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"[The shelters in] St Louis, San Diego, north Miami — they are all located where the cen- tral services are. All the services need to be located as closely as possible," Marbut stressed. "There is no other way to say it." "I'm not a fan of putting a shelter out with the cows," said Patterson in response to the earlier comment from a resident about con- structing a shelter in pasture. "To be used, you have to put it not only where the homeless are but within some proxim- ity of the services," Patterson added. "It just makes logistical sense." A DELAY? County commissioners urged their city coun- terparts to renew the focus on Sarasota's shelter project, citing what they characterized as stalling tactics emanating from City Hall. "I perceive from reading different emails that the administration in the city is putting up roadblocks as it relates to the Osprey Avenue site," said Commissioner Carolyn Mason. "That is my opinion, which I am entitled to." "I'm very concerned as to foot dragging here," Barbetta added, noting he had seen a delay, too, on the part of city administrative staff. Barbetta said he does not want to give up on the Osprey Avenue site, which was Marbut's No. 1 recommendation for a shelter location. The rezoning of Ed Smith Stadium was han- dled quickly when the community was trying to work out a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, Barbetta pointed out. He would like to see the city approach the shelter project, once a site has been chosen, with the same gusto, he said. % The site at 1330 N. Osprey Ave. in north Sarasota ranked highest on consultant Robert Marbut's list. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader April 4, 2014 Page 15