Pines residents speak out on paid parking
The Pines Trailer Park parking lot will be reviewed by city planning and building officials and discussed on May 1.
did not
Easter dawn Memories demolished along with Annie’s
Annie’s Bait and Tackle shop in Cortez held memories for many.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ- The demolition of Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop on April 16 marked a sad day in Cortez as years of memories for many were reduced to a pile of rubble. More than a 70-year-old building, Annie’s held a wide array of meaning for those who came to watch the demolition. For some, it was the first stop for a day on the water for ice, beer, gas and bait; for others it was a spot to unwind on the patio for dinner and drinks and for many, it was one of the last standing local tributes to Florida heritage.
“They’re taking away everything that’s old Florida in Cortez,” Greg Hermes said. “What’s to say they won’t take away the village next?”
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop was demolished on April 16.
Annie’s is on the Seafood Shack parcel that was purchased by the county on Dec. 31, 2024 for $13 million and is
SEE ANNIE'S, PAGE 17
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park residents came to an April 17 city commission meeting well-prepared and represented to discuss their lack of parking at the park.
At issue was the parking lot at 201 First Street, which had historically been used for free by Pines residents and was converted to paid parking in January by park ownership Pines Park Investors LLC. Nearly half of the 86 Pines residents who do not have parking at their units relied on the parking lot.
The lot was free to residents until Jan. 1, 2024 but Pines owners shut it down on Dec. 31, 2024, giving Pines residents the option to pay $750 a year for a single space.
Sail & Power Squadron identifies missing waterway markers
Only two of the 21 waterway markers previously located offshore of Anna Maria remain in place after two major hurricanes struck the Island in 2024.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City resident and Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron member David Haddox helped the city determine which buoys and waterway markers remain in place, which markers are missing as result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and who is responsible for replacing them.
Haddox chairs the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, is the Past Commander of Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron and currently serves as Rear Commander for America’s Boating Club |
United States Power Squadrons. When presenting his findings to the Anna Maria City Commission on April 10, Haddox said, “The mayor asked me, based on my power squadron experience, to assist him with a program to try to
Anna Maria Island, Florida
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN David Haddox presented this map that indicates where the waterway markers are supposed to be located offshore of Anna Maria.
CHRIS WHITTAKER | SUBMITTED
The sun
disappoint worshippers at the 60th Annual Easter Sunrise Service at Manatee Beach on April 20.
Water main replacement continues in Holmes Beach
The county hopes to complete most of the water main replacement work by the end of April.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – In response to questions raised by residents and city commissioners, Holmes Beach Public Works Director Sage Kamiya addressed the ongoing Manatee County water main replacement project occurring along 65th, 64th, 63rd and 62nd Streets between Marina Drive and Holmes Boulevard.
During the April 8 city commission meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said a resident asked him about the project.
“I think we’ve all driven by it and there’s an odor that’s coming from it. I was surprised the odor’s that pungent from our groundwater,”
Schaefer said. “It’s not our project. They’re behind schedule and we unfortunately have no role in supervising it.”
Commissioner Dan Diggins said residents also contacted him and he asked Kamiya to provide an update. Kamiya said the county contacted the city about a year and a half ago regarding the need to replace some aging water mains and the city has no control over the project and no inspection rights.
Kamiya said the water table has to be lowered where they’re laying the new pipes and the groundwater displaced during the dewatering process is producing the odor Schaefer mentioned.
“You’re smelling the sulfur that is naturally occurring,” he said.
The dewatering process also creates standing water along Marina Drive and the impacted streets between Marina Drive and Holmes
Boulevard are lined with barricades, equipment, materials, excavated areas and more.
Kamiya said the county anticipated completing the project in January or February and now hopes to complete most of the work by the end of April, but some additional cleanup and other work will still be needed. In reference to a previous county water main replace-
ment project that encountered significant delays, Diggins said, “We don’t want this thing to turn into another Holmes Boulevard.”
Mayor Judy Titsworth cited post-hurricane labor demands as a contributing factor.
“Everybody is behind. Every single trade is behind and there’s just not enough workers out there,” she said.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The dewatering continued along Marina Drive between 64th and 63rd Streets on April 16. The impacted streets are lined with barricade barrels and other project-related items.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Planning board members start, depart
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Commissioners approve Drift-In major development plan
The Anna Maria Planning and Zoning Board welcomed two new city commission-appointed members, David Johnson and Christine Aaron, and said farewell to longtime board member and former city Commissioner Doug Copeland. Johnson and Aaron were sworn in before the April 16 planning board meeting began. Before the meeting ended about 25 minutes later, Copeland announced this would be his last meeting due to his declining eyesight making it increasingly difficult to read the meeting materials. During the brief meeting, board members continued their ongoing discussion about increasing from 20% to 80% the amount of window coverage that businesses are allowed when placing messages, graphics and other signage on their windows to promote their business activities. The increase is supported by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the West Manatee Fire Rescue District and the planning board recommends requiring an unobstructed 6-inchhigh vertical strip on each window so first responders can peer through a window before entering the business if they feel the need to do so. The reconfigured planning board expects to conduct a final review of the proposed ordinance amendment on May 21 and make a formal recommendation for city commission approval.
Anna Maria issuing new re-entry passes
The city of Anna Maria is issuing new, bright yellow “State of Emergency” passes to Anna Maria property owners and business owners.
One side of the new pass says, “In the event of an evacuation you will need this pass to access the City of Anna Maria. Access information can be obtained at cityofannamaria. com.” The other side of the pass has a January 2027 expiration date and a tag number. Previously issued reentry passes are no longer valid. The new reentry passes are available at the clerk’s window at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. There is a limit of two passes per residential property or commercial property. To obtain reentry passes, residents must show a valid ID with an Anna Maria address or a utility bill or some other document that confirms residency. Nonresident residential property owners, including vacation rental owners, must show a valid ID and a utility bill or other document that confirms property ownership in Anna Maria. Business owners must show a valid ID that doesn’t need to have an Anna Maria address and a utility bill or other document that confirms the Anna Maria business address. Reentry passes will not be issued to contractors unless they are state-approved contractors. For more information, call 941-708-6130. The cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach also issue reentry passes. Contact those city clerk’s offices for more information. The 2025 hurricane season begins on June 1.
The sidewalk easement modification is subject to final approval.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH –Commissioners unanimously approved the Drift-In's major development application on April 8 subject to conditions recommended by attorney Robert Lincoln and previously supported by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
The conditions include filing a “unity of title” document that joins the 120-122 Bridge St. properties into a single property and completing a final easement agreement and legal description to be brought back to the commission for final approval and execution.
Lincoln said the Drift-In will continue to operate under its temporary use permit, issued on March 20, pending final resolution of those conditions.
“We are very excited to have this process completed and proud we were able to do it in the way the city and the government felt like it needed to be done,” Drift-In owner Derek Williams said after the meeting. “We were never intending to cut a corner and in the end it all worked out exactly as we laid it out on Oct. 14.”
The bar’s tiki hut project had been approved by former City Building Official Darin Cushing but was placed on hold when City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at a Jan. 16 city commission meeting that the permit approval should not have been issued based on factors that included the city-owned easements on the property as well as the size of the new tiki structure. She said the project should be classified as a major development and must undergo the hearing process.
The Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board
recommended city commission approval of the major development application on April 2.
The April 8 hearing was a quasi-judicial hearing on the major development application. The hearing on the modification of the easement was not quasi-judicial, but the discussions were to be held at the same time, with separate commission votes on each, Lincoln said.
Commissioners were canvassed to disclose whether or not they had any communications outside of the meetings about the major development applications and they each confirmed they had not.
Lincoln outlined the rules at the beginning of the meeting: “A quasi-judicial decision has to be based on competent substantial evidence and at the end of the hearing can either vote to approve the applications with conditions or deny it. If you deny, you have to identify the specific reasons for the denial,” he said. “The easement is a separate vote. The proposal is to change two existing easements that are in favor of the city and replace them with a single easement.”
City Planner Luis Serna said based on his review he recommended approval of the major development pending three conditions recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board.
Serna said he reviewed the criteria for a major development plan as it relates to
Sect. 410.7 of the city’s Land Development Code.
“Based on our review of the major development, our finding is that the development does comply with the criteria, and we are recommending approval of this,” Serna said. “The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of this unanimously subject to three conditions. One in reference to the sidewalk easement, two, is the requirement for unity of title and three, that future development will be consistent with the proposed master plan. So we’re recommending in favor of the major development subject to these three conditions.”
Lincoln explained the unity of title issue.
“The building lot and the tiki share parking and other facilities; likewise, the electrical and plumbing and other services for the functions of the tiki lot are being provided by connections into the building lot,” Lincoln said. “They’re interdependent. A unity of title that would join the two properties together is appropriate, because they’re going to act as one property. You can’t sell them apart and still have them operate in the future.”
Commissioner Scott Bear expressed concern that the tiki could be considered an accessory use to the primary building use.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN City commissioners have approved a major development plan and easement modification for the Drift-In.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN David Johnson and Christine Aaron participated in their first Planning and Zoning Board meeting.
Permit fee waiver extended in Bradenton Beach
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the waiver of permit fees for storm-damage related repairs until July 17.
City Building Official Bill Palmer gave an update on permits, removal of substantially damaged properties and an ongoing FEMA review at the April 17 city commission meeting.
“You brought up the timeframe was running out for permits due to the storms, we wanted to know whether we were going to continue extending that,” Mayor John Chappie said. “Are most of the applications coming in today for storm damage?”
“They look to me like they’re legitimate storm damage and people sign affidavits saying they are,” Palmer said. “It has slowed down quite a bit.”
“I think we need to extend it,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce. “I’m not the only person having insurance issues and I know for everyone here in the city it would help to get it extended.”
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
City Building Official Bill Palmer, left, updates commissioners about waiving permit fees at an April 17 city commission meeting.
Palmer said code enforcement will also be concentrating on houses that were substantially damaged in the hurricanes.
“We need to eventually clean them up,” Palmer said. “I understand it takes time, but we need to follow up with the owners and see where they’re at.”
Palmer also updated commissioners about an ongoing city FEMA posthurricane review.
“They’ve been coming here and holding meetings with us. We had two since I’ve been here.”
Palmer started as city Building Official on March 5.
He said the last meeting with three FEMA representatives was attended by Chappie, City Attorney Ricinda Perry, Floodplain Administrator Sandy Tudor and himself.
“It was a productive meeting. They asked us questions and I think they
were satisfied with the answers we gave them,” Palmer said. “One of the gentlemen made a comment to us-I think you’re moving in the right direction. I think we’ll have more meetings. We’re doing everything right and everything we can to the best of our ability.”
Palmer said he is working on Standard Operating Procedures for damage assessment.
“I think that will move us ahead with them,” he said.
Scaccianoce asked Palmer about reviews of prior permits.
“Bill, I know we had some issues before you got here with work that was done, and I’ll just use the AC’s on the ground as an example, that we had to go back to work on permits that were approved that maybe shouldn’t have been, and the work was done. Are we still working on those kinds of things?”
“Yes Sandy’s been working on reviewing all the permits that possibly were issued incorrectly,” Palmer said.
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EVENTS
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
AMI Chamber Business Card
Exchange and Anna Maria Island Historical Society Pat Copeland Scholarship Awards, Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 5-7 p.m., $5 for members, $10 for prospective members.
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Arbor Day tree plantings:
• Bradenton Beach at Bridge Street west roundabout and Gulf Drive; ribbon cutting of sabal palm, native shrubs and ground cover. 10 a.m.
ON THE AGENDA
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
April 23, 11 a.m., Mandatory City Pier demolition RFP pre-bid walkthrough April 24, 1 p.m., City Commission meeting
• Holmes Beach at 34th and Sixth Avenues; planting of Jamaican caper tree or fiddlewood. 11 a.m.
• Anna Maria at Villa Rosa Park, South Bay Boulevard; planting of green buttonwood. Noon.
• Annie Silver Community Center at 103 23rd St. N. Bradenton Beach; planting of mahogany tree, sabal palm and silver buttonwood; meet your county forester with hot dogs, brats and refreshments. 12:30-1 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
Reel for Rotary fishing tournament. Benefit for disaster relief efforts in Cortez village, support of“Learn to Swim” program and programs at Anna Maria Elementary School. Registration at ianglertournament.com.
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. No meetings.
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information. April 22, 2 p.m., City Commission meeting
Huibers leaving Clean Water Committee
The Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee chairperson seeks a new member to replace Ron Huibers.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee founding member and longtime Chair Ron Huibers is leaving the committee after its May 14 meeting.
In January, Huibers relinquished the chair’s position and nominated board member Dr. Jennifer Miller to succeed him, a nomination the other committee members unanimously supported. On April 9, Huibers announced he’s leaving the committee after the May meeting.
Established in December 2021, the committee currently includes Huibers, Miller, fellow Holmes Beach residents Marty Hicks, Bill Romberger, Mike Pritchett and Jeffery Drinkard and Anna Maria resident John Kolojeski.
The committee’s vision is “To ensure that waters will meet their designated human uses for recreation, swimming, fishing and drinking while sustaining
healthy natural ecosystems that support natural processes and reliant plant and animal communities.” The committee’s objective is “To research means by which to sustain and improve upon the condition and purity of the natural waters and drinking water around Anna Maria Island.”
When announcing his departure, Huibers said, “The next meeting will be my last meeting. I’m going to step down after 3 1/2 years. I’ve been thrilled and honored to do it but it’s time for somebody else to maybe take a different swing of the bat and see if they can get more done than I did.”
Huibers will leave the committee with one unfulfilled goal that he tirelessly pursued - securing the city, county and/or state funds needed for the city to buy an aquatic harvester to be used to remove harmful algae blooms and dead fish and marine life from the city’s canals and other waterways. Despite his perseverance, the quest for that $100,000 piece of equipment remains elusive. Huibers said he learned it’s much easier to accomplish things in the private sector than it is in the public/local
government sector. He also said the committee is in good hands under Miller’s leadership.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer helped form the committee and serves as the city commission liaison to the committee, and he faithfully attends the committee’s monthly meetings.
“Ron, you’ve led the charge for three and a half years,” he said. “You’ve done a phenomenal job of staying focused and identifying the greatest needs. I think the committee has been as successful as it has because of many of your initiatives and the cohesiveness of the group. Everyone on the
committee is a contributor and it takes good leadership to keep it focused. On behalf of the entire city, we thank you for your efforts.”
Huibers thanked Schaefer for his help in forming a committee that was never shy about making its recommendations.
“The reason we’re doing it is we all want clean water. As a concerned citizen, you can count on me to help out where I can,” Huibers said.
Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee membership is not restricted to Holmes Beach residents and anyone interested in serving on the committee can contact City Clerk Stacey Johnston by email at cityclerk@holmesbeachfl.org or by phone at 941-708-5800 ext. 226.
Before Huibers made his announcement, the April 9 meeting included discussions about sea grass scarring, the committee-affiliated Islanders4CleanWater organization’s “Pass on Plastics” theme for April, monitoring water-related news stories (including Mote Marine being awarded a $710,473 FDEP grant for nutrient reduction using Microbe Lift) and
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Ron Huibers is ending his tenure as the Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee founding member.
CRA board discusses initiating new projects
Proposed state legislative bills would prohibit new projects for community redevelopment agencies after Oct. 1.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Proposed state legislative bills that would prohibit new projects for Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) after Oct. 1 prompted Bradenton Beach CRA members to identify several new potential projects to begin before the deadline.
“Ricinda (City Attorney Ricinda Perry) has an update about what’s going on in Tallahassee with regard to CRAs,” Mayor John Chappie said at the April 17 meeting. “That’s going to affect us big time.”
Senate Bill 1242 and House Bill 991 propose that:
• A community redevelopment agency may not initiate any new projects or issue any new debt on or after Oct. 1;
• A community redevelopment agency in existence on July 1 shall terminate on the expiration date provided in the agency’s charter or on Sept. 30, 2045, whichever is earlier; and
• A community redevelopment agency operating on or after Sept. 30, 2045 may not extend the maturity date of any outstanding bonds.
“We’ve got the CRA money for 20 years and if they pass this law we have to quit using the money?” CRA
member Ralph Cole asked.
“Correct, no new projects,” Perry said.
“You had authorized me to prepare a letter,” Perry told the CRA.
“I have that letter ready for the execution of the chairman stating that we oppose this and see where it goes.”
Perry said the proposed bills are a real threat to the future of CRA districts.
“It springboards me into the next discussion I wanted to have,” she said. “I’ve alluded to this in past meetings that we may just want to go ahead and move forward on all of our projects that we have discussed previously in the CRA and anything in the future that you might be interested in.”
Perry suggested scheduling a special meeting to discuss and commit to possible projects in the CRA district.
“I think it would be appropriate for us to reevaluate where we are on things,” Perry said.
One possible project would be to
make paver improvements around the CRA district. Another was to have signs redone in a black and white theme, she said.
“I think revisiting the (eastern) roundabout on Bridge Street and redesigning the roadway system there would be a worthwhile project to look at,” Perry said.
She also suggested revisiting a discussion about a walking trail.
“We talked about doing a trail and scenic routes for bikes and walking that goes to Fifth Street and after you come off of Gulf Drive, all down there it meets up with Bay and then we talked about continuing that forward somehow and connecting going under the city bridge,” Perry said.
She also suggested irrigation estimates along with landscaping projects.
“Some of the areas we talked about landscaping were the two roundabouts and down Bridge Street,” Perry said.
She said seating and lighting could be added to the new gazebo
area as a potential project.
“We’ve also looked at parking on First Street North,” Perry said. She said she is getting pricing from Steve Porter of Duncan Seawall to install a viewer on the pier.
“We had approved and discussed another lift or some dockage for the county’s water taxi on the north side of the pier,” Perry said. “Those waters are more protected with the waves and current action. We had originally talked about putting things in there, but the owners for the Pines Trailer Park, the Jackson brothers, were opposed to riparian access for those slips in there, and I believe that the current property owner is more favorable at granting the city the rights to get in and use that side.”
Chappie spoke in favor of the CRA helping Bradenton Beach merchants to promote Bridge Street.
“I think with the marina (Cortez Marina) coming in across the way, especially a public marina, it’s hard to compete,” Cole said. “It is going to be competition.”
“I think we should start prioritizing the projects we want to put money into and figuring out which ones really are important to the board and for improvement in the CRA,” CRA chair Scott Bear said.
A work meeting to brainstorm and prioritize potential projects was tentatively scheduled for May 8 pending confirmation by the city clerk.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency members are identifying projects to initiate before a bill is passed that would prohibit new projects.
Commissioners identify needed repairs for Tingley Library
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners discussed repairs needed at the Tingley Memorial Library at an April 17 city commission meeting.
“The reason this is on the agenda is we were tasked with getting information about Tingley Memorial Library,” Mayor John Chappie said. “We received a report on the state of the library from October 2023 to September 2024 and I also asked Bill (Building Official Bill Palmer) to inspect the building, the ADA ramp and the stairs.”
“I went underneath the ramp and inspected it and in my opinion, the whole thing’s going to have to be replaced,” Palmer said. “The stringers and ledges, they’re rusted out. It needs to be brought up to code.”
He estimated the cost for repairs would be well over $100,000. Chappie said he had been told it would be about $150,000.
“I don’t know if it was just the ramp or that included the stairs,” he said. “I wanted to gather this information. Also, we haven’t been able to get anybody to look at it about raising the building for parking underneath and relocating it to where the best location is to create the most parking spaces.”
Since the hurricanes, the library building was used by FEMA and is currently being used by the Small Business Association.
“As far as the ramp and the stairs, the building official did
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not condemn them,” Chappie said. “There are just some issues with the materials and we know it needs to be replaced. That’s why it’s safe for SBA to be there right now.”
Built in 1994, the Tingley Memorial Library is operated by volunteers. The library is a non-profit corporation and is independent of the county library system. It was originally funded by benefactor Beulah Tingley.
Marcelyn Harmon, a Tingley Library volunteer, spoke during public comment.
“My question was, I’ve been a volunteer for over four years, and this is a hidden gem. I was wondering if there was any information about the opening of the library?” she asked. “I have had a lot of people ask me when it was going to be open.”
“The people at the building told me they’ve had a lot of inquiries about the library,” Harmon said. “When will the building be vacant again?”
“We need to figure that out,” Chappie said. “You’re right, it is a gem.”
“I miss the library,” Bradenton Beach resident Evelyn Stob said. “I understand you want to get this up to code. I’d just love to see it open.”
Chappie asked the commission to authorize a joint work meeting with the Tingley Library board to discuss the repairs. The request was approved unanimously. The meeting date is to be determined.
512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria
Repairs are recommended for the Tingley Memorial Library.
PINES: Residents speak out on paid parking
Park owners’ attorney Stephen Thompson requested more time to make a presentation to the commission. Commissioners granted that request but also heard public comment from Pines residents, then decided to have the city planner and building official review the parking lot.
“At a minimum we would like to have a more comprehensive meeting where we get some time to make a full presentation about this parking, the history and why we feel we’re entitled to it,” Thompson said.
That request drew protests from Pines residents, and Mayor John Chappie asked for quiet in the chambers.
“If we’re going to do that, it needs to be by May 1. Otherwise, we’re waiting a whole month and that’s not fair to the Pines,” Commissioner Scott Bear said.
“I just think like Scott said we can’t wait too long,” Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce said. “They’ve been waiting long enough. It’s a constant battle for these people and they’ve gone through a lot already and I would like to get this resolved.”
“You give us a date and we’ll be here,” Thompson said.
“Today was the day,” people called out.
Chappie read six emails into the record from Pines residents before opening the meeting to public comment. Residents asked commissioners to look at the city codes including for M-1 zoning, which requires a parking space for each mobile homeowner.
“I purchased in April 2024 with the understanding from both the seller and the park manager that I was
guaranteed a parking spot. I wouldn’t have purchased my unit if I’d been informed the parking situation would be questionable. The uncertainty around the park’s timeline and this disastrous parking situation left me with no choice but to walk away from the investment of $200,000 I poured my heart into,” one resident wrote.
Prior to public comment, City Attorney Ricinda Perry left the meeting for an appointment but said she would listen to the recording.
Mary Mox said, “My husband and I bought our place in the park and were assigned a parking space. When we purchased our mobile home and were told to park in the lot.”
Mox showed commissioners her prior years’ parking passes.
“These say Pines Parking lot,” Mox said. “We would receive memorandums saying, when you
arrive this fall make sure you see the manager and obtain a parking permit and any people without a parking permit will be subject to being towed away. We were allowed one vehicle per mobile home.”
“I’ve been prepared for two weeks because that’s what you told me to do,” Pines homeowner Elayne Armaniaco said. “That’s what you told all of us to do. They didn’t prepare and yet somehow or another they’re being time allowed for extra preparation.”
She said that it’s commonly known that the parking lot was assigned for Pines Trailer Park resident use.
“Everyone in this room knows that this parking lot for five decades was assigned for Pines Trailer Park for owners who don’t have parking in their units,” Armaniaco said. “Even Mr. Kaleta and all associated with the Pines Park Investors know this.”
She produced a real estate listing prior to the Pines Park Investors’ 2023 purchase that described the parking lot as part of the sale.
“That parking lot is necessary for the park owners to comply with your code, and yet there has been no code enforcement,” she said. “City Attorney Perry would have you think because this lot has historically been used for parking, that it’s OK to just disregard the tenants who were using it.
“If that’s not enough for you to recognize that a paid lot at this location is improper, then let’s ask other questions like, does it comply with code? Is it a parking facility? Does it change from ownership assigning parking to its residents to ownership making a profit as a public lot increase the intensity of its use? Of course it does,” Armaniaco said. “You don’t need two weeks to make a presentation to make that point. This is literally forcing Pines Trailer Park residents out of their homes. If the terms of the agreement between the (former owners) Jacksons and the LLC had been honored, this park would be thriving by now.
“Taking away parking is not just unjust, it’s against your own city code,” she said. “Will this governing body really vote to push out the tenants and homeowners of Pines Trailer Park? You have the opportunity and the authority to right a wrong.”
Sarasota-based attorney Nathan Reneau, who is representing the Pines Park Homeowners Association, read a letter from the HOA president.
Lt. John Belt reassigned
Lt. John Belt has been reassigned from his duties that, for the past year and a half, included overseeing the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Anna Maria Unit. Belt is now with the MCSO Crimes Against Children unit. Sgt. Brett Getman supervises the Anna Maria Unit’s daily operations and he told city commissioners about Belt’s transfer on April 10. “Our lieutenant is going to be transferred. This will be his last week. We just got notification today that he’s going to Crimes Against Children,” Getman said. Belt’s reassignment is part of the personnel movement taking place within the Sheriff’s Office, some of which is retirement-related. Belt said Lt. John Wren was selected that morning to serve as his successor. “I know he’ll do a great job,” Belt said, and the commission thanked him for his service. Wren filled in for Getman for a few months after Getman suffered a heart attack in December 2022. Getman supervises the eight
BEACH BEAT
HOLMES BEACH
April 2, 3:30 p.m., 100 block 81st Street. Stolen bicycle. A bicycle was reportedly stolen from a rental property. A young male went to the beach with the bicycle and upon returning 30-45 minutes later, it was gone. It was described as a Swell Bicycle valued at $650 with serial number LY2K006932.
April 3, 9:52 p.m., 7200 block Palm Drive. Resisting an officer without violence. Police responded to a golf cart accident in which a passenger had fallen off and was bleed-
deputies in the Anna Maria Unit and is one of three sergeants now under Wren’s supervision. As Belt did, Wren now oversees the Anna Maria Unit, the MCSO Resource Assistance Program and the COPS (Community Oriented Policing) program that are all located in MCSO District 2, which extends from Oneco to Anna Maria Island and is under the district command of Capt. Louis Licata.
ing from the head. Police say approximately 20 family members of the victim were interfering with fire and EMS staff while they were rendering aid and began arguing with one another. An adult male attempted to get inside the ambulance. When he was told to move away, he became angry and had to be held back by police. The man was arrested, and police say he resisted being put in handcuffs. He was charged with resisting an officer without violence.
April 7, 4:50 p.m., East Bay Drive. Stolen bicycle. A part-time resident of Holmes Beach stated that sometime between March 2228 somebody walked into his carport and cut the bike lock for a Red Trek bicycle. The value of the bicycle was listed at $850 with serial number WTU262C7464R.
May 1 named Suzi Fox Day
The official start to sea turtle nesting season is May 1 and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is celebrating with a free event at Coquina Beach. Suzi Fox Day, named in commemoration of the late, longtime former executive director of Turtle Watch, will be at Coquina Beach
lifeguard tower nine on Thursday, May 1 from 3-6 p.m. Property managers and homeowners may pick up free wildlifefriendly PAR20 bulbs and educational outreach materials. There will games and turtle-themed activities along with music by Mike Sales.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Lt. John Belt spent about a year and a half overseeing the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit.
Peelen returning for author’s talk
Former Holmes Beach city commissioner and current North Carolina resident Jean Peelen will return to Anna Maria Island to give a one-hour author’s talk and seminar at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach on Saturday, May 3 at noon. “Don’t Keep Your Secrets” is the title of Peelen’s author talk. She believes that secrets hurt us and we should reveal them, even if only on a piece of paper meant solely for our own eyes. Peelen will punctuate her speaking engagement with a short reading from her latest book in progress, “Feisty: Lovers, Mothers and Others,” the sequel to her first book, “Feisty: A Memoir in Little Pieces.” Through the years, Peelen has constantly reinvented her life. She’s been a wife, a mother, a civil rights attorney, a model, a commercial actress, an elected official, an author and now, at the age of 84, she’s a TikTok influencer paving the way for older women to be heard and seen on the popular video-based social media platform. Peelen left Holmes Beach in 2018 after serving as a city commissioner for six years and she moved into a tiny house community in the mountains of North Carolina where she now writes her books and creates her TikTok videos that have garnered more than 69,000 followers. View Peelen’s TikTok content at www.tiktok.com/@jeanpeelen. Seating for her speaking engagement is limited, please register in advance at https://manateelibrary. libcal.com/event/14272987.
JEAN PEELEN | SUBMITTED
Former Holmes Beach resident Jean Peelen is now working on the sequel to her first book, “Feisty: A Memoir in Little Pieces.”
Kansas carrying on musical legacy in Palmetto
After more than 50 years, Kansas continues to tour and release new music.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT jhendricks@amisun.com
PALMETTO – The classicallyinfluenced progressive rock band Kansas is coming to the Bradenton Area Convention Center and they’re bringing The Outlaws with them.
The Friday, May 2 Kansas/ Outlaws concert is sponsored by The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Center of Anna Maria Island and Cedar Cove Resort and Cottages. Tickets start at $55. The most expensive floor seats are $105 and VIP packages are $285. Tickets can be purchased at The Center website, www.centerami.org/concerts.
After releasing their debut album, “Kansas,” in 1974, the band from Topeka, Kansas began experiencing widespread commercial success with the 1976 release of “Leftoverture,” their stellar fourth album that kicks off with the band’s first big hit, “Carry On Wayward Son.”
The hits continued with the “Point of Know Return” album in 1977 that featured the title song and the Top-10 single, “Dust in the Wind.”
The band’s live sound was captured on their 1978 double-live album
“Two for the Show” and they closed out a successful decade with 1979’s
“Monolith,” which included “People of the South Wind.”
As musical styles and band membership began to evolve in the 1980s, the band’s later hits
included “Hold On,” “Play the Game Tonight” and “Fight Fire With Fire.” Decades later, Kansas continues to write and record new music, including the “The Prelude Implicit” album released in 2016 and “The Absence of Presence” album released in 2020.
Formed in Tampa in 1967 and currently led by classic-era member Henry Paul, The Outlaws’ best-known songs include “Green Grass and High Tides,” “Hurry
Sundown,” “There Goes Another Love Song” and their 1980 cover of “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky.”
KANSAS TODAY
Chicago native and former Shooting Star lead singer Ronnie Platt joined Kansas in 2014 after lead singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh retired. With Platt also playing keyboards, the current Kansas lineup features founding member and guitarist Rich Williams, guitarist Zak Rizvi, keyboardist/ vocalist/musical director Tom Brislin and violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon. Original drummer and founding member Phil Ehart is still recovering from a major heart attack he suffered in 2024 and his longtime drum tech and
protégé Eric Holmquist is currently handling the drumming duties.
According to the band’s official Facebook page, bass player Dave Edwards is filling in for bassist Dan McGowan for a few weeks as he and his wife welcome a new baby. During an April 15 phone interview with The Sun, Platt described what the audience will see and hear at a Kansas concert in 2025.
“Some of the most amazing musicianship you’ll ever see. Tom was Meat Loaf and Debbie Harry’s keyboard player and he toured with Yes. He’s a great songwriter too. Zak is an amazing guitarist, an amazing producer and he wrote the motherlode of the music on the last two studio albums. The audience
will be mesmerized by Joe Deninzon on that Viper violin. We have Dave filling in for Dan, and he’s a smoking bass player. I’ve known Eric my entire life. I was in a band called Drama with Eric’s father and we played all Yes music. He’s a great drummer. And Rich has been there more than 50 years. In my opinion, Rich is one of the most underrated guitar players of all time. This is what people are going to see: the best musicians playing incredible music. It takes a certain level of musicianship to pull off this music and the guys in Kansas do that with flying colors.”
Although he’s currently not drumming, Ehart still plays a vital role in the band operations.
to see so many people in the audience that were original fans of the band back in the 70s and now their kids are coming – and dare I say, their grandkids.”
The Kansas website bills the Palmetto show as a “Kansas Classics” show.
“Of course you going to hear the big hitters,” Platt said. “We can’t do a show without doing ‘Carry On Wayward Son,’ ‘Dust in the Wind’ and ‘Point of Know Return,’ but we really try to give the audience a good sample of Kansas through the years, including the early albums. And we’re working on ‘Jets Overhead,’ off ‘The Absence of Presence.’ What a rocking song that is.”
It’s such a scary, sobering thought. But as I got educated about the type of cancer I had, I learned it was extremely slow growing and it’s extremely rare that it spreads. I found an amazing surgeon that was able to remove the cancerous nodule on my thyroid and not remove my whole thyroid, which cut my recovery time down dramatically. We did our first show one month to the day of my surgery. We did have to cancel five shows, but three were rescheduled.”
Kansas has a busy year ahead, with more than 30 shows currently scheduled.
HEALTH SCARE
Platt recently dealt with his own health scare.
“We’re playing with a lot of friends this year,” Platt said of the summer and fall tours that include shows with various other bands, including .38 Special, The Outlaws, Night Ranger, Jefferson Starship and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas.
“Phil’s the CEO. He’s been managing the band for probably 40 years now,” Platt said. “Phil kept the band together through ‘the dark ages’ in the 90s (when grunge took over the music scene). Things got pretty lean in the 90s and then classic rock made a resurgence. I’ve seen our audiences get bigger and the response gets bigger. It’s nice
“Back in January, my neck felt really sore and I started getting hoarse. I got a needle biopsy and it came back that I had malignant thyroid cancer. The first thing on my mind was how much time do I have left?
“It’s going to be a fun year; and when you have a new perspective on life, you really appreciate things a lot more.”
Platt also appreciates that Kansas travels by plane and not by tour bus.
“When I was in Shooting Star, we traveled by bus and it lost its luster really fast. It was the band and the crew on one bus. I’m 6-foot-2 and those bunks are probably about 6 feet long,” he said. “With Kansas, we fly to the first location and drive Expeditions or Suburbans from city to city, staying in hotels until we finish that run and fly home. That’s a big benefit of being in Kansas: I get to come home every week,” he said. When asked about carrying on the musical legacies of well-known bands after their original members depart, Platt said, “Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky aren’t around anymore but people still go to see symphony orchestras play their music. It’s because of the music. I don’t call it classic rock anymore. I call it ‘timeless rock.’ And it’s like your favorite sports team - there’s no one from the 1985 Chicago Bears playing anymore but they’re still the Bears. The Kansas organization hires the best musicians possible to carry on the music and Kansas is still producing new music.”
MARK SCHIERHOLZ SUBMITTED Kansas is still going strong after more than 50 years.
MARK SCHIERHOLZ | SUBMITTED
Lead singer/keyboardist Ronnie Platt joined Kansas in 2014.
JERRY WATSON SUBMITTED Guitarist Zak Rizvi is an accomplished songwriter and producer.
MARK SCHIERHOLZ SUBMITTED Keyboardist Tom Brislin serves as the band’s musical director.
LAUREN HIGHT/CAPITAL ONE HALL | SUBMITTED
Eric Holmquist now fills the drummer’s chair long occupied by founding member Phil Ehart.
MARK SCHIERHOLZ | SUBMITTED
Rich Williams has been playing guitar with Kansas for 50-plus years.
JOEL BARRIOS SUBMITTED
Joe Deninzon carries on the legacy of masterful Kansas violinists.
PINES: Residents speak out on paid parking
“Many residents have transferred their deeds to the Urban Group that Pines Trailer Park investors have retained to manage eviction processes. Why have they done this? Because they have nowhere to park their vehicles. And they have stated to us, their HOA, they have no choice but to surrender their deeds,” Reneau read.
“Historically and traditionally the parking lot at Pines Trailer Park has been part of the residential parking,” Reneau said. “The code for trailer parks is M-1, which requires one parking spot per trailer. Without the parking lot across the street, the trailer park itself is outside of code.”
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Pines homeowner Elayne Armaniaco addresses the commission about the paid parking lot formerly used by Pines Trailer Park residents.
Reneau said it appears that the current strategy of Pines Park Investors is to drive out residents by removing their parking.
“Pines Trailer Park is not closed yet and there is an active lawsuit against Pines Park Investors,” Reneau said. “If it’s successful, the parking lot will continue to be needed as part of the park. Currently it is zoned as C-1, which does not allow for a standalone parking lot, but it does allow for residential use and trailer park. Without this being made available for use by the trailer park residents, it’s a code compliance issue for the park, and the owner needs to be made to shut down the paid parking use and make it available for use by the park to meet those M-1 zoning requirements.”
Sam Negrin, a representative for Pines Park Investors, said, “Upon our acquisition of the trailer park we were told from the sellers, the agents and park manager that every single trailer lot came with parking. The ones who do not have parking because they, I don’t want to say the word, but illegally built lanais.”
Pines residents reacted in protest to Negrin’s comments.
“I’m not standing here saying that’s 100% accurate, from that reaction, but that is always the impression we’ve been under,” Negrin said.
Negrin said the park is governed by state statute and the park prospectus.
“The lot in the sale was addressed to us as an additional selling point, it comes with a parking lot, but is not required by the prospectus for the residents,” Negrin said. “The parking lot is not anything that’s entitled to the residents.”
“With those storms came the assumption from the residents that they don’t have to pay us anymore. Our sellers who we have the note with on the property, we still have to pay them in full every month,” Negrin said. “At the end of the day we’re a business just like any other business; we need our income to continue running it. That is why we had to change the parking. This is a business. We aren’t a charity.”
“Let them rebuild so they can pay you,” Danielle Armaniaco said during her public comment.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Pines homeowner Mary Mox talks to commissioners about the parking lot formerly used by Pines Trailer Park residents.
“The evidence shows in fact that it was Pines parking, but aside from that, I don’t understand how we’re allowing that paid parking to operate today,” Bear said. “I’d like to understand how we’re not enforcing the code violation.”
Scaccianoce characterized Negrin’s claim that the parking lot was unrelated to the trailer park a “failed argument.”
“As professional as all these investors are, I find it extremely difficult that they never saw the sign that said Pines Trailer Park parking on that lot when they were deciding to buy the property and they took the word of the Jacksons saying, ‘Oh, that’s just an ancillary lot, it has nothing to do with the trailer park’, when it was obviously marked before they bought it,” she said. “That should have been a red flag to Mr. Kaleta and his investment group to at least question what they had been told. I don’t remember when that parking lot wasn’t for the Pines.”
Chappie suggested a review of the parking lot by the city planner and code enforcement officer.
Pines
“Time’s running out for the Pines people and that’s not fair,” Chappie said, asking if the commission would like to wait until May 1 or take a stance right now.
“I think we should take a stance right now,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said.
Bear said he would like to advance it to code enforcement for a review and to make a decision about the current use of the parcel as a paid parking lot.
“There’s a pretty strong abundance of information that was never paid parking and shouldn’t be paid parking now,” Bear said. “This is a paid lot that was not approved.”
Commissioners unanimously approved a review by the city planner and building official about the use of paid parking on the site. The discussion will be continued at the May 1 commission meeting.
A GoFundMe page has been established for the residents at https:// www.gofundme.com/f/help-pinestrailer-park-elderly-fight-eviction.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Park Investors LLC representative Sam Negrin defends the conversion to paid parking in the lot that was formerly used by Pines Trailer Park residents.
ANNIE'S: Memories demolished
FROM PAGE 1
slated to become a public boat launch facility to be named Cortez Marina.
Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 on March 4 against entering into a lease agreement with Annie’s and in favor of demolishing the hurricaneimpacted building. Commissioner Jason Bearden cast the dissenting vote.
That vote followed a January directive by county commissioners to have staff explore options to bring Annie’s up to code.
Standing across the street from the business he owned for 30 years, Annie’s co-owner, Bruce Shearer, watched with his daughter, Anna Gaffey, and 25-30 Cortez residents and friends as an excavator bucket tore through the building.
Within an hour, the building was demolished.
this anymore.”
Shearer had said he offered to make repairs to both the building and the county-owned docks at his own expense but was declined by the county.
“They (Manatee County) had a plan. They put us through a dog and pony show to appease people,” Shearer said earlier this month.
“45.8% FEMA,” referring to the evaluation of storm damage to the building.
“It was less than 50% and we should have been able to fix it up,” Shearer said.
“I almost wish it had just come down in a hurricane so we wouldn’t have had to watch this,” Gaffey said.
Many in attendance hugged Shearer and shook his hand while thanking him for the years of memories at Annie’s.
The large yellow Annie’s sign that hung over the door was caught in the rubble. Shearer walked across the street to retrieve it but was sent back from the site by a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy for safety reasons.
During the demolition, attendees expressed anger at the Manatee County Commission and in particular, District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique, who represents Cortez. Some attendees were wearing stickers that said, “No Tal. Anyone but Tal, 2028.”
Shearer said he had extended an invitation through the person in charge of the demolition for Siddique to watch the building come down.
In an April 9 email to The Sun, Manatee County spokesperson Bill Logan addressed the damage estimate and wrote: “The Substantial Damage Estimator (SDE) on January 29, 2025, originally was shown as 45.8% on the building addressed as 4334 127th Street West. The other address shown at this location was 4330 127th Street West with 41.6% SDE. These 2 estimates at the same building were based on visual and high-water marks during the Substantial Damage Assessment.
One worker took the battered sign off the pile and brought it across the street to Shearer.
A woman, who said she worked at Annie’s for eight years, tearfully said as she walked away, “I can’t watch
Siddique did not attend, but sent the following email to the Sun: “The future is still bright for the Cortez community. Today we can begin to move forward with plans to bring amenities the community has been asking for and do it in a way to be resilient against future storms.”
Spray-painted on the side of Annie’s building was
“The engineering report was used to correctly identify the level of damage and this information was entered into the FEMA Substantial Damage Estimator. The new level of damage for the entire building was reflected on SDE report at 100% on 3/16/25. The Substantial Damage letter will reflect the 100% repair costs to building value.”
The Sun made a public records request on April 10 for the Substantial Damage letter and engineering report referenced by Logan, but as of April 16, nothing was received.
“We are saddened by all the losses caused by the busiest and most destructive hurricane season on record,” Logan wrote on April 9.
“We will host nine outreach events to gather input from Manatee County residents on the future of this property and look forward to giving our community additional access to the water for boating and recreation.”
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Annie’s owner, Bruce Shearer (in black shirt), has a beer with friends to toast Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop.
Sister Keys cleanup celebrates 15 years
uncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Sarasota Bay Watch this past weekend for the Annual Sister Keys Clean up. The event, held yearly since 2010, was a collaboration of the two nonprofit organizations, the Town of Longboat Key Police and Public Works, Reef Innovations and the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant. Close to 50 volunteers worked for four hours on Sister Keys and around the mangrove fringes collecting a massive amount of trash and recyclable items, much of it from Hurricane Helene, which swept over the island with an estimated 4-foot storm surge.
This year’s harvest was the largest ever with over 400 pounds of insulation, numerous trash and recycling bins, lumber and a large picnic table. The total weight of debris came to over 2 tons.
The Sister Keys were originally slated for development in the early 60s as the Shangri Isle Club and were once again threatened in 1989 when they went on sale for $1 million. That spurred a group of citizens to form the Sister Keys Conservancy in an attempt to buy and preserve the islands as a nature preserve. The Town purchased the islands in 1994 with a stipulation that the keys would never be developed.
plant sweep. The event was hosted by the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and volunteers were treated to a hosted box lunch. The restaurant, now under the ownership of Beachside Hospitality, agreed to keep hosting the event, continuing a multiyear tradition started by the Chiles Group.
The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 that removed all invasive species, planted native flora and created a 2-acre wetland. Today, mature mangroves dominate the waterways and are rich with
crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands, first created from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway, have matured, making the islands one of the best examples of a thriving native marine environment in coastal Florida.
The cleanup is part of a continuing effort to clean the islands of trash and the resurgence of invasive species.
Kayakers and those without a boat were ferried to the island by the Suncoast Waterkeeper patrol boat and volunteer boaters David and Lori Price and Jim Costa.
Back at the Mar Vista, volunteers loaded the debris into a dump truck provided by the Town of Longboat Keys Public Works Department, which clears and marks the trails on Sister Keys in advance of the cleanup as part of their annual invasive
The efforts of Sarasota Bay Watch and Suncoast Waterkeeper have been responsible for major initiatives that educate the public on the importance of a healthy bay and hold municipalities responsible to mandates established in the landmark 1982 Clean Water Act. SCWK also conducts bi-monthly water testing of inland coastal waters. For more information on the groups’ missions and to become a member, visit their websites, www.sarasotabaywatch.org and www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org.
RUSTY CHINNIS
DRIFT-IN: Commissioners approve major development plan
“Our opinion is it’s not an accessory use, it’s part of the primary use and the unity of title will combine the properties,” Serna said. “It’s a continuation of the use, we’re calling it an expansion of the primary use.”
Mayor John Chappie expressed concern about the width of the proposed sidewalk easements.
“It looks like a good project. When we talk about the easement I have some questions about what’s being proposed,” Chappie said. “I have a little concern with the width of the easement on the west end. Historically there’s been room for a bench and bicycle racks and landscaping. In looking at the proposal I’d like to see a little more. One of the other concerns I have is the easement along the front is pretty narrow and I’m concerned about foot traffic on the sidewalk. It’s 4 feet wide; I think it’s important we keep that kind of a clear area. I just want to make sure people are safe.”
“The city has a sidewalk easement or will with the easement swap. Based on the drawings, the easement right now doesn’t run on the sidewalk in front of the building,” Lincoln said.
“It will after the swap. In a congested area, there’s not a lot of room to put signage in the easement area so it might be that as a condition you could suggest signs indicated no loitering or obstructing the sidewalk mounted on the building.”
“The building has never looked better,” Chappie added. “I drove by (the April 3 grand opening based on the temporary use permit) and I smiled and I was thinking, ‘We’re back.’ ”
“April 3 was a special day for the Drift-In,” Williams said following the April 8 meeting. “That was an amazing day. We’ve gotten such great response from everybody that’s come in.”
APPLICANT’S PRESENTATION
Attorney Scott Rudacille, representing Drift-In (1715 Ventures LLC owners Derek and Helena Williams), spoke to the commission. Saying he was satisfied with Serna’s assessment of the major development application, he focused on the easement discussion.
“It’s been talked about already. The
FROM THE PREHISTORIC TO THE PRESENT,
existing easement covers about 17 feet into the parking lot and where the existing tiki is as well as a little piece on the corner. It doesn’t cover the frontage on Bridge Street and it doesn’t cover the sidewalk that wraps around Church (Street),” Rudacille said. “So what we had proposed, and recognizing that the Bridge Street commercial district is intended for zero lot line development - if you look at the businesses up and down Bridge that’s what it is - what we had proposed was to replace the two existing easements with a continuous easement which would cover all of the city sidewalk as well as the landscaping that exists there. On the west side, the easement that’s proposed there is wider than the sidewalk area, because in that area, the sidewalk goes up into the property.”
He said an existing area for landscaping between the sidewalk and the road may be an appropriate area for a bench or bike rack.
“We’d like to clear up the easement issue,” Rudacille said. “We’re respectfully requesting your approval of these two items.”
Where the sidewalk abuts the building, the easement would go up to the face of the building and on the west side and on Church Street, the easement would track the sidewalk, he said.
“Part of the reason there’s a condition of site planning is to ensure that the easement gets finalized,” Lincoln said. “Today we’re approving the concept of how we’re going to do this, and the legal description will be drafted. We’ll bring back the formal easement as a consent item.”
Both public hearings were then closed, and two separate motions were made for the major development plan with conditions, and modifications of the easements.
A motion to approve the major development plan subject to three conditions was unanimously approved.
A second motion to direct staff and the applicant to work together to develop a final easement agreement and legal description to bring back to the commission for final approval and execution was also unanimously approved.
REAL ESTATE
Tariffs: The great unknown
No one likes uncertainty, not stock investors and certainly not homebuyers. Nevertheless, here we are, six months after devastating storms and facing another, what appears to be active hurricane season. Just as homes and psyches are getting back to normal, in rolls the biggest storm of all, tariff policies. Nationally, buyers started gliding back into the housing market after two years of chronic slow sales. Showings for the week ended April 6 were up 39% from early in the year, outpacing the same period last year per Zillow. This was in spite of mortgage rates not moving off of the mid 6% range. Then comes tariff “reform.” As it is, we on Florida’s west coast can’t seem to catch a break. Economic anxiety and extreme stock market volatility are destabilizing and confusing threats to the housing market on top of an already nervous housing market fueled by the storms. All of this makes potential buyers rethink their decisions.
Castles in the Sand
A slowing economy raises fears of job security and investment security. If the negative effects of tariffs continue, it could put some pressure on the housing market and 2025 could be the third straight year of lower significant home sales. According to the National Association of Realtors, February pending home sales declined 3.6% from the same month in 2024, which is the weakest year for home sales since 1995. Keep in mind that lower home sales do not always translate to lower selling prices, but if the trend continues, lowering prices could be a likely result. We as a country have a lot of equity in our homes starting during the pandemic years and not leveling
off substantially. Home equity has climbed nearly 80% since early 2020 thanks to the extraordinary rise in house prices. According to the Federal Reserve, that was about twice the rise in financial wealth including stocks and bonds as of the end of 2024.
This benefits all homeowners’ buyers and sellers alike. But the difference is that so many homeowners refinanced when the Feds slashed interest rates during the pandemic that nearly three-quarters of households with mortgages now pay 5% or less on their mortgages, giving them very little incentive to sell.
In addition, accruing equity and wealth in your home comes with another set of increasing expenses. Since a large portion of property tax is based on the assessed value of the property, the higher the assessment, the higher the taxes. Not all states have a cap on property taxes like Florida has for full-time residents, so if you’re not a full-time Florida resident or if you live in a state where taxes are not capped,
you probably have had a large increase in property taxes over the past several years.
Another high financial expense that has increased is the cost of insurance and HOA fees for condos and even some singlefamily properties. Sometimes insurance goes up because the value of the property is higher, certainly a good thing. HOA fees are also impacted by insurance costs and specifically in Florida, the age of the condo.
And when you finally do sell, be prepared for capital gains tax, which could be a shock to the system if you are fortunate to have a lot of equity. The IRS has not increased the amount you can exclude from capital gains despite the huge amount of value accrued in our homes. It’s still $500,000 for married couples filing jointly and $250,000 for single filers, less expenses.
Owning a home has always been a sure-fire path to wealth, and I believe it still is and will still be the best investment you’ll ever make. But there are unknowns out there hovering over us and one starts with a big “T.”
LOUISE BOLGER
DeSantis signs Gulf of America legislation
On April 14, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law two pieces of state legislation pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico being renamed the Gulf of America. Taking effect on July 1, the new state law created by Committee Substitute/House Bill 549 and supported by DeSantis, the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives requires state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect the new federal designation of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Public school and charter school instructional materials and library media center collections adopted or acquired
on or after July 1, 2025 also must reflect the new federal designation. The new state law created by the adoption of House Bill 579 aligns Florida Statutes and geographical boundary references with the federal designation of the Gulf of America. Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) supported both pieces of legislation passed during the legislative session scheduled to end on May 2. The Associated Press and The Anna Maria Island Sun continue to refer to the body of water bordered by the U.S., Mexico and Cuba as the Gulf of Mexico.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Manatee Beach shoreline in Holmes Beach borders the Gulf of Mexico.
MARKERS: Identified
identify waterway markers surrounding the city of Anna Maria that are missing or off-station.”
He used the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) interactive online Uniform Waterway Marker Map to identify the locations of the buoys and waterway markers on record with the state agency. Clicking on the icon for each waterway marker identifies its permitted latitude and longitude, the message displayed on the marker, the permit number and more.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Haddox, AMI Sail & Power Squadron member Jay Winters and the city’s general manager, Dean Jones, went out by boat and visually identified the remaining and missing markers. They also identified some markers not shown on the FWC map, including markers in Bimini Bay that mark the channel for safe navigation in and out of Anna Maria’s residential canals and five nautical dayboard markers at the
entrance to Bimini Bay permitted to the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND). The WCIND markers remain in place but a couple are damaged. According to Haddox, there were no markers in Lake La Vista before the hurricanes hit.
Using PowerPoint and the FWC map, Haddox created a map that indicates which waterway markers remain and which are missing; all but two of the 21 markers that should surround the city of Anna Maria are missing.
Using the permit numbers listed on the FWC map, Haddox contacted the FWC and the U.S. Coast Guard to identify the permit holder for each marker in the “string of pearls” that is supposed to surround the city.
The missing markers include four vessel exclusion markers permitted to the city and previously located offshore of Bayfront Park. As the permit holder, the city is responsible for replacing those markers, whichprohibit motorized vessels from entering that offshore area often used by swimmers.
“It is a crime to bring a vessel between those markers and shore because we don’t want people and propellors in the same water at the same time,” Haddox said. “The sheriff’s office will be enforcing that once we get those markers put back.”
Haddox said one of the missing vessel exclusion markers was discovered in the channel that connects to Lake La Vista and will be correctly repositioned outside the channel.
Most of the other markers displayed on the FWC map list Manatee County as the permit holder and Haddox said the city would notify the county about the missing markers the county is responsible for replacing. Haddox also contacted Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and the Holmes Beach city planner regarding some missing markers in that city’s waters.
PIER DEBRIS
At Mayor Mark Short’s request, Haddox also helped the city obtain FWC approval to temporarily place four “Danger”
“Danger” markers will be placed along both sides of
where submerged and partially submerged debris poses a
passing through it.
waterway markers on each side of missing City Pier walkway, where concrete pilings and other debris is submerged or partially submerged where the pier walkway previously stood.
Haddox said unlike the legally enforceable vessel exclusion zones, the “Danger” signs placed near the pier will be informational only and not subject to sheriff’s office enforcement.
“They might see someone doing it and suggest that’s a bad idea, but the vessel exclusion you can actually get a ticket for,” Haddox said.
Short said, “I want to thank you and the power squadron
for stepping in and helping us with this project. I don’t think we have anybody on staff that even remotely would qualify to do what you guys do and we really appreciate it.”
Short asked Haddox to share some information he obtained on the city’s behalf regarding a WCIND grant program for placing or replacing waterway markers.
“We are applying for reimbursement. The grant, if it’s awarded, will be awarded on Oct. 1, Haddox said. It’s entirely likely this entire project will be paid for WCIND and not cost the city a thing.”
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
the City Pier hurricane debris field
potential danger to boaters
HUIBERS: Leaving Clean Water Committee
“Don’t be an idiot. Don’t drive boats on seagrass,” she said.
state legislation (including CS/HR 661, a bill proposing a one water approach to water resource management), Huibers’ participation in a water testing program and Miller’s pending appearance before the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on April 21.
SEAGRASS SCARRING
Hicks said he’s concerned about boats near his house speeding and damaging seagrass in the shallow water. Miller said she sees the same from her balcony and she wonders whether rental boats are contributing to the problem.
Huibers said a state statute allows those who damage seagrass to be ticketed. Attending City Commissioner Dan Diggins suggested the committee reach out to local boat rental companies and ask them to educate their clients about seagrass protection and preservation.
PASS ON PLASTICS
Produced and funded by the city, the Islanders4CleanWater 2025 calendar features a different theme each month.
The April theme is “Pass on Plastics.”
The message contained on the calendar says, “Keep the sea plastic free” and it suggests reducing the use of single-use plastic products (water bottles, shopping bags, drinking glasses, straws and more), supporting legislation to curb plastic production and waste, proper recycling, participating in beach and river cleanups, avoiding products containing the plastic microbeads found in some cosmetics, beauty products, cleaners and toothpastes and supporting groups and organiza-
tions that address plastic pollution.
Microplastics and pharmaceutical particles in drinking water and natural waters are frequent topics of discussion at the committee meetings and both can be harmful to humans and wildlife.
Huibers said he collected eight local water samples and submitted them to the University of Florida as part of the university’s research on pharmaceutical particles in natural waters.
TDC PRESENTATION
The committee members reviewed and refined the presentation Miller was scheduled to make at the April 21
TDC meeting. Miller’s TDC meeting appearance was the first by a Clean Water Committee member. The goal of Miller’s introductory presentation was to inform TDC members about the committee’s efforts and the need to protect the natural waters that attract so many tourists to Anna Maria Island and Manatee County. Miller wasn’t seeking any specific tourist development tax funds at the time but the committee may seek county commission-approved tourist tax revenues in the future. Free Islanders4CleanWater calendars, stickers, koozies and other items are available inside the city hall lobby and stylish, message-bearing T-shirts can be obtained from Code Compliance Chief James “JT” Thomas for a donation, or for engaging in a cleanup effort or other activity beneficial to the clean water cause. Contact Thomas by email at jthomas@ holmesbeachfl.org or by phone at 941-932-6426. Learn more at www. Islanders4CleanWater. com.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Jennifer Miller succeeded Ron Huiber as the committee chairperson.
KRC wraps up tournament season
The ladies of Key Royale Club came out on April 8 to play their annual Doe Day Tournament with the theme of "Swing with Bling." Forty-six players braved a wet start that quickly changed to favorable conditions. Playing a two-person handicap scramble divided into three flights, first flight winners were Ann Hackinson and Jenny Huibers. Capturing first place in the second flight were Jana Samuels and Tamra Hogan, while winning the third flight were Beth Lindeman and Ann Hitchen. Heather Pritchard won closest to the line on Hole #5 and Hogan won the long drive contest. Longest-made putt on Hole #3 was Jana Samuels. Games, raffles and a delicious buffet rounded out this spectacular Ladies Day season closing event.
Seventy-two KRC golfers participated on a beautiful day on April 11 in a four-person Farewell Scramble. The team of Laurie Hicks, Marty Hicks, Lori Waggoner and Debi Wohlers won first place honors with a score of 28, one stroke better then Joe Coyne, Charlie Porter, Terry Schaefer and Joe Tynan. Five teams tied for third place. The long drive went to Debi
Wohlers for the women and Jeff Wilkie for the men. Brenda Solleveld won closest to the pin. Putting contest winners were Judy Menchek and John Lacy while Lori Waggoner and John Fay won the chipping contest. The trivia contest winners were Marty and Mark Clark, Heather Pritchard and Rod Hammonds. Burgers, brats and hot dogs with various salads followed the event.
Gorgeous weather treated 56 KRC men for their annual Stag Day golf event on April 16. Playing a combination of a scramble and ramble, counting two scores on each hole with a par of 64, Buddy Foy, Jack Lowry, Tom Nelson and Charlie Porter tied the team of Dave DuVer nay, Jim Hitchen, Jerry Martinek and Greg Shorten with 65. Finishing in second place were Brian Comer, Tony Donnelly, Chuck Patrick and Mike Pritchett with 67. In third place, Mike Clements, Mike Morris, Ken Nagengast and Al Waal tied the team of Rob Ellis, Tom Erdle, Tom Solosky and Ron Vandeman with 69. Various games were played, followed by a lunch buffet along with one's favorite refreshment.
LAKEWO
From left are Stag Day winners Dave DuVernay, Jerry Martinek, Greg Shorten, Jim Hitchen, Tom Nelson, Buddy Foy, Charlie Porter and Jack Lowry.
KEY ROYALE CLUB | SUBMITTED
left are Farewell Scramble winners Marty Hicks, Lori Waggoner, Laurie Hicks and Debi Wohlers.
FUN IN THE SUN
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2003 BOSTON WHALER
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HURRICANE DAMAGE?
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FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657
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PERICO ISLAND single family home 3BA/2BA water views, partially furnished, sunroom, Best Buy $699,900 No flood ins required! Sharon Hightower Remax alliance group 941-3305054.
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FOR SALE - PERICO BAY CLUB New Price for 2BR/2BA villa with Water View! 2 CAR GARAGE, open floor plan & high ceilings! $374,400 Call Erin Leathem at The Anna Maria Sales Team at Island Real Estate 941448-5616
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HOLMES BEACH 209
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