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1 month ago Share Now, town must decide on either paying $188,382 or implementing an environmental project worth at least $281,073. The Longboat Key Town Commission voted unanimously Monday to accept a consent order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection after the town’s June 2020 mainland sewage line break and spillage of millions of gallons of effluent. In the coming weeks, the town still must decide between two options: paying the state $188,382 in civil penalties and costs, or offsetting the amount by implementing an in-kind environmental project worth at least $281,073. An in-kind project would be subject to FDEP approval. “It was a normal negotiation process that occurred,” Town Manager Tom Harmer said. “We finalized negotiations. We think we received as many changes as we could while still trying to end up with an order that met the state’s needs and requirements and protected our ratepayers going forward.” ....
Source: Florida Department of Transportation “Due to COVID’s impact on the supply chain, materials were delayed,” said Florida Department of Transportation spokesman Brian Rick. “Otherwise, this was scheduled to have been done off season. Fortunately, we can still maintain the current two lanes of traffic and posted speed, and make the needed improvements.” The state does not anticipate the 14-part project to inconvenience drivers, boaters, pedestrians or bikers. However, nighttime bridge closures are required from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. throughout the project. The state says no delay will be longer than 30 minutes. Also, large boats that require the opening of the bridge will need to request it six hours in advance. ....
Longboat Key is set to conduct its second annual citizen satisfaction survey, beginning with a mailer that should be arriving this week. Residents are asked to complete the online survey before Feb. 3. “It’s really important,” said Longboat Key Support Services Director Carolyn Brown. “It provides the town commission, and our town manager and department heads and everybody that works here, the opportunity to truly assess and understand what’s most important to the residents that live here, and be able to adjust and make changes to our focus.” Brown said homeowners can anticipate receiving a letter in the mail. Each letter has a unique code to complete the online survey. ....
2021 Penelope “Penny” Gold, Debra Williams For one, this will be the first time since the town incorporated in 1955 that four women will serve at the same time on the commission. In the town’s 65-year history, there have been only five times when two women served simultaneously on the commission (see box). More noteworthy is the generational change in age and Town Commission experience. When longtime Commissioner George Spoll and Commissioner Jack Daly leave the commission in March, this will be the first time in decades that a majority of commissioners will be under the age of 70. Haycock and Ed Zunz are over the 70 threshold. ....