September 1, 2026 - Regular Meeting - 2026-09-01 09:00:00

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners held a regular meeting on September 1, 2026, which included extensive discussions on several procurement and development projects. Key procurement-related topics included the Project Grace land lease and business terms, where the board engaged in a detailed debate about the proposed location at Premier Sports Campus, financial viability, community impact, and alternative sites. The board ultimately directed staff to suspend offers to Project Grace and bring back a presentation addressing concerns, including relocating the project. Other procurement actions included approval of a piggyback purchase order to ScareUsOff Technology Corporation for cloud services, execution of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract for the South East Water Reclamation Facility rehabilitation and expansion project valued at approximately $60 million, and authorization of a purchase order for repairs at the Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant. The board also confirmed appointments for the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy County Administrator positions. Additionally, the board approved the conveyance of county property at 1009 4th Avenue West to the City of Bradenton for workforce development and community training purposes. Several proclamations and public safety recognitions were also presented. The meeting featured significant public comment, particularly regarding Project Grace, with concerns about financial transparency, community impact, and competition with private industry. The board emphasized the need for improved transparency and due diligence in future projects.