Approved projects will require a subrecipient agreement that outlines project-specific requirements. More details about eligibility requirements, scoring criteria, and program updates can be found on the program's website or by calling 311.

Visit here for more details:

https://www.scgov.net/Home/Components/News/News/6081/23

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office alerting residents to a missing teen

For photo:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/0...outputType=amp

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office needs help locating a teen that has been missing since Jan. 29.

Brielle Cole was seen leaving her Venice house on foot at 5 p.m. on Jan. 29.

Cole is 17-years-old, 5-foot-4-inches and 155 pounds. She has brown/pink hair and grey eyes.

She told her mother she was going for a walk. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie with a white undershirt, a blue jean skirt, and white Hello Kitty shoes.

If you have any information on this missing teen, call 911 or the SCSO non-emergency line at 941-316-1201.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County kicks off Severe Weather Awareness Week.

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/33242...awareness-week

SARASOTA — Severe Weather Awareness Week is underway in Florida, a partnership between the Florida Division of Emergency Management and The National Weather Service created to recognize the importance of staying informed and prepared for inclement weather.

Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi highlighted the theme of each day during Monday’s meeting for Severe Weather Awareness Week.

She noted important safety measures for four common severe weather occurrences in Florida that most residents overlook compared to hurricanes.

“Our residents are great at focusing on hurricane preparedness, but there are other hazards that are important to know about as well,” Tapfumaneyi said.

[wondermint2]

Manatee County Dec. tourist tax tops $2.3m

https://www.islander.org/2024/02/dec...tax-tops-2-3m/

Visitors snug in Manatee County beds generated $2,309,508 in tourism tax bucks in December 2023.

The Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office on Feb. 1 released December 2023 collection numbers for the tourist development tax — resort or bed tax — the 5% tax collected on overnight accommodations of six months or less.

The third month of the 2023-24 fiscal year generated $2,309,508 in bed tax revenues in the county.

The amount is down 10.26% compared to the $2,573,631 generated in December 2022.

Holmes Beach topped collections on Anna Maria Island in December, generating $497,782, about 21.55% of the countywide total.

Anna Maria accounted for about 11.15% of the collections, bringing in $257,715, and Bradenton Beach generated $112,482 or 4.87%.

The tax is collected by resort owners, landlords and property managers of accommodations leased for six months or less.

Some other numbers for December:

- Unincorporated Manatee County generated $1,018,614 or 44.09%;
- Bradenton generated $244,141 or 10.57%;
- Longboat Key generated $171,222 or 7.41%;
- Palmetto generated $8,426 or 0.36%.

The collection fee on the tax is 3%, so the net collection for December 2023 was $2,240,222.

Collections for the first quarter of the fiscal year total $5.4 million.

Tax revenues must be used to boost tourism, including funding for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Bradenton Area Convention Center and tourism-related entities such as Realize Bradenton and the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as supporting projects, such as beach renourishment and construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.

The county tourist development council recommends how to spend the money.

December tourist tax collections

December 2019: $1,177,171

December 2020: $1,414,742

December 2021: $1,996,281

December 2022: $2,573,631

December 2023: $2,309,508

Source: Manatee County Tax Collector

[beach43ofus]

https://floridatrend.com/article/386...NzU3My4wLjAuMA..

80,000 sq ft on 5 levels to open in 2025