HOLMES BEACH – Holmes Beach resident Daria Grinenko shared her concerns about the behind-the scenes-efforts to bring a Gulf Islands Ferry stop to the Waterline Marina basin.
On Jan. 13, Grinenko was one of three city residents to express opposition to the ferry stop potentially being located in the Waterline Marina basin.
When giving public comment again during the Jan. 27 city commission meeting, Grinenko addressed communications that occurred between City Commissioner Chair Carol Whitmore and Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione.
“After the last commission meeting and the subsequent work session, I became concerned that we were not being heard about our opinions on a Waterline ferry stop. I therefore requested under the Freedom of Information Act text and emails between Carol Whitmore and Elliott Falcione,” Grinenko said.
“Beginning last October, there are several texts and emails referencing this ferry stop, including such phrases as ‘the need to educate commissioners’ and that ‘the city is delaying this’. There’s been no site plan proposal, so I don’t know why all this conversation is going on,” Grinenko said.
“Last week, I witnessed a gathering of Carol Whitmore with Elliott Falcione and three other men at the proposed dock area and the Waterline trolley stop. I have pictures on my phone. In addition, as Carol was driving away, I was sitting at the trolley stop and I heard you (Whitmore) yell to Elliott, ‘We’ve have to make sure we have Dan on our side.’ Elliott responded, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got Dan covered,’” Grinenko told the commission.
Holmes Beach City Commissioner and Manatee County Tourist Development Council Dan Diggins has publicly expressed his support for his support for a ferry stop somewhere in Holmes Beach since 2024. He was part of the efforts to bring a ferry boat to the marina in 2024 to help determine if a slip near the old Wells Fargo bank building would be a suitable ferry landing location. It was determined that day that there was not enough navigable space for that slip to serve as a ferry landing.
In closing, Grinenko said, “The question I have for you all, that I want you to consider, is how can we be convinced that Carol Whitmore will be able to perform her duties in quasi-judicial (site plan) hearing when it’s clear she’s the one person orchestrating this new use in the boat basin at the Waterline Marina.”
To date, the county has not presented to the city with a proposed site plan regarding the county’s potential purchase of a boat slip or slips in the marina basin for use as a ferry landing.
In response to Grinenko’s comments, Whitmore said, “I’ve been talking since October of last year to all the commissioners. I’m reporting about the ferry and saying that I was meeting with the county, so I have been keeping the board updated since last October – when I asked what the status was and they said they were letting the county deal with it to try to find a spot. When I found a spot (in the Waterline basin), I brought it up before the board, so I’ve been very transparent about that.”
Commissioner Terry Schaefer then said, “I think, by innuendo, there’s some belief that there is a consensus on this commission and I want to make clear there has never been a formal discussion, nor is it appropriate for us as a commission, to have a discussion until the county acts. And the act that they must pursue would be a site plan. So, nothing formally in discussion has occurred, or will occur, until there is a formal application. I think it’s unfortunate, by accident or by implication, that there is this belief in the community that there’s already a consensus to move forward. I, for one, have many questions about this issue. I can only speak for myself. I’m listening, I have questions and nothing formal will happen until such time as the county acts.”
Whitmore acknowledged that she met with Falcione and other county staff members as Grinenko stated.
“I have nothing to hide. If I did, I sure wouldn’t be out there on Marina Drive,” Whitmore said. “They looked over the areas so they can develop a plan to come before the city commission. That’s what they were there for. They know it’s all in their lap now.”
When talking to The Sun later in the week, Grinenko said, “I feel like Carol Whitmore’s not being a neutral party and she’s made up her mind because she’s trying to orchestrate this. That’s not how a commissioner should act. I feel she’s not fulfilling her role as a city commissioner. She’s acting more like a county commissioner and I don’t understand her actions.”
