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VOL 19 No. 6
November 21, 2018
License plate readers coming to Holmes Beach After some consideration, Holmes Beach commissioners unanimously approved a contract not to exceed $105,240 for a five-camera license plate recognition system for the city. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
TOM VAUGHT | SUN
From left to right, Judy Rup, from the non profit of the year Rotary Club; Trudy, Scott and Jane Mason, of the small business, Scott’s Deli; Darcie Duncan, of Duncan Real Estate, the large business; and Shane Catt, of Happy Paddler Kayak Tours, the medium business.
Island business awards announced Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne is named Businessperson of the Year. BY TOM VAUGHT SUN STAFF WRITER | tvaught@amisun.com
CORTEZ – It was a bittersweet honor for John Horne on Friday night at the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony and board of directors Installation at the Seafood Shack. Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island co-directors Judy Rup and Dennis Schuermann awarded the Rotary Club’s Businessperson of the Year award to Horne, owner of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar.
TOM VAUGHT | SUN
SEE AWARDS, PAGE 43
Anna Maria Oyster Bar owner John Horne accepts the AMI Rotary Club Businessperson of the Year award from Rotary Club co-directors Judy Rup and Dennis Schuermann.
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Boat Parade is returning to Anna Maria Island. 12
Anna Maria Island, Florida
HOLMES BEACH – It’s official. A fivecamera license plate recognition system is coming to the city at a cost of $105,240 for 5 years, not including $40 per month for wireless internet service to each camera. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer presented the quote for the system from Vetted Security Solutions LLC out of St. Petersburg for the Vigilant camera system. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the project but also said that outside of the monthly charge for wireless internet access, any costs over the $105,240 will have to come back before commissioners for approval. The approved agreements include the purchase and installation of the cameras and related system, software to run it and five years of maintenance for the entire system. Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve an LPR system user agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that Tokajer will have to bring back before them annually for approval. The LPR system reads everyone’s license plates, but it only sends an alert to officers in certain situations, such as a suspended driver’s license, the registration is more than a month or so out of date, the vehicle is stolen or the owner has an outstanding warrant. Tokajer said police also will be able to pull the recordings from certain time periods to help solve crimes that occur on the Island. “It’s a beneficial tool for law enforcement,” he said. “This system brings us up to date with current technology.” Commissioner Jim Kihm said he would like to see reports regularly that show commissioners how the system is being used by police and how it’s helping to reduce crime in Holmes Beach.
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