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Joe Hendricks

Joe Hendricks

February 11, 2017
Joe Hendricks is the editor of the Anna Maria Island Sun. As a Sun reporter, Joe primarily covers the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, including those two city governments. He also covers Island-related matters at the county and state levels, breaking Island news, events and entertainment and more.
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March 13, 2018
By Joe Hendricks

School tax election underway

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Island voters will help determine whether the Manatee County School District is the beneficiary of a one-mill property tax increase. The decision will be made during the county…
March 6, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Pier Rendering

Kebony decking selected for new pier

ANNA MARIA – Commissioners decided on the look and feel of the decking for the new Anna Maria City Pier today. On Tuesday, City Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of Kebony hardwood being the materi…
March 6, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Sen. Greg Steube

Vacation rental bills fail again

TALLAHASSEE – For the second year in a row, Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) and Rep. Mike La Rosa (R-St. Cloud) failed in their efforts to restrict or eliminate local governments’ ability to regulate v…
March 2, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Moratorium expiring

Building moratorium will expire soon

BRADENTON BEACH – Despite an appeal from a city commissioner, Bradenton Beach’s voter-initiated building moratorium will expire on Wednesday, March 7. On behalf of some of her constituents, Commis…
February 27, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Chip Case

Vacation rental bills in peril

TALLAHASSEE – Behind the scenes maneuvering by lobbyist Chip Case, Anna Maria City Attorney Becky Vose and her son, attorney Wade Vose, may have helped derail two vacation rentals bills being debated…
February 27, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
AM pier firings

Pier plank firings reversed

ANNA MARIA – Peter Piir and Taylor Mannhart are once again working for the city of Anna Maria. They returned to work on Friday, Feb. 23, after being reinstated by Mayor Dan Murphy. They were fired…
February 26, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Commissioner Amy Tripp

Tripp joins Anna Maria commission

ANNA MARIA – Amy Tripp has been appointed to fill the City Commission seat recently vacated by Nancy Yetter. The commission appointment occurred at the Thursday, Feb. 22 commission meeting. Tripp…
February 20, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach driveway disturbed

Driveway restoration discussed

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioner Jake Spooner initiated a follow-up discussion on driveway restoration during last week’s City Commission meeting. Portions of several driveways along Avenue C have b…
February 20, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Bradenton Beach undergound utilities

CRA discussing underground utility lines

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is ramping up its conversations on putting utility lines along Bridge Street underground. CRA chair Ralph Cole has been advocating…
February 14, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
AMI Pier Pilings

Commission chooses concrete pier pilings

Updated Feb. 15, 2018 ANNA MARIA – The new Anna Maria City Pier will be built with concrete pilings. In March, the Anna Maria City Commission will decide if the pier will be feature hardwood de…
February 13, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Anna Maria City Pier

Mayor optimistic about state funds for new pier

Updated Feb. 15, 2018 ANNA MARIA – The city’s request for $750,000 in state funds to help build a new pier has cleared another hurdle. According to Mayor Dan Murphy, the bills containing the mo…
February 13, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Senate Vacation Rental Bill

Vacation rental bill favored by second Senate committee

Watch the meeting here at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13. TALLAHASSEE – The vacation rental legislation now known as CS/SB 1400 has been further amended and reported favorable by the Florida Senate’s Regul…
February 11, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Driveway restoration concerns

Commission concerned about driveway damage, restoration

BRADENTON BEACH – A Feb. 8 commission discussion on bike and pedestrian improvements produced a parallel conversation about who might pay to restore driveways disturbed by Manatee County’s water and…
February 6, 2018
By Joe Hendricks

Quinn helping raise funds for pier

ANNA MARIA – Resident Sissy Quinn is trying to raise $100,000 or more to help build a new city pier. Quinn has set up a GoFundMe page that is affiliated with her Anna Maria Island Preservation Tru…
February 6, 2018
By Joe Hendricks
Darcie Duncan

Duncan named Manatee Chamber chair

MANATEE COUNTY – Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan is the new chair of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. The honor was bestowed on the Anna Maria businesswoman during a Chamber event at the Br…