People to Watch: David Bullock

No one has more Longboat Key projects to oversee in 2016 than Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock.

He recently started his fifth year as town manager, but Bullock, the former deputy county administrator of Sarasota County, expects 2016 will be his busiest year to date.

“There’s a lot of stuff to do,” Bullock said. “It keeps me busy and I enjoy what’s going on.”

On his to-do list for fiscal 2016:three beach projects totaling more than $23 million; implementing a $25.25 million project to bury power lines on Gulf of Mexico Drive and oversee a March referendum for a $23.85 million neighborhood and side street undergrounding project; construction on a $3.11 million revamped Bayfront Park; and negotiating contracts with the Longboat Key police and fire unions.

But Bullock says none of those projects are as important as bringing approximately 200,000 cubic yards of sand apiece from passes on the north and south ends of the Key’s shoreline and approximately 250,000 cubic yards of sand to the middle of the Key.

Fortunately, Bullock will have help in 2016: Following former Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross’ departure for Lakewood Ranch in October, Bullock hired Michael Hein, former city manager of Tucson, Ariz., for the role.