BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved a $46,976 contract for this year’s holiday decorations.
Bradenton Beach is in the third year of its five-year contract with Sarasota-based Trimmers Holiday Décor.
“With a 15% discount the price is still the same,” Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said at the May 3 CRA meeting.
There are no significant changes to the contract, he said. The discount comes in at $8,290.
“I would recommend we go ahead and sign the agreement again,” Chappie said. “It’s a wonderful thing for our community. It’s really set Bradenton Beach apart from a lot of communities.”
Chappie made a motion to sign the document for Trimmers holiday décor for decorations for Christmas on Bridge Street and authorize Chairman Ralph Cole to sign. The motion was approved unanimously.
During public comment, Joe Cuervo, former owner of the Drift Inn on Bridge Street, said he would donate $1,000 toward the holiday decorating cost.
“Last year, before I sold, I committed $1,000 for the Christmas decorations,” Cuervo said, adding that he had been in the hospital last year. “I have a check written for $1,000 for last year and I just need to know who to make the check out to.”
The holiday decorations will include in part: A 32-foot lighted and decorated tree on Bridge Street; trunk wrapping of white lights on multiple trees throughout the city; lit garland and bows on light poles, the clock tower, and Bridge Street Pier sign; snow bursts on roof peaks and round-about; and snowfall tubes.
