20140822-22 Aug 2014

As promised last week, when we announced the suspension of publication of our weekly digital edition, we will try to keep readers updated on important happenings in Sarasota County, within our limited resources.

While it likely will not be a weekly event — and cannot provide nearly the breadth of coverage we have in the past — we hope to publish something of interest to our readers as often as possible. This edition contains news from the recent budget meeting of the Sarasota County Commission.

We also are getting closer to finalizing a paid-subscription service that should be easy for readers to utilize. Once subscriptions reach a minimum level — currently we are looking at 2,500 of our current 6,000 subscribers becoming paid subscribers — we should be able to resume weekly publication. We will let you know as soon as the new service is available.

Lido project peer review to proceed

The County Commission approves an independent analysis of multiple aspects of Army Corps of Engineers modeling

Turtle Beach sloped shore 26Sept2012On a unanimous vote during their Aug. 20 budget workshop, the Sarasota County Commission directed staff to go beyond parameters it had recommended in seeking an independent peer review of the Lido Renourishment Project as detailed in a June report issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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South County to get courthouse renovations

With an improving economic outlook, the County Commission approves $3.8 million for renovations at its R.L. Anderson Center in Venice

At the end of the six-and-a-half-hour Sarasota County Commission budget workshop on Aug. 20, County Administrator Tom Harmer ticked off the board’s accomplishments.
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County to privatize its paratransit bus system

With a per-trip expense more than $10 higher than that of 11 private peer services, the board votes unanimously on the change

Two SCAT buses stopped at Southgate March 2013With Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) seeing a higher cost per trip — $38 — for its paratransit service than 11 peer bus systems, the County Commission this week voted unanimously to proceed with seeking bids for privatizing the service.
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County to weigh options on south Siesta project

Private property owners may have to pony up more for the next renourishment

Turtle Beach sloped shore 26Sept2012Private property owners facing the Gulf of Mexico on south Siesta Key may end up paying a higher percentage of the cost of renourishing their beach as a result of the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy’s assault on the northeastern U.S. shoreline in 2012.
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The Warm Mineral Springs sale remains pending

One county commissioner suggests the City of North Port just go ahead and pay for the property or provide a line of credit for it to conclude the deal

Warm Mineral Springs Stream Sarasota County photoSarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta was succinct this week in his recommendation for ending the latest round of bargaining over Warm Mineral Springs.
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