Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Lawsuit filed against Manatee County Supervisor of Elections over school board seat spat

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...d=BingNewsSerp

Former School Board of Manatee County Chair James Golden has filed a lawsuit against Supervisor of Elections James Satcher for being turned away when he tried to qualify for a school board seat that will be vacated this year.

Golden has filed a writ of mandamus against Satcher to place the school board seat that will be left vacant by Florida House District 72 candidate Richard Tatem on the November election ballot, rather than allow Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to name an appointee to serve out the remaining two years of his term.

Golden is among those who believe the seat should be filled during the 2024 general election because Tatem tendered his resignation in May. Golden served one term on the school board, including a stint as board Chairman, and previously served two terms on the Bradenton City Council.

Tatem tendered an official resignation from the District 5 school board seat on May 30 as required by law to run for state office, indicating he will officially resign on Nov. 5. However, the discrepancy between the filing date and official resignation date has raised questions about how the seat should be filled.

According to the state constitution, if a seat is vacated early with 28 months or left in a term then the seat shall be filled during the next general election. If the remainder of the term is less than 28 months, then the seat would be filled through appointment by the governor's office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNQDp6YUBmI

[wondermint2]

PUNTA GORDA: no-cost permit program being explored for dinghy dock use

For video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erD226j0ilo

At the most recent meeting on Wednesday, council members agreed to explore a no-cost permit program for overnight parking in the area and to use the dinghy docks.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Capital Projects Siesta Key Resurfacing Project Update


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVAFHyg0T84

Sarasota County Capital Projects construction project manager, Terra Ray, provides important information regarding the Siesta Key Resurfacing project, how it affects the community, and changing traffic patterns during construction.

Find out more at: https://www.scgov.net/government/capital-projects or call 311.

[wondermint2]

Opinion - School Board chair seeks to steal spotlight for Sarasota success story

Opinion piece by Carrie Seidman - columnist for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ka...d=BingNewsSerp

In a guest column published June 8 in the Herald-Tribune which ran under the headline, “Tough decisions, great leadership have put Sarasota school district on the right path,” Sarasota County School Board Chair Karen Rose credited her “tough decisions” and ability to “lead change” for the success of the school year just concluded.

Referencing, one assumes, hours of public comment from community members at contentious board meetings over the past two years, Rose cited her fortitude and determination in standing up to “an organized force of resistance” that “threatened student achievement” and “permeated our school system with sounds bites, rhetoric, new priority ideologies and poison-pen articles.”

She said her commitment to providing excellence in student performance results during 27 years as a teacher, principal and executive director in the district prepared her to take on this formidable challenge.

It was Rose who, in her first act as board chair at the very first meeting in November 2022 – after the seating of new members Robyn Marinelli and Tim Enos whose election, alongside former Chair Bridget Ziegler, flipped the political balance of the board – called for the firing of former Superintendent Brennan Asplen. The highly regarded Asplen had just seen the district through the worst of the COVID pandemic and the havoc of Hurricane Ian, and he had begun developing strategies to turn around academic losses students experienced due to remote learning.

[wondermint2]

Tony nominee explores new work at Hermitage Artist Retreat

Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer a Tony Award nominee for her role as Lady of the Lake in the Broadway revival of "Spamolot", will present a program of music and stories at the Hermitage Artist Retreat.

For full article & photos:

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/...r/74002895007/

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*‘Stealing the Show: Broadway, Beach and Beyond’
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer. 6:30 p.m. June 26, Hermitage Artist Retreat Beach, 6660 Manasota Key Rd., Englewood. $5 registration. https://hermitageartistretreat.org

[wondermint2]

$350K donation set to protect this East Manatee County land from future development

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/35...f5be7b603&ei=9

A plan is in motion to protect 58 acres of East Manatee County land near the Braden River from development.

Home to a creek, ranch lands, pine woods and ideal bird habitat, the green space west of Interstate 75 and north of State Road 70 is sandwiched between the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s Camp Honi Hanta, Manatee County’s Braden River Park and a small farm.

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is set to purchase a conservation easement on the land from the Garst family with help from a $350,000 grant awarded by the Bishop-Parker Foundation.

In an easement, land remains in private hands but owners permanently sell their right to develop it. Through federal, state and local programs, easements have become a popular way to supplement traditional conservation efforts.

“Bunny Garst is selling the conservation easement to Conservation Foundation at a significant discount in honor of her late husband, Judge Claflin Garst Jr.,” Conservation Foundation spokesperson Sam Valentin said in an email.

“The easement will limit new buildings and development while allowing the family and future owners to reside on the land and continue ranching and recreational activities,” Valentin added. “Once the conservation easement is in place, the land will remain undeveloped, forever benefiting both people and nature.”

[wondermint2]

FEMA trailers cited as 'junk' by Charlotte County code officers

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/punta-gord...-code-officers

PUNTA GORDA — Two Charlotte County Code Compliance officers cited the Punta Gorda Airport for having junk or abandoned vehicles on property near the airport.

The junk that code compliance officers referred to in the violation letters are for the dozens of Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers and recreational vehicles stored on vacant airport property.

FEMA contracted with Regional Homes to provide RVs and trailers to residents who lost their house or suffered heavily damaged homes from hurricanes Ian and Idalia.

The letter, dated May 30, stated the airport has 30 days to remove the junk or abandoned vehicles.

At the Charlotte County Airport Authority meeting Thursday, PGD CEO James Parish told the board he's not getting anywhere in fixing the situation.

"Saying that we were storing junk on the property is frustrating, but we'll get through it," Parish said.

Parish said the state emergency management office called him after Hurricane Ian. They asked if the FEMA trailers could be stored on the property near the airport and Interstate 75. It made them easy to inventory and move when needed to impacted residents.

"We've been given 30 days to kick FEMA off the site," Parish said. "This came from a staff member. It didn't go up the chain before it was sent to us."

According to the county code, vehicles must be stored in a "completely enclosed building" so the junk "doesn't constitute a menace of public health, safety and general welfare or become a public nuisance."

The citation stated if the violation isn't corrected, the airport may have to go before a code magistrate in a hearing.

[wondermint2]

Algal bloom in Lake Manatee causes funky taste in Manatee County drinking water

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/to...dd5e2f17&ei=12

Manatee County residents may have noticed a funky taste in local drinking water, and authorities say it has been caused by an algal bloom in Lake Manatee.

The lake is the drinking water source for Manatee County, and a blue-green algae bloom has imparted a musty taste and odor to local drinking water. The water is safe to drink despite the taste, Manatee County officials said in a news release.

Blue-green algae are in bloom in Lake Manatee, and even though Manatee County treats the water before delivering it to customers, the taste and smell remain.

That is because levels of a compound produced by the algae, called geosmin, exceed the county's filtration capabilities. The county uses a drinking water treatment process that includes the use of powdered activated carbon to mitigate the geosmin levels. Residents can also use at-home drinking water filtration to improve the quality of the water.

“We will continue monitoring and conducting treatment efforts until water quality returns to normal,” said Manatee County Utilities Deputy Director Katie Gilmore. “It is our hope that by informing the public of this algal bloom, we can alleviate any concerns that may arise should a customer experience taste or odor issues in their drinking water.”

What do environmental advocates say about it?

Manasota-88 Chairman Glenn Compton said he is concerned that algae blooms in Lake Manatee will become more frequent, and eventually lead to higher utility rates imposed on residents to offset the costs of treatment.

"The problem that we have with algae blooms in Lake Manatee is caused by stormwater runoff that enters into the lake from agricultural activities, and also the urban development that has taken place," Manasota-88 Chairman Glenn Compton said. "It's becoming seasonal. It seems like we can expect it every year, which is a reflection of the poor land use decisions within the watershed that have been made in the past."

Compton said he does not know if compounds in the lake may be harmful for consumption, but said that odd tastes in water are at least cause for concern. Environmental advocates have raised concerns about the water quality since last year.

"Water is not supposed to taste, it's supposed to be tasteless, and anytime you have a flavor in the water you do have concerns about what is in it," Compton said.

[wondermint2]

Road partially collapses on Casey Key

Published: Jun. 21, 2024 at 10:57 AM EDT | Updated: 4 hours ago

For photo:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/06/2...ses-casey-key/

Overnight, a small portion of Casey Key Road collapsed.

The hole opened up at 230 N Casey Key Road, just north of Blackburn Point Road.

The collapse is believed to be a result of wash over from storms the area received last week.

Repairs are underway and expected to be completed by the end of the day on Saturday. Pedestrians and bicyclists are encouraged to avoid the area until work is completed.

[wondermint2]

Car condos, starting at nearly $400K, headed to Sarasota County

Car Park SRQ will break ground at 6562 Palmer Park Circle in Sarasota on June 29.

For full article & photo:

https://archive.is/T2M62

Boat owners can put their beloved vessels in boatels. But what are car owners who need some extra space to do?

A new warehouse facility for cars, boats and RVs seeks to answer that question.

Car Park SRQ, which breaks ground this month, offers a place for owners to store their vehicles/toys in Palmer Ranch, in south Sarasota County. And it will offer more than just a parking spot.

Each unit — with costs starting at $389,000 — comes with a half bath, HVAC system, utility sink and industrial ceiling fan. Those concerned about the Florida weather can rest assured the car condominiums at Car Park SRQ are built to withstand Category 4 hurricanes.