Anna Maria Island Sun September 9, 2020

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- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -

VOL 20 No. 48

September 9, 2020

‘Cool’ Labor Day

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

With a high temperature of 88 degrees on Anna Maria Island on Labor Day, the ‘cool’ weather signaled the beginning of the traditional end of summer.

Seymour’s group selected for City Pier grill and bait shop Brian Seymour hopes to open the City Pier grill and bait shop before Thanksgiving. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The group consisting of Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham is the city commission’s top choice to operate the City Pier grill and bait shop. During Friday’s emergency meeting, the commission favored the proposal Seymour presented over the proposal Mike Coleman presented on behalf of FP Growth Partners LLC. Mayor Dan Murphy is now authorized to negotiate a five-year lease with Seymour for the group’s operation of a grill and bait shop in the smaller of the two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the new City Pier. The initial five-year lease will provide Seymour’s group with an option for one five-year renewal. Murphy hopes to present a negotiated

INSIDE NEWS 4 FOOD PAGE OUTDOORS CASTLES IN THE SAND

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lease for final commission approval on Thursday, Sept. 24. If lease terms cannot be reached with Seymour’s group, Murphy will seek commission authorization to negotiate a lease agreement with FP Growth Partners. Commissioners Carol Carter, Jon Crane, Joe Muscatello and Mark Short each said this was a difficult choice to make. “I think both parties, both proposals were outstanding. We couldn’t go wrong, and it was a very hard decision,” Short said.

TWO FINALISTS NAMED

Friday’s meeting was preceded by an emergency meeting on Tuesday that resulted in the commission unanimously naming Seymour’s group and FP Growth Partners as its top two choices. This eliminated from further consideration the proposals submitted by Harry’s Continental Kitchens and the father-daughter tandem team of Sherman and Sarah Baldwin. Harry’s Continental Kitchens proposed paying $1,500 per month in base rent or a

A NEW TRAM pilot project begins in Bradenton Beach on Nov. 1. 3

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JOE HENDRICKS | SUN

Brian Seymour, Nick Graham and Vic Mattay were pleased by the commission’s decision. percentage-based rent to be negotiated. The Baldwins proposed $2,000 per month in base rent, plus up to 10% of gross revenues. The mayor and commission expressed concerns about the risks associated with percentage-based rents and the four bidders did not address the commission on Tuesday. Carter expressed concerns about Cole-

man’s public criticism of the city commission in a recent letter to the editor that ran in a local newspaper. The letter referred to an amended alcoholic beverages ordinance the mayor later vetoed. Carter said it’s important for the city to have a good working relationship with its pier partner. Seymour’s group proposed paying $6,000 per month/$72,000 per year in base rent, with an annual 2.5% increase. Seymour’s group anticipates spending an additional $41,350 to complete its share of the interior buildout for the bait shop building. Seymour is the owner-operator of the Anna Maria General Store & Deli on Pine Avenue. Mattay owns Dips Ice Cream, which shares space inside the general store. Graham manages Dips and he and his brother, Aaron, own and operate Graham Slam fishing charters in Cortez. Seymour, Mattay and Graham are equal one-third partners in the Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle store that opened next to the genSEE PIER, PAGE 6

CORTEZ LOCALS travel to Loui-

siana with hurricane aid. 15 THE LIFE OF PIONEERING

Pat Glass is celebrated. 21

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Anna Maria Island, Florida

The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com


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