MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Boat ramps across Manatee County reopened to the public on Monday. 

The Board of County Commissioners voted 4-3 on Friday to reopen the boat ramps after they had previously voted to shut them down two weeks ago to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

Public Works employees went to each ramp on Monday morning removing the concrete barriers and by early afternoon they were available for residents to use. 

The four commissioners who voted to reopen the ramps felt the temporary closure was unfair to fishermen who utilize the public ramps. Fishermen using private ramps still had the ability to use them during the two-week closure. 

“I know a lot of people who said they would have gone out and caught enough fish to take care of their neighbors and everybody,” said Commissioner Priscilla Trace during the discussion Friday. 

The recommendation to keep ramps closed came from the Emergency Policy Group, made up of a number of local elected officials and law enforcement officers, and Public Safety Director Jake Saur. The argument was that if ramps were kept closed it would help to limit the spread of coronavirus. 

People who utilize the boat ramps are asked to keep groups of less than 10 and not congregate with other boats in the water. 

Manatee County residents remain under a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.