Halloweens past. 16 Celebrating 27 years of ‘the best news.’
VOLUME 28, NO. 1
Astheworldterns start up 28th year. 6
anniversary quiz. 17
Happy Halloween
turtle watch tributes. 26 OCT. 30, 2019 FREE
BB, investors win zoning case. 2 HB reviews Nov. 5 ballot questions. 3
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
islander.org
Dismissal sought in treehouse case. 4
Meetings: On the government calendar. 4 New Bridge Street dock damaged. 5 Falling back Nov. 3. 5
Opinions. 6 10-20 Years ago
From the archives. 7
BB signs agreement on jitney trail. 9
Happenings Community announcements, activities.
Save the date.
Streetlife. Get in the game.
Gathering. take 5:00:
AmE NEWS United at AME.
BB plans to bury Bridge Street utilities.
Microplastics in Tampa Bay. Soccer action underway on center pitch. Gulf storm puts damper on fall fishing.
ISL BIZ:
PropertyWatch. CLASSIFIEDS.
NYT puzzle.
A Mason Martin employee works on the roof Oct. 25 on the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice
Engineering-design ‘conflict’ threatens pier progress By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
Construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier restaurant and bait shop is humming along, but a potential wrench in the works might hold up the progress. Mayor Dan Murphy told city commissioners Oct. 22 there is a conflict between the architectural design and engineering that might delay the pier’s opening date. In light of some setbacks — including an i+iconSOUTHEAST employee in a barge ramming and damaging the pier walkway — the city had hoped to open the pier in late January or early-February 2020, but the conflict could push that date forward. The mayor had planned a meeting last week to “get to the bottom” of the issue,
determine who is responsible and assess the scope of any delay in construction. “Hopefully it will only be a minor issue,” Murphy said before the meeting planned for Oct. 23 was canceled. He said “it wouldn’t be fair” to address the problem without the facts and declined to elaborate. Murphy told The Islander in an Oct. 25 email the meeting was pushed to Thursday, Oct. 31, because a “key player” was not available. Meanwhile, Mason Martin continued construction on the T-end buildings. But the contractor pulled out of the running to bid the interior work on the restaurant, restrooms and bait shop. Murphy told the commission that Mason Martin, owned by Frank Agnelli and Jake
Martin, withdrew its option to bid on the interior work. Mason Martin’s decision came a week after Mario Schoenfelder, the pier tenant since 2000, indicated in an Oct. 16 email to Murphy that he felt he was being forced to use the city’s contractor. Schoenfelder also expressed frustration with Mason Martin because the builder failed
in the municipal election. The last election included state and municipal offices. Holmes Beach voters will cast ballots 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive. The Holmes Beach Canvassing Board, including city clerk Stacey Johnston and planning commissioners Lance Collins and Greg Kerchner, will review provisional ballots Nov. 5 and Nov. 7. Questions regarding the Holmes Beach municipal election can be directed to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-741-3823.
By Arthur Brice Islander Reporter
PLEASE SEE PIER, PAGE 2
Bridge Battle
Holmes Beach voters cast ballots nov. 5 round 1: opponents Holmes Beach is the lone In November 2018, of 2,807 registered city on Anna Maria Island voters in Holmes Beach, 2,002 people voted launch challenge with more commission candidates than seats available on the dais. And the electorate will determine Nov. 5 how the seats will be filled. Voters will elect three commissioners from a pool of four candidates — incumbents Rick Hurst, Jim Kihm and Carol Soustek and first-time candidate Terri Schaefer. Additionally, voters Nov. 5 will decide eight proposed amendments to the city charter. As of Oct. 23, the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections reported 2,751 active voters in Holmes Beach.
— Chrisann Silver Esformes
It’s time to fight. A former Manatee County commissioner has initiated a legal challenge to the Florida Department of Transportation’s plan to build a 65-foot-clearance fixed span to replace the Cortez Bridge. Joe McClash, who served on the county board from 1990 to 2012, is joined in his quest for a formal administrative hearing by three organizations and three Cortez residents, including another former county commissioner.
PLEASE SEE BRIDGE, PAGE 8