Work to begin on environmental center at Robinson Preserve

The Mosaic Center for Nature, Exploration, Science and Technology could be opening at Robinson Preserve next August.

Work on the 3,541-square-foot environmental center, which is expected to take 12 months to complete, can begin now that the county commission on Tuesday authorized Willis A. Smith Construction Inc. to take on the $3.8 million project.

“This is going to be our gold medal moment,” said Charlie Hunsicker, the county’s parks and natural resources director. “For us, this is the new chapter, the next chapter in bringing forward an environmental classroom that has long been deserving of this community.”

The Mosaic Company Foundation won naming rights to the center after it gave $3.2 million to Conservation Foundation of Gulf Coast, which purchased the property for an expansion of Robinson Preserve and then donated it to Manatee County.

Since November, work has been underway on expanding the existing 487-acre Robinson Preserve, which opened in 2008 off 99th Street Northwest. Construction crews are turning 150 acres of farmland on the southeast edge of the preserve into more nature trails, marshes, emergent islands, a canopy walk and the environmental and education center.

“This classroom will be the ideal complement to what we are constructing there today,” Hunsicker said Tuesday.

Commissioners embraced the project.

“I don’t think very many counties have what we have,” Commissioner Carol Whitmore said. “I just can’t wait.”

Commission Chairwoman Vanessa Baugh said she looks forward to the center being completed in a year.

“It is so wonderful for the citizens of Manatee,” she said. “It is going to be such a nice addition.”

Also on Tuesday, the commission:

• Authorized the County Attorney’s Office to advertise a proposed noise ordinance for a future public hearing.
• Adopted a resolution that establishes guidelines for spending revenue generated from the proposed half-cent sales tax and establishes an infrastructure sales tax Citizens Oversight Committee. Voters are being asked to approve the referendum on Nov. 8.
• Authorized a change order to the agreement for the Cortez Groins Removal and Replacement project, increasing the total cost by $1.386 million and adding an additional 76 calendar days to the construction schedule.
• Approved an Economic Development Incentive Grant for Project CENTENNIAL, which will expand a headquarters facility and create 225 quality jobs over five years.
• Approved a Customized Economic Development Incentive Grant for Project MANDARIN, which will expand a headquarters facility and create a minimum of five quality jobs over five years. A new facility will be constructed with an estimated capital investment of $7 million.
• Approved a lease agreement with the Rubonia Community Association to operate the Rubonia Community Center for Aug. 9 through Sept. 30.

Claire Aronson: 941-745-7024, @Claire_Aronson

This story was originally published August 9, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Work to begin on environmental center at Robinson Preserve."