Manatee County Staff Threatened Over Proposed Cruise Ship Port: Officials

BRADENTON, FL — Manatee County employees are being threatened as commissioners consider a proposed cruise port on the Gulf side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Manatee County

“There has been a great interest in [the] proposal submitted to Manatee County outlining plans…” Bill Logan, the county’s information outreach manager, said in an email. “That interest has sparked robust discussion, debate and disagreement. Unfortunately, some of that disagreement has spilled over the typical settings of social media posting or petition signing.”

Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC has filed plans with Manatee County to develop a privately-owned port for the Knott-Cowen Tract, a 328-acre piece of land bordering the north and south sides of Interstate 275 just east of the bridge.
The company is partnering with cruise ship terminal operator SSA Marine, based in Seattle, on the multiberth cruise port project.
“It has come to my attention that multiple county employees, as well as members of their families, including children, are being subjected to harassment, threats, and intimidation related to a proposed private-sector cruise terminal project in the very early stages of review,” Charlie Bishop, county administrator, said in a statement provided by Logan.

• Related: Massive Cruise Ship Port Proposed Near Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Bishop continued, “This is unacceptable. No county employee should be harassed for performing their professional duties. No child should ever be targeted because of where their parent works. These actions must stop.”

Some residents are concerned about the environmental impact of the proposed project.

“Bringing in a large-scale industrial facility ... would certainly raise concerns for our water quality, critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and the recreational value for residents and tourists in the Tampa Bay community that depend on a healthy estuary,” Peter Clark, president and founder of the restoration nonprofit Tampa Bay Watch, told the Tampa Bay Times.

A Change.org petition started by Manatee County resident Cory McKeever and opposing the project had nearly 18,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon.

“The environmental impact of a cruise port is far-reaching. Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that the average cruise ship emits the same volume of pollutants as a million cars daily. Our pristine waters are at risk of becoming polluted, jeopardizing water quality and public health,” the petition reads.

Another petition, from the Suncoast Waterkeeper, has nearly 9,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon.

“This massive industrial cruise terminal threatens the health of Tampa Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, Sarasota Bay, and connected waterways that sustain our environment, economy, and way of life,” the petition reads, adding, “Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve is one of Florida’s most environmentally sensitive areas, home to seagrass beds, wetlands, and critical wildlife habitat. Construction, cruise ship traffic, and port operations would cause irreversible harm across the watershed.”

Bishop said that any proposed project, including the cruise port, “must proceed through the normal development review pathway, including technical review, compliance with all applicable codes and regulations, and, where required, public hearings before advisory boards and the Board of County Commissioners. These processes are public and provide multiple opportunities for community input.”

County staff doesn’t approve proposed projects, he added. County commissioners make decisions on land-use matters.

“Healthy debate is welcome. Harassment, intimidation, and targeting of staff or their families is not,” Bishop said.