ANNA MARIA – Planning and Zoning Board Chairperson David Haddox vacated his advisory board seat after the board’s Aug. 20 meeting.
Haddox and his wife, Marsha McAllister, sold their Anna Maria home and they’re moving to Blue Ridge, Georgia this week.
When the Aug. 20 planning board meeting began, Mayor Mark Short thanked Haddox for the 2 ½-plus years he served as a Planning and Zoning Board member, including his tenure as the board’s chairperson. Short also thanked Haddox for identifying the many navigational markers and buoys that surrounded the city and went missing during the 2024 hurricanes.
Haddox researched and identified who was responsible for replacing each missing marker and buoy – the city, the county or the state.
“Dave has provided significant guidance to me and our staff on a number of other things as it relates to the waterways,” Short said, noting that Haddox previously served as the commander of the Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron.
“I wanted to publicly thank Dave for all his service that he has provided to the city,” Short said.
The board now consists of Jeff Rodencal, David Johnson, Christine Aaron and recently-appointed member Don Buswell-Charkow. The board members will select a new chairperson during their September meeting.
Applicants sought
The city of Anna Maria is now accepting applications to fill that vacant planning board seat.
“This volunteer board plays a vital role in guiding the growth and development of our community by reviewing land use proposals, zoning changes and development plans in accordance with local ordinances and the comprehensive plan,” the city website says. “Help shape the future of the city of Anna Maria. Apply today.”
On Aug. 20, the planning and zoning board included Jeff Rodencal, David Haddox, David Johnson, Christine Aaron and recently-appointed member Don Buswell-Charkow. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The board meets one Wednesday morning per month. Applicants must be residents of Anna Maria. The commission appointee will serve the remainder of Haddox’s current term, which expires May 8, 2026, with the potential for reappointment. The application form can be downloaded at the city website. Completed applications can be emailed to amadmin@cityofannamaria.com or hand-delivered to city hall. For more information, contact Executive Assistant Barbara Jeffries at amadmin@cityofannamaria.com.
ANNA MARIA – At the request of Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron Commander Matt Kuber and Past Commander and Anna Maria resident David Haddox, Mayor Mark Short proclaimed May 17-23 as National Safe Boating Week in Anna Maria.
David Haddox and Matt Kuber represented the AMI Sail & Power Squadron. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While reading aloud the proclamation during the April 10 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Short said, “National Safe Boating week is observed to bring attention to important lifesaving tips for recreational boaters so they can have a safer, more fun experience out on the water throughout the year.
On average, 650 people die each year in boating-related accidents in the U.S. Seventy-five percent of these fatalities are caused by drowning and the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error or poor judgment, and not by the boat, equipment or environmental factors.
A significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jackets. Therefore, I, Mark Short, do hereby support the goals of the Safe Boating Campaign and proclaim May 17-23 as National Safe Boating Week and the start of the year-round effort to promote safe boating.”
When accepting the proclamation from Short, Kuber said, “The Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron stands ready in our three-fold mission to serve the community. Our first mission is boater education, our second is community service and our third mission is fraternity. Thanks for this opportunity and we hope to provide more services in the future and year-round.”
AMI Sail & Power Squadron Commander Matt Kuber received the mayor’s proclamation. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The AMI Sail & Power Squadron encourages boaters to wear life jackets, take a safe boating class offered by the squadron and get a free vessel safety check offered by the squadron. Learn more about the squadron at www.usps.org/annamaria.
ANNA MARIA – City resident and Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron member David Haddox helped the city determine which buoys and waterway markers remain in place, which markers are missing as result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and who is responsible for replacing them.
Haddox chairs the city’s Planning and Zoning Board, is the Past Commander of Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron and currently serves as Rear Commander for America’s Boating Club | United States Power Squadrons.
When presenting his findings to the Anna Maria City Commission on April 10, Haddox said, “The mayor asked me, based on my power squadron experience, to assist him with a program to try to identify waterway markers surrounding the city of Anna Maria that are missing or off-station.”
He used the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) interactive online Uniform Waterway Marker Map to identify the locations of the buoys and waterway markers on record with the state agency. Clicking on the icon for each waterway marker identifies its permitted latitude and longitude, the message displayed on the marker, the permit number and more.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, Haddox, AMI Sail & Power Squadron member Jay Winters and the city’s general manager, Dean Jones, went out by boat and visually identified the remaining and missing markers.
They also identified some markers not shown on the FWC map, including markers in Bimini Bay that mark the channel for safe navigation in and out of Anna Maria’s residential canals and five nautical dayboard markers at the entrance to Bimini Bay permitted to the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND). The WCIND markers remain in place but a couple are damaged. According to Haddox, there were no markers in Lake La Vista before the hurricanes hit.
Using PowerPoint and the FWC map, Haddox created a map that indicates which waterway markers remain and which are missing; all but two of the 21 markers that should surround the city of Anna Maria are missing. Using the permit numbers listed on the FWC map, Haddox contacted the FWC and the U.S. Coast Guard to identify the permit holder for each marker in the “string of pearls” that is supposed to surround the city.
The icons marked with a Ø symbol indicate a missing waterway marker; and all but two markers offshore of Anna Maria are missing. The dotted blue line indicates the city limits. – David Haddox | Submitted
The missing markers include four vessel exclusion markers permitted to the city and previously located offshore of Bayfront Park. As the permit holder, the city is responsible for replacing those markers, which prohibit motorized vessels from entering that offshore area often used by swimmers.
“It is a crime to bring a vessel between those markers and shore because we don’t want people and propellors in the same water at the same time,” Haddox said. “The sheriff’s office will be enforcing that once we get those markers put back.”
Haddox said a portion of the vessel exclusion zone created by the initial positioning of the four waterway markers overlaps the channel leading in and out of Lake La Vista. This resulted in boaters inadvertently and unknowingly passing through the vessel exclusion zone. According to Haddox, FWC approved repositioning the replacement markers in a manner that will remedy this concern.
one of the missing vessel exclusion markers was discovered in the channel that connects to Lake La Vista and will be correctly repositioned outside the channel.
Most of the other markers displayed on the FWC map list Manatee County as the permit holder and Haddox said the city would notify the county about the missing markers the county is responsible for replacing. Haddox also contacted Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and the Holmes Beach city planner regarding some missing markers in that city’s waters.
Pier debris
At Mayor Mark Short’s request, Haddox also helped the city obtain FWC approval to temporarily place four “Danger” waterway markers on each side of missing City Pier walkway, where concrete pilings and other debris is submerged or partially submerged where the pier walkway previously stood.
Haddox said unlike the legally enforceable vessel exclusion zones, the “Danger” signs placed near the pier will be informational only and not subject to sheriff’s office enforcement.
“They might see someone doing it and suggest that’s a bad idea, but the vessel exclusion you can actually get a ticket for,” Haddox said.
“Danger” markers will be placed along both sides of the City Pier hurricane debris field where submerged and partially submerged debris poses a potential danger to boaters passing through it. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short said, “I want to thank you and the power squadron for stepping in and helping us with this project. I don’t think we have anybody on staff that even remotely would qualify to do what you guys do and we really appreciate it.”
Short asked Haddox to share some information he obtained on the city’s behalf regarding a WCIND grant program for placing or replacing waterway markers.
“We are applying for reimbursement. The grant, if it’s awarded, will be awarded on Oct. 1, Haddox said. It’s entirely likely this entire project will be paid for WCIND and not cost the city a thing.”
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – From May 18-24, National Safe Boating Week is a reminder about the importance of being a safe boater.
Anna Maria resident David Haddox is a past commander of the Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron. At the national level, he serves as rear commander in charge of basic public education for the United States Power Squadrons, America’s Boating Club.
In recognition of National Safe Boating Week, Haddox shared some U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) annual boating statistics from 2022. The 2023 stats come out later this year.
According to the USCG, there were 4,040 boating accidents 636 deaths, 2,222 injuries, and property damage exceeding $63 million in 2022. Approximately 75% of the reported boating fatalities were the result of drowning and 85% of those victims were not wearing life jackets at the time. Three of every four boaters who drowned were using boats less than 21 feet in length. Where the boater’s instruction history was known, 74% of the fatalities occurred in boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.
According to the USCG, alcohol use is the leading contributor to boating fatalities and was listed as the leading factor in 16% of boating fatalities. Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed and mechanical failure are also ranked as top contributing factors.
There were 173 accidents where at least one person was struck by a propeller, accounting for 182 injuries and 41 deaths.
Haddox shared some Florida-specific boating regulations:
Children under age 6 must wear a properly fitted, USCG-approved personal flotation device (PFD) while on a boat under 26 feet when it is underway.
Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who operates a power vessel of 10 horsepower or greater must have in their possession a Florida Boater Safety Education ID card.
Harassing manatees can lead to a $50,000 fine and up to one year in prison.
“Wearing life jackets saves lives. They are called life jackets for a reason. Take a boating safety course for you, your loved ones and the boating community. The next course starts June 8 and continues June 15,” Haddox said.
The National Safe Boating Council encourages boaters to wear lifejackets. – www.safeboatingcampaign.com | Submitted
The Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club for the Bradenton area, is offering the two-day boating safety course in June. The course is suitable for beginners through intermediate boaters. The cost is $55 per person or $85 for two boaters sharing instructional materials. To pre-register, call 941-447-7845. For more details, visit the squadron’s website.
“Graduates of our course are issued the card by FWC,” Haddox said. “Our club’s goals are to have fun on the water, to teach the public about boating safety, and to provide free vessel safety checks as a community service. We also provide free, voluntary vessel safety checks to ensure operators have the required equipment on board,” Haddox said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – National Safe Boating Week, May 20-26, was an annual reminder for boaters to prioritize safety while enjoying Florida’s waterways.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the state leads the nation with over 1 million registered vessels.
“Unfortunately, each year FWC officers respond to far too many tragic boating accidents that could have been prevented. There were hundreds of accidents reported last year involving almost 2,000 individuals,” FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader Major Rob Beaton said in a recent FWC press release.
According to the organization, 54% of all vessel accidents in 2022 involved collisions, with the primary causes being improper lookout and operator inexperience. FWC encourages boaters to pay attention to their surroundings, always maintain 360-degree awareness and to take a boater safety course.
In 2022, 70% of operators involved in fatal boating accidents had no formal boater education.
“We know that an educated boater is safer on the water,” Beaton said. “Everyone can benefit from taking a boating safety course, it makes for a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone on board.”
FWC encourages boaters to always wear United States Coast Guard-approved life jackets while on the water, as well as to avoid impaired boating.
“FWC officers are always on the lookout for impaired operators and these operators will face arrest if found to be operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” Beaton said.
To report dangerous boating activity, the public can submit anonymous tips by texting 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC” followed by the location and any information about the violation or call 888-404-FWCC (3922).
For a summary of Florida’s boating regulations, available courses and boating safety tips, visit FWC online.
City proclamation
During the May 25 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy read aloud a city proclamation that said in part, “Safe boating begins with boating safety education and vessel preparation. The United States Coast Guard estimates human error or poor judgment accounts for most boating accidents. Basic safety precautions, such as taking a boating safety course, wearing life jackets, staying sober while boating, getting a free vessel safety check to confirm a vessel meets USCG safety requirements and carrying communication equipment can help ensure that boaters stay safe.”
More tips
Anna Maria resident David Haddox is the commander of the Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron, and he provided The Sun with some additional insights.
He said Florida led the nation last year with 457 boating injuries and 70 boating fatalities.
More than 70% of the boating fatalities involve boats that are 21 feet long or shorter. Drowning is the most common cause of boating fatalities (64%) and four of five boater drownings involve boaters not wearing life jackets. At 27%, trauma was the second most common cause of boater fatalities.
Haddox encourages boat operators to wear an engine cut-off switch lanyard so that if the operator falls overboard, the boat will stop instead of motoring away or circling and causing death or injury by propeller strike.
“At the beginning of every trip, brief everyone on board about safety issues – where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them; how to stop and restart the engine; how to make a VHF radio mayday call; where the first aid kit is and where the anchor is,” he advises.
Haddox recommends taking America’s Boating Course. The next one offered by the local squadron begins Monday, June 5 at 6 p.m. and pre-registration is required.
“A state-approved boating safety course like ours is required for any boat operator born on or after Jan. 1, 1988,” Haddox noted.
Visit the AMI squadron online or contact them at 941-477-7845 or at AMISailPowerSquadron@gmail.com. America’s Boating Course is also available online.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – National Safe Boating Week is a great time to have your watercraft inspected and brush up on how to stay safe while having fun on the water.
Anna Maria resident and Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron Commander David Haddox says National Safe Boating Week – Saturday, May 21 through Friday, May 27 – is a good time to consider these sobering statistics on boating safety.
According to the United States Coast Guard’s 2020 Recreational Boating Statistics report, “In calendar year 2020, the Coast Guard counted 5,265 accidents that involved 767 deaths, 3,191 injuries and approximately $62.5 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. There is evidence that boating activity rose significantly during the pandemic – from reports of increased boat sales, insurance policies taken out, insurance claims and calls for towing assistance.
The fatality rate was 6.5 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels, representing a 25% increase from the 2019 fatality rate of 5.2 deaths per 100,000. Compared to 2019, the number of accidents increased 26.3%, the number of deaths increased 25.1%, and the number of injuries increased 24.7%, according to the report. Eight out of every 10 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length, and where the cause of death was known, 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those, 86% were not wearing a life jacket.
Alcohol was listed as the leading factor in 18% of deaths, the report notes.
“There were 247 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller. Collectively, these accidents resulted in 39 deaths and 241 injuries. Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed and machinery failure rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. The vessel types with the highest percentage of deaths were open motorboats (50%), kayaks (15%) and pontoons (9%),” according to the report.
“Only 12% percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator was known to have received a nationally-approved boating safety education certificate. 77% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction.”
Inspections and boating classes
The Anna Maria Island Sail & Power Squadron is affiliated with the United States Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club and America’s Boating Club for the Bradenton Area.
Regarding boating safety instruction, Haddox said the Bradenton chapter of America’s Boating Club offers the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-approved America’s Boating Course several times a year.
“In order to operate a motorboat of 10 horsepower or greater, Florida law requires anyone who was born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, to successfully complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Boating Safety Education Identification Card issued by the FWC,” according to the FWC website.
Commander David Haddox, right, recently reviewed fire extinguisher labeling with vessel owner Mark Pyke. – Marsha McAllister | Submitted
Haddox said the Bradenton chapter also offers a free, voluntary Vessel Safety Check (VSC) for powerboats, personal watercraft, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, SUP boards and surf skis. He said an inspection takes about 30 minutes and can be done on the water or on land, with an annual decal awarded to every vessel that passes inspection.
“VSCs are a great way to ensure you have the required and other equipment to enjoy a safe day on the water, especially with the new cut-off switch and fire extinguisher regulations in effect,” Haddox said.
To register for a course or to schedule a Vessel Safety Check, call or text 941-447-7845 or email amispsbridge@gmail.com.
