News Briefs

+ Siesta Sheriff facility extends lease
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office space located at 6647 Midnight Pass Road received a two-year lease renewal authorization by the Sarasota County Commission at its Thursday, June 26 meeting.

The contract runs through 2014 and has options for two additional year extensions.

The Sheriff’s Office began leasing the space in 2008.

The office is 1,962 square feet. The county acquired the building when it took over the Siesta Key Utilities Authority.

+ Siesta water facility back on track
The Sarasota County Environmental Utilities water reclamation facility on Siesta Key returned to working order Thursday, June 28 after it began overflowing four days earlier.

Tropical Storm Debby caused heavy flooding on Siesta and caused a backup in the facility. Flooding within the building caused power outages, further slowing the system.

The Siesta Key Sanitary Sewer rehabilitation initiative, a Sarasota County Public Works project that will update some of the utility water pipes on the island, is currently under way. The Siesta facility is expected to go offline when a $10 million pump station is finished to route wastewater to facilities on the mainland for treatment.

+ Siesta Key flooding traps residents
Flooding on the small tract of land on north Siesta Key has drawn complaints from residents to Sarasota County commissioners.

There was serious flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby on parts of Beach Road and Canal Road during the week of June 25, according to a news release from Sarasota County. But County Commissioner Nora Patterson told the Pelican Press Freeling Drive and Flamingo Avenue were also covered with seawater, and residents on nearby Norsota Way informed her in an email message that their street was severely flooded from the storm.

+ Say what, Siesta?
“I’m just saying, be gentle!” said Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson July 3, responding to a flurry of Siesta Key Village Association complaints about county government.

Meetings & Agendas
• Siesta Key Association monthly meeting — 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5, St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Room F, 5615 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key
• Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, R.L. Anderson Administration Building, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
• Sarasota County Commission regular meeting — 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, Administration Center, commission chambers, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
• Sarasota County Organizations Active in Disaster Management Committee — 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12, Sarasota County Health and Human Services, Room 226 Administration Center, commission chambers, 2200 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota