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ITEMS OF INTEREST
Link to the Agenda and Video
Invocation Commissioner Jason Bearden.
Moment Of Silence for U.S. Army Veteran John Skeen, a Manatee County resident who served in the 70th Infantry Division during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and France’s Knight of the Legion of Honor. Skeen passed away in October at 107 years old.
Pledge of Allegiance Cadet Battalion Commander Amanda Torres, Palmetto High School, representing the Junior ROTC program at Palmetto, a nationally recognized program.
Announcements
Updates to Agenda - October 28, October 29, October 30, October 31 and November 3.
Awards/Presentations/Proclamations
Awards
Presentation of the Team Member of the Month for November 2025
Al Neumann, Project Manager for the Public Works Department, was recognized for his determination and attention to detail on every project. On a construction project over I 75, he recommended a solution that avoided the costly step of shutting down construction overnight and it removed a potentially dangerous situation for the workers.
Proclamations
Farm City Week
The proclamation declaring Farm City Week from November 10-22, highlights the importance of agriculture and its heritage to Manatee County. Ralph Pierson, from the Farm Bureau, gave an enthusiastic endorsement of the value of agriculture to the economy and gave each commissioner a basket of produce to represent the abundance in the state.
Marine Corps 250th Anniversary
Lee Washington read the proclamation highlighting November 10, 2025, as the observance of the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps which was accepted by Commandant Joe Felice of the Marine Corps League Detachment 588.
Operation Green Light for Veterans' Week
November 4-11, 2025, is designated as a week to recognize the post-service stress experienced by many of the 200,000 veterans returning to civilian life, and the need for community support and resources. Everyone is encouraged to display green lights during this week.
Veterans' Day
November 11, 2025, is designated as a national day to honor all those nationally and in Manatee County who have served in the military. Renee Medina, Veterans Services Manager of Manatee County, received the proclamation and noted that there are several parades scheduled around the county to mark the occasion:
- November 9 in Lakewood Ranch
- November 11 in Palmetto, Anna Maria Island, and Parrish.
Requests By Commissioners (Items to be pulled from Consent Agenda)
Item 20- Commissioner Felts
Items 17, 24, and 29 – Commissioner McCann
Consent Agenda
Approved 7-0.
Citizen Comments (Consideration for Future Agenda Items)
Teesha, stated she is a former employee of the animal shelter and complained that there have been no improvements and is concerned about the regular turnover of management staff.
Abel alleged discrimination and a “toxic culture” at the Palmetto shelter.
Items Removed from The Consent Agenda
Item 20
Execution of Change Order No. 2 to Agreement No. 21-TA003721CD for Design-Build Services for Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Alum Sludge Dewatering System - District 1
Commissioner Felts complained that this project has requested more than one extension and is concerned that ongoing construction is a burden to her constituents, particularly the dust and the noise. Patrick Shea, Director of Utilities, explained that there have been several site changes in response to citizen concerns.
Public comment
Mark, representing the Borderline Road Preservation Group, echoed Commissioner Felts issues.
Approved 7-0.
Item 17
Execution of Agreement No. 25-R087889JK for Manatee County Transit Fleet Maintenance Facility Roof Replacement, Jeff Anthony, Project Manager - District 4
Michelle Orley, Project Management Division, explained that the roof was damaged during Hurricane Milton. It was no longer under warranty, was deemed to be more than 25% damaged, and following FEMA guidelines (to qualify for reimbursement), it was put out for competitive bidding. This resulted in the $700,000 amount. Cary Knight, Director of Property Management, further explained that it was determined that the roof will need a different design to be resilient.
Public comments
Glen and Mark agreed that the original metal roof should have had a longer life.
Cary Knight added FEMA confirmed that the design was okay and noted that a tornado had also been in the area in addition to the hurricane.
Approved 5-2. Bearden and McCann voting no.
Item 24
Acceptance and Recording of Warranty Deed from Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District for property located at Post Boulevard, Bradenton, FL 34211, Peter Morrow, Property Acquisition Division Manager - District 5
Commissioner McCann questioned what the county was buying for $10. Peter Morrow, Property Acquisition Manager explained that because of a Local Development Agreement approved by the Board in 2018, the property is owned by Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District. They have agreed to convey ownership to the county for impact fee credits.
McCann asked for specifics on the impact fees. Public Works Director Chad Butzow gave a lengthy explanation of how these fees are wrapped up in other agreements.
McCann pressed Butzow on how citizens can find records of the agreements who said he would work on that.
Approved 7-0.
Item 29
Execution of a Reimbursement Agreement with Benderson Development Company, LLC, for Force Main Oversizing Improvements; and Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-26-026, Scott May, P.E., County Engineer – District 5
Commissioner McCann questioned why we ask for longer pipes than necessary.
Scott May explained that a county line extension fee was established in 2015. The county requested the longer line to align with the county wastewater management plan. The agreement provides for reimbursement to the developer for the cost.
Chair Kruse mentioned that the work session on Nov. 5 is to consider the masterplan and facility fees.
Approved 6-1. Felts voting no.
Advertised Public Hearings - Legislative
Item 30. Adoption of Resolution R-25-187, naming the 39-acres of Manatee County owned land at the northeast corner of the intersection of 27th Street East and 26th Street East in Bradenton as "Mixon Farms", Molly White, Director Sports and Leisure Services - District 2
Molly White said that her department was directed to bring the resolution back to the Board and there will be a ‘pass the key” ceremony at 10AM on Friday.
Approved 7-0.
Item 31. SSP-25-03 – Resolution R-25-202 - AAA High School - School Site Plan - PLN2509-0137- Legislative, Alyssa Grove, Planner I - District 5
Commissioner McCann requested a presentation on the resolution allowing for the construction of a 297,300 square foot public high school on approximately 85.078 acres located on the corner of Rangeland Pkwy and Post Blvd.
Katie LaBarr, principal planner for the school district described the school plans for an approximately 300,000 square ft. facility comprised of 3 buildings, for a long-term capacity of 2,500 students.
McCann asked how much traffic would be added to the roads in the area. The traffic engineer, Frank Domingo, said that high schools don’t impact the peak traffic hours.
Protracted conversation ensued debating if traffic will be impacted, the location around developments, what future improvements may be, use of sport fields, question the number of students, questioning the impact on the community and whether charter schools will be using the space.
Bearden repeatedly expressed frustration that the Board didn’t fund expansion of Lorraine Rd. and felt that the increased traffic with a new high school would be dangerous. Siddique asked if any consideration was being given to the public using school fields.
Kruse defended the school board as having the expertise to choose a site giving examples of 2 newer schools operating without traffic or safety issues.
Butzow added that there will be a traffic signal added at Rangeland and Post. Other locations to be considered for traffic mitigation are 59th and Lorraine as well as 59th and Post.
Felts stated that she thinks the Board of Commissioners should have more input in planning with the school board for sites.
McCann called for a motion to deny the resolution.
Failed 4-3. Felts, McCann, and Bearden voting no.
Sarah Schenk with the county attorney’s office said that the deadline for approval, based on state statute, was today.
McCann wanted to delay the BOCC decision and vote to allow more time for review by Commissioners.
Chad Choate, Chairman, Manatee County School Board of Education, said the plan for this school had been around and in process for years. The timeline for the project was now past crunch time.
Approved 4-3. Felts, McCann and Bearden voting no.
REGULAR
Community and Veterans Services
Item 32. Appointing a Department of Children and Families Representative to the Children's Services Advisory Board for the remainder of the current term which expires September 30, 2027 - Countywide
The sole candidate, K. Gallagher of the Florida Department of Children and Families, was approved 7-0.
Development Services
Item 33. Approval of the 2026 Board of County Commissioners Meeting Calendar, Nicole Knapp, Development Services Director - Countywide
Option B failed 4-3. Siddique, McCann, and Bearden voting yes.
Option A passed 4-3. Siddique, McCann, and Bearden voting no
Government Relations
Item 34. Appointment of One Member to the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee, Brent Anderson, Director of Government Relations
Jeff Covert approved 4-3.
Public Safety
Item 39. Adoption of Resolution R-25-213, Burn Ban State of Local Emergency, Jodie Fiske, Director of Public Safety
Due to dry and windy conditions, a ban on all outdoor burning and the use and discharge of fireworks and sparklers in the county, effective immediately until November 11 was requested. The resolution includes the ability to extend the ban based on established protocols.
Approved 7-0.
Public Works
Item 35. Authorization for staff to proceed with the expansion of Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) project using the remaining allocated Generational Impact funding - Vishal Kakkad, Traffic Engineering Division Manager
Kakkad spoke of the success of the pilot program which turned traffic lights green for emergency vehicles with their sirens on. He referenced the slide with locations of existing and proposed EVP lights. Green represents current installed pilot locations and red represents proposed expansion locations.
Approved 7-0.
REPORTS
Natural Resources
Item 36. START Annual Report, Sandy Gilbert, START, and Michelle Atkinson, Ag & Extension Services
The START program gives $5,000 grants to organizations to plant native plants around retention ponds and they must also agree to a no-mow zone around the ponds. The program direct impact on water quality by removing excess nitrogen and other pollutants. It costs $3/linear foot ($1.50 for plants & $1.50 to install plants), which can be covered by the grant, vs. $80-100/linear foot to repair an eroded pond bank without the additional benefit of improving water quality.
Commissioner Comments
Felts concerned that none of the citizen advisory committees were reporting at BOCC meetings. She asked why we have them if they aren’t going to report.
GOVERNANCE
Link to Good Governance Guidelines
The new beginning video to the live streaming with introductions of each of the commissioners and encouragement of citizen participation through public comment is welcomed.
The approval of construction of AAA high school had been through a multi-year, extensive process and approvals using county and school district resources and expertise. The construction needed a vote on the last possible day to do so. The questions of commissioners were very basic concerns, such as a traffic patterns and how many students it would house, which could have been addressed previously with staff or during the previous review. The commissioners would do well to do more homework prior to the meeting.
Repeatedly making the same point isn’t productive and it is wasting county and citizen time and ultimately money. The commissioners expressed interest in increasing efficiency; making a point clearly one time would be a step in that direction.
Commissioners need to practice civility: Commissioners should address personal concerns directly with their fellow commissioners. Commissioners may experience frustration, but muttering negative side comments is not civil. Yelling your points does not foster collaboration.
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