Manatee County to be reimbursed more than 50 percent of cost of traffic signals maintenance

MANATEE -- While still not fully reimbursed by Florida Department of Transportation for the operation and maintenance of traffic signals on state highways in the county, Manatee County will now be reimbursed for 53 percent of the costs in the 2015-16 fiscal year.

After Manatee County Commission expressed concern about the cost to the county and reimbursement from FDOT at the Jan. 26 meeting, the commission approved a new agreement for fiscal year 2015-16. With increased maintenance requirements in the new agreement, compensation is projected at $292,752 -- 46 percent increase over the previous year.

Manatee County is now reimbursed for approximately 30 percent of maintenance costs, which resulted in $388,737 in unrecovered county costs in fiscal year 2014. It is expected Manatee County will be reimbursed 77 percent of current maintenance costs in the fiscal year 2016-17 agreement.

"It is only going to get better from here on out," said Sage Kamiya, county deputy director of traffic management. "The reimbursement rates are only going to get better."

Manatee County government, which is responsible for maintaining 100 FDOT-owned traffic signals, is reimbursed annually for traffic signal maintenance. Most FDOT traffic signals are at intersections with county roads.

On Tuesday, the commission also:

Awarded a $1.3 million bid for the Duette Preserve Florida Department of Transportation mitigation project to Bul-Hed Corp. of Mulberry. The project, which will be completed by Nov. 29, 2017, is for "the clearing, excavation, grading, structure installation and planting," for enhancement and creation of 63 acres of wetlands habitat and 4 acres upland habitat, according to agenda materials.

Authorized an amended land use restriction agreement and deed restriction agreement for the 220-unit rental housing complex, 5030 26th St. E., Bradenton.

"This amendment allows for North Property Partnership to help fill a critical shortage gap for rental housing in the Manatee County community for rental properties for moderate and workforce level income households," according to agenda materials.

Heard the 2015 annual report from County Administrator Ed Hunzeker. Construction on the Fort Hamer Bridge, Manatee County Area Transit routes connecting Lakewood Ranch to Anna Maria Island and renovations at the Central Library were among highlights in the report. Read the report at Bradenton.com.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Manatee County to be reimbursed more than 50 percent of cost of traffic signals maintenance ."