City, county, schools set to resume normal operations Thursday

3:50 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

Sarasota County plans to return to normal operations Thursday, Aug. 31. Staff continues to assess county facilities for storm impacts and will notify the community if there are any further interruptions to programs and services or facility closures.

All libraries will open at 10 a.m. Thursday.

All outdoor Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources reservations, including those for athletic fields, are canceled Thursday. All indoor reservations for Thursday will be honored, with the exception of Englewood Sports Complex.

Breeze bus service has resumed. The Breeze Siesta Key Trolley remains closed through Wednesday. Breeze OnDemand by Sarasota County resumed regular service in the Venice/Englewood zone and North Port zone. There may be isolated traffic impacts in the two zones that are open. Riders may request trips through the Breeze OnDemand app, online at scgov.net/breeze or by calling 941-300-1553. Because of flooding, the Lido/Longboat/Downtown Sarasota zone and Siesta Key Zone remain closed through Wednesday.

1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

As city officials and residents await flood waters to recede and cleanup from Hurricane Idalia to begin, government operations are making plans to return to normalcy.

City of Sarasota administrative offices will reopen and regular operations will return to regular business hours on Thursday, including all Parks and Recreation facilities, utility billing and the Bay Runner trolley.

Solid waste collection also will resume on schedule Thursday.

Tuesday’s canceled residential garbage and recycling pickup will be collected Saturday, Sept. 2. Residents should place their carts curbside at their regular time for this special Saturday pickup.

Building permit inspections will resume Friday, Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, public schools in Sarasota County that were serving as emergency evacuation centers have closed and are in the process of being cleaned and reconfigured to welcome back students and employees. All evacuated residents have left the shelters.

All traditional public schools will reopen Thursday for normal school operations, including transportation services, food services and after-school activities.

County government plans to return to normal operations on Thursday as staff continues to assess county facilities for storm impacts.