Government Digest: Sept. 17 - Sept. 23

Lending partnership formed

LEE COUNTY — The Fort Myers Regional Partnership, Lee County's economic development office and a number of local banks in the county have developed a small business joint venture to promote lending to local businesses.

“We know that if companies are to thrive here, they need working capital,” says Jim Moore, the Partnership's executive director, in a press release. “Participating banks are ready to lend money to qualified local businesses for investment, expansion and to create much needed, high-paying jobs.

For information and a list of participating banks, call Sue Noe, business assistance director at the Fort Myers Regional Partnership at (239) 338-3161. Go to www.LeeIsLending.com for a list of participating banks.

Foreclosure and tax deed auctions online

PINELLAS COUNTY —The Pinellas County Clerk's office has contracted with Realauction of Fort Lauderdale to conduct foreclosure sales and tax deed auctions via two separate Web sites.

Pinellas County Foreclosure is at www.pinellas.realforeclose.com/index.cfm and Pinellas County Tax Deed for tax deed sales is at www.pinellas.realtaxdeed.com. Daily online foreclosure sales will begin Oct. 4, and monthly tax deed sales start Oct. 20. Recent changes to Florida laws enabled clerks of the court to hold electronic sales.

Realauction will provide software and bidder training in the near future, according to the clerk's office. Potential bidders will be able to make deposits, place bids, monitor auctions and pay winning bids online. Public terminals will be available in the clerk's offices and registration is free.

County funds facility

SARASOTA COUNTY — County commissioners approved spending $650,000 in economic development incentive funding to bring a new television production company to Lakewood Ranch. Officials hope the move will create 117 jobs.

The project, code-named “Waterboy,” involves a company planning a 30,000-square-foot television and film production and post-production facility, according to a county press release. When fully functioning, the company would create the jobs during the next three years with an average annual wage for full-time employees of $72,000.

Under the deal, the company would receive $300,000 upon signing a lease agreement for a facility in the county. The final $350,000 would be paid when the company submits evidence of its intent to purchase technical equipment for the facility. Should the company not produce the 117 new jobs over three years, it must return the $650,000 to the county.

Taxiway funding secured

MARCO ISLAND — The Collier County Airport Authority received a $5.5 million Federal Aviation Administration grant to build a new taxiway at the Marco Island Executive Airport. The grant was awarded after a 10-year permitting and mitigation process.

The taxiway will eliminate a major safety concern. The airport currently has a busy 5,000-foot runway that serves business and tourist jet aircraft traveling to South Naples and Marco Island, according to a county press release. Without a taxiway, aircraft have to land and taxi back down the runway while other aircraft are waiting to land and take off. The airport is the only 5,000-foot runway in Florida that accommodates jet traffic without a taxiway.

Hearings postponed

CHARLOTTE COUNTY — The public hearings to consider proposed revisions to the Manasota Key Overlay scheduled for Oct. 19 and Nov. 16 have been postponed. The meetings were to take place before county commissioners.The delay will allow time for the newly appointed Manasota and Sandpiper Key Planning advisory committee to collaborate with community members and county staff. The committee and citizens will consider possible revisions to the zoning overlay, according to a county press release.

No new dates for public hearings have been set. For more information, contact Roxann Read at [email protected] or (941) 764-4928.

MEETINGS

LEE COUNTY

The County Commission will hold its second public hearing on the proposed budget at 5:05 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the commission chambers, 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

The County Commission will hold a budget hearing in the commission chambers at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at County Center, 601 E. Kennedy, Blvd., Tampa. For more information, contact Willie Puz at (813) 272-5314.

PINELLAS COUNTY

The Pinellas County Transportation Task Force will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, 4000 Gateway Centre Blvd., Suite 100, Pinellas Park. For more information, call (727) 464-3278.

The County Commission will hold a public hearing on the budget at 3 p.m. and a final budget public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the fifth floor assembly room of the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Clearwater. For more information, call (727) 464-3485.

MANATEE COUNTY

The South County Community Redevelopment Agency will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Harllee Full Service Family Center, 6423 9th St. East, Bradenton.

The 14th Street West Community Redevelopment Agency will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Peace Lutheran Church and School, 1611 30th Ave. West Bradenton.

TAMPA BAY

The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority board will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at the FDOT District 7 office, 11201 N. McKinley Drive, Tampa.

FORUMS

The League of Women Voters of Sarasota County will host a two-on-two debate on Amendment 4 at noon Monday, Sept. 20, at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, 2635 Fruitville Road, Sarasota. If passed by 60% or more of voters on Nov. 2, the amendment would require voter approval of local comprehensive plan changes.

Scheduled debaters include Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton who opposes the amendment, and former Sarasota City Commissioner David Merrill, who supports it. The doors will open at 11:30 a.m. The cost for lunch is $12. To reserve a seat, call Kim Noyes at (941) 925-2970 or e-mail [email protected].

The League of Women Voters of Charlotte County will host a local and state candidates' forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Edison College Charlotte Campus, 26300 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. Doors open at 6 p.m. All candidates running for local, state and U.S. Congressional office have been invited. League members will also present the pros and cons of the proposed Florida constitutional amendments. Dr. Patricia Land, president of the Edison College Charlotte Campus, will moderate the event.