Manatee County Commission to Open 2026 With Recognitions, Fair Preview, and Key Policy Actions
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m., marking the Board’s first official meeting of the new year. The meeting will take place at the Manatee County Administration Building, with opening segments held in the Manatee and Osprey Rooms, followed by proceedings in the Patricia M. Glass Chambers.
The morning will begin with the State of the Chair, which will set priorities and direction for 2026. The formal agenda will include an invocation led by Reverend Brock Patterson of Longboat Island Chapel and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Human Resources Director Kate Rucker on behalf of her father, a U.S. Navy veteran.
Commissioners are scheduled to present several awards and proclamations, including recognition of the 2025 Team Member of the Year, the January 2026 Team Member of the Month, and a proclamation designating 2026 as the Year of People with Disabilities. The Board will also receive an invitation from fair leadership to attend the upcoming 2026 Manatee County Fair, set for January 15–25. It will recognize members of the Rx Fire Team for their service.
A wide-ranging consent agenda is planned, covering budget amendments, infrastructure and utility projects, transportation improvements, public safety initiatives, library policy updates, housing-related agreements, and preparations for future public hearings. Items include approvals for lift-station upgrades, roadway and multimodal trail projects, EMS facilities, parks and sports complexes, and countywide operational needs.
The regular agenda will feature appointments to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and the Children’s Services Advisory Board, along with property-related actions supporting county services. Citizen comments, advisory board reports, and updates from county leadership will also be part of the meeting.
The January 6 meeting offers residents a comprehensive look at how Manatee County plans to move forward in 2026, with decisions that will impact infrastructure, public safety, housing, and community quality of life.
