Venice Bits

Sarasota resident Jack Curran won the war to keep his donation of the "Unconditional Surrender" statue on Sarasota's Bayfront (see photo on my home page).   His generous donation came with with the one contingency that  it remain in that location for a decade.  Jack Curran purchased the statue for $500,000 and will loan it to the city for the next 10 years and then the statue  becomes property of the city with the Art Fund of Sarasota responsible for its maintenance.  Opponents of the statue cited it was not art, a traffic hazard and it was made in China (indicating it did not help the economy).  I could of told opponents you don't win the war when you are fighting the greatest generation.

Yesterday Venice City Council voted to raise the millage rate from 2.9840 to 3.2253.  Finance Director Jeff Synder and City Manager Isaac Turner lobbied in favor of the increase while City council members Sue Land and John Moore suggested keeping the rate at 2.779 mils would provide homeowners with a much needed tax break.  Currently the surplus reserve fund is at $11.4 million.  The concerns as property values lost 16 percent last year and 13 percent this year, and this will cost the reserve fund to lose $1.2 million.  The city's decision is not final and the next and last public hearing will be held on Sept 22. 

Extension of Honore Road is moving forward to become another north south connection from Manatee county to Laurel Road in Nokomis.  Two thirds of the project is scheduled to be completed by 2012.  This will help to alleviate congestion of I-75. 

It's still very hot here in Venice (98F, 37C) and it feels warmer because there is no breeze.  Visited the beach on Monday and went in the water at 1:00 and didn't  get out of the water until 4:00.  It was that hot! We would welcome a bit of rain today. 

Stay cool, Alice