News Briefs

+ Beach Road repair could cost $1 million
Sarasota County is waiting on permits for a temporary fix to the closed portion of Beach Road, but a long-term solution is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million.

Sarasota County Mobility Infrastructure Manager Gary Spraggins said the county suffered about $45,000 worth of damage to roads and bridges from Tropical Storm Debby, which flooded portions of Beach Road and halted work on the Siesta Key north bridge.

The county submitted storm damage estimates to the Federal Emergency Management Agency last month, but the organization isn’t expected to make a decision on monetary reimbursement for at least one month.

+ Deputy busts driver with handy technology
Now Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies can scan license plates without typing a word using their ALPR systems.

The technology, which was implemented by the sheriff’s office in 2009, scans passing cars’ plates and matches the numbers up with computer records, which helps automatically identify drivers operating with suspended licenses.

An Aug. 4 police report demonstrated the system’s efficacy, when an officer was able to stop a drunk driver after ALPS scanned the man’s license plate and notified the deputy the owner’s license had been suspended. After the officer made the stop, the man was found to be intoxicated.

+ Public Beach thefts on the rise
The number of vehicle burglaries in the Siesta Key beach parking lot fell the week of Aug. 6, but there were more than four thefts reported on the public beach.

Sarasota County Sheriff deputy Sgt. Scott Osborne explained during an Aug. 7 meeting of the Siesta Key Village Association that there are currently no suspects in the crimes, which he said generally happens when a beachgoer leaves their belongings to swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

In two police reports obtained by the Pelican Press, beach visitors left their wallets wrapped in a towel and hidden in a shoe. Both wallets were taken within 30 minutes of the men entering the Gulf.

Meetings & Agendas
• City Commission regular meeting — 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, City Hall, Commission Chamber, 1565 Fist St., Sarasota.

• Sarasota County Commission budget workshop — 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 20, Third Floor Think Tank, Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

• School Board monthly work session — 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21, Landings Administrative Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd., Sarasota