Commission to consider final plans for Warner's Bayou boat ramp Aug. 21

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County Commissioners will have the final say over proposed improvements to Warner’s Bayou boat ramp at their Aug. 21 meeting.

The latest plans are the combination of staff recommendations and community input gathered during three public workshops held over the past five months. Local residents, boaters, fishing enthusiasts and environmental supporters provided dozens of comments, e-mail and other input for the popular boat ramp.

The Commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the First Floor chambers of Manatee County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. The Warner's Bayou agenda item is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be aired live on Manatee Government Access (MGA) can be seen locally on Bright House channel 622, Verizon channel 30 and Comcast channel 20 and online at www.mymanatee.org/mga

The final proposed plan includes the following highlights:

• The parking lot will not be paved and remain in its current condition , with the addition of grassed storm water runoff treatment areas added around the perimeter of the existing parking lots. Also, two ADA accessible, paved vehicular parking spaces will be created: one on the north side of the park and one located adjacent to kayak launches;
• No proposed pavilions;
• A new restroom building on the north side of the ramp. The restroom will have time-controlled doors, restricting afterhours access;
• A new fish cleaning station to replace the old station in its current location, not attached to the restroom.

There are still no plans for vendors at the site.

Manatee County officials decided to postpone until at least Labor Day, 2012 any proposed repairs and improvements to Warner’s Bayou boat ramp. The ramp was scheduled to be closed for repair and upgrades in March, but many residents near the popular boat launch asked to have more input.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501.