Manatee County Commission cuts wetland protections

Despite a public outpouring against the measure, the Manatee County commissioners voted 5-1 to cut additional wetland protections out of the Comprehensive Plan on Thursday. 

Commissioner George Kruse was the dissenting vote. Commissioner Ray Turner was absent. 

Kruse tried to rally two other commissioners to vote down the measure, even if it was only to delay it.

"It's being rushed because it's the furthest point out as humanly possible for next year's election," Kruse said to his fellow commissioners. "You're hoping people forget, but I don't think people are going to forget." 

The meeting was off to a rocky start immediately when Commissioner Mike Rahn was only one of seven commissioners to appear in the Patricia M. Glass chambers at 9 a.m. He promptly recessed the meeting until 9:30 a.m. and was met with an already angry crowd. 

Citizens shouted “We took off work for this” and "We're ready, why aren't you?"

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

By 9:30 a.m., all commissioners except Turner were in their seats, but the discussion over wetlands that was supposed to be time certain at 9 a.m. didn’t begin until 10:30 a.m. Citizens waited patiently holding signs that read, “Don’t do it,” “Stop the madness” and “We will remember in November.” 

Public comments lasted three hours. Citizens brought scientific studies and maps and videos of polluted waters in Manatee County, but commissioners stuck to their guns.  

While Commissioners Bearden, Rahn and Satcher asked questions of staff in order to support their case to eliminate the additional protections, Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge called those who opposed their move "communists" and said that Suncoast Waterkeeper is a “George Soros funded organization.”

“The mayor of Holmes Beach actually wrote an op-ed attacking us for wanting to adhere to the same standard that her city adheres to, so you’re left wondering, why is it that this board seems to be the target? It’s pretty obvious,” Van Ostenbridge said. “We’re all Republicans sitting up here. We love President Trump. We support the greatest governor in America. It’s become clear that we have radical climate activists, who are pushing the new Green Deal and brought a movement that is rooted in communism into Manatee County.” 

Dr. Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeep declined to comment on Van Ostenbridge’s claims saying it wasn’t worth it, but the overall crowd response was outrage.

Only two public comments were in support of reducing wetland protections, one of which came from Jon Mast, CEO of the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association.