Slow, school days ahead. 12
Shark-drag case expands. 20 Uncorking Cortez bottleneck. 20 AUG. 9, 2017 FREE
VOLUME 25, NO. 41
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 AsTheWorldTerns send Emily packing. 6 BB ‘Neighbors’ push charter changes. 3 Emily lands on AMI, knocks out dock. 4, 8 Anna Maria qualifying ahead. 4
Op-Ed.
6
10-20 YEARS AGO
From the archives. 7
Meetings
On the government calendar. 8 Make plans, save a date. 10
Happenings
Community announcements, activities. 11 DEP probe clears developer of dune destruction. 14 Anti-Aqua By The Bay activists organizing. 14
www.islander.org
City joins Sunshine Double homicide Waterline faces investigation of shakes Longboat ‘significant crisis’ BBP&Z members resort, community to open in August
By chrisann Silver esformes islander reporter the city of Bradenton Beach is joining a legal investigation of several planning and zoning board members who allegedly violated florida’s government-in-the-Sunshine Laws. At an Aug. 3 city meeting, commissioners and mayor Bill Shearon voted unanimously to join an investigation initiated by paralegal consultant Michael Barfield, under the direction of attorney robert Watrous of Sarasota, of several P&Z members for alleged Sunshine Law violations during a private meeting. Bradenton Beach P&Z members Reed Mapes, John Metz, Patty Shay and Bill Vincent also are steering committee members of the recently formed grass-roots group, concerned neighbors of Bradenton Beach. Vincent is chair and founder of cnoBB. Following a July 27 CNOBB steering committee meeting, where discussion was held on the possibility of a parking garage in the city, city attorney ricinda perry distributed an email to the group, mayor and city commissioners, warning that discussion of city matters with more than one member pLeaSe See BBP&Z PAGE 2
By Kathy prucnell islander reporter authorities may be closing in on suspects in the aug. 4 double homicide of a night manager and security guard at a posh Longboat Key resort. timothy Hurley, 59, of Sarasota, the manager on duty. Kevin carter, 51, of Bradenton, of Victory Security, were fatally shot at 2:41 a.m. at the Zota Beach Resort, according to a news release from Longboat Key police chief pete cumming. The 187-room, $24 million resort opened June 23 where there previously was a Hilton Hotel. “The investigation is making some progress,” Cumming said Aug. 5. a resort guest found the men shot in the lobby and called police, who arrived about 45 minutes later. none of the guests heard the shooting, cummings said, adding a surveillance camera pinpointed the time of the shooting. “We have a team working all weekend,” he said, adding he’s “optimistic” there will be an arrest soon. portions of the video released by LongpLeaSe See Homicide PAGE 3
Obituaries. 18
Top Notch
Streetlife. 19
Week 4: Eye in the sky
Rainy days, perching birds. 21
Andrew Fortenberry of Holmes Beach wins the fourth week of The Islander’s Top Notch photo contest with this image, shot using a drone between Passage Key and Egmont Key. For the winning photograph, Fortenberry receives an Islander “More than a mullet wrapper” T-shirt. He’s also a finalist in the contest, which offers a grand prize of $100 from The Islander and an assortment of gift certificates from participating advertisers. For more on Top Notch, see page 4.
Skimmers, sea turtles weather TS Emily. 22 Youth soccer kicks off. 24 Storms, bad etiquette spoil a day’s fishing. 25
Isl Biz. 26
Real estate sales. 27 Classifieds. 28
ZAGAT “Top Restaurants in America”
941-778-6444 www.BeachBistro.com
By Terry O’Connor Islander Reporter A “significant crisis” is developing as an Aug. 14 deadline approaches for permits to open the Waterline marina resort & Beach club in Holmes Beach. attorney robert Lincoln, representing developer mainsail Lodging and development of tampa, has complained to the Holmes Beach city attorney and mayor about difficulties in obtaining final construction inspections and approvals for the resort. City officials, however, indicate Mainsail has not completed the work necessary to gain the permits. Lincoln accused building official James mcguinness of being unresponsive to attempts to obtain temporary certificates of occupancy for four new Waterline buildings, including the central lodge, east and west wings and building B. “Mr. McGuinness seems to be unwilling or unable to provide a punch list of final inspection and approval issues for the project or the final (certificate of occupancy),” Lincoln wrote in an Aug. 2 email to Holmes Beach city attorney patty petruff. “it appears there will be a significant crisis if Mainsail pLeaSe See WATeRLine page 5
Crafted Cocktails
941-213-9926
www.DoctorsOfficeAMI.com
Florida Trend “Best New” Restaurant
941-778-0411 www.eathereflorida.com