Daily Archives: July 12, 2012

A host of heavy issues faces city on Monday

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

Call it ‘the leadership soap opera’ Several significant issues face the Sarasota City Commission on Monday, July 16. The top item is the selection (maybe) of a new city manager, but that is not the only thorny problem on the … Continue reading →

Posted in City of Sarasota, Crime & Law Enforcement | Comments Off

Residential parking issue added to ‘list’ for Code Enforcement

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

County Commission gets figures for a part-time officer The focus for code enforcement on Siesta Key shifted this week from noise to parking, as Commissioner Nora Patterson addressed neighborhood complaints during the July 10 County Commission meeting. At tbe same … Continue reading →

Posted in Neighborhoods, Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism | Comments Off

County Commission authorizes first steps in TDR pilot program

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Board splits over funding for land management Given the continuing fluctuations in the housing market, the Sarasota County commissioners agreed July 11 that it was too soon to put a price on any transfer of development rights from lands the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environmental News, Sarasota County | Comments Off

DID offers Moran big raise; Marina Jack interested in parking deck

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

Sarasota’s Downtown Improvement District this week voted to give Operations Manager John Moran a whopping $10,000 raise, citing his excellent performance over the past 12 months. Moran opened the July 10 meeting with a surprise: “We’ve received an increase in … Continue reading →

Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota | Comments Off

Federal funding sought to replace county buses with trolleys on island routes

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

County also hoping to put up 16 new bus shelters If the Federal Transit Administration approves $3.63 million in grant funds the Sarasota County Commission unanimously has authorized staff to apply for, public bus riders could be taking trolleys to … Continue reading →

Posted in Sarasota County, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

County awaiting word from FDOT on new No. 1 beach signs

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid expects to hear from the Florida Department of Transportation by July 16 regarding the type of permanent signage it will allow the county to put up regarding Siesta Public Beach’s status as the No. 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Sarasota County, Siesta Key, Tourism | Comments Off

Commissioners say they had no choice but to OK hog hunts

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Although 10 county residents pleaded with them not to approve feral hog hunts they described as barbaric and inhumane, the majority of the Sarasota County commissioners on July 10 said they had no choice but to act to preserve environmentally … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Environmental News, Sarasota County | Comments Off

New Library Foundation receives its first grant

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The new Library Foundation for Sarasota County has received a $10,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to raise public awareness about the nine Sarasota County libraries and their value to the community, the foundation has announced. The grant … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonprofit News, Sarasota County, Sarasota People | Comments Off

Orioles’ 2012 attendance mark commemorated

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

Laura Williams (center), director of Florida operations for the Baltimore Orioles, accepts a commemorative plaque on July 9 from Sarasota resident Norman Schimmel (left) and Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta, recognizing the fact that the Orioles drew more than 100,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Sarasota County, Sports, Tourism | Comments Off

Church of Redeemer youth perform mission work in Dominican Republic, Tennessee

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

In June, 30 Church of the Redeemer youth traveled to the Dominican Republic and Chattanooga, Tenn., on two separate mission trips to help people and communities in need. Redeemer Youth Minister Christian Wood, accompanied by a team of adult chaperones, led … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, Sarasota People | Comments Off

Heard on First: Modern matters raise ghosts of the past

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

With a tip of my hat to the late, but never forgotten, Bob Ardren, I’d like to start an occasional column about some of the ins-and-outs in city government. Bob’s old column, “Muttered on Main,” was a must-read for those … Continue reading →

Posted in City of Sarasota, Downtown Sarasota, Sarasota People | Comments Off

County Commission splits 3-2 on proposed millage rates

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

With Chairwoman Christine Robinson and Commissioner Jon Thaxton voting “No,” the Sarasota County Commission on July 11 approved not-to-exceed millage rates for advertisement in advance of public hearings on the 2013 fiscal year budget. The biggest increase in the rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Sarasota County | Comments Off

When you hate to lose, sue

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Stan Zimmerman

A $55,000 public art project that caused bitter infighting among the city’s public art specialists is now in court. On July 11, George Haborak sued the City of Sarasota to halt a project he can’t stand. Haborak is chairman of … Continue reading →

Posted in City of Sarasota, Commentary, Visual Arts | Comments Off

Sarasota Republicans give ‘Statesman of the Year’ award to non-statesman

Posted on July 12, 2012 by David Staats

On July 9, Republicans in Sarasota County announced that they would honor Donald Trump as their 2012 “Statesman of the Year” at a fundraiser dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel here on Aug. 26, the eve of the Republican National Convention … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Political News | Comments Off

County arts grants awarded as recommended

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

County Commission chairwoman voices more frustrations Jim Shirley still didn’t have all the documentation July 11 that the Sarasota County Commission chairwoman had requested. Nonetheless, the executive director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County came away from … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts & Entertainment, Sarasota County | Comments Off

Can Florida survive Rick Scott? (Part one)

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Robert S. Hackney

Two years ago, Rick Scott used his personal wealth literally to purchase Florida’s top elected office, spending more than $60 million of his own money to win election as governor. Since then, he has distinguished himself as one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Comments Off

Seventy-year-old Sarasota man reported missing

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Rachel Brown Hackney

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a missing Sarasota man who was last seen leaving his home about 2 a.m. this morning, July 12. Family members say 70-year-old Herbert Boughn drove away from his house on Pasadena Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime & Law Enforcement | Comments Off