News Briefs

+ Biter buys downtown parcel for planned apartments
Entrepreneur Jesse Biter has purchased the property at 1401 Second St., the last of two downtown parcels Biter targeted for a planned 10-story, 180-unit apartment development.

In a 2013 interview with the Sarasota Observer, Biter said he is planning to develop “obtainable housing” on the site. The units were to range between 500 and 1,000 square feet, and the rental prices were supposed to begin below $1,000 per month.

Steve Horn of Ian Black Real Estate, who represented Biter in the purchase, said the targeted date of construction is the third quarter of this year.

Horn is currently looking for tenants for the project’s 23,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

+ Shay takes over as Siesta Key Association president
Siesta Key Association board member Michael Shay took over as the association’s president at the group’s annual breakfast meeting Saturday at St. Boniface Episcopal Church.

Shay took over the 65-year-old neighborhood association’s top spot, following the tenure of Catherine Luckner, who will remain with the association as a board member.

Shay indicated the important role of SKA as a mouthpiece for the interests of Siesta Key residents in area government.

“We do not work as adversaries (to government),” Shay said. “We work as collaborators.”

+ Sarasota County ratifies Teamsters agreement
The Sarasota County Commission ended an impasse with Teamsters Local 173 Wednesday morning.
Commissioners approved a 3% raise retroactive to Oct. 1 and $1,000 lump-sum payments for 419 Teamsters bargaining-unit employees; they earmarked $1.2 million to pay for the adjustments. The budget amendment will also cover employer-paid benefits.

The Teamsters filed for impasse with the Public Employees Relations Commission in March 2013, citing issues with the county over pay and holiday leave, among other issues. 

+ Beach University seminar series returns to Siesta Key
Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, partnering with the Siesta Key Beach Ambassadors, is inviting members of the community to learn about the area’s beaches. 

Beach University is a free seminar series held 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday in March at Siesta Beach pavilion.

Each week, wildlife experts and educators will discuss environmental topics. Presenters will answer questions after their lectures. 

“Anybody who lives here should learn about the valuable resources that we have, how to take care of the them and how they work,” said County Recreation Specialist Jonathan Poyner.

Meetings & agendas
Sarasota Tiger Bay Club debate on the proposed Big Pass dredge — 11:30 a.m. March 6, at Michael’s On East, 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota.

West Coast Inland Navigation District meeting — 10:30 a.m. March 7, at Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave., Venice.