News Briefs

+ GreyHawk supervisor cleared of ethics complaint
Eight months after an ethics complaint was filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics against GreyHawk Landing CDD Supervisor Sandy McDonald, McDonald has been cleared of wrongdoing.

In a closed meeting July 29, the commission voted to clear McDonald of the allegations, saying McDonald had not misused her position to “unilaterally authorize” the creation of three pocket parks for her benefit or for the benefit of the developer. A public report released Aug. 3 states McDonald was cleared based on the preliminary investigation of the complaint and on the recommendation of the Commission’s Advocate.

A candidate for McDonald’s seat had filed the complaint Oct. 15, 2010, just weeks before the general election. The complainant, Tony Francis, later dropped out of the race to avoid a conflict of interest.

The complaint asserted that McDonald had personally authorized three landscaping projects without board discussion or pre-approval for a total of $7,400. Although the costs for each park did not exceed McDonald’s authority as chairman, because she was authorized to spend up to $2,500 without board approval, the projects in total exceeded that amount. Francis had stated the action violated the spirit of good ethics and may warrant investigation.

+ Mega-church buys more Ranch property
A mega-church based in Branson, Mo., has added another Lakewood Ranch property to its portfolio.
Faith Life Church has purchased a 10-acre equestrian estate in the 7800 block of Cow Camp Lane in the Sarasota Polo Club. The property includes an 8,375-square-foot residence and a 16-stall stable.

Faith Life Church, alternatively known as Faith Life Church of Sarasota, previously closed on the former Teleflex Marine property in the Lakewood Ranch Corporate Park on Sept. 29, 2010. Construction to convert the 22,435-square-foot space at 6980 Professional Parkway E. into a church facility is under way, but no opening date has yet been set. Faith Life Church was started by pastors Keith and Phyllis Moore in 2002.

+ Town Hall to host irrigation presentation
Officials of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall will hold a workshop Aug. 23 to inform residents of the status of an irrigation study being conducted by engineer Azad Shah. The two-year study has focused on three major categories: metering and billing, infrastructure improvements and water pressure, including water quality measurements.

The meeting will focus on successes to date, the current status of the study and opportunities for improvement.

The workshop will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 23, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

+ Schools gear up with open house events
Manatee County public schools are gearing up for the start of school Aug. 22 with open house events.
In the East County, schools will host open houses at the following times:

• Bashaw Elementary: 5-7 p.m., Aug. 18
• Braden River Elementary: 5-7 p.m., Aug. 18
• Freedom Elementary: 4-6:30 p.m., Aug. 18. (4-4:30 p.m., is for kindergarten only).
• Gullett Elementary: 6-7 p.m., Aug. 18 for voluntary pre-kindergarten; 4-5:30 p.m., Aug. 19 for pre-kindergarten through fifth grades
• McNeal Elementary: 4-6 p.m., Aug. 19
• Tara Elementary: 5-6:30 p.m., Aug. 18
• Willis Elementary: 4-6 p.m., Aug. 18
• Witt Elementary: 4:15-6:15 p.m., Aug. 18 (Times vary by grade and last name); 4-6 p.m., Aug. 19 for grades 2-5.
• Braden River Middle: 5-7 p.m., Aug. 18
• Haile Middle: 4-6 p.m., Aug. 18
• Nolan Middle: 5-6:50 p.m., Aug. 18
• Braden River High: 6 p.m., Aug. 18
• Lakewood Ranch High School: 6-7:30 p.m., Aug. 18 (Grades 10-12)

+ Manatee County Jail earns re-accreditation
Following a three-day inspection in April, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Central Jail on Aug. 11 announced it had been re-accredited by the American Correctional Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections on Aug. 11.

The commission voted unanimously on the giving the sheriff’s office its sixth re-accreditation during the 2011 ACA Summer Accreditation for Corrections.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau has been successfully accredited, with audits every three years, since 1992.

STRAW POLL MAILINGS ON TRACK

Rumors that straw polls regarding the incorporation of Lakewood Ranch would not be received by out-of-state residents are untrue.

Members of the Friends of Lakewood Ranch raised concerns Aug. 12 that ballots were not reaching registered voters who spend the summer at another address, because the postage used did not cover the costs of forwarding.

However Brian Jones, president of Andrick and Associates, the company that handled the printing and mailing of the ballots, said all ballots were sent using the most up-to-date addresses from the U.S. Postal Service. If a registered voter had forwarded his or her mail to another residence for the summer, the ballot was mailed to that location, not the Lakewood Ranch address.

“The address that we mailed these pieces to are the most current data the USPS has on record,” Jones said.

Of the about 12,000 address the company was provided, about 1,400 were updated to be mailed directly to alternate addresses, Jones said.

The U.S. Postal Service does not automatically forward standard, or bulk, mail.