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Tag: Chief John Cosby

Chief gives hurricane recovery update

Chief gives hurricane recovery update

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 28 emergency city commission meeting, Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby updated commissioners on post-storm progress.

Debris removal

“Debris removal is moving very quickly I’m still very confident that the debris operation will be over before Thanksgiving,” Cosby said. “They’re finishing up the first push today.”

Cosby said a service announcement will be posted on the Bradenton Beach Police Department Facebook page.

“Thursday (Oct. 31) we’re going to start the second push from C and D (construction and demolition),” Cosby said. “This is your last opportunity to get whatever it is you want out there, to put it out there. We are only allowed to do two passes by FEMA regulations so, once we make the second pass, after that, you’re on your own. “

After that is complete, the city will make a second pass for sand.

“In the midst of that we’ll be picking up vegetation and white goods,” he said. “We’re only going to do one pass on vegetation and white goods because there’s not a lot out there.”

Cosby said that the Florida Department of Transportation is in the process of clearing sand and debris from Gulf Drive which he expects will cause some traffic issues for motorists.

“Overall we are really moving quick. We are really way ahead of schedule,” Cosby said.

He estimated the cost of post-storm debris removal in the city would be about $5 million.

“We’re looking at sources to get money,” Cosby said. “We’re sending a letter today to the state requesting immediate pay-down for the cost of the debris, or most of it.”

Condemned properties

City Building Official Darin Cushing has deemed a number of properties unfit for occupancy due to storm damage and is continuing the assessment of properties throughout the city.

“The two things that we’re dealing with is getting all these buildings assessed. We did bring in Steve Gilbert, our old building official, and Darin (Cushing) has another assistant we’re going to meet today to hopefully speed that up a little bit,” Cosby said.

The next step is to compile a list of condemned buildings.

“And then we need to get a list of the buildings that are condemned so we can get letters out to them reminding the property owner that they are responsible for getting rid of that debris on the property,” he said. “If they don’t, then the city will be placing a lien on that property. In the event that we have to take that responsibility on, then we would do whatever is necessary to get that property in order to sell it and cover our losses.”

He said city attorney Ricinda Perry is currently working on that.

“We need a list and we’re going to give them approximately 45 days,” Cosby said. “The letters will go out by certified mail or hand-delivered and see what their intention is with the property. Once the letter goes out, I’m almost sure, but I haven’t talked to Ricinda yet today, we will be placing liens on those properties, because if we have to clean it up, obviously we need to be reimbursed.”

Mayor John Chappie asked about properties that are over the 50% FEMA restoration guideline.

“There’s no reason to pay somebody to clean the place out. If you’re over the 50%, you need to concentrate more on demolition,” Cosby said.

Pool draining

“People want to drain their pools but the storm drains are clogged, so we’re going to be in contact with the company that we use to see what kind of timeline we can get from them to at least do the north drains, that’s where the majority of the pools are,” Cosby said.

Cosby said that property owners on Gulf Drive are allowed to drain into the Gulf of Mexico and the ones on the city’s bayside are allowed to drain into Anna Maria Sound.

“Some of the drains are still under sand,” Cosby said. “ I’m confident that they will be taken care of, we’ll get this company to get those cleaned out and we’ll move forward from there.”

Bridge Street

“Businesses on Bridge Street are either opened or getting ready to open or have decided to make some substantial improvements,” Cosby said. “So that is going well.”

He said some Airbnb properties have been rented.

“They just want to make sure the restaurants are open and we have quite a variety to pick from,” Cosby said.

Trailer Parks

With regard to the Pines Trailer Park Cosby said, “I don’t believe Mr. Kaleta has sent out any letters to his renters of what his intention is.”

“Ricinda and I have called other communities to see how they’re handling the 50% rule and it is by the letter of the law. It is causing some serious heartache. It’s not just our two trailer parks, the three right over the bridge are in the same situation,” he said.

Ferry update

The Gulf Island Ferry is expected to be operational this week.

“We’re shooting for the end of this week,” Cosby said. “I was out there this weekend and it looks good. If we operate this weekend, we’re good to go.”

The state of Florida is handling marine hurricane debris removal, he said.

“We will probably go out this week in our boat,” Cosby said. “We see a couple of obstructions where the ferry comes in and where people have their personal boats. We’re going to see what’s in there and at least flag it or move it out.”

Emergency declaration

Commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the city’s state of emergency declaration for Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The declaration must be renewed every seven days while recovery is ongoing.

AMI Moose Lodge welcomes distinguished visitor

AMI Moose Lodge welcomes distinguished visitor

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Moose International Board of Directors Chairman Paul Curtis visited Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge #2188 Thursday afternoon and evening.

Accompanied by his wife Bonnie, Curtis stopped by the lodge as part of the couple’s tour of Florida Moose Lodges. The couple lives in Camas-Washougal, Washington and their March 3 visit was their first to Anna Maria Island.

During the visit, Curtis accepted a $5,000 donation from the AMI Moose Lodge and he presented Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby with a box of Tommy Moose stuffed animals to share with youngsters. The couple joined local Moose officers and members for a ribeye steak and shrimp skewer dinner prepared by head chef Zack Machleit and his kitchen crew.

AMI Moose Lodge welcomes distinguished visitor
Thursday’s festivities included a steak and shrimp dinner for members and guests. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Curtis currently serves in the highest member-elected position within the Moose fraternity.

“As chairman of the board, we’re the goodwill ambassadors for this fraternity. This is a one-year commitment. During the course of our year, my wife and I spend our time traveling throughout the United States visiting different associations and lodges. We tell them how much we appreciate who they are and what they do, and we thank them for being great Moose members,” Curtis told The Sun.

“We visited four lodges in Florida. This is the last one on the list. This is really fantastic,” Curtis said of the AMI lodge located along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline.

“This lodge has the largest membership in the United States and Canada; and the Florida association is the biggest association we have in the Moose fraternity. There are somewhere around 121 Moose Lodges in Florida. I’m from Washington and we have 23 lodges,” Curtis said.

Bonnie Curtis is a Women of the Moose member and last year she received her senior regent’s honor. In that role, she leads meetings and helps organize lodge events, dinners, memorial services and more back in Washington.

“We won the award of achievement for our state. We help take care of the sick and disabled. We take them to doctor’s appointments and things like that. We’re a big family,” she said.

When asked about their first visit to the lodge and the Island, she said, “I love this lodge. The people are great and they’re so much fun.”

AMI Moose Lodge welcomes distinguished visitor
Honored guests, lodge members and lodge officers gathered for a photo on the AMI Moose Lodge’s Gulf-front patio. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Lodge administrator Byron Dalton said, “It’s an honor to have a man of Paul’s stature at our lodge and for Paul and Bonnie to join us for dinner. It’s great that our members get to meet one of the guys in charge of the fraternity. It’s like a fireside chat for our members and they realize the people at the top of the organization do care about the membership.”

Mooseheart Child City

Curtis received from the AMI Moose Lodge a $5,000 check made out to Moose Charities in his honor. The money will be used for the new Mooseheart Activity Center (MAC) being built in Mooseheart, Illinois.

Having its own zip code, Mooseheart Child City is a residential childcare facility located on a 1,000-plus-acre campus about 40 miles west of Chicago. Dedicated in 1913, Mooseheart provides housing and care for infants through high-schoolers whose families are unable to care for them.

Regarding the activity center, Curtis said, “It’s the athletic center for the kids on the Mooseheart campus, especially the high school kids. We’re going to tear down the old athletic center and we’ve already started building the new one. It’s going to have bowling alleys, game rooms, workout rooms, a weight center and other stuff kids want to do. On behalf of our kids on the Mooseheart campus and others, we thank this Moose Lodge from the bottom or our hearts. We’re very appreciative.

“We’re also grateful for the 1.2 million Moose members we have throughout the United States and Canada. Without their membership, support and financial donations, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do for our kids on the Mooseheart campus and our seniors on the Moosehaven campus,” he added.

Moosehaven is a private membership retirement community in Orange Park, just outside of Jacksonville.

Tommy Moose to the rescue

During Thursday’s visit, Curtis and lodge President Steve Boniberger presented Police Chief Cosby with a box of Tommy Moose plush toys.

AMI Moose Lodge welcomes distinguished visitor
Police Chief John Cosby, Steve Boniberger, Paul Curtis, Bonnie Curtis and Byron Dalton displayed some of the Tommy Moose plush toys given to the police department. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“These stuffed animals are presented to first responders throughout the United States and Canada. In the performance of their duty, they run into situations where they have to separate the children from the parents. These Tommy Moose stuffed animals don’t solve the problem, but it helps relieve some of the trauma and tension the child may be going through,” Curtis told the members.

“The Tommy Moose program was started about 18 years ago by the supreme governor at that time, Tommy Hatcher, so it’s been known as Tommy Moose ever since. We’re very proud to present these to our first responders everywhere. From coast to coast, Moose members everywhere respect you, admire you, stand by you and will always have your back.”

Cosby told The Sun his officers give the stuffed animals to children whose parents are involved in traffic accidents and other police interactions.

“It’s something nice to give to the kids and it provides them a little comfort,” Cosby said.

Friday morning, the Curtis’ headed to Fort Myers before traveling to Jacksonville for the annual Moose Charities and Moosehaven board meetings.