Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Longboat sets maximum millage for fiscal year 2025

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ximum-millage/

Longboat Key town commissioners voted on June 28 to set the maximum millage for the upcoming fiscal year 2025, which will remain similar to the previous fiscal year.

So far in the budget process, commissioners participated in two workshops that outlined the town’s expected capital and operating expenditures, as well as revenues. One of the primary sources of revenue for the town is property tax revenue, which is influenced by the millage rate set by the town.

Town Manager Howard Tipton began the presentation on June 28 by explaining that, after the commission approves a maximum millage, it can’t be increased without notifying the public.

Prior to the June 28 meeting, the town’s Finance Department was using estimated property values to shape the FY25 budget. Then the department received the certified values from the county property appraisers, which showed an increase.

The June 1 estimates showed a combined increase of 9.61% between Sarasota and Manatee counties. Individually, there was expected to be a 7.78% increase in Sarasota County values and a 13.67% increase in Manatee County values. This would have resulted in an additional $1,481,016 in revenue compared to FY24.

The July 1 certified values showed a greater increase. Those numbers showed an increase of 10.39% combined between the counties — an 8.55% increase in Sarasota County and 14.47% increase in Manatee County.

“Any time you have double-digits is a good year,” Budget Manager Sandi Henley said. “So we're very happy about that.”

The certified values will result in $1,580,544 in additional revenue compared to FY24, and an extra $99,528 that the town hadn’t accounted for when estimating the values.

For the upcoming fiscal year, staff recommended setting the maximum millage at 1.9600. The same millage was assessed in the previous fiscal year. The rate can be decreased at the next hearing in September, but not increased.

[wondermint2]

Rain can't dampen the fun at Fireworks on the Lake (Photo Gallery)

For photo gallery:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...s-on-the-lake/

A thunderstorm and a bird named Taco were the opening act for the fireworks display at Nathan Benderson Park on July 3.

Fireworks on the Lake draws a huge crowd each year as the activities start four hours before the fireworks. There’s live music, bounce houses and two rows of food trucks and vendor tents.

This year, there was also a thunderstorm that sent the crowd scrambling under tents. But not one child was unhappy under the tent with Taco. The lilac Amazon parrot hopped from shoulder to shoulder posing for pictures as if he was part of the entertainment.

Parrish resident Lyle Pohlen said the 5-year-old parrot goes everywhere with him.

When the storm left behind a double rainbow, the party was back on. Lines trailed from the food trucks, and sneakers littered the outside of the bounce houses.

Before fireworks could light up the sky, the crowd was treated to a fiery sunset. As the evening went on, more and more people packed the lawn.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota Police search for suspect in deadly shooting that left one person dead

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/r...at-left-1-dead

Sarasota Police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened during the early morning hours on Thursday, July 4.

Police said the shooting happened near the intersection of Dixie Avenue and 24th Street around 1 a.m. One adult victim died from their injuries.

Authorities believe the shooting was isolated and there is no threat to the public.

If anyone has any information that can help police identify the suspect, please call Sarasota Police at 941-316-1199 or CrimeStoppers at 941-366-TIPS.

Suspect arrested in Miami for deadly July 4 shooting

For photo:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...sted-shooting/

The Sarasota Police Department has announced the apprehension of the man suspected in an early-morning shooting on July 4 in which an unnamed adult was killed near the intersection of Dixie Avenue and 24th Street.

Kevin Maurice Holloway, 54, was arrested in Miami with the cooperation of the Miami and Miami-Dade police departments.

The shooting occurred shortly after 1 a.m. July 4.

On Thursday morning, the SPD reported it was searching for Holloway, who was considered armed and dangerous and was last seen driving a 2011 Nissan Altima. He was apprehended by Thursday evening in Miami.

In a news release, the SPD thanked the Miami law enforcement agencies for their assistance.

“This case highlights our commitment to community safety and the importance of inter-agency cooperation.” Said SPD Chief Rex Troche in a statement. "Thank you to all the officers and detectives involved for your hard work and dedication.”

Holloway faces charges of murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of aggravated assault.

[wondermint2]

Boat crash ends in Venice resident’s backyard (Video)

For video:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/07/0...ents-backyard/

Venice Police Department Marine Officers responded to a boat crash at Albee Rd. Bridge around 10 p.m. on July 4.

Marine officers shared that a reckless boater traveling south in the intracoastal crashed into another boat before crashing into a dock and sea wall, landing in the backyard of a resident’s home.

According to the VPD, when officers arrived at the scene, the 35-year-old man operating the boat “appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.”

Venice Fire Rescue took the suspect to Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a trauma alert due to the collision.

FWC responded to work the multiple vessel crashes and is investigating the incident as a possible impaired boater.

Charges are pending.

The VPD Marine Unit worked with Sea Tow Venice on July 5 to remove the vessel from land and impound it.

[wondermint2]

Bar Italia restaurant coming to Lakewood Ranch with dishes ‘elevated to a new level’

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tri...57e998f7&ei=12

Foodies and others who want a night out with good food and good service will soon have a new place to check out.

Bar Italia, with an estimated Monday, July 15 opening at 6588 University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch’s Center Point development, would seem to have hit all the marks as promised by restaurant group NCR Ventures.

Those marks include a beautiful, new building near other popular restaurants (Owens Fish Camp and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse), a staff that’s been in training for the opening, a proven model and a proven menu.

And location. It’s right on the Manatee-Sarasota county line.

“The menu pays homage to the essence of the great Italian-American restaurants in New York City. Where delicious, exceptionally well-prepared food is served in settings that are simultaneously elegant, comfortable and unpretentious. Familiar dishes like Classic Chicken Parmesan, Bucatini Bolognese, and Spicy Vodka Rigatoni are elevated to a new level,” the Bar Italia web page says.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Hospital Board candidates to appear at League of Women Voters forum July 11

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...57e998f7&ei=28

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will host a forum for Republican candidates running for four seats in the Aug. 20 primary for the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board on July 11, while Democratic hopefuls are scheduled to make their case July 9 on a Zoom forum hosted by the Longboat Key Democratic Club.

The four Democrats have largely bypassed Sarasota Tiger Bay Club events for hospital board candidates. Only Sprintz attended the Sarasota Tiger Bay forum for his seat. Lutz had planned to attend virtually but had to cancel at the last minute.

Tuesday’s Zoom forum, hosted by the Longboat Key Democratic Club, is from 5 to 6 p.m. July 9.

Barry Nolan will host the forum; which will also will include a discussion with Democratic School Board candidates Liz Barker and incumbent Tom Edwards.

The club has a capacity of about 500 Zoom registrants.

To register, visit: https://bit.ly/4cNbwHP or email lbkdemsclub@gmail.com to request a link.

The League of Women Voters forum for candidates in the Republican primary will be hosted from 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 11 for Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice.

Democratic candidates have been invited to attend and participate in a meet-and-greet but will not be part of the forum, which will also be webcast live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/6c6uHYzgcUo.

Seating is limited and while registration is not required, it is encouraged.

To register or submit a question for possible inclusion in the forum, visit https://www.lwvsrq.org.

[wondermint2]

Florida Department of Environmental Protection provides update on Piney Point cleanup

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/07/0...point-cleanup/

More than 151,000 cubic yards of material has been removed from Piney Point’s NGS-South compartment to be dried out and packed up.

The team has also closed off the NGS-North compartment.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, they are continuing regulations to ensure progress towards the Piney Point cleanup.

Key status updates:

- The site has had about 24 inches of rain this year, and it can still handle about 79 more inches.
- Almost 210 million gallons of water have been sent to Manatee County for disposal.
- There are about 176 million gallons of water left in the NGS-South area, and water levels will change with weather and ongoing work.

For more progress updates, status, and closures, check the DEP website:

https://floridadep.gov/water/mining-...ion/PineyPoint

[wondermint2]

Save Our Seabirds receives grant for drainage improvements on campus

For full article & photos:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-improvements/

Many Sarasota residents were surprised at the magnitude of flooding from a recent mid-June storm — including some of the feathery residents at Save Our Seabirds.

Save Our Seabirds’ campus on Ken Thompson Parkway was not safe from the flooding impacts that came from that storm, and Executive Director Brian Walton said flooding has been a long-standing issue for the campus.

But a newly acquired grant from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program will go toward Walton’s long-term plans to improve the campus’ drainage.

[wondermint2]

638 homes slated for Manatee County's controversial 2020 land purchase

Manatee County's intended uses for the Lena Road property have been moved to other sites.

For full article & graphic:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...land-purchase/

If negotiations with D.R. Horton go according to the builder’s proposal, Manatee County will get its money back on the controversial 2020 land purchase.

The $32.5 million purchase was for 161 acres near the Lena Road Landfill. D.R. Horton has offered the county $35 million.

“On March 8, the evaluation committee met to review the four proposals received as a result of the Invitation to Negotiate,” Outreach Information Manager Bill Logan said. “The evaluation committee recommended the county enter negotiations with D.R. Horton. As of today, negotiations are ongoing.”

Commissioners George Kruse, Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher joined the board in 2020, a month after the property was purchased. While campaigning, all three said the land was overpriced at $187,488 per acre.

The board, at that time, purchased the former dairy farm from Musgrave Real Estate Holdings to build a county operations center and extend the life of the landfill.

A press release dated Oct. 13, 2020, said the site would eventually house a district office, property and evidence warehouse and a fleet maintenance facility for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, along with field operation facilities for the Utilities and Public Works departments and possibly an EMS station.

The idea of building a transfer station adjacent to the landfill was also discussed by then Utilities Director Mike Gore.

D.R. Horton’s proposal, submitted on Feb. 20, is to build a $187 million mixed-use project that would include 116 single family rental cottages, 222 single-family detached homes and 300 multifamily residences. Six acres would be set aside for commercial use and 11 acres for a warehouse site to be used by the county.

Not one commissioner who voted to purchase the property at 1707 Lena Road still sits on the Manatee County Commission today. Kruse said due diligence was skirted in 2020 to push the purchase through before a new board came in.

By September 2022, the new board was ready to sell the property, so it was rezoned from Suburban Agriculture to Planned Development/Mixed Use.

“It creates value for us and also encourages developers to build what, we believe collectively, the community needs,” Kruse said during the land use meeting in 2022. “It’ll create an opportunity to do things for an area that could use some more employment base and higher density residential. It’s closer to I-75 and steering it a little bit more toward the west than some of the other development is going.”

Only former commissioner Misty Servia voted against the rezone. She said it wasn’t the commission’s place to decide what an area should be.

As for all the plans the county made for the 161-acre property, well, plans change.

[wondermint2]

Formal complaint filed over New College's development of Uplands Preserve

For full article & photos:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...ands-preserve/

Environmentalists and former students of New College of Florida upset with tree removal in the Uplands Preserve have filed formal complaints with the State University System’s inspector general’s office.

Five identical complaints, filed by four former New College students and an environmental activist, charge New College President Richard Corcoran with violating the campus’ master plan and possibly violating local and federal laws, including unpermitted destruction of wetlands and disturbing endangered birds in the area, including bald eagles.

“This violation of the (master plan) process and damage to preserve land, which began on or around May 24, 2024, harms the integrity and reputation of New College,” the complaint reads.

"The current clearing and demolition activity are lacking proper oversight to ensure that the operation is in legal compliance and that sufficient mitigation occurs if harms cannot be avoided," the complaint states. "The more damage done, the higher the cost will be."

The group, as well as residents of the neighborhood next to the preserve, were stunned over Memorial Day weekend, when heavy machinery began knocking down 100-year-old pine trees on the preserve, strip of land along Sarasota Bay, running from the northern edge of the campus to the southern edge of the Powel Crosley Estate.