- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 22 No. 24
March 23, 2022
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Heritage Day Hoosegow! JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
During the Anna Maria Island Historical Society’s Heritage Day Festival, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy surrenders to ceremonial “capture” by Privateer Roger “HooDat” Murphree, above, and is then confined at the Old City Jail, right. Story and photos on Page 3.
Bidding opens for Pine Avenue improvements The city commission currently has no plans to eliminate 50 parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City officials are issuing a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids for the installation of new sidewalks, crosswalks and lights along Pine Avenue. The proposed safety improvements are the cornerstone of the city’s Reimagining Pine Avenue efforts. During the March 17 work meeting, the Anna Maria City Commission authorized the issuance of an RFP that provides interested construction firms with about 30 days to submit their sealed bids. After reviewing the submitted bids, the commission will select
INSIDE NEWS CALENDAR OUTDOORS RESTAURANTS REAL ESTATE SPORTS CROSSWORD
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a preferred contractor and make some additional design decisions.
SIDEWALKS
The new sidewalks will either be constructed of pervious brick pavers or continuous stretches of rubberized Flexi-Pave material made from recycled tires. The bid proposals are to include brick paver sidewalks and the FlexiPave alternative available in several colors. Drainage elements will be installed below and beside the new sidewalks regardless of which surface material is selected. During Thursday’s meeting, the commission debated whether the new sidewalks would be 6 feet wide, or 5 feet wide as previously recommended by project engineer Gerry Traverso. As requested, Traverso provided the SEE PINE AVENUE, PAGE 36
brings tourists, family and banana French toast. In Food & Wine. 31 MARCH
Anna Maria Island, Florida
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Repairs, questions continue at Piney Point As another leak is under repair at Piney Point, state officials evaluate engineering plans to close the plant. BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
PALMETTO – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is scrutinizing proposed engineering plans to close wastewater ponds at Piney Point. The agency is requesting more information from the court-appointed receiver assigned to oversee the permanent closure of the former phosphate plant, which dumped 215 million gallons of contaminated water into Tampa Bay a year ago. The wastewater was stored in a pond dug into the top of an eightstory-tall gypsum stack that FDEP of-
ficials feared could collapse and flood surrounding homes and businesses. The pond’s capacity was roughly 500 million gallons of contaminated water. FDEP approved the March and April discharge, which spread throughout Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. The water contained nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, which worsened a bloom of the toxic algae red tide that lasted from April to November, causing fish kills and respiratory irritation. The state agency last week asked Piney Point receiver Herbert Donica for more details on how the contaminated water remaining in the stack system will be moved to a deep injection well, and how the stormwater management system is expected to perform. The 3,300-foot-deep well is now under construction near the plant at SEE PINEY POINT, PAGE 35
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