Briefs

Whole Foods plans University location
Whole Foods Market has a second Sarasota area location in the bag for East County.

The 40,000-square-foot grocery store will be built across the street from the Fresh Market at the intersection of Honore Avenue and University Parkway.

No construction timetable has been finalized. The signed lease requires the store to open in the next two years, according to a Whole Foods press release.

County seeks animal advocates
Manatee County is continuing its revamp of the Animal Services Department.

The county has five openings for the department’s Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to Manatee County commissioners about animal policies.

Four of the seats were held by members whose terms ended. The other is a vacant seat.

Interested applicants must be county residents and should have a background in one or more of the following areas: animal rescue or care organizations, agencies or volunteer associations; veterinary medicine; or possesses business organization, marketing skills, financial management or supervisory experience.

Meetings are held quarterly, or on an as-need basis.

All appointments are four-year terms. 

Applications are due Feb. 27 and are available at mymanatee.org/advisory_boards.

For more information, call Joel Richmond, at 742-5933, Ext. 8303.

County resurfaces Ranch roadways
Manatee County has resurfaced roadways in Lakewood Ranch’s oldest communities at a cost of approximately $89,000.

Asphalt Paving Systems has completed roadways in the Summerfield Park community, including Parkside Place, Fetterbush Lane, Water Willow Avenue, Huckleberry Street, Golden Leaf Court, Meandering Way, Blue Sage Place and Buttonbush Court. 

Contractors will return in March to complete a section of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from just north of the Summerfield community to north of Clubhouse Drive, as well, said Ron Schulhofer, director of Manatee County’s Public Works department.

That project is expected to start March 9 and will take four days to complete. 

“Residents for this section will be notified by a variable message board on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard,” Schulhofer said.

Life expectancy of the work is approximately eight years.

The work done in Lakewood Ranch is called microsurfacing. It is an application of nonstructural wearing surface to roads that are structurally sound but need surface treatment. 

A related sidewalk project, completed by C2 Construction remains under way and will likely be completed by the end of March, Schulhofer said.

MEETINGS
Manatee County Commission Meeting - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 24, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County School Board Meeting - Starts at 5:45 p.m. Feb. 24, at the School Support Center, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton