VOLUME
Remember 9/11
NO. 46
SEPT. 8, 2021 FREE
the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 Astheworldterns. 6 AM-Mote still mulling over pier lease. 2
Q&A 090821
3
Legal issues cause hiccup for beach wedding. 3
Meetings. 4 2021 city elections. 4-5
Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
BB tram OK’d for another year. 8 Shade roof returns to illegal stilt-house. 9
Save a date. 10-11
Happenings
BB names ‘acting’ chief of police
Cradled in cardboard Waste Pro employees Hiram Gomez, left, and Colin Peters hold a box containing five stray kittens Aug. 30. the pair found the litter near a dumpster while collecting garbage in Holmes Beach. they called city staff, who took the kittens to the Island Animal Clinic, 5343 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, for treatment and adoption, while also looking for the mom to nurse the kittens — and for spay. Islander Photo: Courtesy HB Code Supervisor Jt thomas
By Laura Fletcher Islander Reporter
11-12
Anna Maria seeks long-term solutions
Music unites. 13
By Amy V.t. Moriarty Islander Reporter
Anna Maria leaders are looking forward — hoping to protect the city from rising sea levels. HB rushes road, sidewalk How they will do so remains unanfixes. 14 swered but John Englander of Rising Seas FOOtBALL RetURNS: Institute hopes his nonprofit will be called Get in the game. 15 upon to create a forward-thinking plan with a 30-year impact. Gathering. 16 Before the 2020 formation of his nonprofi t, Englander addressed commissioners Streetlife. 17 in 2019, talking about the dangers of rising NESTING NOTES. 18 sea levels. Englander, at the time, said he wanted “to use Anna Maria as a microcosm or kind of laboratory,” Mayor Dan Murphy told The Diving into cleanups. 19 Islander Sept. 2. Adult football heads to In July, city officials earmarked some of playoffs. 20 the $882,504 awarded through the federal American Rescue Plan pandemic relief fund Plan ahead for fishing for stormwater mitigation, in which sea level success. 21 rise is a factor, Murphy said. So if Englander’s firm is chosen, the $50,000 expense could be covered by those Hello, goodbye… 22 funds. “His angle isn’t about the cause, it’s that AMI tourism numbers. 23 it’s real and must be dealt with … and how CLASSIFIEDS. 24 do we come up with solutions for practical Murphy said. PropertyWatch. 26 problems,” Englander made a presentation to commissioners Aug. 26. Pet storm planner. 26 He said Rising Seas would work with puzzle. 27 city officials in an advisory capacity to Dragon boat paddlers returning to water. 14
ISL BIZ
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John englander of Rising Seas Institute makes a presentation Aug. 26 to Anna Maria commissioners, seeking a contract for his nonprofit to plan against the future threat of sea level rise. Islander Photo: Amy V.t. Moriarty
There’s a new chief in town. Bradenton Beach commissioners authorized an agreement Sept. 2, putting into action their plan for Lt. John Cosby to step immediately into the office of acting chief of police. The agreement sets the stage and the salary for Oct. 9, when Cosby will be sworn in as chief. His starting salary is $114,507 plus benefits, as outlined in the city Cosby employee handbook. The agreement provides for the 2021-22 budgeted salary and a starting bonus of $5,000 — half to come from the city budget and half from the community redevelopment agency — as compensation for the transitional work provided by Cosby in the current fiscal year. And Cosby is ready for the job. He’s a 34-year veteran of the BBPD. He also has served as the emergency management coordinator for the city, led storm responses during his tenure and contributes expertise to the budget planning process for not just the department but for the entire spending plan. He is officially acting chief before taking the chief’s position Oct. 9. Speciale provided Mayor John Chappie his one-year notice of retirement Oct. 9, 2020. He served the city in the police department 35 years. Speciale, who was on vacation at his home in Georgia, told The Islander on a Sept. 4 call that he had no plans to return to the island before his last day Speciale as chief, Oct. 8. The Bradenton Beach Police Department is headquartered at 403 Highland Ave. Islander staff contributed to this report.
commissioners’ hands by the end of the month.” If Anna Maria moves ahead with Rising Seas, it would be the first city to have a develop a five-year plan with a 30-year 30-year impact goal planned by the instiimpact goal. tute. “I like the fact that he’s thinking in terms “You have an incredible opportunity … of a five and 30,” Murphy said. I’d love to be on your side of the table,” EngEnglander is preparing a formal proposal lander told commissioners Aug. 26. for commission consideration and Murphy For more information about RSI, go said he “expects to have the document in online to risingseasinstitute.org.
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