Winnie released at Coquina Beach
The loggerhead sea turtle’s travels will be monitored by satellite.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH
– Hundreds of onlookers gathered at Coquina Beach on Monday morning for a scheduled loggerhead sea turtle release.
The turtle, Winnie, did not disappoint as she made her way to the water. She stopped several times and lifted her head to look at the crowd of delighted spectators gathering around her.
Winnie laid her nest early Monday morning on Coquina Beach and was outfitted with a satellite tag.
She was released from an enclosure by Anna Maria
Manatee County, Bradenton Beach officials discuss ferry options
The future Cortez Marina is expected to become part of the county’s water ferry system.
BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH - The future Cortez Marina at the site of the former Seafood Shack restaurant is expected to become an integral part of Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry system.
Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers and slowly made her way toward the water. She hesitated before reaching the water, requiring a gentle nudge to keep going. Once she touched water, she was off and swimming.
Winnie will participate in the Sea Turtle Conservancysponsored Tour de Turtles race, which begins on Aug. 1 and measures how far and where participating turtles swim during the event. Her participation is sponsored by Turtle Watch and Holmes Beach restaurant Hurricane Hank’s. She was named Winnie in honor of the Canadian hometown of Hank’s owner, Brian Mathae - Winnipeg. Winnie’s progress can be monitored weekly at www. amisun.com.
City, county officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing
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Anna Maria and Manatee County officials are trying to address two pier-related challenges at the same time.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
County commissioners and Bradenton Beach officials discussed the expansion at a June 18 joint meeting.
“Something that we’re considering is the potential addition of a water taxi at what we’re tentatively calling the Cortez Marina,” County Commissioner Tal Siddique said. “We are currently in the process of building a dimensional plan for that and potentially coming out to the
community to see what partners might be interested in abiding to that concept with us. You take what’s today an hour ride that would be shortened by half with the new boat and with a 10-minute stopover at the new property.”
ANNA MARIA – City officials’ desire to rebuild the hurricanedamaged City Pier walkway and Manatee County officials’ desire to install a ferry landing at the pier are financially and philosophically intertwined.
The city needs county funds to help replace the pier walkway weakened by Hurricane Helene and mostly destroyed by Hurricane Milton. The pier wasn’t insured and the city doesn’t have enough money to self-fund the project.
The county needs the City Pier to serve as the Anna Maria stop for the larger ferry boat that will join the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet later this year. The county’s long-term goal is to use the larger ferry boat to
Anna Maria Island, Florida
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Above left, loggerhead sea turtle Winnie, outfitted with a satellite monitor, waited in an enclosure before making her way to the water, above right, at a scheduled sea turtle release at Coquina Beach on Monday.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Hurricane Milton destroyed a large portion of the City Pier walkway and the T-end of the pier remains isolated.
Manatee County and Bradenton Beach officials discussed the Gulf Islands Ferry as a way to reduce vehicle traffic.
HUD grants to assist in hurricane recovery
CDBG-DR grant allocations for the Island cities are based on population and areas of focus.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – The city of Anna Maria anticipates receiving $581,000 of the $252.7 million Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funds that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated to Manatee County in January.
The city of Bradenton Beach anticipates receiving $530,069 and spending that money on drainage improvements and erosion control, as discussed during the Bradenton Beach City Commission’s May 19 work meeting.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth told city commissioners on June 10 that a county representative told her the city would receive approximately $800,000 of the county’s total HUD allocation, down from the $1.6 million originally anticipated. The money will help fund stormwater and drainage improvements.
HUD approved the grant funds in response to Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton impacting the area in
Anna Maria and Manatee County officials discussed the HUD grants during a joint meeting on June 18. According to the city’s PowerPoint presentation, the grant funds to be allocated to the city will be used to make stormwater and drainage upgrades, make seawall repairs near the Lake La Vista jetty and install flood barriers at various city properties.
2024.
Manatee County Grants Division Manager Michele Davis’ presentation detailed some specifics of the “Lasting Manatee” grant allocation program, listing five areas of focus and eligibility:
• Housing activities that restore and/or improve the housing stock through rehabilitation, reconstruction and new construction;
• Infrastructure restoration activities that help rebuild, replace or improve public fa -
cilities, schools, health care centers, water or wastewater facilities and drainage and stormwater systems;
• Economic revitalization activities that create or retain jobs or help address the negative economic effects of the 2024 hurricanes through workforce development and assistance given to businesses;
• Mitigation activities that add durability to infrastructure investments, elevate rehabilitated houses or offer buyouts to repetitive storm
loss property owners; and
• Public service activities that include job training, housing counseling, legal advice and representation to address housing title issues.
“We want to make sure we’re using the funds to heal the county and strengthen the county from future storms,” Davis said.
She said that at least 70% of the allocated funds must be spent on activities that assist people in the low to moderate income ranges and at least 15% of the total funds are to be used on storm mitigation-related activities.
Davis said the county received more than $1.6 billion in CDBG-DR funding requests and the county is still developing the required action plan that will soon be submitted for HUD review before the funds are released and dispersed early next year.
MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED
Lasting Manatee is the name given to Manatee County’s Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief grant allocation program.
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Hurricanes, parking fines, pier lease on Thursday’s agenda
The Anna Maria City Commission will meet on Thursday, June 26 at 10 a.m. The meeting will begin with general public comment on items not included on the day’s agenda. Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Matthew Myers will discuss the county’s preparations and plans for the 2025 hurricane season that began on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30. The commissioners will be asked to approve the multi-item consent agenda that includes extending the hurricane recovery-related extensions of the city’s ongoing local state of emergency declarations and authorization for the mayor to execute a $93,500 contract with the Tangerine Group to repair the Lake La Vista seawall. Under action items, the commission will be asked to review and approve on first reading a city ordinance pertaining to background checks for city employees, and another ordinance regarding increased commercial window signage. The commission will be asked to adopt a city resolution that increases the existing parking ticket fine from $50 to $75 and also increases the fine for parking in a disabled space from $225 to $250. The mayor and commission will discuss the June 12 presentation they received from the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop operators regarding the potential renegotiation and extension of the lease for that city-owned pier building. The mayor and general manager will provide a capital projects update. To attend or participate in Thursday’s meeting by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and enter the meeting ID: 85392000280.
City pier, AMOB on agenda
Bradenton Beach city commissioners will discuss the city pier and the Anna Maria Oyster Bar at a work meeting on Friday, June 27 at 9:30 a.m. Commissioners will also discuss rescheduling the city commission meeting on July 3 and hear a proclamation honoring Doris Marie Silverthorn. The meeting will be in the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.
Join the Privateers’ July 4 parade
Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
Bradenton Beach reviews 2024 hurricane response
Bradenton Beach
Police Chief John Cosby recapped the city’s 2024 hurricane response for Manatee County officials.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON – Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby spoke at a Manatee County meeting on June 18 and recapped the city’s response and recovery from the 2024 hurricanes.
“We were told it was going to take us years to recover; it took us six months. All our contracts were prebid and ready to go,” said Cosby, who also serves as the city’s public works director. “We were very fortunate that we had the governor visit twice in 10 days and brought resources from the state as far as clearing that sand and things moved quickly.”
The morning after Hurricane Helene, Cosby said that Manatee County Director of Public Safety Jodie Fiske came to Bradenton Beach.
SEE
“Not once did I hear the word ‘no’ from the county on anything I requested,” Cosby said. “That was incredible when you were dealing with your own issues. Manatee County is unique - we have such a partnership with the county and
BEACH, PAGE 12
County taking data-driven approach to storm preparation
Manatee County
Deputy Director of Public Safety
James Crutchfield says the 2024 storm season is the “new reality.”
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
Crutchfield briefly revisited last year’s weather events.
Crutchfield said.
Hurricane Milton in October was a significant wind event, which brought winds to the area of up to 120 mph, he said.
The Anna Maria Island Privateers are accepting applications to participate in their annual Fourth of July “water fight” parade. The parade departs from the Captain Scott Moore Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach on Friday, July 4 at 10 a.m., travels through Holmes Beach and ends at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. The registration fee is $25 and Wednesday, July 2, is the final day to register and pay the registration fee. The registration form and additional information is available at www.annamariaislandprivateers.org.
BRADENTON – With lessons learned from the 2024 hurricane season, Manatee County is taking a data-driven approach to storm preparation and recovery.
Manatee County Deputy Director of Public Safety James Crutchfield presented future storm recovery options at a June 18 Manatee County meeting with Bradenton Beach officials.
George Kruse represented Manatee County commissioners with Commissioner Tal Siddique phoning into the meeting. Bradenton Beach Commissioners Scott Bear, Ralph Cole, Deborah Scaccianoce and Jan Vosburgh attended the meeting along with Mayor John Chappie, Police Chief John Cosby and City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
“In 2024, our season kicked off in August with Debby, which delivered unprecedented rainfall, which led to widespread flooding across Manatee County. We experienced rainfall that was greater than a 500-year flood. This alone caused an estimated $56 million in residential and business damage,” Crutchfield said.
“A month after, we experienced Helene, which brought a recordbreaking storm surge cresting at 5.5 to 8 feet. It really reshaped our barrier island with mountains of sand and caused significant damage particularly to Bradenton Beach,” he said.
Crutchfield said Helene underscored the critical need for public safety community partners to have the ability for rapid evacuations.
“We experienced 300 rescues from the Island to unincorporated areas of Manatee County,”
“I say all that because in 2024, the storm season really provided some invaluable but challenging lessons for public safety,” Crutchfield said. “Recovery is still ongoing for many of our residents and businesses. We ran sand debris operations for 90 days straight out on the Island and the storm surge provided enough sand to us to fill the equivalent of 61 Olympic swimming pools.”
He credited Cosby with requesting emergency management teams early for the city.
“Although the 2024 storm season was abnormal, it certainly is how we’re planning and how we’re keeping a posture moving forward,” Crutchfield said. “We’re planning for it to be our new reality here in public safety.”
COUNTY, PAGE 12
BRADENTON
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Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby showed Manatee County commissioners this photo of the damage at the Pines Trailer Park while discussing the city's 2024 hurricane response.
County, city officials discuss traffic management
Suggestions included slow-vehicle lanes on Cortez Road for golf carts and e-bikes.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County and Bradenton Beach officials discussed lengthening the eastbound merge lane on Cortez Road to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive at a June 18 joint meeting.
“The state owns the property and from informal discussions we’ve had with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation), they don’t have the money for it, but if the city, county, private people could work together to at least acquire the land or easements, the state could allow the city or county to work on improvements in that right of way or accept it for maintenance later,” Manatee County Deputy Director of Public Works Clarke Davis said.
“If the city were receptive to trying to make that right turn lane longer, leading up to that point, it would need a little bit of frontage of all the proper-
ties leading up to it on Gulf Drive,” he said. “If all the pieces fell the right way, there should be a way to lengthen that turn lane by at least a couple hundred feet which might provide some relief for traffic at that intersection.”
Davis said such a project would require the city’s support.
“I would like to comment on the intersection of Cortez and Gulf and the idea of possible eminent domain or condemnation,” Mayor John Chappie said. “The city commission discussed this at our last meeting and we’re not commenting with regard to that until the Complete Streets Project is complete and also the Anna Maria Island Barrier
go to the beach,” he said. “I’m hopeful that someone will come up with some ideas to reduce some of the traffic and the ability for those people that live there to be able to come out to the Island.”
Bradenton Beach Commissioner Ralph Cole suggested adding slow-speed vehicle lanes to Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue to accommodate those on golf carts and electric bikes.
Island Study to see what they come up with and we’ll decide our position.”
Chappie added, “I will tell you over the decades I’ve been around, the city commission has always been in opposition to eminent domain on anybody’s property.”
Chappie said growth on the mainland is contributing to traffic congestion on Anna Maria Island.
“I think we need to pay more attention not just what’s happening on the Island, but on the mainland, in particular with what we’re going to be facing pretty quick at the corner of 75th and Cortez Road and the 8,000 units, there’s a lot going in there and a lot of people are going to want to be coming down Cortez Road to
“Cortez Road is wide enough that you could have a slow-speed vehicle lane going all the way up to 75th Street so that people could come from in town in their low speed vehicles and make it all the way down to the Island,” Cole said. “You could also incorporate pull-over spots if we really thought about it, if you’re driving down Gulf and holding traffic up and the bike lane is perfectly clear you could slide over and let traffic pass you.”
“Everybody is always trying to come up with a traffic solution for the island,” he said. “It’s probably one of the best ones and you could do it on Manatee Avenue too. Electric vehicles are evolving and we need to adapt. We’ve got the opportunity right now. You’re building a bridge and you’re widening the road. Now’s the time.”
We Do It AlL!
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
The intersection at Gulf Drive and Cortez Road was a topic of discussion at a joint meeting with Manatee County and Bradenton Beach officials.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Officials: Address golf cart, e-bike safety
Public safety should be the top priority of government at all levels. As the city councils of both Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach spend time on ordinances
prohibiting beach holes, maybe we should be addressing the use of golf carts by underage drivers along with e-bikes on the sidewalks that are traveling in excess of 15 mph. One must ask how long this willful ignorance of important safety issues will
Drop us a line
Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail
persist. Traffic is at an all-time high and our police have their hands full, so if there continues to be no consequences to these blatant abuses of public safety, our streets and sidewalks will only continue to be unsafe for the walking public.
a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.
John A. Di Masi Holmes Beach
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
Thursday, June 26, 10 a.m., City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. Friday, June 27, 9:30 a.m., City Commission work meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.
Tuesday, June 24, 2 p.m., City Commission meeting and work session
Friday, June 27, 10 a.m., Special magistrate code compliance hearing
BRADENTON
Tuesday, June 24, 6 p.m., West Manatee Fire & Rescue District meeting. 701 63rd St. W.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CHURCH SCHEDULES
CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION EPISCOPAL CHURCH
4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Sunday service 9:15 a.m.
CROSSPOINTE FELLOWSHIP
8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Sunday service 9 a.m.
HARVEY MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
300 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, Sunday service 9:15 a.m.
ROSER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, Sunday services 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH
248 South Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach, Masses: Saturday, 4 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.
Youth group assists White Egret owners
The One10Youth group did a good deed on Anna Maria Island.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – While visiting Anna Maria Island, the One10Youth group from the Mandarin United Methodist Church in Jacksonville spent several hours helping the owners of the White Egret home décor and gift store in Anna Maria.
The Center of Anna Maria Island helped connect White Egret owners Barb and John Jaeger and the One10Youth group, which was on a mission trip and looking to do some volunteer work in the area.
On June 12, the youth group helped the White Egret owners and staff transfer the retail inventory stored at the Jaeger’s home to the second floor storage area above the White Egret store at 10006 Gulf Drive. The storage area was recently remodeled after a hurricane-related roof replacement project was completed.
WHITE EGRET | SUBMITTED
The One10Youth group helped the White Egret owners return their inventory to their remodeled storage space.
The youth group received a thank you letter from the Jaegers and the White Egret team that said, “Heartfelt blessings and kindness arrived on Anna Maria Island last week from Jacksonville. With the assistance of The Center of Anna Maria Island, we were gifted a large blessing. Our hearts are overflowing as we give a huge ‘thank you’ to the One10Youth group. They had a mission to come to the Island and help as many people as their short time here al -
lowed continue to recover from the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. They did just that and so much more.”
After noting the youth group’s volunteer efforts took place on a hot, humid day, the letter says, “They formed an assembly line up the stairs and within eight hours they had amazingly, successfully transported five pods’ worth of merchandise upstairs without complaint or hesitation, getting our inventory transported back to the store so we could have our home back.”
In closing, the Jaegers’ letter says, “They were so respectful and happy to help, which will forever have an impact on our hearts. These are our youth who have chosen to give up their summer to help others in need. We cannot express how thankful we are to have the opportunity to be part of their journey, as they will forever be a part of ours. These are our future stars of America.”
Green turtle nests proliferate on AMI
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is expecting a record green turtle nesting season, according to Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
“We had three new green nests this week, which we were very excited about - if the trend continues through the season, we should break our green turtle nest record of 12 nests set in 2023,” Mazzarella wrote in a June 20 email.
Loggerhead turtles are by far the Island’s most numerous species, followed by green turtles.
TURTLE TIPS
During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, follow these tips to help turtles:
• Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water.
• Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night.
• Remove all beach chairs and
Turtle Watch reports that a new turtle nest was found seaward of the hay bales on Coquina Beach, indicating that the bales prevented the nesting turtle from reaching the road, as designed. The bales replace sand dunes lost during 2024 hurricanes and are intended to prevent nesting and hatching sea turtles from reaching Gulf Drive.
A rehabilitated green sea turtle was released off Anna Maria Island in 2018.
other objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and disorient hatchlings.
• Fill in the holes you dig in the sand before leaving the beach; they can trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. You might also accidentally dig into an unmarked nest. To report large holes or other turtle obstacles, call:
- City of Anna Maria code enforcement — 941-708-6130, ext. 111.
- City of Bradenton Beach code enforcement — 941-778-1005, ext. 280.
- City of Holmes Beach code enforcement — 941-778-0331, ext. 260.
• Level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can block hatchlings from the water.
• Don’t use balloons, wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf, and turtles can ingest the debris.
• Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights.
• Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404FWCC (3922).
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 272 (Record: 543 in 2019)
False crawls: 512 (Record: 831 in 2010)
Nests hatched: 0 (Record: 453 in 2022)
Hatchlings produced: 0 (Record: 35,850 in 2022)
Hatchling disorientations: 0
Adult disorientations: 18
Nests remaining on beach: 272
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
London cabs promote Bradenton Gulf Islands
Signage on London cabs promotes the Bradenton Gulf Islands tourism brand.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY
– The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (BACVB) efforts to promote Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key currently include eight branded taxi cabs in London, England.
The cabs carry signage including “Real. Authentic. Florida,” “Florida’s West Coast,” “BradentonGulfIslands.com” the “Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key” logo and images of barrier Island shorelines.
The branded cabs are funded by the 6% tourist development tax levied countywide on resort, hotel, motel, condo and short-term vacation rental accommodations of six months or less.
BACVB Global Affairs Director Kelly Clark
BACVB | SUBMITTED
A Bradenton Gulf Islands branded cab stopped in front of the iconic Big Ben clock tower.
mentioned the branded cabs during the April 21 Tourist Development Council meeting.
“We wrapped eight black taxis and branded them with Bradenton area logos,” she said while Global Marketing Manager Olivia Sawdy displayed a scale-sized model of a branded cab.
The branded cab promotion was launched during England’s peak vacation booking
season and is part of the BACVB’s international marketing efforts that let people know that Bradenton, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key remain viable vacation destinations after last year’s back-toback hurricanes. In early June, BACVB Executive Director Elliott Falcione said a six-month extension of the branded cab promotion is being considered.
WMFR prevails in vacation rental lawsuit
The West Manatee Fire Rescue District began levying higher assessments on short-term vacation rentals in 2023.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) has prevailed in a lawsuit disputing its ability to assess commercial fees on vacation rentals.
Filed last year by Holmes Beachbased C&D Properties of AMI LLC against WMFR, the suit lists local realtor Lawrence (Larry) Chatt as its manager and owner. Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas presided over the case.
The 2024 lawsuit complaint filed on Chatt’s behalf by attorney Keith Brady states that C&D Properties owns condo units 3 and 4 at 101 67th St.
According to the complaint, on May 16, 2023, the fire district passed Resolution 2023-01, a resolution that allows the district to assess vacation rentals at the commercial rate rather than the lower residential rate. The complaint says that on or about Oct. 9, 2023, the Manatee County Tax Appraiser assessed the two C&D properties on behalf of the fire district at the commercial rate.
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, the 2024 property tax-related TRIM notice for unit 3 included a $1,098 WMFR commercial rate assessment. The 2023 commercial rate assessment was $1,022. The 2023 and 2024 assessments were the same for unit 4. Levied at the residential rate, the 2022 WMFR assessments for units 3 and 4 were $462 each.
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The 2024 lawsuit pertains to WMFR assessments levied on two condo units at 101 67th St. in Holmes Beach.
The complaint alleges that the fire district violated Florida Statute 509.032 by regulating vacation rentals.
“This assessment regulates vacation rentals by singling out vacation rentals as the only residential properties taxed at the commercial rate. No exemptions or exclusions excuse the F.D.’s (fire district’s) unlawful regulation of vacation rentals,” according to the lawsuit complaint that sought a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief from the WMFR assessments.
“C&D will be deprived of its right to be taxed in a lawful manner as guaranteed by the Florida Statutes if relief is not granted. C&D will suffer irreparable harm if the requested injunctive relief is not granted because its right to not be taxed in an unlawful manner will be violated,” according to the complaint.
“C&D Properties demands judgment against defendant granting relief as follows: A declaration that the West Manatee Fire and Rescue District cannot tax vacation rentals at the commercial rate because doing so violates
the state preemption of the regulation of vacation rentals and therefore is invalid,” the complaint says.
The complaint sought permanent injunctive relief that would prohibit the fire district from taxing C&D Properties at the commercial rate. The complaint also sought a court order requiring the fire district to “effectuate the refund of wrongfully collected taxes from assessments to vacation rental owners.” C&D Properties also sought the reimbursement of attorney fees.
JUDGE’S RULING
In his May 22 written summary judgment, Judge Nicholas noted that the Florida Legislature enacted Chapter 2016-255 in 2016, which allowed assessment rates to be assessed in accordance with Florida Statute 191.009.
“In 2023, the fire district elected to take advantage of this legislative change by levying a commercial rate assessment on properties rented on such a frequent basis as to qualify as ‘transient public lodging establish-
ments’ as defined under Florida law, even if they were zoned ‘residential’ by the local zoning jurisdiction. As a result of the change, property owner has been assessed the commercial rate for both of his condominium units as short-term vacation rentals,” Nicholas wrote.
Citing case law, he wrote, “Consequently, the district may now set rates based on the actual use of the property, in addition to the land use designation, when imposing assessments.”
According to Nicholas’ summary judgment, “Fire District Resolution 2023-01 gives as cause for this change the ‘continual rise in the vacation rental industry’ as homeowners with properties within the district’s jurisdiction increasingly used their singlefamily zoned residential properties as vacation rentals; and the qualification of such rentals as ‘transient public lodging establishments,’ makes them subject to ‘increased life safety inspection, enforcement and response requirements’ under state law that are ‘not otherwise applicable to singlefamily zoned residential structures that are not used for short-term vacation rentals.’
“These regulations demand that the fire district devote greater resources to inspect, enforce and respond to calls for service at transient public lodging establishments, exacting a greater cost in time, personnel and expenditures; and as a result, the district resolved that the dedicated resources were ‘comparable to inspection, enforcement and response requirements for commercially zoned properties.’ ” Nicholas noted the commercial assessment rate is also now applied
WMFR, PAGE 13
BRADENTON BEACH: Reviews 2024 hurricane response
FROM PAGE 4
other municipalities. Somewhere else, I couldn’t have gotten the public safety director to come out and meet me in person with the county-wide disaster everyone was dealing with.”
“You prepare for debris, but not sand, not like that. When the governor (Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis) got here and he’s looking around he said, ‘Have you ever seen sand like this?’ and he said , 'What are we going to do?’ I said, ‘What can you do to help me get rid of it?’ ”
Within days, state and city roads were cleared of sand by Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) teams at the governor’s request.
Cosby said in addition to dealing with mounds of sand and debris, there were also search and rescue operations.
“Some of those buildings were so badly damaged we couldn’t tell if there was somebody in there so we had state fire service come in with dogs and they went door to door to check to make sure we didn’t have anybody in there,” he said. “I’m extremely happy to say we had no injuries and we had no fatalities, which was incredible.”
Cosby said that homes that were built to recent codes survived the hurricanes best.
“I will tell you that the building code works, the buildings that were built in the last eight years, all they got were dirty windows,” he said. “The ground huggers - I think they’re pretty much all gone.”
He said the storms changed the landscape of the city.
“We’re losing the one trailer park (Pines Trailer Park) that’s been there for a long time and that’s sad, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said. “The storm did what it did, and
we were fortunate the only time we’ve had water that ran from the Gulf to the bay was the storm of the century in 1993.”
Mayor John Chappie lauded Cosby’s expertise and leadership and thanked Manatee County for its assistance.
“He (Cosby) has developed over the years a great team, cross-training with all of our staff. We know what their capabilities are, and he’s taught them throughout the years,” Chappie said. “I want to thank the county, state and FDOT and SERT team. We got punched in the face and you guys helped us.”
COUNTY: Taking data-driven approach to storm preparation
FROM PAGE 4
He said the county has taken preparedness actions in public outreach and education, maintaining partnerships with municipalities, as well as with public works and utilities and county vendors who are clearing the drainage systems and making sure there is the capacity for future water flow.
“We’re transforming the lessons we’ve learned from those events and putting it into what I would call the heart of public safety,” he said. “What
we’re doing is taking all the different departments and collecting data, whether it’s through NOAA or lift stations, road conditions, 911 calls from the dispatch center, and it’s all been collected and siloed,” he said. “All of this information that’s being collected is being dumped into a data lake. All this information is getting collated and put into a dashboard for individuals to make datainformed decisions.”
He said based on that data, public safety officials are able to see in real time that rivers are
rising and lift stations are going down, for example.
“It’s using technology to make better informed decisions,” Crutchfield said. “All that information is needed for public safety response. All that data is being sifted to give a picture for the administrator to make decisions on closing down the county, to opening shelters, where and when we should evacuate - all that information.”
“We don’t just solve a problem,” Kruse said. “When it happens we learn from those problems.”
MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED Manatee County is taking a data-driven approach to storm preparation and recovery based on experience gained during the 2024 storm season.
WMFR: Prevails in vacation rental lawsuit
to other residentially-zoned properties, including daycare centers and assisted living facilities.
In closing, Nicholas wrote, “The court finds that the fire district’s rate increase of its assessment imposed on residential properties used as transient public lodging establishments, which includes vacation rentals, is not a regulation that is preempted to the state. As there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact, the fire district is entitled to final summary judgment in its favor.”
The order also says, “For the reasons set forth above, West Manatee Fire and Rescue District’s motion for final summary judgment, as to both counts, is granted. C&D Properties of AMI LLC’s cross-motion for summary judgment is denied.”
On May 29, Nicholas issued a one-page final judgment that
AM FERRY: Officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing
FROM PAGE
transport passengers between the City Pier and downtown Bradenton and use the two pontoon boats as “Island hoppers’ that travel between Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and the South Coquina boat rampand potentially Holmes Beach.
On June 16, Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short appeared before the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC), which recommends county commission approval for the city to use up to $2 million of tourist development tax revenues for the City Pier project.
CITY/COUNTY MEETING
states, in part, “This is a final judgment on the merits as to all claims. Plaintiff shall recover nothing from defendant in this action.”
According to the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court website, the non-prevailing party has 30 days to file an appeal to a higher court.
On June 18, Short, city commissioners Charlie Salem, Chris Arendt and Kathy Morgan-Johnson and City Clerk Amber LaRowe met with County Commission Chair George Kruse, County Administrator Charlie Bishop and other county staff members. County commissioners Tal Siddique and Carol Ann Felts participated by phone. The city and county officials discussed several topics but first and foremost were the related pier and ferry landing projects.
For cost saving purposes, the current pier walkway that opened in 2020 was built atop hollow concrete pilings and a wooden support structure. The new pier walkway will be built atop solid concrete pilings and a concrete support structure similar to the T-end of the pier that survived the 2024 hurricanes.
Short estimates the pier walkway replacement will cost between $7 million and $9 million and hopefully be completed by October 2026. He said the city’s pier walkway project and the county’s ferry landing installation must remain separate projects because the emergency permit received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires the new walkway to be built in exactly the same footprint.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski, Fire Inspector Josh Adkins and Lt. Fire Inspector Keith Miller inspected former Ohio firefighter Michael Wilcox’s multi-unit vacation rental in Holmes Beach on Aug. 21, 2023, making it the first short-term vacation rental inspected by WMFR.
FERRY MARINA: Manatee County, Bradenton Beach officials discuss ferry options
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the county hopes to make the marina a ferry stop and eventually keep ferries overnight there.
Bradenton Beach commissioner Ralph Cole asked if the marina would have a parking facility for people who drive to the marina and take the ferry.
“We’re still in early design stage, we’re talking about parking, we’re talking about other opportunities in that greater area,” County Commission Chair George Kruse said. “One of the concepts has been to have the ferry come across because that alleviates traffic and keeps cars off your Island. But to do that, we’re going to need sufficient parking because
we’re going to need parking for the boat launches for the trailers and other utilization. If we’re going to use this ferry, we’ll have to contemplate how we can maximize parking as part of the design.”
“We all know what’s happening in Cortez with the intensity of the corridor,” Siddique said. “The ferry is one part of it. That’s something I’m factoring in so we can have a sustainable action plan inclusive of the Island in the future.”
Currently, two 49-passenger pontoon ferry boats run on a two-stop system between downtown Bradenton and Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, a reduced route since the 2024 hurricanes.
“After Hurricane Milton, Anna Maria lost the City Pier and that was one of our landing spots, Falcione said. “The city of Anna Maria is hoping to have that pier
rebuilt by late 2026, concurrent with (Manatee County Director of Natural Resources) Charlie Hunsicker’s department to start designing and permitting for a vaulted perpendicular dock to accommodate not just one water ferry, but two; and you’ll have a transfer there. You’ll bring people out of Bradenton, stop, and then the pontoon (boats) will take them to historic Bridge Street.”
Falcione said a larger third water ferry with an enclosed component should be on the water for late summer sea trials and be operational in the fall.
“It will be about 100,000 pounds compared to the two 30,000-pound pontoon catamarans we have now,” he said.
23
BEACH BEAT
HOLMES BEACH
June 10, 1:09 p.m., Gulf Drive North, Marijuana possession, assist Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Holmes Beach Police Department dispatch was contacted by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office regarding a Ford F-150 truck they were following. Assistance was requested from HBPD. A traffic stop was initiated after a deputy reportedly witnessed the driver commit two driving infractions in Holmes Beach. Police said there was a strong odor of cannabis and the driver stated he did not have a medical marijuana card. During a search of the vehicle, police reportedly located 4.9 grams of marijuana in the center console. Also located was a bundle of $1 bills that was turned over to SCSO for their investigation. It was determined that the man was a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred earlier that morning in Sarasota County. He was arrested for armed robbery and was issued citations for traffic violations and possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis.
SEE FERRY MARINA, PAGE
OBITUARIES
Marcus Gregory Modisett
Marcus “Marc” Gregory Modisett, 68, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2025, surrounded by love.
Marc was born on April 17, 1957 in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of Douglass Mitchell and Katherine Wilhemina Modisett (Carpenter). He grew up in New Jersey where he developed a strong work ethic and a deep love for his family, and met the love of his life, Lynn Modisett (Johnsen).
love and a smile. He cherished family gatherings, bringing warmth and joy to all those around him.
Marc lived life to the fullest, inspiring those around him to reach for the stars and chase their dreams. Marc had many passions in life, including traveling, music and education, which he enjoyed sharing with his children and five grandchildren. He was known for his legendary kindness, never-ending love, generosity, infectious laughter, boundless imagination, sense of humor and ability to fix anything. His innovation, patience, wisdom and dedication to his family were unwavering.
Wayne Joseph Lashway
Wayne Joseph Lash way, 73, of Bradenton Florida, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on June 18. Born in Davenport, Iowa on Sept. 16, 1951 to Claire and Harold Lashway, Wayne lived a life of love for family, friends, fishing and golf.
friends, Wayne also found time to coach young children at “The Center,” the community center of Anna Maria Island. Many young people benefited from his coaching skills in both baseball and soccer and his community involvement on both Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key brought him many years of joy and fun.
Marc became distinguished in his underwater and land construction career, leading numerous projects, including but not limited to the refurbishment of the Statue of Liberty. He and Lynn built a family home in New Jersey, cinder block by cinder block. Later, Marc moved to Holmes Beach, Florida with his wife and daughters, where together they established Captains Marina and quickly became loved by the community.
A loving husband and father, Marc was a pillar of strength and support for his family. Together he and Lynn raised two daughters, Michelle and Kristina. He was a devoted father, always offering guidance,
Marc is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Lynn; children, Michelle (Christopher Sporn) Modisett and Kristina (Jason) Huefner; and five grandchildren, Andrew Huefner, Landon Modisett, Logan Modisett, Emma Modisett and Reid Modisett. He is also survived by siblings, Michael (Pamela German) Modisett and Matthew (Elizabeth Farkas) Modisett as well as family members and friends that miss him dearly.
A private family service will be held to honor and celebrate Marc’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation in Marcus Modisett’s memory. He is loved beyond words and forever in our hearts.
Wayne is survived by Toni Lashway, his beloved wife of 48 years; children, Ryan and Kelsey (Alan Yim); brothers, Paul (Judy), Dennis (Dee) and Keith Lashway. He leaves behind grandchildren, Ryan Jr., Karter and Joseph Lashway and Cora and Tyler Yim; as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Wayne graduated from SUNY (State University of New York - Geneseo, New York) with a Speech Communications degree where he met his wife, Toni, in 1974. They were married on May 28, 1977 and lived on Longboat Key, Florida from 1979 to 2013, where Wayne worked as manager of SeaPlace Condominiums. He left there to work for Michael Saunders, managing White Sands Resort on Longboat Key. Toni worked as a teacher at Anna Maria Elementary School on Anna Maria Island and together they embraced “The Island Life!”
Between working, fishing, golfing and spending time with his beloved family and
After a cancer diagnosis two and a half years ago, Wayne showed determination, positivity and faithful strength as he underwent continual treatment until the day he died. He traveled to visit family when he could, went fishing with his brothers and friends, played golf, celebrated holidays with joy and even took a hot air balloon ride in New York, something he had always wanted to do. Even after losing their home in Cortez, Florida to Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters, Wayne carried on. He was an example to all for adopting the view that “It matters not, how many days you live… but how you live your days.” He will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 29 at 1 p.m. at Brown and Sons Funeral Home 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209. A reception will follow at Timber Creek Condominiums Clubhouse, 4550 Timber Lane, Bradenton, FL 34210. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Invest in catch and release
he ethic of catch and release isn’t a new concept. Even in the early part of the 20th century, far-sighted anglers could see the potential for depleted fisheries. Over the last couple of decades, I thought it should be apparent to today’s anglers that there isn’t an inexhaustible well of fish in our waters. We’ve worked to make redfish a gamefish and fought battles to limit netting while making a commitment to be better stewards by agreeing to reasonable restrictions on size and bag limits. We’ve been better educated in the press and at the docks about limiting our catch and being less concerned about catching our limit.
After all the time and energy that concerned anglers spent in the 90s and early 2000s fighting to protect our fisheries, it seemed we had “rounded a corner.” Now it’s apparent that the job is never done as an influx of anglers, loss of habitat, climate change and water quality issues continue to pressure Florida’s fisheries. This makes it even more important to educate everyone on the importance of protecting the marine environment, and anglers in particular on catch and release tools.
For anglers who worked hard in the past to protect fisheries, the job is never done. It’s important that we make sure the “release ethic” continues by inspiring new generations of anglers. It’s also important to continue to educate anglers on proper release techniques so they can release fish that are out of season, unwanted or undersized. Effective tools and
procedures exist to assure that when properly handled, the majority of fish we release will survive to reproduce and fight again.
A fish’s chances of survival will be greatest if they are played to the boat and released quickly without removing them from the water. One of the easiest ways to assure this is to flatten the barbs on hooks. If constant pressure is applied during a fight, the hook will not back out. Once the fish is at boat side, it can be easily released without ever touching it using a “dehooker.”
Use proper tackle, de-barb hooks and be prepared to release fish quickly. Fishing is a great experience and deserves to be passed along to future generations. Catch and release is a good investment in a prosperous fishing future, but it’s an ethic that needs to be passed along to new generations of anglers.
RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN
Tarpon require special attention to make sure they are released in good shape. Never remove one from the water.
RUSTY CHINNIS
July fishing calls for early starts
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT
This is my favorite time to fly fish for tarpon, which should still be a good option in the coastal Gulf in July. Spin anglers will do best by setting up in travel lanes and drifting live baits under floats while staying ready to sight cast to fish that may pop up with no notice. The tactics are the same as earlier in the season, except July fish are usually more aggressive. Tarpon will thin out in the coastal Gulf towards the end of July as they begin to move to inside waters where they can be targeted with flies, a variety of DOA lures or live bait.
In addition to tarpon, you might find tripletail or cobia in the coastal Gulf in July. You might find cobia swimming with tarpon or cruising bars in shallow water along the beach. You can use your tarpon fly or spin tackle for cobia, but a medium spinning outfit or an 8to 9-weight fly rod will be better suited for tripletail, which I occasionally run into this time of year, either around a navigational marker or floating debris. Catch and release snook fishing in the ICW at night or in the surf should also be good during July. You’ll find
snook in the surf, where you can walk along the beach and sight cast to them with flies or lures. Spin anglers should do well fishing lighted docks and bridges in the ICW with live bait, CAL jigs with shad tails or jerk worms or DOA shrimp. Fly anglers should do well with clear intermediate sink tip lines and wide profile flies, such as Lefty’s Deceiver or EP flies,
since larger baitfish may be more predominant. Docks and bridges close to passes should be the best ones. You’ll find reds very active in shallow water in July. They should form large schools towards the end of the month. Look for them along the edges of bars or in potholes when the tide is low or along mangrove shorelines and around oyster bars when the tide is
high. You’ll also find big trout in many of the same areas where you find reds, but the bite for big trout is usually best early or late in the day. In my opinion, it’s important to protect larger trout, which are usually female breeders. I like to drift deep grass flats and cast ahead of my drift with jigs, flies or live shrimp to find trout. A drift anchor will slow your drift to a more manageable speed if it’s windy. Look for birds or baitfish on the surface to find fish. You may also find Spanish mackerel, blues, pompano and more mixed with trout on deep grass flats. Flats close to passes or on points that get good tidal flow are usually the most productive.
There are lots of options in July - tarpon, snook and more. You’ll want to fish early in the day in shallow water due to heat.
Our natural resources are under constant pressure from red tides fueled by industrial, agricultural and residential runoff, toxic spills and discharges, freezes, increasing fishing pressure and habitat loss and degradation. Please limit your kill, don’t kill your limit!
MAY 23-AUGUST 30
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY 7PM & 9P M
CAPT. RICK GRASSETT | SUBMITTED
There should be good action with tarpon in the coastal Gulf and in inside waters during July.
REAL ESTATE
Time to consider downsizing your home
Sometimes it’s just time for a change, and that change can take a lot of different forms - breaking off toxic relationships, getting a new vehicle that isn’t a BMW or Mercedes, or downsizing your living space. We as Americans like space, but enough is enough; we all don’t need to live in 4,000 square feet and most of us can’t afford it, but there are alternatives.
You may not believe it while driving around Anna Maria Island and seeing all the mega-homes being built, but in many regions of the country, including Florida, would-be homeowners are realigning their priorities. Because of high prices, high mortgage rates and a lack of supply, buyers are making concessions and the concession that makes the biggest dent in the cost of a home is size.
Builders are finding that smaller homes are attractive to buyers because they not only cost less to purchase but also reduce the cost to run a home. Heating, air conditioning and even the amount of
Castles in the Sand
furniture and accessories you need in a home is reduced.
Resales of single-family homes are also benefiting from the size of a property. Buyers are more willing to sacrifice size if it means finding a home that works within their budget. Even townhomes and semiattached structures are having a comeback, offering less square footage, a two-car garage and frequently a small yard.
Bottom-line buyers - especially first-time buyers - are getting tired of waiting for interest rates to go down, impacting the amount of home they can afford, and have decided they can be just as happy living in 1,500 square feet as living in 2,000 square feet. The average size of a home has
decreased year over year in each quarter since 2022 in the country.
Because of several disasters around the country where owners have lost their homes in the last several years, alternative methods of construction are stepping in. California, Hawaii, Florida and the Carolinas have experienced wildfires, flooding and hurricanes resulting in the loss of homes. Homeowners who have lost a home are finding out that their insurance coverage is not covering the cost to rebuild their home so they’re thinking outside the box and so are businesses.
Modular and prefabricated homes have been around for a long time but are starting to gain favor again. No longer do they have a “trailer” look; instead, they can closely have the same look and feel as the previous home. The homes are built in factories then assembled onsite, saving owners hundreds of thousands in construction costs and delivering the finished production in half the time.
A version of modular homes was offered by Sears Roebuck as kit homes between
1908 and 1942. The pre-cut kit was shipped to customers who either assembled the house themselves or hired a builder to do it. There were 75,000 kit homes sold during this period. I know of one on Pine Avenue but I’m sure there were others on the Island and I had a friend who lived in one on Long Island. Sears was way ahead of the curve when they created the kit house, and they were trailblazers when it came to online merchandising. Finally, if you really want to have your mind blown, check out companies that use modular construction with 3-D printing. Giant 3-D printers squeeze layers of concrete into the framing for a future home and like magic, the frame of the house is done - no hammers and nails required. If the future is smaller homes, I’m all for it. Who needs all those bathrooms to clean and guestrooms you may or may not use? But then, my priorities changed several years ago when I sold the BMW - best move I ever made.
LOUISE BOLGER
AM FERRY: City, county officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing
The city will know by July 1 whether Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoes the city’s pier-related $1.25 million state appropriation request. Those state funds would be available on Oct. 1 if not vetoed. The city anticipates receiving around $4 million in pier-related FEMA reimbursements but those federal funds aren’t guaranteed and Short doesn’t know if or when the city will receive them.
Short said the city already spent $223,000 on the pier project. He estimates the city will spend another $1.1 million between now and September, including $239,500 for the demolition of the remaining pier walkway and $800,000 to repair and remediate the T-end pier buildings that sustained flood damage but remain structurally sound. Short estimates the city will
need $3.1 million in 2025 and another $4.1 million in 2026.
Kruse asked Short who is responsible for restoring the T-end pier buildings occupied by Mote Marine and the City Pier Grill. Short said the city will repair and remediate the city-owned pier buildings and the pier tenants are responsible for replacing their damaged equipment and contents.
Kruse asked Short if he expects Mote Marine to return to the pier.
“If that goes away, it’s not the same,” Kruse said.
Short said Mote personnel recently visited the pier by boat and are assessing Mote’s future plans.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the Mote space could be used as a ferry passenger waiting area if Mote doesn’t return. Kruse said he’d like to see
that space used for something more than a waiting area.
Falcione said Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker estimates the City Pier ferry landing will cost the county an additional $1 million to $1.5 million. Falcione also said Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will assume oversight of the countycontracted ferry service on Oct. 1 and the visitors bureau will continue marketing and promoting the ferry service it currently oversees.
KRUSE INSIGHTS
Kruse expects county commissioners to vote on the $2 million TDC recommendation on July 29.
He noted the $4 million in potential FEMA funds equates to about half the estimated pier replacement costs.
“It could be 18 months
before you know if you’re even going to get it and another three years before you actually get it,” Kruse said of the FEMA funds.
Speaking for himself, and not the county commission, Kruse said the county may need to front the city the additional money needed to complete the project, with the city later reimbursing the county using FEMA funds or other funding sources.
“This has to be rebuilt,” Kruse said. “I don’t think there’s any alternative. It’s critical to our tourism, it’s critical to our residents and we’ve got great amenities out there. We need the landing space. We want people to go to Mote. We want people to go to the grill. We want people to use that pier.”
Kruse suggested Mote Marine and City Pier Grill representatives meet with city and county officials for an all-inclusive discussion. He also said city and county staff need to create a funding proposal.
Kruse mentioned the hurricane-related line of credit the county secured, the county’s reserve funds and the county’s tourist development tax revenues as potential funding sources.
“I don’t think this is a question of should we do it,” Kruse said. “I think it’s a question of where’s the money coming from in the short term and where’s the money coming from in the long term? It’s still taxpayer money.”
He also mentioned the economic impact of ferry passengers visiting the restaurants and businesses within walking distance of the pier, and beyond.
“We understand and we appreciate that,” Short said.
FERRY MARINA: Officials discuss ferry option
FROM PAGE 14
He thanked City Attorney Ricinda Perry for working with Duncan Seawall to make the modifications to the Bradenton Beach Pier to accommodate the third ferry.
“We know that the retailers on Bridge Street are real happy when that ferry pulls in,” Falcione said. “More importantly we have to get down to Coquina Beach. It looks like the south boat ramp is probably the spot.
And what that does is it entices more residents to ride the ferry because that’s one of the beaches of choice. If we have about 70% visitors and 30% residents, then we’re doing good,” Falcione said, adding the hope is to begin Coquina Beach service no later than the fall.
Falcione said the ferry service passenger count for 2024 was nearly 28,000 riders.
“That’s about 13,000 cars off the road,” he said.
The MCAT Manatee
My Stop app can show visitors having lunch at Anna Maria Oyster Bar on Bridge Street where the ferry is, Falcione said.
Ricinda Perry introduced herself as the Bradenton Beach city attorney and CRA director/project manager/public information officer recently named by Police Chief John Cosby to be his number two for emergency operations.
“In wearing that hat, I get to play a lot of different roles in the
city that meld together and I think my most favorite is what I do here with the TDC (Manatee County Tourist Development Council),” Perry said. “The TDC in its projects hits a lot of points and pulls a lot of things together that city attorneys don’t get to do when we’re sitting and writing laws. You have the components where you come up with a creative project, and you look at ways that project can benefit the community, protect our residents with a strategic idea of targeting the individuals that we host.”
She spoke about where the city of Bradenton Beach started, its present and its future.
“The water ferry is certainly a big piece of it,” she said. “Bradenton Beach has the vehicle gateway to the city but what was underutilized was the waterfront gateway into the city.”
“When I started 21 years ago, I remember seeing this mess, and when I say a mess, I’m talking about derelict vessels, irresponsible boaters who were dragging their anchors across the seagrasses, they were dumping things overboard into the waterway,” she said. “What we talked about, mainly - chief and I - was what are we going do about this, because it resulted in unsavory individuals who were utilizing that and those individuals would then get off their vessels and they would come down the streets and that impacted tourism. People wanted to stay away from the commercial corridor.”
She said the city obtained jurisdiction over additional boundaries to allow policing in the mooring field and more than 80 derelict vessels were removed.
ISLAND SPORTS
CENTER SCOREBOARD
ADULT BASKETBALL
JUNE 18 (BEST TWO OUT OF THREE)
Slicker’s Eatery W Edible Cookie Dough Café
Primetime Lending W Salty Printing
JUNE 19 PLAYOFFS ROUND 1 (BEST TWO OUT OF THREE)
Slim’s Place W Primetime Lending
Luxury Services W Bradenton Home Inspections
Slicker’s Eatery W Moss Builders
Solid Rock Construction Coaster Continent
Farrington, Sofran win at pits
Tom Farrington, left, teamed up with Tim Sofran on June 21 and posted the only 3-0 record to win the day’s competition at Anna Maria Horseshoes. On June 18, Sofran won the day’s bragging rights after winning the final 21-16 over Farrington and Bob Heiger.
KEY ROYALE GOLF SCOREBOARD
JUNE 16 - MODIFIED STABLEFORD
First Place - Ed Harrell, +3 Second Place - Dave Richardson, +2 Third PlaceChuck Patrick, +1
JUNE 17 - LOW NET SCORE
First Place - Jana Samuels, 30 Second Place - Helen Pollock, 31 Third Place - Sue Wheeler, 35
JUNE 19 - SCRAMBLE
Three teams tied for First Place at 31, 1 under par: Mike Clements, John Kolojeski and Terry Schaefer; Chuck Patrick, Dave Richardson and Deb Richardson; and Bill MacMillan, Charlie Porter and Gary Razze.
FERRY MARINA: Officials discuss ferry options
“The plan is to eventually work with the TDC and make it a tourist hub and (the ferry) an alternate means of getting onto the Island without using a vehicle,” she said.
She said the pier was beyond its age and needed repair and replacement. “It was a challenge with DEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) permits, FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), ACoE (U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers) and submerged land leases. The city worked on getting a permit to put in a floating dock system. The city realized they needed a strong anchor tenant on the pier.
AMOB (Anna Maria Oyster Bar) is a huge draw. When the ferry does its drop off, how do you get people moving when they don’t have a car? And they have their towels and their beach toys, and they want to get down to Coquina. How do you connect that last mile?” Perry said. She described three segments of a
plan to move visitors around the city.
“Segment one: Cortez to Bradenton Beach Pier. If you’re putting your marina in and potentially having people parking and enjoying your amenities over on the mainland side, it would be great to connect a walkway from where the bridge stops, have it multi-modal to host golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians so they can walk if they want across the Cortez Bridge and make their way down through the existing marina that’s there,” she said. “I’ve had discussions with that owner
(Shawn Kaleta). People can then make their way down to your other stop on the Bradenton Beach Pier. It makes that stop more usable.”
“Segment two would then tie in from the Bradenton Beach Pier a usable crossing area over to the beach that would take you to the county’s segment and the idea is to create a multi-modal trail that continues along.”
“Segment three: That final section that needs to be put together for the multimodal trail could be from Fifth Street South to Coquina Beach,” Perry said.
CINDY LANE | SUN Summer reflection
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
CLEANING SERVICE
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CONSTRUCTION/ INSURANCE
WE SPECALIZE IN: WIND
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EMPLOYMENT
ROSER CHURCH SEEKS part-time Assistant Facilities Administrator to cover Friday to Sunday and special events. Read the Job Description RoserChurch. com/job-opportunity.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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CCS DRYWALL REPAIRS
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HURRICANE DAMAGE? I’m an Island resident. Pressure washing, tree work, fence repair, mailbox replacement. Also see ads under “Landscaping & painting. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
FROM HOME TO BUSINESSES, we build it all. You’re Reliable General Contractor for new construction, water damage, restoration 941-894-7549 or email at@ constructionatr.com
BATHROOM REMODEL STARTING at $1999 Limited Time Promotion (labor only) McGhie Construction Inc. State certified CBC 1258471 Call 813-966-3707 Free Estimates
START TO FINISH, Custom Carpentry, Accent Walls, Drywall and much more 941-565-2165
HANDYMAN: Repairing two homes on AMI. Carpentry, painting, flooring, minor electric and plumbing, etc. Self-starter, Work your schedule, full or part time. Call or text Darryl, 813-439-0516.
HOME SERVICE
HATE TO COOK? Long time Island resident. Can help with cooking, laundry and many things around your house. Many compliments on cooking. References available. Please Call or Text 941685-0045.
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315
SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067
DEVINE DESIGN LANDSCAPE - Professional Landscape and Design Services for your entire property. Irrigation services, Tree Removal and trimming, Sod, Mulch, Fencing, Pavers and Landscape Lighting. Commercial and Residential. Call 941-4656015 DevineDesign7@ yahoo.com
MOVING & STORAGE
MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING
PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507
“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455
DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
TRUE TONE PAINTING. Painting, power washing, epoxy floors and more, No job too small. Please call 941-224-4020 www. truetonepainting.com
PEST CONTROL
ANNA MARIA PEST CONTROL Call 941-7781630
POOL SERVICES
FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657
COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
BEST DEAL ON THE ISLAND $2.6 million custom built 5 bedroom 4 bath pool home gulf views roof top deck, elevator, 3 car garage, income producing property. Sharon Hightower Remax alliance group 941-330-5054
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
FOR SALE. 3BR/2.5BA Town House. No flooding. Beautifully furnished. Walk to shop! 1.1m Capetown Village 3BR/3BA Bradenton. $499,000 Furnished condo with deeded boat dock. Pool . Furnished. Adorable. No flooding. $649,000 Brenda Boyd May. Boyd Realty 941-7308589.
RENTALS: ANNUAL
ANNUAL RENTAL CENTRAL HOMES BEACH 3BR/2BA completely remodeled. Walk to beach, school, trolley, shopping. $2595/mo Call 941-713-6743
HOLMES BEACH 209 83rd St.: 2BR/2BA private pool, large screened lanai! $3000/mo. Water, trash, lawn care included. Also pool care. Annual, unfurnished. 1 Year lease. 1st, & $4500 security deposit Call 941-809-2488
BEAUTIFUL PERICO BAY Club Condo! 2BR/2BA, Second Floor Unit $4750/ mo seasonally, $2500/mo annually +Security Deposit Please call 941-7781979 for more details.
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS this rare opportunity to live on Anna Maria Island. Please call the office at 941-7781979 to see this 2BR/2BA $2975/mo renovated home with a beautifully landscaped large backyard.
HOLMES BEACH 2nd FLOOR living. 1BR/BA, bonus room. Just updated. New appliances. No hurricane damage. Carport under home. No pets/no smoking. $2000/mo. Call 860-922-3857
AMI HOUSE 4BR/3BA
Master suite with walk in closet, private study. Large yard. Water view. Walk to Beach. 12 month minimum. Call 203-223-1119.
BUSINESS & SERVICE
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190
AVAILABLE NOW! SEASONAL RENTAL Beautiful bright renovated condo 2BR/2BA - 1 floor Perico Bay Club - gym, tennis, hot tub, pool, parking $4700/ month Call 612802-8357
SEASONAL RENTALHOLMES BEACH - 2BR/2BA Bayside Condo. POOL, Tennis, Pickleball, Beautifully updated. Available starting December 2025. Call Jack at 312-835-2323 or for photos and details
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095
