Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson gave an upbeat assessment of the “state of the county” this week, which was predictable, but rang true nevertheless.

Despite dealing with the lingering detritus of the Great Recession, the vestiges of a procurement scandal, an upheaval of high-ranking staff, a botched mowing contract that left the medians overgrown and residents complaining and a vendor-contracting failure that led to the closure of Snook Haven restaurant — among other things — things do seem to be looking up.