Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Lena Road Landfill is running out of space. How will Manatee County handle the trash?

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/le...0b3e3939&ei=48

The Lena Road Landfill in Bradenton is running out of space to handle all of Manatee County's garbage and waste, but local officials proposed a plan that could extend the site's lifespan by decades.

When Manatee County Government opened the landfill in 1972, the county had a population of 97,115 and the landfill had an estimated lifespan of 32 years. Fifty-two years later, Manatee County is growing rapidly, with an estimated population of about 460,000.

Over the years, Manatee County Government has expanded Lena Road's footprint and capacity, and homeowners and solid waste contractors are still hauling refuse to the landfill at 3333 Lena Road, Bradenton.

When the landfill first opened, it sat on 132 acres. Since then, the county has increased its size to 316 acres.

The Bradenton Herald previously reported that the landfill would reach capacity in the 2040s, but a new plan would increase the site's longevity.

Last August, Evan Pilachowski, then director of utilities for Manatee County, briefed county commissioners on the continuing search for a new landfill site.

And he also offered the welcome news that the landfill could have another 20 to 30 years of useful service with a few adjustments.

The landfill has three sections or stages. The first and second stages are permitted to 130 feet. The third stage is at 118 feet, and the county is seeking to increase its height by 10 feet.

County staffers calculate that by increasing the height of the third stage, expanding the footprint of the second stage and increasing the slope in selected areas, the landfill could have another three decades of use.

"Stages one and three are currently filled and we are filling stage two now," said Pilachowski, who was promoted in October to deputy county administrator.

Manatee County commissioners were unanimous in their praise of the options county staff developed to extend the lifespan of the Lena landfill.

Although the county has bought itself some time to find a replacement for the Lena landfill, the search remains a huge challenge.

Finding 1,500 acres of unused land away from developed areas and watersheds is not easy. So far, the county's screening has identified about 40 parcels as potential sites.

Buying property now for a new landfill site rather than in the future has the additional benefit of costing less, Kruse said.

[wondermint2]

Nokomis community cleanup set for Feb. 24

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/no...0b3e3939&ei=90

The Sarasota County Government has announced its date for the Nokomis community cleanup.

This is the best time to discard any household items, tree trimmings and other debris. The cleanup will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 24 in Nokomis.

Dumpsters for residential customers will be available at no cost at the following locations:

- Main site: Nokomis Community Park, 234 Nippino Trail E., Nokomis Community Center, South Parking Lot, Nokomis.

- The intersection of River Blvd. N. and S. at Adriatic St. (West Side), Nokomis.

Hazardous waste, such as paint, oil, aerosol cans and electronics will not be accepted. Appliances and car tires will be accepted at the Nokomis Community Park location only - limit of four tires per household.

Hazardous materials may also be taken to the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Center, 8750 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

For more information, dial 311 or visit scgov.net.

[wondermint2]

Bradenton Police remind everyone what can happen if you 'block the box' (Video)

For full article & video:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/2...you-block-box/

Bradenton Police don’t take holidays off and they want to remind drivers of what it can cost you to break the law with traffic violations.

On Monday, Presidents’ Day, more than two dozen drivers were pulled over for the offence of “blocking the box” or blocking an intersection while trying to turn.

Police say there are many offenders in the area of 6th Ave. W turning northbound 1st St. W.

Despite it being obvious that drivers can’t complete the turn, they try for it. Bradenton Police want to remind everyone that it takes longer to sit and wait for a ticket than sitting through a light cycle.

[wondermint2]

Benefit for injured HB commissioner launches

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2024/02/ben...oner-launches/

Islander publisher Bonner Joy and Sean Murphy and Susan Timmins, owners of the Doctor’s Office and Doctor’s Garden, will cohost a fundraiser 3-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, for Holmes Beach Commissioner Pat Morton at the Doctor’s Garden, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach.

Everyone is welcome.

Plans include a raffle of a variety of fun, drinkable, foodie and specialty baskets. Providing baskets for the raffle are the city of Holmes Beach, HBPD, Waste Pro, Anna Maria Island Privateers, Ace Hardware of Holmes Beach, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, cities of Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria and more to come.

Light bites and libations will be served.

The Islander also has organized a GoFundMe campaign to help Morton, who was injured in a traffic collision Jan. 25 outside Ace Hardware, 3352 E. Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.

Morton was walking to the store, where he is employed, when a motorist in a pickup truck ran a stop sign and struck him.

Morton was hospitalized, suffering a chipped vertebra, fractured pelvis and kidney damage.

Now the commissioner, who had been the primary caretaker for his wife, needs help caring for his wife and with living expenses while he’s out of work.

[wondermint2]

Conservation Foundation Permanently Conserves 64 Acres Along the Manatee River

Crooked River Ranch provides opportunities for coastal resiliency, water quality protection and native habitat restoration.

For full article:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/tra...-manatee-river

[wondermint2]

BB continues mooring talks, waterfront boundary expansion

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2024/02/bb-...ary-expansion/

Bradenton Beach officials continue to explore the possibility of establishing a pay-to-anchor mooring field in collaboration with the Bradenton Beach Marina.

If approved, the city would shift from managing its anchorage, spanning from the southern end of the Cortez Bridge to Eighth Street South, bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway channel to the east and the Bradenton Beach shoreline to the west.

Currently, the city jurisdiction extends 500 feet outside the anchorage area but commissioners are discussing expanding the boundaries to include the entire waterfront of Bradenton Beach east to the border of the waterway.

City attorney Ricinda Perry said during a Feb. 15 commission meeting that a work session is needed for staff to discuss potential regulatory changes, the mooring field concept and the possibility of expanding boundaries.

Perry listed concerns about starting a mooring field without first addressing the boundaries.

[wondermint2]

Manatee County property taxes don't completely cover EMS services

If you receive care from Manatee EMS, it is likely you will receive a bill.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...-ems-services/

So those who use the county's emergency medical services might not know the answer to an important question. If you need an ambulance ride from a county ambulance, is that covered by your taxes?

The answer is no, not entirely.

Taxes pay for many of the services provided by the government, but Manatee County EMS services come with an itemized bill as well.

While EMS receives a portion of property taxes to operate, it’s not enough to cover all the department's expenses. So whether you call 911 from home or someone else calls from the scene of a car accident, you will receive a bill in the mail.

However, not all emergency services do cost more than you taxes cover. For instance, if your house burns down, property taxes do cover fire rescue services.

“There are some user fees associated with fire prevention,” said Paul Wren, the deputy chief of East Manatee Fire Rescue. “We’re different from EMS in that we don’t have a fee schedule that gets followed.”

Fire prevention fees include permits and plan reviews. If a fire is deemed to be arson or a homeowner ignored violation notices, then fire rescue can look to recover its costs. Otherwise, property taxes cover those expenses.

But if EMS personnel have to administer medical care when answering a call, it is likely you will get a bill.

“Medical billing is complex and can vary depending on several factors, such as location and type of services provided,” EMS Chief James Crutchfield said. “For automotive accidents, auto insurance, if available, is typically billed.”

On Feb. 13, commissioners approved a write-off of $3.1 million for unpaid EMS services for fiscal year 2023, which is a substantial drop from FY 2022 when more than $5.3 million was written off. Uninsured and underinsured citizens accounted for 66% of the unpaid bills.

[wondermint2]

Former Mixon Farms owners begin new stage with food truck

For full article & photos:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...rs-food-truck/

What’s the best part of retirement?

Janet Mixon said it’s the naps. Dean Mixon rolls his eyes at the mere sound of the word "nap."

“He’s always finding stuff to do,” Janet Mixon said of her husband.

After closing Mixon Fruit Farms in July 2023, the Mixons are hardly retired. They’ve taken the history of the farm, the favorite sandwiches from the Mixon Fruit Farms' Groveside Cafe and, of course, the same ice cream that was a staple of their business for so many years and now bring it to their customers on a food truck.

The Mixons have been running a food truck since November 2023 called the Mixon Swirl, and there are more familiar faces inside the truck than just the Mixons: former Mixon Fruit Farms' employees Anita Stanley, Marie Lovy and Kaliah Muck.

Stanley ran the cafe. Lovy worked in the office and filled in at the gift shop as needed, and Muck drove the tram for tours and organized the birthday parties and field trips.

“They could be retired, too,” Janet Mixon said of the trio.”I miss them when I haven’t seen them, so we enjoy being around each other.”

The menu is pared down to the most popular dishes from the cafe and the ones that can be assembled in the back of a truck — the Loaded BLT, Mixon’s Pressed Cuban and the Super Grilled Cheese. Occasionally, someone’s in the mood to make soup.

Then, there are the treats. Dean Mixon makes the kettle corn, and Muck makes the candied nuts. But it wouldn’t be the Swirl Tour without the ice cream, and it wouldn’t be from Mixon’s without the signature orange juice swirl mixed into the soft-serve vanilla.

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*Hop on the Swirl Tour:

Visit:

https://www.mixon.com/schedule/

to see where the Mixon Swirl food truck will be parked next or to schedule it for an event.

The next public event on the food truck’s calendar is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Pirate City, 1701 27th Street E., Bradenton

[wondermint2]

Quick Point Nature Preserve gets boardwalk repairs, new signage

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...pairs-signage/

One of Longboat Key’s final frontiers of undeveloped land, Quick Point Nature Preserve, is a hidden gem — and in need of a site refresh.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program recently began the site refresh in the Longboat Key preserve, which is part of a larger goal of enhancing three parks across Manatee and Sarasota counties: Quick Point, Sarasota Bay Walk on City Island and Leffis Key Preserve.

Quick Point is a 34-acre restoration site located on the southern tip of Longboat Key, easily accessible by residents of the Key and Sarasota.

“Longboat Key is so heavily developed,” SBEP Operations Manager Heather Moody said. “To actually be able to get out in nature and enjoy an unobstructed view of the Bay like that is definitely unique.”

[wondermint2]

Iconic Gulfstream Avenue steel sculpture seeks new home

Complexus, the jewel of Sarasota's public art collection, will be heading for a Fruitville Road site if both the city and county governments approve.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...eeks-new-home/