VOLUME
JUNE 9, 2021 FrEE
NO. 33
the Best news on anna maria island Since 1992 astheworldterns. 6
Q&A 060921
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BB discusses streetlights for gulf drive. 4
Meetings. 4 costs skyrocket for buried utilities in BB. 5
islander.org
AMi roundabouts a thing of the future
Happiness flows from bubble wands
By Kane Kaiman islander reporter
They’ll be coming round the island when they come. Opinions. 6 Funding for the construction of roundabouts at some Anna Maria Island intersections could be available in 2030, according to 10-20 YeArs Ago Looking back. 7 the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2020-45 long-range plan. maritime museum’s exhibit Roundabouts could come sooner dependwows walk-ins. 8 ing on the timing of the Florida Department of Transportation “Complete Streets” projHB planners back bank rezone. 9 ect studies and municipal undertakings in Holmes Beach. According to the cost-feasible outline of the MPO’s long-range plan, three island Save a date. 10 intersections could receive roundabout concenter strikes a chord, struction funding in 2030: concerts bring bucks. 11 • Cortez Road at Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach; • East Bay Drive at Manatee Avenue in Looking back at lessons Holmes Beach; learned. 12 • Gulf Drive at Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach. Storm ready? Stocking up. 13 Inclusion in the outline does not guarantee the roundabouts will be built, said MPO executive director David Hutchinson, and WHere’s plans could change based on future intertUnA section improvement evaluations.
street? 14-15
Gathering. 16
Obituaries. 16-17 anna maria salutes heroes. 17
NESTING NOTES. Parallel seasons. 18
over the rainbow. 19 Youth soccer champs crowned. 20 Look for clean, clear water for fishing success. 21
Streetlife. 22 Vehicle thefts investigated in HB. 22
cLASSIFIEDS. 24
PropertyWatch. 26
NYT puzzle.
maddie Kimmons, 8, waves a wand of bubbles as miles moss, 7, follows the flow on the field at the center of anna maria island. islander Photo: courtesy cofami
turn to roUNDaBoUts, Page 2
county, Holmes Beach rev up holiday parking debate By ryan Paice islander reporter
The debate over parking between Manatee County and Holmes Beach is coming to a head on the heels of a busy Memorial Day weekend. Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge sparked the conversation at a June 3 county
meeting by recounting difficulties with opening parking at Anna Maria Elementary School for public use over the holiday. The city implemented a park-by-permit system last summer to ease parking along some streets when the city reopened the beaches while many other beaches across the state remained closed due to the COVID-19
pandemic. The system involves selling $15 decals to residents and property owners to allow them to park a vehicle in one of 645 restricted spots where public parking was otherwise prohibited 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Several county commissioners have critturn to parkING, Page 5
Tension heightens over Bridge Street crosswalk fiasco By Kelsey mako islander reporter
Blame continues to be passed for deteriorating crosswalks on Bridge Street. City engineer Lynn Burnett asked June 2 at the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency meeting that some “emotional-based” comments about her be removed from the minutes of a prior meeting before they were approved. According to the minutes from that May 5 meeting, Angela Rodocker of the BridgeWalk motel said, “Whoever approved this from an engineer standpoint should be ashamed,” referring to LTA Engineers and the crosswalk project.
Bradenton Beach engineer Lynn Burnett and city attorney ricinda Perry take part in the discussion at a may 5 community redevelopment agency meeting. islander Photo: Kelsey mako
turn to crosswalk, Page 3
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