Manatee County commissioners question unexpected costs under former administrator Scott Hopes
County commissioners have expressed concern over projects that have "grown wings of their own" under former Administrator Scott Hopes and are now reeling in expenses on some of the county's most notable projects.
County officials used the first public meeting following the sudden separation from Hopes last week to discuss the status of major county projects and their cost.
Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge explained that the item was added to the day's agenda after staff-members expressed concern over the status of certain projects and the need for further direction from the board before staff could move forward.
"There were an extensive number of projects that the previous administrator had essentially gone down the rabbit hole on or expanded beyond what the board had originally had voted on," Van Ostenbridge said. "There was a lot that had not been presented to this board."
In case you missed it:Hopes responds to resignation, describes separation from Manatee County as 'mutual'
Previously:Rough week for Manatee Administrator Scott Hopes following botched deputy administrator hire
Also:Teitelbaum declines Manatee County administrative role following sexual harassment claim
The high cost of some of the county's most notable projects took commissioners by surprise. Board-members expressed sticker shock over a planned renovation at the Bradenton Area Convention Center that has ballooned up to an estimated $38 million from the originally approved $17.2 million. That does not include the cost of a parking deck once proposed.
"Somehow or the other, it's kind of, I think, grown wings of its own and kind of gotten out of hand," Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said.
The board also pumped the breaks on a planned transitional housing and services center for homeless veterans facility that was slated for a downtown Bradenton location. Commissioners had allocated $15 million, but the location of the project, scope and details have changed significantly without input from the board. Commissioners requested more information from staff with plans to discuss the matter publicly in the future.
"Part of this is in my district, and I didn't even know about this," Commissioner Mike Rahn said.
Plans for management of a vendor market held in the Coquina Beach parking lot by Ambrose Services Inc. since 2014 also changed on Tuesday.
The county announced plans to take over operations of the market in September, although commissioners expressed concerns that the effort was entirely initiated by Hopes without their approval. Last year, he presented a plan to manage the market internally as a revenue source to help fund a planned water taxi operation. Commissioners reversed course on Tuesday and decided to put a contract for management of the market out for bid.
The county has relocated the site for the market to the southern end of the beach to an area where swimming is not allowed. New lighting will be installed to illuminate the market, and a new bridge would be installed to help visitors reach the market from the beach parking lot. An additional parking area may also be built for vendors across the street on Gulf Drive.
Commissioners also reeled in the price of a new building proposed for the Bishop Animal Shelter that would house 100 kennels and include educational aspects at $17 million. The shelter and it's property was donated to the county last year. Instead commissioners asked staff to shift plans to match the $8 million budget originally earmarked.
"I see your need for more kennels, you have $8 million, and I think right now we need to figure out a solution for the $8 million because, all jokes aside, I don't know that we can afford to give you more because of all this other stuff," Baugh said.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County project costs rise as they move on from Scott Hopes
