A Florida politician's home will become a sewage station. How that happened

Miami Herald

09-07-2025

The city of Bradenton is buying a former city official's home with plans to convert it into a sewage-pumping station as leaders look to address chronic wastewater issues.
Public records show the home belongs to former Councilman Bill Sanders, who ran for mayor and lost last year after a years-long history of bitter clashes with other city officials and staff. The Bradenton City Council unanimously approved a $441,000 purchase of the property at 2502 Riverside Drive E. in May.
Sanders has owned the home since 2011. But Mayor Gene Brown, who frequently clashed with Sanders on Bradenton City Council, said it's the property's location, not its connection to the former councilman, that makes it an ideal purchase.
'Take every other factor out, what would be the best location and easiest for the project ... it has nothing to do with anything except what's best for the project,' Brown said, noting that the home sustained serious flood damage from Hurricane Helene.
Sanders was first elected to the Ward 4 seat in 2018 and lost the race for a second term in 2022. The Bradenton Herald reported in 2022 that city employees and officials had accused him of 'abusive and threatening behavior.'
Brown and Sanders most recently faced off in the 2024 mayoral race, which saw both candidates trade harsh insults. Sanders accused Brown of using his position for personal gain, while Brown described Sanders as a liar who makes extreme claims without the evidence to back them up.
Sanders did not respond to the Bradenton Herald's request for comment.
Project to address Bradenton's sewage problems
The city will use part of the .26-acre property to build a temporary lift station to serve the surrounding neighborhood of about 180 residents while the city undertakes a larger project to replace nearby Lift Station No. 13, an old station that officials say is in poor condition. The city's project website says construction of the temporary lift station will take about three months.
When it's built, the lift station will be fenced and will not impede the line of sight for nearby residents, City Administrator Rob Perry said at the May 28 meeting.
Lift stations pump wastewater from lower to higher ground and move it to the city's treatment facility. Repairing and replacing the city's wastewater infrastructure is a part of the city's 'Face it, Fix it' initiative that includes over $150 million in planned improvements to the wastewater systems.
After last year's hurricane season, Brown said he and the city realized how crucial the upgrades would be. In the weeks following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the City of Bradenton spilled millions of gallons of sewage into the Manatee River after the wastewater systems became overwhelmed.
'We had a historic season last year,' Brown said. 'We saw the importance of trying to work through many of our lift stations.'
But city officials say that it will take several years to complete over $150 million in planned upgrades. One of the first pieces is combining Lift Stations No. 3 and No. 13.
Lift Station No. 13 is one of the city's oldest, at over 70 years old.
Perry confirmed the system's deterioration at the council's May 28 meeting. When there are high flood waters like last year's hurricanes, the system is typically underwater, he added.
'If it's hit again, it could compromise the entire area,' Perry said at the meeting.
Project aims to protect Manatee River, neighborhoods
Installing a temporary lift station on Riverside Drive East will allow the wastewater system to temporarily bypass Lift Station No. 13 and prevent the old system from failing.
The city is concerned about what would happen if a major storm flooded the neighborhood and compromised Lift Station No. 13. Putting the temporary lift station in place would give the city a stable pump system for this hurricane season and the next, officials said.
'I'm not willing to take a chance of that station failing and the whole neighborhood going down,' Brown said. 'If that station fails, not only is sewage going into the river, the neighborhood is shut down.'
Brown said the construction work could take two to four years, and having a temporary lift station will allow the city to take the rebuild project to the next level and fast-track it.
'It's a win-win for the neighborhood, but it's also a win-win for every community-oriented person in this town,' Brown said.
Bradenton to buy former official's home
Perry said at the May 28 meeting that the city's public works department determined it was necessary to install a temporary lift station before the rebuild of Lift Station No. 13 can begin.
At first, the city contemplated how to install a pump in or adjacent to a roadway or in the pork chop-shaped median in the road. But this led to concerns about blocking the roadway and impeding residents' views, Brown said.
Then, the property on Riverside Drive East became available and presented the city with a new opportunity. According to Brown, the property sustained major flooding from Hurricane Helene.
'The house is completely damaged by the flooding,' Brown said. 'No matter who bought the property, it's a total tear down.'
The city and seller agreed to a $441,000 price for the property. Before installing the temporary station, the city will need to demolish some of the buildings on the property.
The seller on the contract with the City of Bradenton is listed as Ellen Sanders and, according to the Manatee County Property Appraiser, the property also belongs to former Councilman Sanders.
City shares future plans for property
Brown said the city plans to put the property back on the market as soon as the temporary station is no longer necessary.
'This is a piece of property that we want to purchase for the use of this temporary lift station that, when everything is done … then that property will be back marketable,' Brown said.
'We don't want to turn it into anything. We want to make it where it's back on the market for the neighborhood,' Brown added.
City council would have the final say over any future actions regarding the property.