Local Government Manatee County Seeks Public Input on Past Year

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Nov. 26, 2012) – Manatee County Community Development is asking for public input on how some federal funding was spent in local neighborhoods over the past year.

The public will have until December 11 to comment on the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER will be available for public viewing in the Neighborhood Services Department, online and at five county libraries. The CAPER lists accomplishments, projects and other initiatives that were addressed as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan for 2011-12. The report is a requirement of the federal agency that oversees CDBG funding, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The public can view and submit written comments on the CAPER through Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. to: 

Suzie Dobbs, Community Development Manager
Manatee County Neighborhood Services Department
1112 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL  34205
or
suzie.dobbs@mymanatee.org

The CAPER is available on the 5th floor of the County Administrative Complex in the Neighborhood Services Department, on the county’s website and at the following libraries during operating hours:

·        Central Branch, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W., Bradenton; 
·        South County Branch, 6081 26th Street W., Bradenton; 
·        Braden River Branch, 4915 53rd Avenue E., Bradenton;
·        Palmetto Branch, 923 6th  Street W., Palmetto;
·        Rocky Bluff Branch, 6750 U.S. Hwy. 301, Ellenton.

Last year was the final year of the 2007-2012 CDBG Five Year Consolidated Plan. Public comments on the CAPER will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners before it’s submitted to HUD.

“This report is another chance for people to give us input on whether the projects we completed served in the capacity they were designed to serve for,” said Bill O’Shea, Community Development project manager. “It’s a chance to tell us whether the community was happy with a certain project or whether we fell short somewhere.”

The past year’s major accomplishments of the CDBG include:
·        Completion of Lincoln Park Splash Park;
·        Transportation assistance to the elderly through a program available through Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee;
·        Hope Landing Subdivision Infrastructure Improvement Project - through Habitat for Humanity, 18 local income qualified families can become owners of safe and affordable housing;
·        A Samoset sidewalk improvement project that provides safe travel routes for students to and from Samoset Elementary School.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.