ANNA MARIA – Former Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland praised the city’s Hurricane Ian cleanup and recovery efforts, particularly the efforts of new Public Works Manager Ryan Wieland.
Wieland was promoted to the position in July, after then-manager Dean Jones accepted an assistant public works director’s position with the city of Bradenton.
“I want to thank the mayor, the commission and the staff for the fine job they did getting Anna Maria back together after the storm. I particularly would like to thank Ryan for the job he did. He was here from sunup almost to sundown. I had contact with him several times. He always had time to deal with you in a professional way. He makes you feel like your problem is his problem and he’d do what he could to solve it. An excellent job,” Copeland said when providing public input during the Oct. 13 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.
“Thank you, Ryan and your crew,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added.
Ian by the numbers
During the Oct. 13 meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy provided an “Ian by the numbers” recap of the hurricane’s impact in Anna Maria.
“Debris was the biggest issue we had as a result of Hurricane Ian. We will, by the end of this, have removed 85 truckloads of debris. That’s a huge amount,” Murphy said.
Murphy said the city’s hurricane-related communications efforts included emails sent to city commissioners and residents and business owners who previously provided their email addresses for inclusion in the city’s database. Over a seven-day period, the city sent out 65 email blasts that totaled 16,520 emails sent. We did 55 web updates, putting new information on the (city) website,” Murphy told the commission.
Murphy said city staff worked 150 overtime hours. Building department personnel visited 45 active construction sites. The most common storm-related occurrences they found were tipped-over portable toilets, storm debris and silt fences that had been knocked down.
Code enforcement personnel also made their rounds and identified 18 code infractions, including swimming pools where fences had been knocked down.
“That’s a safety concern,” Murphy said.
Murphy said 126 street signs and stop signs were impacted by Hurricane Ian and he noted first responders often rely on street signs when responding to an emergency, as do visitors and others. Murphy said many signs were knocked over or displaced and others disappeared completely. He said some of the missing street signs may have been taken as souvenirs.
Murphy said Hurricane Ian’s total cost to the city to date was $190,000, a figure that includes debris removal, overtime pay, materials and supplies and more. City Clerk/Treasurer LeAnne Addy is now leading the city’s ef- forts to receive FEMA reimbursement for those hurricane-related expenses.
The property damage throughout the city to non-city-owned properties and businesses was estimated to be $300,000, which Murphy said pales in comparison to the damage suffered in the harder-hit areas to the south.
“We were so fortunate, and our staff really stepped up,” Murphy said.
Murphy and city staff engaged in post-hurricane debriefings in an attempt to learn what can be done better before, during and after the next hurricane.
