Briefs 7.2.13

+ Town announces new flag program for water conditions
Longboat Key Fire Rescue implemented a water conditions flag program last week that provides citizens and visitors with the conditions of the surf along Longboat Key.

The information used to determine which color flag to fly will come from both Lido Key and Cortez beach lifeguards, who report their conditions to Mote Marine Laboratory. Longboat Key Fire Rescue will obtain each day the most severe of the two beach reports and fly that color flag at both Longboat Key fire stations.
Signs defining the flag colors have also been posted at the entrances of both fire stations.

+ Manatee 100 Club honors Longboat Key police officer
Longboat Key police officer John Thomas is the Manatee 100 Club’s 2012 Police Officer of the Year.
The 100 Club, a group of 100 professionals in the community that provides support to injured and fallen law-enforcement officers and their families, chooses the officer from a list of nominees local police chiefs provide.

Longboat Key Police Capt. Monica Quarmby nominated Thomas for the honor in February in a letter to Police Chief Pete Cumming, in which she described him as a “reliable, competent, compassionate and professional police officer.”

According to Quarmby’s letter, Thomas’ efforts led to the arrest of a man who allegedly stole more than $8,000 in artwork and statues.

Thomas joined the Longboat Key Police Department in November 2009, after 22 years with the Bradenton Police Department. The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key and the Sons of the American Revolution have also named Thomas Police Officer of the Year.

+ Town Hall closes for holiday
In observance of the Fourth of July, Town Hall and its departments will be closed Thursday, July 4. There will be no garbage collection Thursday, July 4. Collections will be picked up, instead, Friday, July 5. All items should be placed curbside by 7 a.m.

+ Clarification
A comparison of redevelopment proposals for the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, published in the June 27 edition of the Longboat Observer, should have noted that information in the comparison chart was obtained from the MW Development Group.

Meetings & Agendas

•  Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, July 8
•  Firefighters’ Retirement System Special Board Meeting — 10 am. Friday, July 12
•  General Employees’ Retirement System Special Board Meeting — 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 12
•  Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 16

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.