According to current science, rising sea levels will go up more than a foot by 2050. That’s 27 years from now.
That means the beaches will be about gone. Gone!
There won’t be much reason to go to the beach, or to have a parking garage, or to have big bridges to nowhere.
Thanks,
Tom Matheson
On behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, we would like to thank our churches who took part in our 58th Annual Easter Sunrise Service. The attendance was fantastic and the weather didn’t disappoint.
Thank you to the AMI Beach Café for the location, Chuck Caudill for providing the sound system, Morgan Bryant for her lovely voice, the City of Holmes Beach, the Holmes Beach Police Department for helping with the parking and the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper for their coverage.
Another “thank you” goes to Casey Hoffman of Real Island TV, who, for the first time, live-streamed our service, which you can watch on YouTube.
We had our members and their families helping to make Easter special for everyone.
Lastly, a huge “thank you” to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, which awarded
our club a Trolley Grant to help defray expenses. With this and the generosity of those who attended, we will be able to share the net proceeds with the churches and our scholarship fund.
We look forward to seeing everyone next year for our 59th Easter Sunrise Service.
Sincerely,
Sandra K. Haas-Martens
Kiwanis Club of Anna Maria Island, secretary
Holmes Beach
BRADENTON BEACH – City Attorney Ricinda Perry told commissioners last week that they cannot promise to designate a reserved space for the proposed water taxi on the floating day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Manatee County’s long-planned water taxi service includes proposed stops in downtown Bradenton, the City Pier in Anna Maria, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the county-owned South Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach. The county has not yet announced an anticipated start date for its initial Friday, Saturday and Sunday water taxi operations.
Perry said she made a few changes to a proposed interlocal agreement recently received from the county. One significant change notes that the water taxi operations must comply with the state-issued sovereign submerged land lease for the existing floating dock and the nine additional perpendicular finger piers that will be connected to the south side of the floating dock later this month, or soon thereafter.
Perry noted the submerged land lease requires the free public dockage offered at the floating day dock to be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. She said the city can’t provide the county with a reserved water taxi landing area.
“There’s really nothing the city can do to give an exclusive spot to Manatee County or any entity on the floating dock. It’s got to stay first-come, first-served,” she said.
City commissioners unanimously approved the draft version of the city’s proposed interlocal agreement presented by Perry on April 6 establishing the city’s requests and requirements pertaining to the use of the pier area as a water taxi stop. The agreement addresses any improvements the county or its contracted water taxi operator, Clearwater Ferry, wish to make to the pier area.
According to the proposed agreement, “The county shall only be responsible for the costs of creating ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) -compliant dockage at the pier for water taxi use. Subsequent maintenance of the pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.”
The city of Anna Maria’s proposed interlocal agreement with the county calls for the county or its contractor to cover the cost of any ongoing maintenance and repairs associated with any water taxi-related improvements or enhancements made to the Anna Maria City Pier.
Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner said covering the ongoing maintenance costs would be Bradenton Beach’s contribution to the county’s water taxi service. Chappie also said he’s more comfortable with the city’s Public Works Department overseeing any maintenance or repairs needed on the pier or floating dock.
At this point, it’s not known what, if any, improvements the county might request. One potential safety improvement discussed was the installation of safety railings on the floating dock. The floating day dock doesn’t currently feature safety railings running along the length of the dock, but there are railings along the ramp area that leads from the floating dock to the elevated pier.
City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said she’s shocked that the floating dock doesn’t have safety railings.
Spooner noted it would be difficult to access the floating dock by boat if railings existed along the southern edge of the dock that boaters tie up to. He also questioned the logic of installing railings on the backside of the floating dock, which is not accessible by boat.
Chappie said he doesn’t see the need for safety railings on the floating dock, but if the county installs them, the city will maintain them.
Perry told commission members they didn’t need to worry too much at this point about the specific improvements the county might want to make.
The proposed Bradenton Beach agreement notes, “The county agrees to provide a detailed plan in advance to the Bradenton Beach City Commission for approval showing the proposed landing area on the pier and any ADA-related modifications or improvements required.”
The commission-approved interlocal agreement is to be returned to the county for further review, which could result in additional revisions requested by the county.
Related coverage
BRADENTON – Adding to the many abandoned boats littering local waters is a cabin cruiser that has run aground at Robinson Preserve.
A local resident who asked not to be identified contacted The Sun to express concern about the vessel in the hopes that its owner could be found and would take action toward its removal. The resident said the boat has been in that location since January and has not shown any activity except for the disappearance of four marine batteries that had been set on the stern.
At low tide recently, the hull and swim platform were sunk deep in the mud next to the mangroves in the Anna Maria Sound end of the preserve at the far northwest corner of the walking trail. The stern door was open, a bicycle was laying on the bow and a tattered windsock flew above the vessel.
The Can Do III out of Siesta Key/Sarasota, a 34-foot Californian, was likely built in the late 1970s or early 1980s. From the shore, the hull identification number is not visible.
“Derelict vessels are a priority for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Division of Law Enforcement’s Boating and Waterways Section is spearheading a multi-year effort to dramatically reduce the backlog of derelict vessels currently on the waters of the state,” said Ashlee Sklute, public information coordinator for the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “Unfortunately, derelict vessels continue to be documented by law enforcement on an ongoing basis. These vessels cause the destruction of valuable seagrass resources and endanger marine life. They also threaten human life, safety and property as they drift on or beneath the surface of the water or block navigable waterways, posing a navigational hazard to the boating public.”
The removal process for an at-risk vessel is typically different from that of a derelict vessel, Sklute said.
“It is significantly less expensive to remove an at-risk vessel than a derelict vessel, primarily because an at-risk vessel, by definition, is still floating,” she said.
To help boat owners dispose of unwanted at-risk vessels before they become derelict, the FWC is accepting applications for a Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP). The program went into effect in 2022.
“The program is still active and staff have received numerous applications from at-risk vessel owners who wish to participate in this innovative program,” Sklute said.
In order to qualify for VTIP, a vessel must be floating upon waters of the state of Florida and cannot be determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have received at least one written at-risk warning or citation and possess a clear title to the vessel. To apply for or view program guidelines, visit FWC online or call the FWC Boating and Waterways Division at 850-488-5600 for more information or to report an abandoned or potentially derelict vessel.
Pompano range from the upper eastern U.S. coast to Texas, but the most consistent action is encountered from the Carolinas to Texas. Although they are a relatively common species along our coast, the average angler, unless they are savvy and targeting them, only land them occasionally.
The pompano is a species that has really benefited from the reduction of netting in Florida. Pompano are normally found in groups of 10 to two dozen rather than in true schools. They are erratic in their movements, affected by slight changes in temperature and movements of the tide. They can also be found when spooked by a boat as they “skip” out of the water.
The most common method used to target pompano locally is jigging with a round lead jig with a short yellow or white skirt. These rigs can also be enhanced with a trailer fly or bait on a 12- to 18-inch piece of mono. Some newer models, including Silly Willy Jigs and Doc’s Goofy Jigs, are also effective. Other jigs by lure makers like DOA, including the DOA Shrimp, are also good choices. Pompano are also taken on flies. The best are Clouser-style with lead eyes in white, yellow, pink or a combination of colors.
For anglers who use live bait, the go-to choice is a shrimp or sand flea, small crustaceans that inhabit the surf line along the beaches. When using terminal tackle, a lead sufficient to hold the bait near the bottom is attached between a 12- to 18-inch piece of monofilament line. The weight also functions to raise a puff of sand that will attract pompano. A hook in the 1/0 range is then attached to a 30-pound bite tippet using a uni or non-slip mono loop.
When fishing in and around local passes, many other predators are often encountered, primarily Spanish mackerel and bluefish. The use of swivels can attract the attention of these sharp-toothed gamefish. The 30-pound leader above and below the swivel provides some protection. It is also advisable to use a black swivel that doesn’t produce a flash.
Jig color can be varied according to the water color. Hooks should be of heavy construction, from 1/0 to 2/0, with jig weights varying from a quarter ounce to a full ounce in very fast current. The most important thing to remember is to keep the jig close to the bottom. It is also advisable to jig straight up and down if possible. Most of the local passes contain rocks, ledges and other debris. The action imparted to the jig is another important ingredient for success. The jig must be worked constantly, imparting action with short twitches of the rod tip.
Tipping the jig is not critical if fish are actively feeding but can be the difference between success and failure at other times. Tips should be small enough not to affect the action of the jig.
Successful pompano fishing requires special attention to tide. While they will sometimes feed at various stages of the tide, an incoming tide is often much more productive. The first hour of a falling tide can also be rewarding.
The prime area to pinpoint pompano is in the passes. Other good locations include patch rocks off the beaches and the inshore artificial reefs. The slues along the beaches can also be worth exploring as well as the edges of local grass flats. Water temperature is a factor in the abundance of this species with fall, winter and spring being the best time to target them.
Pompano make worthy adversaries for anglers looking for a challenge and an excellent meal. They have been active locally on the warmups, so rig up and give these challenging fish a try.
ANNA MARIA – Three weeks into the spring adult co-ed recreational soccer league, the kids hit The Center’s pitches for fun-filled games on April 3.
As the youth sports program continues to grow to historic participation numbers and beyond, the energy at the Island’s community center on kids’ soccer nights is contagious. The two 3- to 4-year-old leagues have 20 little players being taught the game by volunteer coaches Lee Dickson and Emily Bekkerus.
Bekkerus’ team, Emily Moss Design, will face coach Dickson’s Cloud Pest Control squad throughout the season, learning more about soccer each week and growing friendships on the field.
While not keeping score, the focus is on the fun of the game while learning how to perform a throw-in, dribble the soccer ball down the field and make passes to teammates.
Continuing to play without counting the goals, the six teams playing in the 5- to 7-year-old league have over 60 little ballers battling each week on the soccer field while learning skills and getting touches on the ball.
With an emphasis on learning the sport and gaining a love for the game, the six volunteer coaches also teach sportsmanship, respect, integrity and teamwork.
Coach Bekkerus takes on two instructional-level teams this season, leading the second team in the 5- to 7-year-old age group with team MI-BOX. Back again this season, Karri Stephens guides the Beach Bums crew.
Coach David Moss brings his family’s athletic skill to team Blenker Boatworks, while Michael Nick finds time in his schedule to coach the youngest Sandbar-sponsored team this season.
Rounding out the league, Jessica Patel steps up to the plate to coach the Ugly Grouper team as Jesse Griffin continues his time as a volunteer coach to lead the Adrian Griffin Interiors squad this season.
Without volunteer coaches, youth sports would not be possible. The phrase “It takes a village” could not be truer than in community center kids’ activities and recreational sports.
As mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and family friends take the time to coach the Island kids, the spring youth soccer program is headed toward another successful season at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Sato Real Estate (1-0-0) 2
Westfall’s Lawn Care & Pest Control (0-1-0) 1
Cheesecake Cutie (1-0-0) 4
AMI Coconuts (0-1-0) 1
Island Real Estate (1-0-0) 1
Solid Rock Construction (0-1-0) 0
Gulf Drive Café (1-0-0) 8
Shady Lady Horticultural Services (0-1-0) 1
Moss Builders (0-0-1) 5
HSH Designs (0-0-1) 5
Sato Real Estate (2-1-0) 8
Pool America (1-2-0) 4
Sandbar Seafood & Spirits (2-1-0) 7
Vintage Beach (1-2-0) 2
Moss Builders (2-1-0) 4
Gulfview Windows & Doors (0-3-0) 3
Duncan Real Estate (2-1-0) 2
Solid Rock Construction (2-1-0) 1
In 1978, Billy Joel won a Grammy Award for his song “Honesty.” The premise of the song was how dishonest relations between lovers can be. But honesty, integrity and straightforwardness of conduct are key elements in a real estate transaction, which essentially is a relationship between people.
It’s been a long time since I wrote about property disclosures when purchasing primarily residential property, so it’s probably time for a few reminders.
In real estate purchases, the buyer needs to be aware of potential problems with the property and employ the proper inspectors to inspect and verify the home is free of major defects. Helping buyers in this area are Florida state laws that require sellers to disclose defects before the property closes. Since 1985, Florida law has provided that with some exceptions, the seller must disclose any facts or conditions about the property that may have a substantial impact on the value or desirability of the property that may not be visibly obvious.
The Florida Association of Realtors provides a standard form that covers many common property characteristics about which buyers want to know. Some of these items are potential claims or court proceedings; nature of condominium or HOA associations rules; boundary issues; status of any sinkholes; any environmental hazards such as asbestos, lead paint, mold, Chinese drywall; damage from wood destroying organisms; flooding or ground leaks; disclosure of the condition of major systems such as central air and heat, plumbing and electrical systems and brands and condition of appliances.
Although sellers are not required to complete and sign this form, they are still required to disclose all relevant information to buyers even when it may not be obvious. The disclosure of hidden problems is, of course, the most important information, and I would be careful if a seller refuses to put in writing the property disclosure information.
Sellers do have some protection regarding disclosure; they are not required to disclose those property defects of which they have no actual knowledge. If buyers discover a material problem after closing, the onus is on them to prove the seller knew about the defect and did not disclose it, as well as justify that the defect has had a substantial impact on the value of the property.
In addition, homeowners do not need to disclose to buyers if the property has been inhabited by a person infected with HIV or AIDS or that a murder or suicide has occurred or is suspected to have occurred on the property. I would add that reports of a property being “haunted” also do not have to be disclosed.
A word of caution: Homeowners may think that if they are selling the property in an “as is” condition, that absolves them from the requirement of full disclosure. This is not the case and sellers will have to disclose any material defects even if the property is listed as “as is” condition.
The lesson here is that buyers need to do their due diligence to uncover any hidden problems in a property. Sellers must adhere to the principles of honesty in making any pertinent disclosures to buyers and instill confidence in the buyers.
Billy may have had it right in 1978 when he wrote “everyone is so untrue.” But I prefer to believe that most people are basically honest and transparent; hopefully, I’m not wrong.
TALLAHASSEE – Two bills currently working their way through the Florida Legislature could significantly impact condominium associations and condominium owners on Anna Maria Island and throughout the state.
Working in unison, Senate Bill 154 and House Bill 1395 seek to clarify and expand the condominium-related legislation the Legislature adopted during a special session last year as Senate Bill 4-D.
The House of Representatives’ staff analysis for HB 1395 also addresses the origins of SB 4-D: “On June 24, 2021, Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium building in the town of Surfside, partially collapsed resulting in the death of 98 people. In response, during Special Session, 2022D, SB 4-D was enacted to provide building safety inspection requirements (milestone inspections) and reserve requirements (structural integrity reserve study) for condominium and cooperative association buildings.”
As of Monday morning, SB 154 and HB 1395 proposed mandatory inspection timelines for condo buildings that are at least three stories tall and 30 years old or older, with additional inspections required every 10 years after that. According to the staff analysis of HB 1395, there are currently more than 2 million Floridians occupying condo buildings that are 30 years old or older.
According to SB 154, “If a building reaches 30 years of age before December 31, 2024, the building’s initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2024.”
The new legislation would delete from last year’s legislation the 25-year milestone inspection requirement for buildings located within three miles of the coastline. Regardless of coastline proximity, all qualifying condo buildings would be subjected to the 30-year inspection requirements.
The term “milestone inspection” refers to a structural inspection of a condo building and its load-bearing elements, walls and primary structural systems. To be conducted by a licensed architect or engineer, the milestone inspection is to determine the general structural condition of the building as it pertains to safety and to identify any maintenance, repair or replacement needed for those structural components.
The proposed legislation would also require impacted condo associations and condo owners to create and set aside reserve funds for structural inspection studies and for any needed structural repairs or maintenance activities which would include roof replacements and exterior painting. Condominium owners are currently allowed to waive state-imposed reserve requirements.
As of Monday morning, the proposed legislation would likely impact the most common form of condo buildings on Anna Maria Island: those with ground-level parking areas and two elevated, habitable living levels above the parking.
Further and final clarification is still being sought as to whether ground-level parking will be counted as a story when determining how many stories a condo building has. If ground-level parking is counted as a story, the impact on Anna Maria Island would be significant. If not, the impact would likely be limited to the seven-story condo buildings at the Martinique condo complex in Holmes Beach.
Height limit restrictions imposed by all three Island cities now prohibit the construction of any buildings more than three stories tall and ground-level parking counts as a story. Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert said he’s not aware of any three-story condo buildings on the Island that feature ground-level living units rather than ground-level parking.
On these issues, St. Petersburg-based lobbyist Travis Moore is representing the Florida Legislative Alliance which is part of the national Community Associations Institute. Cortez condo resident and former Bradenton Beach condo resident Connie Morrow is the delegate for the Florida Legislative Alliance and her focus is on condominium-related issues.
On Monday morning, Moore and Morrow were among those who participated in a Zoom meeting with State Rep. Vicki L. Lopez (R-Miami/Dade), the original sponsor of HB 1395. Monday’s discussion addressed the possibility of amending the proposed legislation in a manner that would not impact three-story condo buildings with ground-level parking and two upper living levels. According to Morrow, Lopez was at least open to the idea, but Moore said he doesn’t expect that change to happen.
When contacted late Monday morning, Moore said, “If you have three stories, including ground-level parking, this will affect you.”
One- and two-story condos would not be affected by the proposed legislation as it currently stands.
Moore noted change is always possible during a legislative session.
“This is a snapshot of where we are right now. There are changes being contemplated. They are moving through the legislative process that ends May 5th. As of right now, they’re working to make it very clear that if it’s three floors or more, it affects you,” Moore said.
According to Moore, most of the condo-related legislation passed in 2022, 2023 and 2024 would not take effect before Jan. 1, 2025.
When interviewed on Saturday, Moore said prior to the 2022 adoption of SB 4-D, Florida had no inspection standards in place for aging condo buildings. During the 2022 session, the Senate members focused more on inspection requirements and the House members focused more on reserve funds and other financial elements. The resulting legislation left gaps legislators and others are now trying to address.
Under the legislation, if an initial phase 1 structural inspection identifies structural deficiencies that require structural repairs, a more-extensive phase 2 inspection would be required.
“All these reports and inspections go to the condo owners and the local building official. If they find damage that has to be addressed, they’ll be told by the local building department that they have to get this done and they have 365 days to start the repairs. The building officials are the ones with the ability to enforce this, or to condemn a building. The condo associations can’t just say ‘We’ve got these repairs that need to be done’ and do nothing about it,” Moore said.
Moore said condo boards provide their association members with a fully-funded annual budget that includes reserves for four specific categories. The association members then vote on whether or not to waive state-imposed reserve funding requirements that would increase their annual assessments.
“With a condo, you might have a hundred different owners that all have a say. So, the decisions are not made the same way regarding maintenance and keeping the buildings well-fortified,” Moore said.
“After Dec. 31, 2024, you can no longer vote to waive the reserves on these structural integrity items. Painting is considered structural because of the waterproofing element. You could waive reserves on other things like renovating the clubhouse or buying new pool furniture. There are some condo associations that haven’t been reserving funds for 20 years. They’ll need to catch up and their association assessments will go up,” Moore said.
Moore noted some longtime condo owners now live on fixed incomes but over the years their condos accumulated increased equity and value. Moore said it probably won’t happen during the current legislative session, but efforts will be made to create a program that would allow condo associations to take out a loan and allow condo owners who can’t afford to write a $10,000 to $20,000 assessment check to pay back their portion of the loan when they sell their unit.
“If you want to just write the check that’s fine, but there should be an option that allows people some flexibility,” Moore said.
The Senate and House bills have each already passed through two committee stops with the unanimous support of Republicans and Democrats alike.
Moore is confident additional amendments made in the two bills’ final committee stops will produce matching bills to be sent to the Senate and House floors for final votes, and then to Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign into state law.
“We’ve been working with the Governor’s office and all indications are that he’s on board. Anything can happen with the legislative process, but it is expected to pass,” Moore said.
Morrow and her husband, Bill, live in a three-story condo building in Cortez. They also own a condo in a two-story building at Runaway Bay in Bradenton Beach.
“The whole point of this is safety and the management of safety. The collapse of Surfside exposed the fact that Florida condo owners have been able to vote every year to not fund a reserve. With this legislation, associations will have to have a reserve for critical structural components. It forces people to budget and set up a stream of revenue through the annual association assessment to fund those structural elements.
“Condominium owners on Anna Maria Island are going to be compelled to have a reserve study done, with a focus on the structural elements. They are going to have to build a plan to address the major structural elements and estimate when those structural elements will need to be repaired or replaced. The next thing is to build a strategy to collect the resources to be able to fund those repairs and major maintenance,” Morrow said.
When asked what happens to a condo association that currently has no reserves set aside, Morrow said,
“They will have to establish a reserve and begin contributing to that reserve in order to meet the structural requirements identified through the structural integrity reserve study. They’re going to have to start saving. If they’ve lived and owned in that building, they’ve contributed to its natural deterioration. What we have done previously here in Florida is to allow owners to ignore those obligations. Now the state is saying we have no choice. We cannot ignore those structural elements.”
Morrow supports the efforts to help find alternative funding support for condo owners and associations.
When asked if the proposed legislation is good or bad, Morrow said, “This is an improvement over last year. They had to come back for a special session and what they pushed out had a lot of gaps, but it was a needed step in the right direction. Now they’re going through the process of refining it and cleaning it up and this is good.”
PALMETTO – Two years after an intentional discharge of contaminated water stored in ponds atop the Piney Point phosphogypsum stacks, Manatee County utilities crews will begin disposing of the remaining wastewater in a new deepwater injection well.
Operations will begin next week, according to a March 28 statement from Manatee County Information Officer Bill Logan.
The well will hold Piney Point’s process water in a confined saltwater aquifer over a half mile below the surface under the Floridan aquifer, the state’s drinking water source. The phosphate process water, which will be drained from the reservoirs atop nearby phosphogypsum stacks, will be pre-treated before injection. Work on the pre-treatment facility has been underway since earlier this year, according to Logan.
Local environmental group ManaSota-88 opposes the deep injection well on several grounds, including that wells are subject to failure, and that leaks of the contaminated water – which is also slightly radioactive – could poison the state’s drinking water.
ManaSota-88 is among five environmental groups, including Sarasota-based Suncoast Waterkeeper, that sued the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC on June 24, 2021 seeking to hold both responsible for negligence in managing the site. A pretrial conference is scheduled on July 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa; a trial is scheduled for Aug. 7.
In a separate lawsuit, HRK Holdings was sued by FDEP in Manatee County Circuit Court in 2021, a case that remains open with no hearings scheduled.
In 2021, FDEP authorized the emergency discharge of 215 million gallons of wastewater from the former phosphate plant into Tampa Bay to avoid a potential flood after a leak was discovered in the waste storage system. Surrounding homes and businesses were evacuated.
From March 30 to April 9, 2021, the wastewater poured into the bay, adding an estimated 186 metric tons of nitrogen, exceeding typical annual nitrogen loads in a matter of days, according to a report released by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The nitrogen worsened toxic cyanobacteria blooms that peaked in June, followed by a bloom of toxic red tide algae that caused fish kills, triggering the cleanup of more than 1,600 metric tons of dead fish, according to the report.
The well, drilled to a depth of 3,300 feet, was completed by Fort Myers-based Youngquist Brothers Inc., working with consultants ASRus of Tampa and Manatee County utilities staff. By working with FDEP, crews were able to expedite the well project.
“The cooperation and collaboration with the DEP have been key in getting this project fast-tracked,” Manatee County Utilities Director Evan Pilachowski said. “We are so pleased that we are to this point in the process already.”
“We are excited to write the final chapter of this Piney Point story,” Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “The teamwork involved in this important project – from the receiver to the DEP, to the consultants and our hard-working staff – have brought this to fruition.”
Every angler’s fishing rod, be it a spinning rod, a fly rod or a casting rod, is constructed in a similar way and has the same basic parts. Have you ever wondered why one rod is more expensive than another? Knowing the basic components of a rod will help you understand their construction, action and why one rod costs what it does. This is valuable information in determining which rod is best for you.
A rod’s blank is constructed from a product known as prepreg. This fibrous material is impregnated with resin and wrapped around a mandrel, which is removed after the blank is formed, giving the rod its basic round shape. This blank holds the guides, ferrules, handle, reel seat and fighting butt.
Prepreg has fibers that have a unidirectional (straight) orientation. The fibers can be made of different materials including fiberglass, graphite, boron or Kevlar. Some rods are made (laid up) from a prepreg that has additional fibers that run around or at an angle to the unidirectional fibers. This gives the rod additional strength and influences flex, stiffness – and price.
A rod’s scrim refers to a lightweight material that forms an additional lining under the primary fibers and helps in working the material when it is wrapped around the mandrel. Scrim can be straight or woven and adds what is known as “hoop strength” to the finished rod.
The parts of a rod consist of a blank with a butt section, a fixed hood, a reel seat, a sliding hood, a locking ring, handle, guides, ferrules and a tip. The butt section is the cork part of the rod behind the reel seat that fits into a fighting harness or into the stomach when playing a fish. On a spinning and casting rod, it’s where the non-dominant hand holds the rod. The reel seat is where the reel foot is placed either on or near the blank, while the hoods secure the reel to the rod. The fixed hood is the metal receiver where one end of the reel foot is placed. The sliding hood is the rear receiver that holds the other end of the reel foot. The locking ring is a nut that puts pressure on the sliding hood and holds the reel securely in place. The cork handle is where the dominant hand is placed. Guides hold the line along the length of the blank. The ferrules connect the sections of a rod. The tip, as the name implies, is the section at the top of the rod.
You may also have heard the term “taper.” A rod’s taper refers to the diameter of a rod from the butt to the tip. The taper affects the rod’s action. Most rods have either a fast action (stiff) or a slow action (flexible).
When you’re shopping for a new outfit, knowing the parts and construction of a rod will help you make an informed decision. The most important part of the rod and the one that most affects its price, and your buying decision, is the blank. The materials and the method of construction of the blank determine its price. The least expensive rods are made from fiberglass while the expensive ones are constructed with graphite, boron and Kevlar. While fiberglass may be good for a beginner, the more expensive rods are a better choice for the seasoned angler. Armed with this information you’ll have the knowledge you need to determine how much you spend on a rod. This decision can positively affect your angling efficiency and enjoyment.
Think of the real estate market as one big pot. Into the pot you throw in the asking price of a property, selling price, availability of properties, mortgage interest rate and your personal credit score. When you analyze all these ingredients, you’ve got a pretty good idea of the active real estate market and your ability to purchase.
Last week we discussed the Manatee County sales for the month of February, in which closed sales were down and the median selling price was up for both condos and single-family properties compared to last year.
Nationally, however, sales of single-family homes were down over twice what ours were, 22.6% compared to 10%, according to the National Association of Realtors. Nationally, the median single-family sales price fell 0.2% compared to last year to $363,000. Manatee County’s median single-family selling price was up 2.5% to $490,000 compared to last year. So far, our local market, although slowly adjusting, is outpacing the national market.
As for interest rates, as of this writing, the average 30-year fixed rate is just below 7%, which generally gives a boost to the number of sales. Remember last week we talked about buyers being “rate sensitive” – this may wake them up. However, the Federal Reserve at a March meeting raised the baseline rate by a quarter percent, hinting that they may be slowing down these regular increases. Every time there is a rate increase, we hold our breath to see what, if any, impact there will be on the home mortgage market.
I also noticed the number of cash buyers is gradually going down every month. In February, cash buyers for single-family homes were down 20.5% from a year ago and cash buyers for condos are down 23.9% from last year. It’s hard to say how much impact interest rates have on cash buyers. Buyers with cash frequently offer an all-cash contract, which enhances their negotiating ability, and then take a mortgage on the property after closing. With higher and fluctuating interest rates, that will likely change the cash buyer’s thinking on this strategy.
Finally, with interest rates higher than a year ago, credit scores are more important than ever. A small boost to your credit score can make a big impact on the cost of buying a home. Raising your credit scores in the time before applying for a mortgage is the most tangible way to reduce costs related to purchasing a home. You may not have any control over the increase in prices or lack of inventory, but credit scores are totally in your control.
The object is to get that credit score at or over 760 to obtain the most advantageous interest rate. The first thing to do is look at your credit report from all three of the credit reporting agencies. Check for errors, such as someone who has fraudulently attempted to get credit under your name, if a loan is not recorded as paid or a credit card you dropped is still showing as active.
Don’t apply for any new credit or financing until your home shopping and mortgage application is completed. If possible, pay down your debts or ask for a higher limit on your credit cards. Lenders consider how much debt you have compared to how much your line of credit is. It’s always better to have more credit available even if you don’t need it.
I never said it wasn’t complicated to buy a home and a potpourri of knowledge is essential. Shakespeare’s witches may say that the real estate market is all trouble and toil, but in the end, it’s all worth it.
Red tide; two words that nobody wants to hear but everyone needs to understand. The term is just the common expression of the much deeper problem best described as harmful algae blooms (HABs). Someone who owns a resort hotel, has a restaurant on or near the beach or runs a business that takes people fishing or sightseeing obviously depends on clean, healthy water for their livelihood. It’s easy for the average person to see that these businesses will be negatively affected by HABs or even the mere mention of them. What’s less obvious is that poor water quality and habitat loss (seagrasses, mangroves) affects everyone, from fishing guides to developers, realtors, builders and all the allied trades and suppliers they all depend on.
We seem to only focus on the things that directly impact us in the present, finding it easier to “kick the can down the road.” Maybe we should consider how we’ll feel when our children and grandchildren look us in the eye and ask, “What did you do to make sure I had some of the same opportunities that you did?”
Second Place
Serious Column (Sally Latham Memorial award)
2024
Things took a devastating turn five years ago with a massive and long-lived harmful algae bloom (red tide) that devastated coastal waters from Naples to St. Petersburg, rendering Sarasota Bay a virtual wasteland. Since that event, Sarasota Bay has lost more grass than had regrown in the prior 40 years.
On top of that, a release of over 200 million gallons of polluted process water from the legacy phosphate facility at Piney Point in late March 2021 led to the worst algae bloom in Upper Tampa Bay since the 1970s, killing thousands of tons of sea life.
Resident anglers have seen firsthand the decrease in water quality and the resulting loss
of habitat, seagrass and its negative effect on local fisheries. Unfortunately, those who recently relocated here have no understanding of what has been lost and what that means for future anglers. The concept of “shifting baseline” describes a gradual change in the accepted norms for the condition of the natural environment due to a lack of past information or lack of experience of past conditions.
It’s critically important that we vet the politicians who represent us and are charged with enacting rules and regulations to protect our natural resources. A good source of that information is the League of Conservation Voters (lcv.org). The LCV is non-partisan and tracks the voting records of members of the Senate and Congress on environmental issues in its National Environmental Scorecard. This is a clear indication of how those tasked with representing our interests vote. It’s critical that we take decisive action now.
Research candidates before you cast your vote and consider joining and working with advocates like Suncoast Waterkeeper and their Eyes On The Suncoast Program, Vote Water and Sarasota Bay Watch. If we don’t do it, who will?
Mortgage rates appear to be controlling the real estate market across the country. My new favorite term is “rate sensitive.” This means that a buyer who would have been happy at 6.75% ran for the hills when the rates rose to 7%, about where they are as of this writing for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.
I’m not dismissing the importance of rate increases in real money to buyers’ budgets, but nevertheless, a lot of them are walking for not a lot of money. To be fair, a one-point increase in a mortgage rate would have the same effect on affordability as a 10% increase in home prices, per First American Financial Corp. This could eliminate the buyer from qualifying for the home they are currently considering, lower their home buying expectations or cause them to disappear completely from the marketplace.
Earlier in the year when the rates were solidly in the 6% or a little over range, buyers were on the move. This may explain why our Manatee County statistics this
month show more pending properties in February 2023 compared to January 2023 even though the annual trend has been going down monthly. This was a surprise to many professionals in the housing market who now think that gain may be given back. The general consensus is that buyers now are much more cautious and are paying more attention than the people that were buying last year.
Here are the February sales statistics for Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:
Single-family homes closed 10% fewer properties than last year. The median selling price was $490,000, up 2.5% from last year, and the average selling price was $639,562, down 7.7% from last year. The median time to contract was 39 days compared to six days and the month’s supply of properties is 3.1 months compared to 0.6 months last year.
Condos closed 21.1% fewer properties than last year. The median selling price was $369,900, up 13.8%, and the average selling price was $435,748, up 17.3% from last year. The median time to contract was 29 days compared to 5 days and the month’s supply of properties was 3.4 months compared to 0.5 months last year.
March and April generally are busy months for closings in Florida before buy- ers return north. The next two months may tell a slightly different story, but there is no doubt that higher interest rates are having an effect.
One quick note about your home’s as- sessed value. Property taxes across the country have risen in recent years based on the increased value of your home. When you receive the new assessment and tax bill, don’t just file it in one of those folders that you’ll never look at again. Read it over for errors that could be anything from the size of your lot to the size of your home and the size of your new pool. Don’t be afraid to contact the assessor’s office and review this with them.
It’s also a good idea to stay on top of the recent sales in your neighborhood. Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com will give you just about anything you need to know in addition to the Manatee County public records. If you really feel your home has been appraised higher than it should be, you can ask a licensed Realtor for an evaluation or a licensed appraiser. A Realtor may prepare an evaluation as a goodwill measure, but a licensed appraiser will charge a fee, however, an appraiser’s evaluation may hold more weight. And don’t forget to apply for any exemptions you may be entitled to.
We are living through a sensitive time for just about anything related to finances. Keep the tissues handy and your head on straight.
I first met Damon Moore at a Sister Keys Cleanup in 2010 when we were introduced by Ann Hodgson of Audubon. Moore worked in environmental consulting for seven years at Stantec before joining Manatee County. In his words, “I loved challenging habitat restoration projects where good problem-solving and project design skills would result in high-quality, cost-effective projects. I was blessed to have the opportunity to work on Manatee County projects like Perico Preserve, Ungarelli Preserve, the Robinson Preserve expansion and Tom Bennett Park as a consultant charged with designing the restoration plans for those properties. I found my niche.”
Moore has high praise for his mentor Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County’s director of natural resources. “As a consultant, I saw something in him that I was drawn to; Charlie always found a way to move high quality environmental enhancement projects forward, regardless of the challenges. He’s creative and pragmatic and I knew he had big plans for the next 10 years. I wanted to play a direct role managing the implementation of those projects. I joined Charlie’s department and spent the next decade working on some of the most impactful projects in the region.”
When the Robinson Preserve expansion was functionally complete, Moore wanted to branch out and sharpen his skillset by taking on a more diverse geographic range of projects. He found that at Environmental Science Associates, but during a brief tenure there, he said, “I realized the area I call home needed more environmental benefit projects.” That was challenging to facilitate as a consultant, so Moore decided to form a non-profit he would call Oyster River Ecology (ORE) to bring more projects to the Suncoast.
The name ORE is an homage to the Manatee River, historically known as the “Oyster River.” Moore’s understanding of the concept of shifting baselines is a loss of perception of change that occurs when each generation redefines what is “natural.” Moore explains, “To the detriment of residents today and all generations to follow, the prolific oyster beds of the Oyster River were harvested to depletion, but the good news is that restoration projects combined with wise management practices can bring some of that abundance back.” Ultimately, that is Moore’s passion, and his extensive knowledge of restoration practices and proven performance combine to provide hope to all who value the amazing flora and fauna of the Suncoast. ORE recently received its 501(c)(3) designation from the state. Moore is now finalizing the organization’s website and reaching out to the many philanthropic organizations with which the Suncoast is blessed.
Moore currently serves as president of the Manatee Fish and Game Association, where, among many other environmental initiatives, he helped shepherd the passage of the Manatee County land and water referendum, which passed with a 71% vote. The referendum will result in $50 million worth of funding for conservation projects in the county. I and many other anglers and citizens who have seen first-hand the decline of water quality, habitat, and bird and fish populations are excited at the prospect of ORE. Its focus on restoration projects is essential to a region whose baselines are a foundation of the local economy and are critically endangered.
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy traveled to Tallahassee last week to express the city’s opposition to Senate Bill 714.
SB 714 is the Florida Legislature’s most recent move to further limit local government’s ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals, giving more authority to the state. House Bill 883 serves as the companion bill. Both pieces of proposed legislation are currently working their way through various Senate and House committee stops. If SB 714 and HB 883 successfully pass through their respective committee stops, they would then be placed before both houses of the Legislature for final votes. If the Senate and House both adopt similar bills, the legislation will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign into new state law or veto.
Murphy arrived in Tallahassee on Wednesday and returned to Anna Maria on Friday. While in Tallahassee, he hand-delivered to key state legislators copies of the city resolution the Anna Maria City Commission adopted on March 9. The resolution expresses the mayor and commission’s opposition to taking away the city’s ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals at the local level.
When discussing SB 714 on March 9, Murphy said, “The only people this benefits is Airbnb and Vrbo. They’re the ones pushing this. Airbnb and Vrbo would like nobody between them and the person renting the house: No realtor, no government agency, no city. Everything’s mechanized and there’s no need for any humans to be involved. That’s what this is all about.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Murphy sent an email update to city commissioners that noted SB 714 successfully passed through the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee the previous day.
“An amendment was added during that meeting which clarifies fees and tax liability, none of which helps our cause of killing this bill,” Murphy stated in email.
“The good news is that our website (www.homerulefl.com) generated over 2,500 emails to senators on that committee, all speaking out in opposition to SB 714. What’s more, we added 250 new subscribers to our website and our distribution list. We are now very much a statewide website with subscribers throughout the state. We will continue to track SB 714 as it goes to its next two committees in the Senate and we will have campaigns ready to address the bill,” Murphy wrote.
On Saturday, Murphy provided The Sun with more details about his trip.
“I was able to meet the president of the Senate, Kathleen Passidomo, and I left her a copy of our resolution. I also discussed the pitfalls of this pending legislation, including taking away our right to limit the occupancy of vacation rentals,” Murphy said.
“I met with the bill’s sponsor (Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg) and told him our concerns about ‘party houses’ and the catastrophic impact this bill will have on our Island community. Later, I met with Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. to discuss our concerns. My final meetings were with the House speaker’s office and the chairperson of the Commerce Committee, State Rep. Bob Rommel,” Murphy said.
“As an Island community, we need to bombard the Legislature with our concerns through phone calls and emails. We can utilize the HomeRuleFL.com website to send instant emails to the legislators as the bill moves through the House and the Senate. We are at a very serious and critical crossroads with this bill. Failure to speak up now could have long-term negative implications on our quality of life on Anna Maria Island,” Murphy said.
