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Commissioners shrink wetland buffers

Commissioners shrink wetland buffers

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Water Quality.

BRADENTON – After a lengthy and contentious land use meeting in which environmentalists, scientists and citizens spoke against a comprehensive plan amendment that would diminish county wetland regulations, Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 to adopt the state’s less restrictive wetland regulations.

The changes to county wetland regulations would reduce the 30-foot wetland buffer for development and remove the 50-foot buffer for environmentally sensitive coastal wetlands to the state’s 25-foot minimum. The changes will require amendments to the county’s comprehensive plan and land development code.

Dan DeLisi, of DeLisi Inc., a land planner and former chief of staff for the South Florida Water Management District, spoke at the Aug. 17 meeting.

“I was asked to look at where there are overlapping regulations where the state is already providing regulations and is redundant,” he said. “There is a proposed amendment in your comprehensive plan.”

Part of that amendment is the removal of state and local regulatory overlap, DeLisi said.

“Essentially what these amendments would do is defer permitting to the state of Florida,” he said. “These amendments do not cause impacts to wetlands.”

The statement provoked laughter and jeers from the audience.

“We’ve got our regulations and you’re saying we should defer to the state. Let’s get to the heart of the request,” Commissioner George Kruse said to DeLisi. “We’re not doubling up regulations. The state doesn’t have regulations per se, the state has set minimums.”

Kruse spoke out against the amendment.

“The state’s trying to take control of this and now we’re trying to give it to them voluntarily before they take it,” Kruse said. “We’re supposed to keep it here, because you all vote for us and we control local and the state controls state. The state is trying to gut wetland and water quality protection. Why are we going to facilitate that?”

Kruse noted that two developers and a developer’s attorney were at the meeting but none of them came up to speak in favor of reducing wetland buffers.

“There’s no way they’re going to go on the record supporting this,” he said. “There’s no way they’re going to put their name and face together with gutting our wetland protection.

“We’re taking everything from the exact same consultant who was against us on the exact same policy twice,” Kruse said, referring to DeLisi and his involvement in previous litigation with the county. “It’s like we won the Super Bowl and hired the quarterback for the losing team to run our team next year.”

Public comment

Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Dr. Abbey Tyrna was one of many speakers who spoke against the amendment to the county’s comprehensive plan during the public comment session of the meeting.

“I represent today the 1,704 people who signed our petition to save our wetlands,” Tyrna said. “Wetlands are tied to our human wellbeing, and they’re tied to our human wellbeing because of the ecosystem services they provide, which is plentiful.”

Tyrna said wetland benefits are tied not only to water quality but to flood regulation, climate regulation, recreation, tourism and local fisheries.

“Let’s talk about policy 3.3.1.5 (of the county’s comprehensive plan) here,” Tyrna said. “It states all wetlands and watercourses will be protected from land development activities by requiring the establishment of natural area buffers adjacent to all post-development wetlands and watercourses within a watershed overlay.”

Based on that policy, buffers are required to be a minimum of 50 feet wide adjacent to all non-isolated wetlands, and a minimum of 30 feet adjacent to all isolated wetlands, she said.

Following public comment during the five-hour-long meeting, Commissioner Jason Bearden made a motion to approve the text amendment, with a second by Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.

Other commissioners who voted in favor of approval were James Satcher, Amanda Ballard, Mike Rahn and Ray Turner.

Kruse cast the lone dissenting vote.

As the vote was announced, someone from the audience shouted, “Shame!” as others stood up and walked out.

A statement from the county was released following the meeting that said:

“Today the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted in favor of transmitting a comprehensive plan amendment to the state of Florida concerning wetland protection policies.

This proposed amendment, if approved would eliminate redundancy and duplication in the permitting of wetland impacts, and development near or around wetlands and surface waters, which are already protected under existing state and federal regulations.

By aligning with numerous other counties and municipalities in Florida, the board’s primary objective is to gain efficiency while still achieving the same environmental results, ultimately benefiting the taxpayers of Manatee County.”

Reel Time: Vote water

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in First Place, Special Sections.

Readers of this column have heard me recommend checking a politician’s voting record before casting a vote for them. Why? All too often they will tell you what you want to hear to get your vote but never follow through on that commitment. This past week that assessment rang all too true when Manatee County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and James Satcher, along with four other commissioners (Mike Rahn, Jason Bearden, Amanda Ballard and Ray Turner), voted to gut Manatee County’s wetland protections. While all are culpable in betraying the public trust, Satcher, Van Ostenbridge and Ballard stand out in my mind since Van Ostenbridge and Satcher’s campaign flyers (mentioned during the meeting by Commissioner George Kruse, the lone dissenter) specifically mentioned protecting the environment.

In a meeting that Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Abbey Tyrna and I had with Ballard soon after her election, she expressed concern with the welfare of children. When it came time to vote they all held the interests of the developers that funded their campaigns over that of the citizens and children of Manatee County.

First Place
Outdoor and Recreation
2024

I spoke at the meeting and was present for five hours as citizen after citizen made eloquent speeches about why this was such a bad idea. Not one person spoke in favor of the amendment and almost no discussion of the matter was held, except for Kruse’s objections. And when the vote was taken, they voted 6-1 in favor of gutting wetland protections. In what appears to me to be the height of hypocrisy, Van Ostenbridge started the meeting with the pronouncement that he was concerned with government overreach and the taking of property before leading the commission to do just that. He’s participating in government overreach by not following his oath of office to the citizens of Manatee County and taking by reducing the filtering capacity of lands adjacent to water bodies that will directly affect the quality of life of current and future citizens.

Just recently the commission voted on a zoning change that will pave the way for a massive East Manatee County development by developer Carlos Beruff. Corbit Creek, a stream that feeds into nearby Lake Manatee Reservoir, runs through that property. Kruse was once again the lone dissenter. If this change is made by the commission, it could reduce the builder’s setback to a stream feeding directly into the county’s water supply, a water body that is currently suffering from an algae bloom that’s affecting the smell and taste of every Manatee County citizen’s water.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Rob Brown, the county’s recently retired environmental protection division manager with the natural resources department, reminded the commission that this change would also affect phosphate mining in Manatee County. Mosaic is the largest landowner in Manatee County and much of that land is wetlands. These changes could have a profoundly negative effect on lands disturbed by mining.

Once again, vet who you vote for. Don’t pay attention to what they promise if elected, check their voting records on issues that affect the public good, or we and future generations will suffer the consequences.

You can voice your concerns to the Manatee County commission online.

Finally, this isn’t (or shouldn’t be) a political issue. It’s not about Democrats or Republicans, it’s about our children’s future and that of generations of future Manatee County citizens.

County sewer project enters second phase

County sewer project enters second phase

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON BEACH – As part of Manatee County’s ongoing sewer line replacement project, the Woodruff & Sons construction crew has been working on and near 12th Street South.

On Aug. 16, 12th Street South remained closed to vehicular traffic and the Gulf Drive South traffic lanes, near the S-curve, have been shifted slightly to accommodate the work taking place.

County sewer project enters phase 2
The Gulf Drive South traffic lanes near the S-curve in Bradenton Beach have been shifted slightly to accommodate the work taking place. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Manatee County Public Works Director provided a project update during the Aug. 1 Council of Governments meeting.

Butzow said the main gravity sewer line has been installed parallel to and west of Gulf Drive South and that portion of the project is completed. Lateral connection lines are being installed down the center of each connecting side street, from 12th Street South to 6th Street South resulting in those side streets being temporarily closed to vehicular traffic one street at a time. Butzow said there will not be any instances where two side streets are closed at the same time. The project-related street closures will impact residents, vacationers and property owners as that work progresses from street to street in the coming weeks and months.

For those unable to access their side streets via automobile, the county is providing a free shuttle service between the designated Gulf Drive South parking areas and the impacted side streets. For more information on the shuttle service, please call 941-269-6699.

County sewer project enters phase 2
The county is providing free shuttle service for residents, visitors and property owners impacted by the street closures. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Each lateral connection line also requires cutting through the Gulf Drive South pavement so the lateral can be connected to the main line and put into service.

“We’ve learned a lot. Our public outreach consultant has done a very good job,” Butzow said of the regular project updates consultant Tina Allen provides. “It is very timely and has been well-received.”

County sewer project enters phase 2
The connecting side streets will be closed one street at a time in the coming weeks and months. – Manatee County | Submitted

Dated July 28, Allen’s latest update noted the lateral connection line had been installed down the center of 11th Street South and work on 12th Street South was beginning that day. The work done on 11th Street South completed phase one of the two-phase project.

“On Thursday, July 27, 2023, the contractor began installing a new gravity sewer pipe across Gulf Drive South to the east side of Gulf Drive South at 12th Street South. To accommodate pipe installation, traffic lane shifts will remain in place through late August 2023 for the northbound and southbound travel lanes of Gulf Drive South. 12th Street South will remain closed to traffic through mid-fall 2023 as the contractor installs a new gravity sewer pipeline. A reserved parking area has been provided along the west side of Gulf Drive South for use by residents and renters impacted by the 12th Street South construction,” according to the update that was emailed to subscribers and also posted on the project website.

The county project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

Suncoast Waterkeeper urges protection of wetlands

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

In a recent column, I reported how state rules and regulations passed during the DeSantis legislative session limited the protection of local waters at a time when the threat to water quality and habitat destruction has never been graver. Now, according to Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) Executive Director Abbey Tyrna, that threat has come to Manatee County.

In a statement, SCWK responded to newly-proposed changes in the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan with the following:

“Manatee County has proposed removing policies of the comprehensive plan and sections of the land development code to allow for the destruction of our wetlands and wetland buffers. We’re taking action to ensure that another threat to our quality of life, local economy and waterways don’t become a reality. These changes would create permanent damage. Once wetlands are gone, they are gone for good.

“Wetlands are protected ecosystems because they perform a wide variety of important functions, chief among them is their ability to clean polluted water. This function alone should have the county commission and its appointed planning commission fighting to protect these valuable ecosystems in the face of increasingly harmful algae blooms including red tide and lyngbya. Wetlands do more than enhance water quality, they protect us from flooding, provide habitat for Florida fish and wildlife, and replenish our dwindling groundwater supplies.

Suncoast Waterkeeper urges protection of wetlands
Dr. Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper and a wetland scientist, addresses the Manatee County planning board. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

“So why would Manatee County Commission want to push changes that would destroy wetlands in the face of these threats? The answer is simple: They want more developable land to put corporate profits before our quality of life, our local economy and water quality.

“It is time to take action to make sure these changes do not become a reality. Will you join us in protecting our wetlands? Add your name to our petition that we are sending to the Manatee Board of County Commissioners online. Together we’ll protect what makes the Suncoast special.”

In what many described as a surprise decision, the Manatee County Planning Commission voted 4-2 on Aug. 10 not to recommend the proposed changes to the commission. At that meeting, Tyrna, as well as many local citizens, including past Commissioner Joe McClash, gave powerful testimony that swayed the majority of the board to vote the proposal down. That deprives the commission of the cover of their planning board. Unfortunately, they are not required to abide by that decision and could vote for the changes. That’s why SCWK, the Manatee County League of Women Voters, ManaSota-88, Speak Out Manatee, the Sierra Club, East Manatee Preservation and Kids for Clean Water are encouraging voters (you) to turn out at this Thursday’s commission meeting, which will be held at the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.

If we, the citizens of Manatee County, don’t speak out, our children and future generations (who have no voice in this decision) will suffer the consequences of our inaction.

County moves forward with beach garage design

County moves forward with beach garage design

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

MANATEE COUNTY – Parking garage plans for Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach are moving forward despite pushback from Anna Maria Island residents and one commissioner.

During an Aug. 14 work session, county commissioners discussed four potential parking garages, one of which is the proposed parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach that was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year. When initially discussed, Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge proposed a three-story 1,500 parking space garage costing an estimated $45 million. The garage proposal presented to county commissioners during the work session is expected to cost $30-35 million to build and have about 900 parking spaces. While the actual look of the garage is not yet decided upon, the garage is planned to cover the entirety of the existing beach parking area, including the concession, retail and restroom areas. The new parking garage would include concession, retail, restroom and other facilities.

Commissioner George Kruse said he’s concerned about the cost of the four proposed parking facilities. He said that three of the garages are “niceties,” but the proposed downtown Bradenton replacement garage is the only one that is actually needed. The current garage has structural issues and must be replaced for safety reasons. Out of the four proposed garages, the downtown garage is estimated to cost the most at around $100 million.

Kruse said that rather than serving the public interest, he feels the Manatee Beach parking garage is being considered strictly to support a narrative constructed around a lack of beach parking. Having toured the city’s available parking, he said he feels that the 600 additional spaces the garage would provide over and above the current 300 in the parking lot are unnecessary and that the construction of the garage, planned to take anywhere from 18-24 months, could cause significantly more damage to the area than it helps, reducing facilities and beach access over two high tourism seasons. He also noted that the garage is currently an unfunded expense for the county.

Kruse’s comments received a round of applause from members of the public in the commission chambers. However, Van Ostenbridge said he feels that the rest of the board doesn’t share Kruse’s concerns.

Commissioner James Satcher said that if he could just choose one parking garage on the list of proposals, he’d pick the Manatee Beach parking garage. “People are clamoring to get to the beach. This is the right thing to do,” he said. “This should definitely be number one on our list.”

PUBLIC OPINION

During public comment, several people spoke against the parking garage, including Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, former Holmes Beach mayor and former county commissioner Carol Whitmore, city attorney Erica Augello and Titsworth.

“We do have adequate parking and I want to show you so bad,” Titsworth said to the county commission. “Please, before you act, take me up on my offer. Come take the tour and see our available parking.” She did note that Bearden agreed to come visit the city in the next week.

Some of the issues with parking in residential neighborhoods that Titsworth noted include lack of bathrooms, resulting in people defecating in sea oats, and lack of lifeguards down the entire length of the beach.

Resident Bruce Meyer also spoke and said he feels that he’s being “punished” and is not represented by the county commission. He said that 600 spaces wouldn’t make a difference with the amount of people who want to come the county beaches.

Augello noted that the proposed revenue stream for parking garage, paid parking, is not an allowable use in Holmes Beach and would not be allowed. If pursued, she said it could potentially end in litigation.

Owner of the Bamboo Beach Apartments, Alice Sutton, invited the county commissioners to come for a free weekend stay on a day of their choice and help her pick up used diapers, condoms and other debris from the sea oats and beach, help direct parking and explain to naked people why they can’t change in the complex’s laundry room.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek said that the issue isn’t availability of parking, it’s not addressing the issues with traffic and not addressing multi-modal transportation. She noted that the city commission is responding to the concerns raised by the residents they’re elected to represent to reduce on-street beach parking in residential neighborhoods. She said the city is not limiting access to the beach.

“We want to accommodate everyone we can,” she said. “We just can’t accommodate all of the cars.” Soustek encouraged county commissioners to look at some of the studies that have been done concerning traffic and congestion for additional solutions to issues with beach access, such as multi-modal transportation.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner addressed Bearden’s comments about planning for the future of the county with the potential for residential growth of 100,000 people over the coming years. He said that if the county wants to plan for the future, leaders need to look at more sustainable options than 600 beach parking spaces.

Closing out the meeting, both Kruse and Bearden spoke again with Kruse reiterating his earlier concerns that there are more pressing infrastructure issues in the county, such as the $60 million Fort Hamer Bridge project and the downtown Bradenton parking garage, that need to be addressed before a mere 600 parking spaces at Manatee Beach that will tie up facilities and parking for years is considered. Bearden said that he believes the 600 spaces will make a huge difference to people who live on the east side of the county who are waiting in traffic to get to the beach.

Anna Maria rejects proposed water taxi modifications

Anna Maria rejects proposed water taxi modifications

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA –City officials rejected Manatee County’s proposed water taxi-related modifications to the City Pier, but negotiations remain ongoing.

On Aug. 3, Mayor Dan Murphy presented the county’s proposed pier modifications to the city commission. The modifications rejected by the mayor and commission included a floating finger dock with submerged pilings attached perpendicular to the existing boat landing at the T-end of the pier. The county also proposed railings and a locked gate that would have provided exclusive access to the county water taxis.

 

Anna Maria rejects proposed water taxi modifications
The county’s rejected plan proposed a floating finger dock (in red), and an exclusive water taxi landing area (in yellow) at the T-end of the pier (in blue). – Manatee County | Submitted

The county-funded water taxis will initially be operated from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach by the county-contracted Gulf Island Ferry company.

“When I saw this, I was not happy with it at all,” Murphy told the commission.

Murphy said the proposed pier modifications would cost the county $300,000, but the city would have to reimburse the county for that amount if the city later decided to opt out of the water taxi program.

Murphy said Anna Maria, like Bradenton and Bradenton Beach, will now agree to pay for the ongoing maintenance of any county-funded pier modifications approved by the city commission.

The mayor and commission are also concerned that the county has not yet provided specific details pertaining to any additional water taxi-related safety modifications needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Murphy said the proposed finger dock would require several pilings that would require permitting by the Army Corps of Engineers, which could be a lengthy process.

Murphy said he met with Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione on Aug. 1, before the Council of Governments (COG) meeting later that afternoon.

“I told them this is not an acceptable proposal for the city of Anna Maria,” Murphy said. “You need to keep this simple, short, sweet and very cost-effective with minimal or no cost to the city if we decide to cancel,” Murphy said.

“My proposal back to them was just to dock parallel to the existing landing. If there’s any modification that needs to be made, make them to your boat. It’s a lot cheaper to modify a boat than it is to do all this and it requires no permit,” he said.

Murphy said the proposed pier modifications were designed by the county’s contracted engineering firm without any consultation with the city.

He said Van Ostenbridge and Falcione agreed with his simplified approach for the water taxi landing area and will proceed in that direction.

“With what I proposed, they literally could be in business in a couple of days. There’s no rocket science here. Somehow, I think this will come to fruition,” he said.

Regarding the service itself, Murphy said, “I told them this is not the focus of what our city wants for a water taxi, based upon the hours of operation and the days of operation. It’s not what we view as an endgame, but it’s a start in the right direction. I endorse that start and recommend that start because I truly believe there’s a future here in the water taxi to serving this city, particularly as it relates to bringing employees out here. Make it fast, make it economical, make it attractive to employees to bring them out and drop them off here or down in Bradenton Beach. It would have to be efficient and timely. Three days a week with the hours they propose is not going to attract many employees,” Murphy said.

Murphy said Falcione and Van Ostenbridge agreed and they recognize this is just a starting point for a service that will hopefully later be expanded.

“If it works, it works. If it doesn’t work, I don’t want to have to pay a ransom to walk away,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring said the county’s proposed plan didn’t consider that fishing is a primary use of the City Pier. She said the proposed railing and gated area made no sense.

As an alternative, Murphy said the commission could adopt a city resolution that prohibits unattended boats from being tied up to the pier landing area. Commissioner Charlie Salem said if the water taxis run on a regular schedule, docking at the landing could be prohibited during those 15 intervals.

When commenting on the proposed modifications, Commission Chair Mark Short said, “I hate this. I hate tying up one corner of the pier by putting a fence up. I hate the logistics of putting a dock in. They’re proposing wooden pilings that won’t last in Tampa Bay. Bringing it in sideways makes way too much sense to me. There’s rarely a boat that docks there anyway.”

Short reiterated Commissioner Jon Crane’s concerns that the county still hasn’t presented any proposed ADA compliance modifications and he questioned whether that could include a proposal to install safety railings along the entire length of the pier walkway, where none currently exist.

Echoing Murphy’s comments, Short said the service schedule and rates are not going to encourage Island employees to use the water taxis to commute from the mainland.

“I don’t see any incentive for someone who would want to take this to come out here and work. Maybe that’s the next step,” Short said.

Future expansion

During Tuesday’s COG meeting, Falcione discussed the anticipated future expansion of the water taxi/ferry service. He said the county plans to apply for a grant to purchase a larger, high-speed ferry to transport passengers between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria, with the two pontoon boats then traveling between the City Pier, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp.

Anna Maria rejects proposed water taxi modifications
The Gulf Island Ferry water taxis were recently placed in the water in Cortez. – Manatee County | Submitted

Falcione envisions water taxi/ferry service someday taking place seven days a week with an expanded route and additional stops, including stops near the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto and the new Marriot hotel currently being built next to it, and at the Powel Crosley Estate near the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

Falcione said the initial water taxi service is now expected to begin this fall, to be followed in early 2024 with a program that incentivizes employee ridership. Falcione said the county has already committed $1.4 million to the water taxi/ferry service.

Beach Market scheduled to open in October

Beach Market scheduled to open in October

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

COQUINA BEACH – Nearly a year after the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau took over the management of the Coquina Beach Market from the previous market director, a new manager and opening date for the market have been announced.

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved Dottie Deerwester from Ready Set Go Tour and Travel as the new market manager on July 25.

“Right now, I am collecting names of possible vendors and will be sending out information by the end of August,” Deerwester said on Aug. 5. “Any interested vendors should text me and I will be in contact with them.”

Deerwester said there will be a maximum of 80 vendors at the market.

The market is expected to open on Oct. 4 at South Coquina Beach and will have year-round operations, according to Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.

Market hours will be Sundays, beginning around 4 to 6 hours before sunset and ending just before sunset, and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Vendors wishing to be considered for space at the market may text Deerwester at 707-972-5055 with their name, company name, email and type of product to be sold. Alternatively, an email can be sent to dottie@rdysetgo.com

The county received three proposals – from Deerwester, Florida Marketplace Group, LLC and Your Tampa Markets LLC, according to the county license agreement.

“To enhance and promote Manatee County as a unique community, and provide for the comfort in and enjoyment of the use of the park by its patrons, the county hereby grants unto licensee the right and privilege to provide the county with market vendor coordinator services in accordance with the terms, conditions and limitations of this agreement,” according to the franchise license agreement between the county and Deerwester.

The agreement may be terminated at any time with 30 days written notice, according to the license agreement.

The discussion about the market began on Aug. 2, 2022, the county announced in a press release that it would take over the beach market from Nancy Ambrose, its director for the past decade. The release stated in part: “Artisans and other vendors will be back along the Coquina Beach South promenade, once again, when the 2022-23 seasons opens in November as oversight for the market shifts to Manatee County.”

That opening was delayed following Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

“As crews have been deployed around the county to clean up and repair other parks properties, the site prep and rehab work to get the new site (further south on Coquina Beach) ready have been put on hold temporarily,” according to a Manatee County press release. “The official opening date has been delayed from the originally planned Nov. 1.”

Reel Time: Generation Alpha speaks out for the future

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

It seems a little unfair that short-sighted decisions made by politicians in 2023 can have such a profound effect on the future of those who still have no voice in those choices. That’s why it’s important to give them a voice, and why Reel Time is donating space this week to 15-year-old Brice Claypoole.

I am 15 years old and live in Manatee County. More than anything, I enjoy exploring our local environment, our land and waters. I love to watch ospreys dive for fish and spoonbills squabble in mangrove swamps.

Sometimes, when I talk with long-time residents of our area, they tell me that I should have seen Manatee County 50 years ago. Back then, there were bountiful fish, few toxic algal blooms, expansive wetlands and an overall healthier landscape. Reckless and greedy developers have since torn out many of our wildlands, resulting in loss of biodiversity, increased storm damage and polluted waters. Our seagrass has declined hugely, our mangroves have all but disappeared, and red tide tortures our communities for unprecedented lengths of time.

To perpetuate this sad situation where corporate profits are valued over community well-being, developers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars slandering smart-growth politicians and promoting their own candidates. Every one of Manatee’s current county commissioners has strong ties to the development industry. Determined to refill their campaign coffers before the next election, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has opened the floodgates to uncontrolled development and environmental destruction. They have approved countless ruinous developments, weakened our comprehensive plan and overridden the decisions of local governments. But their latest scheme promises to be one of the most disastrous yet. It’s a systemic change that threatens to allow the unregulated destruction of Manatee’s remaining natural lands.

Generation Alpha speaks out for the future
15-year-old Brice Claypoole wants your attention. – Submitted

Manatee County’s Land Development Code (LDC) and Comprehensive Plan are responsible for laying out regulations and procedures for land use. The goal of the LDC and comp plan is to plan land use and protect communities and resources. The county commission will soon vote on changes to the LDC and comp plan that were requested by the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association (BIA).

Emails reveal that BIA president Jon Mast, multiple county employees, Commissioner Amanda Ballard’s husband and then-county administrator Scott Hopes met in January to discuss changes the BIA wanted to the LDC and comp plan. The meeting and changes were kept secret. The proposed changes, targeted mainly at gutting environmental protections, were written by local land use attorney Scott Rudacille. Rudacille is connected to local builders, including political power broker Carlos Beruff, who has contributed thousands of dollars to the campaigns of county commissioners. Before the redlined (proposed) LDC was leaked, the county intended to present changes as if their staff – not the industry which would benefit – had initiated them.

The content of the redlined documents is disturbing – protections for wetlands, our most valuable natural resources, have been removed. Along with deleting the comp plan’s policy 3.3.1.1., which prohibits the destruction of wetlands, county staff slashed much of policy 3.3.1.3. This means developers would be allowed to destroy wetlands without taking any action to mitigate the devastation.

Staff also removed the county’s requirements for wetland buffers of up to 50 feet, stripping protections down to the state’s bare minimum of a 25-foot average. Larger, more functional wetland buffers would no longer be required between developments and outstanding Florida waters or aquatic preserves. Studies show this would lead to increased water pollution and degrade Manatee residents’ quality of life. The buffers currently required by the LDC are already inadequate to safeguard natural resources and avert declining water quality. Buffers must be at least 100 feet to be fully functional. The state’s minimum 25-foot average does nothing to safeguard resources.

Denying this unjustified gutting of our LDC and comp plan should be an easy decision. However, the BCC has a massive conflict of interest in this matter, one that appears strong enough to make this Faustian board disregard their constituents’ wellbeing. Commissioner Mike Rahn is the former president of the BIA. BIA Treasurer Raymond Turner was just appointed to fill a vacant seat on the board. Commissioner Ballard’s husband worked for BIA. Floridians United for a Sustainable Economy PAC, which is funded by the BIA, has donated to the campaigns of all the commissioners. The BIA’s members include developers Patrick Neal and Carlos Beruff, who have poured thousands of dollars into the campaigns of our BCC. Convincing the commissioners to do the right thing won’t be easy.

As red tide and gumbo algae make life miserable for local communities, as starving manatees and poisoned sea turtles wash up on our beaches, we are experiencing the effects of bad governance. Now developers are demanding we turn bad governance into no governance and allow them to trade our future for profit.

In 10 years, what will life be like in Manatee County? How much worse will our lives be as seagrass dies, fisheries collapse, our tourism industry fades away, manatee and dolphin populations go extinct, and severe red tides become a year-round phenomenon?

It sounds like Rachel Carson’s dystopian essay, “A Fable for Tomorrow,” in which she imagined the demise of both nature and humanity at the hands of pesticide corporations. That threat has so far been averted, in no small part due to Carson herself, but the threat of overdevelopment now takes its place. The only thing that made a difference, the only thing that stopped the slow poisoning of the Earth by DDT, was a public outcry.

Public outcry. That is how we make a difference in this world.

I asked former 22-year Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash what could convince the BCC not to cater to the BIA’s demands. McClash, a smart-growth proponent who lost his seat on the commission after a large-scale, developer-funded smear campaign, answered without hesitation. “The public needs to get out and tell the commission that this isn’t supported by science, that it isn’t supported by the community,” he said.

Our nature, our waters, and our communities cannot withstand this abuse. Without the LDC and comp plan regulations, our natural resources will collapse.

Will you tolerate our quality of life being sold to developers? Contact the commissioners (https://www.mymanatee.org/government/board_of_county_commissioners) and tell them that you won’t put up with this destruction.

Sign Suncoast Waterkeeper’s petition against BIA’s demands.

Attend the first commission hearing on the LDC and comp plan changes on Thursday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m.

Don’t let the commission sell our future.

Castles in the Sand

Florida seniors caught in trap

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Last week we talked about the insurance nightmare affecting all homeowners in the state of Florida. However, there is one group of residents having a more difficult time resolving their insurance issues, and those homeowners are seniors.

As I pointed out last week, homeowner’s premiums are increasing rapidly for everyone and that’s assuming your current company even offers you a renewal. Also, properties with aging roofs are a target of insurance companies. They will either not renew your policy if you have an old roof or give you a time frame in which to replace the roof.

This impacts everyone in the state, but seniors are hurt the most since they may not have the resources to replace roofs, and I don’t just mean the funds, I also mean the ability to go through the process of roof replacement and interfacing with insurance companies. Nevertheless, this is something that has to be done not only in order to have insurance on your property but also in the event that you need to sell, a situation many seniors are finding themselves in.

Even if your insurance company hasn’t asked for a roof replacement yet, when you want to sell your property, a home inspector will point out to prospective buyers the age of the roof and the liabilities involved in having an aging roof. Most buyers will not proceed without some guarantee of roof replacement, and most won’t even enter into a contract without the roof being replaced. This is only further complicated by the shortage of replacement roofing materials, particularly when they are dictated by condo documents, and the shortage of workers, resulting in long lead times for roof replacements.

In Manatee County, we have many seniors living in over-55 condo communities. As previously stated, condos have been particularly hard hit by new roof requirements, and many of the older communities with older populations have not adequately set aside reserves for this purpose, resulting in assessments to residents. Florida living, which attracted senior citizens because of the affordability of properties and living expenses, is suddenly making living in Florida unaffordable for the most vulnerable of our population.

Seniors can also anticipate the possibility of repairs based on the milestone inspections the state has approved for condominiums based on location, height and age. Again, not all community associations have done their due diligence in maintaining properties and this law could impact these senior communities where people have lived for decades.

Everyone in the state needs to budget for the possibility of maintenance issues and repairs in their single-family homes or condos, but seniors particularly need to educate themselves on how this may affect their wealth and lifestyle. Certainly, younger family members should be made aware of these issues and start making plans to assist this generation.

Manatee County has elder law legal aid and pro bono services available, but not all seniors will qualify for this service. The state has a legal helpline that is free to all seniors over 60 with limited ability to answer complicated issues, but they could point you in the right direction. It’s called The Department of Elder Affairs Florida Senior Legal Helpline at 888-895-7873. However, if you have the financial ability, the best thing for seniors to do when facing one of these problems is to hire a private elder attorney.

Undoubtedly life isn’t fair, and seniors who may not have had a real estate transaction in decades are finding out they can’t sell their home until they have a new roof, then finding out the new roof could take months. Plan ahead and ask for help is my best advice; the insurance issues will not go away anytime soon.

Turner appointed to county commission

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Ray Turner to replace Vanessa Baugh on the Manatee County Commission.

The governor’s appointment was to take effect Aug. 1. Turner takes over for embattled District Five Commissioner Vanessa Baugh, who recently announced her resignation effective at the end of July.

Turner appointed to county commission
Turner

“I’m honored to be appointed by Governor DeSantis,” Turner said in the press release the county issued on July 27. “I will do the very best job I can to serve the people of Manatee County. I look forward to hitting the ground running.”

According to the press release, Turner has been a Manatee County resident for more than 20 years and was a member of the Manatee County Planning Commission at the time of his appointment. Turner, the secretary of the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association, began his real estate career in 1991 selling custom homes and later transitioned into real estate finance, international marketing and executive management.

Turner was scheduled to be sworn into office at an Aug. 1 workshop.

Baugh departs

In June, Baugh announced her resignation effective at the end of July, citing family as her reason for resigning. She participated in her final county commission meeting on July 25 and then vacated effective Aug. 1 the remainder of her current four-year term.

During her abbreviated final term, Baugh, a Lakewood Ranch resident, faced intense media scrutiny and was the subject of an ethics complaint and a Florida Commission on Ethics investigation for her role in organizing a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic in early 2021.

Turner appointed to county commission
Baugh

The pop-up clinic Baugh helped organize provided vaccines for a small number of people on her own personal shortlist and for residents living in two specific Lakewood Ranch zip codes.

In January, the ethics commission investigation led to Baugh agreeing to an $8,000 settlement as a penalty for her role in organizing the clinic. When reaching the settlement in January, Baugh admitted she used her position as an elected official to the benefit or privilege of herself or others.

Testing shows drinking water free of toxins

Testing shows drinking water free of toxins

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors.

MANATEE COUNTY – County officials say that new tests confirm the drinking water coming from Lake Manatee is safe.

In a July 18 press release, more than a week after attention was first drawn to the strange odor and taste in local drinking water, county officials said that the compound affecting the water is geosmin, not an algal toxin.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, geosmin is a compound, often related to the cyanobacteria Anabaena, that causes taste and odor issues in water related to blue-green algae outbreaks.

“While certain blue-green algae can produce toxins, it is important to note that not all blue-green algae blooms are toxic,” according to last week’s press release from county Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.

Logan’s previous press release from the county on July 10 stated that tests showed the presence of blue-green algae at elevated concentrations in drinking water.

The algae bloom in the county reservoir, which provides water for a large part of the county, caused a musty taste and odor that persists, according to the county.

Local environmental advocacy group Suncoast Waterkeeper disputed the water’s safety in a press release on July 12, naming Anabaena as a health risk.

Independent testing done by GreenWater Laboratories showed that a number of cyanotoxins related to blue-green algae were not found in the water, according to the county.

The county is treating the reservoir with activated powdered carbon.

Algae blooms in the county’s drinking water are common, seasonal occurrences, according to the county, which advises the public to use a carbon filter on faucets to minimize the earthy taste of the drinking water.

Castles in the Sand

Florida insurance nightmare grows

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

It’s like waking up from a bad dream and realizing it was only a dream and everything is just fine. However, the Florida insurance nightmare isn’t just a bad dream, it’s the new reality, and we keep taking hits.

The latest is Farmers Insurance Company pulling out of Florida, leaving 100,000 policyholders high and dry. They will no longer be writing policies for homeowners, auto and umbrella in the state. They point to storm risk and increased litigation forcing them to reimburse more funds than they feel comfortable doing, meaning they’re not making enough money selling insurance in the state of Florida.

We can’t do anything about the storms and unless Farmers is living in a different dimension, the state has always had the risk of storms. The litigation issue was addressed by the governor and Florida Legislature this past year hoping to reduce the number of lawsuits relative to claims.

As always, homeowners live in fear each renewal that their insurance will be canceled or will go up too much. You always have the option of shopping around before your next renewal in the event you do get canceled, but be careful.

Make sure the company or insurance broker you’re talking to is a real person. There is a National Association of Insurance Commissioners that can help you verify who you’re talking to. My advice, especially for homeowners who live near the water, is to try as hard as possible firstly not to get canceled and if you get an increase, bite the bullet and pay it before shopping for a lower rate.

You can make your home more insurable by changing things that will make the property less risky to insure. Fire alarms and security systems can get you several percentage points off your premium. Hurricane shutters, hurricane-proof windows and fire-resistant siding also will help.

But the elephant in the room in Florida is the age and condition of your roof. Be prepared to get a cancellation or requirement to replace the roof if it is anywhere over 25 years of age, even if there are no leaks and no claims against it. This is also true if you live in a condominium complex where the roofs are the responsibility of the association. Condo owners are getting hit all over the place with special assessments to replace roofs in order to get insurance.

Time to report the June sales statistics in Manatee County released by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 17.7% more properties from last June. The median sale price was $525,000, down 4.5% from last year, and the average sale price was $678,994, down 1.7% from last year. The time to contract was 37 days compared to six days last year and the month’s supply of available properties is 2.8 months compared to 1.8 months last year.

Condos closed 12.1% more properties from last June. The median sale price was up 3.8% to $370,000, and the average sale price was up 6.6% to $471,003. The time to contract was 34 days compared to seven days last year and the month’s supply of available properties was 3.4 months compared to 1.5 months last year.

Sales are up in both areas of the residential market, keeping in mind most of these transactions were booked at least 30 days ago before the slower season really kicked in. Nevertheless, the news release from the Realtor Association states, “The residential market in Manatee County continues to thrive with strong buyer activity.”

Insurance nightmares or not, Florida is still a great state to live in. Hopefully, we’ll have a moderate storm season and improved litigation laws that will give insurers a reason to come back to Florida. That would be a happy dream

Letter to the Editor: Add beaches, not garages

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

My wife and I have been homeowners in Manatee County for 30 years and permanent residents for about half that time. We now reside full-time on Anna Maria Island, where we built a new home in 2014. It is reasonable in size and it has only one elevated floor, elevated to meet the latest codes. We love this area and settled here by choice after living in three different countries and spending time in 20 others.

I wish to express my feelings about this parking garage which is causing so much frustration and dissatisfaction. Mostly, I would like to present a totally different approach.

Building a multi-floor garage is not the ideal solution. First of all, it will only contain the additional number of cars generated by all the new construction surrounding the Bradenton area for at best a year. What will we do in another year – build a second garage, and then a third, as hundreds of new homes are popping up like mushrooms all around our area?

The land area of Anna Maria is approximately 0.73 square miles or less than 2 square kilometers. During the winter season, there are approximately 6,500 residents on this Island, making it a population density of 8,900 people per square mile. The average population density in the U.S. is 37 people per square kilometer or 96 per square mile. We are therefore already 93 times more populated than the national average.

The problem is that this situation cannot be alleviated by adding more parking capacity. What we need is to create one or more new beaches outside of this small spit of land called Anna Maria Island.

Manatee County, according to Google search and the “Welcome to Manatee County” literature, has nearly 150 miles of “pristine coastline.” However, it seems that practically all the road signs indicating the direction to beaches in Manatee County point only toward Anna Maria Island.

I have heard that the cost of this garage may be as high as $45 million. Even if it should turn out to be half that much, I believe that a lot of vacant land could be acquired in that price range to establish a completely new “beach” area with plenty of parking spaces. This would tremendously reduce the usual gridlock which happens regularly when all the beachgoers guided by all the existing road signs arrive on this already crowded residential island.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

 

Raymond J. Mathieu

Holmes Beach

County water taxis arrive

County water taxis arrive

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

ANNA MARIA – Manatee County’s two newly-built water taxis have arrived and negotiations continue between the county and the city of Anna Maria regarding the City Pier being used as a water taxi stop.

On July 13, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione issued a press release regarding the arrival of the two newly-built pontoon catamarans that will serve as the Gulf Island Ferry Service fleet.

“The two 50-foot catamarans, as part of the highly anticipated Gulf Island Ferry Service, have splashed down in Cortez. The water ferry service is set to transport visitors and locals between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The service is anticipated to launch later this summer,” according to the press release.

County water taxis arrive
The new water taxis were placed in the water at the N.E. Taylor Boatworks in Cortez. – Manatee County | Submitted

“We anticipate families parking in downtown Bradenton, hopping on the ferry at the downtown port located just off the riverwalk near Green Bridge and enjoying a beautiful boat ride out to the Island. At the same time, visitors staying on the Island can enjoy a leisure boat ride to downtown Bradenton to enjoy our amazing restaurants and attractions located on the mainland,” Falcione said in the press release.

County water taxis arrive
This map illustrates the proposed water taxi stops. – Manatee County | Submitted

Traveling on the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway, the Clearwater-based Gulf Island Water Taxi company will operate the Gulf Island Ferry Service. The family-owned parent company, Clearwater Ferry, already runs a water taxi service between Clearwater and Dunedin. The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is part of Manatee County government, is marketing the water taxi service.

Initially operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the county-funded service will include water taxi stops at the city of Bradenton-owned Riverwalk Day Dock near the Green Bridge in downtown Bradenton, the city-owned floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier and the county-owned Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach, across the street from Coquina Beach.

County water taxis arrive
The county plans to run the water taxi from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. three days a week. – Manatee County | Submitted

The county also proposes using the Anna Maria City Pier as a landing spot but the city of Anna Maria and Manatee County have not yet entered into an interlocal agreement approving the destination.

The county is willing to pay for any improvements needed at the various water taxi docking stops to ensure public safety and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including safety railings. But the county wants each city to pay for the ongoing maintenance of any county-funded water taxi-related improvements made to their docking facilities.

The Bradenton and Bradenton Beach city commissions have already approved their city-specific, water taxi-related interlocal agreements with the county and those two city commissions agreed to pay for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related improvements made by the county.

County water taxis arrive
The recently expanded floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier will be used as a water taxi stop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When approving the interlocal agreement earlier this year, the Bradenton Beach Commission noted the county’s water taxis are welcome to use the recently expanded floating dock as a landing area on a first-come, first-served basis like other users, but the city is not creating a reserved and designated water taxi landing area on the floating dock.

Negotiations continue

As part of the ongoing interlocal agreement negotiations that began last year, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission would like the county to also pay for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related safety improvements made to the City Pier – a provision the county has not agreed to.

During past discussions, Murphy said the City Pier cannot be used as a water taxi stop without a city commission-approved interlocal agreement with the county.

County water taxis arrive
The county proposes using the existing boat landing near the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier, with some additional safety improvements potentially needed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In March, the city sent the county a revised agreement that proposed the county pay for the ongoing maintenance. In June, the city received back from the county a version of the interlocal agreement that contained the following language: “Prior to the commencement of water taxi services to the dock, the county shall ensure that the dock is ADA accessible for water taxi service to the public, including constructing any ADA improvements that may be required. The cost of ADA improvements, permits or required ADA-related improvement studies required for dockage of the water taxi vessel or for related upland property are the responsibility of Manatee County and its contractor. Following installation of ADA improvements and acceptance by the city, subsequent maintenance of the cost thereof for the Pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.”

  • The proposed agreement discussed in June also says, “The county agrees to provide a detailed plan in advance to the Anna Maria City Commission for approval showing the proposed landing area on the pier and any modifications or improvements required for the dockage and the pier. The city has the right to cancel this agreement if it finds that such modifications or improvements are unsatisfactory to the city.”
    At that time, the county had not yet provided city officials with the plan referenced in the proposed agreement.
  • On July 13, Murphy provided the city commission with a status update on the still unresolved agreement negotiations.

Murphy said City Attorney Becky Vose met with county officials after the city commission’s June discussion and earlier in the week he received the county’s latest proposed agreement.

“I’ve gone through that proposal. There’s still some gaps. Late last night, I received a proposed picture of the landing spot, where they would like this to land. I have not received the ADA improvements that are required nor a cost of those ADA improvements, which we would need,” Murphy said.

Vose said she engaged in lengthy discussions with Falcione and one of the assistant county attorneys.

“They, unfortunately, did not implement my requested changes,” she said.

“In the big picture, we certainly do not want to let small details interfere with this, but I’m putting together a short list of some things that need to be changed in the agreement, particularly having to do with liability issues,” Vose said.

She said the negotiations are more challenging for the city because the Bradenton Beach and Bradenton city commissioners already signed the agreements as proposed by the county.

“They just took what was presented, signed it and sent it back,” Vose said.

County water taxis arrive
The city-owned Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton will serve as a water taxi stop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy said, “There’s attachments missing and I’m not going to put the city in the position of recommending to you signing a contract with attachments that are blank, or not attached or not filled out. Secondly, I’m not real satisfied with the terms and conditions. I’ll come back with a recommendation one way or the other.

“I’m hoping that we can successfully do this, but if we can’t, we can’t. There’s some things you just need to walk away from and hope that things get better later. The legal issues are going to be escalated to the county attorney himself (Bill Clague) rather than to an assistant attorney. There are legal aspects of this contract that to me seem serious and not something that is in the best interest of the city. Those all have to be ironed out, but I think we need to get this off the table one way or the other in two weeks.”

Commissioner Robert Kingan said, “You would certainly think that the county would have engaged us much earlier in the process and got this sorted out at the beginning.”

“It’s a serious matter. I don’t want to be an obstacle. I don’t want bad will, but our interests have to be looked out for,” Murphy said.

Since the water taxi agreement discussions began in 2022, the mayor and commission have also continually expressed a desire for discounted water taxi fares for the service industry employees and others who work on Anna Maria Island and commute from the mainland. During Thursday’s meeting, Anna Maria Commission Chair Mark Short noted the county’s proposed agreement makes no reference to discounted fares for Island employees.

Murphy said he’ll present a “last, best and final proposal” during the commission’s Thursday, Aug. 3 meeting. At that point, the commission will approve or reject the proposed agreement.

After Thursday’s meeting, Murphy said he also received from the county a diagram that illustrates how the county proposes using the existing landing area near the T-end of the pier as a water taxi landing. That diagram was not shared during Thursday’s meeting and as of press time had not yet been provided to the media due to the city’s pending review of the plans that may require some additional pier improvements.

The water taxi service is also scheduled for discussion at the Tuesday, Aug. 1 Manatee County Council of Governments meeting taking place at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto at 4 p.m.

Group disputes county claim that drinking water remains safe

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – A blue-green algae outbreak reported last week at Lake Manatee, the county’s primary drinking water reservoir, has prompted a local water quality watchdog group to question Manatee County’s claim that the water is safe, despite discoloration and an unusual odor.

In a July 19 press release, Suncoast Waterkeeper members noted that the blue-green algae, known as Anabaena or Microcystin-LR, is a cyanotoxin that may be safe from a regulatory standpoint, but not necessarily from a health standpoint.

County says blue-green algae in water ‘safe’
Water straight from a faucet in Manatee County shows water that county officials say is “safe” for consumption. Large particles of unknown material came out of the faucet along with the water. – Kristin Swain | Sun

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, elevated levels of cyanotoxins, including Anabaena, can cause health issues in humans ranging from a rash to liver and kidney damage if ingested. The most common health effects in humans include abdominal pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, nausea, dry cough, diarrhea, blistering around the mouth and pneumonia. Continually ingesting drinking water contaminated with elevated levels of the bacteria can lead to liver and kidney damage. Anyone experiencing any of the symptoms after coming into contact with the toxin should seek medical treatment immediately and rinse off with clean water.

The EPA also warns that pets, livestock and other animals also can be adversely affected by coming into contact with contaminated water. Symptoms of cyanotoxin poisoning in animals include excessive salivating, fatigue, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. In some severe cases, exposure can also lead to death.

In the water where the blue-green algae bloom occurs, plant and animal life may also die both during and after the bloom, resulting in fish kills in the county’s primary water supply.

County leaders say they’re treating the water with activated carbon and that anyone who is concerned about the smell or taste of the water should use a carbon filter at home.

To learn more about Anabaena and how it can affect your health, visit www.epa.gov/cyanohabs.