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Tag: Manatee County

No to deep well injection at Piney Point

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

Dear Commissioners:

ManaSota-88 respectfully requests the Manatee Board of County Commission withdraw the application for an Underground Injection Control Well at Piney Point and place this item on the agenda for the next Manatee County Board of County Commission meeting.

ManaSota-88 continues to oppose construction of any deep injection well in the vicinity of the former Piney Point Phosphate Plant.

Groundwater pollution detection is an inexact science, it is easy to miss a toxic plume. Our knowledge of the health risks of long-term exposure of toxic and radioactive substances in phosphate wastewater is very limited.

There are many problems associated with deep well injection. All wells are subject to failure and there are too many unknowns to safely inject treated or partially treated effluent. The operation of a deep well relies very heavily on predictions and good faith.

Deep well injection is done because liquid wastes that cannot be discharged into surface waters are injected into deep wells. Thus, the worst wastes end up in these wells. If a failure occurs, very little can be done to correct it. If an aquifer is contaminated, it’s too late.

Confining layers don’t confine and effluents will ultimately migrate beyond the point of injection.

Monitoring programs are highly ineffective. Little is known of the chemistry and the biology of phosphate related well-injected wastes, excepting that those wastes move underground.
While the models upon which decisions to inject wastes are based look good on paper, changing conditions in the aquifers can allow wastewater to seep into the groundwater supply, and it would be too late then to correct the problem.

Groundwater is one of our most precious natural resources. Contaminated groundwater is extremely difficult, expensive and time-consuming to clean up. It is impossible to pump and treat all the contaminated groundwater in a plume and some of the contaminants will cling to soil particles and remain untreated in any event.

There are no easy answers to getting rid of the radioactive and toxic wastewater at the former Piney Point Phosphate Plant, however, deep well injection is not a solution that should be considered.

Sincerely,

Glenn Compton – Chairman
ManaSota-88, Inc.
P.O. Box 1728
Nokomis, Florida 34274
(941) 966-6256

Reel Time: The lure of reds

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

Redfish are a favorite target for local anglers and late summer and early fall is a great time to target this versatile gamefish. Redfish are a sort of everyman’s fish in the sense that they take readily to (well presented) live bait, lures and flies. They are also challenging, and when hooked, put up a determined fight.

The flats are one of the best areas to find redfish. During high tides, reds will congregate near the mangroves that line the shore. As the tide begins to fall, they work the edges of the roots searching for minnows, crabs and other crustaceans. As the tide falls they move out with the tide, following the contours of channels, slues and potholes that funnel water off the flats. The reverse happens as the tide rises.

Redfish can also be found in channels and passes near docks, jetties, groins and other structure. Canals that lace the barrier islands also hold redfish. Concentrate on docks with large boats and the beginning and end of the channels. These areas are usually a bit deeper than the surrounding water and are a magnet for redfish. If there is structure, oyster bars or grass nearby, your odds improve.

Although they have a downturned mouth, redfish will often attack a topwater plug.

Anglers who are patient can find reds as they work on and off the flats. Artificials, including topwater plugs, jigs, gold spoons and jerk baits are effective in shallow water. Shrimp, pilchards, and pinfish are good live baits. They are best when free-lined or under a popping cork.

Redfish are an excellent target for fly anglers. They frequent shallow water, are extremely challenging to stalk, tail when conditions allow and take well-presented flies readily when they’re in the mood. One of the best areas to target reds on the fly is shallow grass beds with exposed white sand holes. These areas provide ease of wading and allow the fly angler to spot reds as they move across the flats in search of food. Top flies include baitfish, shrimp and crab patterns.

Redfish in shallow water are spooky creatures, rivaling bonefish as a cagey target. Accurate casts that lead the fish by about 2-3 feet are a must. The fly must be close enough for the fish to see but not too close or they’ll spook. When they spot the fly, keep it in their field of vision, but moving away. If they approach the fly, never slow it down! Match their speed, increasing the strip if they rush the fly.

Unless you’re fishing for reds around structure, you won’t need heavy tackle. Spinning and baitcasting rigs in the 8-10 pound range are just right. Fly anglers can use a 7-9 weight outfit depending on the wind and the size of the fly they’re using. Redfish provide a great challenge and some exciting action. The late summer run is just beginning, so get out there. There’s never been a better time to stalk, catch and release them. Redfish are currently catch-and-release (carefully) only July 16-Oct. 11, 2021 in Manatee waters north of State Road 64/Manatee Avenue.

COVID-19 booster shot available

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

MANATEE COUNTY – If you have a compromised immune system, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you have a booster, or third dose, of a COVID-19 vaccine.

To help keep immune-compromised people safe with the novel coronavirus still a threat in the community, the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County is offering additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to those who qualify for the booster shot.

The Pfizer vaccine was given full approval by the Federal Drug Administration on Aug. 23.

For more information on who qualifies for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, please visit the CDC online.

To receive a booster shot from the DOH, you must make an appointment at the Palmetto Bus Station COVID-19 vaccination site by calling 941-242-6646. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone receiving a booster shot will need to bring their vaccination card and remain in their vehicle while receiving the shot. The Palmetto Bus Station is at 1802 Eighth Ave. in Palmetto.

Booster shots also are available without an appointment at area Publix pharmacy and Walgreens pharmacy locations.

All vaccines and booster shots are available free of charge.

COVID-19 testing is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, One Haben Blvd. in Palmetto. The site offers both PCR and rapid testing.

Additional Manatee County vaccination and testing sites can be found online.

Monoclonal antibody therapy treatments also are available for anyone age 12 and older who is at high risk for severe illness due to COVID-19. The treatment is shown to help prevent hospitalization and death in high-risk patients and is available free of charge.

Manatee Memorial Hospital also will serve as a local location where eligible people can receive a free monoclonal antibody therapy treatment. For more information or to make an appointment visit the state health department online.

Related coverage

 

Anna Maria Elementary reports two student cases of COVID-19

 

COVID-19 cases reach all-time high

 

COVID-19 has changed the meaning of home

Temporary mask ‘mandate’ in effect for students, staff

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

HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County School Board passed a temporary mask mandate for all students and staff – with an opt-out provision – in an emergency meeting today.

A regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m., and while the agenda has not yet been released, it is likely that an extension of the mandate will be discussed, among other COVID-19-related issues.

According to the School District of Manatee County, there have been 129 confirmed COVID-19 cases among students and 50 staff cases countywide since Aug. 10. No cases at Anna Maria Elementary have been reported so far.

As parents lined up to pick up their children on Tuesday, Aug. 10 after the first day of school, AME looked very much like any other first day before the pandemic changed everything.

Some children were wearing masks, but the majority were not. It was the same for faculty as they assisted children to get on the bus or line up the children for parents to pick up.

Kids
Students board the bus on the first day of school at Anna Maria Elementary. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

According to Principal Mike Masiello, many activities such as school plays will return this year after being canceled last year due to COVID. Students and parents also got to attend a live orientation prior to the start of school, something that was done virtually last year. In-person meetings between parents and staff are slated to return this year, at least for now.

“Because of COVID last year, we could only communicate through text and email, but this year we’ve been able to go to parent night and go see the classroom and meet the teachers. Fingers crossed it will stay that way, but we know that could change at any moment,” said Lori Zaworski, while waiting to pick up her first grade daughter on the first day of school.

Zaworski said the decision to wear a mask was left up to her daughter, who chose to go without the mask, but did ask her mother to put one in her backpack in case she changed her mind once she got to school.

School
Anna Maria Elementary students are dismissed on the first day of the 2021-22 school year. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“Personally, I feel that every parent should have their choice regarding the masks. Personally, it hasn’t hit close to me or my family; we haven’t lost anybody close to us. Maybe if we had lost a family member I would think differently, but it appears that if you are young and don’t have a compromised immune system, you’ll live through it. If me or my daughter were to get it, we would take the appropriate precautions and quarantine, but I think we’d be OK,” Zaworski added.

According to Principal Masiello, the school hasn’t had many calls or messages from parents on the mask issue as of the first day of school, but there are parents who feel strongly on both sides.

“We’re perfectly happy to do what the teachers are most comfortable with,” said Scott Hagen, who has a daughter in the second grade. “This whole thing has avalanched into political finger-pointing that everything seems to avalanche into nowadays. I would prefer a mask mandate. I would prefer sending my kids to school knowing they’re safe. I would prefer that my second grade daughter didn’t have to look around the school and see some people wearing them and some people not wearing them.”

Hagen’s daughter is wearing a mask at school. He said they talked about it as a family and given the information, she made the choice to wear the mask.

“I understand the talking point of giving parents control, but if parents don’t like sending their kids to school when masks are mandated, then maybe they can find other options,” Hagen said. “This is about a village, a collective, a group, and we’re trying to keep everybody safe. We are a family that believes in science, and the science is pretty clear on this issue.”

The county has updated its COVID-19 protocols to include the following:

  • All students who are sick or have symptoms will be sent home until they are symptom-free.
  • Take temperature checks daily for all employees and randomly for students.
  • Reinforce and practice proper handwashing techniques among students and staff.
  • Provide and encourage the use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Deep clean schools and busses daily, or in between uses as needed.
  • Make every effort to social distance as much as possible in schools.
  • Provide plastic shields in elementary classrooms and cafeterias where possible.
  • All employees will answer COVID-related questions daily upon arriving at work.
  • Limit non-essential visitors and volunteers to school campuses.
  • Everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated is strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

Updated information regarding changes in policy and protocols is available at www.manateeschools.net.

Red tide respiratory irritation risk remains

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Algae, Outdoors, Red tide.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Red tide continues to pose a risk of respiratory irritation in Manatee and surrounding counties. The Florida Department of Health issued a warning that people may experience respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms, with some people who have breathing problems, such as asthma, experiencing more severe symptoms.

High levels of red tide were detected in water samples at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria on Aug. 9 according to Friday’s Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Medium levels were detected at the Kingfish boat ramp in Holmes Beach and low levels were detected at the Palma Sola Bay Bridge. Current forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.

Respiratory irritation was reported in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Charlotte counties last week.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water and go inside to an air-conditioned space. Wearing masks, especially during onshore winds, is also advised.

Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Charlotte counties.

Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Florida Poison Control Centers have a toll-free 24/7 hotline for reporting illnesses, including health effects from exposure to red tide, at 1-888-232-8635.

COVID-19 cases reach all-time high

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Community News, Health.

New COVID-19 cases in both Florida and Manatee County surpassed previous record highs last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Reduce your risk

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine
  • Wear a mask
  • Wash your hands
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces and
  • Avoid the Three Cs:
    • Closed Spaces. Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation that could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air.
    • Crowded Places. Avoid crowded places with many people nearby; the greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person-to-person.
    • Close-Contact Settings. Avoid close-range conversations and stay at least 6 feet from others.

Individuals over the age of 65 and those with underlying conditions are at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 and should avoid crowds and minimize contact outside the home.

Testing and vaccination sites

Free COVID-19 testing (both PCR and rapid testing) and vaccinations (Moderna) are available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palmetto Bus Station, 1802 Eighth Ave. W. in Palmetto from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. weekdays. No appointment is necessary.

Free testing is also available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto. Rapid testing will be provided. PCR testing will be provided only to symptomatic patients who test negative on the rapid test.

Visitors are asked to bring proof of Florida residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill with a Florida address. For more information, call 941-242-6646.

Vaccinations are also available at CVS, Publix, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores.

Source: Florida Department of Health, CDC

County administrator addresses third COVID-19 staff fatality

County administrator addresses third COVID-19 staff fatality

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

MANATEE COUNTY – A third county employee has died of COVID-19 related symptoms and 41 county employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since early May, according to County Administrator Scott Hopes.

None of the three workers who died were vaccinated, according to the county.

“We’ve had a total of 41 positive cases” from May 3 to July 30, Hopes said during a press conference he held Friday afternoon outside the county administration building in downtown Bradenton.

“We’ve had a total of 105 exposures we’ve identified through contact tracing and we’ve had three deaths. Five of our positive cases in the past couple of weeks have been in fully vaccinated individuals,” Hopes said.

According to the COVID-19 summary report Hopes referenced, three positive cases involved fully vaccinated individuals and two involved partially vaccinated individuals.

Hopes said those 41 cases included involved 16 members of the Utilities Department and five in the Information Technology (IT) Department – including two previously reported IT Department fatalities.

“The largest spread was in utilities. That’s where one of the deaths occurred last week. It was an individual that had been identified by contact tracing. The individual was home on quarantine and became ill rapidly. His spouse is also a utilities worker and found the employee deceased. Subsequently, the spouse has become ill with COVID. They were not vaccinated,” Hopes said, without providing the name of the deceased employee.

“The Utilities Department was one of those areas with a lot of vaccine hesitancy. In addition to that, there was a lot of resistance to wearing masks. That’s why you have so many cases,” Hopes said.

According to Hopes, a planning meeting prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa that included Utilities Department members and representatives from Waste Management and Waste Pro also contributed to an outbreak.

Regarding the IT Department deaths in June, Hopes said, “We finally got the gene sequencing back from the health department, and it was the Alpha variant. Two relatively healthy individuals without comorbidities passed away in that four-day period. That was the Alpha variant and what we’re dealing with today is far, far worse.”

Cases peaking again

“We are seeing case volumes at the levels of the peak last year. The Delta variant is the most prevalent variant. The Delta variant is causing breakthrough infections in individuals that have been vaccinated. We know that there’s a limit to the time with which you’re going to have coverage, and we’re just beginning to realize that we may need to use a booster to give people continuous protection.

Hopes does not anticipate the county requiring its employees to be vaccinated.

“We’re a community of choice. In these departments that have had a large number of cases – and especially when they have a death – we’re seeing an increased desire to get vaccinated. The vaccine works. It worked in the beginning. It still works,” Hopes said.

“This pandemic is not behind us. It is still here. We are in our new normal. This virus has proven to have staying power. We are a thriving community. Our economy is thriving. We cannot let a disease stop that economic growth. It’s here, and quite frankly we know how to minimize the risk of contracting this virus,” Hopes said.

“The county has made available the appropriate masks. That is the known way to mitigate the spread of the virus. We have changed our protocols. We identified why we’re having spread in various departments. We have mitigated that and we have developed new quarantine guidelines in collaboration with the Manatee County Department of Health,” Hopes said.

“But people have to take personal responsibility. Vaccinations work. If you don’t want to be vaccinated, reduce your risk by staying away from people that you know may not be vaccinated. If you’re sick, don’t come to work and don’t come to school. I do believe in the freedom of decision and choice, but I also believe in public health we all have a personal responsibility for ourselves as well as our neighbors,” Hopes said.

Still in the midst of a 10-day potential incubation period for his own exposure to a COVID-positive employee, Hopes said he’s been wearing a face mask when interacting with others inside the county administration building. He also said he’s fully vaccinated.

Latest CDC numbers

According to the CDC website, 21,683 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported in Florida on July 30.

As of Sunday, more than 39,000 Floridians had died of symptoms associated with COVID-19, with 409 deaths reported statewide during the previous seven-day period.

According to the CDC website as of Sunday, 1,547 new COVID-19 cases and fewer than 10 COVID-19 associated deaths were reported in Manatee County during the past seven days. During that seven-day period, positive cases in Manatee County increased by 56%, the percent positive of all those tested increased to 19.86% and there were 98 COVID-19 related hospitalizations.

According to the CDC website, 187,359 Manatee County residents (46.4%) were fully vaccinated as of July 31.

Castles in the Sand

Are we starting to see a normal market?

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand, Real estate | Development.

I’m starting to read in national publications that the real estate market is beginning to return to normal with more new listings hitting the market, especially in what is considered the luxury market. Well, if that’s true, no one told the homeowners and homebuyers in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

But could this be a predictor of the future?

According to Realtor.com, nationally new active listings for June were 43% less than June of last year – an improvement from May of this year, when the difference was 60% from May of last year. Those numbers do show a trend in more active listings nationwide. According to Realtor.com, this change is reflected in the new listing prices going down as well in June.

In addition, Realtor.com is reporting that the number of new listings over $1 million jumped 17.5% for the week ended June 19 compared to the same week last year. By comparison, new listings priced under $350,000 were down 7.4% for the same week. Obviously, lower-end homeowners never have the same flexibility that higher-end homeowners do, especially since many of the higher-end properties are second homes.

Real estate analysts are taking the position that more houses are coming on the market particularly for high-end properties. Owners who decided not to list during the worst of the pandemic when it wasn’t practical to list their homes are now ready to move on. Also, even those homeowners who were not thinking about selling are now rethinking their decision when they see the sale prices zooming up. That said, it is still a hot market with very low interest rates for mortgages. However, per the National Association of Realtors, it is no longer a frenzy where the sky’s the limit.

So, do homeowners in Manatee County believe any of this? It sure doesn’t appear that they do. April, May, and June’s new listings are stable at 797, 787 and 784, respectively. Pending numbers are also very close with April at 1,167, May at 1,180 and June at 1,080. And, there is certainly no negative effect on the median selling price at $405,000 for April, $400,000 for May and $405,305 for June.

That said, the last three month’s new listings, pending listings and median single-family sale price appear to be leveling off. Is it buyer fatigue or are we about to see some changes? Florida has seen a large influx of new residents that started before the pandemic but has accelerated since. We are now the third-largest state in population in the country and have attracted many northeastern homeowners and businesses, alike. So, will Florida follow the national trend?

Maybe. A more normal market would be beneficial for everyone. I just don’t think we’re there yet, regardless of what may be happening in other parts of the country. Florida steps to its own drummer and has always surprised the high-end market in what is considered the more sophisticated areas of the country. But those days may be over.

You don’t need to be a prophet to know that you can’t time the stock market and you can’t time the real estate market. If it’s the right time for you to sell for reasons beyond maximizing your profit, then you must do it. If it’s the right time for you to buy, you need to find the best possible property for your family and try and make it work financially. Thankfully, none of us are Nostradamus. Where’s the fun in being him, anyway?

COVID-19 on the rise in Manatee County

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Archives, Featured.

Concerns about COVID-19 are on the rise, as downward trends in the disease have begun taking an upturn. The Delta variant, a more contagious and severe form of COVID-19, appears largely to blame. The most recent statistics for Manatee County from July 9-15 show an upward trend, and officials advise taking precautions.

New COVID-19 cases                                    657

Percentage change from previous week          up 85%

New hospital admissions                               up 400%

Total cases                                                  40,602

Average daily new cases                               66

Case positivity                                             15.7%, up from 12.6% the previous week

Deaths                                                        689

Level of community transmission                   High

To reduce your risk:

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine
  • Wear a mask
  • Wash your hands
  • Avoid crowds; social distance
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County and the Florida Division of Emergency Management have a one-stop shop for COVID-19 testing and vaccination at the Palmetto Bus Station, 1802 Eighth Ave. W. in Palmetto. The site operates 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekdays. Testing (including both PCR and rapid testing) and vaccinations (Moderna) are free of charge. This is a walk-up operation; no appointment is necessary. Visitors are asked to bring proof of Florida residency (driver’s license, utility bill with Florida address, etc.). For more information, call 941-242-6646.

Source: Centers for Disease Control, Florida Department of Health, Mayo Clinic

Castles in the Sand

Once-in-a-generation housing shortage

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

If you thought the national housing market was complicated, you might want to sit down, because there’s more to this story.

On June 16, The National Association of Realtors (NAR) published a disturbing report about the deficit of available housing. That report was researched and authored by the Rosen Consulting Group and indicates an under-building gap of 5.5 to 6.8 million housing units since 2001, spanning everything from single-family homes to rental units. This is considered a once-in-a-generation crisis, but the question is, how did this happen?

The report says that from 2010 to 2020, new home construction fell 6.8 million short of what was needed to replace aging units. Limited supply has been a driver of rising housing prices for both renters and buyers, complicated by an increase in demand during the COVID-19 crisis. New home construction surged in the early 2000s, then building activity slowed during the 2007-09 recession after the financial crisis. The industry never got back up and running to its previous level before the pandemic hit.

The supply shortage became worse during the past year as builders slowed construction in some regions and delayed purchasing land because of the pandemic. All of that, combined with low mortgage interest rates and remote work, has led to unanticipated demand for single-family homes. At this point, the consensus is that it would take a decade to close a gap of 5.5 million units.

The NAR report goes on to say that the lack of new construction and under-investment has led to an acute shortage of available housing that is a detriment to the health of the public and the economy. They say the gap is so enormous that it will require a major national commitment to build more housing of all types and they are attempting to persuade lawmakers to include housing investment in any infrastructure package enacted. This could include removing barriers to new construction and creating incentives for builders and investors to pursue new housing development.

The NAR’s chief economist, Lawrence Yun, says there is a strong desire for homeownership across this country. However, the lack of supply is preventing too many buyers from moving forward, thus requiring dramatic action to close the gap.

May’s Manatee County sales statistics are out as reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, so let’s take a look.

Manatee County single-family homes closed 66.1% higher than last year and cash sales were up 168.9%. The median sale price was $400,000, up 23.1%, which is almost the same as the national increase of 23.6%. The average sale price was $567,549, up 38.8%, the median time to contract was six days, active inventory was down 71.7% and the month’s supply of properties was .06 months.

Condo sales were up 112.7% more than last year and cash sales were up 250%. The median sales price was $243,595, up 5.9%, and the average sale price was $312,244, up 19.4%. The median time to contract was nine days, active inventory was down 78.5% and the month’s supply of properties was .06 months.

Regardless of these surging numbers, the president of the Realtor Association, Alex Krumm, points out that Florida real estate remains on par or less expensive than the markets from which people are moving. This is keeping our market very desirable and active with little change in sight.

A once-in-a-generation crisis sounds extreme and we in Florida may not feel it to the same degree as people in other regions of the country. But for many, it is a disruption of a life-long goal and for others, it is a more serious crisis.

Tensions mount in city-county parking debate

Tensions mount in city-county parking debate

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

MANATEE COUNTY – The battle between some Manatee County commissioners and city leadership in Holmes Beach continues to rage on after hopes of a cease-fire were diminished earlier in the week.

At the forefront of the disagreement are Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, with backup from Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer. Van Ostenbridge has County Administrator Scott Hopes in his corner for reinforcement.

At the crux of the issues between the county and city are struggles over providing public parking on residential streets near beach access points. Van Ostenbridge is continuing his crusade to force the city’s leaders to open residential roads for beachgoer parking. Titsworth isn’t backing down from her commitment to balancing the needs of residents with the needs of visitors to the Island community.

Monday meeting

The two sides met on June 7 at Holmes Beach City Hall for a sit-down discussion about parking. During the meeting, both sides aired some of their grievances and agreed to work to find solutions.

Titsworth said she’s concerned about the lack of communication between the county and city and some of the inaccurate information being shared as fact at county commission meetings and with the media concerning parking in Holmes Beach.

The city has 1,261 non-permit public parking spaces, including some on residential streets and at beach ends in residential neighborhoods. There also are 642 permit-only spots open to residents of the Island city until 5 p.m. daily. All of these parking spaces are located a quarter-mile or less from the beach. When Holmes Beach leaders created the permit-only spaces on residential streets following COVID-19 closures in 2020, it was the implementation of a city plan that had been in the works for several years. It also eliminated 497 parking spaces citywide. The city needs 476 public parking spaces to qualify for beach renourishment funds.

Titsworth said the parking changes were implemented to help residents who were having a difficult time with beachgoers parking on residential streets. Some of the issues include noise, trespassing, trash and people using residential properties as restrooms and using outdoor hoses for showers, noting that no facilities are available outside of Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. She said it also creates a safety problem as there are no lifeguards present outside of the public beach boundaries.

Sticking to her guns, Titsworth said the city would provide no additional public parking and that it’s up to the county to do so. She added that she’s provided Hopes with the name of a commercial property owner seeking to sell the former Bank of America location on Manatee Avenue, with the suggestion that the county could purchase the property and use it for beach parking. Currently, the city’s codes have no provision for a parking garage to be built.

Van Ostenbridge responded that if additional lifeguards are needed outside of the public beach, it would be up to the city to provide them.

To combat parking issues, he said he would contact Holmes Beach churches to see if they would be willing to provide public parking on their properties. It would require a change in city codes and two public hearings to allow for public parking at local churches for non-church functions.

During a June 8 city commission meeting, Father Matthew Grunfeld, of the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, said his congregation has no interest in being put in the middle of the county and city fight over parking.

At Anna Maria Elementary School, Van Ostenbridge agreed the county would look into supplying a restroom trailer on the property and would contact the Florida Department of Transportation about providing flashing crosswalk signage for the crosswalk at Gulf Drive. Titsworth pointed out that vehicles stopping for pedestrians could cause vehicular traffic delays.

The county representatives also agreed to reach out to FDOT concerning the traffic patterns on stoplights leading down Manatee Avenue to the public beach. Holmes Beach Commissioner Jayne Christenson maintains that part of the problem on the Island isn’t lack of parking but an issue with the timing of the traffic light at Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive, something the city’s been trying to work with the county and FDOT to have remedied for months.

Tuesday tangle

The stalemate between the two sides was short-lived.

During a June 8 Manatee County Commission meeting, the city of Holmes Beach was under consideration for potential tourist development funding. While one smaller project was approved by commissioners, a second larger one was not. Van Ostenbridge took a moment before voting to say that city leaders need to consider the consequences of their actions before voting against providing funding to the city.

Mayor Judy Titsworth was not at the county meeting due to a prior obligation.

During a Holmes Beach commission meeting held the same day, commissioners and the mayor all expressed their displeasure with the decision.

Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Christenson both said they’d agreed to meet with Van Ostenbridge to listen to what he has to say but that they wouldn’t be attempting to broker a deal on the city’s behalf. Christenson also said she would be meeting with Hopes and County Commissioner Carol Whitmore.

“We finally poked the bear hard enough that they’re finally listening to us,” Christenson said. Prior to being a commissioner, Christenson worked with two committees to address parking and traffic in Holmes Beach. She noted that the first presentation of the parking committee concerning residential street parking took place in 2014.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said he feels the county should be more proactive in planning for future growth rather than putting pressure on the city to make up for a lack of planning. Even if city leaders added back the lost 497 spaces, with more than 10,000 people moving to Manatee County every year and an average of 30,000 vehicles coming on to the Island every weekend day looking for parking, adding a few hundred spaces won’t solve the problem, he said.

Kihm said city and county leaders need to have more dialogue and come up with real solutions and the financing to pay for them to address parking and traffic concerns.

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State reviewing Longboat Key’s two-county status

State reviewing Longboat Key’s two-county status

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Longboat Key.

LONGBOAT KEY – Manatee County officials have been notified that a state agency is reviewing the possibility that the Town of Longboat Key may be designated as entirely in Sarasota County or Manatee County.

The northern portion of Longboat Key is currently in Manatee County and the southern portion is in Sarasota County.

On May 27, R. Philip Twogood, coordinator for the Florida Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), sent written notification of the review to Manatee County Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh. County Administrator Scott Hopes was also copied on the one-page letter.

“At the direction of the Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability will examine administrative and fiscal factors related to placing the Town of Longboat Key in either Sarasota or Manatee county. We expect to begin this review immediately. To assure the least disruption to your agency, we would like to meet with you or your representative to discuss the procedures for this review. We will contact your office in the near future to establish an appropriate time and place for the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation,” Twogood’s letter states.

The current county designations result in some Longboat Key property owners paying property taxes to Manatee County and some paying taxes to Sarasota County. The county designations also determine where and how Longboat Key residents vote.

When contacted on Thursday, June 3, Longboat Key Town Manager Tom Harmer said the town was previously notified of the state review.

“We made a request to OPPAGA to review the circumstances around Longboat Key being in two counties. This was discussed with both Manatee and Sarasota counties and one of our legislative priorities was to ask OPPAGA to do an independent review of the challenges of being in two counties,” Harmer said.

State reviewing Longboat Key’s two-county status
Town Manager Tom Harmer awaits the results of the state agency’s study. – Town of Longboat Key | Submitted

“This has been a topic of discussion for a number of years – the challenges and differences with the property appraisers, the tax collectors, the supervisors of elections and the emergency management offices. There are also differences in how the two county governments are funded and what services they provide here. We’ve done our own review, but this would be an independent review,” Harmer said.

In 2018, the town commission held public hearings pertaining to the town’s two-county status. Harmer said no final conclusions were drawn from the 2018 hearings.

“We were just presenting the finding to both county commissions, so we had joint meetings with both Sarasota County and Manatee County. We looked at the differences and some of the challenges we face. One thing that did come out of those hearings was related to emergency management. Both counties agreed that we shouldn’t report to two different counties during an emergency, like a hurricane. The two sheriffs may have different curfews. The two counties may have different evacuations and reentry timings. We entered into a three-party agreement a little over a year ago that says during an active state of emergency we report through Sarasota County. This applied to the COVID pandemic too,” Harmer said.

“We’ve had discussions with Manatee County and looked for ways to partner with them financially. They agreed to partner with us on our beach renourishment project,” Harmer said.

Harmer provided The Sun with a copy of a March 2021 town presentation titled “Two Counties Challenges.” The presentation notes the total millage rate imposed on Manatee County property owners was 13.87 mills in 2020, compared to 11.7 mills for Sarasota County property owners.

“There’s been no discussion with the town commission on a preference. We’ve provided what we think is factual information to say here’s the difference in the millage rate, here’s the difference in services, here’s the difference in grant opportunities, school board funding and how working with the West Coast Inland Navigation District differs in both counties. The residents have not taken a vote and the commission has not taken a formal position on a particular county at this point,” Harmer said.

“This is really an act of the state Legislature. It’s the state Legislature that would approve it. That’s not something the town can do. Anything that we would do would be more of a non-binding straw ballot or survey. The state is the only one that can move county boundaries,” Harmer said.

Harmer was asked if the facts favor one county over the other.

“It’s a little bit of apples and oranges the way the counties are funded and how we interact with them. That’s why we want to present this to the state Legislature. We want to present the two different financial models for the counties and how it impacts us. We’re looking to the state for recommendations or options on how we address some of these concerns. Some of the concerns are about duplication, some are financial. We’re looking for the state to tell us what we can do and what we should do. Our residents may have different views, the counties may have different views, so why not go to the state and ask for a review of the circumstances and their thoughts on our options,” Harmer said.

“In their notice to us, they said they were moving forward immediately and wanted to complete the report in September. We appreciate them taking this on,” Harmer said.

According to Harmer, the current population of Longboat Key is approximately 7,200 residents.

Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Parking rift between city, county widens over Memorial Day

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

HOLMES BEACH – Memorial Day weekend brought thousands of people to Anna Maria Island to celebrate the holiday weekend, exacerbating the disagreement between Manatee County commissioners and Holmes Beach city leaders over beach parking.

Prior to the start of the weekend, some Manatee County leaders wanted Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth to open more residential city streets for public beach parking. Titsworth refused, and new County Administrator Scott Hopes made a late-night deal on May 28 with the Manatee County School Board, of which he was a member at the time, to use the parking lot at Anna Maria Elementary School for public parking through Memorial Day, though overnight parking was not allowed there. He also allowed for the public to use the parking lot at the Island Branch Library for beach parking after the library closed for the weekend.

While Hopes informed county commissioners of the decision, Titsworth said that he did not provide any notice of the parking allowances to Holmes Beach leaders or police.

If the county’s leaders wish to continue providing public parking at the school and library sites, Titsworth said they’re going to have to work with the city on it.

First, she said the use of the school property for anything other than its intended use requires either a special use permit from the city or an updated site plan approval by city staff and potentially city commissioners.

A temporary special use permit is needed to provide parking one time or sporadically at the site. A site plan amendment would be needed to provide beach parking at the school on an ongoing basis.

Beach parking at the Island Branch Library poses a more difficult challenge for county officials, primarily because the property is owned by the city of Holmes Beach and leased by the county strictly for the library. Providing beach parking in the library parking lot is in violation of the county’s lease for the property, Titsworth said.

If county officials push to provide additional beach parking at the school, Titsworth said she would remove an equal number of spots from residential streets. She said she would not be adding any additional beach parking in Holmes Beach.

Holmes Beach currently has 1,261 non-permit public parking spaces and 642 residential permit-only parking spaces until 5 p.m. daily within a quarter-mile of the beach, including spaces located at beach access points. When city leaders closed off some residential streets to public parking following a COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 of all beach parking spaces, 497 parking spaces were lost citywide.

Hopes did not return calls for comment.

Holiday weekend numbers

After the holiday weekend, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that he counted an average of 31,222 vehicles passing into the city each day from Friday, May 28 through Monday, May 31 for a total of just under 125,000 vehicles. Despite a large number of people in the city, Tokajer said Holmes Beach police officers only wrote 169 parking tickets, and none of those were at the two parking lots authorized by Hopes. Some parking tickets were written for cars parked at AME, but those were written by Manatee County officers patrolling that area, he said.

In a May 28 email to county commissioners, Hopes said that parking at the school would be available in the designated parking lot May 29-31 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and that the county would make sure that all litter, trash and debris was removed from the school parking lot by June 1 at 7 a.m.

While the trash was removed from the school parking lot, Tokajer said that county officials did not make any preparations for the additional trash at beach access points near the school to be collected. He added that he and other city officials heard about the beach parking at the school and library from local media outlets and that he was very disappointed that the city was not included in the conversation with the county officials who made the decision to allow the extra beach parking. In the future, Tokajer said he hopes there will be open communication between city and county leaders.

Titsworth said she felt that other than issues with trash, the impromptu parking at the school and library went well over the weekend. She said that issues with additional parking throughout the city remain, such as the need for additional trash and restroom facilities and lifeguards to be stationed further down the beach than just at Manatee Beach. Without these necessities, Titsworth said a public health and safety issue persists.

As Tokajer and his officers patrolled the parking areas over the weekend, they discovered that the majority of people using the parking areas that county commissioners intended for Manatee County residents weren’t used by residents.

At the parking lot at AME, Tokajer said on Saturday there were 47 cars parked in the lot. When officers ran the plates of those cars, it was noted that only one vehicle was from Manatee County. At the Manatee Beach parking lot, he said there were 335 vehicles parked and less than 10% of those were from Manatee County.

On Memorial Day, Tokajer said he observed a group of six vehicles in a row parked with the occupants unloading for the beach. When asked, he said the occupants of five cars said they were from Orlando and the sixth was from Ocala.

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Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – The ongoing saga of beach parking in the biggest city on Anna Maria Island is hitting a fever pitch over the busy Memorial Day weekend.

In a bid to gain more parking for Manatee County residents and visitors going to the Island’s beaches, county Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge announced during a May 25 commission meeting that he would be asking Holmes Beach officials to reopen street parking that was turned into permit parking for city residents only in the wake of COVID-19 closures. The consideration for making some streets near beaches permit-only parking until 5 p.m. wasn’t a new idea, it was just made easier to implement after all parking was closed due to pandemic shutdowns.

Last week, county commissioners sent a letter to Holmes Beach officials asking them to reopen the parking spaces to everyone in the public – not just the city’s residents – for the busy Memorial Day weekend. Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth denied the request.

If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because trying to demand more parking on Holmes Beach streets for the public on the Island has been an ongoing theme since Van Ostenbridge took office in November. And each time the subject’s been broached, city leaders have denied the request, citing safety concerns for residents and overcrowding during busy times on the Island. Titsworth’s response has consistently been that Holmes Beach residents shouldn’t bear the brunt of the need for more parking on the Island and that county officials should consider alternative transportation options instead of focusing on parking.

With an average of 30,000 people coming to Holmes Beach daily during season and more than that on busy holiday weekends, according to numbers provided by Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, finding a way to accommodate that many cars on a 7-mile island won’t be an easy task. Titsworth suggests people coming from the mainland take advantage of other transportation options, such as the beach express free bus that allows people to park their cars at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue in the Beachway Plaza and take a bus ride to the Island’s beaches.

To solve the immediate issue of Memorial Day weekend parking, County Administrator Scott Hopes received permission from the Manatee County School Board to open the lots at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach for public parking, though no overnight parking was permitted. Hopes also arranged for public parking at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach after the library closed at 5 p.m. on May 29.

In an email to county commissioners, Hopes said he would personally oversee the launch of public parking at the two sites and that they would be monitored by code officers. He added that the county would be in charge of all cleaning and trash pickup from the two parking areas.

All permit parking spaces in Holmes Beach open to the public after 5 p.m. daily.

Adding to the traffic congestion at the start of the Memorial Day weekend was a Florida Department of Transportation intersection improvement project at the intersection of Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive just in front of the entrance to Manatee Beach.

The project shut down two left-turn lanes at the intersection, one going north on Gulf Drive and another going east on Manatee Avenue from Gulf Drive. Though construction on the project stopped in the afternoon on Friday, May 28, it picks up again for milling and resurfacing overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. June 1-4.

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