County Administrator delivers list of yearly accomplishments during Annual Report to County Commission

  • Jan 25, 2012

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Jan. 24, 2012) – Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker outlined a host of accomplishments Manatee County Government achieved over the past year in his Annual Report to the County Commission today.

During a 15-minute address to the Board, Hunzeker listed a number of community projects that came to fruition during 2011 including the Fort Hamer Rowing Park, Marine Rescue Headquarters, Tom Bennett Park, the Palmetto Transit Station, Myakka Community Center and Rocky Bluff Library, which Commissioners hailed as a stellar example of teamwork and community collaboration.

 

Hunzeker recapped another difficult budget year during which the Commission adopted an annual budget that is $22 million less than 2010. The Board approved budget reductions across the organization and was able to fund an additional 10 sheriff’s deputies to patrol local neighborhoods.

 

Hunzeker also touched on a number of organizational highlights including:

 

• Manatee County’s Green Team led the organization’s efforts to become a Green Certified Government in April;

 

• In September, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) presented Manatee County with a prestigious Class 5 Community Rating, which will save thousands of Manatee County flood insurance policy holders millions on their annual premiums;

 

• The Commission moved in October unanimously adopted a “no kill” policy and directed Animal Services to work toward a 90 percent live release rate for all dogs and cats that come through our doors;

 

• Throughout 2011 the Board approved more than $3.6 million in Economic Development Incentive grants to 39 companies. Those businesses will use the money to create or retain more than 2,300 quality jobs here over the next five years.

 

Hunzeker also listed what he called, “unheralded accomplishments by hundreds of County employees” who work behind the scenes performing daily such as:

 

• Parks and Recreation Department staff taught more than 500 children and adults to swim;

 

• Manatee Citizens Action Center responded to more than 28,000 citizen inquiries and requests for service;

 

• Veteran Services Officers assisted over 10,800 Veterans and their dependents obtain more than $1.5 million in benefits and entitlements they earned during service to the country.

 

The Administrator’s Annual Report also laid out high expectations for 2012, a year in which Sharon Hillstrom takes over leadership at Manatee Economic Development Corporation President and Carlos Buqueras becomes the new director at Port Manatee.

 

“But, 2012 will not be without its challenges,” Hunzeker said. “The economy’s slow rebound will mean another year of difficult budget decisions and that will sometimes mean delaying projects or having to say no to important requests from our community.”

 

The entire report is available on the County Administrator’s area of the Manatee County website, www.mymanatee.org. For more information on Manatee County Government, call (941) 748-4501.