Confederate monument discussion canceled

Future discussion on restoring the Confederate monument remains a possibility.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON – The Manatee County Commission discussion on the potential restoration of a controversial Confederate monument has been removed from the commission’s Tuesday, Jan. 31 meeting agenda.

According to the agenda item, county commission authorization was to be sought for County Administrator Scott Hopes, or his designee, to reinstall the monument at its previous location in front of the historic Manatee County Courthouse in downtown Bradenton, adjacent to the Manatee County Judicial Center.

The monument was removed as a result of a 4-3 county commission vote in 2017. The statue was fractured during its removal and has remained in storage ever since.

On Jan. 27, The League of Women Voters of Manatee County distributed a monument-related email that carried the headline: “Citizen Advocacy Won! But more is needed.”

The email said, “The vote on reinstalling the Confederate monument has been removed from the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners agenda for Tuesday, Jan. 31 because of your hard work. There is no guarantee that reinstalling the statue will not be raised again on a different date. The county staff is continuing to spend time and taxpayer dollars attempting to find a place

Food truck moratorium on Thursday’s agenda

for the monument in another location in Manatee County.

“If you wish your voice heard about the monument, whether it should stay in storage and why, please consider speaking at Tuesday’s meeting (during citizen comments). You must physically go to the meeting to comment. Phone in comments are no longer available,” the email said.

The Bradenton Beach City Commission will meet on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. The consent agenda includes a special event permit request by the AMI Moose Lodge for its annual pig roast on Saturday, Feb. 25. Under new business, the commission will discuss the 2022 Scenic W.A.V.E.S. Committee annual report to be submitted to FDOT and the city attorney will present the first reading of an ordinance seeking to create a temporary moratorium on food truck operations within the city. The commission will discuss an engagement letter for the continued legal services of City Attorney Ricinda Perry. Under old business, the commission will discuss an interlocal agreement with Manatee County for the law enforcement services the city provides at the county-owned beaches and boat ramps in Bradenton Beach. The commission will receive an update on engineering services provided by Collier’s Engineering and continue its discussion on a stormwater master drainage study prepared by Collier’s. Commissioners will receive an update regarding a $300 payment sought by attorney Robert Watrous for a Sunshine Law case. Under attorney business, Perry will provide a Florida legislative update and present a change order pertaining to a $2.6 million state appropriation the city previously received for a flood protection project to be completed by June 2024.