News Briefs

+ North Shore Road beach access re-opens
The North Shore Road public beach access was scheduled to re-open last Thursday, according to Longboat Key Public Works Director Juan Florensa. The beach access closed in November for a seawall rehabilitation to protect the nearby roadway from potential erosion.

+ Larson plans to look at underground utilities
Commissioner Lynn Larson told the Longboat Observer that she wants to look into the cost of placing Gulf of Mexico Drive utilities underground. Larson mentioned the idea at the Dec. 5 regular commission meeting during a discussion of north-end power outages. Town Manager David Bullock then sent a copy of a 2006 memorandum that estimated that the costs of Florida Power & Light’s work on such a project would be $21.5 million. The idea has not been pursued further at this time.

+ Town facilities to close for New Year holiday
Town facilities will be closed Monday Jan. 2, 2012, and will re-open at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3. Trash pickup will not be affected by the holiday.

+ Town to hold hazardous waste/E-scrap collection
The town, in conjunction with Manatee County and the cities of Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria, will hold a Household Hazardous Waste/E-Scrap Collection from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Gulf Side Park of Coquina Beach for island residents. Radioactive materials, including smoke detectors and bio-hazardous materials, will not be accepted. Small businesses will have to pay the contractor onsite for disposal of hazardous waste or E-scrap materials. For information, call the Longboat Key Public Works Department at 316-1988.

+ CEB asks for inclusion in code discussions
Code Enforcement Board Chairman Robert Krosney requested in a Dec. 15 letter to the Longboat Key Town Commission that the board receive drafts of and be included in discussions of amendments to town code. The board discussed drafting the letter at its Dec. 12 meeting. Town staff is currently researching code issues including the possibility of adopting the International Code Council’s International Property Maintenance Code, which encompasses many aesthetic, landscaping and maintenance issues that go beyond the scope of current town code. Town Manager David Bullock wrote in an email that town staff will distribute its report to the board when it is completed.
 

Meetings & agendas
• Code Enforcement Board meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9
• Town Commission regular meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9
• Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12
• Planning & Zoning Board meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17
• Town Commission regular workshop — 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.