News Briefs

+ Broadway street resurfacing project begins Wednesday
The town of Longboat Key’s Public Works Department has contracted with Superior Asphalt to conduct a street resurfacing project on Broadway in Longbeach Village that begins Wednesday.

Concrete curbs at the intersections of Broadway and Longboat Drive North and South, Poinsetta Avenue North and South and Palm Drive will be replaced first, followed by the resuracing of the entire length of Broadway.

The project will be complete by the end of August, pending weather conditions.

Traffic flow will be maintained during the entire length of the road improvement project.

Contact the Public Works Department at 316-1988 with questions or concerns about the project.

+ Town receives award for website application
The town of Longboat Key received an award from the Florida Local Government Information Systems Association for its Fiscal Transparency website application during the association’s annual summer conference in Boca Raton July 23.

The town was recognized for Innovative Use of Technology to Service for the website application.

The application developed by the town displays Longboat Key’s budget, expenses and revenues in simple pie charts and tables.

Located on the town’s home webpage, the application allows residents to review and inspect detailed monetary information from the town budget for up to five years at one time.

Information Technology Director Kathi Pletzke and Finance Director Sue Smith were instrumental in winning the award for the application, which highlights the town’s commitment to efficient and effective government.

+ Town urges residents to prepare for hurricane season
Did you miss the town’s annual hurricane preparedness seminar last month at Town Hall?

No need to worry. The town of Longboat Key has uploaded a video of the complete seminar on its website, longboatkey.org.

The seminar is an annual reminder to warn residents to stay prepared during every hurricane season.

At the seminar, Town Manager Dave Bullock reminded residents that a storm years ago, before the island was inhabited, created a storm surge that completely overtook the Key. “That storm and the saltwater wiped out all the vegetation and crops on this Key for two years,” Bullock said. “Imagine what a storm surge like that could do to a Key full of houses and condos.”

Bullock said the seminar was not intended to scare people, but to remind them to always be vigilant and have a plan. “We have to remember that living in an area as beautiful as this comes along with risks,” Bullock said. “That’s the price we pay and why the town has a good plan and why we want all of you to have a plan as well.”

Meetings & agendas
Police Officers’ Retirement System Board Meeting — 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug 20

General Employees’ Retirement System Board Meeting — 10:30 a.m. Wed., Aug. 20

Firefighters’ Retirement System Board Meeting — 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug 27

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.