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Tag: Manatee County

CARES Act funding applications reopen

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Applications are reopening for local nonprofit managers, small business owners and residents financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to request CARES Act funding through the county.

CARES Act funding applications for nonprofits open Oct. 19 with Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program applications opening Oct. 21 and Manatee CARES Housing Assistance Program applications opening Oct. 28.

The nonprofit funding is only available to expand an existing program for food distribution, including holiday meals, to assist people in recovering from the pandemic. Only food distribution related expenditures are being considered for this round of funding.

A $5,000 grant for the purchase of personal protective equipment and other items needed to reopen safely is also open to applications for nonprofits. Nonprofits that previously received funding through this grant are invited to apply again.

The Recover Manatee Safety First Small Business Grant Program is in its third round and offers up to $50,000 in funding for Manatee County small businesses employing up to 500 people. The funding includes a $5,000 to fund safe operations and up to $45,000 for reimbursement of documented COVID-19 related business losses. Applications are not open to those businesses who’ve already received CARES Act funding.

The Housing Assistance Program provides eligible Manatee County residents with rent and mortgage assistance up to $10,000. Anyone affected by the pandemic with a household income at or below 150% of the area’s median income, $80,400 for a single person or $114,750 for a four-person household, is eligible to apply for funding.

Out of the $70 million in federal CARES Act funding expected to be distributed by Manatee County leaders, more than $6 million has been distributed so far for community health and well-being programs with an additional $10 million given to economic recovery programs, including nonprofits, small businesses and in rental and mortgage assistance.

For more information, or to apply, visit the county’s website.

Churches excluded from county’s face covering resolution

Churches excluded from county’s face-covering mandate

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Churches and all other houses of worship are now excluded from the mandatory face-covering provisions included in a recent Manatee County resolution.

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, county commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of immediately excluding churches and places of worship from the face-covering mandates included in county resolution R-20-116, adopted on July 27.

County Commissioner Carol Whitmore made the motion to exempt houses of worship and to direct the county attorney’s office to present at the next commission meeting an amended resolution reflecting this change.

Whitmore said she made the motion because County Administrator Cherri Coryea and Public Safety Director Jake Sauer ensured the commission that the spread of the COVID-19 virus is currently flattening and declining in Manatee County.

Churches excluded from county’s face covering resolution
County Commissioner Carol Whitmore proposed the face-covering exclusion for churches. – Manatee County | Submitted

Although they supported Whitmore’s motion, commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Betsy Benac and Misty Servia expressed lingering public safety concerns about church congregations potentially contributing to the spread of the virus. Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said houses of worship should never have been included in the resolution.

Commissioner Steve Jonsson cast the only opposition vote. He said this was because of his general opposition to the original resolution, and not because he opposed excluding houses of worship.

In July, Whitmore, Benac, Bellamy and Servia supported the face-covering resolution and Baugh, Jonsson and Priscilla Trace opposed it.

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

According to the original resolution, “The term ‘business establishment’ also includes places of worship.” The language referring to houses of worship is no longer valid and will be removed in the amended resolution.

The county resolution applies to the unincorporated areas of Manatee County, which includes Cortez. It also applies to the cities of Bradenton Beach and Palmetto, which have not adopted their own city-specific face-covering mandates. Face-covering mandates previously enacted in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton do not specifically reference houses of worship.

County Attorney Mickey Palmer and Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague told the commission that removing the houses of worship reference does not diminish the county’s ability to defend the resolution being challenged in a lawsuit filed on Aug. 2 by Joel Tillis – Senior Pastor of the Suncoast Baptist Church in Palmetto – and State Rep. Anthony Sabatini. The lawsuit alleges the county resolution is unconstitutional because it violates the privacy, due process and religious freedom clauses in the Florida Constitution.

Tillis was among the religious leaders who attended Tuesday’s meeting and called for the houses of worship exclusion.

Churches excluded from county’s face covering resolution
Pastor Joel Tillis asked county commissioners to exclude houses of worship from the county’s face-covering mandate. – Manatee County | Submitted

“I do not call into question the intent of your mask resolution. But I do call into question the unintended consequences that have inflicted unnecessary difficulty and strain on one of this nation’s most sacred institutions: that is houses of worship. The resolution redefined houses of worship fundamentally to be no more sacred than a Walmart or Wendy’s. Surely you did not intend that,” Tillis said.

“The resolution is fundamentally unfair to houses of worship. One can reserve a table for 15 at The Cheesecake Factory and take off the masks for two hours to eat and drink, yet to do so in a house of God is to break the very resolution that you have passed. The people that I represent have, are, and will continue to defy what we believe is an unconstitutional and insensitive resolution. I humbly ask for you to provide an exemption for houses of worship,” Tillis said.

When contacted later in the week, Palmer was asked what impact the commission decision has on the still-pending lawsuit.

“We believe that the plaintiff’s lawsuit complaint is rendered moot as it relates to houses of worship. There are other aspects of the plaintiff’s complaint, however, that are unrelated to the houses of worship issue. As to the unrelated issues, those will presumably survive the mootness argument but may very well be disposed of in a forthcoming motion to dismiss,” Palmer said.

Related coverage

 

Pastor and state representative challenge county mask mandate

Castles in the Sand

COVID causes changes in housing market

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMI’s sewage pipe in good shape, county official says

AMI’s sewage pipe in good shape, county official says

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

Could Anna Maria Island find itself in the same situation as Longboat Key, with a sewer pipe leak in the Intracoastal Waterway?

The sole sewer line serving Longboat Key, which runs under Sarasota Bay, broke in mid-June, causing a sewage spill that collected in the mangroves on Long Bar Pointe.

A sole 20-inch sewer pipe leads from Anna Maria Island to the mainland under Sarasota Bay, part of the Intracoastal Waterway, according to Jeff Goodwin, deputy director of the Manatee County Utilities Department.

The pipe, called a “force main,” is between 40 and 70 feet deep, immediately north of the Cortez Bridge, and is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that was fused to create one long pipe, eliminating joints to minimize compromises in the integrity of the pipe, he said.

Installed in 2008, the force main has a life span of 70 years, but the county would replace it if routine evaluations determine that replacement is necessary before then, Goodwin said.

Manatee County, not the three island cities, is responsible for the pipe, according to the county Utilities Department Director Mike Gore.

The pipe requires minimal maintenance, but essential components are on regular preventive maintenance schedules ranging from bi-monthly to yearly, according to Goodwin. County force mains and associated valves are evaluated by staff and consulting engineers every five years to determine replacement schedules based on critical risk factors. Projects are then programmed into the utility department’s capital improvement plan, he said.

The Florida Department of Transportation plan to replace the Cortez Bridge could necessitate the replacement of the pipe, he added.

The force main could have been suspended from the Cortez Bridge, but that option could have affected the integrity of the pipe and made it difficult to maintain, according to Goodwin, adding that portions of the pipe would still have had to be underwater where the drawbridge raises.

Should a leak similar to the one that occurred in the Longboat Key pipe happen, Manatee County workers would respond to the leak as soon as it was identified, he said, procuring tanker trucks to maintain the lift stations on the Island and isolate the section of compromised pipe in order to stop the leak. Workers would then begin the repair or replacement of the pipe and possibly temporarily bypass the breached section of pipe.

The county maintains an inventory of emergency repair parts and essential equipment to expedite response times, Goodwin said, adding that staff receives requisite training on how to properly respond.

Pastor and state representative challenge county mask mandate

Pastor and state representative challenge county mask mandate

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

BRADENTON – Representing Pastor Joel Tillis, attorney and state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-Clermont) announced this morning that a lawsuit has been filed challenging Manatee County’s mandatory face-covering resolution.

The lawsuit names Tillis as the plaintiff and Manatee County as the defendant. Tillis is the pastor of the Suncoast Baptist Church in Palmetto.

The lawsuit complaint was electronically filed late Sunday night in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court and publicly announced at 10 a.m. Monday morning during the Unmasking Liberty Rally held in front of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse.

Adopted by a 4-3 County Commission vote on July 27, the face-covering resolution states, “An individual in a business establishment must wear a face covering.”

The resolution provides several exceptions, including one for those who can maintain 6 feet or more of social distancing inside a business.

The resolution’s definition of “business establishment” includes places of worship.

Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague told commissioners the resolution was based on the Leon County ordinance that has already withstood a court challenge.

Pastor and state representative challenge county mask mandate
County Commission candidate George Kruse attended Monday’s Unmasking Liberty Rally. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The lawsuit seeks emergency injunctive relief and a declaratory judgment. The complaint claims the county resolution is unconstitutional because it violates the privacy, due process and religious freedom clauses in the Florida Constitution.

“Unless an injunction is issued, plaintiff will suffer irreparable harm because his constitutional rights are being violated. Plaintiff seeks declaratory judgment declaring that Resolution 20-116 is illegal and void,” the complaint says.

Lawsuit rally

During Monday’s rally, Sabatini and Tillis addressed approximately 100 mask-less supporters.

Tillis began with a prayer.

“We pray for those that are going through this suffering with COVID-19, but we also pray that your grace would be upon those of us that are suffering the ever-increasing loss of our freedoms,” he said.

Sabatini said, “The mask mandate is illegal because it infringes several parts of the Florida Constitution. We represent a church. Churches should be able to exercise their religion freely. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. There’s no controlled study or direct evidence that masks actually work in society.”

Pastor and state representative challenge county mask mandate
Many rally attendees expressed their views with homemade signs. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Tillis said, “This is not an issue of right or left, Republican or Democrat. This is not even an issue of Trump or Biden. This is an issue of right and wrong.”

He then took exception to churches being defined as businesses.

“They associated the houses of worship somewhere between a Wal-Mart and a Taco Bell and that is unacceptable. We are not a business. And what we stand for is not just for the Christian faith. We stand for all faiths to have their liberty to be able to practice what they believe, apart from interference of the law. This mask resolution effectively interferes with our ability to worship. We also believe that it’s an end-run around rights that were already given to us by the governor. Early on, the governor said churches are essential and this resolution interferes with our essential work in the community. We cannot do our job as ministry under this resolution,” Tillis said.

Additional comments

After his remarks, Tillis was asked about his church services.

“It hasn’t impacted our church because we don’t accept the resolution. We conduct our church as we normally do. We stress that people use whatever precautions they feel necessary in accordance with the CDC guidelines, but we don’t mandate that they do,” Tillis said.

Pastor and state representative challenge county mask mandate
Service and church activities continue as normal at the Suncoast Baptist Church in Palmetto. – Google Maps | Submitted

Sabatini said he’s been involved with 14 mask-related lawsuits in Florida, including his unsuccessful legal challenge in Leon County.

“In my case, a trial court judge disagreed in Leon County. Another judge disagreed with another party similar to ours in Palm Beach County. But until this reaches the Florida Supreme Court there is no definitive law and we’re going to fight this all the way, legally and politically,” Sabatini said.

“When contacted Monday afternoon, County Attorney Mickey Palmer said, “As with all lawsuits against county government, the plaintiff can expect an aggressive defense from the Office of the County Attorney.”

County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

County Commission adopts mandatory mask resolution

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The resolution

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

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

The requirements do not apply to:

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

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

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

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

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

Enforcement and applicability

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

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

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

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

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

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

Public input

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

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

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

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

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

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

Election concerns

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

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

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

First COVID-19 case reported in Anna Maria

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – According to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), the first positive COVID-19 case in Anna Maria became known on Friday, June 26.

The case appeared on the Saturday, June 27 Daily COVID-19 Data Report. FDOH distributes the daily data reports via email and they are also archived at the Florida Division of Emergency Management website, www.floridadisaster.org.

According to Monday’s daily data report, no additional positive cases had been reported in Anna Maria. As of early Monday afternoon, eight positive COVID-19 cases have been reported in Bradenton Beach and seven positive cases have been reported in Holmes Beach since the pandemic began.

As of Monday, 1,954 positive cases had been reported in the city of Bradenton and 2,792 Manatee County residents and 18-non-residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

According to the online FDOH COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard that uses much of the same data, there had been a total of 262 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Manatee County and 130 COVID-19 deaths in Manatee County since the pandemic began. Of those deaths, 88 (67.6%) have been attributed to residents or employees at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities.

As of Monday, 39,610 people in Manatee County had been tested since the pandemic began. Of those tests, 36,783 came back negative and 2,810 came back positive for COVID-19. A positive test result is then attributed to the zip code shown on the tested person’s driver’s license or ID.

As of Monday, 7.1% of all those tested in Manatee County tested positive. The percent positive rate increased by 1% since Tuesday, June 23, when Public Safety Director Jake Sauer reported a 6.1% positive rate to county commissioners.

Sauer told county commissioners the 35208 zip code in Manatee County had the highest number of COVID-19-positive cases in the entire Tampa Bay region. As of Monday, there had been 571 positive cases reported to date in the 35208 zip code that includes Samoset. There had been 343 reported cases to date in the adjacent 35203 zip code that includes Oneco.

County and state increases

Last week saw significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Manatee County and Florida.

The FDOH Dashboard reported 39 new cases in Manatee on Monday, June 22; 114 new cases on Tuesday; 67 new cases on Wednesday; 168 new cases on Thursday; 270 new cases on Friday; 95 new cases on Saturday and 76 new cases on Sunday. During that seven-day period, 829 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Manatee County.

As of Monday, FDOH reported 146,341 positive COVID-19 cases in Florida, with 143,805 of those being Florida residents. There were 3,447 COVID-19 deaths and 14,354 hospitalizations reported since the pandemic began. In Florida, 1,819 (52.7%) of the reported COVID-19 deaths have been attributed to residents and employees at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities.

FDOH reported 3,823 new Florida resident cases on Monday, June 22; 5,452 new cases on Tuesday; 4,965 new cases on Wednesday; 8,813 new cases on Thursday; 9,557 new cases on Friday; 8,424 new cases on Saturday and 5,409 new cases on Sunday. During that seven-day period, 46,443 Florida residents tested positive for COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began, 1,914,151 people have been tested in Florida. Of those, 1,766,402 tests have come came back negative and 146,341 tests have come back positive. As of Monday, the percent positive rate had increased to 7.6% statewide.

County commission has no plans to make masks mandatory

County commission has no plans to make masks mandatory

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

MANATEE COUNTY – This afternoon, Manatee County commissioners informally discussed face masks as they pertain to the COVID-19 pandemic, but no commissioner proposed making masks mandatory or pursuing a county ordinance that would enact such a law.

“I wish every person would have a sense of personal responsibility that they could cause the death of somebody by bringing this home. Do I think it’s right to have an ordinance that mandates you wear a mask? No, because I don’t think it will do any good. As your chair of the Manatee County Board of Commissioners, I think you should wear a mask when you’re out in public,” Commission Chair Betsy Benac said.

Commissioner Misty Servia proposed the commission collectively issue and continue to issue a public health alert using the reverse 911 system and various other communication platforms at the county’s disposal.

When reading aloud her proposed public health alert, Servia said, “COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus and currently a worldwide pandemic with no cure. The current death rate of positive cases in Manatee County is 10%. Manatee County urges all businesses to require patrons and staff, as well as our citizens, to take these smart steps to keep yourself, your family and our community safe:

  • Frequently wash your hands;
  • Don’t touch your face;
  • Maintain a 6-foot social distance from others;
  • Wear a mask when inside buildings and public transit;
  • Avoid large crowds as much as possible:
  • Our vulnerable populations should remain safer at home much as possible.”

Servia’s motion received some initial support but eventually died without a second from another commissioner.

Benac noted business owners have the right to require employees and patrons to wear masks, but that remains a decision each business owner must make.

Public Safety Director Jake Sauer said Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees recently issued a statement similar to Servia’s proposed health alert.

https://amisun.com/2020/06/22/state-health-officer-wear-your-mask/

Servia said she was OK if the commission wanted to issue Rivkees’ message instead of the public health alert she drafted.

Commissioner Priscilla Trace made a motion directing Sauer and County Administrator Cheri Coryea to come up with some form of public health statement to be presented to the commission no later than the conclusion of the commission’s land use meeting on Wednesday, June 24.

The commission voted 5-2 in favor of Trace’s motion. Commissioner Carol Whitmore and Steve Jonsson opposed the motion.

Whitmore said she wanted more time to consider what was being proposed. Jonsson did not explain his vote, but during the discussion, he expressed his opposition to mandatory masks. He questioned how a mandatory mask requirement could be enforced and he stressed the importance of each individual taking personal responsibility for protecting themselves and their loved ones.

During the meeting, Sauer told commissioners positive COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive tests continue to rise in Manatee County. He said those numbers rose significantly in the past week or so and are not attributed to increased testing.

Eight people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, while no cases have been reported in Anna Maria, according to the Florida Department of Health. As of this morning, Florida had 111,973 reported cases with 3,333 deaths. Manatee County had 2,135 reported cases with 129 deaths.

“This indicates we have sustained community spread within our younger age groups,” Sauer told the commission.

Spike in COVID-19 cases follows reopenings

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health.

Manatee County had the highest spike in COVID-19 cases in a month on Thursday, June 11, with 56 new cases reported by the Florida Department of Health.

Statewide cases also spiked that day with 1,663 new cases.

The CDC ranks Manatee County fifth among Florida counties for the number of COVID-19 deaths.

The increases come within three weeks of the May 21 reopening of Florida vacation rentals from state-imposed closures intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Ron DeSantis reopened beaches, restaurants, retail stores and state parks on May 4, hair and nail salons on May 11, and gyms on May 18.

The incubation period for the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is up to 14 days, with more than 97% of people developing symptoms withing 11.5 days of becoming infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

From May 13 to June 11, new cases of COVID-19 trended upward both countywide and statewide.

As of June 11, 1,309 people in Manatee County with the coronavirus have been reported, with 114 people who died from the disease.

The CDC ranks Manatee County fifth among Florida counties for the number of COVID-19 deaths.

No cases were reported in Anna Maria or Cortez and fewer than five were reported in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach combined.

Statewide as of June 11, there have been 70,971 people with COVID-19 in Florida, and 2,877 people have died from the disease – more than the number of people who died in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, which killed 2,753 people, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

The CDC predicts more than 3,500 more cases in Florida by July 1.

Nationwide, 2,038,344 cases of coronavirus have been reported, with 114,625 deaths.

Related coverage

State health officer: ‘Wear your mask’

 

 

Tips for staying safer from coronavirus

Groceries

Order groceries online or use curbside pickup. If you must shop in a store, stay at least 6 feet away from others, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering, go during hours when fewer people will be there and if you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk and shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have underlying medical conditions or are immune compromised. Disinfect the shopping cart with disinfecting wipes if available. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.

Deliveries, mail and takeout

Use delivery services when possible, having bags of ordered food left on a home doorstep. Limit in-person contact if possible. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail.

Banking

Bank online when possible. If you must go inside the bank, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol after any deposit, withdrawal, exchange, drive-thru visit or use of an ATM.

Wash your hands thoroughly when you arrive home.

Getting gas

Use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available). After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Island celebrates bar reopenings

Island celebrates bar reopenings

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Restaurants | Bars.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Florida bars reopened Friday and the Anchor Inn in Holmes Beach was the first one on Anna Maria Island to restart its business.

Anchor Inn owners Darla and Bobby Tingler hosted a soft reopening that began at 12:01 a.m. in accordance with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-139 – an order that allowed bars, bowling alleys, movie theaters, concert houses, arcades and other entertainment businesses to reopen at 50% capacity.

The soft reopening coincided with their son Robbie Tingler’s 21st birthday and Darla checked with Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer to make sure the 12:01 a.m. opening was allowed.

At 12:01, Darla, Bobby and the bartender on duty began serving drinks and Michael Hesselbert was the first to get a pitcher of beer.

“I missed this place. Hopefully, we’ll get a little more normalcy back in our world,” he said.

Joined by Elizabeth Shirey, Dcoy Ducks’ bartender Shane Weaver ordered two shots of Rumple Minze and said, “I’m excited to have a cheers with my friends at the Anchor.”

“I’m excited, but I still think we were picked on because the governor never gave us an explanation about why he held off so long,” Darla said.

“Two-and-a-half months is a lot of days of not getting any information,” Bobby said.

After noting the hand sanitizers and social distancing signs, Bobby said, “I’m allowed 32 or 33 people at 50% capacity and we’ll monitor it the best we can. If there’s a line outside, they’re just going to have to wait.”

Joyful reopenings

The Anchor Inn opened again at 7 a.m. Friday morning. The Drift In in Bradenton Beach also opened at 7 a.m. Tommy Knockers in Bradenton Beach opened at 9 a.m. Dcoy Ducks in Holmes Beach opened around 10:30 a.m. and the Sports Lounge in Bradenton Beach opened at noon.

Drift In bartender Susan McAllister brought homemade coffee cake and doughnuts and brewed a pot of coffee for the occasion.

“I’m excited to be back to work and glad to be getting off unemployment. I hope the country never closes like this again,” she said.

Shortly after 7 a.m., McAllister’s first customer arrived and ordered a draft beer.

“I’m glad they’re open, but I’m going to try to keep my distance. I usually don’t drink this early, but it’s a special occasion,” he said.

A few minutes later, Jim Kosco took a seat and said, “It’s wonderful. I’m missing all my friends and confidantes.”

A return to the Drift In at 3:30 p.m. found longtime patron Donald White sitting at the bar with Dan Cleary.

“It feels like a homecoming. I got my barstool back,” White said.

While working the outside bar, bartender Sharon Bell said, “I’m just over-the-moon happy to be back.”

Dos-Macs performed under a tent in the Drift In parking lot and concluded their afternoon show at 4 p.m. before the rain got heavier.

Inside the neighboring Sports Lounge, several regular customers sat around the bar celebrating the reopening as afternoon gave way to evening.

Down the road at Tommy Knockers, bartender Courtney Call discussed the reopening and said, “It’s about time. We have a good turnout. Everyone’s happy and everyone missed socializing.”

Back at the Anchor Inn, Brad the bartender had worked up a sweat and he jokingly said, “I need a vacation already.”

Around 7 p.m., Dcoy Ducks owner/general manager Richie Brown stood behind the bar and said, “We love being back open and seeing all of our Island friends and loyal customers. We know we’ll be at full 50% capacity later tonight. On Fridays and Saturdays we always have a doorman, but tonight we’re going to have two – and we’ll do that for the first couple weeks to make sure everyone is safe.”

Brown also weighed in on bars being among the last Florida businesses to reopen.

“It’s been about two and a half months. I think it was long overdue for the bars. The rent, the mortgage, the utilities – those bills keep coming in. They don’t stop just because we’re closed,” he said.

Doorman Matt Vinski said, “My job is to make sure people practice social distancing and to keep a count on how many people are coming and going to make sure we stay at our capacity.”

At The Doctor’s Office, craft cocktails to go were sold as business operations resumed.

Meanwhile, Sports Lounge bartenders Courtney McGough and Patrick Edwards were surrounded by friends and familiar faces.

“We are excited to see all those faces we’ve missed for so long,” McGough said.

Inside the Drift In, Concrete Edgar was rocking out again on a Friday night.

Wearing a mask while tending bar, manager Doreen Flynn said, “I took some bar tables out and moved some stools to different spots. It’s a challenge to keep it at 50% inside and I’ve had to ask some people to please go outside where the capacity is 100%. But we missed everybody, and everybody loves us being open.”

Sewage spills threaten our fishery

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

In this column, I express my love of fishing and the outdoors. Through these articles, I have the opportunity to share that passion with a wider audience.

Reel Time
The site of last week’s sewage spill approximately one mile from Sarasota Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

My aim is to disseminate the information I’ve gleaned from years on the water to help readers have a more rewarding experience and introduce them to some of the guides and organizations that support the resource we cherish. As I’ve mentioned before, I feel an obligation to address issues that will affect fishing for this and future generations. Water quality is, I believe, far and away the most pressing issue today. You’ve read in this column about the efforts of Sarasota Bay Watch to educate the public about clean waters with restocking efforts (one million clams in 2020), the Florida Coastal Conservation Association’s (CCA) decades-long mission to protect our coastal fisheries and Suncoast Waterkeeper’s efforts to hold municipalities accountable for provisions of The Clean Water Act. Recent negative impacts to Sarasota Bay – and therefore our fishing future – loom large. If we are to make sure our children and future generations have the opportunities we’ve had, we’ll need to address them now.  Recent events demonstrate the issue.

On June 2, a Manatee County contractor, Pospiech Contracting, punctured a 4-inch force main sewage pipe at the intersection of 34th Street West and 60th Avenue West in Bradenton. The damage resulted in the release of an estimated 1.2 million gallons of untreated sewage near the campus of State College of Florida. The initial estimates (generally high) showed that as many as 810,000 gallons may have reached Sarasota Bay, according to the Manatee County Utilities Department.

The spill collected in a retention pond that overflowed into stormwater piping that eventually flows into Sarasota Bay, according to the report.

The sewage flowed from the rupture from approximately 12:30 p.m. until it was stopped at 6:15 p.m., when efforts began to recover the discharged wastewater. The damaged force main was reported to have been repaired by 10:30 p.m. The county is required to submit a report to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection within 24 hours, and typically the county estimates the number of gallons spilled higher than the actual level that is ultimately calculated. Officials believe that 240,000 gallons were recovered and estimated that not all of the balance reached the bay.

While researching for this article I visited the DEP’s Pollution Notice Portal where four notices were posted from Manatee County on June 7, 2020. The notices all credited the excessive rainfall with contributing to the releases of untreated or partially treated wastewater, at least one of which reached the Manatee River. These releases, often attributed to excessive flooding, are not inevitable but result from a myriad of issues including aging infrastructure which can be exacerbated by what we put down our drains. Large sanitary wipes and grease, including fats and oils, all contribute to the problem.

Bars, movie theaters, more to reopen Friday

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Health.

UPDATED JUNE 3 at 3:45 p.m.

ORLANDO – Gov. Ron DeSantis today announced phase two of his “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step.” plan to reopen bars and entertainment venues in 64 of Florida’s counties beginning Friday, June 5.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are not initially included due to high numbers of COVID-19 cases.

Bars will be able to open at 50% capacity inside and at full capacity outside with social distancing of 6 feet. Restaurants with bars will be allowed to seat customers at the bar with chairs 6 feet apart.

Retail stores and gyms may operate at full capacity with social distancing.

Entertainment venues including movie theaters, bowling alleys and concert venues can open at 50% capacity with the same restriction.

Personal services businesses, including acupuncture and massage studios and tattoo parlors, can reopen under Florida Department of Health guidance.

People over 65 or with underlying medical conditions are strongly encouraged to avoid crowds and take measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19, DeSantis said, adding that groups larger than 50 are discouraged.

People with new cases of COVID-19 in Manatee County in May

 

May 1              18

May 2              12

May 3              13

May 4              48

May 5              39

May 6              16

May 7              2

May 8              12

May 9              22

May 10            7

May 11            13

May 12            13

May 13            8

May 14            12

May 15            4

May 16            18

May 17            6

May 18            33

May 19            6

May 20            40

May 21            12

May 22            10

May 23            18

May 24            11

May 25            4

May 26            6

May 27            11

May 28            16

May 29            12

May 30            9

May 31            14

 

Source: Florida Department of Health

The plan to reopen the state economy from the virtual shutdown declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic recommends starting the second phase after “a downward trajectory of the syndromic and epidemiology criteria while maintaining adequate health care capacity. This will occur when there is no evidence of a rebound or resurgence of COVID-19 cases and satisfies the benchmarks outlined in this plan.”

The number of COVID-19 ICU hospitalizations has dropped since April 12 by about half statewide, DeSantis said during a press conference today in Orlando.

Comparing the 64 of Florida’s 67 counties not hardest hit by the virus with the seven states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases – New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan and Pennsylvania – DeSantis said Florida counties “would be way, way below in terms of the prevalence” of COVID-19. The governor did not compare the entire state of Florida with the rest of the states in the country.

Cases rising in county, state

In Manatee County and statewide, new cases of COVID-19 have been reported by the Florida Department of Health every day since Monday, May 4. That day, in phase one of the plan, Gov. DeSantis opened beaches, outdoor restaurant dining with spacing limits and indoor dining at 25% capacity, and retail stores at 25% capacity and allowed limited use of state parks.

Also that day, 48 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Manatee County; 575 were reported statewide.

The following Monday, May 11, hair and nail salons reopened with enhanced safety protocols.

That day, 13 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Manatee County; 608 were reported statewide.

The following Monday, May 18, gyms reopened at 50% capacity and restaurants and retail stores increased their capacity from 25% to 50%.

That day, 33 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Manatee County; 614 were reported statewide.

Vacation rentals were to remain closed in the first phase of the plan; however, a lawsuit was filed against the state by vacation rental owners pointing out inconsistencies in allowing hotel and motels to open while keeping short-term rentals closed.

On Thursday, May 21, vacation rentals reopened during phase one.

That day, 12 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Manatee County; 729 were reported statewide.

In May, the county reached a grim milestone of more than 1,000 cases. As of today, there were 1,110 people with COVID-19, according to the Florida Department of Health. So far, 98 people in the county have died.

The Centers for Disease Control ranks Manatee County 10th in Florida counties for the number of COVID-19 cases.

Statewide, new cases also have been reported every day in May, with the worst days being May 20 and May 28, with 1,200 new cases each day, according to the Florida Department of Health.

In total, there have been 58,764 cases statewide of people with COVID-19 as of today. So far, 2,566 people in the state have died of the disease.

Protestors peacefully take to Bradenton streets

Protestors peacefully take to Bradenton streets

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

BRADENTON – Inspired by the recent death of George Floyd and the actions of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a peaceful but impassioned protest occurred in downtown Bradenton Sunday afternoon.

Unlike what took place in other American cities last week, no physical confrontations between protestors and police ensued.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
Despite the tension, protestors and police officers walked together toward the Manatee County Historic Courthouse. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The protesters assembled in the Village of the Arts at 1 p.m. near the corner of 12th Street West and 12th Avenue.

Holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign before the march began, Palmetto resident Betty Sailes Rhodes discussed the social and judicial inequities blacks and other minorities encounter.

“The system has got to change. Get your butt out and vote in November,” she said before the march to the Manatee County Historic Courthouse began.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
Members of the Bradenton Police Department accompanied the protestors. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Accompanied by approximately 75 protestors, Rhodes, former Bradenton mayoral and city commission candidate Eleutario “Junior” Salazar, Pastor Arthur Huggins, Deedra Zee and Natasha Clemons served as the protest leaders and spokespeople.

Speaking through a bullhorn while perched on the Historic Courthouse steps, Salazar questioned whether black lives and the lives of other minorities really matter to local law enforcement officers and politicians.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
Junior Salazar and Natasha Clemons addressed the protestors from the steps of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“You’re not here to protect me,” Salazar said to the dozen or so officers who accompanied the protestors and ensured their safety by stopping and redirecting traffic as they marched down busy city streets. Some officers traveled on foot, walking among, alongside or behind the protestors. Others rode in the police vehicles that assisted with traffic control.

Despite the harsh words and criticisms directed their way, the officers from the Bradenton Police Department never clashed with protestors or responded to the statements and chants they heard.

Before handing the bullhorn to Clemons, Salazar noted she lost her son in an incident involving local law enforcement officers.

Clemons said her son, Rodney Mitchell, was “killed execution style” seven years ago, six months after he graduated from college. She said the two officers involved in that incident later received pay increases and promotions.

“I’ve been peaceful and silent long enough,” Clemons said.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
Many protestors conveyed their feelings with signs. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Zee and others called out another Bradenton police officer with an alleged history of mistreating minorities.

Zee said the community needs officers that won’t accept wrongful behavior by other officers.

“When you see that your fellow officers are abusing us, you stay silent. You made a choice to be a cop. I was born black. I don’t have any choice. Just because my skin is black doesn’t mean I’m a threat,” Zee said.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
This young man created a list of talking points. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

One protester said any officer that condones what happened to George Floyd needs to take off their uniform, turn in their badge and never serve again.

Huggins said the protest was not just “a black thing,” nor was it just about George Floyd. He said it was also about local black men who’ve died at the hands of law enforcement officers – including Justin Stackhouse, who was shot and killed by a Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputy near the Wal-Mart on Cortez Road in February.

“We’re here because we’re sick and tired. Enough is enough. Take your knee off our necks,” Huggins said.

Huggins led a prayer while protestors knelt for nine minutes in tribute to the length of time Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
In tribute to George Floyd, protestors kneeled for nine minutes in front of the Manatee County Historic Courthouse. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The crowd then marched down Old Main Street to the Bradenton Police station where Salazar issued some unmet demands. Others spoke as well.

Salazar demanded Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan and Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston address the crowd and he noted no local politicians attended the protest.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
The protest march made its way to the Bradenton Police station. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Salazar demanded a fully transparent police oversight committee to review complaints filed against officers.

Before the march resumed, Salazar, a man dressed as the Black Panther superhero character and others approached and peacefully confronted the officers who stood quietly on the other side of the hedges.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
Outside the police station, protestors came face-to-face with police officers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The officers then accompanied the protestors to the intersection of Ninth Street West and Third Avenue West, where the protestors blocked the intersection near the foot of the bridge before taking a knee for a few minutes and moving on.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the march proceeded south to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue West. After a brief pause, the protestors headed east on the street bearing the name of the late civil rights leader.

Protectors peacefully take to Bradenton streets
Protestors briefly blocked the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue West and Ninth Street West. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island’s short-term vacation rentals were allowed to reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend, with some restrictions.

On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) approved the Manatee County short-term vacation rental reopening plan submitted by County Administrator Cheri Coryea. The state approval took effect immediately.

While local municipalities can still ban vacation rentals, all three Anna Maria Island cities are allowing rentals to reopen.

“Vacation rental check-ins are now allowed in Anna Maria,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said Thursday afternoon after reading the approved plan.

Murphy then issued a local emergency order rescinding a previously issued order that prohibited new vacation rental reservations in that city.

The city of Holmes Beach recently allowed its local emergency orders banning short-term vacation rentals to lapse.

“I do not plan on a Holmes Beach directive extending the rental ban at this time,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said Thursday afternoon.

The city of Bradenton Beach never issued any COVID-19-related local emergency orders that further restricted vacation rental activity beyond the prohibitions set forth in DeSantis’ executive orders.

“Under the plan, vacation rental agencies may now accept bookings from residents of U.S. states with an overall COVID-19 case rate within the state of less than 700 cases per 100,000 residents as of May 15. Reservations from COVID-19 hot spots identified by the governor are to be avoided for the next 30-45 days. Reservations from international travelers will not be accepted,” according to the press release Manatee County issued Thursday afternoon. “Other guidelines spell out protocols vacation rental owners must follow to implement social distancing and still others that address the cleanliness standards of the property.”

The press release noted the short-term rental guidelines would be mostly self-policed and enforcement would be complaint-driven.

“We’re asking that vacation rental managers take extra precautions to make sure their renters have access to and follow the guidelines in the approved plan. Owners should ensure that their renters are aware and abide by the approved plan, but also any municipal restrictions in the city where the rental is located,” Coryea said in the press release.

When discussing the plan on Tuesday, May 19, county commissioners initially proposed a 24-hour turnaround time for cleaning and sanitizing vacation rentals between guest departures and new guest arrivals.

During public comment, several vacation rental owners said a minimum 24-hour turnaround time would prohibit back-to-back seven-day rentals and result in numerous cancellations.

The commission then decided to simply require “ample time” for cleaning and sanitizing and the approved five-page plan includes an entire page of cleaning and sanitation guidelines.

“Extra time must be allowed for enhanced cleaning procedures to take place between stays based upon the use of appropriate cleaning and sanitation according to CDC procedures and in accordance with this plan,” the plan says.

Local reaction

On Friday, Sato Real Estate co-owner Barbara Sato said via email, “We are very relieved that vacation rentals are open. It has been so frustrating answering the numerous daily phone calls asking when the governor will open rentals again – and why hotels, motels, and resorts are open and not being able to give them a reasonable answer. Needless to say, the word is out and our phone has been ringing non-stop. We think the approved plan is very good. I personally emailed Elliott Falcione, from the Visitors Bureau, and County Administrator Cheri Coryea to thank them for their teams’ hard work in getting it approved so quickly.”

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend
The phones were ringing off the hook at Sato Real Estate on Friday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted Friday via email, Murphy said, “It is too soon to tell the impact this policy might have on the city, but we are grateful that the county has incorporated a bi-weekly review process to make adjustments to the plan. Our two areas of concern are:

  • Enforcement: Some of the requirements would appear to require an extensive enforcement effort. If these turn out to be an issue, we are not equipped to enforce some aspects of the order.
  • Remote check-in: Although seemingly in everyone’s best health interests, this policy presents serious issues of potential fraud and possibly criminal activity. The policy needs to be revisited,” Murphy wrote.

“We look forward to partnering with the county to improve the plan going forward,” he added.

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend
The folks at Duncan Real Estate are happy to be back in the short-term vacation rental business again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Saturday afternoon, Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan said via text message, “We opened Friday morning to the sound of phones ringing off the hook with guests ready to book for the summer. We have all our compliance requirements in place and we were ready for guest check-ins Saturday morning. We are thrilled and looking forward to increased bookings due to pent-up demand.”

Castles in the Sand

Does anyone have a clue what’s going on?

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

Just like the coronavirus predictions about numbers of infections and deaths have been off the mark, so too are the predictions about the future real estate market. There are a whole range of conflicting opinions out there, all from reputable sources saying exactly the opposite things; what’s a girl to do?

So far, in spite of the shrinking economy and evaporating jobs, in the housing market values are stabilized and, in some regions, even higher. This of course has to do with the classic supply and demand dynamic that we’ve been experiencing for a long time, only now supply is contracting even faster.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the March median home price nationally rose 8% from March of 2019. Manatee County’s March median sale price was also up by 2.4%. They also reported that buyer demand fell 8.5% nationally for March compared to last year but at the same time, supply is at a five-year low.

The NAR says homeowners are waiting to list their homes either because they have decided not to move, or they are worried about letting buyers into their homes during the pandemic. Many homeowners say that until the lockdowns are lifted, they will just take a “wait and see” attitude to selling. In addition, homes that are currently on the market are not cutting prices. According to Realtor.com, by the end of last month, only 4% of sellers cut their prices, indicating buyers haven’t viewed their homes in person. Nevertheless, buyers are out there still looking for a bargain and could possibly trip on a situation where homeowners absolutely need to sell because of coronavirus fallout.

Mortgage applications were also down by 20% at the end of April compared to a year earlier. The fear here is that down the road, values could drop when the forbearance period ends, and homeowners cannot keep up with the payments.

The way it stands now is some economists expect home sales to crash this year while some say prices and sales will climb slightly or hold flat. Fannie May said in April that it expects the median existing home price to tick up to $275,000 this year from $272,000 last year while CoreLogic calls for a nationwide home price increase of 0.5%. Zillow says home prices are likely to drop 2% to 3% compared to last year. The more you read about these predictions the more you realize no one really knows.

Let’s look at the April sales numbers in Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee comparing April of this year to April of last year.

Single-family closings for this April compared to last year were down 21.2%. Median sale price was $340,000, up 7.9%, and average sale price was $406,699, up 4.1%. New pending sales were down 36.7% and months supply of available properties was 3.3 months, down 17.5%.

Condo closings were down 30.9%. Median sale price was $212,000, up 7.9%, and average sale price was $236,764, up 0.3%. New pending sales were down 53.3% and months supply of available properties was 4.4 months, down 6.4%.

All of the negative figures are no surprise relative to what we have been living through. However, the average and median sale prices are up, much like the trend around the country. Keep in mind that sales statistics are a lagging number frequently based on negotiated contracts that may have been in the pipeline prior to the shutdown.

All we can do is keep watching the numbers and hope that as businesses open more sales will be booked. At this point it’s anyone’s guess what’s going to happen with the virus or with the real estate market. Stay tuned and stay well.