ANNA MARIA ISLAND – In advance of Hurricane Debby, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers secured stakes at the 682 nests on the Island.
“Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, we have been using a special GPS to mark our nests, which means that if the nest loses stakes, we will be able to repost the nest in nearly the exact location it was originally posted,” Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said.
Volunteers will be documenting any overwash or inundation that occurs as they check every nest after the storm.
“Our FWC Marine Turtle Permit gives us permission to work with and make informed decisions about sea turtle nests. However, it does not allow us to relocate nests or excavate nests early due to storms,” she said.
“These eggs that are outside the nest are likely already compromised and will not hatch, but with your report, we confirm and document the loss,” Mazzarella said. “Eggs that are exposed but remain in the nest are safest if they are not moved. The important thing to remember is that each nesting female deposits several nests in the season, essentially ensuring that at least some of her eggs will survive.”
Many sea turtle nests were inundated by Hurricane Debby on Sunday and Monday, likely making them unviable. Many nests lost stakes, but were marked by GPS before the storm. – Submitted
If you find eggs that are washing out, or uprooted stakes, please note the number on the stakes and report it to Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434.
BRADENTON – The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted 4-1 at a July 30 meeting to place a referendum on the Nov. 5 general election ballot to raise the tourist development tax to 6%.
The tax is currently at 5%, and if voters approve the referendum, it would rise to the maximum permitted by Florida law.
Commissioners were set to vote on whether to increase the bed tax from 5% to 6% at their April 23 meeting, but it was removed from the agenda due to a 2023 change in state law that now requires voters to weigh in on tourist tax increases.
The increase was unanimously approved by the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) at its April 15 meeting. The TDC is an advisory board to the county commission.
“Tourism brings over $2 billion to our local economy a year,” Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said. “If we can build assets that are not only attractive to tourists but also benefit Manatee County residents with no cost to the residents, that’s a pretty good deal.”
Falcione also said that Manatee County would be the first county in Florida to be subject to the new law requiring a public vote, as no other county has reached the required criteria to increase the tax since the change was made.
“This is not a tax that is being put on citizens,” Manatee County BOCC Chair Mike Rahn said. “It’s a tax on the tourism that comes into Manatee County.”
Funds collected from the bed tax benefit dozens of projects and organizations in the county, with some of the most notable including:
• Coquina Beach parking lot;
• Bradenton Beach Pier;
• Anna Maria City Pier;
• Grassy Point Preserve;
• Anna Maria Bayfront Park;
• Beach renourishment (currently 1% out of the total 5%);
• Bradenton Area Convention Center;
• Bishop Museum;
• Manatee Performing Arts Center;
• Premier Sports Campus;
• The Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) partnership; and
BRADENTON BEACH – With city-imposed closure deadlines looming, time is running out at Shawn Kaleta’s four paid parking lots.
City commissioners put multiple conditions in place before granting temporary use permits for the paid parking lots; 101 Bridge St. was approved with stipulations on Feb. 15 and 206 Bay Drive N., 207 Church Ave. and 102 Third St. N. gained approval, also with stipulations, on March 21.
Most of the agreed-upon conditions remain unfulfilled, according to City Building Official Darin Cushing. In an Aug. 1 letter to Kaleta, Cushing said he intends to barricade the lots on Aug. 9 with a permanent closure deadline of Sept. 6 if all the stipulations have not been met.
Cushing’s letter reads in part: “To date, very few, if any of these stipulations have been met, first and foremost, the presentation of Professionally Designed Site Plans in order to demonstrate that all of the other stipulations are being adhered to.”
Cushing noted in his letter that the commission approved the applications for temporary use permits contingent on administrative site plan approval by the building official.
“The actual permits have never been approved and are currently sitting in an ‘under review’ status,” he wrote. “Furthermore, the parking lots have all been in operation since February of this year, technically illegally, as they have never been approved by the Planning and Zoning Department.”
Cushing wrote that the applications for these temporary use permits were submitted “after the fact,” as the paid parking lots were all created and put into operation prior to any application being made to the department.
Cushing closed the letter with: “We have no choice but to close the parking lots for use, until such time that we receive the required documentation, and all of the above-mentioned stipulations have been met. We will be barricading the entries and covering the pay kiosks and signs on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. If by Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, we have not received 100% compliance with the stipulations for approval, we will revoke the applications, and all of the modifications that have been made on these parcels will have to be removed.”
Sam Negrin, manager of Kaleta’s Beach to Bay Investments Inc., responded on Aug. 2 to The Sun’s request for comment by text: “Our new parking management company, Island Parking, has taken over as of July 12th and has been working diligently to get the city’s requests completed. We look forward to meeting all of their requirements to remain operating.”
STIPULATIONS FOR APPROVAL
All the temporary use permits for the four lots were granted for one year. Stipulations included a review of a professionally-prepared site plan by the building official, active insurance to be carried by the property owner and production of a business tax receipt to the city clerk. The plans to be submitted to the building department are required to include requested parking spaces, golf cart parking dimensions, ADA compliance and adequate ingress and egress.
The parking lot stipulations for approval at 101 Bridge St. included no entrance or exit from Bridge Street, directional arrows, landscaping less than 3 feet high, sidewalk installation north of Third Street South to hook into the corner sidewalk on Gulf Drive, trolley benches and slab, black and white signage and review of site plan by building official. The one-year temporary use permit runs through Feb. 15, 2025.
There currently remains a driveway leading onto Bridge Street from the parking lot, the sidewalk and slab have not been installed and there are no directional arrows. A leaking artesian well is in the process of being capped.
Some of the stipulations for 206 Bay Drive N., 102 Third St. N. and 207 Church Ave. include the building owner submitting a building permit application or land development approval request within eight months of the temporary use permit approval, permits that will expire on March 21, 2025, and a limit on the number of parking spaces to be approved by the building official on a site plan.
A sidewalk is to be installed along Church Avenue with details to be approved by the building official for the Church Avenue lot, along with landscape buffering and the installation of a privacy fence along the northern and southern property lines. A sidewalk is to be installed along Third Street North along with landscape buffering for the 102 Third St. N. lot.
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy recently presented his $10.4 million proposed capital plan for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The plan was based on a proposed 1.75 tentative millage rate that would have lowered taxes for city residents and provided an estimated $1.21 million contingency fund to cover unanticipated expenses or project expenditures.
In a desire to give Anna Maria property owners an even greater property tax decrease, commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of setting the tentative millage rate at 1.65, creating a slightly lower anticipated contingency fund of $987,000.
When presenting his plan to city commissioners on July 25, Murphy broke the proposed capital improvement project expenditures into two main categories – existing projects that were previously budgeted for but not yet completed, and new projects that were previously discussed but not budgeted for until now.
EXISTING PROJECTS
The capital plan proposes spending a total of $6.94 million on existing capital projects.
Murphy’s capital plan proposes spending $250,000 on street and road paving and maintenance. That marks a significant decrease from the $673,000 budgeted for the current 2023-24 fiscal year that ends on Sept 30. Murphy said Anna Maria’s streets and roads have all been repaved in recent years and are in good shape, with no existing potholes that he’s aware of, but there’s still some pavement striping needed.
“I get compliments on our roads,” Murphy said.
The capital plan proposes spending $3.65 million for new Pine Avenue sidewalks, using money carried over from the current fiscal year. The sidewalk installations will be primarily funded by a state appropriation and some additional state and federal funds being carried over from the current fiscal year. Murphy said no ad valorem property tax revenues will be used to fund the sidewalk installations.
The capital plan proposes spending $2.47 million for stormwater and drainage improvements and $525,235 for stormwater and drainage maintenance.
NEW PROJECTS
The capital plan proposes spending $3.5 million on new capital projects previously discussed by the commission.
The plan proposes spending $70,000 to install shade sails above the children’s playground at City Pier Park, and $75,000 to install some type of shade structure above the city-owned uncovered deck area at the T-end of the City Pier.
The plan proposes spending $288,000 to construct a stand-alone comfort station near the Island Players building and public parking lot next to the Island Players. Featuring public restrooms and an outdoor shower for beachgoers and other visitors, the comfort station will be built using tourist development tax revenues received from Manatee County. The capital plan proposes spending an additional $175,000 to redesign and reconfigure that public parking lot to make it more efficient and more disabled-accessible.
The capital plan proposes spending $305,000 in resiliency grant funds to replace the city hall roof and install hurricane windows and hurricane doors.
The plan includes $95,000 in state funds to study a long-term alternative to dredging the Lake La Vista jetty entrance every two or three years. The plan also includes $2.49 million to remove the silt left behind by Hurricane Idalia in 2023 that covers and renders ineffective many of the city’s drainage trenches.
I am a lifelong Republican and a 20+ year Manatee County, Florida resident. I have always supported you and your policies – until recently.
It greatly troubled me when you appointed totally unqualified and inexperienced James Satcher to Manatee County Supervisor of Elections (instead of Scott Farrington, who is both highly qualified and experienced and who was whole-heartedly recommended by former SOE Mike Bennett upon his retirement). But now, I am frankly horrified that you have endorsed Kevin Van Ostenbridge for Manatee County BOCC District 7 At Large.
It appears that you have become very badly compromised and are now merely a puppet who is controlled by the “political consultant” Anthony Pedicini and his SIMwins organization of Tampa, Bill Galvano and Real Estate Developers Pat Neal and Carlos Beruff.
I’ve lost all respect for you and will no longer be able to support you for any elected office. I have spoken with many other residents of Manatee County and they all agree with me and feel the same.
I pray that the voters will awaken and see through and understand Pedicini’s lies and deception and your foolish weakness before they vote in the Aug. 20 primary. I also pray that you will repent and redeem yourself before you cause irreparable damage to your political future.
ANNA MARIA – With the kids taking the week off from indoor soccer, the sporting action was focused on the four adult co-ed flag football games at The Center last Thursday night. The night of four high-scoring games took the season past the halfway mark, marching toward the playoffs.
In the game of the week, team Salty Printing faced the quick defensive pressure of Slim’s Place. Working hard to widen their lead in the first half of the game, Captain Matt Manger’s team wobbled a bit, keeping it a one-point game after 20 minutes of play.
The stretched-out, one-handed catches of Slim’s Place’s Anthony Mannino were almost the downfall of the Salty team. With a seemingly sticky glove, Mannino caught passes and made interceptions to help his team keep the score close.
Before the half, Manger’s throw to Charles “Tuna” McCracken went off his fingertips into the hand of Mannino. The turnover led to six points for the Slim’s Place team.
Mannino, on offense, scored three of the team’s four touchdowns, all from the passes of quarterback Cruz Rodriguez. Two one-point conversion catches rounded out his offensive game stats.
Rodriguez scored on his own with a rushing TD. He also connected with teammate Isaiah Lambert for six. Contributing on defense, Jaden Grant put the pressure on the Salty QB, earning a sack.
The game leader went back and forth during the second half of the game.
Playing the option and using the arm of McCracken, Salty Printing scored four touchdowns from his passes. With Manger throwing for one, catches from Cody Allen, Christian Hampton and Manger from McCracken earned 18 points.
Blake Balais was the target for two TD receptions. Blake, along with teammates Manger and Raul Loera, caught critical catches after three of their five touchdowns to win the game.
The Salty Printing defense caught fire despite a game filled with missed flag pulls and defensive stops. The final offensive series for Slim’s Place was quickly put to a stop by team Salty.
The game came down to clock management, with important seconds left on the scoreboard. Holding onto a one-point lead, McCracken had possession of the football and wisely stayed inbounds without scoring to let the last second tick off the clock.
Team Floridian Mortgage lost their first game of the season against Solid Rock Air Conditioning 27-26. Fishing with Salty won, handing Moss Builders their fourth loss heading into Week Six of play.
In the final game of the week, Solid Rock Electrical won over team Prosper Bradenton.
Each of the eight teams will compete in the playoffs, making their final regular season rankings important with two regular season weeks to be played.
If you’re one of the lucky homeowners who was able to lock into dirt-cheap mortgage rates, well done. You’re one of the winners in today’s peculiar and lopsided housing markets.
This isn’t the first time we’re talking about it and will not be the last. Nevertheless, high interest rates have had an unexpected impact on the country’s housing market. Usually, when mortgage interest goes up, home prices go down. Not this time. Home prices keep pushing up because of the lack of inventory to choose from.
It’s almost getting monotonous to keep saying it, but the fact is there was a “lock-in” effect of ultracheap mortgages secured when interest rates were low, which trapped owners in their homes. It was an unforeseen consequence of years of easy money. Are you listening, Federal Reserve?
Two-thirds of outstanding mortgages in this country have a rate of below 4%, according to Morgan Stanley. The current typical rate is 7%, so homeowners who may want to move will be paying a lot more in their monthly mortgage payments today. Hence, frozen.
The byproduct of lower home sales is the economic consequence related to purchasing a home. People normally splurge to fix up houses before putting them on the market or renovate them after they move in. This important economic category of work has dried up not only for home contractors but also for professionals handling the logistics of transactions like attorneys, appraisers and real estate and mortgage brokers.
The only light on the horizon is the Federal Reserve, which left the door open to lower rates at their September meeting. Also, they have penciled in four rate cuts by year-end 2025 with the prediction being that rates could fall to 4.1% in a year.
Builders in some parts of the country are building smaller, more affordable new homes to attract buyers looking for a lower price point. As an aside, the U.S. house size exploded by 150% between 1980 and 2018, according to Census Bureau data. In 2022, the median house size hit 2,300 square feet. Everybody likes space but maybe it’s time to reduce the footprint of homes. Do kids really need their own bedroom and playroom?
So that news is good, but what about people who really need to sell and move on? Young people on a career path need to consider where they will live and how much that will cost before interviewing for a higher position that involves relocating. Seniors who want to downsize or move closer to family are also reluctant to sell. Even if they can tap into their existing equity, the assumption is their living expenses will be high wherever they go.
As more owners stay put, the number of homes on the market has fallen. Tight supply is pushing prices higher, shrinking the pool of buyers who can afford a home and leaving buyers who can afford one thinking they are overpaying. The National Association of Realtors reports there is around a five-month supply of inventory available. This availability number should be about 62% for a healthy market. The availability for single-family homes in Manatee County as of the June sales statistic is four months.
Even if you’re feeling lucky with your financing decisions, no one wants to be in a position where they feel frozen in place. You never know what curve life will throw at you, so being frozen isn’t good for anyone.
HOLMES BEACH – As children stock up on supplies and pick out their perfect outfits for the first day of school, Anna Maria Elementary School staff, including the new incoming principal, Katie Fradley, are working to make AME the best it can be for an exciting year of learning.
The Sun spoke to Fradley about what is in store for students this year.
With the first day of school coming Monday, Aug. 12, what are you doing to prepare?
Fradley: We have been working all summer to prepare our campus for our students’ safe return on Aug. 12. Our playground has seen some updates this summer. We had a new back stop installed, repaired some sidewalk damage and will be replacing clay and grass on the field. We are also in the process of adding fencing to our car rider drop off area that will ensure a safe environment at arrival and dismissal. We are incredibly excited about our new teaching and learning deck. It will have been worth the wait! The deck will be completed this fall and will provide an outdoor teaching space that includes a portable touch tank for our students to complete marine biology lessons and experiments overlooking the bay.
Is there anything special planned for the first day?
Fradley: We will welcome our families to campus for Open House on Thursday, Aug. 8. During Open House they will meet their teacher and staff and visit with friends. Then we are so excited to welcome our students back on Aug. 12! On the first day of school, we will host a “Meet and Greet” for our kindergarten parents and the parents of new students in our auditorium at 8:30 a.m. This is an AME tradition and is a perfect opportunity to introduce our leadership team and share information about our incredible school with our newest dolphins.
AME has many annual events such as Peace Day. As a new principal, do you have anything new planned for this year?
Fradley: I am looking forward to continuing well-loved AME traditions such as Peace Day as well as bringing some new events to campus. Our school wide theme this year is, “Dolphins make a difference.” As a school community we will be exploring what we can each do to make a difference in our school, community and our world. We will be sharing more information on this exciting initiative after the students return.
What do you hope to bring to AME as you begin your first year as principal?
Fradley: As I look forward to my first year as principal of AME, I hope to bring positive energy and a passion for making a difference to our school. I look forward to strengthening our enrollment, continuing our history of strong academic achievement and helping our teachers to inspire our students to make a difference in their school, community and the world.
It was a fantastic way to spend a Sunday! On July 28, Sarasota Bay Watch was the lead organization in the new Resilience Incubator’s first community cleanup at Hudson Bayou in Sarasota. With the help of Suncoast Waterkeeper, 35 Incubator volunteers manned 13 kayaks and one jon boat. With the additional efforts of 10 shoreline volunteers, the group collected 604 pounds of trash and 1,200 pounds of invasive trees and bushes for a haul of 1,804 pounds total. Sarasota Bay Watch’s Executive Director Ronda Ryan described the event as “a gift of environmental stewardship to celebrate our shared home.” After the cleanup, volunteers gathered to sort the debris and recyclable items, have lunch provided by South Face and enjoy the camaraderie.
Executive Director Dr. Abbey Tyrna explained the creation of the Incubator at the event’s ribbon cutting.
“Justin (Bloom, Suncoast Waterkeeper founder) often reminisces about the early days when local environmental nonprofits worked hand-in-hand to drive real change. Today, we face a multitude of environmental challenges that demand even stronger collaboration. This is why Justin enthusiastically embraced Amber’s vision of creating a shared space for small non-profits, aptly named the Resilience Incubator.
“But what is resilience? Resilience is the ability of a system to recover from stressors or disturbances. It is built through strategies like diversifying resources, enhancing ecosystem functions, increasing social cohesion, adapting and strengthening built structures, and closing the loop on waste.
“The Resilience Incubator aims to build social-ecological resilience, ensuring our community can sustainably meet its needs while preserving the ecosystems we rely on. Together, we are creating a future where both our community and environment can thrive, facing today’s threats and preparing for tomorrow’s challenges.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is committed to this mission and, with community support, we can make a lasting impact. Join us in building a resilient future for all.”
To get involved, stop by the Resilience Incubator’s offices above the blood bank on Mound Street in Sarasota and consider joining Suncoast Waterkeeper, Sarasota Bay Watch or any of the other nonprofits working to make our home more resilient.
MANATEE COUNTY – There’s a new problem in Manatee County, and it has nothing to do with oppressive heat or storm threats. According to government officials from all three Island cities, as well as county officials, abandoned and stolen gun cases are on the rise.
Since a law change in 2023, Florida residents who once had to obtain a concealed carry permit and complete safety training and a background check to carry a loaded firearm on their body or in their car no longer need to do anything more than have a valid ID to be legal. While the jury is still out on whether this has had a positive or negative effect on gun-related issues, one thing is clear – guns are coming up missing.
The issue is becoming such a problem that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has placed lighted signs around the county that warn motorists to lock their cars and secure all firearms.
“Our digital mobile road signs are strategically positioned around the county, often displaying messages about locking your car and not leaving firearms inside,” MCSO Public Information Officer Randy Warren said in an email to The Sun. “These signs serve as a reminder to be smart and reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Burglars know that people make the mistake of forgetting or being careless almost every night. They are aware that this is the easiest way to acquire a free gun, as these criminals rarely obtain them legally. They also know that if they check enough door handles, they will find what they are looking for.”
Warren said that so far this year they had received 71 reports of firearms being stolen from unlocked vehicles. He did not have the stats for the city of Anna Maria, which is patrolled by MCSO, at the time of this story.
In Bradenton Beach, Lt. Lenard Diaz said they had one gun stolen from a vehicle in 2023 but none reported this year.
“We have more of an issue with people renting condos and leaving their guns behind,” Diaz said. “As a matter of fact, we have a person coming back in a month to get her gun because she left it at an Airbnb.”
Diaz said the guns are usually found by cleaning staff. They notify their supervisor, who then contacts the police. Police officers pick up the gun, run the serial number, and, if legal, contact the owner. The one thing none of the Island police departments will do is ship the guns back to the owners, even if they are presumed legal. The reason for this is that owners must show proper identification and proof of ownership to prevent the chance of the lost guns eventually falling into the wrong hands. Diaz said it’s simply a necessary safety precaution that offers no exceptions. Lost guns are put into a secure evidence locker and gun owners are given 90 days to pick up the gun, or, if they live far away, Diaz said he will give them up to a year if he is confident they will return to get the gun.
In Holmes Beach, Police Chief Bill Tokajer says his department has the same issue.
“We haven’t really seen the problem with gun thefts from cars that places like Tampa and even the county are seeing,” Tokajer said. “What we have a problem with is people leaving them in rental units.”
Like Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach police will not ship lost firearms for the same reasons. Gun owners must return to the city and claim their property with proper ID.
It should be noted that while leaving a firearm unsecured in a vehicle or left behind in a rental unit is not a crime, it is an opportunity for a legally purchased and owned gun to get into the hands of someone who may have very different intentions for its use. Law enforcement from all agencies contacted by The Sun ask that everyone legally carrying a firearm lock their car and always be aware of who has access to their guns. Doing so will make for a safer Island.
MANATEE COUNTY – April Culbreath, the District 3 Manatee County Commission Republican primary candidate, did not respond to multiple interview requests made by The Sun, but on July 30, many Manatee County voters received an “open letter” from Culbreath regarding her campaign.
The three-page letter briefly mentions the lengthy disciplinary record she accumulated during her former career as a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Culbreath’s disciplinary record dates back to 2000, when her last name was Dugan, and includes multiple incidents that resulted in her being reprimanded and/or suspended without pay.
According to her 12-page Manatee County Sheriff’s Office professional standards resume and supporting MCSO administrative report documents, she was suspended without pay at various times for failing to respond and conduct an investigation as ordered by her supervisor, having sex while on duty, attending a wedding reception and being observed dancing in a suggestive manner while in uniform, using profane language while being disrespectful to a supervisor, failing to respond to a missing child call and allegedly punching a cosmetic surgery center employee while trying to obtain her personal medical records.
Her numerous written reprimands pertain to failing to secure and losing her service weapon near a picnic area in Bradenton Beach occupied by children and adults, driving a Sheriff’s Office vehicle to her out-of-county home without permission, failing to preserve evidence and misusing the Driver And Vehicle Information Database used by MCSO staff.
CAMPAIGN LETTER
The two copies of the letter provided to The Sun addressed each voter by the first name associated with their voter registration.
“My name is April Culbreath and as you are most certainly reading about my work as a deputy, I wanted to tell you my side of the story.
“First, I believe we have all sinned and fallen short in the eyes of our creator. I know I most certainly have. I have prayed for forgiveness for my shortcomings, and I know they only made me stronger.
“Second, I want to tell you about my experience working to keep you and your family safe as a Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy. Unless you have a first responder in your family, or have a best friend that is one, you probably don’t know the stress it puts on the entire family. My husband and children are no exception to the worry that comes from placing that badge on my chest and gun on my hip, leaving them behind, knowing every day could be my last.
“Well, one day, back in January of 2021, while on duty, a criminal fleeing from police ran me down. I was simply trying to arrest her and she tried to take my life. Ignoring verbal commands, the criminal fled the scene, accelerated at full speed and threw me across the hood of another patrol car and underneath an oncoming vehicle. I was rushed to the emergency room, neck broken, and am writing this letter knowing I am lucky to be alive today. I thank God each day for this small miracle.
“My husband, Duane, is a member of a longtime Manatee County family. He’s a fourth generation and our children will be the fifth generation of Culbreaths living here. Our people settled near Perico Bay, moved to Cortez and established the Cortez fishing village in the 1920s. Our family wants to make this community better. We have generations of Culbreaths to prove it.
“Personally, I have dedicated my life to serving our community. I took the oath to protect and defend our way of life. This is not an oath I take lightly and know, as a deputy, that promise could one day take my life. Now I am seeking to become a Manatee County commissioner, for the exact same reasons I became a deputy. I want to defend our home.
“I’m also no stranger to campaigns, having led our local Republican party and having been the founder of the Manatee County Trump Train.
“I wasn’t surprised when my opponent, fresh from Washington D.C., started attacking me with information that’s decades old, trying to impugn my service as deputy sheriff and detective.
“I also want you to know you can call me anytime with questions you have and I will be happy to answer them directly.
“My family and I are grateful to live in a place where neighbors still take care of neighbors and we pull together when times are tough. That’s the Manatee County I love and am fighting for. I hope you will join me in that fight,” the letter says.
Culbreath’s letter did not include a phone number, nor did it directly address any of her numerous work-related suspensions.
MEDIA RELATIONS
On July 24, Culbreath addressed her media interactions, or lack thereof, in a comment she posted at former Bradenton City Council member Gene Gallo’s Facebook page in response to Gallo’s support for opponent Tal Siddique.
“I have certainly tried to defend myself from the liberal media, however they refuse to publish my words,” she wrote.
On June 6, The Sun emailed Culbreath’s campaign address seeking her input for a District 3 campaign story. She never responded. The Sun emailed her campaign address again on July 29 and left a voicemail at her campaign phone number, again, with no response. Two other local journalists, Dawn Kitterman and Marc Masferrer, experienced similar non-responses with Culbreath and noted so on Facebook.
MANATEE COUNTY – Tal Siddique is running against April Culbreath in the District 3 Manatee County Commission Republican primary race that will determine who faces Democratic candidate Diana Shoemaker in the general election.
District 3 includes Anna Maria Island, Cortez and portions of Longboat Key and Bradenton.
Siddique moved to Bradenton three and a half years ago from the Virginia/Washington D.C. area. He seeks the commission seat currently held by Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who is now running for the at-large District 7 seat instead. Siddique recently stopped by The Sun office to discuss his campaign.
THE INTERVIEW
Why do you want to be the District 3 commissioner?
“I want to bring some fresh perspectives to the commission. I’ve been involved in many local issues. I got involved in county politics and saw there were a lot of decisions made by our District 3 commissioner that I disagreed with. I realized I wasn’t going to have an impact unless I ran for office,” Siddique said.
“I’m running on ethics, preserving our small-town feel and empowering people over special interests. I hope people are paying attention to how we conduct our campaigns. My opponent has conducted hers very negatively and she has very little to offer. There’s a lot of special interest money at play and they have no value. They only care about ensuring that they make a profit at everyone else’s expense.
“I bring the right skills, experience and temperament. I’m 30 years old but I’ve led a career for the Air Force building software and leading software teams. I’ve also managed complex budgets for a number of organizations and right now for the private sector I do the same thing, leading multiple software and product teams.”
Would you like to comment on April Culbreath’s disciplinary record with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office?
“She has a 30-year record of misconduct. A record like that is shameful. Committing those violations was unbecoming of a deputy and is unbecoming of someone seeking a position of power. I don’t think that kind of record reflects the values of our community.”
Do you support the county constructing a parking garage at Manatee Beach against the will of residents and city officials, but with the support of state legislators?
“I do not. I have not since day one and I’ve been at a number of parking garage protests. Parking at the public beach might fill up but you can find plenty of other parking spots the city of Holmes Beach provides, and they have a map and a website that shows where those spaces are. I don’t think parking is the main concern. The main concern is traffic. Building a parking garage is going to be very expensive, at $50 million minimum. I’d rather put that money toward other solutions.”
What are your thoughts on the Island-wide consolidation study requested by state legislators Jim Boyd, Will Robinson Jr. and others?
“I don’t believe the consolidation issue was approached appropriately. There has been a significant breakdown in the relationship between the city of Holmes Beach and the county and I think that’s primarily due to our current District 3 commissioner. I would like to normalize that relationship and the relationship with our state Legislature as well, and I think I can. I have good relationships with all three Island mayors and particularly with Mayor (Judy) Titsworth and Chief (Bill) Tokajer, who both endorsed me.
“The Island city millage rates are significantly lower than Manatee County, which is 6.23 mills. The county also has the least restrictive and most poorly written land development codes and the most poorly written comprehensive plan within our region.
“I do not believe consolidating the three cities into one city is going to provide any benefits. I also don’t believe consolidating the Island cities into Manatee County is the right solution. The Island people elected their city governments and they deserve to have them. As a conservative, I don’t believe in big government eating little government.
“Forcing Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach to get rid of their police departments would put more strain on our Sheriff’s Office. It’s going to be very costly as well. As far as consolidating city services, that’s a decision the residents and city officials should make.”
What should the county commission and school district do to lower property taxes?
“We are a strong Republican county and all these county officials claim to be fiscally responsible conservatives but they gladly spend the taxpayers’ money. From fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2023, we saw a $44 million increase in county property tax revenues without raising the millage. As property values increase, the county collects more revenues but doesn’t lower the millage rate. I would like to see us lower the millage rate by at least half, or by as much as we can, and I hope the school board can lower their taxes too.”
Do you feel there’s any excessive or unnecessary spending taking place at the county level?
“Absolutely. With respect to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), in my district, the 59th Street West expansion project is completely unwarranted and unnecessary. To spend $86 million to widen a road in that location is not a need, especially when there are other streets that need attention.
“Spending at least $50 million for the Holmes Beach parking garage is unnecessary. The county also plans to build new parking garages in downtown Bradenton, at the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch and at the convention center in Palmetto. That’s hundreds of millions of dollars on parking garages. There’s a lack of focus with what’s happening with our Capital Improvement Plan. The county is also bonded $700 million in debt and it’s costing $40 million a year to pay that off.”
In 2023, Tal Siddique, center, participated in a Holmes Beach parking garage protest outside the county administration building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Manatee County doesn’t regulate short-term vacation rentals. Should the county regulate vacation rentals?
“The Island cities have reasonable vacation rental regulations and occupancy limits and Governor (Ron) DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have prevented them from implementing and enforcing local policies. No one likes vacation rentals in their neighborhood except for the investors and large corporations that own them. Commissioner (Kevin) Van Ostenbridge said he has no solution and doesn’t plan to pursue vacation rental regulations. I’d like to see the county adopt something sensible that protects property rights for residents. At least look at what the city of Bradenton has done, which is a phone line residents can use to register complaints.”
What are your thoughts on the Gulf Island Ferry service?
“Having a larger, faster boat that can handle more inclement weather conditions will help, and I support that. I think there’s a desire for a ferry stop in Holmes Beach. The challenge is where? I think the Kingfish Boat Ramp probably makes the most sense. You can walk to the beach from there. And we need to make the ferries more practical for the Island workforce.”
Do you consider yourself to be more moderate than some current commissioners and candidates?
“I consider myself conservative. There tends to be this arms race to prove who’s the loudest and craziest and you see that playing out on the county board, which is why they talk about issues they have no impact on. I’m pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and I support Donald Trump. Those are things I stand for and believe in, but I also recognize that if a county commission gets too caught up in trying to be on TV you won’t get anything done locally. I ran because our commissioners are distracted and they’re not getting things done. I think you’re seeing that with my opponent, who has no policy positions on her website and can’t articulate her positions without help from her special interest backers.”
If elected, do you think you can successfully govern with your fellow commissioners?
“I think so. Fundamentally, most of us believe in the same values but there’s far too much special interest and developer money that swings elections and affects commission decisions. There’s no way they’d approve certain projects if it weren’t for the special interests and developer money. I plan to take a different approach than some of our current commissioners, which is to attack one another on the dais. Personal attacks and being combative with each other shouldn’t happen in board meetings. The negativity in politics has gotten worse and people don’t care for it.”
BRADENTON BEACH – City officials declared a local state of emergency beginning on Aug. 2 at 9 a.m. in advance of a tropical system expected to bring heavy rains this weekend.
“We have tropical mass 97-L that’s out there,” Police Chief John Cosby said at an Aug. 1 city commission meeting. “Just as a precaution, Manatee County is going to be declaring a state of emergency tomorrow at 9 o’clock. Ours will go into effect tomorrow at 9 o’clock to coincide with the county’s just in case we need it.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 54 Florida counties, including Manatee County.
Cosby said the state of emergency status can last up to seven days and, if a longer period is needed, it will need commission approval. Cosby also asked the commission to give him discretion to cancel it sooner if necessary.
“Public works will be checking all the storm drains tomorrow, high water signs will go out and any loose objects will be removed and precautionary measures of course as always,” Cosby, who is also interim public works director, said. “Everybody’s been put on notice, they’re on call and if we need to bring everybody in, we’ll bring everybody in.”
The declaration of a local state of emergency allows the city to suspend day-to-day activities and concentrate on storm preparation.
“It also gives the mayor and myself some leeway as far as finance procedures to get things done. It also changes how we pay our employees so the exempt employees can earn overtime during a disaster,” he said.
The local state of emergency declaration is also required in order to apply for state and FEMA funding, according to Cosby.
“In Manatee County we use an incident command system so decisions are all made pretty much as a group, and recommendations are given, everybody agrees on what we need to do. We talk about times if the evacuations should occur, when shelters will open,” Cosby said. “No one can do it by themselves. And under Chapter 252 of the state statutes, every county is required to have an emergency operation center and then everything else falls under that, so once they declare an emergency, they’re taking the lead.”
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) says development is likely by this weekend with impacts felt along the Gulf Coast of Florida. According to NHC, “heavy rainfall could linger until early next week, and gusty winds and coastal flooding could also accompany this system, with the details of those impacts hinging on how well organized it becomes.”
MANATEE COUNTY – The Supervisor of Elections Office will conduct post-election audits for all election contests, beginning with the upcoming primary election that concludes on Aug. 20.
On July 25, Interim Supervisor of Elections James Satcher issued a press release that noted Manatee County is the 37th Florida county to implement the Clear Ballot audit system.
“When I was appointed by Gov. DeSantis, I reached out to other counties to ask what advice they had to enhance the security and integrity of our elections, and the number one suggestion was the Clear Ballot system,” Satcher stated in the press release. “A third-party, independent audit of 100% of our election results is going to help secure our elections and increase voter confidence and trust in the election process.”
The press release notes Clear Ballot’s technology is tested and certified for use by the Florida Department of State for post-election audits.
“The system utilizes high-speed scanners to rescan and tabulate ballots for a comprehensive verification of results, completely independent of the primary voting system,” the press release notes.
James Satcher is serving as the Interim Supervisor of Elections. – Manatee County | Submitted
“Supervisor James Satcher’s office remains dedicated to ensuring a fair, lawful and secure election process for all citizens of Manatee County,” the press release said in conclusion.
According to Supervisor of Elections Office Public Information Officer Vinola Rodrigues, the Clear Ballot system cost $179,615, plus an additional $25,000 in software costs.
Clear Ballot debated
On March 1, longtime Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett retired. On April 12, DeSantis appointed Satcher to serve the remaining seven months of Bennett’s four-year term. At the time, Satcher was a first-term county commissioner who had no experience running an election or an election office. Bennett’s longtime chief of staff, Scott Farrington, also sought the gubernatorial appointment and resigned after DeSantis appointed Satcher.
With no Democratic candidate in the race, the Aug. 20 Republican primary election will determine whether Satcher or Farrington serves as Manatee County’s elections supervisor for the next four years.
On June 19, the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club hosted a candidate forum, during which Satcher and Farrington discussed the Clear Ballot system. Forum moderator Bruce Stamm noted there have been very few complaints or reported problems with past Manatee County elections. Stamm also noted the county commission recently provided the elections office (at Satcher’s request) with an additional $841,340 for the final four months of the 2023-24 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. Stamm asked the candidates what problems the elections office is trying to solve.
Satcher acknowledged Manatee County elections have been mostly complaint-free, but there have been problematic elections elsewhere in Florida.
“Clear Ballot is going to audit every single vote that’s cast in Manatee County. Every single vote in Manatee County’s going to be double-checked. This election’s going to be audited,” Satcher proclaimed.
He also said implementing the Clear Ballot system before the general election would help prevent “liberals” from challenging the election results.
Former elections office Chief of Staff Scott Farrington hopes to serve as Manatee County’s next Supervisor of Elections. -VoteScottFarrington.com | Submitted
In response, Farrington said, “The Clear Ballot system is one that Mike Bennett and I looked at. It was a system we may have even chosen to implement in 2025. I’m not about to say it’s a bad system by design, but I’m not sure it was necessary. You’re looking to implement it inside of four months. It’s not a simple thing to do. For a system like that, you would want six months to a year to implement, test and make sure people were trained.”
Bennett’s insights
When contacted by The Sun and asked about the Clear Ballot audit system, Bennett said, “This is a system that Scott Farrington and I studied for about four years. We looked at voting recounts, ballot errors and studied the last major recount and the cost of doing it. Our study showed that for Manatee County, and counties of our size, the cost did not make sense.
“If Satcher would have waited to study the election results after being on the job for a couple of years, and a few elections, he then would be able to make an intelligent decision instead of wasting the taxpayers’ money. Spending other people’s money is what many liberal politicians do. True conservatives watch and protect the taxpayers’ money. Scott Farrington would protect the taxpayers’ money,” Bennett said.
Once again, Anna Maria Island residents who care about our local waters will have a chance to get involved in cleaning them up during the upcoming Suncoast Aqua Ventures water-based cleanup on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. until noon. The focus of the cleanup will be Perico Bayou and Northern Palma Sola Bay. There will be about a dozen kayaks available for volunteers, some of which are tandem. Organizers are encouraging those who own kayaks and shallow draft boats to bring them, so no one is left out who wants to be on the water. The event will launch from the Robinson Preserve kayak launch west of the Palma Sola Causeway on the south side of Manatee Avenue West.
All supplies will be provided, including pickers, bags, gloves, drinks and snacks. All volunteers need to bring are water shoes and refillable water bottles. This area has not been cleaned since before Hurricane Ian, so organizers expect to find a lot of trash tucked into the mangroves.
Suncoast Aqua Ventures was created by a handful of friends in 2016. Inspired by Huntsinger and Troy Brown, a bunch of friends who dive and love the water became concerned with the trash and debris they discovered on the offshore reefs. Instead of complaining, they decided to do something about it. They created a one-of-a-kind competitive event called The Reef & Beach Cleanup and gave cash and prizes in numerous categories to the teams that compete. These events to date have collected over 97,000 pounds of marine debris from our waterways. Volunteers come from all ages and all walks of life. They are water enthusiasts, kayakers, fishermen, scuba divers and anyone who has a passion for the local aquatic ecosystem. Come out and meet some of the many passionate and action-oriented citizens on the Suncoast who turn their love of the water into action.
It’s the work of local non-governmental organizations like Suncoast Aqua Ventures, their leaders and members that inspire people to preserve our paradise and give them a way to participate in protecting it. If you’re looking for a way to contribute, join the cleanup on Aug. 3. See you there.
