Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Arts Editor: Arts groups looking to make up lost state grants

Story by Jay Handelman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/yog...30859f33&ei=32

"I generally follow politics and I usually have some understanding, no matter my own personal views, about why elected officials make the decisions they do. But I’m stymied on the reasoning behind Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to veto much of the funding that was earmarked for arts and cultural programs in the new state budget.

Before signing the budget during a ceremony in Tampa earlier this month, DeSantis wiped out about $950 million from the $116.5 billion budget.

That included the $26 million allocated by the legislature for cultural and museum grants (money that goes for programming by more than 600 non-profit organizations across the state), and another $6 million set for the Cultural Facilities Grants program, which would have funded the top 15 building projects on a list of 38 possibilities. All that money was wiped out.

The legislature approved more than $54 million in special member programs – projects supported and pushed by individual members of the legislature – and DeSantis vetoed nearly $4.5 million from the list, including $200,000 to the Sarasota-based Perlman Music Program/Suncoast.

Arts leaders in our area are using words like “devastated,” “shocked,” “disappointed” and more to describe their reaction, especially at a time when the state reports there is at least a $17 billion surplus. I’ll be following up with more reporting about the actual impact these cuts will have and how the organizations will try to make up for the lost funds."

[wondermint2]

'We stand with immigrants': Sarasota community rallies against commissioner's meeting on illegal immigration


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX_y4UJK1PY

A workshop on the local impacts of illegal immigration is drawing controversy in another Tampa Bay-area county.

At the request of Sarasota County Commissioners, some law enforcement leaders gave presentations about the issue. The workshop was similar to that held in Manatee County in April, and several Sarasota County residents rose to speak out against it.

The workshop, which discussed the cost of illegal immigration to the county, saw presentations and statements from the sheriff and the state attorney.

Critics have decried the meeting and said it was aimed at blaming the immigrant population for draining local resources.

Some civic groups held a rally ahead of the meeting Friday, but during the presentations, speakers highlighted financial impacts including crime, human trafficking and the inflow of illegal drugs.

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/we...30859f33&ei=42

[wondermint2]

What to know in Manatee: The Concessions housing, conservation, and affordable housing

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...582d8e0ef&ei=7

Citing concern over potential litigation, Manatee County approved more housing at The Concession after several proposals from the developer were denied in recent years.

The matter was discussed during a land use meeting on Thursday. Commissioners also sidestepped a proposal to increase the amount of money the county could bond for environmental land protection, made zoning changes to conserve Crooked River Ranch, took steps forward on growth plans for SeaPort Manatee and approved a slew of multifamily and affordable housing development projects.

[wondermint2]

DeSantis vetoes bill that would’ve banned left-lane driving except to pass

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/de...82d8e0ef&ei=11

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday vetoed a bill that would’ve ticketed drivers for using the left lane other than to pass or in certain other circumstances.

HB 317 would have made it a traffic infraction for driving in the furthermost left lane “except when overtaking and passing another vehicle; when preparing to exit the road, street, or highway; or when otherwise directed by an official traffic control device.”

DeSantis said the language of the bill is too broad, and would’ve resulted in drivers being ticketed up to $158 even if they’re not impeding traffic or there are little to no other cars nearby.

“In addition, the bill could potentially increase congestion in Florida’s urban areas as drivers may decide to not utilize the furthest left-hand lane at all for fear of being ticketed,” DeSantis wrote.
The bill unanimously passed the Florida Senate, and only three members of the Florida House voted against the bill.

[wondermint2]

Venice City Council directs staff to trim reserves and hire 15 more people in 2024-25

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...82d8e0ef&ei=14

Frustrated by a draft 2024-25 budget city staff brought to Thursday’s workshop did not include 15 new hires – including seven for Fire and EMS and five for Venice Police – the Venice City Council sent the document back for revisions.

The council was presented with a proposed $177.9 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The cost of the additional 15 positions – two in public works, seven in fire and emergency services, one in information technology and five with the Police Department – is about $1.6 million.

Council members pointed to robust reserves – more than twice the 25% of operating budget required by city policy – as a prospective source to pay for those new positions.

[wondermint2]

This Sarasota School of Architecture Home Is More Than Just Another Siesta Key Getaway

Designed by Ralph Twitchell, one of the movement’s pioneers, this home exemplifies the timelessness of the style.

For full article & photos:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/hom...l-architecture

It’s not historically designated, but any architecture nerd can see that almost 65 years later, this home remains an original ode to the midcentury modern architecture movement that put Sarasota on the map: the Sarasota School of Architecture. For its owner, a Sarasota native, it also came with nostalgic value. When she was looking, “it was 2009, and I wasn’t looking for a mid-century home specifically. But when I saw this, it reminded me of homes I saw in my childhood here,” she says.

[wondermint2]

Palmetto pastor arrested on child porn charges

For photo:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/palme...d-porn-charges

A pastor in Palmetto is under arrest, accused of possession of child pornography.

On Thursday, detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office received information that Jonathan Elwing, 43, used cryptocurrency to make an online purchase of child sexual abuse material.

On Friday, a search warrant was executed at the church and his home. Detectives found four sexually explicit images of children on his cellphone. He was taken into custody and booked at the Manatee County Jail.

He resigned from his position as pastor before being arrested.

Anyone with information about potential crimes involving Elwing is asked to contact the Manatee County Sheriff's Office at (941) 747-3011, or to remain anonymous and to be eligible for a cash reward, contact Manatee County Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-8477 (TIPS) or online at Manatee County Crime Stoppers.

----------------------------------------

Well, well, well crypto was involved with this crime.

Pastor Bought Child Porn Using Crypto: Manatee County Sheriff's Office

For full article:

https://patch.com/florida/bradenton/...heriffs-office

[wondermint2]

County’s March purchase of building for Supervisor of Elections Office will result in just Voter Services team remaining on first floor of Terrace Building

Supervisor of Elections preparing for record turnout in Presidential Election in November

For full article & graphic:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/count...race-building/

During his 2025 fiscal year budget presentation to the Sarasota County Commission this week, Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner spent the majority of his time talking about a building on Fruitville Road whose purchase the board authorized in November 2023 for Turner and his staff.

On March 6, the county paid $11,955,200 for the 23,192-square-foot, two story structure standing at 4440 Fruitville Road, plus the adjacent parcel with the address of 4466 Fruitville Road. The latter property comprises 57,678 square feet — or about 1.3 acres — as noted in the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records.

Just to the east of the parcel located at 4466 Fruitville Road is the new building that the commission approved several years ago for the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office.

One of Turner’s staff members located the Fruitville Road property as the potential site for what Turner called the Elections Operation Center during the June 19 discussion.

A county memo in the commission’s Nov. 28, 2023 agenda packet explained, “The facility will provide for an elections center that is conveniently located within the county with adequate public and staff parking, dedicated staff office and workspace and needed square footage for election operations. The elections center would accommodate administrative offices, election record archives, vote-by-mail operations, poll worker services and IT functions.

The building would serve as the hub for numerous election-related functions and activities, such as canvassing board meetings, vote-by-mail ballot processing, secure vote-by-mail ballot tabulation, poll worker training and space for public observation.”

The memo further pointed out, “A conveniently located and expansive elections center would improve operational efficiency and further optimize election planning and administration. The current location at the Sarasota County Terrace Building is space-constrained during large-scale countywide election operations.

Further, the Terrace Building is logistically limited, as it necessitates the use of public elevators to transport important election materials from floor to floor throughout the many months of an election year. The 4440 Fruitville Road facility would provide adequate space to accommodate simultaneous election operation functions on one ground-level floor, which would enhance the overall efficiency of election operations.”

During his June 19 remarks, Turner told the commissioners, “We’re in the middle of trying to finish the move in the middle of a Presidential Election year.” He wanted to await the conclusion of the state qualifying period last week, Turner added, before completing the staff move, which should take place next week.

[wondermint2]

Entire homeowners association board resigns after $60K special assessment dispute


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU1id_zG4ck

10 Tampa Bay has confirmed residents of the Villas of Carillon townhome community got an email Friday informing them the entire homeowners association board has resigned, effective immediately.

This comes after owners successfully postponed a board vote on how they would be allowed to pay a $60,000 special assessment stemming from a structural integrity reserve study.

Confusion over recent state reforms intended to prevent another tragedy like the 2021 Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside may have contributed to the management company's recommendation and the board's action to require its reserves to be "fully funded."

Those reforms require reserve and milestone studies and required yearly contributions to reserves but they only apply to units that are three stories or higher. All of the townhomes at the Villas are two stories.

The board also contended insurance companies would not insure the complex in a few years if funds weren't in reserves to pay for new roofs. However, a reserve study would have required the time equivalent cost of the project to be in a fund ahead of any renovation, if the association would want to avoid special assessments, according to Patricia Staebler, a certified reserve specialist based in Sarasota.

MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/lo...c-4d5031a410e2

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Rare sighting: Wild flamingos show up in Lemon Bay

For full article & photo:

https://www.newsbreak.com/englewood-...p-in-lemon-bay

ENGLEWOOD — Floridians love their flamingos, judging by the number of mailboxes, yard decorations and tropical clothing items that sport images of the graceful, bright-pink birds.

But to see a flamingo in the wild is rare.

That's why some flamingos that showed up in Lemon Bay recently turned some heads.

Englewood residents were able to see the pink birds in Lemon Bay for a short weekend in May before they disappeared in time for Memorial Day weekend. Their appearance made locals wonder if their visits will be more often.

Englewood residents Charlene Brown was able to photograph a small group of them and posted her shots on social media.

Before that, Lemon Bay provided a pitstop and sanctuary for a flock of American flamingos after Hurricane Idalia in the fall of 2023.

Bruce LaMotte, with Lemon Bay Dolphin Tours, saw four of the flamingos while on the water.

"It's very unusual to see them here, but we got to see four of them," LaMotte said. "It was beautiful."

Florida begins first Flamingo census


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqr8k25F6EI

Hurricane Idalia brought so many wild flamingos from the Carribean that the first Florida flamingo census this year. Here's how many it counted.