Daily News

To the casual observer – or even the more astute one – it would be easy to get the impression that on June 18, Manatee County voters will be deciding whether or not to give themselves a property tax cut. But that's just the most common misconception regarding the upcoming referendum, an event that has already been swaddled in enough falsehoods and half-truths to make a politician blush. In fact, several already have. Here's a thorough look at what's really on the table.

The Florida Keys Dolphin Championship in Key Largo will start tomorrow and continue through the long weekend. In Matlacha Florida, wounded warriors are holding a tournament to raise funds in an effort to support injured veterans. A weak area of high pressure will continue across the waters through Thursday. A strong ridge of high pressure will build north of the waters over the weekend resulting in gusty east and northeast winds, possibly reaching cautionary or advisory criteria. Capt. Rick Grassett says to look for reds and big trout in potholes and on the edges of bars when the tide is low or on shallow flats on sunny afternoons when the tide is high.

It's Memorial Day Weekend and there's plenty happening. Of course, this is typically the big kickoff of the beach season and the warm sticky weather is a great excuse to get out onto our islands. But if you're not much of a beach bum, you can get down to our award-winning Riverwalk for a music festival and Sunday marks the annual Tribute to Heroes Parade on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. Bust out the grill, grab the cooler and put on your sunscreen, it's time for a Weekend Adventure in Bradenton!

The Florida Department of Children and Families granted “Excellent” performance ratings for standards and practices as well as client records in the Residential Detox program at Manatee Glens Hospital & Addiction Center. Now, in addition to the Manatee Glens Hospital and Outpatient Detox, clients can choose to go through detoxification as a resident in the private Addiction Center. The detoxification process is usually three to seven days.

At Wednesday's meeting, the Bradenton City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that will effectively allow for vehicles to be impounded in relation to violations of prostitution, drug and decency laws. The council also passed a resolution that codifies its policy of invoking religious prayers at the beginning of meetings, and took time to recognize Harold Bridges and Jim Williams, two engineers from Jones Edmunds & Associates who have worked with the city since the 70's. 

Have you ever felt that something is going on, but you don't know what it is? If not, go to downtown Bradenton, sit in on one of the Manatee County Commission meetings, and just wait for discussion about the Special Referendum Election that is scheduled for June 18, 2013. I'm reminded of the Joe Pesci scene in JFK, where Pesci says, "It's a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma."

Michael Boyer, District Chief Financial Officer, presented the Manatee County School Board with the details of the District's 2013-14 budget at Monday's workshop, which was mostly about presenting new measures that the finance department will take to prevent errors in the budget, in addition to showing projected revenue for the coming school year.

On Monday, Governor Rick Scott signed off on the new state budget. While some lawmakers saw dollars for their districts fall under the veto axe, millions of dollars in funding for projects designed to help attract events to the Benderson rowing facility and IMG Academy remained intact as the budget was signed into law.

At Tuesday's county commissioner meeting, board members approved a request for another bus route proposal and the "consent" agenda, where you'll often find some of the bad news. In that portion of the meeting,"Meals on Wheels" had their budget cut by almost $6,000 (item #15) and their partner in helping the needy "Adult Day Care" was also cut by more than $16,000 (Item #16). In other business, over 100 citizens showed-up to express their dissatisfaction with a report on a $70 million, 20-year-old road job that those opposed to it call the "Road to Nowhere."

The Gulf Coast Builders Exchange has announced the election and appointment of new Board Members. The following Directors were recently sworn in as 
Board Members: Ron Allen – NDC Construction Company; David Karins – Karins Engineering Group, Inc.; Bill North, Jr. – Hill, Barth & King, LLC; and Kevin Hick – Gator Grading and Paving.