Tara Bridge must be built

Open letter to Manatee County Administrator Mr. Ed Hunzeker,

I am a proponent of the Tara Bridge being built. It has been in the comprehensive plan since 1989. The funds intended for the bridge were voted on and used for the Fort Hamer project. I am not telling you anything that you already didn’t know, but thought I would refresh your memory.

In fact the Sept. 4, 2009 memorandum that was submitted by Ron Schulhofer, public works director, clearly details the need and the recommendation for the Tara Bridge to “remain in the County’s Thoroughfare Plan, with future construction to be funded in the CIP at a date to be determined by the Board.”

So my question to you, Mr. Hunzeker is: Who are you to be dictating to the board what is going to be on their agenda? You are appointed by the board as a manager, not the decision-maker. Last time I checked, we the people of Manatee County elect the members of the county commission to make those decisions on behalf of the citizens.

The obvious attempts by you, through first, your executive administrative assistant, Marianne Lopata, and then your information outreach manager, Nicholas Azzara, and now by you yourself to silence a majority of the citizens who want this bridge built in a timely manner is not only an insult to those of us who want to see the Tara Bridge built, but seemingly exceeding the authority of your position.

The supporters of “Build the Tara Bridge Now” will not be silenced by you or any of your minions. We are not going away and we will stand strong. All you have managed to do is to make our statement even stronger and as of this morning add even more supporters to our Facebook page. Thank you for that.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Tara Bridge must be built."