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Tag: Holmes Beach

Thanks to the mayor

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

Dear Mayor (Judy) Titsworth,

I want to strongly thank you and any other Holmes Beach commissioners who have stood against county plans to remove Australian pines and the sand and shell parking from Kingfish Boat Ramp. Please do not back down.

It defies logic and all aesthetic considerations that anyone would destroy the perfect first impression people currently get of our community as they descend from the bridge. I find it absurd that people suddenly become environmental purists when it comes to one tree species, as they pave away to their heart’s content, erect a huge bridge, and do all they can to bring more and more automobiles into that same landscape they supposedly are trying to make native again.

The Australian pines offer much-needed shade and wildlife habitat. Apparently, the ospreys and herons do not realize they are not politically correct in their choice to nest and perch in those trees. The beauty of that area is rare, and there are many reasons to keep it looking as it does.

Thank you, Judy, for all your efforts to protect the charm and beauty of this precious home of ours.

I would appreciate it if you would share this letter with the other commissioners, to whom I also send best regards.

Sincerely,

Maro Lorimer

Holmes Beach

Rental issues lead to penalties

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

HOLMES BEACH – Special Magistrate Michael Connolly is giving the family of one property owner time to come into compliance with city codes before facing fines, but not much time.

Connolly ruled against property owner Daniel Spitzer who stood accused of violating the city’s vacation rental ordinance by renting his R-1 zoned property for stays of less than 30 days and advertising for short-term stays. Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said the issues with the property date back to June 2016 and that he has been trying to get Spitzer to come into compliance for years.

Spitzer was unable to attend the July 26 hearing due to being hospitalized with a serious condition, however, his daughter-in-law Marissa Spitzer attended by telephone in his absence. She said that she had only recently found out about the issues with the property when she was notified of the code violation posting at the rental home by a neighbor. She agreed to work to bring the property into compliance but said it might be difficult given her location in New Jersey and lack of access to her father-in-law’s online advertising accounts.

Connolly said that she has until the end of day on Monday, Aug. 8 to remove or alter any advertising for less than 30-day rentals, get a new vacation rental certificate from the city, cancel any short-term rentals booked through the end of the calendar year and provide proof to code officers that all scheduled stays of less than 30 consecutive days have been canceled.

If the property remains out of compliance, the owner could face fines of up to $250 per day.

While Spitzer said she believes she can meet the deadline, she added that she feels it’s unfair to require residential properties zoned R-1 to be rented for a minimum of 30 days while other properties in the city can be rented for seven days. She said her father-in-law relies on the rental income from the property.

City Attorney Erica Augello said that while she understands the family’s plight, the code issues have existed on the property for years with the owner’s knowledge.

Candidate opposes parking garage

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

While Holmes Beach commissioners seek to ban multi-level parking structures, apparently County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge seems to believe a three-story parking garage built at Manatee Beach will address beachgoers’ needs.

It will not.

City commissioners stated the reasons for the ban were the negative impact of an increase in beach vehicular traffic as well as implying that Manatee Beach is either currently at capacity, or close to it during peak days. It is. I did a beach ride-along with the chief on July 4. The umbrellas were nearly touching each other.

That’s with only 400 parking spaces.

Building a three-level parking facility at Manatee Beach would nearly triple the number of parking spaces and exceed the number of spaces at Coquina Beach.

In a stretch of beautiful beach, slightly less than a mile in length, Coquina has 15 individual changing stations, three separate restroom facilities and six lifeguard stations. Manatee Beach has one restroom facility, four changing stations and one lifeguard station – all centrally located.

To match the length of Coquina, Manatee Beach would extend from 30th Street to 48th Street, with the facilities in the middle.

If a parking garage is constructed, where do all these folks go? And how do they get there?

And avail themselves of what amenities?

Certainly, matching or exceeding Coquina parking capacity with a third or a quarter of available facilities seems like a bad way to treat visitors.

Also, non-residential Coquina Beach has its parking spaces stretched out – evenly spaced over the entire beach.

We don’t have that option, as our beach is mainly in residential neighborhoods.

Also, if a parking garage is built at Manatee Beach – where will the 400 beachgoer vehicles park during construction?

Where will beach workers park their dozen or so vehicles?

There will have to be some type of accommodation made for all these vehicles during construction.

Certainly, street parking for more than 400 additional vehicles is not a reasonable accommodation during the construction phase.

If the county wants to build a parking garage, the above issues have to be addressed. But by then, most likely our planned ban will prevent construction.

 

Dan Diggins

Holmes Beach Commission candidate

Tree house owners push for trial date

Tree house owners push for trial date

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

HOLMES BEACH – Tree house owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen may soon be getting their wish – it looks like their case is going to trial.

Manatee Circuit Court Judge Charles Sniffen has ordered attorneys representing the tree house owners and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to attend a Monday, Aug. 8 case management session with the intent of setting a trial date.

In the lawsuit filed in December 2018 by Tran and Hazen against the city of Holmes Beach and FDEP, the couple asks for a temporary injunction to prevent city and state leaders from removing the two-story beachfront structure they built in 2011 at Angelinos Sea Lodge, 2818 Ave. E. and to stop the accumulation of fines against the property owners.

Tran and Hazen’s case against the city asking for an injunction was dismissed in July 2021 but their case against the FDEP continues. During a July 27 hearing, Sniffen denied the FDEP’s motion for summary judgment because an amended complaint had already been filed that nullified the one that was the subject of the case that day.

Tran and Hazen’s attorney, Bruce Minnick, requested that the case go to trial rather than get entangled in more motions in circuit court.

Sniffen advised both parties to determine how they wanted to move forward and prepare to choose a trial date for the case.

The structure has long been a contested issue between the property owners and representatives from both the city and the state. Tran and Hazen contend that before building the structure, they went to the city’s building department and asked if a tree house would require a permit and were told it would not. They proceeded to build the structure on the beach in front of their home and rental property, supporting it with an Australian pine tree and telephone poles disguised as tree trunks.

Later, they learned that not only did they need a building permit, but that the tree house also was built partially on the erosion control line, requiring a permit from FDEP.

The couple applied for FDEP permits but were denied. Attorneys for the department argue that Tran and Hazen had a chance to appeal the denial and did not pursue that route despite asking for the deadline to appeal to be extended twice, which was granted.

In 2013, the tree house was the subject of a city code enforcement board hearing where it was determined that after-the-fact permits would be required or the structure would need to be removed. The couple took the results of the board hearing before Manatee County Circuit Court and the Florida Second District Court of Appeal. Both courts upheld the board’s ruling on the tree house. A 2016 code enforcement special magistrate hearing in the city led to a $50 fine which has been accumulating since July 22, 2015, the date of the Second District Court ruling. That fine is over $125,000 with additional fines and legal fees adding up daily for Tran and Hazen.

When the couple applied for after-the-fact permits with the city, the requests were denied. Former Holmes Beach Building Official Jim McGuinness examined the tree house during his tenure with the city and determined that the structure could not be brought up to current building codes. City leaders began pursuing the option of legally ordering the tree house to be torn down in 2018, a case which is still pending in Manatee County Circuit Court. A temporary stay was ordered in that case in March 2021 which expires on Aug. 31 to allow the parties time to try and work together on a way forward.

A third case related to the tree house also is pending in circuit court to determine the constitutionality of the city’s codes. That case is scheduled for a hearing in late September.

Castles in the Sand

Cash is king in today’s real estate market

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

Are we starting to see an adjustment in the real estate market, maybe, or are only some parts of it changing? One thing that is still very strong relative to the country as a whole are the cash offers being made.

No matter how you spin the sales statistics, which we’ll get to shortly, when it comes to having the edge, buyers with all-cash offers are still the top of the heap. There is a slight downturn in cash offers both nationally and locally, however, the percentage of cash sales is still staggering.

Because of this, buyers are teaming up with family members to consolidate funds for cash offers. Many of these sales are converted to mortgages or home equity loans after closing. Of course, you need to find the cash first and there are suddenly a number of companies that are funding the cash on behalf of the buyers and then taking a fee in the form of a percentage of the cash fronted at a later time when a loan can be put on the property. Some cash offer companies buy the house on behalf of the buyer and then sell it to the buyer. Others give buyers cash to make the purchase themselves.

About 25% of home sales in June were paid in cash according to the National Association of Realtors, near the highest level since 2014. Comparing the national to the local market, the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee for June reported cash sales for single-family properties were about 39%, significantly higher than the national average. Cash condo sales for June in Manatee County were just about 55%, however, I don’t have a national “paid in cash” figure for condos.

So, let’s move on to the overall June sales statistics recorded by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 22.3% fewer properties, the median sale price was $550,000, the same as last month, the percentage was up 37.5% from last year, and the average sale price was $690,524, up 19.8% from last year. The median time to contract is six days and a month’s supply of available properties is up 200% from last year, at 1.8 months. This is because there are 31.5% more new listings this June compared to last, adding to the available inventory.

Condo sales closed 23.6% fewer properties, the median sale price was $356,500, up 27.3%, and the average sale price was $441,868, up 33.2%. The median time to contract is seven days and a month’s supply of inventory is 1.5 months, up 200% from last year. In addition, there are 8.4% more new listings this month compared to June of last year, accounting for an increased monthly supply of condo inventory.

The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee indicates that both Sarasota and Manatee counties are beginning to see more and more homes available for sale compared to last year. This trend will likely continue considering the record high prices and rising mortgage rates. Sellers will get serious about selling and buyers who can qualify for the higher rates will want to buy before the rates start going up again. Nevertheless, even a two-month supply of available properties is still far from the six-month inventory that was always considered a balanced market.

Cash trumps everything in real estate in every market – always has and always will. Keep an eye on the future and the possibility of a sea change to a more level real estate market.

Commissioners work to clean up beach litter

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners are looking at two ordinances to help combat litter and the negative environmental impacts it brings.

The first ordinance would prohibit smoking on the beach and in city parks. The ban would not apply to city parking lots.

Beach and park visitors would not be allowed to smoke any filtered cigarettes while on those properties. City Attorney Erica Augello said that commissioners cannot regulate the smoking of unfiltered cigars.

Reasons for the proposed ordinance include an issue of public health from secondhand smoke and the butts of cigarettes left on the beach that pollute the environment and can endanger wildlife if they make it into the water or are ingested.

Commissioner Carol Soustek, a smoker, said she isn’t in favor of the ordinance because she feels like it’s taking choices away from the public and would be hard to enforce.

“I don’t want to become a police state,” she said. “I don’t want to regulate everything.”

As a 20-year volunteer with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, she said that most of what she saw on the beach was plastic, not cigarette butts.

Commissioner Pat Morton disagreed.

“I don’t want other people’s secondhand smoke,” he said, adding that it’s offensive when you’re not a smoker and that he doesn’t think it’s right for non-smokers to have to pick up and move on the beach when someone lights up around them.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that Holmes Beach police officers don’t see a lot of smokers on the beach, but they do get some complaints about smoking in public areas.

The ordinance is moving to a first reading at an unspecified future commission meeting.

Last straw?

The second ordinance being considered is one banning the sale and distribution of plastic straws.

Before that ordinance moves forward, commissioners instructed the city’s code compliance officers to get input from local businesses on how it would impact their business, what viable alternatives to plastic straws are available and how long it would take them to make the change.

Augello said that plastic straws are the only single-use plastic that commissioners are allowed to regulate.

Parking garages on chopping block

Parking garages on chopping block

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

HOLMES BEACH – Parking garages are one step closer to being officially banned in Anna Maria Island’s largest city.

Commissioners have voted unanimously to pass the first reading of an ordinance banning multi-level parking structures in the city. The ordinance will have a final public hearing and vote in August.

Though parking garages are not currently an allowable use in Holmes Beach, they aren’t exactly prohibited either. Under the proposed ordinance, multi-level buildings with parking would be allowed with parking on the bottom floor. However, any parking above the bottom floor would be prohibited.

City Planner Bill Brisson said that anyone wishing to build a multi-level building with parking on the bottom and a business on an upper floor would likely have to build that structure in the city’s mixed-use commercial district, noting that the ordinance does not prohibit any other type of parking lot from the city.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she doesn’t feel that the addition of a parking garage to the city would help solve any of the parking or traffic concerns of residents or visitors.

Mayor Judy Titsworth presented updated visitor parking numbers to commissioners. She said there are 775 parking spaces available at beach accesses and other public parking areas, another 81 parking spaces at the public beach, 3,702 parking spaces at vacation rental properties and 225 spaces at motels in the city, for a total of 4,783 visitor parking spaces.

Related coverage

 

Parking garage poses problems for commissioners

 

Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

 

Holmes Beach parking changes planned

Public gets first look at proposed city budget

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

HOLMES BEACH – A first look at the city’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year shows increases in most departments, but not in the millage rate.

That doesn’t mean that city taxpayers aren’t in for a property tax increase, though.

Presenting the proposed budget to city commissioners during a July 12 work session, City Treasurer Lori Hill said that she prepared the budget keeping the same 2.25 mills rate as the current fiscal year. But due to a 17% increase in property values citywide, keeping the same millage rate means that owners can still expect to see their property taxes increase for the 2022-23 fiscal year, unless commissioners vote to decrease the millage rate.

While Mayor Judy Titsworth said she’d like to decrease the millage rate, she’s unsure if that will be possible for the coming year due to rising costs. Once city leaders have a better understanding of what funds they can expect from outside sources, she said commissioners would be able to make a more informed decision before the budget is passed prior to the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year.

Hill said that she expects to have more concrete numbers, instead of estimates from state and other revenue sources, by sometime in September.

Commissioners are set to discuss and adopt a maximum millage rate, the rate that they cannot exceed when determining the rate for the 2022-23 fiscal year, during a July 20 regular meeting.

Using a 2.25 mills rate, Hill’s proposed budget shows an increase of $890,358 in ad valorem tax for the city over the current year, upping the amount to an estimated $5,917,325. Hill said she also expects an increase of $555,000 in building permit fees and a $100,000 increase in vacation rental certificate revenue due to the number of units scheduled for renewal in the coming year.

With $10,139,887 in carryover and reserves, the proposed budget shows total revenue estimated at $24,935,231. Expenses are also estimated at $24,935,231, including reserves, to provide the city with a break-even budget for the year.

On the expense side, increased costs mean increased budgets for every city department excluding public works.

A modest $2,099 increase in the mayor/commission budget is planned, primarily due to rising costs. If approved, the budget will increase from $208,506 in the current fiscal year to $210,605.

The general government budget shows an increase to $1,686,174, up $71,075 from the current fiscal year. Much of the increase is due to rising costs for technological services such as email and agenda management services, along with other professional services.

The proposed budget for the Holmes Beach Police Department shows a planned increase of $891,467 to top out at $5,091,806, including grant funds and reserves for vehicle purchases. Some of the grant funds awarded to the department include $290,000 for the purchase of a police boat, $4,000 for bulletproof vests and $348,000 in planned reserve fund expenditures to help defray the $464,000 cost of purchasing eight fully equipped vehicles for the department.

The building department’s budget shows an expected increase of $174,519 to $1,319,121. Much of the planned increase in that department is in compensation and taxes for seven full-time employees including the city planner, professional services and general office supplies. Increases in salaries to accommodate another employee account for $129,039 of the planning budget increase with an additional $38,000 in professional services cost increases for employee drug testing, a consultant for CRS Max recertification and Progressive Building updates and inspections.

Despite increases in salaries, overtime, payroll taxes and professional services, the public works department’s budget shows an anticipated decrease of $36,905 from the current fiscal year to $3,920,861. The change results from the removal of American Recovery Act Program funds of $1,078,088 from the department’s financial calculations to a category of their own. Operating expenses, including street resurfacing, rebuilding trolley shelters, clean water algae removal and other items are planned to increase to $782,895, including an estimated $150,000 from excess concession funds to install lighting at trolley stops and flashing beacons at crosswalks.

The budget for the city’s code compliance department shows a $148,751 increase over the current fiscal year to $789,614, including $100,311 in employee compensation and payroll taxes to cover the cost of adding another employee. A $40,000 increase in court costs for legal services due to appeals and court recorders needed for special magistrate hearings also is planned. Department members also plan to spend $3,000 on a new noise meter and $2,500 on miscellaneous information technology purchases.

Public hearings for the proposed budget are scheduled for Sept. 15 and 27 during city commission regular meetings. Copies of the budget are available to the public in the lobby at city hall, 5701 Marina Drive, and online at the city’s website.

Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation partners with AME

Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation partners with AME

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Schools.

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) will soon be home to the first Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Sciences in the country.

The Academy, named for world-renowned wildlife artist, conservationist and businessman Guy Harvey, will focus on marine sciences, conservation and the arts. A collaboration between the School District of Manatee County and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), the Academy will develop a K-5 curriculum that will include an aquarium room at AME that should be completed by October or November and accompanying art components.

“It is a goal of our school district to bring innovative educational opportunities to our students to expand their career and life possibilities,” Superintendent Cynthia Saunders said. “It’s been a genuine pleasure to work with Dr. Harvey and everyone associated with his ocean foundation to make this academy a reality.”

The collaboration happened quickly after Saunders met representatives from GHOF at a conference. The school’s waterfront location on Anna Maria Island made AME the perfect place to launch the academy, and it didn’t take long before both parties agreed to move forward with the project, scheduled to begin at the start of the 2022-23 school year.

“We are so excited, this is the first one of these in the country,” AME Principal Mike Masiello said. “It’s not just us that will benefit. During the summer, other schools will bus over to us to take advantage of what this Academy has to offer.”

In the near future, the district hopes to develop curricula for Guy Harvey Academies at King Middle School and Manatee High School in Bradenton. Masiello said this will be a benchmark that schools around the country can observe and adopt.

Dedicating most of his life to the environment, Dr. Harvey has devoted his talent, time and resources to protect oceans, fish populations and reef systems through the development of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University and The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Those institutions have made numerous contributions to protecting fish resources and biodiversity in the world’s oceans.

Harvey is also an internationally-known artist and his artwork is regularly featured in galleries, on apparel and on many other products. He holds a degree in Marine Biology from Aberdeen University in Scotland and a Doctorate in Fisheries Management from the University of West Indies.

“I can’t tell you how honored and excited Jessica and I are to be working with you on the creation of the very first Guy Harvey Academy of the Arts and Sciences,” said Dr. Harvey in a video statement with his daughter, Jessica.

“We’re excited to bring a new generation of young people together who will make a difference in saving our oceans,” said Jessica Harvey, who serves as co-chair of GHOF.

The agreement between the School Board of Manatee County and GHOF was signed and adopted at the June 28 board meeting. Doug Evans, chief philanthropy officer for GHOF, was in attendance.

“I don’t think there could possibly be a better fit for the very first Guy Harvey Academy of Arts and Science than Anna Maria Elementary,” Evans said. “You can actually see the entrance to Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from the back of the school.”

The adopted Memorandum of Understanding included a detailed outline of what would be provided, how teacher training would take place and how the Academy would progress over the next five years. Year one includes the aquarium, training materials, educational materials and a certificate of completion for 5th-grade students who complete the program. Year two covers a plan to expand to the 6th-grade curriculum and establish a summer school program. Year three will see the development of 7th– and 8th-grade modules and the beginning of a high school program.

The memorandum also calls for joint efforts in fundraising initiatives for the initial collaboration of three years to support the development and expansion of the program.

July Fourth weekend crowds return to Anna Maria Island

July Fourth weekend crowds return to Anna Maria Island

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island was packed and traffic stretched for more than a mile to get onto the Island most of the weekend as everyone from international visitors to local Floridians flocked to AMI beaches to soak up the sun for the Fourth of July holiday.

Major holidays are always a big draw as visitors look to beat the summer heat.

“We came from Orlando. The traffic was insane, but it’s worth it to be on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world,” said Carlos Ramirez, who was visiting Coquina Beach with his wife and four children. “It took forever to get a parking spot, and now that we have one, we’re not leaving. We brought food to grill and we’re here until the sun sets.”

Ramirez was fortunate to get a parking spot. On Monday, July 4, cars were lined up bumper to bumper, with drivers hoping a parking space would become available at the beaches.

After the sun set on Saturday night, visitors continued to flock to the Island for the return of the Sandbar Restaurant’s annual fireworks display after a sabbatical due to COVID-19.

And the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July parade both delighted beachgoers and further slowed traffic on the Island’s two main roads on Monday.

“The beaches are incredibly crowded. We barely have room to drive our ATVs because there are so many people out there,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said.

Tokajer also addressed the use of Anna Maria Elementary’s parking lot for overflow parking. The lot was free to use July 2, 3 and 4, but not without controversy.

“The school was open for parking Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but in reality it shouldn’t have been,” Tokajer said. “County Administrator Scott Hopes told Superintendent Cynthia Saunders that he would have the flashing beacon for the crosswalk installed before the July Fourth weekend and it was not. It was a dangerous situation with people crossing the road with their families carrying beach gear in an area without a proper crosswalk.”

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Parking garage poses problems for commissioners

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

HOLMES BEACH – Parking is still creating problems for city commissioners.

Commissioners relaunched a conversation concerning banning parking garages in the city during a June 28 work session. Unfortunately for them, that conversation became a bit murky as they started examining regulations concerning off-site parking and parking for businesses that requires drivers to back out onto busy roads.

At the urging of Mayor Judy Titsworth, commissioners agreed to move the ordinance to a first reading for further discussion and revision due to a shortened meeting schedule for the summer.

The discussion began with a talk about disallowing multi-level parking structures, or garages, within the city. Multi-level parking garages currently are not an approved use in any zoning district in Holmes Beach, but could be approved through a special exception. If the proposed regulations pass, the special exception approval avenue would be lost. While commissioners are not opposed to covered parking, the proposed ordinance states that parking can only take place on the ground floor. It does not prohibit a dwelling unit or business on the second floor.

If it passes two public hearings and votes by commissioners, the proposed ban on parking garages would derail plans by Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge to pursue a parking garage.

When the topic was broached previously during a Holmes Beach commission work session, Van Ostenbridge stepped up to the podium during public comment to warn city commissioners away from the proposed ban, stating that he was planning to present a proposal for a parking garage at the county-owned public beach. He left before the discussion began but told Titsworth that he was listening to the meeting on Zoom.

Though commissioners could agree on the parking garage issue, the discussion derailed a bit when they ventured into other items, including how and where to allow off-site parking for businesses. City Attorney Erica Augello warned commissioners that any change they made to current off-site parking regulations would affect existing businesses and commercial properties if those properties ever were to undergo major renovations or need to be rebuilt.

Augello noted that paid parking is already disallowed in all districts in the city.

In an additional parking discussion, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that city leaders had spoken with representatives from Hancock Whitney Bank. During that conversation, he said that while the bank’s representatives were willing to continue the beach parking agreement with the city, they weren’t happy with the arrangement, which was causing issues for bank customers.

He added that the tow-away zone signs placed in the lot by the bank caused confusion for beachgoers and that the parking wasn’t well used by visitors. Tokajer recommended not attempting to re-enter into a beach parking agreement with the bank.

“I can’t find a compelling reason to reopen it,” Commissioner Terry Schaefer said of the lot. He added that the city doesn’t get a benefit from Manatee County by having the lot open to beachgoers after hours and the insurance for the parking costs the city money.

“I think the bank did a really nice public service for our Island and our visitors,” Commissioner Jayne Christenson said. “I commend them.”

Commissioners opted to not move forward with attempting to renew the parking contract.

 

Related coverage

 

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Holmes Beach parking changes planned

Reel Time: Guiding principals

Reel Time: Guiding principles

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

I have always been a great fan of fishing guides. They can provide a terrific initiation to the local waters and are indispensable when angling new destinations. Not only do you get the benefit of their extensive knowledge of where to find fish, but you’ll get a lesson in the natural world as a bonus.

Most guides not only take you to the action, but they will show you some of the area’s most beautiful natural areas. I know many experienced anglers who regularly fish with guides. They know that there is no substitute for the local knowledge gained from being on the water on a regular basis. They also appreciate the convenience of stepping on a boat, being taken to the fish, having the guide fillet fish if they decide to keep any, and not having to clean the boat.

While many people have the mistaken impression that guiding is an easy job, few people really appreciate the rigors of long days on the water. For anglers, an eight-hour day on the water translates into 10 or more hours for the guide. Not only do guides provide experiences that last a lifetime, many work tirelessly to protect the resources that we all too often take for granted.

My first introduction to guiding came in the 1980s when I was new to area waters. A friend invited me to fish with Holmes Beach guide Capt. Scott Moore. That first trip was a revelation to an angler new to the Gulf coast waters. Moore amazed us with his uncanny ability to find fish. He would literally say, “We’ll start over here and catch a trout, then move to that point and find snook and finally fish that mangrove edge for redfish.” And that’s just what we did. He introduced me to snook fishing, taught me lessons that have made me a better angler, and, most importantly, helped me appreciate the need to protect our marine resources.

I learned a lot of what I know fishing with guides, and they have saved me countless hours of frustration with their “tricks of the trade.” I learned how to remove a backlash from a spinning reel, how to find fish by looking for subtle signs, how to remove a hook from my hand, how to throw a cast net and so much more. Guides are not just anglers, but trained specialists that can help you find and catch fish on your own, if you listen and learn.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of a day on the water with one of the many professional guides in our area, I would encourage you to give it a try. When you do the math, it’s one of the wisest investments you can make for your fishing future. It’s also a great way to spend a day with friends and family and introduce kids to “catching.”  You’ll find information on local guides in the pages of The Sun every week, and I’ll share my experiences with the guides I still fish with regularly.

County commissioner accused of theft

County commissioner accused of theft

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

HOLMES BEACH – Manatee County voters are no strangers to political antics when it comes to local elections, but the case of the disappearing election signs has turned serious, with an accusation of theft.

The problem began when Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore removed three campaign signs promoting Jason Bearden, the opponent for her at-large commission seat. Two of the signs were located on private property and one was on city right of way.

During a June 22 press conference held outside Holmes Beach City Hall, Whitmore said that two of the signs she removed were on properties owned by local developer Shawn Kaleta. She said she contacted Kaleta, who said he had not given permission for the signs to be placed on his property.

Whitmore said she removed the signs and took them to the Holmes Beach Police Department, where she made a statement to officers noting that the city’s sign ordinance only allows for political signs to be placed in the city during the 45 days leading up to an election. According to the city’s sign ordinance, candidates cannot start placing their election signs until Saturday, Sept. 24.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that the signs were turned over to the city’s code compliance division to be collected by Bearden.

Once the news of the sign removal came out, Bearden publicly demanded that Whitmore be arrested and charged with theft.

Speaking to The Sun, Tokajer said that Whitmore was not being charged or fined in relation to the sign removal. However, he issued a warning to the community that election signs are to be placed on private property only with the property owner’s permission and that signs can only be legally moved or removed by the property owner, police or code compliance officers.

While Whitmore joked about turning herself in to police during her press conference, she adamantly maintained that “Carol Whitmore did nothing wrong.”

Ultimately, the contest between Whitmore and Bearden will be decided by voters during the Nov. 8 general election. The last day to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 11.

Hit-and-run suspect sentenced to jail time

Hit-and-run driver sentenced to jail time

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Cierra Shannon, 28, of Holmes Beach, was sentenced on June 20 to four years in prison after pleading no contest on April 11 to a first-degree felony charge of leaving the scene of a crash with a death.

She also will serve a minimum of three years of probation, along with 120 hours of community service to be served in a trauma or similar facility, 10 years without a driver’s license, mental health treatment and a victim impact course.

Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Lon Arend handed down the sentence in a courtroom filled with Shannon’s friends and family and the friends and family of the victim, 83-year-old Madelyn Dakin, of Michigan.

Dakin’s husband of 67 years, Gerald, testified during the sentencing hearing that his wife was going to get laundry from their condo rental at Cedar Cove in Holmes Beach when she was struck by a vehicle on Feb. 10, 2021. He said that he tried to give his wife CPR before paramedics arrived at the scene of the accident.

A Holmes Beach Police Department report states that witnesses saw a woman matching Shannon’s description get out of her vehicle, run over to check on Dakin and then get back in the vehicle, fleeing the accident scene.

After Shannon’s vehicle was identified by Holmes Beach police officers using the city’s license plate reader camera system, officers attempted to locate her. After a warrant was issued for her arrest, her attorney contacted officers, giving them a general location of her vehicle on Feb. 11. Shannon turned herself into Bradenton police officers later the same day.

During the June 20 hearing, Dakin’s husband, one of her four sons and Shannon’s psychiatrist all testified, along with others.

Shannon’s attorney, Ronald Filipkowski, asked for Arend to take Shannon’s mental health into consideration when sentencing and reduce the sentence from a mandatory minimum of four years to supervised probation with community service.

Prosecutors asked for a penalty of 15 years in prison.

“There’s no winners here,” Filipkowski said. “This will affect her forever.”

Shannon spoke in her defense, saying that she’s sorry for what happened and that there was nothing she could have done to help Dakin after the accident.

“I am not okay,” she said. “I’m not okay with any of this. It never should’ve happened.”

Shannon went on to pledge to advocate for safer streets for motorists and pedestrians and asked Arend and Dakin’s family to consider the toll the accident has had on her mental health and what a prison sentence would do to her future.

“I didn’t see her,” Shannon said. “I didn’t have time to brake.”

She went on to say that she felt she went into some type of fugue state when she left the scene of the accident and was unconscious for several hours afterwards.

“It’s been a difficult afternoon for everyone here,” Arend said. “Had you stayed at the scene, I wouldn’t be involved.”

He said that with Shannon’s history of driving under the influence that he didn’t feel the accident resulting in Dakin’s death was an isolated incident but that he felt a penalty of 15 years was too steep.

Shannon remains in the custody of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department.

Related coverage

 

Defendant pleads no contest in hit-and-run case

 

Suspect enters not guilty plea in fatal hit and run

 

Suspect in fatal hit and run identified, booked

Fire district to reallocate taxpayer funds

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

MANATEE COUNTY – Property owners who are confused by a six-page letter arriving from West Manatee Fire Rescue District staff are not alone.

The letter, legally required to be mailed to every property owner in the district, covers two separate topics – that the district’s staff is reallocating some taxpayer funds to cover non-transport advanced life support service and that the district’s non-ad valorem assessment will increase for the 2022-23 tax year beginning Oct. 1.

The non-transport ALS service is not new to WMFR or the people it serves in the district, and the assessment rate increase isn’t happening because of the increase in service. In fact, WMFR’s non-transport ALS service has been ongoing for the last few years. Now that it’s fully launched at all three fire stations and the majority of the district’s first responders have been fully trained as paramedics, attorney Maggie Mooney said it’s time for staff to send out a letter informing taxpayers that some of the funds the district receives are being spent to provide the service.

With the non-transport ALS service, WMFR firefighters provide the same critical care service that EMS provides except that they cannot transport patients to the hospital. And the cost of the enhanced service has been factored into the district’s budget for more than three years, meaning that the increase in the assessment rate isn’t directly related to the increase in service.

Reasons for the assessment rate increase include a jump in the personal income growth number used to determine how much a special district like WMFR can increase rates each year, rising costs due to insurance and a new contract with the firefighters’ union, and an attempt to build reserve funds for future large purchases, such as replacement fire engines.

Assessment rates are planned to increase 4% for the new fiscal year over the current rates. For a residential property owner with a home of 2,000 square feet, the rate will increase to $336.22, a $12.94 increase over the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Commercial property owners also will see a 4% increase with the rate increasing to $753.19 for a 2,000-square-foot property, an increase of $28.96.

Anyone who has questions about the non-transport ALS service and how it affects the assessment rate or who wishes to dispute the assessment rate increase
is invited to attend a public hearing on Tuesday, July 19 at 6 p.m. at the district’s administration building at 701 63rd St. W. in Bradenton.