By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com In an average year, Sarasota County gets about 53 inches of rain, and on occasion, it all seems to fall “at one time,” the coordinator of Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) told members of Read More
TripAdvisor to remit ‘bed tax’ revenue to Sarasota County in connection with accommodations services provided through its website
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com The Sarasota County Commission has approved an agreement with TripAdvisor that will allow the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office to collect county “bed tax” revenue from owners of accommodations advertised through the website. The unanimous vote Read More
County residents save about $7 million a year on cost of flood insurance, thanks to county participation in federal program
By Rachel Brown HackneySarasotaNewsLeader.com Thanks to Sarasota County’s voluntary participation in an initiative offered through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Sarasota County property owners save $7 million a year on the cost of flood insurance. That was the good Read More
Say I DO, AGAIN
By Trebor Britt More than 400 romantic couples celebrated a renewal of their wedding vows at sunset on beautiful Siesta Key Beach, recognized numerous times as America’s number one beach. The nondenominational annual event is organized by Sarasota Parks, Recreation Read More
Judge dismisses Siesta Key Association’s Big Pass case in 12th Judicial Circuit Court
By Rachel Brown Hackney A 12th Judicial Circuit Court judge dismissed a verified complaint the Siesta Key Association (SKA) filed against the City of Sarasota in early 2017, seeking to stop the dredging of Big Sarasota Pass to renourish about Read More
Sgt. Mruczek now Lt. Mruczek — and off the Key
By Rachel Brown Hackney During the October 2016 meeting of the Siesta Key Association (SKA), members greeted Sgt. Jason Mruczek, the new leader of the Siesta Key substation of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. As a deputy, Mruczek had worked Read More
Sarasota County voters will decide on Nov. 6 whether commission-proposed changes to citizen-initiated petition drives for Charter amendments become law
By Rachel Brown Hackney All eight speakers during an Aug. 29 public hearing argued against changes the Sarasota County Commission has proposed for the section of the county Charter that governs citizen-initiated petition drives. Nonetheless — with the addition of Read More
Casey Key couple wins Class II Emergency Variance to stabilize deteriorating cabana on the beach while they seek permanent solution to the situation
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com It took just under 24 minutes on June 12 for the Sarasota County Commission to grant a Class II Emergency Variance to a Casey Key couple so they could stabilize a cabana at risk Read More
Public and developers should work to reach common ground on issues, such as environmental protection, Commissioner Moran tells SKA members
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com One of Sarasota County’s newest commissioners has encouraged members of the public interested in protecting the environment and promoting positive growth in the community to work with developers to reach common ground. Commissioner Michael Moran Read More
Food trucks finally get relaxed regulations
By Rachel Brown Hackney SarasotaNewsLeader.com With changes having been made at their request in October, the Sarasota County commissioners on Nov. 8 unanimously approved a revised food truck ordinance that will eliminate restrictions between the mobile units and between the Read More