Bradenton Times News Articles

It was a light meeting for the Bradenton City Council on Wednesday evening. After its second reading and after giving it a public hearing, council members approved an ordinance that will amend the city's form-based code policy. Gene Brown was absent from the meeting.

At Tuesday's BOCC meeting, spectators learned about some of the value wetlands play in our everyday way of life, by both environmentally concerned citizens and the special interest heavy hitters that ringmaster the process of local government. For citizens, wetlands are the last frontier to protect, if water is to remain safe and available. For developers and mining interests, wetlands remain something very different: an obstacle to more profits. In Manatee County, it's not hard to guess which side has the most leverage.

At Tuesday's BOCC Meeting, commissioners had a full plate. County Attorney Bill Clague struggled to convince the board and citizens that there really weren't many changes in the "Wetland Ordinance" revisions, but it was nonetheless important to make them now. Cheri Coryea from Neighborhood Services shared the successes that the Rubonia Civic Center is experiencing in its second try to make things work, and the meeting also included some great citizens' comments.

Two months after local officials traveled to Washington D.C. to request additional federal funding for Wares Creek, the final piece of federal funding has been secured and the flood relief project will now be completed, according to county officials. With the final $12 million in funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers secured, Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker thinks the Corps could award a bid for the final section of the project by August and work could begin by the end of 2013.

At Monday's MPO meeting, members voted to increase the number of Sarasota / Manatee MPO members to 17. Added will be: one City of Bradenton member and one North Port member. In other business, members watched a "Map -21" presentation and also revisited the problematic U.S. 41 / 301 bridge replacement project.

At Tuesday's BOCC meeting, commissioners will vote on a Land Development Code amendment designed to fast-track Manatee County's Wetland Ordinance. Proponents say the changes will only reflect current practices. Opponents say that those practices are killing our wetlands and are in violation of our current laws.

Sarasota and Manatee's monthly MPO meeting on Monday morning will kick off three busy days for local government boards. Superintendent Rick Mills will go over an outline for a Request For Proposal for legal services to the school board on Monday afternoon. A regular school board meeting will follow in the evening. On Tuesday, the Board of County Commissioners will meet, and the Bradenton City Council will have its monthly evening meeting on Wednesday.

At Thursday's port authority meeting, commissioners viewed a presentation from Air Products. Sandy McLauchlin, Air Products' General Manager, walked commissioners through Air Products' history, marketplace and intent as they become the port's newest neighbor. There is a lot riding on this new "Florida International Gateway" resident.

At Thursday's Manatee Port Authority meeting, commissioners viewed an Air Products presentation; approved a list of long-term objectives, as well as a consulting agreement for federal dredging projects and voted for a local preference purchasing policy. The board also voted 6-1 to approve a chance order to the Berth 12 Wharf Extension and Container Terminal Project.

Manatee County is set to go in their beach renourishment program, and with matching federal and state funds getting closer to the table, officials say it is a deal they can't refuse. But these bargain projects still cry out for some serious funding, and commissioners are still crying broke.