VOLUME 31, NO. 3
Don’t forget Veterans Day
the Best News on anna maria island Since 1992
astheworldterns 6 Seo reverses christenson’s exemption. 2 veterans parade on tap. 3
Gathering. 18
St. B welcomes priest.
RoadWatch 20
NYT puzzle. 20
Sarasota-based c-Squared cgc works Nov. 3 on stormwater drainage on marina drive, where the new roadway will include bicycle lanes and landscaping, crosswalks and sidewalks, as well as improved infrastructure. islander Photo: ryan Paice
He said construction has faced some delays due to issues with a Manatee County water line, which C-Squared hit or exposed multiple times since learning its location had been improperly marked. “Folks have called us and we, of course, tried to get everything back up and going as quick as we can but … the county has to repair that, so we’re kind of held to their schedule,” Kamiya said. “But they were pretty responsive in getting it repaired.” The city established a detour to accom-
County wraps up fiscal year on tourist tax hot streak By Kane Kaiman islander reporter
Maybe it’s more like “Money-tee County.” Manatee County ended its 2021-22 fiscal year with a bang in September, gleanBB sponsors Bridge St. ing $1,543,920 from the jurisdiction’s “bed events. 22 tax.” The bed tax — tourist tax or resort tax PropertyWatch 22 — is a 5% levy on accommodation rentals Cops & Courts 23 of six months or less. Earnings from the tax have exceeded go slow for manatees. 24 those from the same month in the preceding year for 19 consecutive months. The county earned $143,902 more than checking on birds. 25 it did in September 2021. The jurisdiction’s fiscal year runs OctoSoccer playoffs ahead. 26 ber through September. The county netted fish on fall-winter feed. $28,605,230 in FY 2021-22, $5,540,006 27 more than the previous fiscal year. CLASSIFIEDS. 28-29 Unincorporated Manatee County, which has been out-earned by Holmes Beach sevIsl Biz: 30 eral times this year, accounted for $622,531 gobble and gulp of bed tax revenue, or 40.32% of the overall ELECTION RESULTS revenue pie, in September, more than any of votemanatee.com the municipalities. get in the game. 21
islander.org
By ryan Paice islander reporter
ISLAND PLAYERS
16-17
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Construction gridlocks downtown Holmes Beach
Traffic in Holmes Beach has people in a tizzy. Q&A 110922 3 And the city center congestion is expected to continue through the holidays. Meetings 4 City engineer Sage Kamiya told The BB looks at costs, projIslander Nov. 3 that construction on city ects. 5 center improvements was set to continue Opinions 6 until the end of December. The project involves adding roadway markings, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, cross10-20 YEARS AGO Looking back. 7 walks, street lighting and landscaping to a stretch from the intersection of Gulf and tdc gives nod to water Marina drives to the 5600 block of Marina taxi $$$. 8 Drive. The city hired C-Squared CGC of HB planners recommend food truck options. 9 Sarasota to complete the project for $2,753,784.55. Commissioners also approved two addendums to the scope of work: Save the date. 10-11 • $154,649.30 in July to replace infiltraHappenings tion trenches and a failing stormwater drainWhat’s up on ami? 10-11 age pipe along Gulf Drive; • $93,027 in August to replace a failing on the trail of treats. 12 stormwater drain running through the Island island Players Shopping Center to Marina Drive. review. 13 Kamiya said C-Squared had demolished and removed old asphalt, installed several stormwater drainage pipes under Marina 14 Drive, added new curbing for the roadway’s edges and center island, as well as stretches Where’s of sidewalk along the corridor. Tuna Street.
NOV. 9, 2022
AMI TOURISM: Endless Season Tourist tax collections
September 2018: $622,059 September 2019: $746,145 September 2020: $1,116,592 September 2021: $1,400,018 September 2022: $1,543,920 Source: manatee county tax collector
Holmes Beach netted $394,246 or 25.53%. Anna Maria gleaned $147,612 or 9.56%, while Bradenton Beach collected $106,317 or 6.89%. Bradenton earned $161,571 or 10.46%, Longboat Key brought in $103,795 or 6.72% and Palmetto saw $7,934.76 or 0.51%. The county commission makes resort tax spending decisions under the guidance of the Manatee County Tourist Development turN to tourist tax, Page 2
modate traffic during construction, redirecting motorists from Marina Drive and to northbound Gulf Drive or Holmes Boulevard. The detour requires motorists to come to a stop at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Holmes Boulevard, slowing the pace of trafturN to GriDLoCK, Page 3
2022 elections Election Day arrives
Polling for the 2022 midterms on AMI was to take place 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, after The Islander went to press for the week. On the island, only Bradenton Beach voters were facing municipal questions on the ballot with five proposed charter amendments, but all island voters were facing decisions in federal, state, judicial and district contests. In Anna Maria, voters were to cast ballots at the precinct 301 polling place, Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave. In Bradenton Beach, precinct 307, voters were to cast ballots at the volunteer fire station, 201 Second St. N. In Holmes Beach, precinct 305, voters were to cast ballots at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive. Voters with questions about the election can call the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 941-741-3823. Voters can find countywide results at votemanatee.com. On Election Night, Bradenton Beach voters will find the results on the charter questions at islander.org.