HOLMES BEACH – Those who lost memorial benches during Hurricanes Helene and Milton will have to pay the city $1,000 if they want a new bench built and reinstalled.
Most of the city-made memorial benches damaged, destroyed or displaced by the 2024 hurricanes were located at street-end beach access points.
At the request of the city commission, Holmes Beach Public Works Director Sage Kamiya provided a memorial bench program update on May 13. The update and ensuring commission discussion were partially inspired by previous public input given by former city commissioner Jim Kihm, who wants to replace the memorial bench previously placed at the 69th Street beach access in honor of his late wife, Connie. The bench program update was also inspired by similar inquiries received from others.
Kamiya said he had a list of 166 memorial benches and 44 of those benches were located after the hurricanes.
“We currently have 29 folks that have asked to have those beach access benches replaced,” he said.
Kamiya provided a detailed explanation of the replacement process, the estimated replacement timeline and the estimated costs. He said the updated bench program is only intended for benches installed within the past 10 years. The bench sponsor is responsible for the replacement cost and must reapply to have a bench replaced. The city will be responsible for minor maintenance for up to 10 years but bench replacement and major repairs are the responsibility of the bench sponsor; and the sponsor has to provide the city with up-to-date contact information now and in the future.
Kamiya said the city will do its best to accommodate original bench locations but some beach access points had up to four benches before the hurricanes struck and that’s too many benches in one spot.
The city-made benches feature a poured concrete foundation, wooden planks and a memorial plaque. The replacement costs include staff time, labor, materials, equipment use and more. Kamiya said it takes about 15 non-consecutive work hours to build and install one bench. He said the public works staff can complete one bench every three weeks or so while also working on multiple other city-related tasks and it will take about 87 weeks to replace the first 29 benches.
He estimated it would cost the city $1,367 to replace one bench and $39,668 to replace 29 benches; and he noted the current fiscal year budget includes $8,000 for memorial signs and benches.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer suggested, and the other commissioners supported, removing the equipment cost and that helped lower the replacement price.
Commissioner Steve Oelfke asked if using public works personnel to build the benches is the most efficient way to do it. Mayor Judy Titsworth said it was.
“You’re not going to get them any cheaper by outsourcing,” the mayor said.
“This bench program is cumbersome,” she added. “Not only is it dangerous for the sea turtles; there’s too many of them.”
Titsworth said the city stopped installing memorial benches at beach access points and now encourages planting memorial trees instead, which helps enhance the ever-shrinking tree canopy in Holmes Beach and Island-wide. Police Chief Bill Tokajer suggested revisiting the city’s memorial brick program as another alternative.
While expressing sympathy and support for Kihm and others who lost memorial benches and are still recovering from the hurricanes, Commissioner Carol Whitmore suggested using some of the city’s $4 million reserve fund to replace lost benches. Commissioner Carol Soustek suggested, and the commission supported, the city covering the $12,000 in estimated material costs for the first 29 replacement benches. That suggestion also helped reduce the replacement price to $1,000.
Connie’s bench
Kihm didn’t attend the May 13 meeting but on May 10 he sent a bench-related email to the mayor and commissioners. His email noted memorial benches date back to World War I, when families placed benches in public places to help remember loved ones who didn’t return. His email also stated: “Memorial benches provide a physical space to connect with the memory of those no longer with us.”
Regarding his wife’s bench, he wrote, “For those who knew my wife, Connie Kihm, you understand the happiness and positive energy she brought to our Island and our city. We often walked the beach together. We watched sunsets on the beach. Connie truly loved Holmes Beach and appreciated every day that she was lucky enough to live here. Her original memorial bench was generously donated by her dancing sisters: The Starfire Dancers. They wanted to place a bench on the beach that she loved so much … a place where they could sit and rest and remember their dear friend; a place where strangers could sit and wonder who this lady was who was so loved by her dancing sisters and others in the community.”
Kihm’s email noted Connie’s bench and plaque cost $450 in 2020.
“I find it hard to believe that the city’s cost has increased threefold in five years to $1367,” he wrote when encouraging the mayor and commissioners to lower the proposed replacement cost.
To inquire about replacing a bench installed within the past 10 years, call the Public Works Department at 941-708-5768 or email skamiya@holmesbeachfl.org.
