Notices

Honoring the 50-Year Anniversary Signifying the End of the Vietnam War

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 10, 2023) – Manatee County is hosting a commemoration of the 50-year Anniversary of the Peace Treaty that ended the Vietnam war, releasing the remaining Prisoners of War (POWs). The event will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 9 to 11 a.m. at Veterans’ Monument Park (adjacent to Manatee Memorial Hospital and the Bradenton Riverwalk).

The guest speaker will be Commander Bradley E. Smith, U.S. Navy (Retired). After enlisting in the Navy in 1961, Smith began flying combat missions in 1965. During his 77th combat mission on March 25, 1966, Smith was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was captured. He remained a POW for the next 2,516 days, until his release during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973.

The invocation will be given by Dr. Willie J. Holley, Pastor of the Pathways Christian Fellowship Church in Bradenton. Holley, also a Vietnam Veteran, served three combat tours in the Southeast Asia theater of operations.

Coast Guard Veteran and Manatee County Veterans Services Division Manager Renee Medina will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and emcee the event.

For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov. To contact the Veterans Services Office, call 941-745-3795.

Upper Manatee River Road Public Meeting

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (March 3, 2023) – Manatee County is hosting a Public Information Meeting for an upcoming roadway improvement project on Upper Manatee River Road on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705 E. S.R. 64, Bradenton, 34212. There will be no formal presentation, and guests may arrive any time between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to view design boards and plans and ask project staff any related questions.

The roadway project will widen approximately 2.2 miles of Upper Manatee River Road—from north of S.R. 64 to the Fort Hamer Bridge—from two lanes to four 11-foot lanes (two lanes in each direction). Improvements will include an 18-foot raised median, 6-foot buffered bike lanes, curb and gutter, 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of the roadway and 10-foot sidewalk on the west side of the roadway and street lighting throughout the corridor. The project also includes improvements at the Upper Manatee River Road intersections with Greenfield Boulevard/Copperlefe Drive, Port Harbour Parkway and Fort Hamer Road that include replacing the existing traffic signals with new traffic signals, left-turn lanes and pedestrian crosswalks. A new signalized intersection will be constructed at the intersection of Upper Manatee River Road and Waterlefe Boulevard, and a new signalized mid-block pedestrian crossing will be constructed just south of 2nd Avenue E.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Persons who require special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Carmine DeMilio, Manatee County ADA Coordinator, by phone at (941) 792-8784, ext. 8203, or by email at Carmine.Demilio@mymanatee.org at least five days prior to the public meeting. Persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Valerie Ciudad-Real at (813) 404-1572 or by email at valeriec@valerin-group.com at least five days prior to the public meeting.

For additional project information, please visit the project website at mymanatee.org

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

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (February 21, 2023) – The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted during their regular meeting, Tuesday, February 14, to direct staff to start the bidding process for the management of the Coquina Beach Market for the 2023 season and beyond. They also saw details of the market’s new home.

Property Management staff members provided a conceptual map with a new proposed location of the former beach market, maintaining the market’s mission of providing a space for local artisans and vendors to offer their unique products. Located on the South end of Coquina Beach, the new site will offer approximately 80 vendors and customers an enhanced outdoor setting for commerce. Visitors can access the market via the well-traveled beach trail as well as the newly renovated South Coquina parking-lot entrances.

The Commissioners also approved $175,000 in improvements to help make the market even more welcoming by providing lighting and electricity access. The space also will be home to future special events and occasions.

Current plans call for a daytime market on Tuesdays and night-time market on Thursdays.

Download the Coquina Beach Market Vendor Coordinator Services RFP from the County’s Bids and Proposals Website.

Commodity or Service description:

RFP # 23-R081285SB

COQUINA BEACH MARKET VENDOR COORDINATOR SERVICES:

Contact person: Stacia Branco ext 3041

Contact phone: 941-749-3041

AARP will be at Palmetto, Central, Braden River, and Rocky Bluff Library locations this year doing taxes.

To sign up

AARP.org/findtaxhelp.

Manatee County sites will be open from February 1 to April 18, 2023.

Manatee County Area Transit Enhances Bus Routes

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (November 28, 2022) – Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) is making several changes to fixed-route bus service, beginning Saturday, December 3. The changes will enhance transit service along several important corridors and provide more appealing transportation options for commuters in Manatee County.

Route 2, which serves Samoset, East Bradenton and the Manasota Industrial Park, will now have service every 30 minutes, all day, Monday through Saturday. Trips will depart DeSoto Station at :05 and :35 past the hour.

Route 4, which serves 9th Avenue East and West, will have changes to its routing only on the WEST side on the way to and from the route, ending at Blake Hospital. Trip times will remain consistent with the existing schedule.

Route 75, the Beach ConneXion Shuttle, which travels from 75th St West to Manatee Public Beach, will operate 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. This seasonal route will help address beach parking issues and is free of charge—like all MCAT services.

Route 12, which serves State Road 70, will no longer enter the campus of Manatee Technical College. Passengers are instructed to use the bus stop on State Road 70.

All changes to MCAT route schedules will be available for pick-up on each bus and online at mymanatee.org/MCAT. Passengers can also call the MCAT Rider Information Line at (941) 749-7116 for more information.

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

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Bill Logan

Information Outreach Manager

Office: (941) 742-5866

Manatee County Area Transit Goes Fare-Free

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (October 28, 2022) – Starting Tuesday, November 1, Manatee County bus riders can get from here to there without paying a fare as Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) initiates an 18-month pilot program of fare-free transportation.

Passengers will not have to pay on MCAT buses in Manatee County. Fares will still be collected on the Sarasota County portion of the Route 99 service linking Downtown Bradenton, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and Downtown Sarasota.

At-Large Commissioner George Kruse initially suggested looking at free fares in September, pointing out that what is collected represents a small part of the $20 million Manatee County spends on Transit—especially after the costs associated with fare collection are calculated. He also noted that the free fares are already working in Manatee County—with the popular Anna Maria Island Trolley.

“If we start treating transit like infrastructure instead of like a service, I think you're going to start seeing a massive improvement in people's lives,” said Commissioner Kruse.

The Board of County Commissioners asked for a pilot program that could stimulate and encourage the use of mass transit and reduce operational costs by eliminating fares. Adopted on September 27, Resolution R-22-186 makes all fixed route fares free and complimentary beginning November 1.

The Riding MCAT page has the latest on routes and rules. MCAT Customer Service is available at (941) 749-7116 for more information.

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

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Bill Logan

Information Outreach Manager

Person is having a mental issue that require the police please contact Mobile Crisis, they will come out with police. Mobile Crisis 941-720-5014.

*********Mobile Crisis 941-720-5014***********

Displaced Vessel Hotline 1-850-488-5600

Please pass along the website and phone number for Displaced Vessels 1-850-488-5600 open M-F 8am – 5pm

Callers should be prepared to provide the vessel’s registration number, current location and detailed description.

FWC creates hotline to address thousands of vessels displaced by Hurricane Ian | FWC (myfwc.com)