County Commission unanimously approves nomination by Mast
The Sarasota County Stormwater Environmental Utility Advisory Committee (SEUAC) has a new member, thanks to a recent County Commission vote.
Richard Todd Kerkering, the former emergency management chief for the City of Sarasota, won unanimous support after he was nominated by Commissioner Teresa Mast during the board’s regular meeting on Aug. 25, in Sarasota.
In his application, Kerkering wrote that he held the city position for 11 years. Before that, he indicated, he had seven years of experience with the county’s Emergency Management program.
He is an assistant vice president with New College of Florida, he also wrote in his application. A Sarasota News Leader online search found that Kerkering’s position with the college involves emergency management.
In his county application, responding to a question on the form about why he wanted to serve on the Stormwater Environmental Utility Advisory Committee, Kerkering wrote, “As an Emergency Manager and a Certified Flood Manager working in Sarasota County, I have always been involved in stormwater.”
Only two people had applied for the open seat on the committee, which — as its county webpage explains — develops stormwater-related goals and objectives in support of the Stormwater Environmental Utility. That utility was established in 1989, a different county webpage notes.
The following are the objectives of the Stormwater Environmental Utility, as shown on the above county webpage:
- “Reduce the threat of flooding by ensuring that the stormwater drainage system is properly operated and maintained.
- “Reduce the threat of flooding by developing Basin Master Plans which will identify level of service deficiencies and cost effective solutions.
- “Protect and improve area surface water quality by ensuring county compliance with federal and state regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and other local, state and federal regulations.
- “Mitigate the impacts of flooding and save money for the county residents by implementing activities in the Community Rating System (CRS) program to prevent and reduce flood losses and flood insurance cost.” The county’s CRS work has enabled residents to achieve a savings of 25% on policies they purchase through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
- “Protect existing property while encouraging appropriate community development by formulating and enforcing stormwater regulations for development.
- “Maintain a customer service database to assure accuracy of parcel records and assessments.”
Stormwater Department Director Ben Quartermaine noted in an exchange with the commissioners on Aug. 25 that, at their direction, he and his staff discuss with the SEUAC members the staff proposals for stormwater initiatives. In response to a question posed by Commissioner Mark Smith, Quartermaine said that staff could allow the SEAUC members to review drafts of scopes of work for specific projects.
The county has had a stormwater management division since 1981, the relevant webpage says. In 1987, the staff of that division completed a master plan “that identified the county’s drainage basins and recommended the enactment of a stormwater utility fee as a dedicated funding source.”
The only other applicant for the open SEUAC seat was Brandon Nichols of Sarasota, a surface water engineer with the Kimley-Horn consulting firm in Sarasota.
The reason he gave for wanting to serve on the committee was his “passion for stormwater and [his] desire to be more involved in [his] community.” Nichols added, “I have been working as a stormwater engineer in Sarasota County for nearly five years and have grown to understand and appreciate how important stormwater management is to both the county and its residents.”