Longboat Lookback

+Dec. 5, 1985
Southern Gas Company has been granted a natural-gas franchise to serve those residents of Longboat Key desiring the service. The ordinance granting the franchise was accepted at the town commission meeting Monday night.

+Dec. 1, 1988
Despite a direct hit on Sarasota County by Tropical Storm Keith in the early-morning hours of Nov. 23, Longboat Key and most of its residents escaped with no serious flooding or damage. However, considerable beach erosion is reported, and one home at 6359 Gulfside Drive was severely damaged. In the photo, bulldozers clear the road and the new sea wall of debris washed up by the storm onto Gulf of Mexico Drive near Bayport.

+Dec. 6, 1990
Voters in a special taxing district Dec. 4 narrowly approved a controversial referendum to issue approximately $14.8 million in bonds to fund the bulk of a program to nourish the Gulf beaches of Longboat Key.

The vote was so close the ballots were recounted by Manatee County Supervisor of Elections, who tallied the ballots from the Key’s Manatee and Sarasota county precincts. The measure was approved by a 15-vote margin, and 16 blank ballots were turned in. Absentee ballots numbered 176 out of the 1,593 ballots cast.
There were 107 absentee ballots in favor of the issue and 74 against. Two were blank.

Compiled by Dora Walters