BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach Police Department now has quicker access to the water thanks to the new boat lift installed next to the Bridge Street Pier.
Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift installed the lift after repositioning and repairing the floating dock that provides access to it.
Representatives of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce helped conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony that served as the lift’s grand opening on Friday afternoon.
A few minutes before the ceremony, Duncan General Manager Steve Porter said, “We’re all done. We had until Wednesday of next week and we’re putting the boat on it today.”
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) had until Wednesday, Sept. 30 to complete the lift installation using a $50,000 West Coast Inland Navigation District grant approved by Manatee County commissioners in 2017.
Officer Devon Straight, Lt. John Cosby and Officer Eric Hill are pleased to have a boat lift for the police boat. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Sept. 14, the CRA members authorized Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift to install a 10,000-pound capacity lift for about $37,813. That day, the CRA members also authorized Duncan to complete the dock repairs and dock repositioning for an additional $11,600 as a separate project after learning the Hecker Construction Company that installed the floating dock in 2019 could not complete that work in time for Duncan to then meet the boat lift installation deadline.
While standing on the floating dock Friday afternoon, CRA member and Mayor John Chappie said, “Public safety is always the number one priority for any municipal government and having a place for our marine patrol officers to store the boat is going to help with rapid response when seconds matter. This will allow our officers to get out there as quickly as possible in emergency situations. Our officers will have more time on the water because they’re not going to have to go down to the boat ramp to launch the boat.”
Chappie praised City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift for completing the time-sensitive projects.
“We had a lot of issues and hurdles to get this done. Ricinda has done a great job pulling all the different threads together and I really appreciate that,” Chappie said.
“Duncan has always been a great partner with the city. We greatly appreciate it and we’re pleased with the results. They also built our pier and we’ve had no issues with it,” Chappie said.
“I’m pleased to provide another tool for our law enforcement officers and we could not have done this without the help of Duncan Seawall and the financial support provided by WCIND with the county commission’s support,” Perry said.
Officer Eric Hill serves as the city’s primary marine patrol officer in addition to his regular policing duties. He piloted the police boat to the boat lift Friday afternoon, accompanied by Officer Devon Straight.
“It’s going to make access to the water much easier. It’s been a long time coming and we no longer have to launch from the Coquina boat ramp and ride the channel up – that can burn a half-hour easily. We can now just drop the boat in the water, handle our patrols and come back. A lot of people are happy to see this and they told me they feel safer,” Hill said.
Lt. John Cosby often accompanies Hill on the patrols of the navigable waters south of the pier that are home to several live-aboard boaters.
“The quick response is going to be good. If there’s an issue we can go out and come right back. On holidays, we have to wait at the boat ramp too and you know what the boat ramps look like on holidays. This is going to make us a lot more efficient. We’re going to send Officer Straight to training and he’ll be our second boat captain,” Cosby said.
HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners may have extended the city’s mandatory mask ordinance until their first meeting in January, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has other plans.
DeSantis announced Sept. 25 that the state is immediately moving into “Phase 3” of COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The guidelines for that phase include making wearing masks and practicing social distancing voluntarily rather than mandatory. The announcement removed local municipalities’ ability to penalize anyone not wearing a mask when indoors in a public space or when unable to social distance in public, rendering the Holmes Beach mask ordinance unenforceable.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said that city leaders are still recommending the use of masks and facial coverings when unable to social distance and while indoors.
“We will continue to ask and keep it on our signs,” Titsworth said in a message to The Sun.
She added that the governor’s move to enact Phase 3, specifically the removal of mask and social distancing guidelines, will negatively impact Anna Maria Island’s COVID-19 infection numbers, which have so far remained low. The Island has had 55 total reported cases of the novel coronavirus as of Sept. 27, according to the Florida Department of Health.
“This concerns me as I feel the mask and social distancing mandates made people feel comfortable to leave their homes and shop again,” Titsworth said.
The governor’s Phase 3 order not only did away with municipalities’ ability to penalize for not wearing masks, but it also allows businesses – including restaurants, bars, salons, gyms, theme parks, retail stores and others – to return to normal operations at full capacity with no restrictions.
The move to Phase 3 also allows for government meetings to resume in person. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 shutdowns, the city of Holmes Beach has held all of its commission meetings via teleconference. City planning commissioners held their first meeting since March on Sept. 9 in commission chambers with social distancing guidelines implemented during the meeting.
Titsworth said that it will be up to the city commission chair, Commissioner Jim Kihm, to determine when the city commission will return to in-person meetings. Government meetings are currently allowed to be held in Florida by teleconference under the governor’s declared state of emergency. Currently, the state of emergency is scheduled to expire Nov. 3.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the first time since March 17, restaurants and bars on and around Anna Maria Island and throughout Florida can operate at 100% capacity.
During Friday’s press conference in St. Petersburg, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida was immediately entering Phase 3 of his “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery.” DeSantis’ announcement was accompanied by Executive Order 20-244, which also suspends locally imposed fines or penalties for violations of COVID-19 regulations or restrictions, including face-coverings mandates.
“This order suspends the collection of fines and penalties associated with COVID-19 enforced upon individuals,” DeSantis states in the order. “Nothing in this order preempts or supersedes a non-COVID-19 municipal or county order.”
During Friday’s press conference, DeSantis said, “For restaurants, there will not be limitations from the state of Florida. There have been some local closures and other types of restrictions. The order I’m signing today will guarantee restaurants can operate a minimum of 50% regardless of local rule.”
There have been no local restaurant or bar capacity regulations imposed on Anna Maria Island or in Manatee County beyond those previously imposed by DeSantis and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
DeSantis said the restaurant industry has worked hard to provide safe environments for patrons.
“They take this obligation seriously. They want customers to have confidence, so they have every incentive to do that going forward,” he said.
“In the state of Florida, every business has an opportunity and the right to work. You can’t say no after six months and just have people twisting in the wind,” DeSantis said, noting there may be instances where “reasonable” local restrictions remain.
“No COVID-19 emergency ordinance may prevent an individual from working or from operating a business,” his order says.
“The beginning of July was the peak of infections – between July 7th and July 14th – and it’s kind of gone down ever since. The hospitalizations peaked on July 21st. COVID-positive hospitalizations are down 76% since the July peak,” DeSantis said.
He said sports and entertainment venues can operate without state-imposed COVID restrictions.
Regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeSantis said, “I very much support the Bucs having fans. Outdoor transmission has not been a major factor. I also want to show we’re going to be able to host a Super Bowl in February. We expect to do a full Super Bowl.”
On Saturday, the Bucs announced a limited number of fans would be allowed to attend home games beginning with a soft opening on Oct. 4 and increasing to approximately 25% capacity on Oct. 18.
DeSantis also mentioned the music industry.
“We have musicians. They should be able to play, particularly these outdoor venues. You can do it and you can do it safely. We want to make sure they have an opportunity. I think you can get to yes on all of this stuff and there’s certainly no legal prohibition for them doing fans,” DeSantis said.
When asked about mask mandates, DeSantis said, “As an act of executive grace, all outstanding fines and penalties that have been applied against individuals are suspended. I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people and just work with people constructively.”
He also said, “The fact that you continue to move forward with the economy doesn’t mean the virus disappears. It’s something we’re going to have to deal with. But doing that from a fetal position – where society flounders, people are out of work, kids aren’t in school – that is not going to work and that’s not the way forward for us.”
Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the state of Florida’s revenue collections for the month of August were $177 million more than post-pandemic estimates.
“We are already on the path to recovery and what the governor’s doing here today is just going to continue that path, and perhaps accelerate it,” Galvano said.
Local mask mandates preempted by state
When contacted Friday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said DeSantis’ order renders the city’s emergency face-covering order unenforceable and the local order would be allowed to expire on Tuesday.
“What’s the purpose of having a mask order in place if there’s no penalty for a violation? There is no purpose,” Murphy said.
Anna Maria’s emergency face-covering order carries a $50 fine, but no fines had been issued in Anna Maria.
“I hope it’s the right thing to do. I truly support businesses reopening. The economy, and particularly the restaurant business, has taken a terrible hit as a result of COVID-19. People are out of work and businesses are failing. I don’t want this in our city, but on the other hand, it seemed reasonable to request people wear masks. Now it appears there’s nothing we can do if they refuse. I think the economy will determine whether this is the right move or the wrong move and people will decide whether they want to go to a restaurant or not,” he said.
Anna Maria resident Bob Carter expressed concerns about the reopening order.
“As a resident of Anna Maria – a resort town where 70% of the houses are rentals – the infection risks are elevated with thousands of tourists in and out every week. With no fines, restaurants at 100% capacity and unmasked bars and restaurants can quickly become infection centers. I hope each city and each establishment owner considers keeping precautions in place to protect employees and patrons,” Carter said.
When contacted Friday, County Administrator Cheri Coryea was asked what impact the governor’s order has on the county face-covering mandate – a mandate that currently applies in unincorporated areas of Manatee County, including Cortez, and in cities that did not enact their own face-covering mandates, including Bradenton Beach.
“Because face coverings in the county are only required if you are unable to social distance 6 feet apart or more, and not while dining, it shouldn’t have an impact,” Coryea said.
Enacted on July 27, the county’s face-covering mandate carries a written warning for a first offense, a $50 fine for a second offense, a $125 fine for a third offense and a $250 fine for subsequent offenses. Those fines are now suspended per DeSantis’ order.
The authority to extend or repeal the county’s face-covering mandate in the wake of DeSantis’ order lies with the county commission.
Regarding DeSantis’ reopening order, Coryea said, “This should be most impactful to laid-off employees of the restaurant industry. I’m glad to see these folks able to return to work. Manatee County’s COVID-19 cases appear to be in a leveling off period – not much movement up or down in the last 30 days. As seasonal residents begin to return, opening up the capacity of restaurants while still using smart social distancing and sanitizing brings employees back to work and supports a needed boost to the local economy. Today’s number of unemployment claims for Manatee County reached over 36,660. We will know in about two weeks how impactful this change was.”
Business community reacts
DeSantis’ decision produced mixed reactions from the business community.
When contacted Saturday, Island Time General Manager Michael Davis said the Bradenton Beach establishment was operating at 100% capacity again.
Island Time Bar and Grill in Bradenton Beach is operating at 100% capacity again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Business is picking up. We’re seeing more volume today and we’re getting the NFL Ticket back tomorrow,” Davis said.
The Drift In is also operating at 100% capacity.
“I feel better not having to be the mask police and sending customers away because we were at our full 50% capacity. Staff will continue to wear masks until the Manatee County mandate changes,” manager Doreen Flynn said.
Sports Lounge bartender Patrick Edwards said, “We still require you to wear a mask when you walk in the door. We are at full capacity now. We do encourage social distancing and no longer have to sell food. So far those are the only changes that have been made.”
This quartet enjoyed a game of foosball at the Sports Lounge Friday night. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bridge Tender Inn owner and retired physician Fred Bartizal expressed mixed feelings.
“It is a mistake at this time. It is good as a businessman, but bad as a physician,” he said of DeSantis’ order.
In Anna Maria, Ginny’s and Jane E’s café and coastal store owner Paul Foster said, “We are still requiring masks and social distancing. No change there. We are still analyzing our occupancy – no changes outside; inside we are going to try to get to 75% capacity. We are going to hang more plexiglass dividers. Our focus is on our customer and staff safety first.”
Chuck Wolfe is the CEO of the Chiles Group that owns and operates The Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria, the Beach House restaurant in Bradenton Beach and the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant in Longboat Key.
“We have not changed any of our policies. We continue to do outdoor seating only and we still require guests to have masks on when inside the building,” Wolfe said, noting Chiles Group employees will continue wearing masks.
In Cortez, Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker said, “We are continuing safe social distancing to keep our guests and team safe.”
Phase 3
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery” calls for these measures in Phase 3.
Vulnerable populations older than 65 years of age and individuals with a serious underlying medical condition (such as chronic lung disease, moderate-to-severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immune-compromised status, cancer, diabetes, severe obesity, renal failure and liver disease) can resume public interactions, but should practice social distancing, minimizing exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.
Non-vulnerable populations should consider minimizing time spent in crowded environments.
Non-essential travel may continue.
Employees should resume unrestricted staffing of worksites and implement the final phasing in of employees returning to work. Employers should take prudent and practical measures to ensure employees do not enter the premises if they believe they are infected with COVID-19 or show symptoms of influenza-like illness.
Employees should resume non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
Local government meetings should return to in-person quorum and public participation for local government bodies.
Bars, pubs, and nightclubs that derive more than 50% of sales from alcohol should operate at full capacity with limited social distancing protocols.
Restaurants and food service establishments may operate at full capacity with limited social distancing protocols. Businesses should maintain adequate sanitation practices among employees and patrons during all hours of operation. Menus, if laminated, should continue to be cleaned after each usage. Paper menus shall be designed for single use and then disposed of immediately after use.
Gyms and fitness centers should open to full capacity but should maintain adequate sanitation practices among employees and patrons during all hours of operation.
State parks should be fully opened, including overnight accommodations.
Public beaches: Beaches should remain fully opened.
Large venues: (i.e. movie theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, bowling alleys, arcades, playhouses, casinos) These venues should re-open fully with limited social distancing protocols.
Large spectator sporting events should consider reducing capacity with limited social distancing protocols.
Theme parks may return to normal operations with limited social distancing protocols.
Vacation rentals should resume normal operating procedures but should continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect the property between rentals.
Personal services businesses, such as cosmetology salons, barber shops and nail salons, should operate under full capacity but should consider the following mitigation measures: Continue to maintain adequate sanitation practices for employees and patrons. Remove all unnecessary, frequent-touch items such as magazines, newspapers, service menus, any other unnecessary paper products and décor from customer service areas.
Operators of retail businesses should operate at full capacity but should continue to maintain adequate sanitation practices for employees and patrons.
I would like to thank the residents, city staff and the city commissioners for all of your support during my first term as mayor. The commission has worked hard this year given the challenges of COVID-19 and their adjustments to Zoom meetings. Although we didn’t always agree on issues, they always treated each other with respect and dignity. I also would like to thank all who have contributed generously to our community park as it will be enjoyed for many years to come. I have to admit that even with the many challenges facing our city and country each day, these two years have truly been a labor of love. I know I have said it before, but if it wasn’t for Commissioner Pat Morton and his unrelenting effort to convince me to run for office and to help him get the city back in balance, I wouldn’t be sitting here today experiencing the joy in city leadership as a steward of this fine city. Although I was able to run unopposed this year, I promise to continue to work hard for not only our residents, but for our visitors and our business owners. Stay safe and stay kind.
Based on current interest rates, it’s a great time to buy a home, and it’s also a great time to sell a home. At this moment in time, sellers have the upper hand, prices are high, inventory is low and buyers are chomping at the bit to buy while interest rates are historically low.
The mortgage interest rates are so low that as of this writing they’re actually the lowest ever recorded by Freddie Mac since 1971, coming in at 3.23% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan. On Bankrate.com, I found an average rate of 3.01%. Remember that rates fluctuate daily and also depend on a buyer’s creditworthiness as well as the amount of down payment and points applied.
The drop in interest rates started in March and continued in April after the country was shut down because of the coronavirus. In March, the rate was about 4.2%, a full point higher than is typical now. Now the conversation from the financial talking heads is that the rates may stay low forever or at least for the foreseeable future until the country totally recovers from the financial impact of the virus. Needless to say, lenders are overwhelmed with applications, giving them the leverage to pick and choose.
Refinancing has also been strong, with homeowners attempting to lower their monthly rate during difficult times and/or pull cash out to help with expenses or attack those long overdue home improvements.
The problem is the banks are reserving their best rates for homebuyers – not homeowners who want to refinance. To make that situation even worse, Freddie Mac levied a new fee on lenders for most refinancing to protect them from potential losses; remember the 2008 housing bubble. Refinance rates even make a difference if the borrower just wants a straight refinance to lower their monthly payment or wants to pull cash out, which would typically have a higher rate.
Since mortgage interest rates have a direct effect on real estate sales, let’s take a look at the August sales numbers from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee website.
First of all, both Manatee and Sarasota counties broke another record for the median (half above and half below) sale price of single-family homes; Manatee at $360,000 and Sarasota at $330,000.
Manatee County single-family homes closed 9% more properties than August of last year. As stated, the median sale price was $360,000, which is up 13.6% from last year, and the average sale price was $480,903, 17.7% up from last year. Median time to contract was 30 days; last August it was 42 days. The month’s supply of available properties was 2.1 months; last year it was 3.3 months.
Condo sales were up 54.2%, the median sale price was $223,000, up 8.8% from last year. The average sale price was $261,548, up 4.1% from last year. Time to contract was 46 days; last year it was 50 days. The month’s supply of available properties was 3.3 months; last year it was 3.6 months.
Great numbers for property owners and sellers, but I’m still worried about the lack of inventory here and across the country. Record low interest rates and a change in lifestyle created by the coronavirus has accelerated the demand for properties. In the meantime, we can all enjoy the real estate wave. Stay safe.
Sarasota Bay Watch conducted its first post-COVID-19 clam release on Saturday, Sept. 26. SBW board members and volunteers gathered at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron in the morning to transfer clams to Sarasota Bay. The clams were raised by clam farmer Carter Davis in Pine Island Sound.
Volunteers stand by to transfer clams to Reef Innovation’s barge. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Gulf Coast Eagle Distributing’s John Saputo provided a refrigerated truck to transport the clams and Mike Welch from Eagle drove the truck. Once at the Sailing Squadron, the clams were loaded on a barge provided by Larry Beggs of Reef Innovations.
The barge is loaded and ready to transfer clams to Sarasota Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Twenty high school students from Riverview, Venice and the Sarasota Military Academy received community service hours for their work. Community service is required for graduation, but has been hard to come by during the pandemic. Volunteers also provided 11 boats to the effort. Science partners including the Gulf Shellfish Institute, Mote Marine, Florida Sea Grant and Florida Atlantic University benefit from the deployment. They are conducting studies on predation and aquaculture. Whelks and rays, the main predators of clams, are being acoustically monitored at the release site.
Clams head for a new home in Sarasota Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
CDC guidelines were followed during the event. All participants had their temperatures taken and were required to wear masks and social distance. SBW is scheduled to release more than 750,000 clams in 2020 and 2021.
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria and GSM Partners LLC have reached an agreement that allows Nick Graham, Brian Seymour and Vic Mattay to operate the City Pier Grill on the new City Pier.
Operating in the smaller of two city-owned spaces at the pier’s end, City Pier Grill will offer “family-friendly” takeout food that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner items, ice cream, desserts and beer and wine. The business operations will also include a bait shop that offers live and frozen bait, fishing tackle and more.
Seymour is the owner/operator of the Anna Maria General Store & Deli on Pine Avenue. Mattay operates his Dips Ice Cream shop inside the general store and Graham manages the ice cream shop for Mattay. The three men are equal partners in the adjacent Pine Avenue Bait and Tackle store and they recently formed GSM Partners for their City Pier Grill operations.
Seymour said the trio will share the decision-making responsibilities and he will serve as the managing partner authorized to speak on the partnership’s behalf.
Seymour said they hope to open City Pier Grill the week before Thanksgiving.
Lease contract approved
On Thursday evening, the city commission voted 4-0 in favor of authorizing Mayor Dan Murphy to sign a five-year lease contract with GSM Partners.
“We’ve come up with this contract which I think is very fair and equitable,” Murphy said of the lease terms he and Seymour negotiated.
The lease includes one five-year renewal at the tenant’s option.
GSM Partners agreed to pay the city $6,000 per month in base rent, $500 of which is for the use of additional space inside the larger primary pier building. The building’s future use has not yet been determined.
The space inside the primary building will house a portable cooler and a portable freezer that will both be on wheels and easily relocated if the city later leases the entire primary building to another tenant. In that case, GSM Partners’ monthly rent would decrease by $500.
City Pier Grill will operate in the space on the left side of the pier. The future use of the space on the right side of the pier remains unknown. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the lease, the city reserves the right to negotiate with GSM Partners for the expanded use of the primary pier building, but also reserves the right to lease the entire primary building to another tenant.
Seymour told the commission he and his partners look forward to a lengthy business relationship with the city and they may one day also consider leasing the primary building.
GSM Partners will reimburse the city for 10% of the actual cost to maintain the pier and pier facilities.
“It will never go below 10%, but it could go above 10%,” Murphy said of those costs to be reviewed annually.
GSM Partners will also be responsible for 20% of the total utility bills associated with the pier.
The lease states the tenant has 45 days to complete the interior buildouts and be open for business. Murphy said there’s an incentive in the lease that provides up to 30 days free rent if they open sooner.
“I think it’s a good partnership. I think the right person got the bid. We’re very pleased to have you as a tenant on the pier,” Murphy said.
“I just wanted to thank the commission and the mayor. We think it’s fair for both the city and for us and we’re excited to get started. I’m proud to be a part of it. I think we’re going to make it a great place for everybody,” Seymour said.
“I’m thrilled that we have a resident of the city Anna Maria who’s heading up this partnership,” Commission Chair Carol Carter said.
Carter noted the city also has some commitments to fulfill as its share of the interior buildout process.
“We have to do the drywall, the hood and the grease trap,” she said.
Seymour said the $25,000 grease trap the commission previously approved as part of the city’s anticipated buildout costs won’t be necessary.
“There is a need for a grease trap, but not a big one buried on land. We only need one under the three-compartment sink, before the drain, to keep the grease in the trap. The grease trap the commission approved was for a full-service restaurant,” Seymour said when contacted later that night.
Seymour said the kitchen will have a flattop grill, a charbroiler and a deep fryer; the grease from the deep fryer will be recycled in a separate container.
“I have a cooking oil company that comes and collects all the used cooking oil,” he said.
“Amen and namaste,” Commissioner Jon Crane said during the meeting, before making the motion authorizing Murphy to sign the lease.
“This relationship is benefitting several businesses and several people, all who have close ties to the city of Anna Maria,” Commissioner Mark Short said.
“That influenced my vote as well,” Commissioner Joe Muscatello said.
“Especially looking forward to your desserts,” Muscatello added in reference to Anna Maria-based Hometown Desserts providing the dessert offerings in addition to Mattay’s ice cream offerings.
“We look forward to working with you and I think all the residents and visitors will be thrilled to have the grill and bait shop open on the pier,” Carter said.
Eager to start
After leaving city hall, Seymour said, “We’re already in the process of getting the final designs from our designer. We’ve got our equipment purchase list done. We need to hire a general contractor so we can start the permitting process and start building the space out. We’ve already been contacted by at least a dozen local hospitality workers who are interested in being part of this. We’re going to put together an excellent team that’s got a lot of experience right from the start.”
Strange doesn’t even come close to describing today’s real estate market. You would think that in the middle of a pandemic, everyone would be afraid to leave their home, much less purchase a new one.
Well, I guess the American people are made of stronger stuff than that because the real estate market is not only alive and well, it’s soaring.
According to the S&P/CoreLogic/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, the adjusted-for-inflation real home prices rose 45% from February 2012 through May 2020. Not a bad investment if you purchased a home eight years ago. In fact, it’s a remarkable record considering that the United States is dealing with a once-in-a-century coronavirus pandemic, which created a recession and social upheaval.
Florida Realtors also reports an active and appreciating real estate market in our state. No surprise here that during April and May, Florida Realtors reported higher median prices and more pending inventory but fewer closed sales and fewer new listings compared to the second quarter of last year.
Closed sales of single-family homes statewide were down 19.2% from the second quarter of 2019, and condos down 33.9% for the same period. In a typical real estate market, these numbers are a good look into the future, however, this year is an exception with everything related to the virus shifting from week to week. In spite of this, Florida’s home sales are off by less than 2% from last year’s pace as of mid-August when these numbers came out.
Statewide, median sales prices for single-family homes were up 4.7% compared to the second quarter last year, and condo sales were up 6.2% for the same period. Inventory is down 27% statewide compared to last year and the lack of homes will continue to propel prices upward, according to Florida Realtor.
Next week when the August Manatee County sales statistics come out, we’ll have a better idea about what’s happening close to home. In the meantime, let’s see how Cortez and Anna Maria Island are looking relative to million-dollar property closings and availability during May, June and July. Numbers are from realtor.com.
Cortez had six properties listed between $1.2 million and $1.3 million, two more than last time. The City of Anna Maria had had 57 properties listed; last time there were 73 listed. The properties range from one at $6.3 million, three were over $4 million, seven were over $3 million and 12 were over $2 million; the balance was between $2 million and $1 million. The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach listed 75 properties for sale; last time there were 69. There were four over $4 million, three over $3 million, 22 over $2 million and the balance between $2 million and $1 million.
Sales in these areas have certainly recovered but are still slightly off. The sales numbers come from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website. Cortez did not have any closings over $1 million, the same as last time. The City of Anna Maria had 28 sales over $1 million; last time they had four. Prices ranged from a high of $5.4 million to a low of $1,025,000. There were two sales over $3 million but most of the sales were between $2 million and $1 million. The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach had 19 sales over $1 million; last time they had five. There was one sale over $4 million and one sale over $3 million; the balance started in the low $2 million to the low $1 million range.
For certain, we are a strong optimistic people as reflected in the growing economy and growing real estate market. Stick with it and stay safe.
The weather finally cooperated last Thursday night at the Island’s community center. Top seed Beach Bums took the field against the second-best Sato Real Estate team to see who would be crowned the Hayward Cup champions.
At the end of the night, the Sato family would celebrate the winning of the final game of the season with Josh Sato playing for Sato Real Estate, the family company headed by the matriarch, Barbara Sato, and oldest brother, Jason Sato.
On the opposite side of the field, Jason Sato played for his wife’s company, Beach Bums.
Josh Sato is no stranger to the Hayward Cup game, leading his team to win the championship in the spring season of 2017, becoming just the third team to win the cup.
The love of the game and the friendly but fierce competition found at The Center is what the Satos love about adult soccer on the Island, and especially at The Center. Paul “Ace” Hayward shared that sentiment.
The Hayward Cup became the official prize for the co-ed adult soccer recreational league at The Center after years of action on the pitch. The championship was officially named to honor a long-time league player and Island friend to many of the players still hitting the soccer field every Thursday night.
Starting in spring 2016, after Hayward lost his battle to cancer, The Center has celebrated his life and contribution to the game at least twice a year with the playing of the cup game.
In this season’s cup, the Sato brothers played alongside old friends and new faces to the league. Veterans like Lyn Clarke, now 80 years old, scuffled on the field against Kevin Roman, a young veteran player.
Despite being one of the best goalies this season, longtime league player Steve Oelfke could not make the win happen for his Sato Real Estate squad. Both Oelfke and Jason Sato, keeper for Beach Bums, had seven recorded saves in the game.
Scoring talent on each team put points on the statistics for Sarah Liggins, Josh Sato and Hakan Toka, with single goals for Sato Real Estate. Teammate Connor Bystrom, the hotfoot for his team this season, had two points to his name in the game.
Scoring for the win, Beach Bums had two players each with a single goal in the game: Kevin Roman and Andrew Sullivan. Connor Haughey, Associate Director at The Center, scored two points and was noted to have two assists. Yuri Pereira put two points on the scoreboard for the Beach Bums squad.
Amy Ivin, always a top pick in the draft, crushed two goals, helping her team win the Hayward Cup.
With the win, the Beach Bums team became the ninth recipient of the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup. There has never been a repeat winner since the inception of the Cup. Which sponsor will be the first to capture the cup twice?
Most of Bradenton was asleep and dreaming when I pulled up to the locked gate that barred access to Jiggs Landing on the shore of Ward Lake (a/k/a Bill Evers Reservoir). Beeping my horn and flashing my lights, I knew I was signaling my presence to a small white Boston Whaler somewhere in the inky darkness. The lake is located south of State Road 70, approximately 6.5 miles from downtown Bradenton. It was created as a water source for the City of Bradenton in 1939 when a dam was constructed across the Braden River. The reservoir was expanded to almost 400 acres in 1986 and stores over 1.4 billion gallons of water.
Moments later, Andy “Doc” Lee appeared out of the darkness in his 13-foot Whaler, “Slow Poke.” Lee has been fishing the lake for 45 years and it would be safe to say that no one knows it better. I first met Lee in the late 80s when we formed the Manatee Chapter of the Florida Conservation Association (now CCA). Lee, who hails from upstate New York, started fly fishing at age 7 when his aunt gave him his first fly rod and a fly-tying kit. When he moved to the area in 1977, he called Bradenton Herald fishing editor Jerry Hill to learn about fly fishing locally. A friendship developed and Lee became a featured speaker and fly-tier at Hill’s Bradenton Herald Fishing College.
I did my first story on Lee for Florida Sportsman in 1996. That day we fished the Manatee River and caught an assortment of different species including a 15-pound snook, flounder, channel catfish, panfish and bass. The thing that attracted me to Lee in the first place, besides the fact he catches a lot of fish, was his innovative methods and handmade flies.
We fished for bluegills and redear sunfish (shellcrackers) on three-weight fly outfits. Lee rigged me up at the ramp with an 8-foot, 4-pound leader, strike indicator and a “flutter” fly he developed. After motoring to a nearby shoreline where the river enters the lake, he showed me how to fish the rig and soon we were catching hand-sized panfish. Over the four hours, Lee moved several times to areas of grass where the panfish congregate. He triangulates the spots from landmarks on shore and then verifies the location on a fish finder. While the fishing wasn’t “hot,” according to Lee, we did manage to land over a dozen fish that he would clean for dinner.
As we were headed in, Lee said I had a good chance of meeting Fred and the fish-eating squirrel back at the ramp. Noticing the puzzled look on my face, he explained. For the last few years, Lee has been greeted at the ramp by a red-shouldered hawk he named Fred who loves fish carcasses. Another frequent “greeter” was a squirrel that also loves the remains of the fish he cleaned. On cue, Fred was sitting on a nearby fence when we returned and waited patiently as Lee cleaned fish. When he was done, he flipped the remains on the ground and Fred swooped in for breakfast. The only thing missing that day was the fish-eating squirrel, but Lee invited me back for another chance. I accepted right away; after all, how often do you get to meet a fish-eating squirrel?
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County’s COVID-19 face-covering mandate has been formally amended to no longer apply to churches and other houses of worship, and a lawsuit challenging the mandate has been dropped.
On Aug. 25, the county commission unanimously supported exempting houses of worship from the original face-covering mandate enacted when commissioners adopted emergency resolution R-20-116 by a 4-3 vote on July 27.
The face-covering exemption took effect Aug. 25 but still had to be formalized by an amended county resolution. This occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 15, when Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of adopting county resolution R-20-139.
Commissioner Misty Servia cast the only vote opposing the houses of worship exemption after Dr. Jennifer Bencie, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, said there had recently been COVID-19 outbreaks at local churches.
“We have three churches that have individuals who are positive – and they’re not related, so there is an issue of concern there,” Bencie said by telephone.
“According to our epidemiologist who did the investigations, at three churches in the county in the last few weeks, there have been six, seven and eight cases in each of those churches. Some are family members and some are friends of those family members who only saw them at the church. So, for that reason, the epidemiologist believed the church is the common place where the virus was transmitted in these cases,” Bencie said.
Bencie did not name the churches.
“I knew about one, but I didn’t know about three churches,” Servia said.
County Commissioner Misty Servia no longer supports the face-covering exemption for churches. – YouTube | Submitted
“I said at our last meeting, when the board voted to exempt houses of worship, I supported that motion with great trepidation – with the caveat that if we saw any outbreaks at houses of worship I would not continue to support it. So, I will not be supporting adoption of this resolution today,” Servia said.
“That’s concerning. I’m to continue to support this, but it gives me great pause that this continues to spread in churches,” Commission Chair Betsy Benac said. “I still believe that churches should mandate masks. We do know that masks help to slow the virus.”
Commissioner Carol Whitmore referenced the COVID-19 updates Bencie and Public Safety Director Jack Sauer provided earlier in the meeting when the commissioners were asked to extend the county’s local state of emergency for another seven days – an action that would also by default extend the county mask mandate.
Regarding the percentage of county residents who tested positive in recent weeks, Bencie said, “Over the last seven days the positive rate was 3.6%. The week prior it was 2.97%. We’re absolutely in the last three to four weeks seeing a change for the better and I believe it is because we are doing the preventative mitigative measures that are necessary, including masks and social distancing. Moving forward, I do believe it’s very important to keep the mask resolution in place.”
Regarding the houses of worship exemption, Whitmore said, “We have to start somewhere and I’m all about the information given to us today. Our numbers have been flat, the schools have opened. The churches don’t have to wear masks, but most responsible people in churches are still wearing them. I am right now going to support the resolution.”
Whitmore said she might reconsider her position if the overall percent positive rate that was slightly over 10% at that time climbs above 11% again.
The amended face-covering resolution states it is in the best interest of the county to amend the emergency resolution to exempt places of worship from the requirements for mandatory face coverings. The resolution still requires mandatory face coverings in business establishments as defined in the amended resolution.
“A ‘business establishment’ means a location with a roof overhead under which any business is conducted, goods are made or stored or processed or where services are rendered. The term ‘business establishment’ includes transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, vehicles operated for mass transit, taxis, jitneys, limousines for hire, rental cars, and other passenger vehicles for hire,” the amended resolution says.
“The term ‘business establishment’ includes locations where non-profit, governmental, and quasi-governmental entities facilitate public interactions and conduct business. The term ‘business establishment’ does not include places of worship. This emergency resolution shall remain in full force and effect for so long as the local state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic remains in effect,” the resolution says.
The Manatee County face-covering mandate remains in effect in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The county face-covering mandate remains in effect in unincorporated areas of Manatee County, including Cortez, and in cities that have not enacted their own local mask/face- covering mandates, including Bradenton Beach. The county face-covering mandate does not apply in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach or Bradenton because those cities previously adopted their own face-covering or face-covering signage mandates.
Lawsuit dropped
Regarding the exemption for churches, Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague noted Pastor Joel Tillis has dropped the lawsuit he filed against the county on Aug. 2 while being represented by attorney Anthony Sabatini, who also serves as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Tillis is the senior pastor at the Suncoast Baptist Church in Palmetto and the lawsuit Sabatini filed on Tillis’ behalf claimed the county’s face-covering resolution was unconstitutional because it violated the privacy, due process and religious freedom clauses in the Florida Constitution. The Manatee County lawsuit was similar to other lawsuits Sabatini filed elsewhere in Florida.
Pastor Joel Tillis and State Rep. Anthony Sabatini announced their lawsuit at an Aug. 3 press conference. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The original Manatee County face-covering resolution was based on a similar emergency resolution adopted in Leon County – a resolution that had already withstood a legal challenge from Sabatini and others.
Palmer said Tillis’ voluntary dismissal means the county prevailed in the lawsuit and is entitled to pursue from Tillis an approximate $2,300 reimbursement for legal costs the county incurred for court reporter services. None of the commissioners desired reimbursement from Tillis or the church, but Benac expressed her distaste for a state legislator filing lawsuits against a county government.
Benac said she heard Sabatini had been admonished by a judge in another county. Clague clarified that Sabatini was cautioned, not admonished, by a circuit court judge in Gadsden County.
“He urged him (Sabatini) to reflect upon whether or not having filed multiple lawsuits of the same nature in multiple jurisdictions might give rise to the argument he filed frivolous cases. But he did not rule he had filed a frivolous lawsuit in this case,” Clague said.
“This attorney, Mr. Sabatini, is a member of the Legislature, but he is acting in his capacity as a lawyer. He’s not representing the Florida Legislature. I don’t want it to seem like they’re suing us. They are not, but a member of the Legislature is engaging in these lawsuits,” Clague said.
Additional actions
During last week’s meeting, the commission voted 4-3 to extend the county’s local state of emergency for another seven days. The 4-3 vote occurred because extending the state of emergency would also automatically extend the face-covering mandate that commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Steve Jonsson and Priscilla Trace still oppose.
County Attorney Mickey Palmer explained the relationship between the two actions: “If the emergency resolution goes away, then the mask resolution immediately evaporates as well. The opposite is not true, but the mask/covering resolution is completely dependent on the emergency resolution.”
County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh’s motion to entirely repeal the mask mandate fell one vote short. – YouTube | Submitted
The commission voted 4-3 in opposition to Commissioner Vanessa Baugh’s motion to repeal the county face-covering mandate entirely. But the commission unanimously supported Baugh’s subsequent motion to no longer automatically extend the face-covering resolution when extending the local state of emergency. In the future, extending the local state of emergency that provides access to state and federal funding and extending the county face-covering mandate will be handled as two separate actions that require two separate votes.
BRADENTON BEACH – The new Leah Chavie Skincare boutique at 115 Third St. S. hopes to soon serve beer and wine to its patrons.
On Thursday, Sept. 17, the city commission authorized Building Official Steve Gilbert and City Planner Luis Serna to draft a special use permit order to be signed by Mayor John Chappie and Planning and Zoning Board Chair Ken McDonough as part of the applicants’ alcohol service approval process.
Illinois residents Leah Chavie and Lance Houia recently relocated to Bradenton Beach and opened what is now their second skincare boutique, joining their first one in Chicago that opened 10 years ago.
Their new boutique operates in former office space now leased from the adjacent Old Bridge Village condominiums.
When presenting the special use permit request, Gilbert said, “They just want to add beer and wine as a service to their clients when they come in for a relaxing day at the spa.”
Gilbert said the boutique property is located in a C-1 zone district and the city’s land development code requires a special use permit for beer and wine sales in that zoning district – in addition to a state-issued alcohol license.
Gilbert said the special use permit process typically includes a $2,500 application fee and public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Board and the city commission. But there is a provision in city code that allows city staff to request authorization to work with the mayor and planning board chair to expedite the process and reduce the application fee.
“In this particular case, the business in its location meets all the requirements of the land development code. The beer and wine license is tied to an internal business process,” Gilbert said.
The Leah Chavie Skincare boutique is located at 115 Third St. S. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Providing public comment as an Old Bridge Village resident, Planning and Zoning Board member David Bell asked if the special use permit would run with the land or expire if the current tenants vacate the building.
The commission stipulated the special use permit will expire if the current tenants leave.
“Can they become a package store? Can they become a bar?” Bell also asked.
“Bars are prohibited in a C-1 zone district and a special use permit won’t get you there,” Gilbert said.
Mayor John Chappie noted the special use permit is for beer and wine only.
Commissioner Marilyn Maro, a longtime beautician and cosmetologist, asked if the state of Florida allows alcohol service in an establishment that holds a state-issued cosmetology license.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry said she’s been offered wine at several salons in Florida, but she suggested a stipulation that notes the special use permit approval shall not conflict with any other state or local licensing requirements.
During a visit to the boutique on Thursday, Chavie and Houia discussed their new business venture.
“We just moved down here from Chicago. We came here for Valentine’s Day and loved it. When the quarantine was going to happen, we packed up our dogs, drove 19 hours and stayed at the Anna Maria Inn for two months,” Chavie said.
“We have our own skincare line, makeup and other products. Now we’ll have beer and wine. We’re going to try to do charcuterie boards, hummus platters and light bites. We may do some meditation classes and Lance does motivational speaking,” she said.
Houia is the CEO of TruSlf and plans to soon launch the TruSlf social media platform he says will serve as a more positive alternative to Facebook. He’s already created the Anna Maria Island Businesses Facebook group that now lists 131 members.
“We are over the moon about being here and looking forward to seeing where we go,” he said.
Chavie said the couple intends to travel back and forth between Bradenton Beach and Chicago to conduct their business operations.
BRADENTON BEACH – Airbnb has announced a crackdown on “party houses” throughout Florida that includes suspending Airbnb listings for an unknown number of vacation rentals in Bradenton Beach.
“As a part of this effort, over 40 listings across the state that have received complaints or otherwise violated our policies on parties and events have been suspended from the Airbnb platform. This follows Airbnb’s policy change to ban parties at Airbnb listings globally until further notice,” according to a press release received from Airbnb spokesperson Laura Rillos on Friday.
“The vast majority of hosts in Florida contribute positively to their neighborhoods and economy, and they also take important steps to prevent unauthorized parties – like establishing clear house rules, quiet hours, and communicating in advance with their guests. Our actions today address the small minority of hosts who have previously received warnings about hosting responsibly or have otherwise violated our policies,” the press release states.
“The actions were communicated to the hosts over the past week, and the suspensions were spread throughout the following counties across the state: Alachua, Broward, Duval, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, Orange, Palm Beach, St. Johns and Walton,” according to the press release. “We cannot provide addresses for the suspended listings out of respect for the privacy of the hosts and homeowners,” the press release notes.
When contacted Friday, Rillos confirmed that all the Manatee County suspensions occurred in Bradenton Beach.
Airbnb actions
The listing suspensions are part of Airbnb’s ongoing efforts to lessen the negative impacts Airbnb rentals have on their neighbors, according to the company.
“Today we’re announcing a global ban on all parties and events at Airbnb listings, including a cap on occupancy at 16. This party ban applies to all future bookings on Airbnb and it will remain in effect indefinitely until further notice,” says an Aug. 20 press release posted at the Airbnb website.
“We’ve historically allowed hosts to use their best judgment and authorize small parties such as baby showers or birthday parties if they’re appropriate for their home and their neighborhood. Last year, we began imposing much stricter limits, starting with a global ban on ‘party houses’ – listings that create persistent neighborhood nuisance,” the press release says.
“We also launched a 24/7 neighborhood support hotline to communicate directly with neighbors and help us effectively enforce the party house ban. The hotline is staffed with trained agents so that neighbors can reach us directly with their concerns. Issues raised by Floridians through this hotline led directly to many of the listing suspensions announced today,” the Aug. 20 press release says.
Airbnb complaints and concerns can be reported to Airbnb’s neighborhood support team by calling 855-635-7754. Complaints can also be initiated online at www.airbnb.com/neighbors.
Regarding these recent actions, the Aug. 20 press release says, “This complemented new initiatives to stop unauthorized parties, as well as restrictions on allowing guests under the age of 25 without a history of positive reviews to book entire home listings locally. When the pandemic was declared, and social distancing became an important element in promoting public health and responsible travel, we updated our policies. We started by removing both the ‘event-friendly’ search filter from our platform as well as ‘parties and events allowed’ house rules from any event-friendly listings. Most importantly, we introduced a new policy requiring all users to adhere to local COVID-19 public health mandates.”
In the press release, Viviana Jordan, Airbnb manager of public policy in Florida, said, “It’s critical that we take steps to reduce the number of large parties and events and we support the efforts of local officials to put a stop to irresponsible behavior. We hope to raise greater awareness of our 24/7 neighbor hotline so that we can continue to strengthen the enforcement of our party ban across the state of Florida.”
MANATEE COUNTY – Work is finally done on the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) long-range transportation plan and it lists some big changes for Anna Maria Island.
New roundabouts, replacement bridges and a sea-level rise study are components of the plan that MPO representative Leigh Holt presented to Island Transportation Planning Organization (ITPO) members during a Monday, Sept. 14 meeting held via Zoom.
The plan, titled Transform 2045, extends to the 2045 fiscal year and is scheduled to be updated every five years. The plan is a draft scheduled for presentation to the MPO board during a Monday, Sept. 21 meeting, with a final draft to be presented on Thursday, Sept. 24 for a 30-day public comment period before going for final approval during the Monday, Oct. 26 MPO meeting.
Holt said that all three Island bridges are on the plan – the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue, the Cortez Bridge and the Longboat Key Bridge. With a new 65-foot-high design already completed for the Anna Maria Island Bridge, funding is needed for construction. The Cortez Bridge, connecting the historic Cortez fishing village to Bradenton Beach, is set to enter the design phase with funds for right-of-way acquisitions proposed for fiscal years 2021, 2024 and 2025. Holt said that studies are planned for the Longboat Key Bridge before any decisions about repair or replacement are made.
The “complete streets” projects proposed by Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach city leaders, allowing for multi-modal transportation on main thoroughfares on the Island, are fully funded in the plan, according to Holt.
She added that plans to create a trail system for bicyclists and pedestrians from downtown Bradenton to 75th Street on Manatee Avenue and across Longboat Key and St. Armands Key to the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota also are in the plan. Holt said that $25 million has been set aside for the projects.
Other fully-funded projects in the plan include enhancing the Island’s gateways and installing roundabouts at the intersection of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue and at Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive at the entrance to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. While Holt said that the roundabouts were previously planned for construction when the replacement bridge on Manatee Avenue is built, she said now they could be constructed before the bridge goes in. Additionally, the intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach also is being looked at as a potential location for a roundabout although there are space concerns, and due to the size of the 65-foot planned replacement bridge for the Cortez Bridge, the two projects might have to be constructed at the same time.
Resiliency projects also are on the plan with a sea-level rise risk assessment to be conducted over the next 18 to 24 months. Holt said the purpose of the risk assessment is to study the effects of potential storm surge on the barrier islands and allow local municipalities to apply for some of the $75 million in funding set aside in the plan over the next 20 years for projects to mitigate risk.
Congestion management projects include extending the northbound turn lane to Gulf Drive on westbound Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach back to the intersection with East Bay Drive to allow for easier traffic flow around motorists traveling to Manatee Beach. Holt said there’s also a project on the plan to do work at the intersection of Cortez Road and 75th Street in Bradenton to help facilitate the flow of traffic to the Island.
She said that the MPO is looking at restarting the Beach Express bus service from 75th Street and Manatee Avenue to the Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach as well as allowing buses to move past slow or stopped motorist traffic on the bridges using the shoulder and the possibility of adding a dedicated bus lane on land along the two Island access corridors.
Holt added that the MPO also is looking at creating on-demand transportation services for travel from the mainland to the Island’s beaches where travelers can make a reservation on their schedule. She said they’re also trying to encourage employers to use vanpools to get employees to Island businesses.
To view the entire plan or submit public comments on the plan elements, visit the MPO website.
BRADENTON BEACH – Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift has repositioned and repaired the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier and expects to complete the installation of a boat lift for the Bradenton Beach Police Department next week.
The boat lift installation is expected to be completed well ahead of the Sept. 30 grant funding deadline for the boat lift project.
On Wednesday, Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift foreman Tom Schied said the boat lift installation would take two to three days to complete once that work started. On Friday, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the Duncan crew planned to start driving the boat lift pilings on Saturday or Monday. The floating dock was open Friday afternoon and being used by boaters.
Duncan’s work crew, barge crane and other equipment arrived on Tuesday and made quick work of repositioning the floating dock 8 feet to the east, toward the T-end of the pier. That work included the installation of four new pilings.
Duncan foreman Tom Scheid installed a cap on one of the new dock pilings Wednesday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The dock repairs also included the installation of new roller brackets that connect the floating dock to the dock pilings. The new roller brackets replaced some of the roller brackets that Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company used when installing the floating dock in July and early August of 2019. Some of the brackets installed in 2019 were later deemed unsuitable for that specific location and application.
The Duncan crew also replaced some of the roller brackets that connect the floating dock to the pilings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Duncan was brought in to complete the dock repositioning and repairs as a result of discussions that occurred during the Sept. 2 and Sept. 14 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings.
Grant deadline
During the Sept. 2 meeting, Perry and Lt. John Cosby told the CRA members the long-desired boat lift installation must be completed by Sept. 30 if a $50,000 West Coast Inland Navigation District Grant (WCIND) approved by Manatee County commissioners in May 2017 was to pay for the boat lift.
During that meeting, Duncan Seawall General Manager Steve Porter confirmed that the boat lift had to be connected to the west end of the floating dock after the repositioning and repairs were completed.
The police department boat lift will be attached to the west end of the repositioned floating dock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Sept. 2 meeting, the CRA members reconfirmed their previous authorization for Hecker Construction Company to complete the dock repairs and repositioning for $11,600. The CRA members also authorized Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift to install a 10,000-pound-capacity boat lift for approximately $37,813 after Hecker completed its work – if that timetable could be met.
During a follow-up emergency CRA meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, the CRA members authorized Duncan to reposition and repair the premanufactured floating dock. CRA chairman Ralph Cole said a Hecker representative told him that company could not complete the dock repairs and repositioning in time to meet the Sept. 30 boat lift installation deadline.
“They couldn’t do it until October. We need this done right away,” Cole said. “I want to thank Duncan for stepping in and doing this. This has gone on long enough and we just need to get it across the finish line.”
During Monday’s meeting, Perry read aloud a written statement regarding Duncan’s offer to complete both projects before the boat lift grant money availability expires.
“Chairman Cole has dedicated significant time trying to work with Hecker and finalize the installation of the floating dock to no avail. It has been clear that Hecker is not in a position to accomplish this goal in a timely fashion. Fortunately, we have Duncan and Ronáutica who have understood the different challenges we have faced, and both have jumped in to bring this project across the line,” Perry said.
Regarding past events that also involved the Technomarine Group originally contracted to install the floating dock in 2017, Perry said, “Thank you to Oscar Saá and Ronáutica for providing the materials, shipping and releasing of them from U.S. customs to Bradenton Beach. Ronáutica had every right to retain possession over the floating dock; however, it looked out for the best interest of Bradenton Beach and made sure the city received the product it had paid for even at Ronáutica’s financial loss.
“We all know of the problems following the installation work of Hecker on the floating dock. Understanding the importance and needs of the city, Duncan Seawall has generously offered to undertake the work proposed by Hecker. They will also meet the critical deadlines of the WCIND grant so that our police department will have an essential resource for its marine patrol unit,” Perry said.
Some of the previously installed roller brackets have been removed and replaced. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Thank you to Steve Porter, Steve Liebel and all of Duncan Seawall for your support of our law enforcement officers, the city and all of our visitors who will enjoy the Bridge Street Pier even more because of you. This project would have failed but for Duncan’s strong ties and commitment to our community,” Perry said.
She also noted CRA-contracted engineer Joe Foster had already produced the engineering documents needed to repair and position the floating dock and install the boat lift.
