News Briefs

+ Manatee County considers an East County water park
Manatee County will consider bringing a regional-type water park facility, complete with a roller coaster and a wave pool, to the East County.

Commissioners today considered a request by the Central Economic Development Center, a Bradenton nonprofit, for a roughly $20 million facility to be constructed at Tom Bennett Park.

“My first thought about this is Tom Bennett Park is not fully utilized the way we’d hoped,” Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said. “I think this is a great opportunity for Manatee County to have a water park. This would be a great asset.”

Commissioners directed staff to draft a request for proposals for a water park. The park site would be a longterm lease.

+ School District mulls over security options
Although the Manatee County School District has been putting off a final decision on whether to bring security officers to area elementary schools, it will make a decision soon.

On Tuesday night, the district is discussing a contract with security personnel, similar to middle and high schools’ school-resource officers. The idea has been in the works for the two months, but was put on hold after School Board members voiced concerns about not having sufficient time to review the contract.

+ New foundation raising rowing park funds
Board members of the newly formed Nathan Benderson Park Foundation are busy raising funds for the rowing facility.

Board members include: Randy Benderson, president of Benderson Development; Todd Mathes, of Benderson Development; Michael Bennett, Manatee County supervisor of elections,; Teri Hansen, of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation; David Brenner, of Longboat Key; Michael Klauber, owner of Michael’s On East, Randy Mallitz, of University Park; and Anne Essner, of Sarasota.

The foundation board already has raised $3.5 million for the park.

+ Mall at University Town Center seeks photo entries
Can you think of a creative way to display three letters that represent a shopping force coming to the area in October?

To get the community ready for East County’s newest shopping strip, The Mall at University Town Center (UTC) seeks participants to arrange U, T and C in a unique way and photograph the display for the “Show Off Your UTC” contest.

Entries must be submitted to the mall’s Facebook page through Sept. 30. The mall’s Facebook fans can vote for their favorite photo Oct. 10 through Oct. 19.

Voters will be entered into 10 daily drawings for a $1,000 shopping spree. All finalists will also have their photo entries showcased at the mall.

To enter, visit www.facebook.com/MallatUTC.

To enter the contest or for rules, visit www.facebook.com/MallatUTC.

Meetings & agendas
Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Work Session—  9 a.m. to noon Sept. 16, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing — 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 18, at the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton