BRADENTON BEACH – City officials expressed concerns about an advertisement the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently ran in the Miami Herald that encouraged south Floridians to “make a break” for Anna Maria Island.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. John Cosby commented on the CVB ad during the city commission’s Tuesday, July 14 weekly emergency special city commission meeting.
“I let her know that I was disheartened that an ad was going out to encourage people from other communities to come here.” – John Chappie, Bradenton Beach Mayor
The CVB ad ran in the Sunday, July 5 Miami Herald. The ad pictured a couple walking on a beach and featured the same “Make a Break For It” online promotional language that still appears at the CVB website.
“This is it, your chance to escape. If you’re ready for a break from staying inside your home, we have a destination perfect for those ready to break free. Enjoy the wide-open freedom of a serene island beach, the sprawling splendor of nature preserves, and the thrill of outdoor activities on Florida’s West Coast. It’s finally time to plan your escape to Bradenton/Anna Maria Island/Longboat Key, and Make a Break For It,” the Miami Herald ad said.
The ad ran during the same weekend that beaches in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties were closed for the holiday weekend due to COVID-19 cases increasing in south Florida.
Chappie said he called County Administrator Cheri Coryea about the ad.
“I let her know that I was disheartened that an ad was going out to encourage people from other communities to come here,” Chappie told the commission.
“Apparently, it was a package deal that was purchased a while back. We can’t do that, not now. She understood and they will be talking about it. I also told her that if you’re doing stuff like that at the very least you should own the new reality and highly recommend that if you want to visit our communities you need to mask up,” he said.
Cosby also commented on the ad.
“During the week of the Fourth of July, we had people showing up at the beach at 3 o’clock in the morning. They left Miami, drove over here and were planning to sleep in their vehicles until the sun came up and then go to the beach. We do not allow parking at beaches overnight, so we spent a lot of time moving people out of those beach areas. They were not staying in hotels. They came up strictly for the day. People are coming here on their own. I don’t know how much we have to advertise it,” Cosby said.
Commissioner Ralph Cole expressed concerns about beach closings elsewhere in the state impacting Anna Maria Island beaches.
“When the other counties close their beaches down, it puts a big burden on the rest of the counties around the state, especially on the super busy weekends. I’d really like to see them rethink their ideas of closing their beaches down,” Cole said.
“Over the Fourth of July, we got a lot of people from Broward County and Dade County because they closed their beaches. Those people probably would have stayed put had they had the opportunity to go to their beaches. I think everybody in the state needs to work together. I was kind of disappointed that they closed the beaches on the other coast,” Cole said.
When contacted about the Miami Herald ad, CVB Director Elliott Falcione said via email, “We were given a free advertisement from the Bradenton Herald in the Miami Herald for Sunday, July 5th as part of an added value buy. However, we have not been targeting Miami/Fort Lauderdale with our digital advertising since we relaunched our drive market around June 1st.”
When asked if the CVB was running any promotions in Brazil, another area hard hit by the coronavirus, Falcione said, “The CVB has never placed advertising in Brazil and has no plans anytime in the future.”
HOLMES BEACH – Rick Hurst is ready for a political comeback. After running for a second term last November and losing to newcomer Terry Schaefer, Hurst took a year off from the local political scene but hopes that voters will give him a second term as city commissioner this November.
Currently residing in Key Royale with his wife of 28 years, Laura, Hurst has been a resident of Holmes Beach since 2013. The two have three children, Tim, Ted and Torianne. Torianne attended Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach and now attends King Middle School.
Hurst was raised in Philadelphia and left to attend the University of Michigan where he earned a B.S.E. in 1985. After graduation, he moved to the Chicago area and developed a software system that he said is still the premier product in its industry.
In 1995, he switched his focus to a start-up automation company located in Michigan. It quickly grew and was sold in 2000, though Hurst stayed on as president until he retired in 2010. It took three months of full retirement before he was ready to move on to the next adventure, working part-time as a process efficiency/software consultant and more recently working as managing partner of the Freckled Fin Irish Pub, volunteering as a soccer coach and serving as a city commissioner in Holmes Beach from 2017-19. He also works from home as an IT director for a large Midwest food distributor.
“I wholeheartedly agree with my financial advisor when he says, ‘Rick, you suck at retirement,’ ” Hurst wrote in an email to The Sun.
With two seats on the city commission dais up for grabs in the Nov. 3 election, Hurst faces off against incumbent Commissioners Pat Morton and Kim Rash along with fellow Holmes Beach resident Jayne Christenson. To help voters get to know each candidate a little better, The Sun asked each candidate to answer the same four questions. Here are Hurst’s answers.
What do voters need to know about your involvement in the community?
For many years I spent a good portion of my time coaching youths at The Center. During that time, I started and coached the Island travel soccer team that had a great three-year run. In addition, I spent two years as a Holmes Beach Commissioner. I am currently the managing partner of the Freckled Fin Irish Pub where we provide great food, atmosphere and entertainment to our community.
Why are you running for Holmes Beach City Commission?
I along with many Holmes Beach residents feel “all” residents are not being heard. I have been asked by many residents, “What can we do to be heard?” My only answer is “Through the election process.” I want us to be heard through my campaign as well as future campaigns with other candidates. Additionally, based on recent observations I believe that too many members of the commission are too like-minded and are missing my differing point of view which in the past has allowed the commission to see multiple sides of issues. I think for the sake of the city, we need to get that back.
If elected, what would be your priority to work on with your fellow commissioners?
Improve methods of communication to our residents and provide simple ways for all residents to be heard. The truth is that only a handful of people have the time and willingness to attend and speak up at a commission meeting. We need to design better forums for all to be heard along with better checks and balances to ensure certain inner circles are not heard over others.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the city today?
The way the parking ordinance was implemented by the city has created a new challenge, which is to repair a community that has been fractured by residents being pitted against one another and a growing distrust of city officials. With that said, the biggest challenge is keeping up with, paying for and prioritizing the many infrastructure and stormwater projects that are necessary for the present as well as for the future of the city.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County School Board voted 3-2 to start the school year on Monday, Aug. 17.
The previously discussed reopening plan called for schools to open on Monday, Aug. 10 and that date was changed when the plan was formally approved by the board during a special school board meeting Tuesday evening.
School Board members James Golden, Dr. Scott Hopes and Gina Messenger voted in favor of the amended reopening plan that includes the Aug. 17 opening date. Board members Charlie Kennedy and Dave Miner said they support the plan, but cannot support the Aug. 17 date to reopen schools for in-person learning.
As previously planned, teachers will return to work on Aug. 3 and will now have an extra week to plan, prepare and collaborate in preparation for the students’ return.
For planning purposes, parents have until July 22 to inform their school of their children’s learning option. Parents and children of all grades have three learning options:
Option 1: Attending school in person in a school building five days a week.
Option 2: Full-time online eLearning at home.
Option 3: A hybrid program that includes two days of week of in-school learning and three days a week of at-home eLearning.
The amended and approved reopening plan now allows elementary students to use the hybrid option. The previous reopening plan did not provide the hybrid option to elementary students.
School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said each teacher will teach one style of learning option. Teachers will not be asked to teach three different styles of learning options.
The plan requires all students, teachers and staff to wear face masks when inside a school building or school bus.
Mask waivers will be granted to those who have a written order from a physician, but those with mask waivers will then be required to wear a plastic face shield instead.
The school board will meet again on July 28 and if needed the reopening date can be re-evaluated based on the COVID-19 conditions in Manatee County at that time.
The board approved plan must be submitted to the Florida Department of Education for approval by July 31.
The reopening plan does not currently call for the school year to be extended, nor does it impact the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks for students, staff and teachers.
Saunders said a COVID-19 outbreak among students and/or teachers could lead to school closures and a temporary return to eLearning for impacted students.
For more information, visit the School District of Manatee County website.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach City Commission now recommends, but does not require, that masks or face coverings be worn in Bradenton Beach.
The Bradenton Beach Commission engaged in its first public mask/face covering discussion during its weekly special emergency city commission meeting this morning.
During the meeting, Mayor John Chappie and Lt. John Cosby, from the Bradenton Beach Police Department, also expressed concerns about an ad that recently appeared in the Miami Herald encouraging people to come to Anna Maria Island.
Mask discussion
The mask discussion was inspired by public comments made by resident Connie Morrow.
“One of the things I’ve noticed is that the commission has not discussed wearing masks. I would appreciate it if the members of the commission would discuss the pros and cons of wearing masks – or putting out a strong recommendation for people to wear masks in Bradenton Beach, especially given the continued increase (in COVID-19 cases). I’d like to know what your thinking is,” Morrow said.
Vice Mayor Jake Spooner responded first.
“Thank you, Mrs. Morrow. I know it’s a touchy subject for some. It’s not for me. I would definitely do what you’re saying – that we highly recommend everyone wear a mask. I know there’s certain issues with enforcement and things along that line, and I’m sure everybody has their own opinions and views on it, but I highly recommend everyone visiting or living in the city of Bradenton Beach please wear a mask and please follow all CDC and WHO guidelines. That’s the best we have to try and get control of the situation,” Spooner said.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh held a slightly different view.
“From what I see, everybody is wearing masks. I don’t see people not wearing masks at the Publix. I still feel we should go by the county and the state, whatever they recommend,” she said.
Mayor John Chappie spoke next.
“I agree with Connie. I like the idea of the strong message. I think the program the county is starting, ‘Mask Up Manatee,’ is sending out a strong message,” he said.
Chappie said the city should put out a similar message, and he and City Clerk Terri Sanclemente could put together a public service announcement along those lines. He also said the Mask Up signs, when received from the county, will be distributed to Bradenton Beach businesses.
Chappie also suggested placing a mask message banner at the entrance to the city, at the west end of the Cortez Bridge.
Chappie noted one-third of the city consists of county-owned beaches (and boat ramps) and that attracts a lot of visitors who drive in from Hillsborough County and Polk County.
“Anything we can do to try to get them to be personally responsible is important,” Chappie said.
Spooner said he likes the “Mask Up” catchphrase because it’s short and catchy.
Commissioner Marilyn Maro said she liked Morrow’s suggestion about issuing a city recommendation. Maro said she’s observed many people in Bradenton Beach wearing masks, but she’d like to see the vacation rental management companies provide their guests with a written message that encourages them to wear masks when they are out in public.
Commissioner Ralph Cole then shared his view on masks.
“I believe that there are certain situations that you should mask up, especially people that are more susceptible and have the underlying conditions,” he said. “Everybody that needs to wear a mask should wear a mask and protect yourself.”
Cole said he would like the public service announcement to encourage the proper disposal of disposable masks.
“Encourage people not to throw masks on the beach and on the ground, leaving a contaminated mask laying around. I’m finding several masks every day dug into the sand,” he said.
Chappie said he’s seen a lot of discarded masks lying around too.
Regarding the coronavirus and the city’s response, Cole said, “It’s out there. It’s something we’re going to have to live with. We should not go above what the CDC does, what the state recommends and the county.”
Lt. John Cosby, from the Bradenton Beach Police Department, said the city has three sandwich board signs that could be placed along Bridge Street with new inserts that encourage people to wear masks.
Visitors to Bradenton Beach City Hall are required to wear masks or face coverings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
HOLMES BEACH – The first budget meeting of the year was a July 7 work session that left commissioners considering hard decisions for the coming fiscal year.
City Treasurer Lori Hill presented a draft of the proposed 2020-21 fiscal year budget that she said could have as much as a 35% reduction in revenue and showed a 1.5% cut in spending from the previous year’s approved budget. With the cut in revenue, to meet expenses and still have enough left in the bank for a recommended 25% of annual expenses operating fund, Hill said the city would need an extra $822,746 to put in reserves. And while the city’s budget was drafted at the previous year’s 2.25 millage rate, the rate charged per $1,000 of assessed property value, Hill said that rate would need to be increased to 2.62 mills to fully fund the deficit.
Commissioners will have to set the maximum millage rate during their July 21 regular meeting. Setting the maximum millage rate doesn’t mean that will be the rate charged to residents, but it will be the highest rate commissioners will be able to charge for the coming fiscal year which begins Oct. 1.
With property values in Holmes Beach increasing, setting the millage rate at 2.25 mills means a tax increase for city property owners. At 2.25 mills, Hill’s draft budget shows a $192,378 increase in ad valorem tax, the amount received from property taxes. If commissioners increase the millage rate to 2.62 mills, it would mean an increase over the increase caused by rising property values of $185 for a home with a $500,000 taxable value, $240 for a home with a taxable value of $650,000 and $316 for a home with a taxable value of $850,000. The increase in taxes is on top of an already approved stormwater assessment increase which Hill estimates will raise those fees an average of $150 over the previous year.
Commissioners Jim Kihm and Kim Rash both said they would be willing to forgo their entire salaries as commissioners to help close the gap in the deficit to not put the burden solely on the city’s residents and property owners. Rash is currently up for re-election on Nov. 3 so he would only be able to follow through on his promise if re-elected. Commissioners are given a stipend of $760 per month for their service to the city. The mayor’s stipend is planned at $2,520 per month for the coming year. Both amounts include cost of living increases.
Kihm said that he feels this will be a “need” year for the city, not a “nice to have” year and encouraged all department heads to take another look at the budget to see what expenses can wait. He suggested considering starting the cuts with the $12,000 budgeted for new computers for the mayor and commissioners as well as holding off on the estimated $33,625 purchase of new agenda management and webcasting software and reconsidering planned new hires.
With a revenue shortfall, he said that spending must be readdressed, that the city can’t afford to spend in a deficit, depleting reserves, and that he’s not in favor of raising taxes.
With residents already anticipating a tax increase, Rash said he’s not in favor of raising taxes further.
Hill said that hopefully within the coming weeks she’ll have a better idea of the amount of revenue to expect from state sources and some clarity on the future of the $51 million in Bert Harris cases facing the city in Manatee County Circuit Court. Currently, in addition to an insurance policy with the Florida League of Cities, the city plans to have $1 million set aside for the cases in reserves by the Sept. 30 end of the current fiscal year that could be added back to the general fund reserve if the cases are settled in the city’s favor. She said the amount of money tied to the cases has also led to a substantial increase in the amount of insurance premiums the city pays.
For the mayor/commission portion of the budget, expenses are expected to come in at $220,337 including the $12,000 for computers, $8,500 for travel and $81,642 for commission and mayoral salaries and associated taxes.
The city’s general government budget, including lobbyists, the clerk and treasurer’s offices, contributions to The Center of Anna Maria Island and other community organizations, professional services, utilities and operating supplies, is estimated to come in at $1,777,634, a decrease of $19,217 over the previous year despite increases in insurance, staff salaries and computer/IT services.
The budget for the Holmes Beach Police Department is anticipated to come in at $3,575,242, just over the previous year’s budget of $3,410,457. The planned expenses include increases in insurance and utility services, as well as an increase of $51,189 in IT services, including a required upgrade to the department’s software at $35,200 to be compliant with Florida Department of Law Enforcement standards. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he’s applied for a grant to cover the cost of the software upgrade and hopes to receive news that those funds will be awarded soon. Also budgeted is $18,000 for the purchase of a new side-by-side vehicle for beach patrol to replace an aging vehicle that Tokajer said costs more to maintain than it would to purchase a new one. He said he hopes to receive grant funds of $6,000 to help with the purchase. An additional $25,000 is also budgeted to purchase hardware to outsource parking tickets.
The budget for the public works department tops out at $1,824,852, just under the previous year’s budget of $1,830,361 despite increases in insurance, salaries and overtime to accommodate 11 full-time employees and materials/supplies. Two of the budgeted increases questioned by Kihm include $175,000 to dredge Sportsman Harbor and $25,000 to reseal the parking lot at city hall. He also questioned spending $38,000 to update the city’s T-end boat docks with electricity.
Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman said that he would take another look at the parking lot but that issues there will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
City Engineer Lynn Burnett said that she was applying for grant funds for the dredging project at Sportsman Harbor but that if commissioners took it off the budget, the project wouldn’t be eligible for the grant funds. In order for the project to be eligible for the grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, she said the city has to prove that the project is necessary and important. If the grant funds are not received, she said the expense can be postponed to the following fiscal year.
The building department’s budget is expected to come in close to the previous year at $862,363 with the primary difference being in the amount of revenue the department generates. Due to changes in the department’s permit fee schedule, the city’s building department is expected to generate $324,903 less in permit fees than in the 2019-20 fiscal year. Hill said that the department would need about $150,000 more than anticipated revenue for the department to meet its spending for the 2020-21 fiscal year, funds that she said were received in excess by the department during the current fiscal year and have been set aside for the purpose of making up lost revenue in the coming year.
The Code Compliance department had the biggest jump in anticipated spending with an increase to $566,471, an increase of $90,007 over the 2019-20 approved budget. Helping to make up that increase is $75,000 for court recorders for special magistrate hearings, a $13,400 increase in insurance and $25,000 for a consultant to evaluate how the department is run and suggest new policies, procedures and best practices designed to make code compliance more efficient, lessen response time and ultimately save the city money, according to Wasserman.
Where city leaders expect to be hit hardest is in stormwater and infrastructure funds and improvements.
Hill is expecting funds for the half-cent discretionary tax and fifth cent gas tax to come in at around 65% of the normal amount due to COVID-19. Despite the increase in stormwater fees, she said the fifth cent and half-cent will both have a negative projected cash rollover at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. Hill estimates that the fifth cent tax will have -$138,906 rollover at the end of the current fiscal year and -$328,323 at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. The half-cent tax is expected to have -$88,176 at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. Burnett said that the city cannot go back on planned infrastructure projects, many of which are ongoing, and that the deficits in spending will have to be covered by the city until FEMA matching funds are received or the revenue from the two tax sources is increased. City leaders also plan to renew their request for $3 million in state appropriations funds for stormwater and infrastructure improvements in the coming legislative session. This year, city leaders were awarded $2 million in appropriations funds but those funds disappeared when Gov. Ron DeSantis cut the state budget before signing it in June.
After the maximum millage rate is set on July 21, commissioners plan to have public hearings on the budget in August and September to set the actual millage rate and approve the final draft of the budget before the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Just when you need credit the most it’s becoming more elusive. Americans have always depended on the equity in their homes as a slush fund for an emergency or big-ticket items like tuitions and home repairs. But now, with millions of us out of work, tapping a home’s equity may not be an option.
A few weeks ago, we talked about maintaining a good credit score during these difficult times. As part of the stimulus package, credit cards, auto loans and mortgage loans can take a pause in payments to give consumers some time to get through the pandemic and back to work. The law says lenders that allow borrowers to defer payments can’t report this information to the credit-reporting companies, however, these delays are still having an impact on the credit market in general.
Bankers and lenders are having a difficult time determining who among loan applicants actually has good credit, assuming that not all of the information is being reported. Therefore, they are approving fewer forms of consumer debt. In particular, home-equity lines of credit are being pulled back by lenders just at the time when Americans may be looking for emergency money.
Lenders are trying to protect themselves from the big losses they experienced during the 2008 financial crisis when the real estate market took a dramatic downturn. If you remember, that was when homeowners were using their home’s equity like an ATM machine, and when the crisis hit, the value of the home was underwater and many were foreclosed, leaving the banks and the American taxpayers holding the bag.
Helocs, basically a credit line, and home equity loans are becoming harder to come by as lenders tighten up their application process because of job loss and the potential of home values falling. People who have lost their jobs may no longer qualify, in addition to the difficulty of performing appraisals during the pandemic. Lenders are also raising the credit scores they are willing to accept and/or decreasing the amount of money they’re willing to loan.
Even personal loans, which were always available with shorter repayment terms and higher interest rates, are tumbling. According to Equifax, there were an estimated 79,000 personal loans completed in mid-May compared with 226,000 in mid-March. In addition, new auto loans and leases as well as new credit cards were all down substantially.
With the economy in total confusion, lenders can’t tell if a borrower who has opted to take a deferment of their loan is doing so because of lost income or if they’re simply taking advantage of relief options. Naturally, lenders are taking a very conservative approach to making loans, another reason why consumers should not take a pause on any of their credit cards, auto loans and certainly not their mortgages if they can afford to pay during these times. This action could catch up with them down the road no matter what the federal government’s intention was.
Meanwhile, housing inventory all around the country is dropping, falling 19.7% at the end of April, and the shortage of available properties will surely increase. Of course, the result is home prices moving up – 4.7% at the end of April – since those who can afford to purchase even during these times are looking at historic low interest rates and are taking advantage.
Like many other national disasters we’ve faced, this too shall pass, but not without a lot of financial damage to business and individuals. When the lenders start getting in gear again, they’ll be looking for customers so hopefully homeowners can hang on until then. Stay safe.
The Center of Anna Maria Island reopened on Monday, July 13 after two closures due to COVID-19. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Some things bear repeating. I’m guessing that you, like me, have a passion for fishing and besides the excitement of catching, a lot of the experience centers around just “being there.” It’s an opportunity to decompress and get away from the everyday challenges we face.
Or it should be. These days, if you’re not careful, it’s easy to let inconsiderate anglers, boaters and Jet Skiers ruin your peace of mind. Over the years I’ve adopted a policy that I call, “Show them the courtesy they don’t show you.” My intention is to carry this in the back of my mind at all times. I found it necessary to do this because for so many years it was a knee jerk reaction to unload on anyone who got in my “space” while I was fishing. I’ve mellowed over the years after coming to the realization that I was the one who suffered the consequences of my actions. Most of the time after an outburst, I’d move on anyway, carrying with me a bit less serenity. At some point in time it dawned on me to keep my composure. After all, there’s a lot of water to fish.
When we’re fishing we have no idea what’s going on with the others we’re sharing the water with. They could be fishing to eat, indulging a passion, finding solace from a traumatic experience, enjoying a day with friends or family or just getting some relaxation. We all get caught up in our fishing at times and let our awareness drift as we stalk a school of fish or head to the next spot we’re going to target. Most anglers start out fishing areas where they’ve caught fish before, and these days it’s not uncommon to find someone there or nearby. There are lots of places to fish, so if you find someone else nearby, move on to another location. It could be a blessing in disguise.
Jet Skiers can be the bane of fishermen, especially those who stake out on the beach looking for tarpon. A successful angler knows the value of patience and can wait hours for fish to move down the beach. When fish finally show up, there’s nothing more frustrating than to have a Jet Skier running up and around the lane that fish are coming down. After years of yelling, I started calling them over and saying hello before explaining what I’m doing. In the vast majority of cases, they apologize and give me a wide berth.
Fishing schooling species like tarpon, Spanish mackerel, little tunny and kingfish is another time when anglers need to be considerate of each other. Savvy anglers make a stealthy approach, working the edges of a school where they know predators patrol for prey. They understand that a careful approach is their best chance of success. Anglers who don’t know the ropes often troll right through schools of baitfish and breaking fish, causing them to sound and ruining the action for everyone. When anglers take the time to consider others on the water, everyone wins.
Fishing should be fun and with a little consideration, it can be. When you’re on the water, make it a habit to stay well away from other anglers and if you encounter someone who isn’t playing by those rules, say hello and educate them. If that doesn’t work, move on. Show them the courtesy they don’t show you.
BRADENTON – Gov. Ron DeSantis says he does not anticipate reopening bars without food licenses anytime soon.
During Saturday’s press conference at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, The Sun asked DeSantis about the bar prohibitions recently imposed and later amended by Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears.
“We set out a plan for some of the counties – not all of the counties, not south Florida – that they would be able to operate just like a restaurant with limited capacity seating. The problem was no one was following that. I get that’s not how they want to operate, but we were getting reports of having packed, party-type situations. That was not a part of the guidelines,” DeSantis said.
“I want them to be able to operate, but I also want them to do it consistent with the Step-by-Step plan and we just weren’t able to get that done. So right now, we’re not making any changes. Status quo. As we get in a more stable situation, we’ll take a look at it,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said he’s not blaming bars for the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.
“It’s definitely not their fault, but at the same time, we tried to do these guidelines. We consulted with physicians, we consulted with different people and we just felt that it’s not like flipping a switch, it’s gonna take some time. But that’s the plan, and if the plan wasn’t being followed there’s not a way we’re going to be able to do it,” DeSantis said before leaving the press conference.
On March 17, DeSantis issued an executive order that prohibited the on-site consumption of alcohol at establishments that generate more than 50% of their revenue from those types of sales. On June 5, DeSantis allowed bars to reopen at 50% capacity.
On June 26, Beshears closed many Florida bars for a second time when he issued DBPR Emergency Order 2020-09.
“During the month of June, the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 increased significantly in the State of Florida, especially among younger individuals. Some of these cases involving younger individuals are suspected to have originated from visits to bars, pubs or nightclubs who have disregarded the restrictions set forth in Phase 2 of the Safe.Smart.Step-by-Step plan for Florida’s recovery,” Beshears’ order says.
On July 1, Beshears amended his order in a manner that allowed some bars and fraternal organizations to reopen.
“Vendors licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, and also licensed to offer food service, may continue to operate as restaurants,” his amended order says.
DeSantis invited to Reopen Bars forum
Fort Lauderdale attorney Jacob Weil will host a virtual Reopen Bars roundtable discussion on Thursday, July 23 at 2 p.m.
According to a press release issued last week, The Weil Law Group is representing hundreds of Florida bar owners who’ve been affected by the bar closure orders.
Darla Tingler, owner of the Anchor Inn in Holmes Beach, and Joe Harris, co-owner of Papa Joe’s Sports Bar and owner of Scalawags Pub in north Sarasota, are among the Manatee County bar owners Weil has spoken with.
Attorney Jacob Weil has invited Gov. Ron DeSantis to participate in the Reopen Bars virtual roundtable on Thursday, July 23. – The Weil Law Group | Submitted
“Formal invitations have been sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Halsey Beshears. Other officials are also being invited,” the press release notes.
“This forum will be an opportunity for state and local government leaders to discuss with bar owners, operators, professionals and experts the effects of current policies, the concerns of the industry and safe, common-sense solutions to reopen Florida’s bar industry. This is not a hostile event, but rather an opportunity for those in charge to gain perspective from small business owners bearing the costs of the current policy in place,” the press release says.
The July 23 roundtable will be hosted online via Zoom and anyone may join the roundtable discussion by visiting www.reopenflbars.com and selecting the “Round Table” menu option at the top of the page. The roundtable will also be livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube.
HOLMES BEACH – Commissioner Kim Rash is no stranger to city politics. After volunteering in and around his neighborhood and building fences for the city, he took the plunge and was elected for his first term as city commissioner in 2018. Now he’s hoping to earn a second term on the dais in the 2020 election.
Rash has been a Holmes Beach homeowner for 20 years and a full-time resident for 14 years with his wife of 43 years, Theresa, and their dog, Lucy. The two also are longtime members of St. Bernard Catholic Church.
Rash has been the owner/operator of a fencing company for more than 40 years. Community members can see some of his work at the Holmes Beach Dog Park and around the tot lot playground at city field.
Along with the three other candidates for the two spots available on the Holmes Beach City Commission – Jayne Christenson, Rick Hurst and Pat Morton – Rash was asked to respond to four questions. Each candidate’s answers will be published in The Sun.
What do voters need to know about your involvement in the community?
Many residents refer to me as a “boots-on-the-ground” commissioner. I may not have the traditional hobbies like golf or fishing, but I get great satisfaction from helping people. For 19 years, I have helped residents in times of need. I often walk and bike the streets of our city talking to residents and asking how I can help. I am an engaged commissioner – I answer phone calls and respond to emails in order to listen and advocate for residents.
I have served as Holmes Beach commissioner for the past two years, organized an early-morning July 5 beach cleanup that’s continued for nearly a decade and is often held in conjunction with Holmes Beach Code Compliance, WastePro and resident volunteers. I have constructed multiple dog park fences over the years. In June, I installed the tot lot fence with the help of Public Works. I’ve built and installed bike racks and trash can fences at beach accesses and installed irrigation and planted native beach flowers at the 72nd Street access.
Why are you running for Holmes Beach City Commission?
Even prior to my commission seat, I was a voice for the residents. As Holmes Beach commissioner, I furthered that cause. I listen and advocate passionately. I am a team player and dedicated to effectively collaborating and negotiating for practical and efficient solutions. I bring common sense and a successful business background to the commission. If re-elected, I feel I can do even more because there is so much more to do. I have a proven track record that demonstrates I lead with the best interests of our residents and our city in mind.
During my time on the commission I have spoken for the residents and opposed the 300% stormwater tax increase. Through my efforts, the commission compromised on a stormwater increase at half the proposed rate. I have worked to strengthen our noise ordinance to give residents back the peaceful enjoyment of their homes. I’ve challenged interested parties for ways to trim the budget and have fought wasteful spending of taxpayer money by helping to steer the city from single-source contracting bids to sourcing multiple bids for projects and engaged new sources to ensure our city was getting competitive prices.
If elected, what would be your priority to work on with your fellow commissioners?
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What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the city today?
I believe that our first priority and biggest challenge is BALANCE. Each year, there are approximately 10,000 new residents coming to Manatee County and more than 750,000 Island visitors. Manatee County has more than 400,000 residents, many of whom take daily trips to the beach regularly. We have a very small and finite amount of space for an ever-increasing number of people. I believe that it will be imperative for our city commissioners to work with county commissioners/state elected officials to find solutions for the unique issues caused by this rapidly increasing population. Holmes Beach residents are my top priority and should not incur the financial burdens, the daily stresses and increasingly negative impact that have been caused by the numbers and the extensive TDC promotional advertising. To date, our city does not receive an adequate amount of funding from the county to accommodate all of the visitors. I will advocate for county/tourist development tax dollars to assist our city in managing this daily impact. We need Manatee County commissioners to be responsive and active in finding solutions for alleviating traffic congestion and parking issues, funding a larger portion of the police and code compliance department officers needed to enforce the increasing number of people that come to our Island and result in exacerbated issues, funding for strained and failing infrastructure and proactively communicating to all of our visitors the ways they can help us protect this beautiful and unique Island for future generations.
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County students, teachers and staff members will be required to wear face coverings in school buildings and on school buses if schools reopen on Aug. 10 or soon thereafter.
If the Manatee County School Board decides to delay the start of in-person learning due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, students will start the school year using online eLearning.
The Manatee County School Board made the face-covering decision during the board’s June 25 meeting and reiterated that decision during its Thursday, July 9 workshop.
The face-covering requirement is included in the school reopening plan scheduled to be presented to the board for final approval on Tuesday, July 14. If approved by the school board as expected, the reopening plan will be submitted to the Florida Department of Education (DOE) for its approval.
The reopening plan requirements will apply to all schools in Manatee County, including charter schools and private schools. This includes Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach.
The Manatee County School Board will decide if and when Anna Maria Elementary School and all others in the school district reopen for in-person learning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Face coverings were one of many topics school board members and School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders discussed last week. Learning options, extra-curricular activities and reopening concerns were also among the topics discussed.
Face coverings
When discussing mandatory face coverings, Saunders said, “I’ve had just as many differing opinions on this subject as I have on should we open schools or not open schools. Our recommendation is that students, employees or anyone that cannot socially distance is expected to have a face covering.”
Saunders said many schools in the district have already purchased plastic face shields for students and teachers and plastic shields for the desks as well.
“It is very important in the learning years, the formative years, that they (the students) can clearly hear and see the pronunciation of words, the movement of mouth. Some people find it more comfortable to have a shield on than a face mask, so it is my recommendation that if they cannot socially distance, they are expected to have those on,” Saunders said.
Manatee County School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders will oversee the county’s school reopening plan. – School District of Manatee County | Submitted
Saunders said the face-covering requirement will also apply to all secondary, post-secondary and transportation-related facilities, including school buses. She said face coverings will not be required when the children and staff members are outside and safely socially distancing.
“I have had a number of parents contact me and say that their child may have a medical issue or medical concern. We will definitely look into any child or any employee that could have a medical issue and address these on an individual basis,” she added, noting that a form will be used to document allowed face-covering exceptions.
Board member Rev. James Golden said, “You will wear a mask from the time you come into the jurisdiction of the Manatee County School Board until the time you leave, unless the teacher in that classroom exempts you for a medical reason or an IEP (Individualized Education Program).”
Saunders said students and staff will not be subjected to regular or random COVID-19 testing, but temperature checks will be conducted on all employees upon arrival and conducted randomly on students.
Golden asked Saunders to make photographs available to parents that show how classrooms are being set up to accommodate social distancing and other safety measures.
Learning options
Regardless of grade level, parents will decide whether their child or children attend school in person five days a week or continue full-time eLearningManatee at home. Hybrid programs that combine in-school and eLearning will be available for older students.
The updated school reopening plan provides for in-school and/or at-home learning. – Submitted | School District of Manatee County
Saunders recommends all students pre-K through sixth grade return to in-person schooling five days a week. She recommends a hybrid program for seventh- and eighth-graders, and for all high school students and Manatee Technical College students.
Before the school year starts, the school district will confirm which learning method each student will utilize, and that data will be reported to DOE.
In response to a question from board chair Gina Messenger, Saunders said there will be designated opportunities when a student can switch from in-person learning to eLearning or vice-versa.
Saunders also said, “Our eLearning will not be just assignments being pushed on there. There will be actual teacher instruction. If a teacher is teaching 10 students in front of them and has 10 that are at home for eLearning they will be able to see the teacher teaching that lesson streaming live at the same time. They will be able to ask questions, get their questions answered and be a part of the class even though half of them may be sitting in their living room. We have the technology for that to happen.
“If a teacher doesn’t want to do it that way, we’ve given them a day in the week where they can record all of their lessons. If you’re on eLearning, there will be a live or taped teacher instruction. They will see the lesson taught by the teacher. It’s just as if they’re in the classroom. The teaching is going be occurring,” Saunders said.
In response to a question from board member Dr. Scott Hopes regarding eLearning, Saunders said the school district has already purchased many electronic devices to distribute to lower-income families in need, but there are still concerns about internet access at the student’s home.
“I do think we are going to have some problems with internet service, but we will have to come up with a plan for this,” Saunders said.
Extra-curricular activities
When the school year begins, extra-curricular activities including sports, band and cheerleading will be limited to outdoor, socially-distanced training activities only. Saunders said there are currently no plans for students to engage in competitive sporting events with other schools.
COVID concerns
During last week’s meeting, Saunders acknowledged the lingering concerns about the coronavirus.
“We can’t really say that it does not affect children. It is a new virus. Until we have schools open, I don’t really know that we have all the facts yet,” she said.
Saunders’ presentation included a slide that referenced COVID-19 test results for children in Manatee County and Florida.
The slide in the updated Manatee County school reopening plan references COVID-19 testing among youngsters. – Submitted | School District of Manatee County
“If you look at June 12th through now, and you compare our data and the number of cases compared to the state, in each one of these calculations we have exceeded the percent of infected cases per tested children than the state has. We’re at a 35.7% positive rate compared to 24.2% of those tested being positive for the state versus Manatee County. So our percentage is pretty substantial,” Saunders said.
Saunders’ reopening plan presentation can be viewed here.
More information on Manatee County school reopenings can be found here.
The 5.5-mile, $17.3 million Anna Maria Island beach renourishment project is underway as of last week, beginning at 78th Street North in Holmes Beach and traveling south to the end of the Island at Longboat Pass at the rate of about 300 feet per day.
Portions of the beach will be closed during construction, preventing beachgoers from accessing that area of the shore, however, a sand walkway will be maintained landward of the project for north/south pedestrian access.
The sand is dredged from an offshore borrow area about 2,000 feet offshore of the north end of the Island, near Passage Key, then pumped through a pipeline to the beach as a water/sand slurry. The submerged pipeline connects to a shore pipeline that runs laterally along the beach. The sand slurry is discharged from the pipeline and bulldozers push the sand into the water, making the beach larger, and onto the existing beach, making it higher.
Work will continue 24 hours a day barring bad weather.
The sand restores beaches eroded by storms and provides protection from future storms for upland buildings and roads.
The project should be completed by October or November, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Residents and business owners who have questions about the project may reach David Ruderman in the USACE Corporate Communication Office by email at david.j.ruderman@usace.army.mil or by calling 904-232-1623.
MANATEE COUNTY – Education officials differ on whether schools must reopen for in-person learning in August as recently ordered by Florida Department of Education (DOE) Commissioner Richard Corcoran.
Last week, Manatee County school board members discussed and debated reopening schools at a time when COVID-19 cases continue to increase. And three of the five board members questioned the legality of Corcoran’s emergency order.
During Saturday’s press conference at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Manatee) also weighed in on the debate.
According to Corcoran’s July 6 emergency order, EO 2020-06, “Upon reopening in August, all school boards and charter school governing boards must open brick and mortar schools at least five days per week for all students.”
The order notes the reopening requirement is also subject to advice and orders from the Florida Department of Health, local health departments and future executive orders.
“Absent these directives, the day-to-day decision to open or close a school must always rest locally with the board or executive most closely associated with a school,” the order says.
The DOE order and the amended school reopening plan presented by School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders were discussed for two hours and 45 minutes during the school board’s Thursday, July 9 workshop.
The amended plan previously discussed on June 25 now addresses the DOE order and is scheduled for an official school board vote during the Tuesday, July 14 special meeting that begins at 5:45 p.m. If approved by the school board, the plan must be submitted for DOE approval by July 31. Tuesday’s meeting will be livestreamed at manateeschools.net and broadcast live on Frontier channel 39 and Spectrum channel 646.
Saunders said a DOE-approved reopening plan would apply to all public, private and charter schools in Manatee County, including Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach. If the school board delays the opening of school buildings, the academic year will begin with online distance learning.
Saunders said the amended plan represents a safe reopening model that complies with the state’s expectations and addresses the concerns of parents, teachers and the community. The plan allows parents to decide if their children, regardless of grade level, attend classes in person or at home.
“There will be some flexibility. That is critical because we know at any given time that we may have to close a school. If those situations happen, online and other methods of instruction can count in the 180-day requirement of student instruction,” Saunders said.
Board member Rev. James Golden asked if a recent survey of parents’ preferences regarding in-school learning versus at-home learning provided specific input from those in the five zip codes with the highest number of COVID cases. Saunders said the 20,000 survey responses were not categorized by zip code, but due to recent developments, another survey will be conducted.
Saunders told the board more than 350 school district staff members at more than 40 sites have already been directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19, but with no fatalities.
Board member Charlie Kennedy said, “We would be crazy to reopen schools right now. We’ve had 350 employees affected and the schools are not even open. We have multiple COVID cases and even more who are in quarantine. If you throw 500 or 600 kids back on a campus, or 250 to 300, I fear the explosions of cases we will see not just in our student body but in our teachers and staff – and then mushrooming out to all the people they live with.”
Kennedy noted the school district is self-insured and an outbreak among staff members could impact the district’s health insurance fund.
Manatee County School Board member Charlie Kennedy questions the legality of the Department of Education’s school reopening order. – Submitted
Regarding the responsibilities of the citizen-elected school board members, Kennedy said, “This phony emergency order, does anybody on the board have any willingness to push back on this with other school boards? How does an unelected political appointee have the power to issue orders telling constitutional officers what to do? We are the ones in charge here. I’m not sure that would hold up to a legal challenge.”
Dr. Bencie’s insight
Florida Department of Health/Manatee County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie attended the workshop and provided an overview of COVID cases reported in Manatee County, including 190 new cases reported the previous day.
“Those are individual cases. There’s 4,266 people that we’ve identified with COVID in our community. The percent positive in the last two weeks has been 11.8%. In the past seven days, it’s gone up to 12.4%. Yesterday, one day alone, was the highest recorded in Manatee County: 20.4% positive of those tested. Those are not repeat tests,” Bencie said last week.
“Schools will be closed down as soon as they open if this continues in our community. Our numbers are going in the wrong direction. Everyone in our community needs to be involved to make this a successful plan,” Bencie said.
Constitutional authority
Citing the Florida Constitution, board member Dave Miner said, “Article 9, Section 4b says the school board, the constitutional officers, control the education in Manatee County. The buck stops with us and I believe we have the authority to say there’s not going to be public school in Manatee County for the next month. The blood is on us for anybody who suffers from this. At the same time, we’re supposed to be providing public education for all the children here and that’s the rock and the hard place that the five constitutional officers sitting up here have to deal with.”
Miner said he endorses the superintendent submitting a reopening plan to the state, but he said the plan should reference the school board’s constitutional authority.
“If we continue to go south in a significant way, I think we ought to have another meeting to say we’re going to shut down until we see it significantly better. It’s our call,” he added.
Manatee County School Board Member Dave Miner cited the school board’s constitutional authority regarding school openings and closings. – Submitted
Golden asked if the plan submitted to DOE could provide the option to wait until after Labor Day in September to reopen the schools to students.
“The order says August,” Saunders responded. “School has to begin in August unless the commissioner approves otherwise in the plan submitted. They’re talking in the traditional sense of opening up brick and mortar. Our school can be defined for 180 days of brick and mortar and/or eLearning to constitute the required number of hours of instruction we are required to deliver. We can begin instruction in a different context of delivery and still qualify if our plan is approved.”
Regarding the students, Saunders said, “For their mental health, for their academic health, we need to try to open the schools up and see how we can perform and then reassess.”
Board member Dr. Scott Hopes cautioned against implementing a plan that brings students back inside the schools in August.
“The way this pandemic is behaving we’re going be dealing with it until the end of the year at least. Our decisions are not going to get any easier whether we start before Labor Day or after Labor Day. Mr. Miner is correct. The decision is ours and we have that responsibility,” he said.
Hopes said the situation presents an opportunity for a public health campaign that stresses community cooperation to help contain the virus.
“We’ve got at least half of our student population whose parents say we want our kids back in school. That’s a motivator. We have the technology to access every family that has a child in our school district. If you want your children to start school on the 10th, we need you to do your part. We immediately move forward with a public health education campaign to reach these families and bombard them with a public health education campaign that will lead to us being able to implement our reopening plan,” he said.
Kennedy concurred and said the spread of the virus could be better contained if everyone was on the same page.
“But unfortunately, we’re not. We have another government entity in town (the Manatee County Commission) that is not willing to put a mandatory mask order in place. We all want the same thing. We just disagree on how to do it,” Kennedy said.
DeSantis, Galvano weigh in
During Saturday’s press conference, The Sun asked Gov. DeSantis if he feels the school board is compelled to follow Corcoran’s emergency order.
“Obviously, the local counties are instrumental in this. The school boards need to be involved. It’s got to be a collaborative effort. I think the main thing is what’s in it for the kids? What harm is going to be done by continuing to keep them out of school? From a student perspective, the risk is low. There’s just not a lot of evidence that they’re doing a lot with community transmission. At the same time, if a parent doesn’t feel comfortable and they want to offer distance learning, I believe in school choice and this would be another one,” DeSantis said.
When asked a second time if the school board is compelled to follow the emergency order, DeSantis deferred to Galvano.
“The answer is yes,” Galvano said. “The DOE order cannot be ignored and it needs to be adhered to. Having said that, all the points the governor made about the choice and the decision making and the safeguards are encompassed in that order. It also includes a collaboration with the Department of Health, but school boards cannot ignore this. The order says five days availability, brick and mortar schools at full capacity.”
HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners called a special meeting July 7 to vote on the first reading of an ordinance implementing permit-only parking in residential neighborhoods near the beach. The first reading passed with a unanimous vote and will go for a final reading during a July 21 meeting.
The early morning meeting resulted in a few changes to the ordinance as an updated map was presented illustrating the areas throughout the city that are planned to be open for streetside public parking and those where only residents with permits will be able to park on the street.
Commissioners were concerned with putting the cost of the permit parking program on the city’s residents, proposed at $20 per permit to be renewed annually. Commissioner Kim Rash said he didn’t agree with charging people to park on the street in front of their own homes. With the coming 2020-21 budget already a concern for city leaders due to lower than usual expected revenues from state funding sources, Commissioner Carol Soustek suggested raising the city’s parking violation fine from $50 to $75 to absorb the cost of the permit program.
Though commissioners informally agreed to the raised fine amount, City Attorney Patricia Petruff said it would take the approval of a separate ordinance to raise the parking fine amount.
Chief Bill Tokajer said signs would be installed in the coming week at beach access points designating golf cart-only parking spaces. Under the permit program, golf carts also will be able to take advantage of the permit-only street parking, however things get a little complicated depending on what kind of golf cart is being used. A regular golf cart, one that doesn’t require a tag or registration with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, can be parked anywhere in the permit parking zone without a permit from the city. A low-speed vehicle, or LSV, a golf cart or other vehicle not a car or truck that does require a license plate and DMV registration, will be able to park in the permit only zone but will require a permit sticker issued by the city.
Though commissioners discussed making the permit parking 24 hours a day every day, after much discussion and input from Tokajer they opted to start out with permit parking from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, allowing public parking on the street in the residential area after 5 p.m. so that people can have a party or dinner guests without having to contact the police department first to get passes for guests to park on the street. For residents choosing to have guests during the permit parking- only hours where parking cannot be accommodated on their property, they will still need to contact the police department to get authorized parking passes for guests or ask for a bag to be placed over the permit only signs while their guests are present.
Tokajer did say it will be necessary for the city to purchase new signs for the permit parking area at a cost of about $2,400.
Commissioners agreed unanimously to put the permit parking to a six-month review to see how it works for the residents and what changes to the program need to be made.
Commissioners next meet on July 21 for a meeting and work session to be held via Zoom.
ANNA MARIA – High school graduate and lifelong Anna Maria resident Augustus “Gus” Bayard is spending his summer working as an intern for the city of Anna Maria.
On June 11, his second day on the job, Bayard attended his first city commission meeting and was introduced to the city commissioners. That day, the commission engaged in a lengthy discussion about the city’s amended sign ordinance. The commission also discussed parking issues, planning for the 2020 Bayfest events and several matters pertaining to the new City Pier.
Afterwards, Bayard was asked what he thought of his first commission meeting.
“It was a bit longer than I expected, but it was interesting, and stuff got done. It was nice to see politics in action, up close,” he said.
Augustus “Gus” Bayard attended his first city commission meeting on June 11. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We’re very pleased that Augustus has decided to come work here as an intern. He’s got all the talent needed to work in a public environment,” Mayor Dan Murphy said after the meeting.
“He’s been helping us out immensely in the administration office,” Deputy Clerk Debbie Haynes added. “He’s been doing a little bit of everything. We definitely needed his assistance and he’s been great.”
Bayard secured the internship through his own initiative.
“I sent an email to the mayor saying I was a high school graduate who lived here all my life and I was interested in interning this summer – helping out and seeing how the local political process works. I have a lot of free time this summer before I go to college and I wanted to begin thinking about the things I want to study. I wanted to get some real-life experience, including with the COVID-19 situation at the local level,” Bayard explained.
The 18-year-old was asked what it’s like to be a member of the class of 2020 that graduated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s definitely been a weird couple of months. Instead of one big day where it felt like I went from a high schooler to a graduate, it’s been much more of a gradual thing. Luckily, my school, Saint Stephen’s, had a drive-thru graduation ceremony,” said Bayard, the son of Dave and Amy Bayard.
“I was actually born and raised on the Island. I was a home-birth, so I was literally born on the Island, in Anna Maria,” he said.
After the July 2 commission meeting, Bayard was asked how things were going and what he’s learned so far.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work with vacation rentals, which emphasizes how big of a part of the city that is. It’s been a great way to learn more about government and it’s something to do before I go to college,” he said.
Bayard anticipates serving as a city intern until mid-August. He hopes to then head off to college to begin earning a degree in international and public affairs at Brown University in Providence, R.I.
“It’s a combination of international affairs and public policy,” he said of his desired field of study.
Bayard hopes his college studies lead to a career as a United States diplomat.
“I’ve always been interested in traveling. The combination of traveling, seeing the world, public service and government work does appeal to me and it sounds really interesting. Neighbors of mine just retired from the State Department and I’ve had some interesting conversations with them about State Department work and diplomacy,” he said.
