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Board approves sheriff's purchase of former Myakka City fire station site, 5–1
Summary
The board voted to buy a 1.61-acre parcel (former East Manatee Fire Rescue Station) to establish a sheriff substation in Myakka City. The in-house appraisal was $880,000 and the approved purchase price was $850,000; Commissioner Phelps voted no and asked for assurance on repair needs and long-term costs.
The Manatee County Board on Dec. 18 approved a request to acquire 1.61 acres of the former East Manatee Fire Rescue Station north parcel for use as a sheriff substation. Peter Morrow, property acquisition division manager, said the county’s in-house appraisal placed the property at $880,000 and the negotiated purchase price was $850,000. The purchase will be funded from law enforcement impact fees and capital project funds.
Sheriff’s office representatives said the building will serve as a daily base for range deputies and as a staging location for first-responder assets (ATVs, airboats and high-water rescue vehicles), and it could be used during storm events to house first-entry teams. Commissioners asked about the building condition and needed repairs; staff said modest repairs (garage roof work and IT adjustments) were expected and were included in the budget amendment presented with the item.
The vote passed 5–1 with Commissioner Phelps opposed. Questions raised during the meeting included whether the stewardship district or the fire district previously paid for the building and whether purchasing the property could be perceived as a double charge for taxpayers; East Manatee representatives explained their board had previously financed station construction and had taken a loan that relied on a future sale to help pay principal.
What happens next: The county will execute the purchase; the sheriff will make modest repairs and convert the facility for daily operational use. Commissioners said they expect the sheriff’s office to manage longer-term capital needs and indicated they would monitor repair costs and the use of impact fees.
