Sarasota County leaders voted last week to create a new stormwater department apart from Public Works.
The decision, which includes hiring a new department head, came during a budget workshop marked by public criticism. Residents packed the small meeting chambers, demanding accountability from Public Works Director Spencer Anderson and County Administrator Jonathan Lewis for what they described as years of neglect and failed leadership.
Speakers said the disconnect between the county’s prior assurances and the reality of their flood-damaged neighborhoods was severe.
Commissioners last month directed Lewis to return with a proposal for creating a standalone stormwater department. But the sharp public backlash prompted County Commissioner Tom Knight to bypass Lewis’ report to push through major changes — notably, the creation of the independent stormwater department with a new chief reporting directly to the county administrator.
His motions won unanimous support, and the job was posted during the meeting.
Commissioners Joe Neunder and Mark Smith urged even faster action, suggesting the hire of a temporary, interim manager and floating the name of former county stormwater manager Steve Suau.
Suau, who conducted an independent review of what went wrong during Tropical Storm Debby, later told reporters he would be interested in the job but had not been in contact with county administration.
Before commissioners and residents had their say, Anderson delivered a detailed defense of the county’s stormwater management, pointing to recent maintenance projects along Phillippi Creek and stressing his team’s qualifications.
Public speakers later challenged Anderson’s statements, accusing county leaders of a lack of urgency, ineffective management and poor communication that fostered a sense of mistrust in the community.
Although county officials submitted an emergency dredging application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in April, the Army Corps later confirmed that the creek didn’t qualify for emergency dredging, since the sediment buildup predated Tropical Storm Debby — and the county had known that since last summer.
In addition to the creation of a new separate stormwater department, commissioners also voted to require county staff to provide an update to the public on recommendations Suau provided after his review last year.
Commissioners also tabled a staff-initiated discussion, begun earlier this year, to end the county’s longstanding agreement with the city of Sarasota to maintain its stormwater infrastructure.
Smith said the county needs more time to resolve its own stormwater issues before offloading that responsibility back onto the city.
