News Briefs

+ Stickney Point motels sell for $1.5 million
At the height of the building boom, two parcels near Siesta Key were slated to become a 10-story condominium. Now, the Tides Inn Motel and Sunset Lodge on Stickney Point Road will continue operating as transient housing with some renovations.

“We’re going to make it more like a resort inside,” said New Jersey rental owner Daniel Jones, who bought the motels for $1.5 million Sept. 5, from Siesta Vista Condominiums, a firm that had planned to redevelop the property, according to Sarasota County building permit records. Jones, who owns eight rental properties units on Siesta, plans to add gardens and a fence around the Stickney Point parcel.

“It’s going to be absolutely adorable,” Jones said.

Jones said he didn’t know about Benderson Development’s plans for a project nearby at the intersection of South Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road. Siesta Promenade is slated to house 250,000 square feet of retail space and a 150-room hotel.

“I’m excited about that,” Jones said.

The two motel properties last sold for $2.2 million in 2005.

+ Sarasota School Board adopts final budget
The Sarasota County School Board adopted the 2014-2015 budget and 2014 millage rates Tuesday.

Because of a decrease in the state-mandated portion of the millage rate, the total millage rate for the district will fall from 7.97 in 2013 to 7.777 in 2014. It is the first time the millage rate has decreased since 2011.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

That means for every $100,000 of assessed value, homeowners will save $19.30 on their property-tax bill.

However, with home values in the area rising, the school district’s taxable values increased 7.8% from last year. The net result will mean more revenue from property taxes for schools than last year.

At the July 24 meeting, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Al Weidner said the school’s budget is in “very good condition this year,” with a total $707 million. A total of $124.5 million has been cut from the district’s general fund budget since 2007, due to the effects of the recession. This year, $108,477 was cut — a smaller cut than previous years.

Because the superintendent and the board were conservative during the recession, all funds have adequate reserves.

+ Wallenda to walk tightrope across Chicago skyscrapers
Sarasota’s “King of the Highwire” Nik Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope across the Chicago skyline Nov. 2, on a wire between the Marina City towers and the Leo Burnett Building.

The Discovery Channel will air the event beginning at 7 p.m., during which the iconic aerialist will first walk more than two blocks from the west Marina City tower over the Chicago River to the Leo Burnett Building, according to a release from Discovery Communications. Wallenda will then walk between the two Marina City towers.

“This is going to be the most incredible tightrope walk of my career,” Wallenda said in the release. “I can’t think of a better city to do it.”

Meetings & agendas
Sarasota County Planning Commission meeting — 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice

Sarasota County Commission second budget public hearing — 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in the Commission Chambers, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota

Sarasota County Commission meetings — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 and and Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the Commission Chambers, County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.