The Islander Newspaper E-Edition Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Page 1

golden giveaway. 3

Blooms vie for prizes. 14

sequins on stage. 23 Astheworldterns turn to Aesop’s Fables. 6

MARCH 27, 2019 FREE

VOLUME 27, NO. 22

HB building official resigns. 3 BB city attorney deposed in Sunshine suit. 4

Celebrating the Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992

www.islander.org

Meetings

On the government calendar. 4

Op-Ed

The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6

10-20 Years ago

From the archives. 7 BB defines wards. 8

Happenings

Community announcements, activities. 10-11 Make plans, save a date. 12-13 Beachfront motel OK for alcohol sales. 16 Longboat Key, DOT plan roundabout. 17 AM takes time-out on sign permits. 19

Gathering. 20 PTO plans gala. 22

Streetlife. 25 Postcards from paradise. 27 Sports: Seeding semifinals at center. 28 No break from hot fishing. 29

isl BiZ

County commissioners mull bed tax collections. 30 CLASSIFIEDS. 32 NYT crossword. 35

A parade for Budweiser

A team of Budweiser Clydesdale horses arrive March 19 to Holmes Beach by city hall. The horse-and-wagon showpiece paraded through the downtown area on a busy Friday afternoon. More, page 23. Islander Photo: ChrisAnn Silver Esformes

The Anna Maria City Pier takes shape in Tampa Bay.

Jack Elka visits the work site in Tampa Bay with a camera and drone March 23 to document progress on the future Anna Maria City Pier. The pilings and shadows help forecast the shape of the pier. See more on the city pier, page 18. Islander Photo: Jack Elka

Hometown hire: wMfr names next chief

By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter A new chief has been named for West Manatee Fire Rescue. And he’s a hometown, in-house applicant. WMFR commissioners March 19 voted 5-0 to appoint Ben Rigney as the next fire chief when Tom Sousa retires Oct. 17, pending contract negotiations by Commission Chair David Bishop. Bishop said each commissioner interviewed Rigney for the position, so he motioned to forego a verbal presentation by the applicant, saying it was not necessary. Commissioners voted unanimously to skip the presentation. “He’s well-qualified and he’s got some good ideas,” Commission Vice Chair Randy Cooper said. “He’s got a lot of history in this area, and I look forward to working with him.” Rigney and his family have history with WMFR. He is son to John Rigney, who was

a firefighter and served on the WMFR commission, and grandson to Hugh Holmes Sr. and nephew to Hugh Holmes Jr., who both served the district as volunteer firefighters. Rigney, who holds a master’s degree in public administration, began at WMFR as a volunteer firefighter in October 2005 and became a district employee Jan. 20, 2006. He was the only person to apply for WMFR’s internal search to fill the post. “I’m excited to work with the district, and to further the goals of the commission,” Rigney said. The fire chief is the top administrative officer for the district, which employs 35 firefighters and inspectors, as well as six paramedics and four administrative personnel to serve an 18-square mile area with 19,824 parcels. Sousa’s current contracted salary as the fire chief is $112,000. Sousa said he was looking forward to retirement and the district would be “in good hands” under Rigney.

Battalion Chief Ben Rigney, right, shakes hands with Chief Tom Sousa March 19 after being named Sousa’s successor by WMFR commissioners. Last November, Sousa announced he will retire by Oct. 17. Islander Photo: Ryan Paice


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.