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Tag: pier planks

Anna Maria pier demo pile

Pier demolition ahead of schedule

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

ANNA MARIA – A visit to the Anna Maria City Pier late Friday afternoon indicated the demolition process is proceeding at a rapid pace and is ahead of schedule.

Only a short section of pier remained, and when contacted that day, Mayor Dan Murphy said he anticipated the pier demolition to be completed this week – well ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline specified in the contract with Speeler & Associates.

“The pier demolition should be done by Tuesday barring any unplanned events. I’m pleased with the progress,” Murphy said.

Anna Maria pier demo remaining walkway
Only a short section of the main pier walkway remained by the end of Speeler & Associates’ second week of demolition work. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Speeler & Associates began its demolition work on Monday, July 9 and two days later demolished the T-end buildings and began removing the decking. The demolition team has now removed most of the remaining pier walkway and pulled most of the wooden pilings.

As part of the demolition project, the remaining unclaimed engraved pier planks were removed by a crew from Agnelli Pools & Construction. The unclaimed engraved planks will be used later to build memorial walls across the street at City Pier Park and outside the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum on Pine Avenue.

The City Commission’s next order of pier-related business will be to accept or reject the two bids recently received for the construction of a new pier. Speeler & Associates bid $3.72 million to build a new pier and Tampa-based ICON bid $4.13 million.

Murphy will present the commission with the bid rankings and the commission will decide if the mayor is to begin negotiating potential contract terms with the highest-ranked firm. If the commission rejects both bids, a new request for proposals would be issued. The construction bids will be discussed at the commission’s  Thursday, July 26 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.

Pier planks retrieved

According to Murphy, more than 145 engraved planks had been picked up at city hall as of Friday, July 20. The deadline to retrieve a pre-claimed engraved plank is Tuesday, July 31.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from individuals who are very happy and very pleased to be able to get these planks,” Deputy City Clerk Debbie Haynes said during the July 12 commission meeting. Holmes Beach resident and local charter fishing captain Scott Moore recently retrieved the engraved pier plank bearing his name. He said his family members wanted him to keep it.

“I thought it was very graceful of the city of Anna Maria to go out of the way to make sure the residents and others got their planks. I’d like to thank the city and it will be great to see the new pier rise again when it’s built,” Moore said.

“I’ve traveled all over the United States and when I tell people I live on Anna Maria Island they immediately say that it’s a beautiful island with a beautiful pier at the end of it. I grew up fishing on the Rod & Reel Pier and the City Pier as a kid and I was very fortunate to have those experiences as part of my childhood,” Moore said.

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Sully’s Quality Projects deemed top choice for pier demolition

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is now authorized to begin negotiations with the Venice-based Sully’s Quality Projects construction firm for the demolition of the Anna Maria City Pier.

According to the combined rankings prepared by Murphy, City Clerk LeAnne Addy and Ayres Associates vice president Jay Saxena, Sully was the top-ranked firm of the five that responded to the city’s second request for proposals (RFP).

Ayres Associates is designing and engineering the new pier.

On Tuesday, Anna Maria commissioners voted 4-0 in favor of authorizing Murphy to begin contract negotiations with Sully’s.

Sully’s received a total score of 79.3, Speeler & Associates received a score of 78.3, Shoreline Foundation’s score was 70, Under Construction Contractors’ score was 68 and Kelly Brothers’ score was 66.

Sully’s bid the demolition job for $685,530, Speeler bid $732,000, Shoreline bid $642,908, Under Construction bid $495,000 and Kelly bid $406,417.

The six-category scoring criteria included skill and experience, references for current projects, bid amount, adherence to specifications and requirements, provision of a detailed work plan and the location of the prime contractor and subcontractors.

Murphy said those who followed city protocol and requested to have their planks returned should be able to pick them up in early July.

During Tuesday’s special meeting, Commissioner Brian Seymour noted that Sully’s was only ranked highest in one of the six categories, that being location. Speeler ranked highest or was tied for the highest score in four categories.

Seymour asked if the city was bound to go by the rankings sheet. Murphy was of the opinion the ranking sheet needed to be the commission’s primary decision-making tool because the point system is “clear and objective.”

Murphy said he planned to meet with Sully’s on Wednesday. He told the commission that if he can’t come to agreeable terms with that firm, then Speeler, with the commission’s authorization, would be the next demolition firm to negotiate with.

Murphy noted that Sully’s proposal estimated the demolition would be done by Aug. 16. Prior to demolition, local contractor Frank Agnelli will remove and store the engraved wooden pier planks at no cost to the city.

After the meeting, Murphy said those who followed city protocol and requested to have their planks returned should be able to pick them up in early July.

Commissioner Dale Woodland did not attend Tuesday’s special meeting. During the commission’s May 18 meeting, Woodland voiced his objection to the existing pier being demolished and replaced. He said he could not support any of the original three demolition bids received.

During the May 18 meeting, the commission rejected all three bids because the bids from Speeler ($853,00) and Sully’s ($780,730) were too high, and because Murphy didn’t feel Under Construction had the necessary experience. Two other firms responded to the original RFP but missed the submission deadline and their bids were returned unopened.

The city has not yet determined who will build the new pier, restaurant and bait shop. The entire pier project has an estimated cost of $4.5 million and an anticipated completion date of December 2019.

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Pier plank firings reversed

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

ANNA MARIA – Peter Piir and Taylor Mannhart are once again working for the city of Anna Maria.

They returned to work on Friday, Feb. 23, after being reinstated by Mayor Dan Murphy. They were fired on Jan. 25 for removing engraved planks from the Anna Maria City Pier without permission, which was deemed misappropriation of city property.

After being fired, Piir told The Sun he meant no harm and simply wanted to remove a cracked plank that memorialized his friend Denise Raykov’s deceased son, Phil Guttridge. The planks Piir and Mannhart removed are now in the city’s possession.

Disciplinary letters Murphy issued to Piir and Mannhart the day before they returned to work revealed new details that were not available when the firings occurred.

The letter issued to Piir referenced subsequent meetings he and Murphy had on Feb. 14 and 20.

“New information was brought to my attention. Specifically, at some point immediately following the storm (Hurricane Irma), other city employees removed memorabilia and memorial benches from the pier. You had indicated on Feb. 20 that you were aware of this activity but failed to mention it until that meeting,” Murphy’s letter to Piir said.

“During our meeting on Feb. 14, you accused your supervisor (Public Works Manager Dean Jones) of possessing stolen city equipment. As to the matter of theft, these accusations were discussed with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department and subsequently investigated. No evidence was found to substantiate your allegation,” the letter said.

“As to your action on Jan. 19 which led to your discharge, the circumstances of your actions differ somewhat from the new information brought to my attention last week. I would have reached a different conclusion had these new facts been known at that time,” the letter said.

“You knew the commission approved a program to remove and return the planks. You stated that your motivation to remove the plank was a result of your lack of confidence in the contractor to adequately remove planks. You then took it upon yourself to remove the plank even though you did not ask permission from your supervisor to leave your job assignment. In view of the new information received, it is my opinion that you did not understand you were misappropriating city property. As a result, you are being afforded this opportunity to return to the employment of the city,” the letter said.

The disciplinary letter issued to Mannhart also mentioned other city employees removing pier memorabilia and memorial benches.

“Although the circumstances of those events differ from those associated with your actions, it is my belief that I would have reached a different conclusion than discharge had they been known in your situation. In view of this new information received, it is not my opinion that you understood you were intentionally misappropriating city property,” the letter to Mannhart said.

Rehiring responses

During public comment at the Thursday, Feb. 22, City Commission meeting, former Anna Maria Commissioner Gene Aubry referenced the reinstatements and the petitions circulated in support of Piir and Mannhart.

“On behalf of my friend Sandy Rich, myself and 183 citizens all I want to do is say thank you very much for what you’ve done,” Aubry said.

On Friday, Murphy was asked if the petitions played role in his decision to rehire Piir and Mannhart.

“Absolutely not. This was just new information that came up,” he said.

When contacted Sunday, Piir said, “I was happy to get my job back and I really appreciate everyone signing the petition. I’m going to go back and work as hard as I used to.”

“I think it’s great and well-deserved. We appreciate everyone’s concern and input. I am still hoping that I see my plank somewhere sentimental to us, as my son would love it,” Raykov said.

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Too severe

Plank removal leads to firings

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Too severe

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

We are writing on the behalf of Peter Piir, who was terminated Jan. 25 from the city of Anna Maria Public Works Department after 10 years. We think the decision to fire him was much too harsh for what he did.

We sponsored a memorial plank on the pier in Anna Maria for our grandson, Phillip Guttridge, who worked at the City Pier Restaurant and passed away at 22 years old.  After reading different, conflicting stories about what was going to happen to the planks we became very concerned. We asked Peter, since he worked for the city, if there was anything he could do to insure that our grandson’s plank would be saved. Being an employee of the city, he removed and brought the plank to us, and a few days later we were informed that we had to return our plank, which we did.

Peter is a long time good friend of our family, and he did what Pete does and that’s to help in any way he can. Pete has been an excellent employee, with never an issue with his work ethics. This is a drastic punishment for someone trying to do a good deed. Just another situation of the city of Anna Maria not being run like the quaint little city that it once was.

Jeanette and Richard Langer

Bradenton Beach

Denise Guttridge Raykov

Holmes Beach

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Anna Maria Pier Plank International

Pier planks to become memorial walls

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

ANNA MARIA – The engraved wooden planks on the soon-to-be-replaced Anna Maria City Pier will be removed and used to build outdoor memorial walls at City Pier Park and at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum.

Those who instead wish to reclaim their engraved planks have until Friday, Jan. 26 to notify the city by email or call the city clerk’s office at 941-708-6130. These planks will be marked and be the first removed by a crew provided by Frank Agnelli, of Agnelli Pools & Construction and Mason Martin Builders.

“Those planks mean a lot to a lot of people and we’re glad to do whatever we can do to help preserve those memories.”
Frank Agnelli, Agnelli Pools & Construction

Agnelli recently told Mayor Dan Murphy that he would remove all the engraved planks at no cost to the city and store the unclaimed planks in his barn in Bradenton.

“I felt it was a nice way to give back to the city. Those planks mean a lot to a lot of people and we’re glad to do whatever we can do to help preserve those memories,” Agnelli said Friday afternoon.

His 10- to 12-man crew will start at the far end of the pier and work toward shore, taking about a week to remove the planks. The planks will be removed after the Army Corps of Engineers permits the work.

Five options

Pier planks were among the matters discussed at Friday morning’s special City Commission meeting.

Murphy began by noting the city did not solicit the donations that led to the planks originally being installed, but they were the city’s responsibility nonetheless.

Anna Maria Pier Planks
City officials have come up with a plan to save the engraved wooden planks that grace the Anna Maria City Pier, which will eventually be demolished and replaced. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

He then presented commissioners with five options. The first was to remove and destroy the engraved planks.

“I don’t recommend that. The community backlash would be horrific,” Murphy said.

Many of the 1,100 planks memorialize or recognize family members, loved ones, friends, relationships and even Commissioner Dale Woodland’s deceased dog.

Sheena Morris plank
One of the pier planks memorializes Sheena Morris, whose 2009 death in Bradenton Beach remains a subject of debate. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The second option was to remove the planks and store them all so they could be reclaimed by those who purchased them. Murphy said this would require hiring a full-time plank administrator.

The third option was to use the planks for the interior and exterior walls of the new bait shop and restaurant to be built at the end of the pier. Murphy said he liked this idea but it would cost $70,000 to $80,000 to have the planks transported to a mill, milled to an inch thick, sanded and treated with a preservative.

The fourth option was to use the planks to make picnic tables and benches, but Murphy said he had no idea where the city would put them all.

He then recommended the memorial walls.

“To me, this is the best choice of all. People could come visit their plank and it gives us an opportunity to have people visiting City Pier Park as well as driving traffic to the Historical Museum. I’d be proud if my plank was in either one of those locations,” Murphy said.

Anna Maria Plank Paradise
The wooden pier was a tropical paradise to many who spent time on it. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

He acknowledged some planks would be unsalvageable due to weathering and deterioration and others would be damaged during removal, but most could be saved.

“I greatly appreciate the offer of Mr. Agnelli. That’s a $40,000 to $50,000 gift and the storage of those planks at his farm is even bigger. We can do this all with city labor and that is because of the very generous offer the contractor gave the city. The building of these walls would take time. It could take up to a year, it could take less than that,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Brian Seymour liked the idea of reusing the planks for interior paneling but agreed it would cost too much. Commissioner Carol Carter liked the idea of planks being placed at the museum on Pine Avenue.

Commissioner Doug Copeland, a professional woodworker, agreed the walls were the most practical option. He said using the planks for interior paneling is possible, but not worth the cost and effort, and storing all the planks for public retrieval is not practical.

“1,100 boards is a big stack of wood,” he said.

Woodland liked the wall option, with the provision that planks be returned to those who want them, which he estimated to be about 10 percent.

The commission voted 4-0 in favor of the walls. Commissioner Nancy Yetter was absent.

Pier Plank Carol Carter
City Commissioner Carol Carter and her family have two planks on the pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Public comment

Ruskin resident Becky Kiefer said her parents used to bring her to Anna Maria, where her dad loved to fish off the pier and her mom loved the shops. She doesn’t want her dad’s plank used to build a picnic table, bench or wall.

“I don’t care what shape they’re in, I want them,” she said.

Laurie Sabath and her husband Joe might open a restaurant in Anna Maria and she inquired about reusing some of the pier planks. Murphy said the city would not part with the planks, but might share some of the other wood removed.

The pier planks represent many special things, including romantic relationships. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

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

ANNA MARIA – The new Anna Maria City Pier will feature concrete pilings and beams, plastic composite decking, and come with an estimated $3.4 million price tag if built according to the preliminary plans introduced Tuesday.

Jay Saxena, vice president for the Tampa-based Ayres Associates engineering and design firm, presented the preliminary plans during a special commission meeting Tuesday, Oct. 17.

The plans are to build a pier with an estimated service life of 75 to 100 years.

Saxena said the concrete pilings could be masked to look like wood pilings, but at an additional cost.

Lumberock composite decking will replace the existing wooden pier planks, and there will be a 1¼-inch gap between planks to allow for drainage; and also for sunshine to get through to the seagrass and sea life below.

The existing engraved wooden planks will be returned to those who had them inscribed or will be repurposed as a boardwalk or some other public use.

The work plan timeline Saxena presented said conceptual renderings would be ready by December. The work plan projects a 16-24 month permitting period; four to six weeks to solicit and review requests for proposals from local contractors; two to four weeks to select a primary contractor and 30 weeks to do the actual construction. Saxena said all timelines are dependent on the permitting process that comes first.

Commissioner Dale Woodland and Mayor Dan Murphy share differing opinions on the continued use of the existing wooden pilings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Woodland suggestions

As he’s done during previous discussions, Commissioner Dale Woodland proposed an alternate approach to the pier construction. He again lobbied for a piece-meal, multi-contractor approach. And this week he proposed the new pier be built atop the existing wooden pilings – a suggestion that received no support from Mayor Dan Murphy, the other commissioners (minus Nancy Yetter, who was absent) or the Ayres staff.

Woodland suggested that using the existing wooden pilings would cut down on the construction time, which in his opinion would help get displaced City Pier Restaurant and bait shop employees back to work sooner; lessen the economic impact on the nearby Pine Avenue business district and make the pier available again to visitors and regular users.

Anna Maria Pier plan
Due to hurricane damage, the Anna Maria City Pier will remain closed until a replacement pier is built. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Ayres’ structural engineer Hisham Sunna said there was no way to predict how many of the existing pilings could be salvaged or how long they would last if left in place. Saxena said building a new pier atop old pilings would eventually create the need for future piling replacements that could negatively impact the new pier.

The Ayres team also said using multiple contractors instead of one primary contractor would create liability and project accountability challenges and possibly discourage large construction firms from bidding on the job.

Ayres manager and permitting expert Janice Sands said reusing old pilings could also create permitting issues. She advised the commission to take advantage FEMA’s hurricane-related permitting relaxations while available.

Commissioner Doug Copeland referenced the transitory nature of restaurant employees and said he doubted any former City Pier Restaurant employees were sitting around waiting for the pier to reopen.

When contacted last week, former City Pier Restaurant General Manager David Sork said he was now working in Palmetto and most of the former pier employees had found new jobs.

Copeland also stressed the need for a local contracting firm that has a large staff and roster of subcontractors to ensure the work gets done as quickly as possible.

Commissioner Brian Seymour liked the idea of using Lumberock instead of real wood because that will make it easier to maintain a pier that has not been regularly maintained in the past.

The meeting ended with the commission voting 4-0 in favor of a pier designed for a 75-100 year service life, which essentially equates to approval for concrete pilings and support beams and the composite decking.

After the meeting, Commissioner Seymour was asked if the pier closing has impacted business at his Anna Maria General Store and Deli on Pine Avenue. Seymour said the sales of bait and fishing tackle have been virtually non-existent since the mayor closed the pier due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma. He said there’s also been a decline in the sales of sandwiches and beer to those who regularly fish on the pier.