News Briefs

APRIL FOOLS —

+ Town takes action after raccoon rampage
Town officials say a recent incident underscores the need to address its rampant raccoon population. Turtle Watch volunteers witnessed a raccoon raid a turtle nest, possibly making away with two eggs. Longboat Key police, with backup units from Sarasota and Manatee counties, scoured the approximately 12-mile length of the Key for the rogue raccoon but were unable to find the critter. Wildlife officials have refused to get involved when raccoons have bitten humans, citing their policy of only becoming involved with animal-control issues if an animal is threatened. However, the agency’s policy states that protection extends to turtle eggs. But some witnesses told police that the animal that ravaged the nest was not a raccoon but rather a cat that belongs to a resident who plans to petition the commission for feline beach access.

+ Two blocks of GMD to close for construction
The 2300 through 2500 blocks of Gulf of Mexico Drive will close for the month of April in order to allow for Publix’s expedited construction schedule. To cope with the inconvenience, town officials have devised two alternative routes for residents: Those who find themselves to the south of the 2300 block of GMD can head toward the John Ringling Bridge, travel north on U.S. 41, west on Cortez Road, through Bradenton Beach and onto the north end. Those to the north of the 2500 block can do the reverse. Residents in the impacted two blocks will have their choice of which side on which they wish to park. The town is also exploring other options of transportation, including opening up the Bay Isles gates to allow a ferry to shuttle residents from the site of the historic former Corey’s Landing dock to the mainland and back — a concept the Bay Isles Master Association has enthusiastically embraced.

+ Wireless study endorses 200-foot tower
The firm conducting the town’s wireless communications study has concluded that the only solution to the town’s wireless communication woes is a 200-foot cellular tower. The conclusive results were accepted by the Longboat Key Planning & Zoning Board as factual and forwarded to the Longboat Key Town Commission for implementation. A town official said that the study’s conclusive findings would likely end debate on the matter once and for all.