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Tag: COVID-19

Bradenton Beach confirms COVID-positive employee

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The city of Bradenton Beach has confirmed that at least one city employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

City Clerk Terri Sanclemente said the city will not identify the employee or confirm other cases in an Aug. 20 email response to an inquiry by The Sun.

“As you are aware, we are a very small city and have to protect the citizens’ and employees’ rights at all costs. With that being said, we have had an employee test positive for the COVID-19 virus. The city does not disclose how many or the names of the impacted individuals,” Sanclemente’s email said.

“The city has implemented protocols in our workplace to help protect both its citizens and employees. There is a checklist that is done every day, and employees are taking temperatures as well as any citizens. We have signs stating you must wear a mask when entering city hall and sanitizing stations at the front and rear entrance, along with sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer and Gamma-MENE spray,” Sanclemente’s email said.

“We are also following the CDC’s guidelines. We are doing our very best to keep everyone’s rights protected and not trying to violate any state or federal laws when replying to questions like yours,” Sanclemente wrote in her response to The Sun.

“Please see the attached policy we have applied historically in the city, and the mayor provides clarification as needed,” her email concluded.

The policy Sanclemente provided is a copy of a 2009 city resolution that pertains to communicable diseases and references the H1N1 virus.

“The supervisor or mayor, after consultation, may order a city board or committee member, city volunteer, independent contractor or employee home if that person reports or shows signs or symptoms of a communicable disease. Persons sent home pursuant to this resolution will not be allowed to return to city facilities or work until they are able to furnish proof or certification from an individual or facility duly licensed to practice medicine that there is no threat of a communicable disease,” the resolution states.

“Employees sent home pursuant to this resolution shall use sick leave time until it is exhausted and then they may use vacation and/or personal days,” the resolution states.

“The supervisor or mayor shall take all necessary measures to ensure that all city facilities exposed to a communicable disease are cleaned and disinfected,” the resolution states.

When a positive COVID-19 test result occurs, that result is reported in association with the tested person’s home zip code and it is not attributed to the person’s workplace or the location where the test occurred.

COVID-19 Data

According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Saturday, Aug. 22 daily COVID-19 data report, 27 positive COVID-19 cases had been reported in Bradenton Beach since the local pandemic began in March.

According to Saturday’s report, there had been 18 reported cases in Holmes Beach, three in Anna Maria, three in Cortez, 6,849 in Bradenton and 10,014 reported cases in Manatee County.

According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) COVID-19 Data Dashboard, an additional 109 non-county residents have tested positive.

Bradenton Beach confirms at least one COVID-positive employee
This graphic illustrates the reported COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths as of Saturday. – FDOH COVID-19 Dashboard | Submitted

According to the COVID-19 Dashboard, 705 people have been hospitalized in Manatee County with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. According to the FDOH daily update, 43 individuals were currently hospitalized in Manatee County with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19 as of Saturday evening.

According to the FDOH Dashboard, 248 people have died in Manatee County with COVID-19, with 117 (47%) of those deaths attributed to residents or employees of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities.

Bradenton Beach confirms at least one COVID-positive employee
This graphic illustrates a recent downward trend in COVID-19 cases in Manatee County. – FDOH COVID-19 Dashboard | Submitted

From Saturday, Aug. 15 to Friday, Aug. 21, 455 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Manatee County. Since Aug. 1, the number of daily reported cases has declined or held steady and there have not been significant daily increases similar to those in July.

As of Saturday, the overall percent positive of all those tested in Manatee County was 11%; the percent positive of those tested the prior day was 3.82%.

Anna Maria Elementary students return

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Schools.

UPDATED Aug. 17, 2020 – HOLMES BEACH – The first school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic began Monday morning as about 195 students showed up for the opening day of classes at Anna Maria Elementary School.

“This is one of the smoothest openings we’ve had. I was very pleased. It went perfectly this morning,” Principal Jackie Featherston said regarding an opening day that included mandatory face coverings, plastic desk shields and social distancing in response to COVID-19.

The opening took place under guidelines adopted in an emergency meeting Friday by the Manatee County School Board and School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders. At that meeting, the board’s policy and operating protocols regarding cloth face coverings and plastic face shields for students, teachers and staff members were revised.

Policy 8450 provides additional flexibility as to when and where plastic face shields can be worn as an alternative to cloth face coverings.

The revised policy was adopted before students who selected the brick and mortar learning option returned to school campuses Monday morning. This includes 82% of the students at AME.

Students who selected the online eLearning option began their new school at home. Those who selected the hybrid learning method will spend some days at school and some days at home.

The revised policy and protocols recommended by Superintendent Saunders now incorporate the latest guidelines included in the “Guidance for K-12 School Administrators on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Schools” issued by the CDC on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Those guidelines were not included in the previous policy and protocols adopted the same day they were issued.

“A face mask must always be worn on school property, facilities, including school buses and/or engaged in school activities in accordance with Board Policy 8450,” according to the policy’s operating protocols.

“CDC recognizes wearing face masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some situations, wearing a face mask may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency or introduce significant safety concerns.

“Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a face mask or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one. Appropriate and consistent use of cloth face coverings may be challenging for some students, teachers, and staff, including:

  • “Younger students, such as those in early elementary school.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties.
  • Students, teachers, and staff with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity,” according to the operating protocols.

“CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators should consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible.

“Teachers and staff who may consider using clear face coverings include:

  • “Those who interact with students or staff who are deaf or hard of hearing, per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • Teachers of young students learning to read.
  • Teachers and students in English as a second language classes.
  • Teachers of students with disabilities,” according to the operating protocols.

Clear face coverings

According to the revised operating protocols, “Clear face coverings are not face shields. CDC does not recommend the use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness for source control. Therefore, considering the CDC guidance, the board will make the following allowances to Board Policy 8450:

“A. Students who need a break from their face mask, may do so with teacher permission provided social distancing can be maintained under specific outdoor circumstances (not indoor).

“B. Employees who need a break from wearing their face mask while on school property, may do so if alone in their own office or classroom or outdoors maintaining social distancing. An employee may not utilize common space, for example a conference room, break room, stairwell or any unoccupied location for a mask break. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations.

“C. While eating breakfast or lunch or while drinking water, no face covering is required while eating or drinking in designated areas as long as social distancing practices are in place.

“D. No face covering is required during physical education classes, recess, or other outdoor activities as long as social distancing practices are in place. Students must wear cloth face masks to and from physical education class and to and from the recess location or activity.

“E. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by students in Grades PreK-5 and students with disabilities only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as either social distancing practices are in place and/or physical barriers of separation are in place between students. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks nor are being used for normal everyday activities and only allowed in this narrow use.

“F. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by teachers in all grade levels only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as social distancing practices are in place between the teacher and the students. A cloth face mask must be worn after specific instruction has been given or when social distancing cannot be followed between teacher and student, and during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks, nor are they being used for normal everyday activities and are only allowed in this narrow use.”

Castles in the Sand

Buy a yard for your Zoom

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

If you look at a lot of waterfront advertising, you see a commonly used phrase – “buy your boat a home.” Now with COVID-19 influencing almost everything in our lives, pretty soon you’re likely to see this phrase, “buy a yard for your Zoom.”

There has been a lot of chatter, including in this space, about the trend of big-city dwellers giving up their small expensive apartments and hitting the trail for the suburbs or moving out of state. Now that owning a single-family home is back in vogue, it’s also realigning itself as one of your top assets.

Since the 2008 financial crisis burst the housing bubble, it’s taken a long time for housing values to return as well as housing preference to return for younger generations. It took COVID-19 to bring both those aspects of the housing market back into play, pushing up values as a new generation is looking at single-family homeownership as an appreciable asset and a more comfortable form of shelter.

The COVID-19 housing bubble that some economists are worried about is different, however, than the one that built up before 2008. This one is driven by the need for more working space to accommodate working and learning remotely for now and for many going well into the future, in addition to recognizing the personal liabilities of living shoulder to shoulder with strangers and the ability to expand geographically where you live and where you work.

The housing bubble prior to 2008 was based strictly on making good investments and turning a quick profit. Homeowners used their homes as cash registers, maxing out their equity, and investors bought up new construction and resales with an eye to flipping for profit – not a place to live. This housing expansion has firmer legs as buyers are literally changing not only their residences but their lifestyles.

Because of this trend, buyers have a different list of wants for their homes, per a survey done by Redfin. The top item they’re looking for is space to work from home and space for children to learn from home, generally a larger home in all areas. They also want more recreational space and a yard, and if they’re giving up their city life they want to pay less. All of this change comes with a more workable floor plan, which now includes gathering areas for the family who may all be working individually in their respective spaces.

Summing up Redfin’s survey of home buyers, 21% of buyers want space to work from home, another 21% said they want more outdoor space and 7% said they want a place for children to learn from home. This is substantially different from the formal dining rooms and living rooms from the past that were ornamental rather than functional.

The real estate market will continue to shift until this virus is beaten, but it will leave radical changes to the market. Right now, sales are way up, inventory is way down and mortgage rates are ridiculously low. We do risk future foreclosures for some homeowners who can’t get on their feet after the virus is gone but there is little doubt the remaining real estate market will look different.

So, if you’re doing a lot of Zoom meetings, kick it up a notch and buy a home with a nice yard as your background, it may also turn out to be your best financial asset. Stay safe.

Center reports positive end of year results

Center reports positive end of year results

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – It was a rough fiscal year for The Center of Anna Maria Island but the nonprofit managed to close the year June 30 with $8,761 in net income, only $945 short of the budgeted $9,706.

The Center’s end of year financials exclude an $84,215 Paycheck Protection Program loan which is planned to be accounted for as government/grant income in the 2020-21 fiscal year. As long as the loan funds are used solely for approved expenses, such as keeping employees on the payroll.

Program revenue and costs ended the year at $293,843, $54,287 better than the $239,556 budgeted, primarily due to $51,712 in direct cost savings.

General, indirect and administrative expenses came in at $514,865 for the year, $56,800 better than budget. After factoring in those expenses, operations ended the year at -$221,022, $111,088 better than budget.

Fundraising is where The Center took the hardest financial hit. After canceled concerts, special events and the Tour of Homes, the nonprofit brought in $447,516 in fundraising revenue, 22% below the budgeted $575,704 amount. Direct fundraising costs amounted to $244,372, $5,200 below budget. After costs, the fundraising cost center ended with $203,143, a loss of $137,988 compared to the budget.

The Center’s total revenue for the year came in at $1,065,914, $172,771 below budget. Total expenses for the year were $1,057,153, $186,826 below budget.

While Executive Director Chris Culhane said in an email to The Sun that a new budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year which began July 1 is almost complete, he added that he doesn’t know when the budget will be approved by the board. The Center’s board meetings have been on hold since early in the year due to COVID-19 shutdowns and precautions. Typically the board members meet once per month at The Center in executive session followed by a meeting open to the public.

Despite previous closures due to COVID-19, The Center remains open to the public with safety precautions in place, including a requirement to wear masks while inside the facility, along with practicing strict sanitization procedures and social distancing.

For more information on the programs currently being offered at The Center and what steps are being taken to ensure guest and member safety, visit the nonprofit online.

Related coverage

The Center receives financial help

Castles in the Sand

COVID causes changes in housing market

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Lots of people these days are telling themselves, “If this is the one life I have to live, maybe I need to set some priorities.” According to national and local real estate sales statistics, a lot of those priorities involve lifestyle and where to live, both of which are being turned upside down.

When the coronavirus hit in mid-March and everything shut down, it seemed like everyone was heading for the hills to hunker down. If you were lucky enough to own a second home in an area where the infection rate was lower and the amenities better, you were among the lucky. Now with the ability to work and educate remotely, those second homeowners are reconsidering turning their second homes into their first homes, completely reversing their lifestyle.

Second home sales in resort and rural communities have seen a surge in recent months. Buyers are looking for second homes where they can comfortably live long term or forever. This is no surprise to Florida generally and our area in particular, where properties are literally flying off the market. As of this writing per realtor.com, here is a quick unscientific analysis of properties for sale vs. properties already pending.

Manatee County has 4,934 properties listed for sale – 35% of them pending. Anna Maria city has 82 properties listed for sale – 30% of them pending. The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 241 properties listed – 24% of them pending. Cortez has 27 properties listed for sale – 22% of them pending.

These are significant percentages of pending properties which backs up the positive June Manatee County sales statistics. Also, in June, Manatee County had 20% more pending single-family homes compared to last June and pending condos were up for the same period by 17.7%.

Not only has the virus had an effect on the second home market, it is also having an effect on the increase of suburban home sales. In recent years, the suburbs were looked on by young singles and families as a very “uncool” place to live.  Brady Bunch 1950s homes where many millennials and generation X young adults grew up had very little draw to this generation, who gravitated to cities and urban centers.

Well, a lot of that has changed since March, and urban dwellers are re-evaluating what’s really important to them and their children and are perceiving the suburbs as safer, cleaner and overall polished, the exact reason their parents and grandparents moved there in the first place. And it’s not only young employees viewing the suburbs differently, it’s also their employers. Working remotely does not require long and expensive commutes into city centers where commercial real estate costs are exorbitant.

Naturally, the suburbs close to big cities like New York City are benefiting the most; moves from New York City to Connecticut have more than doubled from last year. However, the trend is nationwide – what could be bad about a conference call overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

The world is shifting on its axis and it only took a few months and a nasty virus to make that happen. Maybe COVID-19 did us all a favor by forcing us to reevaluate our priorities; it wouldn’t be the first time a major world-wide event compelled us to readjust our thinking, and it won’t be the last time. Stay safe.

COVID-19 claims friend of Turtle Watch

COVID-19 claims friend of Turtle Watch

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured, Obituaries.

BRADENTON BEACH – Morning beachgoers saw Marie Donahue walking the beach nearly every day, finding sea turtle tracks and enjoying the shorebirds, the dolphins and the Gulf of Mexico.

Suzi Fox was one of them. When Fox finished her survey of the beach each day as director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, she would often look up at Marie’s condo on Third Street and Marie would call out, “Coffee and cinnamon buns!”

Fox is heartbroken over the death of her friend from COVID-19 on July 25.

Donahue, 91, of Bradenton Beach, was a longtime friend of Turtle Watch, introduced to sea turtles in the program’s infancy by one of Turtle Watch’s original volunteers, “Turtle Tom” Van Ness, Fox said.

“They were pioneers of Turtle Watch,” she said. “They walked the beach as citizen scientists. She really knew what she was talking about. She caught things others missed.”

For many years, the two women met frequently for lunch.

“I felt so rich with her as my personal friend,” Fox said. “She would hear me out and cheer me up and correct me when needed.”

Donahue was so fascinated by turtles, she traveled to the Galapagos Islands to see them, Fox said. She visited six continents, often with family, and was a lifelong patron of the arts and an avid reader. She volunteered at Tingley Memorial Library in Bradenton Beach and the Anna Maria Historical Society.

“She was well-spoken and kind to everybody,” Fox recalls. “She was such a part of this Island.”

Because of the coronavirus, “We never got a chance to say goodbye,” she said.

“I’m saddened to know there are people who still don’t believe in this virus,” Fox said. “We need to be reminded that we’re losing our own.

“Right now, we have to protect ourselves,” she said. “This season has been a challenge, but I’ve never been more proud of the volunteers. We are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before.”

A Catholic Mass will be celebrated for Donahue. Due to the coronavirus, no memorial gathering is planned.

The great-grandmother is one of 186 people in Manatee County who have died from the coronavirus; 8,733 people in the county have reported having COVID-19 since its appearance locally in March, according to the Florida Department of Health.

On Anna Maria Island, 22 people have reported having the coronavirus in Bradenton Beach since its appearance locally in March, with 12 in Holmes Beach, three in Anna Maria and two in Cortez, according to floridadisaster.org.

Nationwide, 4.6 million cases have been reported, with 154,002 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Turtle nesting down on AMI

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As sea turtle nesting winds down this season, nesting statistics are down from last year’s record of 544 nests to 332 nests.

Among the possible reasons – COVID-19.

When the coronavirus arrived on the Island, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Suzi Fox decided to sharply reduce the number of volunteers who walk the beaches finding and staking off nests and excavating them after they hatch to count the eggshells.

“We have to be safe,” she said, asking that beachgoers avoid approaching Turtle Watchers on the beach and call 941-778-5638 instead.

With a reduced workforce, Fox decided not to count turtle nests or hatchlings in the city of Anna Maria this year, only keeping statistics on Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach nesting and hatching. The permit under which Turtle Watch operates does not require the organization to keep nesting statistics for beaches that are not renourished, she said, and Anna Maria is not included in the beach renourishment project now underway and scheduled to end in October or November.

Renourishment replaces sand on the beach that has been lost to erosion, protecting it from future erosion from storms, and protecting upland buildings and roads.

Nests laid on the bayside of the Island – which is also not being renourished – are not being counted either, and may account for another 50 to 60 nests, she estimated.

Turtles also may be avoiding nesting on the Island’s beaches when they sense renourishment activities, which includes heavy equipment working 24 hours a day under bright lights at night, when turtles nest. Sea turtles typically avoid lights, often returning to the Gulf of Mexico without nesting if they see lights from beachfront buildings, parking lots or streets.

While nesting is not approaching last year’s record, it is still above the 20-year average of 252 nests, according to Turtle Watch statistics.

Statistics on hatchings also are down from record numbers at the start of hatchling season, with 3,095 hatchlings documented so far as having made it to the Gulf from their nests. The record, set in 2018, is 35,788 hatchlings. The 20-year average is 13,123.

The renourishment project has necessitated relocating turtle nests in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach to one beach in Anna Maria unaffected by renourishment, but Fox said that should not affect the number of hatchings.

The hatchlings have three more months to go to catch up – sea turtle season lasts from May 1 to Oct. 31 on Anna Maria Island.

Related coverage

 

Nesting News

Mask requirements on Anna Maria Island

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

Anna Maria Island’s three cities have differing requirements for wearing face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anna Maria

Every person working, living, visiting or doing business in the city of Anna Maria shall properly wear a face covering in any indoor location, other than their home or residence, and maintain social distancing from other people, excluding family members or companions.

Exceptions:

  • Children under the age of 2;
  • People for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition;
  • People working in a business or profession who do not have interactions with other people;
  • People working in an office when all interactions with others are done with social distancing as recommended by the CDC;
  • People eating and/or drinking at a restaurant; provided, however, that face coverings must otherwise be worn in restaurants.
  • People exercising and social distancing at fitness centers.

Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Beach commissioners have not passed a mandate on masks, and unless they do, a Manatee County resolution is in effect in Bradenton Beach.

Everyone must wear a face covering while inside a business.

Exceptions:

  • Situations in which individuals maintain 6 feet or more distance between persons. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation areas of a business establishment. Nor does it apply to employees serving food or beverages.
  • Children under the age of 6.
  • People who have trouble breathing due to a chronic pre-existing condition or people with a documented or demonstrable medical problem.
  • Public safety, fire, and other life safety and health care personnel who are already governed by their respective agencies.
  • Restaurant and bar patrons while eating or drinking. Face coverings must be worn when entering and exiting the establishment and while otherwise standing within 6 feet of other patrons.
  • Individuals inside a lodging establishment, including hotel and motel rooms, vacation rentals and timeshares.

Holmes Beach (expires Aug. 25)

Owners, managers, employees, customers or patrons of businesses must wear a face covering while in that business.

Exceptions:

  • Restaurant customers or patrons while dining and/or consuming beverages while seated at a table;
  • Gym patrons in a workout or class where at least 6 feet of distancing exists with the next closest person;
  • Barbershop or beauty salon customers or patrons when wearing a face covering would reasonably interfere with receiving services;
  • Business owners, managers and employees who are in an area of a business that is not open to customers, patrons or the public, provided that 6 feet of distance exists between employees. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation area of a restaurant or food establishment. When an owner, manager or employee is in their place of employment but not within 6 feet of another person, that owner, manager or employee does not need to wear a mask;
  • Bar patrons while consuming beverages and/or food;
  • A lodging establishment guest when inside of the lodging unit including but not limited to a hotel room, motel room, vacation rental unit, timeshare unit or similar unit.
  • When a customer of a business asserts that he or she has a disability that prevents the individual from wearing a mask, the owner, manager or employee of the business may exclude the individual, even if they have a disability, as they pose a direct threat to the health and safety of employees and other customers, even if asymptomatic, and shall accommodate the disabled individual in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the operations of the business or jeopardize the health of the business’s employees and other customers, such as providing curb service or delivery or other reasonable accommodation.

Related coverage

 

County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

UPDATED July 27 at 11:15 p.m. – MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County now has a mandatory face-covering resolution in place.

On Monday, county commissioners voted 4-3 in favor of adopting and implementing a county resolution that makes face coverings mandatory inside many business establishments and allows for certain exceptions. The face-covering resolution does not apply to outdoor spaces.

Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Betsy Benac, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore supported the face-covering resolution. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Steve Jonsson and Priscilla Trace opposed it.

The resolution was adopted during the special county commission meeting at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto. Monday’s actions were preceded by a similar 4-3 vote on Wednesday, July 22, when the commission majority requested a face-covering resolution be presented at Monday’s meeting, with a more formal and time-consuming face-covering ordinance to follow.

However, after adopting the resolution, the commission voted unanimously to not pursue a face-covering ordinance at this time. Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague said an ordinance that carries greater legal weight could be pursued later if the resolution is challenged in court.

At the recommendation of Clague, the Manatee County resolution is based on the Leon County mask ordinance that recently withstood a court challenge. During Monday’s meeting, Clague said mask mandates in Palm Beach County and Alachua County have also withstood legal challenges.

Dr. Jennifer Bencie and Dr. Edwin Hernandez, of the Manatee County Health Department, addressed the commission and expressed support for a countywide mask mandate.

“If everybody wore a mask it would greatly reduce that potential spread in all of these settings we’ve talked about today,” Bencie said.

After nearly five hours of discussion and public input, Commission Chair Betsy Benac said, “We should not have to mandate this, but the reality is we do have to mandate it because people are not wearing masks. It is about public safety.”

The resolution

As adopted, Resolution R-20-116 states: “It is in the best interest of the county, and furthers the public health, safety and welfare of the county, to require the wearing of face coverings and the displaying of signs in business establishments to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

According to the resolution, “An individual in a business establishment must wear a face covering while in that business establishment.”

The requirements do not apply to:

  • Situations in which individuals maintain 6 feet or more of distance between persons. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation areas of a business establishment. Nor does it apply to employees serving food or beverages.
  • Children under the age of 6.
  • People who have trouble breathing due to a chronic pre-existing condition or individuals with a documented or demonstrable medical problem.
  • Public safety, fire, and other life safety and health care personnel who are already governed by their respective agencies.
  • Restaurant and bar patrons while eating or drinking. Face coverings must be worn when entering and exiting the establishment and while otherwise standing within 6 feet of other patrons.
  • Individuals inside a lodging establishment, including hotel and motel rooms, vacation rentals and timeshares.

“Every business establishment shall display conspicuous signage notifying all persons of the requirement to wear a face covering,” the resolution says.

According to the resolution, the term “business establishment” includes transportation companies such as Uber and Lyft and also applies to mass transit, taxis, limousines, rental cars and other passenger vehicles for hire. It also includes locations where non-profit, governmental and quasi-governmental entities facilitate public interactions and conduct business, and to places of worship.

The resolution defines face coverings as “A material that covers the nose and mouth and that fits snugly against the sides of the face so there are no gaps. It can be made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, silk or linen. Coverings with materials made of multiple layers are highly encouraged. A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand or the cloth face covering can be improvised from household items.”

Clague said plastic face shields are not included because the CDC does not recommend face shields as substitutes for cloth face coverings.

Enforcement and applicability

According to the adopted resolution, a face-covering violation would be a noncriminal infraction that does not authorize the search or arrest of an individual. At the request of the commission, the revised resolution states the first offense of the mask resolution will result in a warning. A second offense could result in a citation that carries a $50 fine, with a $125 fine for a third offense and $250 for each subsequent offense.

“This emergency resolution shall apply countywide within both unincorporated and incorporated areas, provided that any municipal resolution or ordinance addressing the issue of face coverings – either more restrictively or less restrictively – shall supersede this emergency resolution within the applicable incorporated area,” the resolution states.

Clague said the county resolution does not supercede local mask mandates adopted by city governments.

The cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach already have emergency mask ordinances in place.

The city of Bradenton Beach recommends masks but, as of Monday, did not have a formal mask policy in place. Pending future action by the Bradenton Beach City Commission, the county resolution applies to Bradenton Beach businesses and patrons.

“This emergency resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. This emergency resolution shall remain in full force and effect for so long as the local state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic remains in effect,” the resolution states.

Public input

Dr. Cassandra Hafner was one of several physicians who provided public comment in support of a mask mandate.

“Our hospitals are full. Our ICU units are full. We have no Remdesivir. Things are dire in the hospital,” she said.

Emergency room physician Dr. Alicia Rech expressed similar concerns about the lack of local ICU beds.

She then said, “I feel that is a small sacrifice to make to wear a mask to protect other people. I’m afraid to kiss my husband and my kids. It’s terrifying. I’m scared when I see people without masks because I don’t want them to spread it to me.”

Ellenton resident Gary Guerin was one of many who spoke in opposition to a mask mandate.

“It’s not about the masks, it’s about the mandate. This is our freedom you’re talking about here. The word mandate should scare you. How dare you even think about mandating something like this. This is not the way to go,” he said.

Election concerns

During Wednesday’s meeting, Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett pleaded with the commission to enact a mask mandate before the county elections in August.

Bennett said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s already reduced the number of voting precincts for the August elections from 70 to 60, and he’s prepared to go to 55 if needed.

“We’re having such a hard time getting clerks and poll workers for the elections. I have lost close to 50% of the clerks for the elections in Manatee County who are refusing to come because Manatee County doesn’t have an ordinance to make it safe for them. If you want a good election, let’s not suppress the vote. Give me all the help I need,” Bennett said.

City officials question ‘Make a Break For It’ ad

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials expressed concerns about an advertisement the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) recently ran in the Miami Herald that encouraged south Floridians to “make a break” for Anna Maria Island.

Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. John Cosby commented on the CVB ad during the city commission’s Tuesday, July 14 weekly emergency special city commission meeting.

“I let her know that I was disheartened that an ad was going out to encourage people from other communities to come here.” – John Chappie, Bradenton Beach Mayor

The CVB ad ran in the Sunday, July 5 Miami Herald. The ad pictured a couple walking on a beach and featured the same “Make a Break For It” online promotional language that still appears at the CVB website.

“This is it, your chance to escape. If you’re ready for a break from staying inside your home, we have a destination perfect for those ready to break free. Enjoy the wide-open freedom of a serene island beach, the sprawling splendor of nature preserves, and the thrill of outdoor activities on Florida’s West Coast. It’s finally time to plan your escape to Bradenton/Anna Maria Island/Longboat Key, and Make a Break For It,” the Miami Herald ad said.

The ad ran during the same weekend that beaches in Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties were closed for the holiday weekend due to COVID-19 cases increasing in south Florida.

Chappie said he called County Administrator Cheri Coryea about the ad.

“I let her know that I was disheartened that an ad was going out to encourage people from other communities to come here,” Chappie told the commission.

“Apparently, it was a package deal that was purchased a while back. We can’t do that, not now. She understood and they will be talking about it. I also told her that if you’re doing stuff like that at the very least you should own the new reality and highly recommend that if you want to visit our communities you need to mask up,” he said.

Cosby also commented on the ad.

“During the week of the Fourth of July, we had people showing up at the beach at 3 o’clock in the morning. They left Miami, drove over here and were planning to sleep in their vehicles until the sun came up and then go to the beach. We do not allow parking at beaches overnight, so we spent a lot of time moving people out of those beach areas. They were not staying in hotels. They came up strictly for the day. People are coming here on their own. I don’t know how much we have to advertise it,” Cosby said.

Commissioner Ralph Cole expressed concerns about beach closings elsewhere in the state impacting Anna Maria Island beaches.

“When the other counties close their beaches down, it puts a big burden on the rest of the counties around the state, especially on the super busy weekends. I’d really like to see them rethink their ideas of closing their beaches down,” Cole said.

“Over the Fourth of July, we got a lot of people from Broward County and Dade County because they closed their beaches. Those people probably would have stayed put had they had the opportunity to go to their beaches. I think everybody in the state needs to work together. I was kind of disappointed that they closed the beaches on the other coast,” Cole said.

When contacted about the Miami Herald ad, CVB Director Elliott Falcione said via email, “We were given a free advertisement from the Bradenton Herald in the Miami Herald for Sunday, July 5th as part of an added value buy. However, we have not been targeting Miami/Fort Lauderdale with our digital advertising since we relaunched our drive market around June 1st.”

When asked if the CVB was running any promotions in Brazil, another area hard hit by the coronavirus, Falcione said, “The CVB has never placed advertising in Brazil and has no plans anytime in the future.”

As of Monday, the “Make a Break For It” campaign was still active at the CVB website: www.bradentongulfislands.com/make-a-break-for-it.

Schools scheduled to reopen on Aug. 17

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County School Board voted 3-2 to start the school year on Monday, Aug. 17.

The previously discussed reopening plan called for schools to open on  Monday, Aug. 10 and that date was changed when the plan was formally approved by the board during a special school board meeting Tuesday evening.

School Board members James Golden, Dr. Scott Hopes and Gina Messenger voted in favor of the amended reopening plan that includes the Aug. 17 opening date. Board members Charlie Kennedy and Dave Miner said they support the plan, but cannot support the Aug. 17 date to reopen schools for in-person learning.

As previously planned, teachers will return to work on Aug. 3 and will now have an extra week to plan, prepare and collaborate in preparation for the students’ return.

For planning purposes, parents have until July 22 to inform their school of their children’s learning option. Parents and children of all grades have three learning options:

Option 1: Attending school in person in a school building five days a week.

Option 2: Full-time online eLearning at home.

Option 3: A hybrid program that includes two days of week of in-school learning and three days a week of at-home eLearning.

The amended and approved reopening plan now allows elementary students to use the hybrid option. The previous reopening plan did not provide the hybrid option to elementary students.

School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said each teacher will teach one style of learning option. Teachers will not be asked to teach three different styles of learning options.

The plan requires all students, teachers and staff to wear face masks when inside a school building or school bus.

Mask waivers will be granted to those who have a written order from a physician, but those with mask waivers will then be required to wear a plastic face shield instead.

The school board will meet again on July 28 and if needed the reopening date can be re-evaluated based on the COVID-19 conditions in Manatee County at that time.

The board approved plan must be submitted to the Florida Department of Education for approval by July 31.

The reopening plan does not currently call for the school year to be extended, nor does it impact the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks for students, staff and teachers.

Saunders said a COVID-19 outbreak among students and/or teachers could lead to school closures and a temporary return to eLearning for impacted students.

For more information, visit the School District of Manatee County website.

Castles in the Sand

COVID-19 hitting the credit market

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Just when you need credit the most it’s becoming more elusive. Americans have always depended on the equity in their homes as a slush fund for an emergency or big-ticket items like tuitions and home repairs. But now, with millions of us out of work, tapping a home’s equity may not be an option.

A few weeks ago, we talked about maintaining a good credit score during these difficult times. As part of the stimulus package, credit cards, auto loans and mortgage loans can take a pause in payments to give consumers some time to get through the pandemic and back to work. The law says lenders that allow borrowers to defer payments can’t report this information to the credit-reporting companies, however, these delays are still having an impact on the credit market in general.

Bankers and lenders are having a difficult time determining who among loan applicants actually has good credit, assuming that not all of the information is being reported. Therefore, they are approving fewer forms of consumer debt. In particular, home-equity lines of credit are being pulled back by lenders just at the time when Americans may be looking for emergency money.

Lenders are trying to protect themselves from the big losses they experienced during the 2008 financial crisis when the real estate market took a dramatic downturn. If you remember, that was when homeowners were using their home’s equity like an ATM machine, and when the crisis hit, the value of the home was underwater and many were foreclosed, leaving the banks and the American taxpayers holding the bag.

Helocs, basically a credit line, and home equity loans are becoming harder to come by as lenders tighten up their application process because of job loss and the potential of home values falling. People who have lost their jobs may no longer qualify, in addition to the difficulty of performing appraisals during the pandemic. Lenders are also raising the credit scores they are willing to accept and/or decreasing the amount of money they’re willing to loan.

Even personal loans, which were always available with shorter repayment terms and higher interest rates, are tumbling. According to Equifax, there were an estimated 79,000 personal loans completed in mid-May compared with 226,000 in mid-March. In addition, new auto loans and leases as well as new credit cards were all down substantially.

With the economy in total confusion, lenders can’t tell if a borrower who has opted to take a deferment of their loan is doing so because of lost income or if they’re simply taking advantage of relief options. Naturally, lenders are taking a very conservative approach to making loans, another reason why consumers should not take a pause on any of their credit cards, auto loans and certainly not their mortgages if they can afford to pay during these times. This action could catch up with them down the road no matter what the federal government’s intention was.

Meanwhile, housing inventory all around the country is dropping, falling 19.7% at the end of April, and the shortage of available properties will surely increase. Of course, the result is home prices moving up – 4.7% at the end of April – since those who can afford to purchase even during these times are looking at historic low interest rates and are taking advantage.

Like many other national disasters we’ve faced, this too shall pass, but not without a lot of financial damage to business and individuals. When the lenders start getting in gear again, they’ll be looking for customers so hopefully homeowners can hang on until then. Stay safe.

Center reopens

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Sports.

The Center of Anna Maria Island reopened on Monday, July 13 after two closures due to COVID-19. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

 

Muted July 4 celebrations at Manatee Beach

Muted July 4 celebrations at Manatee Beach

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The Fourth of July holiday was celebrated a little differently on Anna Maria Island this year due to COVID-19.

Without an official fireworks display and without a parade led by the Anna Maria Island Privateers, the holiday celebrations on the Island were a little quieter, a little calmer and observed differently, even by beachgoers.

Muted July 4 celebrations at Manatee Beach
Early crowds at Manatee Beach over the July 4 holiday weekend maintained social distancing while soaking in the sun on the sand. – Kristin Swain | Sun

At Manatee Beach, the crowds were smaller over the holiday weekend, with those choosing to come out practicing social distancing on the sand, many wearing masks or other face coverings. A staff member from the Anna Maria Island Beach Café was stationed in the breezeway at the door to the gift shop and restaurant making sure that anyone entering the business was wearing a mask or face covering. Members of the Manatee County Code Enforcement team were stationed along the beach and throughout the parking area to encourage social distancing and safe practices.

Out on the beach, groups largely kept their distance from each other, even when in the water.

And while some fireworks still lit the night sky, next year’s official July 4 celebrations promise to be bigger and better.

Castles in the Sand

Add one more problem to the list

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

I was at lunch recently with friends and we talked about new vocabulary words that may come out of the pandemic, like covid brain, covid dining and covid social distancing. Real estate has always had its own set of buzz words, so it’s likely that covid will add several more. How about covid-renovated homes, covid-sized, covid-ready furniture, covid home office, covid learning labs – well, you get the picture.

Unfortunately, about a week ago the Miami Herald published an extensive article about what may be Florida’s newest covid word: “covid wind insurance.”

The Herald didn’t actually call the increase in wind insurance in our state “covid,” but we might as well blame it on the virus since I’m sure there has to be a connection, like the high unemployment rate. According to the Miami Herald, home insurance is getting a lot more expensive in the state, which already has the highest property insurance rates in the country.

The reason for this is the increased premiums in reinsurance. Reinsurance is insurance for insurers or stop-loss insurance. It acts as a buffer for insurers to transfer portions of their risk to other parties. The object is to keep the insurance companies afloat and guarantee there is enough cash to pay claims in the event of a devasting storm with multiple losses.

This year, reinsurance premiums rose by an estimated 26%, the highest since 2005 when Florida experienced back-to-back hurricanes. It frequently takes years to determine the real cost of claims after a storm. For example, Hurricane Irma’s initial estimate of damage in 2017 was around $9 billion, a figure that experts predicted was manageable. However, that initial dollar amount has risen to $17 billion in just three years. Reinsurers also point to the increase in lawsuits and the resulting legal bills for insurance companies pushing up the premiums.

One of the major worries here, in addition to the financial aspect, is homeowners with no mortgages on their property dropping coverage. Lenders require adequate insurance coverage on any properties they hold the mortgage on as a condition of granting the mortgage, but homeowners without mortgages frequently assume the risk of not insuring.

Insurers are already dropping South Florida clients, stating the cost is prohibitive for them to do business. This will increase the number of properties being insured by Citizens, the state-owned insurer of last resort. Obviously, this is bad news for the entire state since all Florida residents will be on the hook to make up any shortfall in funds as a result of a major storm. Florida does have a large pot of money known as the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to fall back on, but adding private insurers is the better way.

There is one way to help mitigate hurricane damage to your residence – build a round home. Round home construction is aerodynamic and in theory prevents wind from building up enough pressure on any one side, avoiding a structural failure. The roof is also constructed with an optimal pitch, deflecting winds and reducing lift. If you’re interested, check out Deltec Homes, an Asheville, NC company that is building these homes along the Atlantic coast.

So, let’s see, we have a pandemic, soaring infection rates in Florida, a busier-than-average hurricane season and now, of course, insurance rates are going up. Part of this is the price we pay for living in paradise and part of it is our covid cross to bear. Stay safe.