The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Government Committee observes Manatee County Commission meetings for items of interest to citizens and the League, and notes adherence to, or nonadherence to, good governance procedures and the Sunshine Law. The following are the major points from the board’s regular meeting on 10/20/2026.
AWARDS/PRESENTATIONS/
Awards
Presentation of the Team Member of the Month for October 2026- Vickie Warner. Vickie, Senior Planning and Zoning Technician, Development Services Department.
Vickie Warner, fondly called “Queen Vickie”, was praised for her commitment to Manatee County, her extensive experience, and unparalleled knowledge.
Presentations
Recognition of Commissioner Bearden for His Dedicated Service to Manatee County
Commissioner James Bearden gave a very personal thank you for the recognition and referred to the importance of his faith. Bearden has been very involved in Veteran’s services including Fire Watch which is a program committed to working on suicide prevention in the veteran community.
Proclamations
Dr. Carlo Barbieri Day
Dr. Barbieri is the President of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce and has been very instrumental in developing trade and tourism industry between Brazil and Florida.
Manufacturing Awareness Month
Rob Harris, Executive Director of the Sarasota – Manatee Area Manufacturers’ Association spoke about creating jobs and apprenticeships in Manatee County which would offer career development with livable wages.
National Friends of Libraries Week
CommissionerGeorge Kruse praised the Friends of Libraries for their dedication to raising funds and maintaining active volunteers. He also commented that the Library today has many functions – computer availability, meeting space, information for social services, as well as still being a traditional reading library.
Sleep Baby Safely Awareness Month
Sleep Baby Awareness organization educates new parents in Manatee County on safe sleeping environments. Crib deaths have been significantly reduced since the founding of Sleep Baby Safely.
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON CONSENT AGENDA
Four citizens who have worked in the field of water safety opposed Item #51 Adoption of Resolution R-26-040, adopting the revised Cross Connection Control Manual. They felt the revisions would create risks to the purity of public drinking water due to reduced backflow testing. If this item passes they suggested there be other forms of remediation.
Pat Shea, Utilities Director, said the department was working on safety features which would be an improvement in the existing system. The new revisions would take place starting February 1, 2027.
CITIZEN COMMENTS (Consideration for Future Agenda Items)
Marcy MacPherson of DementiAbility requested the county provide space for a Dementia Navigation Hub. Another citizen also spoke in favor of a dementia hub.
Ruth Harenchar, President of the League of Women Voters of Manatee County, requested reconsideration of the ban on placement of the nonpartisan voters guides in the library and asked for a review of all restrictions on political topics and displays initiated from the County Administrator’s office. Another citizen agreed.
CONSENT AGENDA
The League encourages residents to read the full meeting agenda to learn about the approved consent items.
Approved 6-0
REGULAR
Property Management
Item 54. Appointment of One Applicant to the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Advisory Committee, Kara Koenig, Environmental Lands Program Section Manager - Countywide
Mark Van De Ree was appointed to the seat for a member of the Florida Engineering Society.
Approved 6-0.
Item 55. Execution of Contract for Sale and Purchase from Hilario S. Costa and Adilia M. Costa for Myakka Valley Preserve (Environmental Lands Candidate Property previously referred to as Anson Road Properties); Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-27-014; and Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-27-013, Kara Koenig, Environmental Lands Program Section Manager - District 1
The property will be part of the Myakka Valley Preserve, is in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and will cost $14,030,000.
McCann asked why Manatee County was paying above the appraisal. Staff stated the price is based on the highest appraisal with a small percentage above the appraisal. The property uniquely fits the environmental criteria of the Committee.
Approved 6-0.
Item 56. Execution of Contract for Sale and Purchase from Anson Acres Lot Owners' Association, Inc., for Myakka Valley Preserve (Environmental Lands Candidate Property previously referred to as Anson Road Properties); and Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-27-015, Kara Koenig, Environmental Lands Program Section Manager - District 1
The property will also be part of the Myakka Valley Preserve, is in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and will cost $170,000.
Approved 6-0.
Item 57. Execution of Contract for Sale and Purchase from the Shelley N. Chilton Trust for Bunker Hill Preserve (Environmental Lands Candidate Property previously referred to as Taylor Grade Road Property); Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-27-016; and Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-27-017, Kara Koenig, Environmental Lands Program Manager - District 1
The property will be part of the Bunker Hill Preserve, is in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and is in the Little Manatee River Watershed. It will cost $2.05 million.
Approved 6-0.
Item 58. License Agreement with SEMA Construction, Inc., concerning a portion of County Property located in Cortez, Florida 34215, Peter Morrow, Property Acquisition Division Manager - District 3 Click to see map
Chad Butto, County Utilities Engineer, outlined a revised license agreement allowing SEMA Construction to use a limited portion of county-owned property in Cortez for construction of the replacement Cortez Road Bridge. The agreement would compensate the county by waiving approximately $1.4 million in potential delay claims related to the county’s behind-schedule water-line relocation project.
Although the revised proposal reduced the land used after residents objected to the original plan, he acknowledged that neighborhood representatives remained concerned about continued use of waterfront property north of the bridge
Justin Oaks of SEMA proposed using county property for bridge construction staging, equipment, materials, and parking. [See map]. Oaks explained “Area 1” will be the primary site for cranes and semi-permanent structures and “Area 2” will be for overflow parking, materials assembly, and offloading to barges via the waterway.
Citizen Comments
Mark Silagy, representing the Concerned Citizens of Cortez Coalition (CCCC), claimed that during a July meeting with SEMA representatives and county planners, residents were assured parcel 2 would only be used for light vehicle overflow parking. He highlighted that the construction staging site is where over 300 residents must pass to access Cortez Road West.
Jim McConnell, board member of the CCCC,emphasized they are trying to work with everybody to get a sensible solution and recommended they go back to staging on the south side.
Karen Dell, Cortez resident and part owner in Tide Tables restaurant, supported using county-owned property for bridge construction, arguing it could improve efficiency, reduce lane closures, and prevent significant losses for the restaurant.
Bobby Woodson, partner in Tide Tables, highlighted that 50 employees depend on them, plus 500-1000 patrons per day. He recommended using the county property on the other side of Cortez, which would minimize traffic disruptions and people having difficulty getting on and off Anna Maria Island.
Joe Dora, president of the Cortez Park owner’s association, explained that they have worked with Tide Tables and expressed concerns about the impact on Tide Tables’ business, which will also cause a loss of income to the association.
Commissioners clarified that the SEMA activities will not block the roadway access to the residents. SEMA added that after assembly of materials, they will be offloaded directly to the water. Chair Siddique clarified that residents will still have other road access.
Approved 5 - 1. Bearden voting no.
Item 59. Bishop Animal Shelter Update, Michelle Wehrle, Construction Services Division Manager - District 3
In response to a Board of County Commissioner's motion on June 28, 2026, for a future brick and mortar kennel strategy, Michelle Wehrle of Property Services outlined a preliminary concept for replacing modular kennels with three phased brick-and-mortar kennel buildings, each accommodating 35 dogs. Designs incorporate climate control, indoor-outdoor spaces, and animal welfare best practices. Estimated construction costs and schedules highlight potential economies of scale of building three buildings versus one building, funding considerations, and continued shelter operations during phased construction. The design would cost $1 million and take 12 months. The total site capital improvements, including planned future work, will cost $7 million for one kennel and more than $36.5 million for three.
Sarah Brown, Director of Community and Veterans Services for Manatee County stated the proposed new structure would improve the adoption experience and increase the longevity of the structures. Several Commissioners expressed concern about spending $34.6 million for 105 dogs in new buildings and recommended getting more bang for our buck with moderate improvements. Kruse emphasized that $330,000 per kennel is more expensive than houses for homeless people. The modular kennels cost $2 million. Siddique recommended obtaining a clearer understanding of the marginal cost and marginal benefit to better justify using tax funding and suggested exploring private donors.
Community and Veterans Services
Item 60. Animal Services Advisory Board Recommendations – Reconsideration of Funding for Permanent Shade Structures (July 28, 2026 Agenda Item 19, Shade Component Only) and Preservation of the Lena Road Site for a Future Animal Services Use, Dena Sabou, Chair, Animal Services Advisory Board, and Johanna Beville, Program Analyst, Community and Veterans Services/Animal Services Advisory Board Staff Liaison – Countywide
Sabou requested reconsideration of a request denied at the July 28 meeting to fund permanent shade structures at the Bishop Animal Shelter. She also proposed potential use of land at the Lena Road site for an animal shelter.
Dena explained the entire previous bidding process was closed and that a new solicitation would take at least 4 months to move forward and not complete before summer heat.
Commissioner Kruse clarified that the Lena Road property is 160 acres and the county does not have a framework yet for its use. Chair Siddique expressed support for the shade structures and clarified that it would take a motion to put the project back on the agenda and they would still have to follow the procurement process.
Citizen Comments
Four public commenters supported installing shade structures at the animal shelter to protect dogs and volunteers from rain and wind, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life. They also urged the county to expedite permanent shelter construction, preserve the Lena Road site, improve staffing and employee wages, and consider more durable facilities, public access, and available infrastructure funding of $23 million.
Motion for a budget resolution and staff action on a permanent shade structure approved 6-0.
REPORTS
Development Services
Item 64. Public Comment and Workflow Modernization, David Morehead, Business Services Support Manager
Morehead provided an update on addressing the high volume of public comments by reducing inefficiencies, delays, and improving transparency. Manatee County introduced an online public-comment portal to simplify submissions, centralize intake, and automatically compile comments into organized packets showing support, opposition, and neutral positions. Currently 427 hours per year is spent on managing public comments from 5 different channels. With the new automated system, the estimated time will be 31 hours per year with a cost savings of $15,000 per year. Further steps will be taken to automate email submissions and update the agenda software.
Item 62. SunTrail Funding for Manatee Avenue Trail Project – Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study
Siddique requested $2 million for a detailed study on the requirements for a multimodal trail which would eventually connect to SunTrail. He stated the county has missed opportunities for state, federal, and grant funding for construction while waiting for state funding for the study.
Approved 6-0.
Item 61. County Administrator Contract Discussion
Dementia Hub Funding and Space Debate
McCann felt that Bishop and staff had not done their job to get the nonprofit Dementia Hub office space.
Staff said they had offered space in a county building alongside Aging Services, but the organization considered it unsuitable. Marcy MacPherson of DementiAbility explained why she felt the space was not adequate and requested $36,000 for a rental.
The board unanimously approved a procedural motion to discuss the funding issue not on the agenda.
A motion was then made to increase Dementia Hub’s grant allocation by $36,000 and authorize staff to amend the contract. Staff explained that the existing award was a little over $301,000, for a relatively new organization.
Kruse and Siddique raised concerns about the lack of supporting cost and program data, the impact on general fund reserves, and whether the organization was being unrealistic in its requests for greater space. They felt the grant of $301,000 for a relatively new organization was already generous, although it could not be used for rent.
McCann and Bearden argued the board should honor its earlier direction to find space and questioned whether the offered county space met privacy and staffing needs.
Motion failed. Commissioners Bearden and McCann voted yes.
Audit of Procurement
McCann stated there is a low level of public trust and requested an independent external audit of all relevant contracts, authorizing a transparent review.
Siddique stated that he would prefer the use of the Inspector General, which they can get for free, rather than pay for an outside firm. Rahn stated he has already asked the Inspector General for an audit of Light Up Manatee and procurement.
Kruse and Bearden felt an independent audit of the procurement process by an outside firm could provide valuable insight. Staff stated that the time frame for Request for Proposal, which would be necessary to obtain a contract for the audit, is Nov 18.
Approved 6 to 0
County Administrator Performance
McCann brought up the September 1, 2026 BoCC meeting where, in response to questions about the credentials of two staff candidates, the County Administrator asked Bearden if he wanted to “take a swing”. McCann moved for termination of Bishop for cause, with a 30-day notice, and, believing it would fail, said he would request a second motion for a formal reprimand. Bearden questioned Bishop extensively about his actions and felt that his actions could constitute grounds for dismissal, but he was a man of grace and would only second the reprimand motion.
Motion for dismissal failed for lack of a second.
Siddique stated he would not agree that the behavior was assault and felt there has been ongoing character assassination of Bishop. He felt that Bishop has worked to fulfill the wishes of the Board and has only set parameters on the use of staff time. Ballard stated that Bearden’s behavior was threatening and that, although Bishop’s response was inappropriate, Bearden precipitated it. Kruse did not oppose the motion, as it was inappropriate behavior toward a superior (board member).
Citizen Comments
Motion for a formal written reprimand failed due to a tie vote. McCann, Bearden and Kruse voted yes.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
GOVERNANCE
Link to Good Governance Guidelines
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