The Islander Newspaper E-Edition: Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Page 1

Summer celebrations. 12

Tracking turtles. 22

AMITW July 26: 499 nests, 795 false crawls, 118 hatched nests. Astheworldterns ask: What do you recall? 6

Kingfish murders. 16-17

39

YEARS AGO

JULY 31, 2019 FREE

VOLUME 27, NO. 40

anna maria strikes deal for pier buildings. 3 firefighters rescue lost boater. 3 BB reviews Sunshine litigation. 4

Meetings

on the government calendar. 4

Op-Ed. 6 10-20 YEARS AGO

from the archives. 7

Budget talks begin. 8-9

Save the date. 10

Happenings announcements. 11-12 HB skate park, preserve plans updated. 13

Streetlife. 14 Gathering

CHURCH HAPPENINGS. 18

Obituaries. 19

AME news. 20 resolving against offshore drilling. 21

The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

islander.org

Treehouse owners push case back to circuit court By Kathy Prucnell islander reporter

One treehouse case is branching off from the federal to the county courthouse. A month after the city of Holmes Beach removed the case to the U.S. District CourtMiddle District of Florida in Tampa, the treehouse owners dropped their federal claims and are poised to push the case back to the 12th Circuit Court at the Manatee County Judicial Center. Owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen, represented by Sarasota attorney David Levin, of Icard Merrill, filed a new pleading July 16, followed by an “unopposed” motion — having consulted with the city’s representatives for the case, the law firm of Trask Daigneault of Clearwater, who agreed to remand the case to state court the next day. The case was one of two treehouse cases in federal court as of July 26. Two similar cases are pending in the 12th Circuit. Tran and Hazen live and operate four short-term rental units at 103 29th St., where they built the beachfront structure in an Australian pine tree without city or state permits.

In the latest federal complaint — leading to the move back to state court — the owners are continuing to challenge a city setback as preempted by state law, but “deleted all allegations and references to the U.S. Constitution, leaving only allegations pertaining to state law claims,” according to the owners’ motion to remand. Attorney Jay Daigneault of Trask Daigneault said he would not oppose the

move back to state court. “The case was removed based on federal questions. Now it’s purely a matter of state law. There’s no sense in being obstinate,” Daigneault said July 25. The treehouse litigation, dating back to 2013, centers on the structure’s location within the city setback for the state erosioncontrol line. The line was established to PLeaSe See Treehouse, Page 2

Top Notch

AM commissioner bows out of race By ryan Paice islander reporter

e-scooter fun. 23 from gridiron to pitch. 24 gone fishing — in the rain. 25

ISL BIZ am reviews sign regulations. 26-27

PropertyWatch. 28 CLASSIFIEDS. 28 nYt crossword puzzle. 31

One Anna Maria city commissioner is out of the running. Facing a campaign for another term on the Nov. 5 ballot, Commissioner Doug Copeland announced at the July 25 city meeting that he would not seek re-election. “At this time I would like to announce that I will not be seeking re-election and would like to encourage some of our very talented citizens to seek that seat,” Copeland said during his turn for comments at the city meeting. Commission Chair Brian Seymour called the announcement a “bombshell.” He and Commissioner Carol Carter thanked Copeland for his service to the community. Copeland previously served many years as a volunteer member of the city planning board. Seymour added, “He’s served the city so well for so many years.”

Week Six: Looking up for fun John Lafferty of Lakeland wins the sixth and final week of the islander’s top notch photo contest with this summer-splashed photograph of Barrett Strong, Bryant Strong, Hudson Lloyd and everett Lloyd relaxing on a pool float on anna maria island. Lafferty took the photo over the July 4 weekend. He won an islander “more-than-a-mullet wrapper” t-shirt and entry into the finals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from the islander and gift certificates from mister roberts resort Wear, cupcake delights, mr. Bones BBQ, add the Sea, Slim’s Place and island coffee Haus. next week, the islander names the tops in this year’s top notch contest.

Copeland’s decision comes less than a month before candidate qualifying begins in the city. Prospective candidates have Aug. 19-30 to provide the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office with a candidate oath, a statement of candidate or party, financial disclosure forms, as well as the qualifying fee or certification of petition. Seats held by Commissioners Dale

Woodland and Carter also are up for reelection. Woodland said in a July 26 interview with The Islander that he will seek re-election and has begun the steps to qualify. Carter wrote in a July 26 text to The Islander that she also will seek another term. Commissioners serve two-year terms and receive a $4,800 annual stipend.


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