MANATEE COUNTY (SNN TV) – Manatee County Chairman Kevin Van Ostenbridge pays $1,686 to cover the cost of emails and voter data for thousands of Manatee County residents purchased with public funds.
The Herald Tribune reports Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Angelina Colonneso raised questions about the transaction in an audit by Manatee County officials and staff published on May 30.
Colonneso’s office claims the purchase does not serve a public purpose and should be repaid by Van Ostenbridge. Colonesso’s Office of Inspector General reviewed all 566 transactions made by Manatee County commissioners and administration between March 1, 2021, and November 30, 2022.
The report cites various examples where county officials did not provide enough proof of public purpose, transactions that were not in compliance with county travel policies, and transactions where staff inappropriately split the cost of a single purchase to circumvent limits on spending.
Van Ostenbridge was referenced by name. Former County Administrator Scott Hopes and former Deputy Administrator Robert Reinshuttle were also identified by their previous titles.
Some allegedly dubious items the report cites include $50 dollars spent by Hopes for tickets to two luncheons in 2022, $378 dollars spent on five tickets by Reinshuttle for employees to an award ceremony, $2,436 spent by unnamed staff for drinks and snacks for county commission meetings and administrative offices, and $300 dollars spent by Hopes on in-flight Wi–Fi services.
Van Ostenbridge claims the purchase was cleared. says he used the information to create a newsletter for constituents and the purchase was cleared. He defends the transaction and said he cleared the purchase with the Manatee County Attorney Bill Clague.
Hopes says he intends to sue Colonesso’s office to recuperate pay deducted in February because of the claims made against him in the audit. He said the expenses are allowed and were justified.
