I don’t have any real statistical knowledge, but my educated guess is there have been a lot of building permits pulled since March. With COVID keeping us inside, it seems like the perfect time to finally start those home improvement projects we kept putting off. But what exactly do you need to do if you’re starting a project and what permits do you need?
According to the Manatee County website, “building permits are required for remodeling projects that involve changes to the building’s existing footprint, electrical system or plumbing. Adding new windows to existing walls usually requires a permit.”
Basically, you are likely to need a permit for any project that goes beyond a simple repair or aesthetic upgrade, including adding supporting walls or taking down load-bearing walls; adding an in-ground concrete pool; building a porch or deck and replacing the roof, backyard shed or concrete sidewalks, driveways or slabs. Get it, you just about need a permit for everything.
Most homeowners hire a professional contractor for major renovations and generally, the contractor pulls the permit. Florida law requires contractors to be licensed and hiring an unlicensed contractor is a violation of Florida Statutes. A contractor cannot obtain a license without possessing a minimum amount of experience and must pass a business management test. They are also subject to a criminal history background check and must not have any outstanding unresolved contracting complaints. Manatee County warns that unlicensed contractors can often underbid licensed professionals because they typically are not bonded or insured and frequently do not carry unemployment compensation insurance for their workers.
If you are planning on hiring a contractor, the first thing to do is ask for their license number and a list of references. Verify the license number to ensure their license is active and their insurance is up to date. There are county and state contact numbers available on the county website under Permitting Services. Obviously, references should also be verified, and, of course, the best way to hire a contractor is someone who has satisfactorily done work for a friend or neighbor.
Florida does have a provision where homeowners can act as their own contractors. The exemption specifies that as the owner of the property, you may act as your own contractor with certain restrictions even though you do not have a license.
For those of us who own condominiums, not only do you have to abide by state and county laws, you also have to have the permission of your homeowner’s association – a completely separate thing. Since condo owners have a legally binding agreement with their homeowner’s association, you do need approval for remodels, especially those projects that require municipal permitting.
Since condo associations are concerned with maintaining the property as a whole, the welfare of the entire building takes precedence over your individual rights, particularly when it involves the structural integrity of the building. In addition, condo associations are concerned about noise during the construction project as well as damage to common property involving plumbing and electrical.
Homeowner associations usually require approval for some of the following: Interior or exterior walls, structural floor, ceilings, columns, finish flooring, plumbing, electrical, aesthetic changes to the exterior, especially when window size is involved, and most will also require approval for window replacements.
The good news is that you can paint the interior of your condo and replace moldings, light fixtures and outlets and some other minor improvements without condo permission. But be careful – every condo association has its own set of rules, so better to err on the side of obtaining permission.
Before this pandemic is done, chances are every kitchen, bathroom and home extension in the county will have been touched by a hammer and nails at least once. Know the laws and stay safe.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island escaped serious property damage from Tropical Storm Eta, however, a life was lost.
On Wednesday evening, longtime local insurance agent Mark Mixon was electrocuted at a home he was working on at 211 Bay Drive N.
According to Bradenton Beach police, Mixon was killed while standing in about 3 inches of water in a storage room with a washer and dryer. A friend tried to pull him out of the storage area, but felt electricity surging through the water and called 911. By the time FPL turned off power to the area, emergency workers declared Mixon dead.
Several sailboats sank near the Bridge Street Pier and floating day dock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Elsewhere in Bradenton Beach, the storm also sank six sailboats. Three sailboats and a dinghy sank alongside the floating day dock next to the Bridge Street Pier. Joined by the dinghy that became lodged in one of the dock’s roller brackets, two sailboats sank at the east end of the floating dock. One of those sailboats lies partially underneath the Bridge Street Pier and small area of the pier’s TREX composite decking was damaged and now requires repairs or replacement.
The floating dock survived mostly unscathed, with one underside float coming loose and some minor exterior damage to the dock’s eastern edge.
One sailboat sank next to the new police department boat lift at the west end of the floating dock. The police boat and the boat lift also came through the storm unscathed.
The floating dock and the east end of the Bridge Street Pier, including the T-end, were closed Thursday morning and remain closed until further notice.
A large catamaran sank in the waters just south of the pier. Another large sailboat came to rest near the city-owned dinghy dock near the Bridge Tender Inn. The last section of the dinghy dock is also missing.
A large catamaran sank near the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Another sailboat sank alongside and below the Cortez Bridge, near the Bradenton Beach Marina. Marina President Mike Bazzy said it was not known whether that vessel came from the Bradenton Beach or Cortez side of the Intracoastal Waterway. Bazzy said all the boats docked at the marina survived the storm with little to no damage.
This sailboat sank below and beside the Cortez Bridge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At 7 a.m. Thursday morning, Mayor John Chappie and Lt. John Cosby were already evaluating the sunken vessels and the damage to the pier.
“The floating dock held up well. The boat lift held up well too,” Cosby said.
The new police department boat lift and the police boat came through the storm unscathed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When asked about removing the sunken vessels, Cosby said, “We’re going to have to get these out quickly and we’ll go from there. We’ll have to see what funding becomes available. The boats are privately owned, so that’s some sticky ground with FEMA – they don’t like to take care of private property.”
The city typically relies on West Coast Inland Navigation District grants for the removal of derelict, abandoned and sunken vessels in the unmanaged waters south of the pier. The city may have to absorb the initial cost to remove the sunken boats from the floating dock and dinghy dock and hope to recover those costs later.
The Bridge Street Pier was damaged when struck by a sailboat that broke loose from the nearby anchorage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby also mentioned two structure fires that he said did not appear to be serious.
One of the new palm trees installed in the roundabout at the east end of Bridge Street lay toppled and blocked a portion of the roundabout, but the tree was righted and standing upright again by mid-day. Cosby said he wasn’t aware of any other downed trees or downed power lines elsewhere in the city.
Some of the mobile homes in the nearby Pines Trailer Park experienced flooding and some Bradenton Beach residents who live elsewhere in the city noted on Facebook that they experienced flooding too.
Holmes Beach
As the morning unfolded, a steady stream of vehicles proceeded through the standing water along Marina Drive, near the Island Branch Library and Holmes Beach City Hall. The water there appeared to be at least a foot deep, if not higher.
Vehicles traveling along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach had to travel through standing water. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When contacted at 9:40 a.m., Police Chief Bill Tokajer provided an assessment of the storm damage in Holmes Beach.
“We had some serious flooding in some areas. We had more rain than we have seen in quite some time. In some areas, the water was as deep as I’ve seen since I’ve been here. It was really deep on Marina Drive in front of the police department. It was deep further down on Marina Drive and on Gulf Drive toward Haley’s Motel,” Tokajer said.
“It was deep going around the bend by the beach. Sixth Avenue was bad, and Avenue B and C had some flooding. I think a lot of it was because of the high tides combined with all the rain. A lot of docks and marinas had water over the edge too,” Tokajer said.
There was significant flooding along Marina Drive, near Keyes Marina in Holmes Beach – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We didn’t have any injuries. We had quite a few people who got stuck or drove into a ditch. And we had one tree down off of 51st and Fifth that was blocking the road,” Tokajer said.
Throughout the morning and early afternoon, Gulf Drive provided a much drier route through the city than Marina Drive.
Anna Maria
Although he was still assessing the damage Thursday morning, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy believed the city fared well and sustained little damage. He said there had been some power lines that went down on the north end of the city and there was still street flooding in the general vicinity of Bean Point.
Residents placed this no wake sign along North Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
A drive through the city late Thursday morning revealed North Shore Drive covered with standing water near Bean Point. There was a substantial amount of standing water covering North Bay Boulevard between Jacaranda Road and Alamanda Road.
Significant street flooding was also present at and around the intersection of Gladiolus Street and Poinsettia Road.
This home at the corner of Gladiolus Street and Poinsettia Road in Anna Maria experienced heavy flooding. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said the new City Pier did not appear to suffer any damage during the storm.
Manatee County
At 10 a.m. Thursday morning, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Nick Azzara conducted a virtual tropical storm update and press conference via Zoom videoconferencing. Azzara was joined by several county staff members who provided information specific to their departments.
County staff reported no significant damage throughout the county and said most of the damage was limited to flooding, fallen trees and tree limbs, power outages and boats that sank or ran into something – including one boat that collided with a bridge on the Manatee River and now requires removal.
Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer said 30 people took shelter at Manatee High School and left the shelter Thursday morning. He said no one took shelter at Mills Elementary School in Palmetto, so that shelter was closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday evening.
Azzara said wind gusts of up to 60 mph were reported in Manatee County and approximately 8 inches of rain fell in the most heavily rained upon areas that included the coastal regions.
Litschauer said slightly fewer than 3,000 people lost power during the storm and as of 10:12 a.m. Thursday morning, 1,136 power outages remained throughout the county.
Azzara said the county beaches on Anna Maria Island would remain closed for the day and reopen Friday morning. He said the same about the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach.
The Manatee County School District decided later in the day that all public schools would reopen Friday morning for in-person learning, as opposed to being limited to virtual learning only as originally planned before the storm arrived.
Updated Nov. 11, 2020 at 2 p.m. – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As Tropical Storm Eta approaches, Manatee County public safety officials are recommending that Anna Maria Island residents shelter in place if possible, but a voluntary evacuation notice has been issued for Manatee County’s island communities and other low-lying areas.
Eta was downgraded from hurricane status to a tropical storm at 1 p.m.
Hurricane Eta was downgraded to tropical storm status at 1 p.m.
During a virtual press conference this morning, when it was noted Tropical Storm Eta had been upgraded to a hurricane, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said he expected the storm to be downgraded to a tropical storm again before its expected landfall north of Tampa. But he noted there’s only a 5 mph difference in windspeeds between a tropical storm and a hurricane.
Saur said the worst local conditions are anticipated later this evening and throughout the night. He added there’s a possibility of a 2-4 foot storm surge along the barrier islands and possible wind speeds ranging from 50-75 mph.
The Anna Maria City Pier parking lot is flooded this afternoon as waves break against the Tampa Bay shoreline. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Saur said fallen trees, downed power lines and the loss of power are likely throughout the county.
“Our biggest concern is storm surge,” Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer said.
When asked what residents should do regarding their storm preparations, Saur said, “Now is the time to prepare. This is a fast-moving storm and it sped up. Now is the time to make their plan. They should expect power outages throughout the night and into the morning. They should make plans for that,” Saur said.
He recommends picking up last-minute food items if needed and walking your yard to clear it of any loose items that could become airborne in high winds.
“Late afternoon or early evening they need to be where they’re going to be. The sooner the better. By late afternoon and this evening they need to be where they’re going to be,” Saur said.
He said all of the public beaches on Anna Maria Island are being closed today and going into the water is not recommended.
Saur said he does not expect the storm’s impact to be as great in the eastern portions of Manatee County, but the impacts will still be felt.
Litschauer said the county is opening two emergency shelters today that should be viewed as “refuge of last resort” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The closest emergency shelter to Anna Maria Island is Manatee High School, located at 902 33rd St. W. in Bradenton. A second shelter is being readied and opened at Mills Elementary School in Palmetto, located at 7200 69th St. Both shelters are pet friendly.
The two shelters will have limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks are required and will be provided to those who need them. Litschauer said due to the COVID-19 concerns, these public shelters should only be used as a last resort.
Those going to a shelter are asked to bring their own bedding, chairs and other needed items.
“Masks will be mandatory. We want to enforce social distancing too,” Litschauer said.
Due to the pandemic, capacity at both shelters will be limited. Litschauer said the normal shelter capacity at Manatee High School is 1,853 and that has been reduced to 617 people because of the pandemic. He said the normal capacity at Mills Elementary is 1,484 people and that has been reduced to 989 people.
Closures and updates
The COVID-19 testing site at the Bradenton Area Convention Center will temporarily close today at noon.
All Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) operations will be suspended today by 1 p.m.
The Island Branch Library will be closed tomorrow.
Robinson and Emerson Point Preserves will be closed today and tomorrow.
Tomorrow’s Planning Commission meeting has been postponed to Thursday, Nov. 19.
Trash collections are expected to remain on schedule in unincorporated Manatee County.
The World’s Strongest Man Competition scheduled this week on Anna Maria will be moved to the Feld Entertainment Campus and will not be open to the public.
Sandbags
Sandbags are available at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria, at the Holmes Beach Public Works building and at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach. In Bradenton, sandbags are available for Bradenton residents only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the public works annex building at 1411 Ninth St W.
More information on shelters, sandbags and the approaching storm is available at the Manatee County website, and on the county’s social media platforms. The county 311 line is in operation to answer questions county residents and visitors have regarding the storm.
Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Nick Azzara said MCAT is suspending all bus service today at 1 p.m. and a decision will be made tomorrow (Thursday) as to when those services will resume.
He said the COVID-19 testing at the convention center in Palmetto is being suspended at noon today and may resume tomorrow, depending on the weather.
“Strong winds and storm surge are the main concerns with this storm,” Azzara reiterated.
Tropical storm force winds are expected to arrive in the Manatee County area this afternoon and continue through the night.
“This afternoon, conditions are going to start deteriorating. It’s going to be a rough night. It’s going to be a rough morning and then it will start to clear in the afternoon,” Saur said.
Michael Barber from the Manatee County School District said county schools are closed today in honor of Veterans Day and due to the storm will remain closed Thursday and Friday.
“We are still going carry on e-learning,” Barber said. “We plan to still be having school over these next two days.”
BRADENTON BEACH – The triplex at 2514 Ave. C where a suspected murder-suicide recently occurred is permitted for demolition.
According to a neighbor, a work crew was on the premises Monday morning and one of the crew members said they expected the demolition to begin in a week or so.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, Sabrina Dumdei, 37, and Zachary Winton, 34, were discovered dead in the upstairs unit. While on scene that day, lead investigator Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz and Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale both said they believed they were investigating a suspected murder-suicide.
The scene of an apparent murder-suicide is slated for demolition. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Dumdei’s funeral was held in Bradenton on Monday, Nov. 2 and attended by many friends and former hair salon clients Dumdei had on and around Anna Maria Island.
When contacted last week, Diaz said he might possibly be able to release his final conclusions and findings at some point this week. Those determinations will depend in part on the receipt of the autopsy and toxicology reports.
When viewed from the street Thursday afternoon, it did not appear that any efforts had been made to clean up the suspected crime scene that includes a blood-stained and broken patio chair on the upstairs deck and a blood-splattered sliding glass door behind the chair.
According to the city permit issued Oct. 29, the property owners, AMI Partners II LCC, are permitted to demolish and remove the structure and cap and stub the sewer line. Bradenton-based Forristall Enterprises is also listed on the demolition permit.
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, the sale of the property occurred around Oct. 15. According to the warranty deed dated Oct. 15, AMI Partners II LCC purchased the property and the structure from Adil Can and Marianne Detullio-Can.
Official records posted at the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court website, AMI Partners II LLC purchased the property and structure for $819,000.
The Florida Division of Corporations lists AMI Partners II LLC as being formed on Oct. 7, with Sarasota attorney John Moran listed as the new LLC’s registered agent.
According to a neighbor, Dumdei and Winton said they knew the triplex had been sold and also were aware the new owners planned to demolish it.
As of late last week, the make-shift memorial for Sabrina Dumdei remained in place near the 2514 Avenue C mailboxes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Eighty-four COVID-19 cases have been reported on Anna Maria Island from March, when the pandemic began, through Sunday, Nov. 8, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Of those, 41 cases were reported in Holmes Beach, 34 in Bradenton Beach and nine in Anna Maria.
Nine more cases each were reported in Cortez and in the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key, according to the report.
2020 COVID-19 cases on AMI
March 0
April 2
May 2
June 16
July 36
August 52
September 59
October 76
November (to date) 84
With 9,338 reported cases, the city of Bradenton ranked 17th in the state of Florida for the highest number of cases per city.
According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) COVID-19 dashboard, 13,960 Manatee County residents and 154 non-residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Manatee County ranks 13th highest in the state for number of cases per county.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, 150 new positive cases were reported in Manatee County. From Oct. 31 through Nov. 7, 643 new cases were reported in Manatee County, with 122 new cases reported on Saturday. The daily percent positive rate for those tested on Saturday was 5.74%, according to the FDOH dashboard.
According to the Sunday, Nov. 8 COVID-19 Situation Update that Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia shared at her Facebook page, there had been 920 total COVID-19 hospitalizations and 334 COVID-19 deaths reported to date in Manatee County. According to the situation update, there were 34 COVID patients hospitalized in Manatee County as of Sunday; 30% of Manatee County’s residents have been tested and the most recent seven-day average for those who tested positive was 5.85%.
Cases are reported based on the patient’s home zip code.
BRADENTON BEACH – Sunshine Law lawsuit defendants John Metz and Tjet Martin have agreed to pay the city of Bradenton Beach $350,000 as partial reimbursement for the attorney’s fees the city has incurred.
According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the city has spent $572,321 to date on the civil lawsuit the city filed against Metz, Martin and four other former city advisory board members in 2017.
The lawsuit sought a judge’s ruling as to whether the six defendants violated the Florida Sunshine Law, which pertains to open government meetings and requires the discussion of official public business to be conducted in properly noticed public meetings.
When the Sunshine Law violations occurred, Reed Mapes, Metz, Patty Shay and Bill Vincent served as Planning and Zoning Board members. Martin and Rose Vincent served as Scenic WAVES Committee members.
In July of 2019, the city prevailed in the four-day trial which resulted in 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas ruling that all six defendants repeatedly violated the Sunshine Law during their non-city-affiliated Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach meetings in 2017.
Metz, Mapes, Martin, Rose Vincent and Bill Vincent then appealed that ruling, with Metz and his attorneys leading that process. As of Monday, those appeals remained pending in the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Lakeland. Shay did not appeal Nicholas’ 2019 ruling.
On Oct. 28, Nicholas issued a written order regarding the amount of attorney’s fees to be recovered by the city and which defendants shared responsibility for that payment.
“It is ordered and adjudged that the plaintiffs (the city) shall have and recover from the remaining defendants John Metz, Reed Mapes and Tjet Martin attorney’s fees in the amount of $369,498,” Nicholas stated in his order.
“It is hereby ordered and adjudged that the attorney’s fee award, as applied to defendants Patricia Shay, William Vincent and Rose Vincent is stricken,” Nicholas stated in his order.
Nicholas struck Shay and the Vincents’ financial liabilities after he learned earlier this year that they signed settlement agreements with the city shortly before the 2019 trial began. The commission then rejected those signed settlement agreements because Mapes, Martin and Metz did not express a similar willingness to settle.
Settlement offer accepted
The settlement agreement proposed by Metz and Martin was presented to the city commission during a shade meeting that took place Thursday evening, Nov. 5, inside the commission chambers.
John and Alice Metz attended the Nov. 5 shade meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Metz and his wife, Alice, attended the public portions of the shade meeting that preceded and followed the private discussion that included only City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the five city commission members and the court reporter/stenographer who will later produce a verbatim transcript of the private discussion that is protected by attorney-client privilege until the case is over. Martin did not attend the shade meeting.
During the public opening of the shade meeting, Perry said, “There has been some development in the case and I would like an opportunity to discuss those developments and seek the advice of the city commission.”
The public and Deputy Clerk Christine Watson were then asked to leave the room. Perry and the commission spent approximately 50 minutes engaged in private discussion before the public was allowed back inside city hall, now joined by lawsuit co-plaintiff Jack Clarke and his wife, Karen.
“I would like a motion to accept the settlement offer from John Metz and Tjet Martin in the amount of $350,000, and to direct the city attorney to prepare the necessary settlement document discussions with the appropriate counsel, and to prepare them for execution by the city,” Perry told the commission.
Commissioner Ralph Cole made the requested motion that passed by a 5-0 vote.
Perry then sought a second motion directing her to prepare a settlement offer to present to Mapes and to finalize settlement offers with Shay and the Vincents.
Perry did not disclose any additional details on the settlement offer made by Metz and Martin or the settlement offers pertaining to Mapes, Shay and the Vincents.
During public comment, Perry was asked what impact the settlement agreements would have on the appeals.
“It will have an impact on an appeal, but I cannot disclose what the impact will be,” Perry said.
As he left the commission chambers, Metz declined comment on the settlement offer.
When contacted Sunday, Perry said she was still unable to disclose any additional information regarding the settlement offers and the appeals process.
I don’t have any children of my own, but I was one, and one of my fondest memories was of my father tapping me on the shoulder at 5 o’clock in the morning and saying, “Bud, you going?” The answer to that question was a foregone conclusion to this 5-year-old boy, as it is for most children if they’re given a proper introduction!
When I arrived on the Suncoast almost four decades ago, I was fortunate to meet Captain Jonnie Walker. Walker, a fishing “institution” in Sarasota, loved taking kids fishing and his counsel, “Take a kid fishing and someday they might take you,” has always resonated with me. I’ve written many of these words before but if something bears repeating, this is it!
Captain Justin Moore and his wife Jenny (photographer) capture memories with their children that will last a lifetime. From left are Jase (6), June (9) and Jordon (12). – Jenny Moore | Submitted
Nothing is more important than how we introduce children to fishing. Experiences on the water leave indelible memories and they should be uncomplicated and as much fun as possible. Creating realistic expectations can be the key to kindling a passion for the outdoors in children. The basics of fishing are not complicated to learn, are easy to teach children and don’t require expensive equipment. If there’s a cardinal rule to getting kids interested in fishing, it’s to make sure to keep them engaged. Children are naturally curious, they love to play in and on the water and are fascinated by the creatures that inhabit the natural world. Catching fish isn’t their main objective and you shouldn’t make it the focus of an outing. It’s important to plan a trip that includes other activities such as swimming, snorkeling and wildlife identification.
Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids about their environment and boating safety skills. You could also make a game out of learning basic nautical terms such as port, starboard, bow and stern. Every child I’ve ever had on the boat wants to drive, so let them, even if it’s just sitting on your lap with their hands on the wheel! Consider giving them something to be in charge of, such as making sure everyone knows where the safety equipment is. It’s also a great way to interject a stealth lesson in responsibility!
Try and think like a kid when fishing. Children would rather catch a dozen pinfish in a half-hour than wait for the Big One. Action is paramount because kids are easily bored and distracted. Kids might actually be more interested in collecting shells, counting crabs or looking for manatees or dolphins than fishing, so be sensitive to what’s bringing them pleasure.
Consider starting kids fishing with an ultra-light outfit that fits them. Rig with a small popping cork that they can watch for signs of action. If you can start teaching kids that the enjoyment of the adventure isn’t measured by the number or size of the fish you catch, you’ll teach them an important lesson that many anglers never learn.
It’s also important to emphasize safety by bending down barbs and making them aware of fish with sharp teeth or barbs like catfish and stingrays. The first experiences on the water are very important so consider options in advance in case the fishing isn’t great. The last thing you want to do is bore kids by sitting on a spot too long. Keep your eyes and ears open and they might just teach you a lesson in seeing the world with new eyes.
In a much-anticipated match up, teams Ugly Grouper and Moss Builders took the field at The Center Thursday night in the first playoff game of the season.
The two team captains and close friends off the gridiron, Ray Gardner for Ugly Grouper and Ryan Moss for Moss Builders, each season look forward to the competitive, but friendly, game of co-ed flag football.
This game would be not different. The action started the same, with Gardner running into the game lighting up the field with his speed and agility.
The energy of Thursday night’s game would quickly change after Gardner fell to the ground grabbing his ankle in pain. Gardner, players on the field and even spectators heard the “pop” that every athlete dreads.
Credited with a throw for a touchdown and two rushing scores before the Achilles injury took him out of the game, Gardner will watch from the sidelines as Moss Builders moves on to the semifinals after the 46-20 win.
Moss’ brother Jon Moss threw for three touchdowns, just coming short of older brother’s four TD throws.
At the receiving end of the play, J. Moss had one TD catch along with James Roadman. J. Moss is also credited with an extra point nab in the end zone.
New to the adult flag football league, graduating from the youth league last year, Cole Carter caught the ball for a total of 14 points, with two touchdowns and two extra point conversions.
The hot hands of the night belonged to Moss Builders’ Evelyn Long with three receptions, putting up 18 points of her own. Husband Zack Long added a point to the scoreboard with a successful extra point catch.
Despite the season ending loss, Ugly Grouper’s Chad Woods scored seven points in the game, along with an extra point by Octavious Cole.
Moss Builders meets Sandbar in the second semifinal game Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at The Center. Sandbar easily defeated Beach Bums 51-21 to secure their spot in the next round of play.
Slim’s Place’s victory over Progressive Cabinetry puts them on the field with Gulfview Windows and Doors in the first semifinal game at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Gulfview won against Solid Rock Construction in a close one, ending the Shaughnessy family’s season before reaching the big game.
The championship adult co-ed flag football game is scheduled for that same night, Thursday, Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. at The Center.
Sun Scoreboard
Wednesday, November 4
Adult Co-Ed Soccer Week #7
Blalock Walters (4-2-1) 6
Skinny’s Place (0-7-0) 3
Ugly Grouper (2-4-0) 3
Signature Granite (5-0-2) 12
Slim’s Place (5-1-1) 1
Sato Real Estate (5-2-0) 7
Progressive Cabinetry (2-4-1) 5
Solid Rock Construction (1-5-1) 5
Thursday, November 5
Adult Co-Ed Flag Football – Quarter Final Playoff Games
Last week, I reviewed a fairly new nonprofit called First Street Foundation, established to help homeowners understand FEMA flood zones and potential flood zones not yet recognized by FEMA. I also pointed out what I feel is a valuable addition to realtor.com for potential homeowners called the Flood Factor, which provides valuable information to all homeowners and potential homeowners about the flood risk of a particular property.
But what if you live in a condominium complex or are considering purchasing a condo that is in an established flood zone?
Condominium flood insurance is a different animal than flood insurance for a single-family home. The principals are the same, but the requirements and responsibility for condo flood insurance are completely different.
Recognized condominium associations – the corporate entity responsible for the management and operation of a condominium – is eligible to purchase flood insurance for all common property located in a special flood hazard area. The boards of directors of condominium associations typically are responsible under their bylaws for maintaining all forms of property insurance necessary to protect the common property of the association against all hazards, including flooding.
The cost to cover the condo association’s flood insurance is included in each individual homeowner’s fees and is something that condo owners who live in a flood zone should be proactive in understanding. If the association does not carry adequate insurance or is negligent in allowing it to lapse, the owners will be responsible for the damage in the event of a flood.
In addition, condo owners who have a mortgage on their unit will be required to give proof on an annual basis to their lender that the condo association does provide adequate insurance for the association’s property. If this proof cannot be provided, mortgage lenders could purchase a policy on the owner’s behalf to protect their investment.
Many condo owners have additional flood insurance for their individual units. This, in my opinion, is a gray area as to whether or not it’s necessary and what exactly it covers, especially if the property is well above typical flooding for the location. My personal experience is that obtaining personal flood insurance is not as easy as it sounds. I was asked to provide elevation certificates and pictures of the building I live in and one time after I had paid the premium, it was refunded, and the insurance turned down. However, per FEMA’s manual, this is a conversation you should have with a qualified insurance broker who sells flood insurance for FEMA if you want to add a flood policy to your condo.
Another confusing area of flood insurance is what it covers or doesn’t cover. Damage caused by moisture or mildew that could have been prevented by the homeowner is not covered; living expenses or temporary housing, damaged vehicles, business interruption and other fine print areas are not covered. Also, if water gets into your condo during a storm there could be an issue as to where the water came from and if the damage is covered by your homeowner’s insurance or your flood insurance policy.
Condo flood insurance is one of the most misunderstood areas of flood insurance in general. It’s important that you know and understand what your condominium association covers and that they are competent in their decisions on your behalf. If you think adding a personal flood policy is beneficial, this is something where you will need to get additional advice.
We seem to be making better progress in understanding flood insurance and since our hurricane season is just about over, it’s easy to put out of our minds, but something you need to stay on top of. Stay safe.
HOLMES BEACH – One Anna Maria Elementary (AME) School student has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the School District of Manatee County’s Nov. 2 COVID update.
It is the first COVID-positive case reported at the elementary school in Holmes Beach, according to the school district’s online COVID-19 dashboard.
This graphic at the school district website confirms the positive COVID-19 test. – School District of Manatee County | Submitted
When contacted Friday, AME Principal Jackie Featherston confirmed the positive test and provided some additional details.
“We did have four students and a teacher that will need to quarantine as a precaution because they happened to have a little closer contact with this student,” Featherston said.
Featherston was asked if the COVID-positive student’s classroom remains in use.
“We relocated the classroom before the kids even got in the room yesterday morning. We relocated the classroom to the auditorium. Our custodial staff went in and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized the classroom before the remainder of the students could return there and we’ll have a substitute for the teacher for the next couple weeks,” Featherston said.
Featherston said the positive COVID test was reported on Thursday.
“All of this occurred yesterday. The families of the individual students that had to quarantine were notified yesterday. They got a letter from the health department and instructions. Yesterday evening, a message went out to all our families in the entire school, to let them know that we did have a COVID-positive case,” Featherston said.
In regard to this being AME’s first known COVID case, Featherston said, “It happens. You can’t control what exposure others might have on the outside. We know it wasn’t something that occurred at school. They had another family member that started feeling sick and got tested. Mom did the right thing and she didn’t take any chances. She took her children to get tested and one that happens to be one of our students ended up testing positive even though she didn’t have any symptoms or anything. They did everything they were supposed to do. It’s just one of those things that happen sometimes,” Featherston said.
When contacted Friday, Michael Barber, the school district’s communications, family and community engagement director, said, “We have been in school 12 weeks and this is the school’s first case. I think that says a lot about the safety protocols being practiced at the school and how the Anna Maria Island community is taking the safety measures seriously.”
According to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard, six new positive cases had been reported districtwide as of Thursday, Nov. 5, with 208 positive cases reported among students and staff districtwide since the school year began on Aug. 17.
BRADENTON BEACH – Voter approval of two conflicting parking garage amendments in the Nov. 3 election means that a prohibition of parking garages will not be added to the city charter.
Running unopposed in this year’s election, incumbent Bradenton Beach City Commissioners Ralph Cole and Marilyn Maro won additional two-year terms in office.
Running unopposed in Anna Maria, incumbent Mayor Dan Murphy and incumbent City Commissioner Mark Short won additional two-year terms in office.
Bradenton Beach resident Steve Leister was among those who voted in person Tuesday at the Bradenton Beach Fire Hall. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Once the final Manatee County election results are certified, the Anna Maria City Commission will appoint someone to fill the commission term recently vacated by former commissioner Amy Tripp, who is moving out of state.
Anna Maria Island voters joined Manatee County voters in deciding several county, state and national races – including the District 3 Manatee County Commission race in which Kevin Van Ostenbridge held a significant lead as of 9 p.m. tonight.
County voters also supported a proposed bond referendum that will provide additional water quality protections and wildlife habitat preservation.
Parking garage status quo remains
Bradenton Beach voter support for two conflicting parking garage charter amendments means the city charter will remain as is, minus the inclusion of a new parking garage prohibition.
The city’s comprehensive plan and land development code already prohibit the construction of a multi-level or stand-alone parking garage, but the existing comp plan and land development code prohibitions could be reversed by a future city commission.
Voter adoption of proposed charter amendment 1 combined with voter rejection of proposed charter amendment 2 would have prevented a future city commission from reversing or amending the existing parking garage prohibitions.
There are currently no plans or proposals to build a multi-level parking garage in Bradenton Beach and the current city commission does not support the construction of a parking garage.
Bradenton Beach Charter Amendment Question 1 was placed on the ballot at the request of the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee formed in 2018 by Reed Mapes and John Metz.
The ballot language for charter amendment question 1 read as follows:
“Should the charter of Bradenton Beach be amended to prohibit the building of any multi-level parking garages within the city of Bradenton Beach? All other parking garages, facilities and structures are allowed as permitted by local law.”
In response to question 1, 410 votes (71.8%) were cast in favor of the proposed charter amendment 1 and 161 votes (28.2%) were cast in opposition of the proposed amendment.
Suggested by City Attorney Ricinda Perry and supported by the city commission in response to the proposed KORN amendment, charter amendment question 2 read as follows:
“Should the city amend its charter to: (1) Prohibit the approval, development and building of any stand-alone parking garage structures in all residential zoning districts; (2) Prohibit any multi-level parking garage, structure, or facility exceeding a total density of one multi-level parking garage within the entire municipal limits; and (3) Establish a mandatory citywide voter referendum to increase the multi-level parking garage density?
In response to question 2, 378 votes (67.02%) were cast in support of the proposed charter amendment that would allow one multi-level parking garage and 186 votes (32.98%) were cast in opposition to the proposed amendment.
As of 9 p.m., all of Bradenton Beach’s Election Day and early voting results had been tallied, but it was possible there could still be some remaining vote-by-mail ballots to be added to the reported totals.
County Commission races
As of 9 p.m., all Election Day and early voting ballots in each of Manatee County’s 70 voting precincts had been counted and reported, with some vote-by-mail ballots still not yet reported.
When contacted at that time and asked about the remaining mail ballots and their potential impact on any of the final results, Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett said, “Pretty much what you see is what you get.”
Bennett said he did not anticipate the outstanding mail ballots to alter the outcome of any county races.
In the County Commission District 3 race, Van Ostenbridge, a Republican, had received 22,897 votes (58.53%) and Bower, a non-party-affiliated candidate, had received 16,222 votes (41.47%). Van Ostenbridge will fill the commission seat vacated by one-term commissioner Steve Jonsson, who did not seek reelection.
In the County Commission District 1 race decided by District 1 voters only, Republican James Satcher is the winner. As of 9 p.m., Satcher had received 35,452, (65.6%). Democrat Dominique Brown received 18,593 votes (34.4%). Satcher will fill the commission seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Priscilla Trace.
Running unopposed, incumbent Republican Commissioner Vanessa Baugh has claimed the County Commission District 5 race. As of 9 p.m., Baugh received 45,529 votes (87.82%) of the general election votes, with 6,314 votes (12.18%) cast for write-in candidates whose names did not appear on the ballot.
Running unopposed after defeating former County Administrator Ed Hunzeker in the Republican primary, George Kruse officially claimed the County Commission District 7 at-large race. As of 9 p.m., Kruse had received 157,382 votes (93.3%) and he will fill the seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Betsy Benac.
Additional races
Running as the incumbent, Bennett, a Republican, won his reelection bid and he will remain Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. Bennett received 136,656 votes (65.65%) and his Democratic challenger, Charles Williams, received 71,516 votes (34.35%).
In the Manatee County School Board District 3 race won by Mary Foreman, Foreman received 110,746 votes (58.8 %). Incumbent school board member Dave “Watchdog” Miner received 77,593 votes (41.2%).
In the non-party-affiliated County Judge Group 4 race, race winner Melissa Gould received 113,511 votes (60,97%) and Kristy Zinna had received 72,676 votes (39.03%).
In the Mosquito Control District Group 2 race, incumbent Michael Daugherty has retained his seat having received 106,884 votes (61.49%). His challenger, Rodney O’Quinn, had received 66,944 votes (38.51%)
Manatee County bond referendum
Manatee County voters supported a proposed a millage increase and bond referendum question pertaining to water quality protection, fish and wildlife habitat preservation.
As of 9 p.m., the vote total for this referendum was 139,717 votes (71.27%) cast in favor of the millage increase and 56,323 votes (28.73%) cast in opposition.
The referendum ballot question read as follows: “To finance the acquisition, improvement and management of land to protect drinking water sources and water quality, preserve fish and wildlife habitat, prevent stormwater runoff pollution and provide parks, shall Manatee County levy an additional 0.15 mill ad valorem tax and issue general obligation bonds in a total principal amount not exceeding $50 million, maturing within 20 years, bearing interest not exceeding the legal rate, payable from such ad valorem taxes, with annual public audits?”
State seats
In a race decided by voters in Manatee County and a portion of Hillsborough County, Republican Jim Boyd has apparently won the State Senate District 21 race. In Manatee County, Boyd received 128,614 votes (61.78%) and Democrat Anthony “Tony” Eldon had received 79,583 votes (38.22%). Boyd also held a significant lead in Hillsborough County.
Decided by Manatee and Sarasota county voters, Republican incumbent William Robinson Jr. is winning the State Representative District 71 race. In Manatee County, Robinson has received 43.072 votes (59.98%). His Democratic challenger, Andy Mele, had received 28,742 votes (40.02%). Robinson also held a 2 percentage point lead in Sarasota County.
Presidential race
And in the much-anticipated presidential race, incumbent Republican President Donald Trump has apparently carried Manatee County. As of 9 p.m., Trump received 123,316 votes (57.67 %) in Manatee County and Democratic challenger Joe Biden received 88,275 votes (41.28%).
The full unofficial and updated Manatee County elections results can be viewed at www.votemanatee.com.
BRADENTON – The West Manatee Fire Rescue District has a new commissioner who will take the dais later this month.
Joining Commissioner Larry Jennis, who had no challengers for his seat, will be Robert Bennett, taking the place of Commissioner Randy Cooper. After 12 years on the dais, Cooper decided not to run for re-election this year.
With no challengers, Jennis was automatically re-elected for an additional four-year term on the fire district’s board of commissioners. He currently serves as the board’s vice-chair.
Three candidates qualified to fill Cooper’s vacant seat – Bennett, Steven Pontious and Derrick Warner. Bennett received the most votes and won the seat in a landslide with 9,689 ballots cast in his favor across 11 precincts, or 64.47% of the total number of votes. Pontious came in second with 2,681 votes, or 17.84%, with Warner ending the night with 2,659 votes, 17.69% of the total votes cast.
Pending election certification, Bennett will be sworn in along with Jennis during the Nov. 17 commission meeting planned to be held at the district’s temporary administration offices at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church, 6510 Third Ave. W. in Bradenton. The meeting also will be available to attend via Zoom.
WMFR commissioners serve four-year terms and work with the fire chief to help create policy and manage the fire district. The West Manatee district includes all of Anna Maria Island, Cortez and unincorporated Manatee County on the west side of the county.
Updated Nov. 8, 2020 – HOLMES BEACH – The city has two commissioners to swear in on Monday, Nov. 16.
With four candidates – Commissioner Pat Morton, Commissioner Kim Rash, candidate Jayne Christenson and former commissioner Rick Hurst – and two seats on the dais available, the top two vote-getters took home the win – Christenson and Rash.
Rash was the top pick of voters, bringing in 991 votes, or 28.73% of the total votes. Christenson came in second with 874 votes at 25.34%, with Hurst coming in third with 856 votes and Morton coming in last with 728 votes, ending Morton’s more than a decade on the city commission dais.
Commission candidate Jayne Christenson and Commissioner Kim Rash wave to voters as they enter and leave the polls Nov. 3 with some of their supporters. – Kristin Swain | Sun
This will be Rash’s second term on the city commission.
Christenson will be serving her first term as a city commissioner, having previously served the city on the planning commission and the parking/congestion committee.
The city of Holmes Beach had one polling place for both of the city’s precincts, St. Bernard Catholic Church. The tallies for voters showed that out of the 2,823 registered voters in Holmes Beach, 1,183 voted by mail, 420 took advantage of early voting and 756 came to the polls on election day. The total voter turnout for the city was 2,359, or 83.75% of eligible voters casting their ballots.
Early in the day on Nov. 3, there were lines outside St. Bernard’s to vote. Much of the wait time was attributed to COVID-19 precautions but the lines didn’t dissuade voters from casting their ballots in person.
Outside of the polling location, candidates Christenson, Morton and Rash were camped out with signs, supporters and snacks for voters.
Commissioner Pat Morton greets voters as they enter the parking lot at St. Bernard Catholic Church. – Kristin Swain | Sun
Also up for re-election this year was Mayor Judy Titsworth. Once the candidate qualifying period ended, Titsworth was the only candidate who emerged, earning her another two years on the dais as mayor.
Pending the certification of the election results, the city of Holmes Beach has an organizational meeting and swearing-in ceremony planned for Monday, Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. at city hall. The public is welcome to attend but everyone is required to wear a mask when inside city hall and practice social distancing.
