Summer drama. 17
Organizing at AME. 23
Talking tax hikes. 8-9 The terns dream is real. Real hot. 6
AUG. 1, 2018 FREE
VOLUME 26, NO. 40
BB cell carrier asks, ‘Can you hear me now?’ 4 BB committee makes ballot recommendations. 5
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader opinions. 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
From the archives. 7
Meetings
On the government calendar. 8 Make plans, save a date. 10
Happenings
Community activities, announcements. 11 Trees removed on Palma Sola Causeway. 14 Old pier cottage gets paint, repairs. 14 The final straw. 15 Privateers celebrate Christmas in July. 16
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
Anna Maria ‘Rolls-Royce’ pier bids run too high
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter Anna Maria had two bids in hand for the construction of a new city pier. However, city commissioners voted July 26 to throw them out and seek new bids. The vote was 5-0 on Mayor Dan Murphy’s recommendation. Speeler and Associates submitted a $3,762,875.60 bid for construction of the new pier, while ICON from Tampa submitted a $4,138,417.60 bid. Requests for bids were issued June 15 and due by July 13. Both bids exceeded the $2.5 million estimate for the project prepared for the city by Ayres Associates out of Tampa. Murphy met with both contractors and said there were some disparities between the estimates — even on the cost of pilings. Murphy said Speeler didn’t use Anna Maria’s unit pricing and instead used its own figures to reach its bid. The mayor said ICON looked at Anna Maria’s unit pricing for the materials and labor and said transport of materials is an issue. Barges might be needed to move material to the site. Murphy said ICON also noted that city specifications for the new pier are high qual-
By July 26, the Anna Maria City Pier had vanished from Tampa Bay. The entry sign, picnic areas and a boardwalk overlook remain. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice ity and expensive. estimates, but made only a small impact in “We are building a Rolls-Royce of a the bids. pier,” Murphy said. By throwing out the bids, the city posHe also said tariffs on steel and concrete sibly can get more input, as well as review PLEASE SEE PIER PAGE 2 put material prices beyond the original city
Top Notch HBPD honors dragracing intern. 18
Obituaries. 18 Streetlife. 20 High surf washes over turtle nests. 22 Indoor, outdoor soccer at center. 24 Hooking up around AMI. 25
ISL BIZ Edible bamboo. 26 CLASSIFIEDS. 28
PropertyWatch. 28
www.islander.org
Top Notch: Week 3, In flight
Doreen Steinhauser of Bradenton wins the third week of The Islander’s Top Notch photo contest with this image of an osprey with a fresh catch — a speckled trout. She took the photo in Bradenton. The photograph earns her an Islander “More-than-a mullet-wrapper” T-shirt and a spot as a finalist in the contest, which offers a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and an assortment of gift certificates from participating advertisers.
HB mayoral candidate changes story following challenges
By Jennifer Glenfield Islander Reporter The open-book mayoral candidate in Holmes Beach has a shifting past. He went from a soldier serving in the first Gulf War (at age 15) to Army service in the Gulf War era. Joshua Linney, a candidate in the Nov. 6 general election, has changed Linney details regarding his accomplishments and failures three times in the biography he submitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections to promote his campaign. Following a July 19 interview with The Islander about discrepancies in his bio, Linney replaced “deployed to Iraq” with PLEASE SEE CANDIDATE PAGE 2