Bradenton Times News Articles

At Thursday's Port Authority Meeting, Commissioners weighed bringing legal counsel in-house, received a presentation on the Florida Ports Council, and approved both a Cargo Volume Agreement and the Berth 12 Wharf Extension and Container Terminal Project.

On Tuesday, phosphate giant Mosaic came before the Manatee County Commission asking for significant changes to their Wingate Extension between SR 64 and SR 62 in Manatee County. Last June, Mosaic won the ability to destroy 49 acres of wetlands, while mining an additional 645.9 acres at the site. The board voted 5-2 to allow them to mine more acreage, extend the length of their operations and delay reclamation.

At Tuesday's BOCC Land Use meeting, Commissioners approved Mosaic's application for a substantial Deviation to their Wingate Creek Mine Development Order, along with a resolution amending Mosaic's Master Mining Plan, with a 5-2 vote on each. The board also voted unanimously to settle a personal injury case involving a resident who was injured when they tripped in front of the old courthouse.

At Monday's meeting, Commissioners approved a request to extend the Sanctuary Cove Bond for one year. On February 24, at McKechnie Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates will present a $75,000 check to build the Little League fields at Blackstone Park in Palmetto. Also, Christina Behr, Kim Bailey and Karin Meier, representing The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life, gave a presentation on ways people could help fight cancer.

Phosphate giant Mosaic returned to the Manatee County Planning Commission last week with a request for multiple changes in their previously approved Wingate Mine Extension Plan. The company wants more land to mine, less berm to protect it, permission to process on-site and off-site ore, and to extend their projected completion date. Despite public objection, the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. The Manatee County Commission will decide the application this week. 

Manatee County Government offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 18 to commemorate Presidents Day.All trash, recycling and yard waste collections for the week will be postponed one day from Tuesday through Saturday for residents in unincorporated Manatee.Manatee County Area Transit, the Anna Maria Island Trolley and the Longboat Key Trolley will operate normal daily routes.

The Palmetto City Commission will meet on Monday afternoon for a workshop, then hold a regular meeting that evening. All other government offices are closed on Monday for President's Day. On Tuesday, the County Commission will hold a Land Use Meeting in the morning. The school board will convene at its chambers for a special meeting regarding the selection of a new superintendent on Wednesday, then meet at the County Commission Chambers on Thursday for a discussion and public question & answer session on the recent forensic audit.

Mosaic mining returned to the Manatee County Planning Commission Thursday with a request for multiple changes in their previously approved Wingate Mine Extension Plan. The phosphate giant wants more land to mine, less berm to protect it, permission to process on-site and off-site ore, and to extend their projected completion date. The request represents a significant change from last June, when the county approved their "Operational Permit."

Mosaic returned to the commission with a request for multiple changes in their previously-approved Wingate Extension Plan. The phosphate-mining company wants more land to mine, less berm to protect it, permission to process on-site and off-site ore, and to extend their projected completion date by seven years. In other business, Gulfside Homes/Bowles Creek, LLP, filed an application for a Preliminary Site Plan on 19 acres south of 69th Avenue West and west of U.S. 41.

At Wednesday's meeting, the city council gave the green light to one of the two craft beer breweries that are planning to open in Bradenton within the next few months of the year. Frank and Denise Tschida will open Motorworks Brewing in the old 2-story brick building on 1014 9th Street West. Motorworks will be located just north of McKechnie Field, neighboring the Village of the Arts, and was touted as offering a financially-symbiotic relationship with the stadium and village as well as other businesses in the area. "We believe the brewery has an important role to play in the continued growth of the area," said MB Vice President and Marketing Director Ann Altman during the meeting.