Clean Water Committee evolving
HOLMES BEACH – With two new members and a relatively new chairperson, the Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee remains committed to their primary objective: “To research means by which to sustain and improve upon the condition and purity of the natural waters and drinking water around Anna Maria Island.”
On May 27, city commissioners appointed Anna Maria resident Scott MacGregor and Longboat Key Public Works Director Charles Mopps as the committee’s newest members.
According to his application, MacGregor is a retired marine biology teacher and a boat captain for the past 15 years. When addressing the city commission, he said, “I’m looking forward to serving on the committee and I was very interested in the meeting that I attended a couple weeks ago. Hopefully, my background – marine biology and being a captain – will serve the committee well.”
According to his application, Mopps’ water-related community activities include serving as a Sarasota Bay Estuary Program board member, a director of the Florida Shores and Beach Preservation Association board and a member of the Sarasota County Coastal Advisory Committee. His application says he can share with the Clean Water Committee information he’s learned from other organizations and he can share information from the committee meetings with Longboat Key town officials and the town-affiliated “green team.”
Comprised of Holmes Beach residents, Anna Maria residents and a Longboat Key town employee, the reconfigured committee meets next on Wednesday, June 18 at 9 a.m.
City Commissioner Terry Schaefer serves as the commission’s Clean Water Committee liaison. Before making the motion to appoint MacGregor and Mopps, Schaefer said when the committee was formed in 2021, membership was not limited to Holmes Beach residents. He said the goal has always been to include members from all three Anna Maria Island cities and the town of Longboat Key. He praised the “incredible backgrounds and expertise” that past, present and future members have to offer.
On May 14, founding member and original committee chair Ron Huibers participated in his final meeting, which included a detailed and informative presentation given by Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko. Tomasko stressed the need for the city of Bradenton to address its sewage discharges into the Manatee River and the need for state legislators to provide the $22 million Bradenton needs to replace its wastewater treatment facilities.
Tomasko also stressed the need to protect the seagrasses that support manatees and other marine life and enhance water quality in Anna Maria Sound – the body of water east of Holmes Beach that carries an “impaired” designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Huibers left the committee without accomplishing his top priority: the city’s purchase of an aquatic skimmer that could be used to remove algae blooms and dead fish from the Holmes Beach waterways and canals.
In January, Huibers voluntarily relinquished the chairperson’s position and nominated committee member Dr. Jennifer Miller as his successor.
As the new committee chair, Miller appeared before the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on April 21 and provided a concise overview of the committee’s efforts, priorities and the importance water quality plays in attracting tourists to Anna Maria Island and Manatee County.
