BRADENTON — Public records are providing new insights into a Manatee County Commissioner’s motion to direct county administration to negotiate the cancellation of a reimbursement agreement for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of University Parkway with Legacy Boulevard and Deer Drive. The records also raise questions about the county’s communication with community representatives and the residents who the project would directly impact.
While some residents of Lakewood Ranch celebrated the recent action of District 5 Commissioner Bob McCann, Rex Jensen, CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), issued a strongly worded criticism of the move in an open letter memorandum published by the East County Observer.
At the heart of the issue, according to McCann, was not only that the residents did not want a roundabout, but also that the community felt the project was “forced” upon them.
In November 2024, one week before the newly elected McCann was sworn into office, a prior BOCC approved the execution of the reimbursement agreement with Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park LLC, a subsidiary of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR).
The agreement was for SMR to construct the roundabout, and the county to reimburse half of the expense. The item was approved on consent.
A consent agenda traditionally serves to streamline meetings by grouping routine, non-controversial items for approval with a single vote of the board. Consent items are typically items that don't require individual discussion, and passing them in a bundled fashion can save the board time.
Commissioner McCann made the motion to rescind that reimbursement agreement last month, during a May 6 BOCC meeting.
McCann stressed that he was bringing the item to the board for consideration after hearing the concerns of numerous constituents of Lakewood Ranch.
“I will tell you,” said McCann to his colleagues during the May meeting, “that roundabout was forced on them. Nobody asked them if they wanted a roundabout.”
McCann went on to suggest it was SMR who wanted a roundabout constructed at Legacy and University—an allegation SMR CEO Jensen would later challenge in his memorandum.
According to Jensen, it was the county’s engineer, along with staff from the county’s Public Works Department, who proposed a roundabout as the best solution for the in-need intersection. Finding the county staff’s justifications reasonable, SMR’s staff agreed to partner on the project.
But it was not only the “whose idea was it” that Jensen took exception to in his open letter, but multiple aspects of McCann’s statements and motion, and the board’s subsequent 6-0 vote to approve it.
Jensen disagreed with the item being added as a last-minute addition to the agenda; he questioned the greater implications of the county reneging on a legal business arrangement, called the action politically motivated, and even wrote that McCann “lacks credibility” while just barely avoiding calling the commissioner a liar.
“The assertion SMR forced the roundabout on the county is false, politically motivated, and completely unproductive,” Jensen wrote in his memorandum.
Jensen added, “We (SMR) also aren’t terminating valid agreements every time a politician wets his pants or seeks public relevance over emails. I’m sorry that you are getting emails, but you will live.”
Click the video below to replay the May 6 BOCC meeting item brought forward by McCann. Click here to read Jensen’s memorandum as published by The Observer.
While the county confirmed to TBT by email that Jensen’s assertion is accurate on the point of who proposed a roundabout for the intersection—the county agreed that it did—public records reviewed by TBT also appear to confirm that McCann’s statements about the community feeling the project was “forced upon them” also hold validity.
Public records obtained by TBT showed that the process for the BOCC’s 2024 approval of a reimbursement agreement began nearly a year ago.
Records also revealed that it was not only residents of nearby Lakewood Ranch communities who were concerned about the proposed construction of a roundabout at the intersection, but board members elected by Lakewood Ranch residents to represent those communities’ interests also had concerns.
Board members of the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority (IDA) and the Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts (CDDs) 2 and 5 spent months raising the topic of the roundabout in their board meetings, seeking regular updates from LWR Townhall Executive Director Steve Zielinski.
The IDA was created to operate LWR Town Hall and to provide administrative, financial, and operations/maintenance services to the five CDDs. The IDA also acts as District Manager for each of the community districts.
The IDA is composed of one serving board member from each community district, and board members of the CDDs are elected to their roles by district residents.
As the LWR Town Hall Executive Director, Mr. Zielinski manages the day-to-day operations of Town Hall, including the business of the IDA and the CDDs.
In his role, Zielinski spent months attempting to gather information regarding the proposed roundabout at the Legacy/Deer Drive intersection. He would report back to the IDA and CDD board members whatever information he obtained. Records of those meetings show Zielinski’s task was challenging, and information was limited.
The Public Record Timeline
Through the review of public records, TBT was able to piece together a partial timeline, revealing some of the inner workings of how it came to be that a roundabout was planned for a busy intersection in Lakewood Ranch, yet Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and residents knew very little about it.
May 18, 2024: In what appears to be the first public mention that a roundabout may be coming to Legacy Drive and University Parkway, Manatee County shared the news at a county-hosted work session meeting called “All Things Lakewood Ranch.”
The meeting was held in the Lakewood Ranch High School Auditorium, and various county departments provided presentations on issues and county initiatives impacting Lakewood Ranch’s Manatee County residents.
Director of Public Works Chad Butzow and Deputy Director of Traffic Management Clarke Davis presented transportation projects. It was during this presentation that Davis provided information about planned and proposed roundabouts.
“One that we are working on with an agreement with LWR right now is to build a roundabout at University and Deer Drive and Legacy intersection,” Davis said.
Butzow added, “Some of this stuff is being introduced because of Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota County. The Legacy Deer Drive area, there’s a lot of extra traffic and demand at that place, it’s Out of Door Academy, so we knew (the County) had some desires and turn lane adjustments in there, so that was a good partnership to improve the overall access.”
June 4, 2024: Lakewood Ranch IDA held a special joint workshop with the LWR CDDs. Executive Director Zielinski was in attendance as well as McCann’s predecessor, former commissioner Ray Turner.
The recorded minutes of the meeting show that during public comment, a committee representative of CDD2, Les Prysock, asked if the county was “investigating a roundabout” at the Legacy and University intersection. The question likely stemming from information shared at the county’s Lakewood Ranch work session held just weeks prior.
Turner responded to Prysock’s question by stating he would check the county’s CIP to see if the project was included.
June 25, 2024: Zielinski sends an email to Public Works Director Butzow and cc’ed County Administrator Charlie Bishop, Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski, and County Engineer Scott May.
“Since the proposed roundabout for the intersection of University Parkway/Legacy Blvd/Deer Dr will greatly impact the flow of traffic during the pre-construction, construction, and post construction phases of the major gateway into the Lakewood Ranch Country Club, it is incumbent upon you to keep me and my staff intimately informed each step of the way regarding this project,” the email began.
Zielinski finished the email, writing, “The CDD2 Board will be very concerned about this improvement, as will I, and its impact. It is imperative that the County and or private developer keep us informed every step of the way.”
July 15, 2024: Zielinski sends another email, this time to former commissioner Turner’s aide, Dana Summers.
The email included questions concerning multiple items that Zielinski says he is attempting to follow up on after they were discussed in the LWR Districts’ Special workshop.
Among the items listed, Zielinski writes, “Where is the County on the development of the proposed roundabout at the intersections of University Parkway/Legacy Blvd/Deer Drive? I sent an email to Chad Butzow on 6/25/2024 and have not had a response.”
July 17, 2024: An article titled, More Roundabouts Planned for Lakewood Ranch, is published by The Observer. The reporting details roundabout projects that Manatee County is negotiating with SMR and the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District to construct on State Road 64, Bourneside Boulevard, and University Parkway.
Anne Ross, executive director of the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District, is quoted in the article stating that discussions with the county regarding the Deer Drive/Legacy and University intersection “began with turn lanes, but a roundabout makes more sense.”
Ross also told the publication that the district submitted a design plan for the county to review in January.
Butzow told The Observer that an agreement would likely be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for approval that fall.
August through October 2024: Despite efforts, including multiple public record requests, TBT was unable to locate any records related to the roundabout during this time.
November 12, 2024: Lakewood Ranch’s CDD2 and CDD5 convene for meetings. Audio recordings obtained through a public record request were reviewed by TBT.
During a workshop meeting of CDD2, Zielinski informed members that he had met with Butzow and then-Commissioner Turner two weeks before to discuss multiple matters affecting Lakewood Ranch. Among the subjects discussed was the roundabout.
Zielinski stated that after conducting a traffic study, the county determined that a roundabout was the most suitable option. “They said for traffic flow and safety concerns, including maintenance, a roundabout was the better option.”
He also shared that the “proposed” roundabout might require land acquisition from CDD2, and that it was his understanding that the project would be completed as a partnership between the county and SMR.
Throughout his update, Zielinski referred to the roundabout as “proposed,” and told the members that the information he received from the county was that the project was “in its infancy,” and that the design was only about 25% complete.
Zielenski also stated that he was told by county officials that the project was “going before the BOCC," likely in a December meeting, "just for discussion.”
Later, during the CDD2 regular board meeting, in closing comments, Board Member Arthur Taber stated, “Of all the things that we’ve talked about today, I think that the thing that is going to impact the residents is the potential roundabout at Legacy and University. The board should do all it can to make the public aware of what the impact of that is. Personally, I just can’t understand how the traffic study could’ve suggested that could work... as a board, we just need to do all that we can to get information out.”
Other members can be heard agreeing with Taber.
During a CDD5 meeting at 3:00 pm, Zielinski provided a similar update on the roundabout.
What Zielinski didn’t know, however, was that earlier the same morning, before he provided his updates to the CDDs, the reimbursement agreement between the county and SMR for the construction of the roundabout had been presented to the BOCC during their meeting—the item was approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda.
The estimated cost of the project was $4,953,656, with an additional 30% contingency ($1,486,096). The county’s obligation was to reimburse SMR 50%, or a total amount not to exceed $3,219,876.
January 14, 2025: Meetings were held for the IDA, CDD2, and CDD5, and the roundabout was discussed. Board members expressed their concerns about the project.
Zielinski updated that he was attempting to arrange meetings with Public Works and newly elected Commissioner McCann, making contact with the commissioner was proving challenging.
He shared that he was working with Anne Ross of SMR on the matter and was hoping to coordinate a meeting with Manatee County representatives, similar to the one held at St. Mary’s Church for the Lorraine Road and Players roundabout. He promised to inform the boards when the coordinated meeting was scheduled.
“I don’t have any pertinent information,” he told members. “Nothing to hang my hat on.”
February 18, 2025: Lakewood IDA, CDD2, and CDD5 convened for meetings again. The topic of the roundabout led to lengthy discussions.
Zielinski submitted into the record a schematic of the proposed roundabout layout provided to him by Manatee County. He said he spoke with Butzow 10 days before the meeting about the project's design and progress.
Zielinski acknowledged that he was aware individual CDD members, as well as some residents, had significant concerns with the project.
“Based on what I understand, this is really in its late stages,” said Zielinski. “This is almost a ‘gonna be’ unless there is a lot of feedback and/or backlash from the community.”
He added that he still believed an opportunity would be scheduled for public discussion with the BOCC.
Zielinski also shared that he had not yet received copies of the traffic studies from the county, although he had requested them. He added that he was continuing to communicate with SMR and the county, with the hope of coordinating a meeting for community input.
Resident John Moelman, who was attending the IDA meeting, provided public comment, saying that few residents were aware of the roundabout.
“Something of this magnitude, is there any consideration for the communication process? I’ve never seen a public hearing advertised or anything that addresses this,” Moelman. “Apparently, the communication process isn't under strict review.”
Zielinski responded, saying that the board shared Moelman's concerns as they also “had been kept in the dark.”
Later that same day, during the CDD2 and 5 meetings, Zielinski shared similar news: after meeting with Butzow, it had become clear that the process was “pretty far along.”
Member Thomas Green commented, “What concerns me is when they considered a roundabout at the Players, they had a public meeting and people had a chance to give input, it was well communicated… I haven't seen word one, other than a very brief article in the Observer that included 12 roundabouts, and this was just one of them.”
Green added that he believed the community ought to have an opportunity to provide input, “I think once a number of people become aware of this, they’re going to want to understand ‘the why,’ versus just sitting back and letting it happen.”
Zielinski told members that he was hoping to have more information to provide, and again promised to report back when he learned when BOCC meetings would be held, so that CDDs and residents can have their voices heard.
A conceptual roundabout design for the intersection of Legacy Boulevard and Deer Drive at University Parkway was attached as Exhibit A to a reimbursement agreement between Manatee County Government and Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park, LLC
March 18, 2025: Meetings of the IDA, CDD2, and CDD5 are held. As in the previous months, Zielinski reported that he was still working to schedule a meeting with McCann and attempting to get additional information from Public Works regarding the roundabout.
He reported that he had received copies of the traffic studies, but added, “I was hoping to have more information other than just the traffic studies."
“When I had the chance to meet with Rex Jensen and his staff, he informed me that this was pretty much in its end stages… According to Rex, he indicated he desired to have extended lanes. It was the county that changed the plans based on their concerns with traffic patterns.”
Zielinski added that, based on the county engineer's recommendation, Jensen came to agree with the use of a roundabout.
“I’m trying to reach out to public works to find out if this is going to be further discussed at any future Manatee BOCC meetings. If that is the case, I can make that information available,” he told CDD5.
As in previous meetings, multiple members shared concerns regarding the lack of communication from the county. It was suggested that Zielinski should send a letter to all of the commissioners voicing the concerns of the IDA and CDDs.
March 24, 2025 (11:51 am): Zielinski sends an email to Public Works Director Butzow and Public Works Communications Coordinator, Ogden Clarke, with a subject line of “Proposed University Parkway/Legacy/Deer Drive Roundabout.”
“Could either of you provide me with a timeline of the above-referenced subject matter from when it was first discussed and presented to the BOCC for review and consideration? Is the project included in the County’s CIP? If so, please provide reference. What entities are funding the project? How did it evolve from University Parkway east and west bound lane extensions to a roundabout and what was the rationale? Since it appears from the most recent schematics (designs) that there may be the need to annex certain lands owned by the Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2 (CDD2), why was there never any overture regarding this matter made to CDD2? Will there be any further discussion of the proposal before any County Committee or Board? If so, when?”
Butzow later forwarded Zielinski’s email to Administrator Bishop, writing, “I’d like to discuss the path forward here. The BCC approved the agreement to construct the roundabout through SMR on November 12, 2024. Not wanting another, Players/Lorraine. Okay to set up a meeting after Evan (Pilachowski) is back?”
Butzow was referencing the Players and Lorraine roundabout; to read more about what led to that project’s cancellation, click here and here.
The same afternoon, Zielinski also sent a lengthy letter on official letterhead to each of the commissioners. In the letter, he expressed the concerns of the LWR Town Hall, including the lack of public communication about the project, and requested that the county consider postponing the project to gather public input.
(To view an enlarged version of Zielinski's letter, click here.)
March 25, 2025: McCann forwarded the letter he received from Zielinski to Butzow and Pilachowski, writing, “We need to discuss this prior to any building of a roundabout.”
Butzow later forwarded McCann’s message to Bishop without comment.
April 15, 2025: A scheduled BOCC meeting included a last-minute Public Works presentation item. The PowerPoint included 25 slides of information regarding CIP projects.
Shortly after the presentation began, however, Commission Chair George Kruse stopped the presenters, stating that commissioners had only just received the presentation that morning and there simply wasn’t enough time to review the information and hold a meaningful discussion.
Instead, Kruse suggested the item be delayed until the May 6 board meeting, which would provide time for commissioners to receive individual briefings before the information was presented in a meeting.
Slide 19 of the PowerPoint presentation included the top five CIP priority projects for each county district. For McCann’s District 5, the roundabout at Legacy/Deer and University was listed as priority number two. With the presentation cut short, that slide was never presented, and the project was not discussed in the meeting.
Before concluding the item, McCann—who was recovering from an illness and attending the meeting by phone—requested that a copy of the slideshow be sent to him so he could review it. He added that his constituents were willing to “give up” a few projects from their list because certain ones were unwanted by constituents. McCann suggested those funds would be better spent in another district.
Click the video below to replay item 50, Discussion of CIP Priorities, from the April 15 BOCC meeting.
On the other side of the county, at the Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, Zielinski was providing updates to the IDA, as well as CDDs 2 and 5.
Zielinski shared with members that he had run into McCann’s aide at a recent LWR Business Alliance luncheon and learned that the commissioner had been out for at least two months due to illness.
Zielinski said he believed that the extended illness was part of the reason he had been unable to get a response from McCann when trying to set up a meeting with the commissioner.
He also shared that McCann informed him by email that he had instructed the director of Public Works to continue the roundabout item for “further discussion.”
Zielinski said that Butzow also informed him that the project had been placed on hold until McCann returned to the office to discuss the matter further with county officials.
May 6, 2025: McCann introduced a motion to direct county administration and Public Works staff to negotiate the cancellation of the reimbursement agreement with SMR for the roundabout at Deer Drive/Legacy and University.
McCann said—and records confirm—that he instructed his aide to request the item be added to the meeting agenda the Friday before, after finding that the presentation by public works regarding CIP priorities did not appear on the agenda as expected.
Written public comments attached to the agenda item showed numerous residents opposed the roundabout.
One of the public comments submitted to the record was an email exchange between a resident and Anne Ross of SMR. In an April 15 email, Ross tells the citizen that “it is up to the county to change the design plan” and that “we have also requested that public meetings or information be shared.”
THE CIP
The county’s adopted Capital Improvement Plan includes a planned project requested in FY24-28, and moved as existing in FY25-29, for the intersection at Legacy/Deer and University.
The project scope includes traffic signal upgrades, extended turn lanes, and other intersection improvements.
Although the project was planned and included in the CIP, it remains unfunded in the current CIP, with a projected design start date of 2029.
When the reimbursement agreement with SMR was placed on the Nov. 12, 2024, consent agenda, it was initially placed with an accompanying budget amendment resolution.
The Resolution, B-25-TBD, if approved, would have amended the annual budget for fiscal year 2025 and would have adjusted the FY25-29 CIP.
However, an agenda update dated the same day as the meeting, struck the budget resolution from the agenda, leaving the CIP unadjusted.
Without the adjustment, the existing project scope for the intersection remained unchanged, and anyone in the public seeking information about a roundabout at that intersection would not have been able to locate it in the CIP.
TBT attempted to ask County Administrator Bishop by email about the deleted budget resolution and whether the project, being a public-private partnership, negated the need for an adjustment to the CIP or an updated project scope.
An initial response from the administrator stated that our publication deadline, combined with the Director of Public Works being out of town, would make it challenging to answer our questions before our publication deadline.
When TBT offered to extend our deadline for another day, we received an email from the county’s PIO informing us that the county was unable to comment on the matter—beyond confirming that the proposal for the roundabout was a determination made by the county—because the item was scheduled to return to the board on June 17, and the commissioners had not yet received briefings.
The PIO’s email said in part, “We are unable to offer any further response(s) as this matter is scheduled to be brought before the BOCC on June 17, 2025. At this time, the Board has not yet been formally briefed, and it’s important that the board members have the opportunity to review and discuss it first.
“Out of respect for the Board and the process, we ask that you allow them the space to be briefed before any further public discussion. We’d be glad to sit down with you after that meeting on June 17.”
In our emailed request for comment, TBT had also inquired about the perspectives of Lakewood Ranch IDA and CDDs, noting that the process for the county’s approval of the roundabout lacked communication, forthright information, or an opportunity for community input.
TBT attempted to reach representatives of SMR, including CEO Rex Jensen, for this reporting, but did not receive a response to our request for comment before our publication deadline.
Multiple calls to the office of LWR Executive Director Steve Zielinski were not returned.
5 comments on this item
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sandy
I am against last minute agenda items. Maybe the roundabout is not wanted but to put on the agenda at 5:45 the night before the meeting is so wrong. McCann claimed he sent it to agenda on Thursday. I can tell you the manager of the agenda would have posted it as soon as received. McCann claims transparency but he doesn't practice it. Then he claims as a lawyer he's right. He is not letting everyone know his crazy proposals, not just the citizens but the developers that have a valid contract with the county. Personally I don't like roundabouts (City of Bradenton put one on 51st St W in front of GT Bray which I think is totally ridiculous and a waste of money). McCann needs to become more transparent like he promised when he ran for commissioner instead of waiting to put things on the agenda at the last minute. Also if he received 180 emails on this item why were they not added to the website? He loves waving paper and pounding it on dais. How does the citizens really know what that is.
Saturday, June 7 Report this
David Daniels
I am so bothered by the lack of public records - especially on the question of who initiated this project. All we have is the word of a verbal-grenade-throwing unethical developer (and he is accusing others of wetting their pants? Jensen has a long history of acting like a spoiled toddler) and the word of the proven non-credible Bishop administration. How can there not be a record discussing the initiation of such a significant public project? It is important to note that these initial communications (from Dawn's timeline, around May, 2024) occurred well before the Court's 9/16/2024 order in case 2022-CA-3276. In that Final Judgement, the court "prohibits employees from conducting official county business on any personal electronic device." And orders Manatee County to "implement an audit process that will allow for a third party audit of the county's information system to verify the county is accurately capturing and storing public records." Before this court order, even though it was county policy to not use personal devices, Charlie Bishop used ONLY his personal device for county business. I have the public records and a cell phone bill to prove that. Records from county-owned cell phones show that when an employee texted Charlie Bishop, it was always to his personal device. But when Bishop received a call or text from another personal device, the only records are what Bishop decides to provide. Yes, the last minute agenda item being added is concerning, but we've smelled this odor before. It smells like an unethical Administration intentionally avoiding transparency doing secret favors for developers at the expense of the public interest. This has the same odor of the so-called "county initiated" proposal to eliminate wetland buffers in October 2023. Where are the consequences? We have a County Administration we know we can't trust. When is some Commissioner going to stand up for the public interest and demand accountability?
Sunday, June 8 Report this
GoldenGopher
Rex Jensen needs a major attitude adjustment and some lessons in how to work with people. His public comments are counter-productive, inflammatory and make reaching compromises much harder than necessary.
Sunday, June 8 Report this
andreart
I have worked with Rex Jensen for many years. He wanted a turn lane and was told that the county wanted him to pay half for a roundabout. Ray Turner was the district commissioner then.
To go after Jensen is ridiculous. It appears the county or a commissioner wanted it.
If you don't like honesty and directness, don't talk to Rex Jensen. This is a county issue, not a SMR issue.
Sunday, June 8 Report this
Kelly
“Democracy Dies in Darkness.” Thank you for keeping the lights on Dawn Kitterman. Democracy can also die in broad daylight- if we allow.
Sunday, June 8 Report this