Why did Manatee County 'gift' property at steep loss?

Manatee County purchased a property on the corner 63rd Avenue West and Ninth Street East from the nursery owner for over $800,000 with taxpayers funds.

This property is next to an existing school and a public park. This was heralded as a perfect place for an expansion for the public for either. It was early billed as a good location for a needed community center.

This property was "gifted" to a public charter school, Visible Men Academy, for $85,000. This organization discriminates as it is male only.

Tell the public how this was done at a loss of $720,000 of taxpayer money and forfeiture of a prime piece of public property. I believe that the 10 teachers or other use would have been a much greater value.

Jim Heuberger

Bradenton

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Why did Manatee County 'gift' property at steep loss? ."