MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — One week after we first told you about the dust issues residents were facing as a result of new developments in Manatee County, commissioners voted to implement new measures aimed at mitigating and monitoring the issue.

They voted unanimously on the following changes, which were recommended by staff:

• Require developments more than 100 acres to supply a camera system with live access and recording with access for the county
• Require contractors to submit weekly reports of dust control measures used and implemented, signed by the project superintendent or higher
• Require contractors to have all equipment to follow a designated haul path within the development

It’s unclear when the changes will officially go into effect and what the enforcement process will look like, but residents are skeptical that they’ll make a difference.

“I don’t know if it is going to work to be honest and if they will follow through with it or if these contractors will just say, ehh, and just take the hit again,” said Chelsea Jervis with H&H Nursery. “It just feels like nobody cares.”

One commissioner also expressed skepticism.

“I want to fix the issue, and I don’t think a camera is going to fix the issue,” Commissioner Jason Bearden said. “I don’t think requiring contractors to submit weekly reports of dust control measures is going to fix the issue. We need to minimize as much dust as possible and doing these things, I don’t think it’s going to minimize the dust that is currently in the air,” he continued.

During the meeting, staff told commissioners they may need to consider upping fines because some contractors are ignoring the rules at their developers direction and instead paying the fines because it is cheaper for them to do so.

“I think we have to broadcast the message that we are not going to let the developers run over Manatee County, said Commissioner Tal Siddique. “It is just not acceptable to have developers tell their subcontractors, it is just the cost of doing business. Is the fine 10,000 a day, 5000 a day? I think we need to broadcast a stricter message without a doubt,” he continued.

“We do not have the ability to snap our fingers and fix a problem, any problem. What we can do is better manage the problem while we are asking staff to come up with a solutions to fix the problem,” said Commissioner George Kruse.

We expect staff to come back to commissioners with additional mitigation measures at a later date.

Residents and businesses impacted by the dust hope to see more measures taken sooner than later.

“Just kind of think about us little people here. We have lived here for years, I grew up here in Manatee County. It is not right what they are doing, coming in and just taking over. You just feel really small, you feel like an ant in the whole situation,” said Jervis.

We did contact multiple developers who were working on projects in areas where residents submitted complaints. So far, only one has responded to our request for comment.

“SeaFlower values its relationship with neighboring communities and is committed to doing everything possible to minimize any impacts. I’ll be in touch when I have information to share,” said a SeaFlower development representative in an email to SNN.