What to know in Manatee: Homeless veterans housing, $220,000 contract for Bishop

Manatee County is considering two options that could bring affordable housing for homeless veterans to the community, but advocates are pleading for officials to consider moving forward with both proposals.

County commissioners discussed the matter during a public meeting on Tuesday, which also included approval of a $220,000 contract for the new Manatee County Administrator and a settlement over a long-debated Concession development.

Homeless veteran's housing could be on the way

Commissioners are debating the fate of two proposals to build housing for homeless veterans in Manatee County.

Commissioner Jason Bearden is spearheading an effort to build a tiny home community on county-owned land behind a planned Veteran's Memorial Park on Buckeye Road in north Manatee. He pitched a partnership with St. Vincent De Paul Cares out of St. Petersburg to operate the property.

Commissioners are also considering a proposal to convey property to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to build homeless veteran housing at 4410 66th Street West off Cortez Road. That project pitched a partnership with U.S. VETS to manage the property.

Some board members and residents who spoke during public comment implored the board not to wait and to move forward with both proposals, rather than choose between one or the other. Tunnel to Towers remains scheduled for consideration on Oct. 10.

"If you don't know, a homeless veteran is 7.8 times more likely to take their lives than a veteran that hasn't been homeless," Manatee County resident Tim Masem said. "So the longer we kick this down the road, the more chance that we can lose some veterans. I know our backs aren't up against a wall, it's their backs that are up against a wall… So we need to get this done."

County administrator contract approved

Commissioners approved a $220,000 per year contract with County Administrator Charlie Bishop, with the expectation that he also qualifies for salary increases for county staff planned for this year.

Bishop was named to the role permanently on Sept. 12. He replaces former administrator Scott Hopes, who left the role earlier this year.

Bishop will also receive a county vehicle for work-related travel, and payment for professional dues, travel, and job-related expenses. He is also eligible for other county benefits such as medical coverage, a deferred compensation program option, and retirement contribution options.

Commissioners to consider Concession development settlement offer

County Commissioners will consider a settlement offer by the Concession Land Development LLC over a rejected development proposal that has been debated for years.

Concession Land Development purchased about 1,232 acres of property from Panther Ridge in 2003. The property had been zoned for 255 single-family lots, a 19-hole golf course, a clubhouse, and a small amount of commercial space.

In 2019, the county denied a request for a new general development plan that included 22 single-family homes on a 17-acre parcel of land. That request was denied in 2020, and again in 2021 after the developer reduced the number of homes to 15. In October 2022, Concession sued the county, filing a takings claim under the Bert J Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act.

Concession seeks compensation of $8.9 million plus attorneys fees and other monetary damages. However, the developer proposed a settlement in advance of the May 2024 trial over the matter but is requiring that commissioners revisit the matter and approve the full 22 single-family homes on the property.

Commissioners voted 5 to 1 to approve a public hearing on the matter no later than Nov. 2, but need to approve the 22 homes for the settlement to take effect. Commissioner George Kruse was the lone nay on the vote, and District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner was absent during the vote.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: What to know in Manatee: Veterans housing, new contract for Bishop