What are the duties of county commissioners anyway . . .

 From: Herald Tribune, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, April 10, 2021

Board of Sarasota County Commissioners

Pondering duties, obligations of government

I am fairly new to the area, and very confused about the role of government in Florida.

Here in Sarasota County, commissioners had no problem approving the monstrous mall development at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road.

Question: Do the county commissioners approve every development, no matter how much a proposal is opposed by residents?

A few days ago, as I approached that intersection, traffic was backed up at least a mile in every direction. Once the massive hotel and retail outlets are squeezed into the Siesta Promenade, I would hate to have to evacuate the key in an emergency.

What are the duties of county commissioners anyway, and whom do they serve?

A Florida Senate committee in January found time to pass a resolution denouncing democratic socialism, although the members failed to define what it is – Social Security, Medicare or something more dangerous?

But over the past decades Florida lawmakers have not found time to prevent the clearly predictable ecological disaster at Piney Point. What is a greater threat – some nonexistent legislation the senators might call socialism, or the millions and millions of gallons of wastewater being dumped into Tampa Bay?

Just curious.

James Medlin, Sarasota