Manatee County Commission Reverses Controversial Actions Following Primary Election

August 28, 2024 — The Manatee County Commission held its first regular meeting since the outcome of the August 20th primary elections, resulting in significant shifts in the county's direction. Commissioner George Kruse, the only incumbent commissioner to advance through the primary, brought forward three controversial items for reconsideration, leading to unanimous votes to delay or reverse previous board decisions.

Kruse, who defeated Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge in the primary to secure his place as the District 7 at-large incumbent on the November ballot, added the items to the Tuesday agenda. These items included halting the design work for certain county parking garages, reconsidering the transfer of Historical Sites oversight, and restoring public commenting on local government social media pages.

Parking Garages Stalled

One of the key issues discussed was the design work for three new county parking garages, located at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, Lakewood Ranch Premier Sports Complex, and Anna Maria’s Holmes Beach. The proposed garage at Holmes Beach had faced public backlash, with many believing it was pushed by Van Ostenbridge in response to conflicts with Holmes Beach City Mayor Judy Titsworth.

Kruse proposed delaying further expenditure or action on these projects until after the general election, allowing the new board to weigh in before taxpayer funds were committed. Van Ostenbridge, despite being a key advocate for the garages, made a motion to table any further expenditures and suspend the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for these projects, which Kruse seconded. The measure passed unanimously, though it does not impact the planned replacement of an existing parking garage downtown.

Historical Sites Oversight Returned to Clerk

Another significant item addressed the oversight of the county’s Historical Sites. Nearly a year ago, the board had voted to remove this responsibility from the county clerk, a move widely believed to be motivated by Van Ostenbridge's dissatisfaction with Clerk Angel Colonneso and her office. Kruse, the sole commissioner who voted against the change last year, brought the issue back for reconsideration, citing ongoing confusion and unresolved funding questions.

Van Ostenbridge moved to rescind the board’s previous decision, a motion seconded by Commissioner Amanda Ballard. Despite initially supporting the removal of oversight from the clerk, Ballard acknowledged that public sentiment favored leaving the sites under the clerk’s management. The motion passed unanimously, reversing the previous decision.

Public Commenting on Social Media and Meetings Restored

The final item on Kruse’s agenda was a proposal to restore the public’s ability to comment on the county’s social media pages, a feature that had been disabled last year without clear explanation. This move had been criticized as an attempt to silence public voices, especially after Van Ostenbridge had previously ended the public’s ability to phone into BOCC meetings for public comment.

In addition to restoring social media commenting, Commissioner Ballard introduced a motion to bring back the ability for the public to call into meetings to provide comments by phone, a measure she had supported on multiple occasions but had previously failed to garner enough support.

Both measures were discussed, and two separate motions were made: one to direct the county attorney’s office to draft a revised policy for social media comment moderation, and another to restore call-in comments for meetings. Both motions were approved unanimously, signaling a shift toward increased public engagement and transparency in county government.

As Manatee County prepares for the general election, the actions taken by the current commission suggest a responsiveness to public concerns and a willingness to reassess previous decisions in light of changing political dynamics.