Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/149186
Sarasota News Leader August 9 & 16, 2013 Page 39 for example, said, "[T]he palm fronds are at- the need to spray the palm fronds with both tached in such a way as to be sacrificed when pesticide and a substance to protect them the wind exceeds 70 miles per hour." from mold ("SCAT does not have the staff or For another example: The City of Naples the budget to accommodate [that]") to the fact building and zoning director was quoted in a that the chickees are designed to lose their newspaper article as saying that chickees in thatch entirely "during even a Category 1 hurSouthwest Florida "held up pretty well during ricane." … four storms that pounded Florida … SeverMOVING FORWARD IN THE CITY al [chickees] on Marco Island [though] were damaged, even though the island was spared Those issues are not worrisome to Bill Nicha direct hit." ols, project manager for the Old Bradenton The memo also notes that the thatched roofs, Road improvements under way in the city of according to research, tend to last from five Sarasota. to 10 years before they must be replaced. In an interview with the News Leader on Aug. The memo adds, "SCAT does not recommend [chickees'] use as bus shelters in Sarasota County" for of a number of reasons. Those range from the fact that maintenance appears "to be more involved than first apparent" to 6, Nichols said he had checked with people at four locations in the area where chickees are standing and learned the structures held up to 65-mph winds without problems, thanks to the design. Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) and other county staff members listed reasons they do not recommend the use of chickees for bus shelters. Image courtesy Sarasota County