Manatee County insists on permits, inspection ahead of Sarasota Medieval Fair opening
The Nov. 6 opening date of the Sarasota Medieval Fair could lead to a showdown between event organizers and Manatee County officials, who maintain that there are still outstanding permits required before the event can happen.
Ticket sales and advertisements for the weekend event have already been posted online. A spokesperson for the fair said they intend to welcome guests, even though the site has been the subject of the county’s internal investigation.
“All appropriate state permits have been received for this agritourism event,” said Edie Ousley, a spokesperson for the fair. “The additional permit that the county is requiring is new. State of Florida leaders have already shared with the county that these new local permits exceed the intention of Florida law.”
Manatee officials have contended that the state’s permit doesn’t authorize the show-runners to put on an event without also getting permission from the county’s Building and Development Services Department. The 47-acre property in Myakka City has been at the heart of controversy for months, following a code enforcement officer’s accusations of favoritism.
As of Tuesday, the county hasn’t issued the special permit that they say is required for the fair to be allowed to go on. An in-person inspection still needs to be completed and time is running out, said County Administrator Scott Hopes.
“I think they are rapidly running out of time. A team of 15 different people from the fire department and Manatee County Government were prepared to go on site and make an assessment to evaluate the timely issuance of a permit,” Hopes said. “I think they’re running out of time and playing a dangerous game with the safety of the public.”
According to Ousley, the county’s inspection came as a surprise. Jeremy Croteau, the property owner, turned the team away, citing the ongoing construction on the site and the need to have their legal counsel present.
In a video recording of that inspection attempt, Rob Wenzel, the county’s development service division manager, is seen speaking with Jeremy Croteau, the owner of the property. Wenzel said he believed Croteau was aware of the inspection after communicating with his lawyer.
A copy of the video was provided to the Bradenton Herald.
Reached for comment on the refused site inspection, Hopes argued that inspections are not typically scheduled. He said Croteau’s decision to deny access to the property prevented the county from reviewing several aspects of the event, including whether an emergency vehicle is able to enter the property, whether the newly constructed buildings are structurally sound and whether the electrical wiring is safe.
“The only way I know that my staff can assure the public is for us to be allowed to inspect it. Thus far, the property owners have denied access,” Hopes said.
What happens if the fair doesn’t get county permits?
It’s still unclear what will happen if the Sarasota Medieval Fair kicks off without the permits that the county is requiring for the event.
“We’re evaluating and that will be assessed with the county’s legal counsel,” Hopes said when asked about that scenario, noting that tickets to the event are non-refundable. “My concern is the health, safety and welfare of the public — not the property owners. People are being invited to an event with facilities that haven’t been inspected or permitted.”
Ousley said fair organizers plan to open their doors on Nov. 6, despite any objections from county officials.
“We want individuals who are planning to attend the fair to enjoy themselves. If something were to impede the fair going forward, that would be a consideration. This is all about providing a family-friendly, safe entertainment opportunity.”
After a Manatee County Code Enforcement officer went public with accusations of favoritism earlier this year, high-level county officials began paying closer attention to activity on the site. In response to those complaints, a handful of employees were placed on paid administrative leave.
The county’s Building and Development Services Department also made a policy change, requiring agritourism events to pursue a special permit approval process. That change led to a letter from the state’s top agricultural agency.
“...I am concerned that the County’s special permit process goes beyond what was contemplated by the legislature,” Steven Hall, with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, wrote in a letter to County Attorney Bill Clague.”
Hopes maintains that the Florida Legislature’s recently updated right-to-farm law shouldn’t preclude the county from monitoring the overall safety of the event.
“The Florida Legislature still expects local governments to keep the public safe,” Hopes said.
The Sarasota Medieval Fair is scheduled to kick off on Nov. 6. The event is expected to take place on Saturdays and Sundays between Nov. 6 and Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
This story was originally published October 27, 2021 at 12:47 PM.
