FDOT opens second investigation on Myakka City property tied to Sarasota official

The construction of a new home for the Sarasota Medieval Fair off of State Road 70 in Myakka City, already under scrutiny for how Manatee code enforcement officials have monitored the project, is now also being investigated by the Florida Department of Transportation.

FDOT is investigating how the developer received a permit for minor improvements to the driveway off of State Road 70 and onto the property. The agency was never told the property, which is located along a narrow section of the highway, would be hosting a fair that draws tens of thousands of people.

“(FDOT) is currently investigating this issue,” said District One spokesman Brian Rick. “As with all matters under investigation, we cannot offer a comment at this time.”

The investigation is the second involving the property. The property, and the fair, are tied to the family of Sarasota Building Official Kathy Croteau. Her name is on the original FDOT permit that was approved for the driveway improvements at 29641 SR 70.

Last month, the Manatee County’s Office of Inspector General, which is part of the clerk and comptroller’s office, started an investigation of how the county’s code enforcement office has handled complaints about construction on the property. The OIG confirmed Wednesday that the investigation is still active, but it could provide any further comment at this time.

Manatee code enforcement officer Tonya Shaw has complained that others in the department played favorites and ignored un-permitted construction on the 50 acres because of the property’s ties to Croteau, who oversees code enforcement in Sarasota County.

Shaw came forward in March, saying that her supervisors Chet Brown and Tommy Wooten, had intentionally ignored the development, removed her from cases and closed out the complaints cases because of Croteau’s involvement.

The complaints, filed by at least three neighbors, informed the county that the development, which escalated in November, was redirecting stormwater onto their properties and causing floods.

After Shaw was removed, Wooten gave the case to Brown, who closed out the case and was promoted to supervisor a few days later, according to emails obtained by the Bradenton Herald outlining Shaw’s several attempts to continue her investigation.

She was repeatedly met with resistance and reminded by Brown and Wooten that the case was no longer hers to investigate, according to the emails.

Building Director John Barnott said he was unaware of the controversy within his code enforcement department. Barnott told the Bradenton Herald on March 25 that he had only learned of the case a few days prior and was launching a “full investigation” of his own.

Barnott pledged transparency but has declined requests for further comment. The property is within Commissioner Vanessa Baugh’s district. Baugh last month said she had begun looking into the allegations, but she did not return a request for further comment.

Barnott said in March that if warranted, he would issue a stop work order, but that has not been done.

Shaw said Brown is working with Croteau to get the property into compliance in order to approve any needed permits after the fact.

Kathy Croteau initially told the Bradenton Herald that she had no knowledge of the construction on the site being overseen by her son, Jeremy Croteau. However, photos have since surfaced of Kathy Croteau at a groundbreaking ceremony for the fair last September

Kathy Croteau is an officer and shareholder of the fair and Jeremy Croteau is the president of the fair.

After denying any knowledge of the development, Croteau referred all questions to the Medieval Fair, which did not return calls for comment.

The county, FDOT, and the neighbors were all told by Jeremy Croteau that the development was agriculture related and it wasn’t until after construction intensified that he began acknowledging the property would host the fair, despite having advertised the fair’s new home for months prior.

This story was originally published April 14, 2021 at 11:15 AM.