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Manatee County, Florida Government

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Manatee County Government serves the 411,000-plus people who live here. This account is monitored periodically and not intended to accept service requests of the County. If you have a service request or statement to make to the County, please do so by submitting a request online or calling 3-1-1 (or 941-748-4501 if calling from outside Manatee County). The County’s intent is not to create a public

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Operating as usual

26/03/2023

Manatee County’s Utilities Department keeps an updated list of plumbers at mymanatee.org/backflow who are registered with the Cross Connection Control office and certified to perform annual Backflow Prevention Assembly (BPA) testing. Every customer who owns a backflow prevention assembly is required to have it tested annually. If you have a BPA and don’t recall the last time it was tested, that information can be found by logging into your account or contacting customer service.

Image: Manatee County Utilities held an Annual Plumbers Meeting on March 22 to review the Cross Connection Control Program processes and compliance requirements.

24/03/2023

Train rides* are among the many activities that will be taking place at the Annual Parrish Heritage Festival & Chili Cookoff tomorrow (Saturday, March 25) at the Florida Railroad Museum, located at 12210 83rd Street East. Hosted by the Parrish Civic Association and The Parrish Foundation, Inc., the big event opens with a parade (from 10 to 11 AM)—stepping off at Parrish United Methodist Church (12180 US 301) and traveling down 121st Street (to Erie Road). Right after, the festival and chili cookoff will run from 11 AM to 2 PM. Family Fun Entertainment & Attractions will include a bungy jump, rock wall, bounce slides and bull rodeo. There also will be arts and crafts, a wide variety of vendors and live music from Hot Tonic. Tickets* are $10 which can be paid online through tonight and in person at the gate (kids aged 12 and under are free): https://www.parrishchili.com/. *Train rides are an additional cost: $7/adult and $5/child.

24/03/2023

The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court is opening its doors this Saturday for Manatee residents who need help with their passport applications or suspended Driver Licenses. To download a passport application and find out what items to bring with you, go to https://www.manateeclerk.com/clerks-news/2023-annual-passport-event/. For more information about Operation Greenlight, visit https://www.manateeclerk.com/clerks-news/operation-green-light/.

23/03/2023

Please join Manatee County at a commemoration of the 50-year Anniversary of the Peace Treaty that ended the Vietnam war, releasing the remaining Prisoners of War (POWs). The event will be held Wednesday, March 29, 9 to 11 a.m. at Veterans’ Monument Park (adjacent to Manatee Memorial Hospital & the Bradenton Riverwalk). The guest speaker will be Commander Bradley E. Smith, U.S. Navy (Retired), who spent 2,516 days as a POW after he was forced down over North Vietnam during his 77th combat mission. The invocation will be given by Pastor Dr. Willie J. Holley—also a Veteran who served three combat tours in the Southeast Asia theater of operations.

22/03/2023

Wet W***y Explains How to Save Through Our Rain Barrel Program

Roll out the barrel! Today on World Water Day, Wet W***y explains how easy it is to participate in the County's Rain Barrel program (and how you could save potentially hundreds of dollars each year!) . . .

21/03/2023

One of the oldest professions, Surveyors and Mappers are considered founding leaders of our nation for their work to determine property boundaries. This week,* we recognize and show appreciation for those team members here at the County who have excelled at keeping up with technical advancements through special education, training and licensing to determine and describe land and water boundaries for the management of natural resources and protection of private and public property rights.

*The Manatee Board of County Commissioners proclaimed the week of March 19 to 25 as National Surveyors & Mappers Week, at their Regular Board Meeting on February 28, 2023.

20/03/2023

Make more in Manatee. Discuss your options with our Emergency Medical Services Talent Acquisition Specialist, Justin Intorcia: 941-577-2495 or [email protected].

19/03/2023

Employees let loose and had some fun at a banquet this past work week honoring those celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of dedicated public service at Manatee County. Directors served lunch, and Commissioners handed out pins. See more photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/manateegov/albums/72177720306715122

18/03/2023

Propane tanks can be recycled by bringing them to the Household Hazardous Waste facility at the Lena Road Landfill, which is open Mondays through Fridays, 8 AM to 5 PM, and every third Saturday of the month, 9 AM to 3 PM. For more information about recycling, please go to mymanatee.org/recycling.

17/03/2023

The Walton Racquet Center at GT Bray Recreation Center is quickly becoming a pickleball minor league destination. This weekend (March 18 and 19) it plays host to the Minor League Pickleball's Tampa Showdown. Come out and watch this fast-paced fun event, starting at 8 AM at 5502 33rd Ave Drive W, Bradenton, 34209.

17/03/2023

Follow the rainbow to Downtown Bradenton for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 6 to 9 PM with food, vendors and live music from the Honey Hounds: https://www.facebook.com/honeyhoundsmusic (a Main Street Live event). On the other side of the rainbow (in Lakewood Ranch), there will be 🍻Irish food, live music, games, and entertainment for the kids! https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodRanchMainSt/

17/03/2023

Manatee residents can drop off Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Scrap every Third Saturday of the Month from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Lena Road Landfill, located at 3333 Lena Road, Bradenton. Staff members now direct customers on where to place their items when they arrive. Hazardous waste also is collected weekly at the landfill, Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, such as common products found in homes that are categorized as hazardous, please visit mymanatee.org/hhw or call (941) 792-8811.

16/03/2023

Find your lucky charm among the over 130 loving, adoptable pets waiting to go to forever homes through Manatee County Animal Welfare’s “St. Pawtrick's Day” ☘️ fee-waived event which runs through Sunday, March 19.

All adoptions at Manatee County Animal Welfare (MCAW) include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies certificate (a value of over $300). Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20. The Palmetto Adoption Center and Shelter is located at 305 25th Street West in Palmetto, and Manatee County Cat Town is located at 216 6th Avenue East in Bradenton. Appointments are preferred, and walk-ins will be accommodated. Residents can view adoptable pets at mymanatee.org/pets. For additional questions, call MCAW at 941-742-5933.

😻🐶

16/03/2023

Great news for parents, students, teachers and staff of Parrish Community High School. The Ft. Hamer Extension—south of the roundabout—is now open to US 301. The connection, made possible through a Public-Private Partnership between Neal Land & Neighborhoods and Manatee County, also relieves traffic from 69th Street and provides access to neighborhoods past Erie Road.

15/03/2023

Considered by coworkers as one of the friendliest and most caring people you’ll ever meet, Custodian Carmen Rodriguez has been named the March 2023 Employee of the Month. Carmen has been providing exceptional cleaning services since she started working in the Property Management Department in 2016. She never leaves something undone and takes great pride in the details. One person remarked on her nomination form that she “makes the workplace happier and friendlier, just by her presence and sunny disposition!”

15/03/2023

Local entrepreneurs wanting to start, buy, grow or sell a business can receive free consultation at the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) office in the Downtown County Administration Building, located at 1112 Manatee Avenue West. Hosted by USF Muma, businesses can get help related to marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services and Web optimization. Appointments can be made Mondays through Fridays, 9 AM to 4:30 PM, by signing up online here sbdctampabay.com/schedule-consultant/

Today is SBDC Day!

14/03/2023

Solve interactive puzzles, find hidden clues and collect items to break free from the Sinking Ship Escape Room, Saturday, March 18, at Emerson Point Preserve, 5801 17th Street West, Palmetto. Suitable for children of all ages. Register for one of four identical sessions: 10 to 11 AM, 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, 1 to 2 PM or 2:30 to 3:30 PM, by going to https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?primarycode=110008. For more information, please contact [email protected] or call (941) 742-5923, ext. 6044.

13/03/2023

Spring Ladder League at GT Bray registration now open! To register, call Brian Johnson at 941-741-5973 or stop by the GT Bray Rec Center, 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West, Bradenton.

13/03/2023

Kids had a ton of fun this past Saturday at Rocky Bluff Library’s Annual Touch a Truck event (sponsored by the Friends of Rocky Bluff Library). Thank you to all the volunteers who helped kids get in the driver’s seat and learn about the important vehicles needed to keep our county running. Representatives included Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Parrish Fire Department; North River Fire Department; North River Fire District, Manatee County Search & Rescue, FPL, Badger Day Lighting; John Bartik (NASCAR); Mike Manfredi (classic Corvette); and Manatee County Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Utilities and Public Works. See more pictures at https://www.flickr.com/photos/manateegov/albums/72177720306692439.

11/03/2023

Manatee County’s 311 division started assisting our community on 3-11-2020 at 3:11 PM, giving residents a way to report or find out about non-emergency information. This, in turn, has helped our 911 team stay focused on emergencies.

Happy 311 Day!

11/03/2023

LIVE at the "Touch a Truck" event at Rocky Bluff Library. It starts at 10 and goes till 1!

10/03/2023

The Lucky Dog Parade is one of the fun events taking place at the annual Lakewood Ranch Celtic Festival tomorrow, from 11:30 AM to 4 PM, at Greenbrook Adventure Park, 13010 Adventure Place. Awards will be handed out for Most Irish, Cutest and Dog/Owner Look Alike. Enjoy music, traditional Celtic food, relay races and other entertainment. Kids activities. Free admission; $5 per car for parking. More information can be found at https://lakewoodranch.com/event/lakewood-ranch-irish-celtic-festival/

10/03/2023

Blackstone Park is getting a new playground! The current playground will be removed on March 20, and it is estimated that the new playground will be ready for lots of fun play time, starting April 3. For more information about Blackstone—located at 2112 14th Avenue West in Palmetto—and any other Manatee County Park, please go to mymanatee.org/parks.

09/03/2023

All types of trucks—and a couple of cool cars—are scheduled to start rolling in at Rocky Bluff Library this Saturday morning (March 11). From 10 AM to 1 PM, kids of all ages can have a chance to sit behind the wheel of a firetruck, ambulance, dump truck, police car, 1998 Monte Carlo NASCAR (courtesy of John Bartik) and more! Rocky Bluff is located at 6750 US Highway 301 North, Ellenton 34222 (sponsored by Friends of Rocky Bluff Library).

09/03/2023

Just as Assistant EMS Chief Larry Luh’s career with Manatee County comes to an end, his son Anthony’s story is just beginning. Larry (pictured right) will be retiring on March 17 after nearly 37 years of service to the citizens and visitors of Manatee County. Anthony was just hired as a Traffic Sign Technician with Public Works and will be helping with the daily maintenance of the over 60,000 highway signs and 1,500 miles of pavement markers county-wide. We wish Anthony a happy career and Larry a happy retirement!

07/03/2023

A Public Information Meeting about plans for the Parrish Community Park will be held Wednesday, March 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Forza Child Development Center Parrish School House, located at 12214 U.S. 301 N. All interested are invited to drop in and view design boards and plans, displaying the proposed park and its amenities along Ft. Hamer Road. Those unable to attend the meeting can provide comments here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/d402562612244ff891f9ff5c9c436a82

For a detailed rendering, please go to https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/parrish_community_park_public_meeting

06/03/2023

The construction of the Lakewood Ranch Library Manatee County achieved a major milestone! The rough exterior work—windows, doors, roofing and sitework—has been completed. Now the focus is on the interior details.

06/03/2023

Manatee County is hosting a Public Information Meeting for the Upper Manatee River Road Improvement Project, Tuesday, March 21, at Peace Presbyterian Church, 12705 E. S.R. 64, Bradenton, 34212. There will be no formal presentation, and those interested may arrive any time between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to view design boards and plans and ask project staff any related questions.

The roadway project will widen approximately 2.2 miles of Upper Manatee River Road—from north of S.R. 64 to the Fort Hamer Bridge—from two lanes to four 11-foot lanes (two lanes in each direction). Improvements will include an 18-foot raised median, 6-foot buffered bike lanes, curb and gutter, 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of the roadway and 10-foot sidewalk on the west side of the roadway and street lighting throughout the corridor. Improvements will be made at Upper Manatee River Road intersections with Greenfield Boulevard/Copperlefe Drive, Port Harbour Parkway and Fort Hamer Road, such as replacing the existing traffic signals with new traffic signals, left-turn lanes and pedestrian crosswalks. A new signalized intersection will be constructed at the intersection of Upper Manatee River Road and Waterlefe Boulevard, and a new signalized mid-block pedestrian crossing will be constructed just south of 2nd Avenue E. For additional project information, please visit the project website at mymanatee.org/uppermanatee.

05/03/2023

What do you think are the greatest needs in Manatee County, related to housing and community development? Local residents, business owners and community service providers are all encouraged to participate in a 12-question survey to help our community development team construct a five-year plan for HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development)-funded programs. Go to bit.ly/ManateeHUD2027

04/03/2023

Gamble Mansion: Travel Back to the Old South

Travel back to the Old South at the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park in Ellenton where you can get an up-close look at antebellum architecture. The park’s Annual Spring Open House is being held tomorrow (Sunday, March 5), from 10 AM to 3 PM, during which visitors can tour the grounds and facilities for free. Free parking. Reenactments, music and crafts. The park is located on Highway 301, one mile west of 1-75.

03/03/2023

Manatee County Commissioners Mike Rahn (District 4) and George Kruse (At Large) helped University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus break ground this week on its first ever on-campus student housing facility—enabling the campus to broaden its student base to those who want the full campus experience. The six-story, 100,000 square-foot building, which will include a student center, will house up to 200 students, beginning Fall 2024.

03/03/2023

When Florida became the twenty-seventh state in our nation on this day in 1845, it was reported to have approximately 66,400 inhabitants. Approximately 20 years later—around the time of this map—the population had more than doubled to 187,748. Now over 22 million call Florida home!

Sources: Florida Historical Quarterly, Volume 24 (Dorothy Dodd); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1870_United_States_census; https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/FL

02/03/2023

Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Manatee Board of County Commissioners and Public Safety officials toured the site of Tuesday's derailed train—just north of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport at the 7200 block of 16th St. East—and provided an update to news media about the effort to safely reopen the line for operations.

Seminole Gulf Railway crews will attempt to upright and remove the tanker car filled with propane tonight, requiring the temporary road closures of 15th Street East between Tallevast Road and Whitfield Avenue (see map showing road closure at https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/removal_of_tanker_car_scheduled_for_tonight). This delicate procedure is being done at night to reduce any potential risk for persons who work or attend schools in the areas surrounding the derailment site. Manatee County Public Safety—along with our partners at Southern Manatee Fire Rescue and Manatee County Sheriff—will be on scene to monitor the operation and assist if necessary.

02/03/2023

Is your irrigation timer programmed to follow local watering restrictions? Addresses that end in an even number can water on Thursdays and Sundays, and addresses that end in an odd number can water on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For other water rules and conservation tips, please go to mymanatee.org/water.

01/03/2023

The story of The Three Little Pigs provides an important lesson for homeowners and renters. Even though the pigs’ homes had been threatened by the big bad wolf, they continue to be unprepared for his eventual arrival. While we don’t know whether a storm will impact us this year, the time to check in with your insurance company to see if you have sufficient insurance to repair or replace your home and/or its contents is BEFORE the hurricane season as flood insurance must be obtained separately and usually takes about 30 days to go into effect. For more information, visit floodsmart.gov

(Image: 3 little pigs at Big Slough Ranch, Myakka City; March 1 is National Pig Day.)

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Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
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Friday	08:00 - 17:00

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+19417425800

Website

http://www.mymanatee.org/

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Videos

Come see the Manatees!

Congratulations to The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature for recently being named as one of five facilities federally authorized to treat sick, injured, or orphaned Florida manatees.

Robinson Preserve- Half Cent Well Spent

Congratulations to our own Robinson Preserve for winning the 2022 Travelers Choice Award from Trip Advisor! Here are just some of the ways we are working hard to make this award winning preserve even better!

Get out and see Manatee!

Get out and see Manatee! From beautiful beaches and fishing hotspots, to libraries, biking trails and pools, let Manatee County Area Transit get you there! Oh yeah, be sure to say “Hi” to Pat if you see her!