Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/194514
Sarasota News Leader October 18, 2013 Page 37 for the possibility of overseeing the creation Over the past five years, Applebee has been the criminal justice policy and human serof a homeless shelter in Sarasota County. vices coordinator for Sarasota County, In 2005, as chief sheriff's deputy in Wiscasset, working on complex issues such as child ME, Applebee was chosen to lead the effort to welfare, inmate mentoring and homeless prefund, plan and construct the new Two Bridges vention. Assistant County Administrator Lee Regional Jail. The $24.6-million center became Ann Lowery recently gave him the two-year the first of its kind in New England, merging assignment to put Marbut's strategic plan into two old facilities into one high-tech jail focus- action. ing on programs designed to stem recidivism. That proposal is expected to include a permaThe project came with its share of obstacles, nent shelter. In a September interview with ranging from legislative hurdles to funding. the News Leader, Marbut called such a facil"Both counties [involved] had to pass a refer- ity a "transformational center." endum or the project was dead," Applebee said Marbut is scheduled to present his plan to in an interview this week with The Sarasota elected officials and members of the commuNews Leader. Applebee was at the center of nity on Nov. 25. Applebee will take over his the action, working "very long hours." new role sometime the same month. A homeless person sleeps in Five Points Park in downtown Sarasota. Photo by Norman Schimmel