Briefs: Longboat Key 1.28.16

Bullock pursues alternative funds for undergrounding

Town Manager Dave Bullock is exploring the possibility of using utility reserve funds to help pay for costs associated with the town’s proposed $23.85 million project to bury power lines in neighborhoods and side streets.

Voters will decide March 15 whether to issue bonds for the project, which would bury all power lines islandwide.

At the Longboat Key Town Commission’s Jan. 19 workshop, Commissioner Lynn Larson suggested the town investigate whether it can use utility funds, which are usually used to pay for road and water projects.

Bullock will report back to the commission at its Feb. 16 workshop.

Bullock has also told commissioners that informational meetings scheduled with neighborhoods and community associations this month to discuss the neighborhood undergrounding project will be rescheduled for after the Feb. 16 regular workshop.

Final red tide tab: $32,711.29

The town’s final bill for cleaning up dead fish associated with red tide outbreaks in November is $32,711.29. Strong easterly winds and currents brought a concentration of dead fish into bayside canals and onto Beer Can Island. 

After reviewing several bayside waterways before Thanksgiving, Town Manager Dave Bullock authorized use of a $50,000 budget item that’s set aside for red tide cleanup.

Medium concentrations of red tide remain in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Voter registration deadline approaches

The voter registration deadline is Feb. 16 to be eligible to participate in the town’s March 16 neighborhood undergrounding referendum election.

To register, residents must complete a Florida voter registration application, available at supervisor of elections offices and at sarasotavotes.com or votemanatee.com.

Elections supervisors also recommend that voters verify their registration information. Voters who have moved, changed their names or need to update their signatures since the last election can do so by completing a voter registration application.

For information, Sarasota County voters can call 861-8600; Manatee County voters can call 741-3823

Meetings & Agendas

• Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1

• Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8

• Planning & Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16

• Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16