News Briefs

+ CDD 1 launches contractor search
Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 1 supervisors will seek an interim contractor for landscaping services as the district deals with a lawsuit surrounding its request for proposal process.
Following the advice of their attorney, supervisors on Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 1 voted unanimously on Aug. 30 to reject existing bids for landscaping services and to restart a search for a new landscape contractor.

The district’s current provider, Garden Leaders, has filed a lawsuit alleging Lakewood Ranch CDDs 1, 4 and 5 and the Inter-District Authority Board violated the state’s open meetings laws while selecting a new landscape contractor.

District 1 Attorney Jeff Russell said, after analyzing the lawsuit, he does not believe the district violated Sunshine requirements when staff members independently evaluated requests for proposals from vendors to form a recommendation for supervisors.

“I don’t think there was a Sunshine violation, but it is a reasonably close call on the issue,” Russell said, adding he believes it would be in the district’s best interest to reject all bids and start over.

Doing so, he said, would reduce potential legal expenses and expedite and simplify the process moving forward.

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Director of Operations Ryan Heise said he will secure an interim contractor for services, and plans to present the recommendation to the board at its September meeting.

+ County holds pet adoption special
Throughout September, Manatee County Animal Services will offer adoption specials on dogs and cats that have been at the shelter for 30 days or more.

The campaign is part of the county’s plan to become a no-kill community.

Qualified dogs will be available for adoption for $30 (compared to $80), and cats will be available for $10 (compared to $60).

The special is available at both Animal Services locations: 305 25th St. W. and 1002 Manatee Ave. W.
At-large County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said Animals Services also is seeking volunteers to help with data entry for microchip information, typing, answering phones and assisting in other ways.

For more information, visit www.mymanatee.org/pets or call 742-5933.

+ Local deputy fire chief earns international honor
East Manatee Fire Rescue Deputy Chief of Administration Lee Whitehurst recently received the international designation of Chief Fire Officer.

The Commission on Professional Credentialing voted on the new designation July 18, making Whitehurst one of only four CFO’s locally and 814 worldwide.

Whitehurst has been a member of the East Manatee Fire Rescue District for 28 years.

+ Buchanan launches state drug database
Implementation of a statewide drug-tracking database began Sept. 1.

Under a new law spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, any health care professional who dispenses a controlled substance must log the information into the database within seven days. The program is intended to prevent “doctor shopping” for narcotics, among other issues.

The state Department of Health has about one month to compile data before the monitoring program officially launches Oct. 17.