News Briefs

+ Power pole debate goes dark again
Longboat Key Revitalization Task Force Chairman George Spoll and Vice Chairman Tom Freiwald urged the Longboat Key Town Commission to reconsider burying Longboat Key’s power poles or finding better looking ones at its Monday workshop.

The comments led the commission to debate for a half-hour.

It’s estimated it would cost $10 million to bury the power lines along Gulf of Mexico Drive and $21 million to bury all the remaining overhead power lines Key-wide.

Mayor Jim Brown noted it’s the third time the commission has debated the topic in a month.

Brown called for a show of hands to see if there was support to discuss the item further. 

Only commissioners Lynn Larson and Pat Zunz raised their hands to support more discussion.

Commissioner Terry Gans and the rest of the commission support underground poles but believe the town can’t spend that kind of money right now. 

“At the end of the day, it’s a big, big price tag,” Gans said.

Brown expressed optimism with the decision.

“I hope that’s the end of this, but you just never know,” he said. 

+ Deletion of towers in ordinance passes first test
The Longboat Key Town Commission unanimously approved a telecommunications ordinance on first reading that eliminates all references to cellular towers at a special meeting Monday.

The commission stated in November it doesn’t want a tower built on the Key.

The only change the commission made to the ordinance was a mandate that antennae placed on buildings can’t be higher than 15 feet above the highest point on the structure instead of the original 30-foot restriction in the ordinance.

+ Two firefighters complete their paramedic training
Two Longboat Key firefighters were recognized last week for completing paramedic training.

Firefighter/paramedics Brandon Berwick and David Stark completed training over the last four months.

They worked side by side with a veteran field training officer and received evaluations on patient care and treatment.

For their final evaluation, Longboat Key Medical Director Dr. Steven Newman gave them two scenarios, one medical and one trauma, which both mastered.

Meetings & agendas
General Employees Retirement System Board Meeting — 1 p.m. Friday, June 20

Firefighters Retirement System Board Meeting — 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 24

Town Commission Budget Workshop — 10 a.m. Monday, June 30

Town Commission Special Meeting — 1 p.m. Monday, June 30

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