Van Ostenbridge Reinstalled as Chair

I wonder if it’s worth posting a comment: but I do wonder how these sad sacks can really hold their heads up in public. Do they not realize that most of the county thinks they are running a circus that will hurt Manatee County in the end? They may, but probably don’t care.

Debra Maggio

When the witch took the gavel she immediately went into dictator mode! Talking over constituents and telling them they were off-topic, continually interrupting them. The faces she makes are downright scary! Glad the turnaround happened, she is the worst of 2 evils. And the Manatee Games continue...

Karene Maxwell

This group is like a comedy routine...without the humor.

Christina Amato

Hey, let the sunshine in!! Isn't that a law in fla, AND Manatee co? What made our commissioners exempt

James Mcdermott

The Developers Want a New County Administrator

Maybe Washington isn't willing to play their corrupt game. He is a marine after all and loyal to the U.S and it's laws. He probably won't play and now has to pay.

Barbara Elliott

The naked corruption is astounding. But this is what you get with unaccountable one-party rule. The key in the short term is to fix the Manatee GOP but too many Republicans are either throwing up their hands or expecting other people to do the work. Even a slam dunk ethics complaint can't dislodge the ticks in this, probably the most corrupt state in the country. Sane people in the GOP are going to have to organize to take back their party.

Charlene

Totally deaf and arrogant commissioners, the lot should be fired and then chased out of the county. A building association lobbyist????? Why stop there? If you want to let them ruin our home and destroy the few remnants of the environment that are hanging on, why not just ask Carlos or Neal to be the county admin? Also, what legitimate prior experience does this person have running a government entity? The current admin has those creds., no need to change.

Lisa

I have just watched the Bocc circus of yesterday ... while I am no fan of Comm. Kruse, he was the one person, besides KVO that acted in a professional, non-emotional manner ... And I have to agree with him, gee never thought I would say that, but he was absolutely right

Maggy

So, the county commission's big lesson learned from hiring Scott Hopes, who was totally unqualified to be county administrator, is to double down and hire someone even less qualified to be county administrator. Manatee County....a wholly owned subsidiary of Medallion Homes.

HB James

Commissioners Vote to Grow Library Advisory Board and Expand Its Oversight Responsibilities

Every citizen should watch this meeting. It was a total embarrassment to the citizens of Manatee County. To remove the interim administrator and move to replace him with a lobbyist of the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry. Really? How exactly will this help the citizens? We know exactly what it will add to the overdevelopment in the county because he will have the tools handy to change the LDC. This item was not on the agenda and was not an emergency. Washington has been bailing out the ship as fast as he can, but today commissioners blew the bottom out and we are going down fast.

If I was an employee I would resign immediately. As the new chair, Baugh’s first act was to remove a citizen from the meeting and censor the public. She had to be warned by the County Attorney to let the public speak. These citizens waited all day and other items were moved in front of them for the commissioners’ convenience. The public was not respected, our wonderful librarians were not respected, and Satcher’s teacher comment was disrespectful. To all the citizens who sent public comments- we appreciate you! To all the citizens who showed up "we applaud you“, you were exceptional! We are sorry that you were treated with such disrespect. How many times must the public scream for the phone in feature for public comment to be restored? By the time we saw how this meeting was going, we could never make it to the meeting in time because there was too much traffic.

Diana

Manatee County is on track to be one of the most corrupt counties in Florida... owned lock, stock, and barrel by the "development interests"!

Sandra Gander