Notices

New County Commissioners Begin Terms

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Nov. 19, 2024) – Three new County Commissioners — Carol Ann Felts, Tal Siddique, and Dr. Bob McCann — were sworn into office and Commissioner George Kruse took the oath for a second term during a brief ceremony today at the Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Patricia Glass Chambers.

The four were surrounded by friends and family as they were sworn in at 9 a.m. After the ceremony, they got right to work, with a Land Use Meeting.

Carol Ann Felts, elected to District 1, is a native 8th-generation Floridian. Raised in a family of first responders, law enforcement officers, and city employees, Ms. Felts first settled in West Bradenton, commuting to St. Petersburg for her career opportunities while choosing to raise her family in a smaller town. Ms. Felts relocated herself and her horses that were boarded in Parrish to her own property in Myakka after retirement, where she is an avid Florida history buff, amateur genealogist and full-time animal concierge, with a keen interest in agriculture, local politics and the environment.

Talha “Tal” Siddique, elected to District 3, has led software teams for the U.S. Air Force. His professional record includes work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the fight against illegal immigration and for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs supporting our veterans. In the private sector he has successfully built and scaled IT businesses across the globe. A graduate of George Washington University, Tal is a proud member of the NRA, enjoys making his own ammunition, shooting trap and clays, woodworking, building computers, and volunteering in the community.

Dr. Robert “Bob” McCann, elected to District 5, is a native of Chicago, but he has lived in Manatee County, District 5, for 18 years. Dr. McCann is a devoted public servant, Physician, Lawyer, Business Executive, Educator, proud US Navy Veteran. Dr. McCann is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church and a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He is also a National Disaster Life Support Instructor, member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, and the Federalist Society.

George Kruse, re-elected to the countywide District 7 seat, was first elected in the 2020. He has called the area home since the mid-1980s and Manatee County home since 2008. A graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School in 1993, George went on to receive degrees in both Business Management and Finance from the University of Florida and subsequently received his MBA in real estate finance from Columbia Business School in 2003. George has made a lifelong career in commercial real estate finance.

Commissioners Amanda Ballard (District 2), Jason Bearden (At-Large) and Commissioner Chair Mike Rahn (District 4) have two years remaining on their four-year terms that began in 2022.

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.

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Bill Logan

Information Outreach Manager

Office: (941) 742-5866

MCAT Service Changes Begin This Weekend

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (October 30, 2024) – Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will make several changes to fixed-route bus service beginning Saturday, November 2. The changes are designed to enhance transit service along several important corridors and provide more appealing transportation options for workers in Manatee County. Remember, the bus is always free in Manatee, with all fares waived on MCAT routes.

Route 6 on Cortez Road will now have service every 30 minutes between Desoto Station and Blake Hospital. This improvement will add an additional bus to the route. Once access to Coquina Beach is restored, the existing hourly service from DeSoto Station to Coquina Beach and back will continue to operate as scheduled. This major service improvement is funded by a grant through the Florida Department of Transportation, District 1.

Route 3 will now serve ONLY Manatee Avenue East/State Road 64 to Walmart and Traveler’s Oasis from the Downtown Station. Service will continue to be every 30 minutes all day, Monday through Saturday. Departure times at Walmart on State Road 64 will be :25 and :55 past the hour. To get to the beach, passengers will transfer to the Route 304. Route 3 will continue to have later evening service until approximately 9 pm.

Route 304 will now serve ONLY Manatee Avenue West from the Downtown Station. Service will continue every 30 minutes all day, Monday through Saturday. The departure times at from Manatee Public Beach will be at :25 and :55 past the hour. To get to Walmart on State Road 64, passengers will transfer to the Route 3. Route 304 will continue to have later evening service until approximately 9 pm.

In Palmetto, both Route 201 (Palmetto-Rubonia) and Route 13 (Palmetto-Washington Park) will be rerouted slightly after crossing the Green Bridge northbound. Both routes will continue east on 7th Street West, cross US 41 at the traffic signal and stop at a new bus stop for the Bradenton Area Convention Center Marriott. Service at the Convention Center hotel stop will be hourly alternating between Route 201 and Route 13. Following the new stop, both buses will continue on Haben Boulevard to the Palmetto Walmart and complete their current service. Some stops along Haben Boulevard and on 10th Street East near Palmetto Village Shopping Center will no longer receive service from Route 13 and Route 201. (Route 1 to Ellenton will continue to serve these stops each hour northbound.)

Printed copies of the new schedules are now available at the customer service booths at the Downtown (Bradenton) Transfer Station and the DeSoto Transfer Station. All changed schedules for MCAT routes will be available on each bus and online at www.mymanatee.org/MCAT. Passengers can also call the MCAT Rider Information Line at (941) 749-7116 for more information.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.

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Bill Logan

Information Outreach Manager

Office: (941) 742-5866

Cell: (941) 274-0930

bill.logan@mymanatee.org

Gulf Islands Ferry Service Returns for Displaced Residents, Workers

Starting November 1, Displaced Residents, Contractors and Workers Can Rely on Ferry Service to Access Anna Maria Island

BRADENTON, FL (OCT. 29, 2024) - In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Gulf Islands Ferry will offer free ridership for Anna Maria Island residents as well as people employed on the island and contractors working on the island starting this Friday, November 1, 2024.

“Now that safe routes and docking points have been confirmed, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners are recommitting our resources to our community with free service for displaced residents and workers,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau. “We want the service to be of use to our barrier island community during this time of need.”

Service will run Thursday through Sundays with boats departing from the Riverwalk Pier beginning at 7:30 a.m. and continue once an hour until 6:30 p.m. On Anna Maria Island, service starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. with boats leaving on the hour. For more information and the full schedule, visit www.gulfislandsferry.com or the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau website.

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ABOUT THE GULF ISLANDS FERRY

Launched in January 2024, the Gulf Islands Ferry connects downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island via stops along Anna Maria City Pier and the Bridge Street Pier. The ferry routes are operated by two sustainably powered catamarans. Thursdays through Sundays, service starts at 7:30 a.m. in downtown Bradenton and the last boat leaves Anna Maria Island at 9 p.m. Up-to-date run times and scheduling can be found at www.gulfislandsferry.com. For up-to-date information on run times, tickets and scheduling, riders can call customer service at 941-357-2587 or text 727-200-6487.

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Keenan Singleton

Communications Manager

Bradenton Convention & Visitors Bureau

(941) 773-6000

Keenan.Singleton@bacvb.com

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (October 21, 2024) – After every storm event, Manatee County conducts a series of assessments to facilitate recovery efforts and ensure community safety. To streamline and expedite the process, residents are encouraged to allow County staff, State agencies or FDEM representatives to inspect any damaged buildings. These individuals will be wearing visible local, State or Federal badges in order to distinguish them from scammers.

Windshield Damage Assessments

Immediately following a storm event, Manatee County teams begin Windshield Damage Assessments. These assessments involve drive-by evaluations in Unincorporated Manatee County neighborhoods that were impacted by the storm event. These assessments help determine the extent of damage to residential and commercial structures.

Substantial Damage Assessments

Once the Windshield Damage Assessment is complete, the County transitions to Substantial Damage Assessments. In partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), these inspections assess whether structures are considered “substantially damaged.” Evaluators focus on key areas such as foundations, roofs, windows, doors and siding to gather detailed information about the damages compared to the pre-storm condition. “This assessment is required by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and local floodplain ordinances to ensure that rebuilding efforts meet necessary safety standards,” said Jessica Remkiewicz, Floodplain Section Manager. “We are committed to making sure all residents and business owners are informed about these regulations as we work together to create a more resilient community.”

Manatee County currently holds a Class-5 rating in the Community Rating System, which allows residents in special flood hazard areas to automatically receive a 25% discount on flood insurance. This rating underscores the County's commitment to adhering to NFIP regulations, as outlined in the 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Residents planning to replace or repair structures are advised to verify the professional licenses of contractors they hire. Unlicensed contractors often target vulnerable populations, and while they may offer quick fixes, the long-term consequences can be severe. Residents should always request references, verify licenses with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) at 1-850-487-1395 or visit myfloridalicense.com to check for complaints.

To assist residents affected by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton, Manatee County's Development Services is waiving building permit fees for both residential and commercial properties until March 1, 2025. Please note that all repairs in a flood zone require a permit.

For further information, residents can contact one of the Manatee County Development Services divisions below:

• Permitting – 941-748-4501, ext. 6893, permitting@mymanatee.org

• Licensing – 941-748-4501, ext. 3574, licensing@mymanatee.org

• Inspections – 941-742-4190, ext. 3890, inspections@mymanatee.org

• Zoning – 941-748-4501, ext. 6937, zoning@mymanatee.org

• Plan Review – 941-748-4501, ext. 3814, plansreview@mymanatee.org

• Flood – 941-748-4501, ext. 5871, flood@mymanatee.org

For more information or assistance, residents are encouraged to contact local officials or visit the Manatee County website. Please continue to monitor the County's social media accounts for updates on Milton recovery. Official storm information from Manatee County is always updated at mymanatee.org/storm.

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Bill Logan

Information Outreach Manager

Office: (941) 742-5866

Cell: (941) 274-0930

bill.logan@mymanatee.org

Manatee County Welcomes FEMA Assistance

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Oct. 14, 2024) – As Manatee County continues with the recovery process following Hurricane Milton, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is aiding in the efforts.

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is being set up at GT Bray Park gymnasium (5502 33rd Avenue Drive West, Bradenton). Today’s hours are 1 to 7 p.m. The DRC is a one-stop location, designed to help answer residents' questions about disaster recovery and give referrals to agencies that may provide further assistance and status of application(s) being processed by FEMA or other agencies.

When applying for FEMA assistance after multiple disasters, citizens should be ready to describe what damage occurred and on what date to ensure federal disaster assistance from storms is not duplicated. Keep all receipts for expenses associated with each disaster, including:

Home repairs

Repairs to a septic system, water well or private road

Purchase of a generator or chainsaw

Replacement of personal property items such as appliances

Vehicle repairs or replacement

Insurance settlement or denial

FEMA assistance will not cover losses already covered from a previous disaster but can help with new damage caused by Hurricane Milton. Eligible survivors affected by multiple hurricanes can receive Serious Needs Assistance and Displacement Assistance in multiple incidents.

If you have already created a Login.gov account, you may use that same account to access both applications.

FEMA is reaching out to applicants who may have been affected by multiple storms to provide necessary support for their recovery. These calls may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers. If you are concerned about verifying that FEMA is trying to reach you, call the helpline at 800-621-3362.

Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews, housing inspectors, and other officials will be working in areas that have been impacted. These individuals will carry official photo identification badges.

During this recovery time, it is important to remember that FEMA representatives never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. Their services are free. Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant in return for payment. Don’t give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors are never authorized to collect your personal financial information.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, report it immediately to your local police department or sheriff's office, or contact Florida’s Office of the Attorney General by calling 866-9-NO-SCAM (866-966-7226) or visit myfloridalegal.com. To file a fraud complaint, go online to Scam Report.

If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse, you can report these tips – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. You can also email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov to report a tip.

Please continue to monitor the County's social media accounts for updates. Official storm information from Manatee County is always updated at mymanatee.org/storm.

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Manatee County Communications

ESF-14

Office: (941) 749-3531