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Pines residents ask commission to deny zoning change requests

Pines residents ask commission to deny zoning change requests

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Pines residents asked the city on Feb. 20 to deny any future land use or zoning change requests for the Pines Trailer Park by Pines Park Investors LLC or its manager, Shawn Kaleta.

Mayor John Chappie told The Sun that no such requests had yet been submitted, but City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at a Jan. 16 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meet­ing that the property owner had confirmed the planned redevelopment of the parcel.

“I can tell you preliminarily it’s looking like some type of mixed-development that’s going to salvage as much of the character that’s there,” she said, adding that a rezoning would be necessary.

The Pines Trailer Park is currently zoned M-1, and according to the city’s Land Development Code, permitted uses are single-family mobile home units, manufactured homes, park trailers, preservation uses and conser­vation uses.

“Why is the city attorney talking to the CRA and media about redevelop­ment plans for the Pines?” Pines homeowner Elayne Armaniaco asked during public comment. “How is that her role? Why such a personal interest for her? Are you looking into the allegations that the city attorney is seen out socially and driving around with the largest land developer on the Island or the rumors that she lives in one of his properties? Why does it feel like she works for him or at the least they have a strong friendship? The conflict is so blatant.”

Victor Armaniaco asked the commission to deny any zone change requests.

“We elected all of you to protect us from an unfair treatment. You all have the power to maintain the current M-1 zoning and protect the charm and old Florida character of Bradenton Beach as well as our homes and investments,” he said. “What hardships does the LLC have that they should be granted a zone change? Over 96% of the units were allowed to rebuild without elevating and would rebuild if they knew the park would stay for long-term existence with generations to come. The LLC purchased a mobile home park so their desire to build something else on that property is a self-created hardship. Did you get elected in part to protect the character of Bradenton Beach? If you make it easier for a developer to change the zoning in unpopular ways, you are not doing your job.”

“The average home in the Pines Park is worth about $150,000 prior to the hurricane,” Pines homeowner John Shore said. “If I take that average of $150,000 times 86 trailers that’s approximately $13 million in value. They could be worth that amount again if they were allowed to rebuild.”

“There are 21 single women trailer owners, most of whom are on fixed income,” he said. “I have $165,000 in my trailer. As you know Pines Park Investors and Shawn Kaleta evicted us as of July 31. That means collectively the 86 trailer owners have lost $13 million. I’m 83 years old and that $165,000 loss really hurts.”

“In the past commission meetings, you said you wanted to help Pines Trailer Park in any way you could,” he said. “Well, there is a way. I ask that you deny any land use changes or zoning changes requested by Pines Park Investors and Shawn Kaleta and therefore force them to keep the trailer park for 3 1/2 years as a trailer park per Kaleta’s contract with the previous owners. If you approve their land use changes and zoning changes in the future you basically will be taking $13 million from 86 people.”

“I’ve been coming to this Island for 54 years,” Mary Moxx said. “I feel we have been disrespected at Pines. I’m a senior and have limited funds to continue. You want the zoning to change. Why? Ricinda, you remember the old ladies that found you crying on the steps of your gazebo after you told us we were condemned? We consoled you. You have not consoled us.”

“I’m hoping you understand that pain your residents are going through here,” Pines homeowner Sandy Seaver said. “Our eviction notice that we received a few weeks ago started with ‘due to a land use change, you are evicted.’ Was the letter from Mr. Kaleta incorrect? When I saw that my feeling was how can they do that without a public meeting?

“We really just want an honest, caring city govern­ment who puts its residents first, no playing games, no bending to money, transparency,” Seaver said. “We are the throwaways on the Island. We have been through hell. We feel that the fox is in the hen house. We ask that you put yourself in our shoes and allow us to move forward and show us some support. We’re fighting many battles in that park and we shouldn’t have to be fighting with you guys, too.”

Mayor responds

Following the close of public comment, Mayor John Chappie said, “Not a thing has been presented to this commission to change the zoning at the Pines. Nothing, whatsoever.”

“If something is presented to us, it would have to go through the whole process,” Chappie said. “There is not a single person up here that has said we want to get rid of the Pines.”

“I did make the comment to you Elayne (Armaniaco) that it does make a difference between a co-op and privately owned by an LLC,” he said. “It does make a difference when you’re looking at the legalities. I did not in any way, shape or form say I wanted to get rid of the Pines. I said just the opposite.”

He called the Pines Trailer Park a key part of the history of Bradenton Beach.

“We’re not the enemy up here, I swear to you,” Chappie said. “I pray on this every night. We want to keep the community quaint and lovely. It’s our home. It’s our neighbors. Is it going to be the same? No, it’s not because we had these two storms – these two major disasters. It breaks my heart.”

On Sept. 26, Hurricane He­lene swamped mobile homes at the 86-unit waterfront trailer park. Former City Building Official Darin Cushing said in October that FEMA guidelines characterized the water intru­sion as major damage but in December reversed that, following interior inspections, and allowed 83 of the 86 mobile homeowners the ability to repair their mobile homes.

On Jan. 4, mobile homeown­ers received notification from park owners Pines Park Investors LLC that the park was being closed. Homeowners found eviction notices taped to their doors on Jan. 24, notify­ing them of a July 31 deadline to vacate the park. Developer Shawn Kaleta is the manager of the LLC.

In a Jan. 27 letter to the Pines Trailer Park Homeown­ers Association (HOA), Pines Park Investors LLC offered to sell the mobile home park to the residents for $75 million.

Commissioners said they support the continued exis­tence of the Pines, but don’t have the authority to interfere with private ownership of the park.

“My family has been on this Island for 45 years and I thought the Pines Trailer Park was the most adorable little trailer park and had so much character and it does break our heart,” Commission Deborah Scaccianoce said. “If there really was a way to stop an LLC and a private owner, we would.”

“As far as the Pines, I’ve responded to emails to several of the owners stating, I’d love to help you, but I don’t as a member of this commission have a legal right to interfere between an LLC and a property owner,” Commissioner Scott Bear said. “I wish I did. I don’t want to see a zoning change. I don’t want to see anything happen to the Pines. We’ll deal with that if it ever comes to this board. It has never been brought here.”

Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats

Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – For­mer city Building Official Darin Cushing alleges that he saw the city attorney and a well-known developer drive around the city together looking for hurricane-damaged structures and proper­ties after Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Anna Maria Island last year and pressured him to condemn them.

He also alleges the city at­torney, mayor and police chief threatened his employment status on several occasions for not complying with permitting and inspection requests made by the developer.

Cushing made his public allegations during a town hall meeting that District 3 County Commissioner Tal Siddique held at the Island Branch Library on Feb. 13. During the meeting, Cushing handed Siddique a four-page letter that expands upon the allegations he made during the town hall meeting.

Siddique provided The Sun a copy of Cushing’s letter on Feb. 15. The next day, Cushing confirmed by email that his town hall comments and his letter pertained to Mayor John Chap­pie, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Police Chief John Cosby. He did not name the developer.

“Based on this person’s track record of retaliation and lawsuits, I am hesitant to spell out a name. Regardless, no matter who the developer is, I was asked and even threatened with my job, to engage in unethical practice, which I refused to do,” he wrote The Sun in an email on Sunday.

Toward the end of his letter, Cushing wrote, “There is so much more I could tell you about the goings on, where there have been dealings with this developer and the city attorney and the mayor and many people can corroborate them. Including eyewitness accounts of the attorney and the developer driving through town following the storms, picking out houses and the developer asking me to con­demn them; stating that he was told by the attorney that if we hurried up, the city was going to get the houses demolished and hauled away using FEMA dollars. I refused and only con­demned properties that were either completely destroyed or in damage of collapse. Every time I refused to do his bidding, I was questioned by one of the three city staff about it, always with pressure being put upon me to just do it.”

Contrary to his statement about only condemning properties that were either destroyed or in danger of collapse, Cushing did issue a condemnation order to Tennessee resident and “Love Shack” cottage owner Dan Ibach on Oct. 31.

Unlike the neighboring cottage that was completely destroyed by Hurricane He­lene, Ibach’s cottage suffered no structural damage and had already been boarded up and sealed off by the time Cushing issued the condemnation order.

According to Ibach, he then received a call from Perry, who said the city could likely assist with his demolition costs. Ibach told Perry his cottage was not condemnable and would not be demolished. He contacted his attorney and the condemnation order was soon lifted. Ibach’s beachfront property is located next to Shawn Kaleta’s Seabreeze at Anna Maria Inn property.

Gash Caudill also staved off the city’s condemnation of the duplex on Gulf Drive North he shares with his mother.

At the city’s request, Cush­ing was recently suspended, due in part to a hurricane restoration-related permitting dispute between the city and Drift-In bar owner Derek Williams; and due in part to Facebook comments Cushing made in defense of his ad­ministrative decision to issue Williams’ permits without city commission approval. Cush­ing was later terminated by the SAFEbuilt/M.T. Causley development services firm that has provided Bradenton Beach’s contracted building officials for nearly two decades.

Town hall comments

The town hall discussion about Bradenton Beach began with Williams commenting on the delays he’s encountered trying to repair, renovate and reopen the Drift-In.

Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats
Drift-In owner Derek Williams shared his concerns during the town hall meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I have a permit. The building official (Cushing) that worked on my project is sitting in this room. I worked with him, the city planner, the code enforcement folks. I went through every step and all I’ve gotten is government overreach, private property issues. I tried to follow every letter of the law.

“It’s definitely a land grab. Somebody needs to step up and say that’s wrong. All the way along, this is a back-to-back disaster. This is third-world stuff and it needs to be addressed as the highest level. It’s absolutely a tragedy. It is a clown car show but it’s hurting real people,” Williams said.

Speaking next, Cushing said, “I’m the person who issued Derek’s permit. It was done properly. It was done correctly and it was done by the book.”

He then referenced the letter he later handed to Siddique and said he would hit the high points rather than read the entire letter aloud. He noted he’s been a licensed building official for 25 years and a certified floodplain manager for longer than that.

“I’ve been there since Decem­ber of 2023. There has been constant, constant threats to me,” he said. “I know what I’m doing. We were getting things done, we were moving forward, we were doing things the right way. But every time that I didn’t do that for a particular developer – and you all know who I’m talking about – I was threatened. I was threatened by the mayor, the attorney and the police chief: ‘Do we just need to get another building official. Why won’t you do this for him?’ Things that were illegal,” Cushing said.

“I have a code of ethics I have to follow and I don’t want to lose that license. That’s my livelihood. I lost my job now and the company I worked for fired me too because I retali­ated about the things that were being said about me – slander­ous things they said about me and those things are not true. There’s dirty stuff going on in that city and somebody needs to look into it,” Cushing said.

“Our state statute says that I, the building official for that jurisdiction, will perform the duties under my responsibility without interference from any person. Not the mayor, not the city attorney, not anybody,” Cushing said.

Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats
County Commissioner Tal Siddique received a letter from Darin Cushing. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Siddique said he’s been following The Sun’s reporting on the Drift-In permitting issues and other concerns being reported in Bradenton Beach.

“I have not been able to get in contact with anyone from Bradenton Beach. I have not had one phone call back from Bradenton Beach since No­vember. I left a voicemail this morning. I have no idea what the hell’s going on,” Siddique said.

Cushing said he recently interviewed for a position with Manatee County but he fears the “slanderous things” said about him may impact his ability to get a job.

Cushing’s letter

Regarding the start of his tenure in Bradenton Beach, Cushing wrote, “A certain developer, whom I’d known from my time as building official of Longboat Key, began asking me to issue permits that had been placed on hold for various reasons by the previous building official (Steve Gilbert). I reviewed the permits and told the applicant what needed to be done in order for the permits to be released.

“Several times over the next few months, I would get questioned by the city attorney, the mayor and several times by the police chief about what was holding this developer’s permits up. Each time, I would explain what needed to be done, but at the same time felt pressured to just give him his permits.”

Marina

Cushing’s letter addresses the stop-work order he issued to the owner of the Bradenton Beach Marina, developer Shawn Kaleta, when a new bar opened there.

“It had been built and the opening announced with no permits for construction, nor did they have a liquor license. Within hours, the developer called me and said, ‘I talked to the city attorney and the mayor and they’re all good with it.’ ”

According to his letter, Cushing told the developer this was not the attorney or mayor’s decision to make and he would still need to obtain all the needed permits and inspections before the stop-work order was lifted.

Pines

Regarding the hurricane-damaged Pines Trailer Park (owned by Kaleta and invest­ment partners), Cushing wrote, “Following the hurricanes, I was immediately asked for the damage assessment status of the Pines by the developer. He also asked me if I would go ahead and condemn the whole park. I responded that I could not do that and that a proper damage assessment needed to be done.”

His letter notes it was later determined that only a few mobile homes needed to be condemned and the rest could be rehabilitated.

“I was asked no less than 10 times, by either the developer, the attorney, the mayor or the police chief, if I was going to write to the Pines (mobile home) owners and tell them they were done.”

Regarding the Drift-In permitting issues, Cushing acknowledges he erred in not routing the tiki bar permit to the fire marshal for an initial review of the tiki structure and its roof materials.

Cushing’s letter says the city received approximately 10 change of contractor forms from “said developer” a few days before he was suspended. According to Cushing, he told the developer he would not issue the change of contractor permits until all needed documents were correctly completed.

“Two days later, in a senior staff meeting, I was essentially threatened by all of the senior staff – attorney, mayor and police chief – that I needed to release those permits to him; or again, ‘maybe we need to get a different building official,’ ” Cushing states in his letter.

Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats
Mayor John Chappie and City Attorney Ricinda Perry are alluded to in Darin Cushing’s four-page letter. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the city attorney and a developer driving around town looking for properties to condemn, Cushing told The Sun on Sunday, “I personally witnessed them driving around together and other people (residents and city employees) visibly witnessed this hap­pening on multiple occasions following the storms. Several owners told me verbally that this had happened to them.”

No response from city

On Feb. 14, The Sun asked Chappie if he wanted to comment on the town hall allegations Cushing made about being threatened by the mayor, city attorney and police chief. Chappie said he had no comment.

On Feb. 15, The Sun sent Cosby a text message contain­ing a link to the town hall meeting video and seeking his comments on Cushing’s allega­tions. Cosby did not respond.

On Feb. 16, The Sun sent an email to Chappie, Perry and Cosby seeking their comments on these allegations. The email included a link to the archived town hall meeting video and a copy of Cushing’s letter. As of press time, The Sun had not received a response from the city.

The archived video of the town hall meeting can be viewed on YouTube by search­ing for “Tal Siddique Town Hall @ Island Branch Library.” The Bradenton Beach discussion begins at the 22-minute mark and continues to the 40-minute mark. The letter can be viewed in its entirety below.

(Sun reporter Leslie Lake contributed to this story)

Cushing Letter – Page 1
Cushing Letter – Page 2
Cushing Letter – Page 3
Cushing Letter – Page 4

Related coverage:

 

Pines homeowners offered more time in exchange for titles

 

City approves building official, floodplain manager candidates

 

Chiles/Perry/Kaleta not-for-profit dissolved

 

FEMA review may jeopardize flood insurance, buildings

 

City attorney explains Cushing suspension

 

Cushing deserves fair hearing

 

Public speaks out in favor of Drift-In reopening

 

Letter to the Editor: Drift-In owners appeal to governor for help

 

Commissioners discuss restructuring building department

 

Bradenton Beach building official suspended pending hearing

 

Major development hearing required for Drift-In tiki

 

Owners may ask for rezoning of Pines

 

Kaleta solicits post-hurricane development investors

 

‘Love Shack’ cottage owner staves off condemnation

 

Condemnation notice rescinded for Gulf Drive home

Chiles/Perry/Kaleta not-for-profit dissolved

Chiles/Perry/Kaleta not-for-profit dissolved

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton resident Rhea (Ashley) Chiles has dissolved the short-lived Together as Bradenton Beach Inc. not-for-profit corporation she formed in November with Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry and developer Shawn Kaleta to provide hurricane relief.

Chiles, the daughter of Anna Maria Island businessman Ed Chiles, filed the articles of incorporation with the Florida Division of Corporations on Nov. 22. After having second thoughts about her involvement in the corporation, she filed the articles of dissolution on Feb. 3.

The articles of incorporation list Chiles as the incorporator and registered agent of the 501(c)(3) organization and Perry and Kaleta as officers and/or directors, with a South Carolina address listed for Perry and a Holmes Beach address listed for Kaleta.

Formed after hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Anna Maria Island, the articles of incorporation include this statement: “The specific purpose for which this corporation is organized is to establish a foundation that benefits our local community in times of need, support local businesses and families and encourage community engage­ment and participation.”

When contacted by The Sun on Dec. 4, Chiles said she had decided to dissolve the corporation. When contacted on Jan. 6 regarding the corporation still being listed as active, Chiles said she tried to dissolve it and would follow up on those efforts. On Jan. 25, Chiles said she tried but was unable to speak to someone at the Florida Division of Corporations by phone. On Feb. 3, she successfully filed the articles of dissolution form provided at the SunBiz.org website and Together as Bradenton Beach Inc. is now listed as inactive.

On Feb. 2, the still-active articles of incorporation were displayed in a satirical animated video titled, “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?” Featuring the likenesses of Perry, Kaleta and Mayor John Chappie, the production is critical of some post-hurricane development and land acquisition activities in Bradenton Beach.

The video was posted on Facebook under the “Kevin-Kyle Kaczyinski Von Oswold” pseudonym and at the TheRealKVO.com website, both of which are referenced in a civil lawsuit filed by former Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and campaign consultant Anthony Pedicini.

The lawsuit alleges the unauthorized publication and commercial use of Van Ostenbridge’s and Pedicini’s names and likenesses and names Hawke Cates, Bradenton Times Publisher Joe McClash and unknown “Doe Defendants” as defendants.

Chiles statement

On Feb. 4, Chiles provided The Sun with a written statement that said, “On Nov. 22, I was invited by a mutual friend to Ricinda’s rental on 11th Street South in Bradenton Beach to discuss the annual Christmas on Bridge Street event. She asked if I would be willing to help co-chair the event as she was so overwhelmed, as were the Bridge Street merchants who were dealing with so much. I know this event to be a favorite of the community and was happy to offer any assistance I could. At some point, the creation of an LLC was discussed. While I am not experienced, I offered to help look into and begin the filing process as I had the spare time. I have never created an LLC. While it was initially filed, it never received financial contributions of any kind. I also realized I was way over my head with the scope of what creating an LLC would take.”

Chiles confirmed in a text message that her Nov. 22 meeting with Perry occurred at 112 11th St. S. According to Bradenton Beach City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, that residential property holds a city-issued transient public lodging establishment (vacation rental) license issued to BB Bayfront LLC and attorney Louis Najmy.

According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, that property and structure are owned by BB Bayfront LLC. According to the Florida Division of Corporations, BB Bayfront LLC lists Najmy as the corporation’s registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.

In her statement, Chiles said, “After that evening, I immediately started reaching out to business owners and community members and it became very clear to me that Bradenton Beach was just not ready for an event of this kind. So many people were still displaced; so many businesses were still rebuilding. I did not feel it would bring the community the unity and joy the event was intended to provide, nor would it be very successful. I voiced my concerns to Ricinda. She wanted to proceed and I removed myself from any involvement in the event and did not personally attend. At that point, I began the dissolution process for the LLC. I was told by SunBiz (Florida Division of Corporations) it had been dissolved. It was later brought to my attention it was in fact still active, so I resubmitted everything.”

Perry response

On Dec. 4, The Sun sent an email to Perry regarding the formation and intent of Together as Bradenton Beach Inc. Mayor John Chappie was copied on that email.

Later that day, The Sun received an email from Perry that said, in part, “I don’t believe the charity is moving forward. I was out of town for Thanksgiving and didn’t know the non-profit was named. Ashley then took the steps to secure the name with SunBiz and I gave her my credit card to set up the name.”

Perry stated the corporation could potentially be used to accept donations at the city-sponsored Christmas on Bridge Street event and the funds raised could potentially be distributed to Bradenton Beach residents, community members and organizations in need of post-hurricane assistance.

“The involvement of Shawn (Kaleta) was that he wanted to make a contribution to a charity and had other people interested,” Perry stated.

She noted Kaleta wanted to donate to a charity specifically focused on Bradenton Beach.

Regarding any potential conflicts of interest created by the city at­torney and a prominent Bradenton Beach developer serving as officers/ directors for the same not-for-profit corporation, Perry stated, “I didn’t see a conflict because all I thought I would do was help her (Chiles) get a charity initiated and off the ground and I would donate to it. Just because I was named in a document that someone else created and I never saw, and was dissolved within a week once she realized I had another char­ity (for Christmas on Bridge Street), doesn’t mean I was on a board or participated in any meetings on a non-profit with Ashley or Shawn.”

Diggins, DeRusso join Tourist Development Council

Diggins, DeRusso join Tourist Development Council

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

MANATEE COUNTY – Anna Maria Island once again has an elected city official serving on the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).

The last elected Island official to sit on the TDC was former Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland, who helped secure TDC-supported funds for the construction of the new City Pier completed in 2020.

On Jan. 28, Manatee County Commissioners appointed Holmes Beach Commission Chair Dan Diggins to fill the elected official’s seat recently vacated by former Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.

County commissioners appointed Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa Managing Director and minority owner Anthony “Tony” DeRusso to fill the hotelier’s seat recently vacated by Anna Maria Island businessman Ed Chiles.

Diggins, DeRusso join Tourist Development Council
Palmetto Marriott Resort Managing Director Tony DeRusso has a seat on the TDC. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Diggins, Palmetto Mayor Dan West and Longboat Key Town Commissioner Debra Williams sought the vacant elected official’s seat. DeRusso, Anna Maria Island developer and hotel owner Shawn Kaleta, Wagner Realty rental property manager Lisa Varano and Realtor/Short Term Florida Rentals LLC owner Damien Hernandez sought the vacant hotelier’s seat.

Serving as an advisory board to the county commission, TDC members make non-binding recommendations regarding the proposed tourism-related expenditures of the revenues generated by the county’s 6% tourist development tax. The tax applies to all lodging stays of six months or less in Manatee County and last year it generated approximately $30 million in tax revenues. Per state law, tourist development tax revenues can only be spent on projects and initiatives that promote or enhance tourism.

The appointments

Having received the TDC candidates’ applications before Tuesday’s meeting, District 3 County Commissioner Tal Siddique nominated Diggins to fill the elected official’s seat and District 6 at-large Commissioner Jason Bearden nominated West. Before the vote occurred, County Commission Chair George Kruse said he previously reached out to West to explain his support for Diggins.

“The islands (Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key) have not had an elected official representative on the TDC during my time on the board,” Kruse said. “They have not been given fair representation considering the disproportionate amount of capital and funds they contribute. I talked to Dan West and he understood.”

Kruse noted that Eric Cairns also sits on the TDC. Cairns manages the Cedar Cove Resort in Holmes Beach.

Commissioner Amanda Ballard expressed similar support for Diggins.

“For much the same reason, I will be backing Dan Diggins. I don’t want all these north county people represented with no representation from the islands when they provide so much in the way of our tourist economy,” she said.

The commission voted 5-2 in favor of Diggins, with Bearden and Mike Rahm supporting West.

Diggins’ TDC term will expire in June 2028.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said he would reach out to West and Williams.

“If they have interest in tourism, we want them to be part of our dialogue,” he said.

Falcione said the hotelier appointee would fill the TDC seat that Chiles held for more than 25 years, but would only do so until June, when all four current hotelier terms expire and become open for reappointment or appointment.

Bearden nominated DeRusso and with no further discussion or additional nominees, the commission voted 7-0 in favor of DeRusso’s appointment. Kaleta did not attend the meeting and no meeting attendees offered public input on any of the applicants.

Appointee’s insights

Diggins attended the morning session of the county meeting but left before the TDC appointments were made late that afternoon.

The following day, he said, “I think it’s an asset for an elected official from the Island to be on the council because the Island contributes as much tourist tax revenues as the rest of the county combined. I have a very good relationship with Elliott and I really appreciate the trust the county commission has in me. I’ll do a good job representing the Island and the county. My first meeting will be Feb. 24 at Bradenton city hall.”

Tourist tax revenues were used to launch the county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry service and the tourist tax revenues subsidize that ongoing public transportation operation. Diggins supports having a ferry stop in Holmes Beach and sitting on the TDC might increase the odds of that happening.

“We live on an Island. It makes sense. The two current boats are starter vessels and they’re getting a third boat built that’s enclosed and designed for the waters, currents, winds and weather we have out here. Elliott and I have talked about a ferry stop at the Kingfish Boat Ramp. The county would have to put some money into it and we should use TDC funds to do it,” he said.

Diggins’ appointment illustrates the improved relations between Holmes Beach and Manatee County officials since the 2024 elections reshaped the county commission.

“The city and the county couldn’t continue down the negative road we were on. Both parties recognized that and this is a step in the right direction,” Diggins said.

Standing outside the commission chambers after his appointment, DeRusso said, “I’m humbled by the appointment and I’m honored to be sitting at the table – especially in the seat of a legend like Ed Chiles. The Island’s ‘old Florida’ experience was the first thing I fell in love with when I came here from northern California nine years ago. Protecting that experience for the residents and future visitors is important and we also need to continue to invest in the Island and enhance it.”

DeRusso noted the Palmetto Marriott Resort is located near the entrance to the county’s urban core and next to the county-owned convention center; and Falcione has frequently expressed his desire for a ferry stop near the convention center and the new hotel.

“We need to make sure we have a diversified ‘tool belt’ to attract visitors and weather the different types of storms, literally and figuratively, we experience here in Manatee County. I look forward to diversifying the investments that help grow tourism in this area.”

Related coverage

 

Kaleta seeks appointment to Tourist Development Council

Pines owners offer to sell to homeowners for $75 million

Pines owners offer to sell to homeowners for $75 million

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Business, Featured, Real estate | Development.

BRADENTON BEACH – In a Jan. 27 letter to the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association (HOA), Pines Park Investors LLC offered to sell the mobile home park to the residents for $75 million.

At that price, each of the 86 mobile homeowners would be responsible for $872,093.02.

“This has got to be a joke,” said one Pines resident, who asked not to be named.

On Aug. 5, 2023, Pines Park Investors, LLC purchased the 2.78-acre waterfront mobile home property from The Jackson Partnership LLLP for $16.25 million. The manager of Pines Park Investors LLC is Shawn Kaleta.

The park sustained damage from both Hurricanes Helene and Milton but many homeowners hoped to rebuild their mobile homes.

The LLC notified Pines mobile homeowners on Jan. 4 of their plans to close the trailer park. As part of the process of closing the park, and per Florida Statutes, the ownership is required to make an offer to residents, according to the letter to the HOA from attorney Shawn D. Arbeiter of the Davie, Florida-based law firm Hunden, McClean and Arbeiter.

“Pursuant to Section 723.061(1)(d)1.a., Florida Statutes, within 45 days after the execution of this agreement, the Association may execute and deliver a Purchase and Sale Agreement to Pines Trailer Park to purchase the mobile home park at the price and under the terms and conditions set forth in this Notice,” the letter reads in part.

That statute reads as follows:

“1. The park owner gives written notice to the homeowners’ association formed and operating under ss. 723.075–723.079 of its right to purchase the mobile home park, if the land comprising the mobile home park is changing use from mobile home lot rentals to a different use, at the price and under the terms and conditions set forth in the written notice.

a. The notice shall be delivered to the officers of the homeowners’ association by United States mail. Within 45 days after the date of mailing of the notice, the homeowners’ association may execute and deliver a contract to the park owner to purchase the mobile home park at the price and under the terms and conditions set forth in the notice. If the contract between the park owner and the homeowners’ association is not executed and delivered to the park owner within the 45-day period, the park owner is under no further obligation to the homeowners’ association except as provided in sub-subparagraph b.

b. If the park owner elects to offer or sell the mobile home park at a price lower than the price specified in her or his initial notice to the officers of the homeowners’ association, the homeowners’ association has an additional 10 days to meet the revised price, terms, and conditions of the park owner by executing and delivering a revised contract to the park owner.”

According to the letter from Arbeiter, the purchase price for the mobile home park is $75 million. A deposit of $500,000 is required to be deposited with escrow agent Najmy Thompson PL, 1401 Eighth Ave. in Bradenton within three business days. One hundred thousand dollars of the deposit is non-refundable. The letter calls for a 60-day closing.

The Sun reached out to Arbeiter by email for comment as to how the LLC arrived at the proposed purchase price of $75 million, but did not receive an immediate response.

Kaleta seeks Tourist Development Council appointment

Kaleta seeks appointment to Tourist Development Council

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

MANATEE COUNTY – Anna Maria Island developer Shawn Kaleta is among the seven applicants seeking appointment to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).

Kaleta is one of four applicants seeking to fill the hotelier seat recently vacated by Ed Chiles. The hotelier seat is also open to resort owners and short-term vacation rental owners and property managers. Developer and Palmetto Marriott Resort Managing Director Anthony DeRusso, Bradenton Beach-based Wagner Realty rental property manager Lisa Varano and real estate broker Damien Hernandez also seek the hotelier seat.

Holmes Beach City Commissioner Dan Diggins, Longboat Key Town Commissioner Debra Williams and Palmetto Mayor Daniel West seek to fill the elected official seat recently vacated by former Palmetto mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.

Manatee County commissioners are expected to appoint the two new TDC members during their Tuesday, January 28 meeting that begins at 9 a.m. and public input can be given regarding any of the TDC applicants when the commission reaches that point of the meeting. The TDC appointments are the 50th item listed on the meeting agenda.

The current TDC members are County Commissioner Amanda Ballard, Palmetto Mayor Gene Brown, hotelier Jiten Patel, hotelier Eric Cairns, hotelier Rahul Patel and interested citizens Dave Wick and Norma Kennedy.

Serving as an advisory board to the county commission, TDC members make non-binding recommendations regarding the expenditure of tax revenues generated by Manatee County’s 6% tourist development tax. According to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office, “This tax applies to anyone who rents, leases, lets or grants a license for the use of living quarters or accommodations for six months or less, regardless of their state or country of residence.”

Last year, the tourist development tax generated approximately $30 million in county commission-controlled tax revenues. In recent years, tourist development tax revenues helped fund the Anna Maria City Pier replacement project completed in 2020 and the installation and repair of the floating dock and finger docks at the Bradenton Beach Pier. Tourist development tax revenues are also being used to subsidize the county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry service between Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The city of Anna Maria will soon pursue tourist development tax revenues to help replace the portion of the City Pier destroyed by Hurricane Milton.

Kaleta application

The application form seeks answers to several questions, including: “Why do you want to serve on this advisory board or committee?”

Kaleta’s response says, “To assist in the management of the Manatee County tourism growth.”

On his application, Kaleta lists hotelier as his occupation, Prime Hotels and Prime Vacations as his business names and a Holmes Beach address as his business address. According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, the 48th Street business address that Kaleta listed is a homesteaded residential property.

Kaleta’s TDC application states he’s the owner and founder of “the largest property management company in Manatee County – Prime Vacations.” It also states he’s the owner and founder of the Prime Hotel management group.

According to the latest annual report filed with the Florida Division of Corporations on April 25, 2024, Prime Vacations LLC listed Kaleta as the corporation’s manager and attorney Louis Najmy as the corporation’s registered agent. The corporations amended articles of organization

Filed on Oct. 30, the amended articles of organization for Prime Vacations LLC now list the Plantation, Florida-based CT Corporation System as registered agent and the New York City-based GSP Prime Buyer LLC as manager. That document notes Kaleta was removed as the LLC’s manager.

The Sun could not locate any active Florida Division of Corporations documents that reference Prime Hotels, the Prime Hotel Management Group or Kaleta’s involvement in either of those entities listed on his TDC application.

TDC applicants are asked to describe any education and experience they have that would benefit the advisory board. Kaleta’s response states he’s a licensed general contractor and engineer with a Master of Business Administration degree in real estate finance and marketing.

His application also says, “Experienced hotelier owning over 10 hotels in Manatee County including Bali Hai Beach Resort and Spa (in Holmes Beach), Anna Maria Beach Resort (in Holmes Beach) and Seaside beach resort (in Bradenton Beach).”

Kaleta’s application states he’s the “Owner of largest hotel in Manatee County on a barrier island – 106 rooms on Bridge Street.”

The Bridge Street hotel Kaleta referenced on his application is not built yet, nor does he own all the properties to be utilized for the proposed hotel development project.

In December 2022, architect Shaun Luttrell submitted the hotel-related major development permit application that listed Kaleta and Bradenton Beach business owner Jake Spooner as the hotel project property owners.

According to the Manatee County Property Appraisers office, Kaleta-affiliated LLCs own three of the eight properties to be utilized for the hotel. An LLC associated with Firkins Nissan owns one of the properties and a Spooner-affiliated LLC owns four of the parcels needed to construct the U-shaped resort structure as planned.

In December 2023, the Bradenton Beach Commission unanimously approved the 106-room resort that includes a 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail space and 154 on-site parking spaces.

Last week, on Jan. 16, City Attorney Ricinda Perry told Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members that Kaleta and Spooner hope to begin the hotel construction project by late summer. The Bradenton Beach CRA includes Mayor John Chappie and all four Bradenton Beach commissioners.

Kaleta’s TDC application notes he owns five restaurants, including Beach Bistro in Holmes Beach. It also notes he owns the Bradenton Beach Marina (also known as The Boat Yard) and a mobile home park – the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach. On Jan. 24, eviction notices were discovered taped to the doors of those unoccupied, hurricane-damaged mobile homes. The eviction letters were also sent to the mobile home owners by certified mail.

Public input

The TDC applications are included in the agenda for Tuesday’s meetings and are available to the public here. Click on agenda item 50 to view the applications.

Tuesday’s county commission meeting will be livestreamed and can be viewed here.

The TDC appointments are subject to public input and can be given during Tuesday’s meeting in person or by telephone using Zoom teleconferencing. To provide public comment by phone, call 1-888-788-0099 or 1-877-853-5247 and enter the meeting ID 89626986421, followed by the # symbol.

County commissioners can be contacted directly at their county email addresses: carolann.felts@mymanatee.org, amanda.ballard@mymanatee.org, tal@mymanatee.org, drbob.mccann@mymanatee.org, jason.bearden@mymanatee.org, george.kruse@mymanatee.org, mike.rahn@mymanatee.org

Related coverage

 

City attorney: Hotel project will begin construction this year.

Owners may ask for rezoning of Pines

Owners may ask for rezoning of Pines

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – While Pines Park Investors LLC has not disclosed plans for its recently-closed Pines Trailer Park, City Attorney Ricinda Perry shed some light on a scenario that could include a rezoning of the property.

Perry spoke about the Pines to Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members at a Jan. 16 meeting, saying the property owner has confirmed the planned redevelopment of the parcel.

“As we all know, the Pines has been through a back and forth, back and forth situation,” she said. “The FEMA statement that any water resulted in it being substantially damaged and had to be shut down, and then it was whether or not it would meet the 50% rule and there was some reconsideration of that.”

On Dec. 9, 83 of the 86 Pines Trailer Park homeowners had received notice from the city that they could repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes with the proper permits. On Jan. 4, however, the homeowners received notification from the park’s ownership that the park was being closed. Shawn Kaleta is the manager of Pines Park Investors.

“The property owner, when they were told on a number of occasions that the property could not move forward, that it was essentially damaged beyond repair because of flooding from the hurricanes, invested funds to try to create tiny homes,” Perry said. “In the city’s floodplain ordinance, Mr. Gilbert (former City Building Official Steve Gilbert) had told the property owner that you could elevate these to a certain height, which is going to change in May. Turns out that was not the case and they got those engineered and presented to make a tiny home village to kind of keep it looking like the Pines and it had to actually to be much, much higher and look like a stilted community, which aesthetically is not where we want to go with that.”

She said financially it didn’t make sense for the ownership to put in stilted tiny homes.

“So that is actually being reworked and I can tell you preliminarily it’s looking like some type of mixed-development that’s going to salvage as much of the character that’s there,” Perry said. “But obviously with the ones that are fully damaged, it’s going to have to adjust and change based off of our floodplain ordinance, and come into compliance with that.

“So, the property owner had preliminary discussions with staff,” Perry said. “The discussion with them was pretty much anything they’re going to do would likely need to come through a PUD so that we can assess it on a very specific basis and it will go through the land planning agency and then to the commission. So, yes, a rezone to me is absolutely necessary.”

The Pines Trailer Park is currently zoned M-1, and according to the city’s Land Development Code, permitted uses are single-family mobile home units, manufactured homes, park trailers, preservation uses and conservation uses.

“The Pines, we’ll probably be talking about at the commission meeting,” Mayor John Chappie said. “The zoning for that is going to have to change, so there’s going to have to be applications.”

As of Jan. 16, Building Official Darin Cushing said his office has not received applications for rezoning.

The Sun reached out to Kaleta’s representative for comment, but did not receive a response.

City reviewing planned changes to Bradenton Beach Marina

City reviewing planned changes to Bradenton Beach Marina

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – A plan to replace dry storage and boat repairs with restaurants and retail at the Bradenton Beach Marina was discussed at a Jan. 16 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting.

“There were plans discussed and presented to the building official prior to the hurricane consisting of interior wall adjustments within the marina building itself where dry storage is,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at the meeting. “The goal of that project was to take a bunch of boat repairs which resulted in oil, gasoline and spilled chemicals of all sorts, lifts and storage of damaged and derelict vessels onsite, eliminate all of that and turn it into a functioning marina that would service people’s boats that come in and park overnight, yachts, day-trippers and create a more functioning commercial segment up there.”

She said the plans are currently being reviewed by the Bradenton Beach building department.

“We had a staff meeting yesterday to make sure that was still on task,” Perry said.

Mayor John Chappie asked if the marina owner is looking to provide overnight stays on the site.

“There’s also been some talk about whether or not it would make sense financially for them to have a few rooms for overnighting, perhaps on the second floor above the Nautilus Bar looking over the water,” Perry said. “There’s also been talk about what was described to me as a staging area for food trucks and bands and a kids playground. Right now, the only thing that’s been presented to Darin (Building Official Darin Cushing) was just taking the internal side of that, partitioning it off and taking out the dry storage and putting in shops and restaurants.”

Perry said she can’t bind the property owner to specific plans, but said, “The plan as I understood is to eliminate all the dry storage inside, all of the boat repairs that are inside and install retail, restaurants that you can access from the outside as you’re walking down both sides of that marina.”

Perry noted the marina’s docks sustained damage during Hurricane Helene.

“The property owner (Shawn Kaleta) has shared with me that they had gotten an original price quote in the millions to repair the docks that were damaged from Hurricane Helene,” Perry said. “You cannot get those docks insured, so all of that is out of pocket loss and damage to that property owner, that’s why it’s been a little bit slow trying to get that turned around. They’ve gotten some additional quotes that are more feasible financially. I think you’re going to see that property turned back around again.”

Pines homeowners caught off guard by closure

Pines homeowners caught off guard by closure

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – In a community that Pines Trailer Park homeowners expected to be bustling with activity once again after receiving the city’s permission to repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes, the 86-unit park now sits quietly following the ownership’s decision to shut the park down.

Pines Trailer Park mobile homeowners reacted to the Jan. 4 park closure notification from Pines Park Investors LLC, including those who bought there in 2024 based on what they said were assurances from the ownership that the park would remain in existence for five to 10 more years.

Two months before Hurricane Helene hit on Sept. 26, Cory Jackson purchased four mobile homes in the Pines. Those purchases were based in part on what he said were assurances by the owner and management that the park would not only remain in place for 10 years, but that improvements were planned in the coming years.

“I was told by Brien (Quinn, former park manager) and Shawn (Kaleta, Pines Park Investors LLC manager) that it would be 10 years before anything would happen and the intent was to add a pool by the clubhouse in a couple of years,” he said.

Jackson said he has approximately $650,000 invested in the four units.

“I’m just going to walk away,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking for everyone.”

Steve Jackson purchased a unit in July 2024 for $125,000 with the intention of renting it out for passive income in his retirement.

“I met Shawn the day I looked at the unit and he seemed to have some great plans for the park,” Jackson said. “It seemed like he was invested and had a clear vision and put me at ease.”

He said he was shocked to learn the park was being closed.

“I read some people may have the option to stay, I’d be willing to invest if it’s going to be a few more years,” he said.

The Jan. 4 letter does not make it clear what the plans are for the park, and states that one option that is being considered, pending city of Bradenton Beach approval, is to allow continued month-to-month tenancy for some residents, possibly extending up to a couple of years, depending on the overall timeline for vacating the property. The letter does not indicate what criteria would be used for allowing some residents to stay.

Jeffrey Roth bought his unit for more than $150,000 in March 2024, in part to be close to his in-laws in Cortez when he and his wife visit, and they intended to rent the mobile home when it wasn’t in use.

“It was an investment,” Roth said. “I was told when I purchased this it would stay as a park for at least five years. I’m actively looking for an attorney in Florida to discuss my legal options. I was misled and I’m not the only one.”

The Sun reached out to a representative for the LLC for comment.

“Our intention was always to keep Pines a trailer park. Neither Shawn or Brien was being untruthful,” Pines Investors representative Sam Negrin wrote in a Jan. 8 text to The Sun. “The hurricanes created these circumstances where only approximately 50% of residents were willing to rebuild and continue their tenancy. Additionally, 75% of residents decided they no longer needed to pay rent due to the storms, and we’ve had to close the park for that reason.”

Ryan Pfahler and his wife, Marcy, own three units and live in one. He said the two units had been booked as rentals for February and March but over the Christmas holiday they were returning thousands of dollars in deposits.

Pfahler said there was no communication from the LLC since shortly after Hurricane Helene in September until the Jan. 4 communication saying the park would be closed.

“Saying nothing is saying something,” he said. “I feel like they sabotaged their own park, and I don’t believe he doesn’t have a plan. They’re not going to shut down the park without a plan.”

“I don’t believe he wanted to keep it a park,” Pfahler said. “If they wanted to keep it a park he would have lent us a hand.”

He and other residents took issue with many of the reasons for closing the park that the LLC cited in the Jan. 4 letter.

The letter gave the following four reasons for the decision to close the park:

“Financial challenges: The park is operating at an unsustainable income level, with high delinquency rates (approximately 75%). While some residents have expressed concerns about amenities needing restoration, such projects – such as waterfront docks – would take years to complete and require significant investment. Combined with delinquency issues, it is not financially viable to operate under these conditions,” the LLC’s letter states.

“The only cleanup was done by Brien or the residents. They were ignoring the whole thing,” Pfahler said. “There was no care or concern and they threw this back in our faces. Had they shown any care or concern, everyone would have been back paying rent. I believe it was 100% intentional to use that as an excuse.”

Pines resident Lesley Mullaney posted the following on the AMI Sun Facebook page:

“102 days without communication? The city giving us the green light to repair and offering free permits. A clubhouse that is so disgusting, dirty with dried muck all over the floors. We cleaned up our streets. WE did that without any help from his crew. A laundry facility that is void of all equipment with debris still littering most areas. Would you be willing to pay between $1,200-$1,475 a month when your place is uninhabitable?”

The second reason given by the LLC is: “Restoration and Compliance: The required renovations for many units to meet the 50% rule for updates would involve considerable investment, which we are aware many residents are unwilling or unable to make, if permits were to even be issued. Additionally, the park’s compliance with fire codes presents a complex and costly challenge, as addressing one unit’s compliance issues often triggers a chain reaction requiring others to come into compliance.

“With the exception of the three on the bay that were condemned, I know for a fact people would have fixed them up,” Pfahler said.

City Building Official Daryn Cushing told The Sun in December that he received multiple permit applications from Pines mobile homeowners for repair work.

The LLC letter continues: “Resident Concerns and Safety: We have received numerous requests from residents wishing to relinquish their deeds, but as a property management team, we are not in the business of owning trailers. Furthermore, the park has faced yearly flooding and other storm-related damages that create unsafe conditions for residents and untenable liabilities for management. This, coupled with instances of harassment toward our team and city officials, has exacerbated the challenges of maintaining operations.”

“What they’re calling harassment, I would call being persistent,” Pfahler said. “You keep trying to get a hold of anybody and there’s no response.”

“Long-Term Viability: The cumulative impact of delinquency, loss of units, and the need for significant investments makes it clear that the park’s current model is no longer feasible. Additionally, management cannot continue to bear the risk of another storm coming and once again losing almost all income, all of which is essential to remain afloat.”

The LLC has not disclosed plans for the park. According to Cushing on Jan. 6, the LLC has not applied for any permits for work there.

Owner closes Pines Trailer Park

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Business, Featured, Real estate | Development.

BRADENTON BEACH –  Pines Trailer Park residents who recently received city approval to repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes received a letter on Jan. 4 from Pines Park Investors LLC stating that the park will be closed.

The letter from Pines Park Investors LLC, whose manager is Shawn Kaleta, was received by Pines homeowners on Jan. 4 and reads in part:

“Over the past months, we have conducted extensive financial modeling and assessments to determine the viability of maintaining the park,” according to the letter. “Unfortunately, we have come to the difficult conclusion that Pines Park is no longer sustainable as a trailer park and must be closed.”

The letter does not make it clear what the plans are for the park but states that one option being considered, pending city of Bradenton Beach approval, is allowing continued month-to-month tenancy for some residents, possibly extending up to a couple of years, depending on the overall timeline for vacating the property.

Several Pines residents contacted by The Sun on Jan. 4 chose to reserve comment on the letter.

The letter goes on to state that formal notices will be distributed in the coming weeks in accordance with state law.

“These notices will include all necessary legal information and details to guide you through this process,” the letter continues. “Along with these notices, we will provide agreements designed to assist you in transitioning out of the park, as well as information about resources available to support you during this time.”

How it happened

On Sept. 26, storm surge from Hurricane Helene caused water intrusion into the 86 Pines Trailer Park mobile homes, some of which are directly on the Intracoastal Waterway.

On Oct. 17, city building officials said that FEMA guidelines related to hurricane-related water intrusion classified the properties as having “major” damage. Pines residents were told that regulations state that if the cost to repair a mobile home to its pre-storm state is 50% or more of the structure’s value, then the entire structure must be brought into current floodplain compliance. The city’s floodplain ordinance requires the mobile homes to be elevated to a height of 12 feet. Many residents objected that they were unable financially or practically to comply.

On Oct. 29, fire code and setback regulations were outlined by West Manatee Fire Rescue District Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski, who stated that all new mobile home installations must follow setback guidelines between structures.

At a Nov. 7 city commission meeting, Kaleta said, “The units obviously took on water. There are fire separation issues, there’s mold, there’s structural stability, there’s elevation of the buildings, there’s all these questions. I’ve made a commitment to the residents from our side to keep the park there whatever it can be inside the code. I think that’s a vital part of the community, having residents and having everybody in that community as it exists. I think it’s an important piece of the community to achieve that.”

On Dec. 9, Pines residents received good news from City Building Official Darin Cushing when he notified 83 of the 86 Pines Trailer Park owners that they could repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes with the proper permits without elevating them.

“We previously provided you with a notice that your property may have been affected by flooding due to hurricanes Helene and Milton, and that a second, more thorough inspection would be performed to gather data critical to making a formal determination as to whether the cost of repairs necessary to restore your building to its pre-damage condition might rise to an amount constituting ‘substantial damage’ as defined in the City’s Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance 21-538,” Cushing’s letter stated.

Following the second inspection, and with a review of the data and of the property values, the city notified residents that repairs could be made with the applicable permits.

“The data suggests that costs to perform repairs and restoration will not constitute a substantial damage repair,” Cushing’s letter stated.

However, some residents remained hesitant to move forward with repairs, saying that questions about the ownership’s intent for the park were still unanswered.

In early December, the parking lot for Pines Trailer Park residents at 201 First St. N. was converted into a public paid parking lot, with a pay-by-plate system in place. Pines residents who required parking had paid $750 per year to park in the lot. A representative for Pines Park Investors told The Sun that residents could continue to park in the lot until Dec. 31 and said a letter would be going out to the residents about its conversion.

Why it happened

The Pines Trailer Park property is currently zoned M-1 (mobile home park).

The Jan. 4 letter gives the following four reasons for the decision to close the park:

“Financial challenges: The park is operating at an unsustainable income level, with high delinquency rates (approximately 75%). While some residents have expressed concerns about amenities needing restoration, such projects – such as waterfront docks – would take years to complete and require significant investment. Combined with delinquency issues, it is not financially viable to operate under these conditions.

Restoration and Compliance: The required renovations for many units to meet the 50% rule for updates would involve considerable investment, which we are aware many residents are unwilling or unable to make, if permits were to even be issued. Additionally, the park’s compliance with fire codes presents a complex and costly challenge, as addressing one unit’s compliance issues often triggers a chain reaction requiring others to come into compliance.

Resident Concerns and Safety: We have received numerous requests from residents wishing to relinquish their deeds, but as a property management team, we are not in the business of owning trailers. Furthermore, the park has faced yearly flooding and other storm-related damages that create unsafe conditions for residents and untenable liabilities for management. This, coupled with instances of harassment toward our team and city officials, has exacerbated the challenges of maintaining operations.

Long-Term Viability: The cumulative impact of delinquency, loss of units, and the need for significant investments makes it clear that the park’s current model is no longer feasible. Additionally, management cannot continue to bear the risk of another storm coming and once again losing almost all income, all of which is essential to remain afloat.”

The letter ends with: “We want to express our heartfelt apologies for the inconvenience and stress this decision may cause. Please know that we are committed to supporting you through this transition and will provide all available resources to ease the process.”

Kaleta seeks plea agreement for DUI arrest

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Beach Beat, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON – In response to a driving under the influence (DUI) arrest in 2023, local developer Shawn Kaleta has entered into a Driver Enhanced Treatment Education Rehabilitation (DETER) program contract that requires him to enter a plea to reckless driving with alcohol as a significant factor.

According to the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, “DE­TER seeks to aggressively target first time, non-aggravated DUI offenders to reduce impaired driving by imposing enhanced educational and reha­bilitative sanctions including ignition interlock devices, alcohol monitoring devices, work offender sanctions and enhanced victim impact education.”

The DETER contract was agreed to during a Nov. 21 court hearing at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton, with 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Heather Doyle presiding. The hearing was originally scheduled to consider a motion to suppress “all evidence obtained from the vehicle stop and subsequent arrest,” re­quested by Kaleta’s legal team on June 14. Instead, Kaleta agreed to enter into the DETER contract and pending plea agreement. A follow-up case status conference is scheduled for March 20 before Judge Jacqueline Blanton Steele.

The arrest

A series of incidents that occurred in Holmes Beach on June 15, 2023 resulted in Kaleta being arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and resisting, obstructing or opposing an officer without violence.

According to the initial probable cause affidavit (PCA) filed by Holmes Beach Police officers Andrew Adkins and Alex Hurt, Kaleta’s vehicle rapidly accelerated after turning off East Bay Drive and onto eastbound Manatee Avenue.

Kaleta seeks plea agreement for DUI arrest
In 2023, Shawn Kaleta was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence. – MCSO | Submitted

“When vehicle had to slow down due to traffic, it began to weave within its lane. The vehicle then veered onto the eastbound shoulder, almost struck a construction sign but swerved away from it and avoided a collision,” according to the PCA. “Driver stated he left a friend’s house and is going to visit his mom in the hospital.”

According to the PCA, Kaleta discon­tinued the first stimulus test the officer attempted and declined to participate in additional roadside sobriety tests or a Breathalyzer test.

“After I explained to the defendant that he was under arrest for DUI, I walked behind the defendant and began to place his hands behind his back,” according to the arresting officer’s police report. “The defendant bent down to push me away and tried to pull his arms away from me. I was able to grab a hold of the defendant but he kept trying to pull away and push me away. Due to this, I had to take the defendant to the ground and forcefully place him in handcuffs. The defendant was given verbal commands but did not comply. Due to this, I also charged the defendant with resisting an officer without violence. I then conducted a search of his persona and located a wine bottle cork in his shorts’ pockets.”

At his request, Kaleta was trans­ported to a hospital and examined for dehydration before being transported to the Manatee County Jail.

DETER requirements

On Nov. 21, Kaleta agreed to the DETER enrollment contract sanctions. Upon completing the program, he will enter a plea to reckless driving with alcohol as a significant factor. He also waived his right to a speedy trial and requested the continuance of his case in order to complete his pre-plea sanctions.

The DETER contract requires the following sanctions to be completed within 60 days:

  • Remain crime and alcohol-free;
  • Stay compliant with any conditions of bond or supervised release;
  • Complete in-person DUI school with a licensed provider and begin recommended treatment;
  • Compete the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) online victim impact program;
  • Complete 60 hours of community service; and
  • Provide proof of installation of an ignition interlock alcohol monitor­ing device or continuous alcohol monitoring without the consumption of alcohol.

Upon completion of the above sanctions, Kaleta will be offered a plea of reckless driving with alcohol as a significant factor, with the following sanctions:

  • 12 months of probation without automatic early termination;
  • $500 fine;
  • 10 days of vehicle immobilization;
  • Successfully complete in-person DUI school and any recommended treatment;
  • Complete a MADD Live Victim Impact Panel;
  • 50 hours of public service; and
  • Complete six months of mobile data transfer module-equipped ignition interlock alcohol monitoring, or continuous alcohol monitoring without consumption of alcohol.

Related coverage: Local developer arrested for DUI

Pines homeowners meet with officials

Pines homeowners meet with officials

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park homeowners attended a Nov. 7 city commission meeting seeking answers about the continued existence of the 86-unit park following hurricane-related flooding.

HELENE DAMAGE ‘MAJOR’

On Sept. 27, storm surge from Hurricane Helene caused water intrusion into the mobile homes at the Pines Trailer Park. On Oct. 17, Building Official Darin Cushing said that FEMA guidelines related to water intrusion from flooding deem the properties as having major damage.

Federal, state and local regulations state if a home is damaged 50% or more of the market value of the structure, or if it is improved 50% or more of the value of the structure, then the entire structure must be brought to current floodplain compliance, which is an elevation to 12 feet.

On Oct. 29, fire code and setback regulations became part of the discussion. West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) Fire Marshall Rodney Kwiatkowski outlined fire safety and regulatory standards to be followed for all new mobile home installations at the Pines.

Regulations state that no portion of a mobile home, excluding the tongue, shall be located closer than 10 feet side-to-side, 8 feet end-to-side, or 6 feet end-to-end horizontally from any other mobile home or community building.

PUBLIC COMMENT

During a public comment segment of the meeting, several Pines residents and park owner Shawn Kaleta spoke to commissioners.

Kaleta, manager of Pines Park Investors LLC, was the first speaker.

“Obviously, we’ve been hit with a couple hurricanes. We’re all trying to dig out of the sand as a community and try to restore our homes, our businesses, our lives back to normal as quick as possible,” Kaleta said.

He said he has spoken to Pines residents.

“The units obviously took on water. There are fire separation issues, there’s mold, there’s structural stability, there’s elevation of the buildings, there’s all these questions,” he said. “I’ve made a commitment to the residents from our side to keep the park there whatever it can be inside the code. I think that’s a vital part of the community, having residents and having everybody in that community as it exists.”

Following Kaleta, Pines Trailer Park residents stepped up to the podium, seeking answers about the city’s final determination.

Brett Williams owns seven mobile homes at the Pines.

“I know you have legal stuff to go through, but if your intent is to say we don’t want trailers anymore, we want to replace them with new stuff, I get it,” Williams said. “I don’t want to put all the money out if we’re going to do that. I’d like to speed this up so we can move on. Right now everything is in limbo.”

Ryan Pfahler, who has lived there five years and owns two rental mobile homes there asked, “While we are fixing trailers can we be living there? How long to do we have to make improvements? Are we allowed to pull in a travel trailer in the meantime while we’re repairing or rebuilding? What happens if most of the trailers do not meet the 50% rule?”

Jim Entwistle purchased a mobile home at the Pines as an investment in April for $200,000 and has rental reservations there from January through April.

CITY’S INTENT

City Attorney Ricinda Perry addressed questions about the city’s intent.

“The intent is to save you, to save the community,” she said.” I went to Shawn and said what can you do to try to save this? Shawn asked if he could elevate the structures, and I said they’re not structurally sound. He said, ‘What else can I do?’ We could talk about a rezone, but the densities are tough to get there. Is there another product you can make that meets the definition of a mobile home park, install that and get to the densities and the setback? Possibly.”

“Shawn has asked us to explore that option – if the park can’t exist with the existing structures can he put another product in there at that density, that’s elevated as a replacement?”

Perry said those changes would require a hearing with Planning and Zoning, at least two commission meetings and would require a Planned Unit Development.

“It is our intent, our goal and our desire to keep that kind of community there, whatever that looks like,” Perry said.

CITY RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS

“You have FEMA policies, guidance and regulations. On top of that you have the Florida Building Code, the fire code, and they all have different pieces and roles in this entire situation,” Perry said. “One of the things that’s really important for the city is to come up with a consistent, uniform approach in administering the flood plain ordinance.”

The process applies to every structure in Bradenton Beach.

“After we work our way through that, that’s what gives you the decision about moving forward,” she said.

“You’re frustrated and you want quick answers. We understand that. I will tell you this – most communities when they’ve been hit by one disaster, not two, they adopt a moratorium and shut everything down,” Perry said.

Many homeowners have received letters of substantial damage based on initial assessments. Those will be followed by in-person inspections. The state is in the procurement stage of having 10 teams of two people each assist the city with those inspections.

Perry cited the city floodplain ordinance as it pertains to manufactured homes that are substantially damaged as a result of a flood.

“That’s 12 feet,” Perry said. “If we’re all being honest, none of these structures will make it to that height. Your engineering costs alone are probably going to exceed your 50% just to figure out if you can elevate it.”

Perry said that most of the Pines mobile homes are more than 50 years old.

“I have researched the life span of a mobile home and it is said 30-50 years max if they are well maintained and not in a marine environment,” she said.

“Engineering estimates are about $25,000 and I’ve heard everything from $115,000 to $150,000 to raise,” Perry said.

She said there have been meetings with city officials, Kaleta, Sam Negrin, Cushing and former city Building Official Steve Gilbert.

“Unless you do not have substantial damage, we don’t see a way to save it,” she said. “Once you elevate, you also have to come into compliance with the fire codes, meaning they have to have proper setbacks and fire rated walls for their own safety. So, you’ll have to come into compliance with that by repositioning the units somehow or shrinking it down to fit into the setbacks.”

She said units must be habitable for those who want to live in them. A travel trailer cannot be pulled in; they are not allowed.

If 50% of units are damaged does the park go away?

“That’s a private issue with your landowner, not a city issue,” Perry said.

Kaleta solicits post-hurricane development investors

Kaleta solicits post-hurricane development investors

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – At a time when some Anna Maria Island property owners are trying to save their hurricane-damaged homes, developer Shawn Kaleta is seeking investors to help him redevelop Anna Maria Island with a focus on luxury accommodations.

On Nov. 8, The Sun obtained a copy of a prospectus-like document containing the title: “Anna Maria Island Development Fund.” The seven-page PDF document that references Kaleta and his business endeavors includes the following quote: “Our vision is to revitalize and elevate Anna Maria Island, enhancing its appeal as a premier luxury destination. Similar Destinations: Naples, Florida.”

The document also states, “Outdated homes have been impacted in the storms, leaving room for only new, safer luxury construction.”

AMI Development Fund

The second page of the AMI Development Fund document bears the title “Developer Shawn Kaleta and Team” and states: “Leading the Island Development Fund is Shawn Kaleta, a seasoned 20+ year Anna Maria Island real estate developer who owns over 1 Billion in real estate assets and is Anna Maria’s largest real estate holder. Over the past 20 years, Shawn has owned, developed and constructed over 1000 homes on the island and has played an integral role in building Anna Maria into the luxury vacation destination it is today. On top of his personal holdings and developments, Shawn and his companies own and operate many businesses on Anna Maria including 3 property management companies, 3 hotels, 2 restaurants, a real estate brokerage, and a marina as well as many other businesses in Key West, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Casey Key.

“Due to Shawn’s insatiable appetite for the continued improvement and growth of Anna Maria Island, property values will continue to rise as they have under his influence for the past 20 years while he continues to transform the island into one of the top vacation destinations in the country.”

The third page, titled Market Outlook and Future Vision, states in part: “Growth of Real Estate Prices on Anna Maria: The vast improvement of housing quality on the island will lead real estate values to appreciate rapidly. Projected FED (federal) interest rate reductions will see an increase in property values of real estate at a 15-20% rate. Vacation Rental market provides high rental rates for end users to capitalize on.”

Page 4, titled “Investment Details,” notes that the goal is to raise $50 million in the next 3 to 3.5 years, with 10% of the funding to come from the general partner (Kaleta) and 90% to come from the limited partner investors with a 50-50 general partner/limited partner profit split. Apparently, in exchange for his 10% investment, Kaleta would receive 50% of the profits and the other investors would share the remaining 50% of the profits.

Page 4 contains the following bullet points:

  • “Investment and returns to be distributed upon sale of each home;
  • Each home treated as its own individual deal;
  • Sale of home for investment and leisure purposes;
  • Investments will be redistributed at a first in first out basis;
  • No management fee.”

Page 4 also states: “18-22% expected yearly IRR” regarding the internal rate of return on the investment.

Targets

Page 5 contains a cash flow analysis for two residential properties located on Anna Maria Island.

The cashflow analysis of the first property is for an “Inland Lot – New Build” at 110 Ninth St. N. As of Nov. 4, the 110 9th St LLC was registered as a Florida Limited Liability Company with the Florida Division of Corporations. The LLC lists attorney Louis Najmy as its registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.

Kaleta solicits post-hurricane development investors
This home at 110 Ninth St. N. in Bradenton Beach suffered hurricane damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, the only property with that address on Anna Maria Island is located in Bradenton Beach, not Anna Maria, as the prospectus claims. The FEMA market value of that home was $787,128 as of Jan. 1. The owner is listed as the Constance C. Novak Trust.

FEMA market value is the improvement value (the structure or structures on the property) plus 15%, according to Bradenton Beach Building Inspector Darin Cushing.

The cost analysis lists a $900,000 land purchase price, an additional $10,000 in closing costs and $910,000 as the capital required. Regarding the construction costs, the cashflow analysis lists $50,000 for design and permitting, $1.325 million for hard costs and $325,000 for soft costs, totaling $1.7 million on construction costs.

The cashflow analysis includes an additional $170,000 in construction loan interest expenses, bringing the total estimated construction cost to $2.78 million, with an estimated sale value of $4.5 million. The cashflow analysis does not provide any additional details on the design and permitting costs or the hard costs and soft costs.

Kaleta solicits post-hurricane development investors
The home at 709 Fern St. in Anna Maria sold for $855,000. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The cashflow analysis for the second property is for an “Inland Lot – Renovation” at 709 Fern St., Anna Maria. As of Nov. 4, the 709 Fern LLC was registered with the Florida Division of Corporations. The LLC lists Najmy as its registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.

According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s office, that property contains a ground-level, single-story residential structure with a FEMA market value of $626,678 as of Jan. 1. The owner is listed as the Karen E. Sparks Declaration of Trust.

The cost analysis lists an $800,000 land purchase price, with an additional $10,000 in closing costs totaling $810,000 for the capital required. According to the Stellar MLS listing, the home and property at 709 Fern St. sold on Nov. 8 for $855,000, which is $55,000 more than the purchase price listed on AMI Development Trust document.

The MLS listing includes this note: “Storm damaged selling as is. Options available: remove structure and build new on a beautiful island location or maybe restore this charming beach cottage to its original state adding flood proofing technology.”

The cashflow analysis for the 709 Fern St. property lists $5,000 for design and permitting, $50,000 for hard costs and $95,000 for soft costs, totaling $150,000 for projected construction costs. The analysis lists $960,000 as the total project cost, with an estimated sale value of $1.5 million.

For the 110 Ninth St. property, the “Investor IRR Analysis” lists no anticipated capital return in year one and a $1.202 million capital return in year two. Regarding the 709 Fern St. property, the Investor IRR Analysis lists a $729,000 investment and a $961,500 capital return in year one.

The final page of the seven-page document is a “build gallery” that contains six renderings of interior views and patio and pool views of a non-specified property or properties.

On Friday afternoon, The Sun reached out to Kaleta and Najmy seeking seeking comment on the Anna Maria Island Development Fund. No response was given.

Asset amendments

The AMI Development Fund document states that Kaleta owns three property management companies and a real estate brokerage.

According to the Florida Division of Corporations, the Prime Vacations LLC created for that property management company in 2021 still listed Kaleta as its LLCs authorized person and Najmy as its registered agent as of April 25.

On Oct. 30, an amendment to the articles of organization for the Prime Vacations LLC was filed and now lists the Plantation, Florida-based CT Corporation System as LLC’s current registered agent and the New York City/Park Avenue-based GSP Prime Buyer LLC as the LLC’s manager. Kaleta’s managerial status with Prime Vacations LLC is now listed as “removed.”

On April 25, the AMI Locals LLC associated with the AMI Locals real estate company listed Kaleta as its manager and Najmy as its registered agent. On Oct. 30, those articles of organization were amended in a similar manner which now lists CT Corporation System as the LLCs current registered agent and GSP Prime Buyer LLC as the LLC’s manager, with Kaleta’s managerial status “removed.”

It is not known what, if any, ownership share Kaleta still has in AMI Locals and Prime Vacations.

Pines Trailer Park discussion continues Nov. 7

Pines Trailer Park discussion continues Nov. 7

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Along with FEMA guidelines and city flood ordinances, fire code and setback regulations have become part of the discussion about the continued existence of 86 mobile homes at the Pines Trailer Park.

Following the storm surge from Hurricane Helene, Building Official Darin Cushing said in October that FEMA guidelines characterized the subsequent water intrusion into the Pines’ mobile homes as major damage triggering a city ordinance requiring elevation of the units.

On Oct. 29, West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) Fire Marshall Rodney Kwiatkowski drafted a letter outlining fire safety and regulatory standards to be followed for all new mobile home installations at the Pines.

Citing Florida Administrative Code 69A-42: Uniform Fire Safety Standards for Mobile Home Parks and Recreational Vehicle Parks, Kwiatkowski’s letter states “Specific attention must be given to Section 69A-42.0041, which governs the required setbacks between structures.”

That regulation states that no portion of a mobile home, excluding the tongue, shall be located closer than 10 feet side-to-side, 8 feet end-to-side, or 6 feet end-to-end horizontally from any other mobile home or community building.

“The city has reached out to the property owner to discuss some of the concerns about the health, safety, and welfare there and I’ve had a number of conversations with Shawn Kaleta and Sam Negrin about what their plans are and how we can all work together to save as much of the community there as possible,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said on Nov. 1.

Kaleta is the manager of Pines Park Investors, LLC, which owns the Pines Trailer Park. Negrin has been the spokesperson for the LLC at recent public meetings.

“I think we’ve come up with a solution that complies with the FEMA regulations and the city’s floodplain ordinance as well as the Florida Building Code,” Perry said. “We’re looking forward to solidifying that plan and putting it forward at the city commission meeting to the commission for approval in as much of an expedited timeframe as possible.”

Perry said the Pines Trailer Park will be a topic of discussion at the Nov. 7 city commission meeting. Public comment will be allowed at that meeting.

“Because of a discussion in the field with the West Manatee Fire Rescue (WMFR) District about elevating the buildings and also some fire separation, a large number of trailers in the Pines are actually out of compliance with setbacks as it relates to the city’s codes as well as the West Manatee Fire District codes, so Rodney (Kwiatkowski) issued a letter saying as you’re doing the restoration it needs to meet those setback requirements,” Perry said.

“Ultimately the property owner has the right to make sure that that development, as it relates to public health, safety, and welfare, addresses their concerns. You don’t want to have another situation where every single structure floods out,” Perry said. “They’re working with the city to find a way to make that happen.”

Perry said the Pines ownership’s goal is to have the Pines community stay in that section of the city.

“There are setbacks that we know about, there are densities and intensities, there’s zoning and comp plan provisions, so it’s just a matter of laying that all out and coming up with an organized game plan to get that park staying a part of the community here in the city,” she said.

West Manatee Fire Rescue letter

Kwiatkowski said he drafted the Oct. 29 letter at the request of the city and a copy was made available to the city and Kaleta.

“Please be advised that all new installations at your park shall meet the NFPA 501A: Standard for Fire Safety Criteria for Manufactured Home Installations, Sites, and Communities, 2017 Edition,” the letter states in part. “This standard outlines critical fire safety criteria for the construction, installation, and maintenance of manufactured homes and their surrounding areas.”

In addition, the letter states that compliance with the Florida Administrative Code 69A-42: Uniform Fire Safety Standards for Mobile Home Parks and Recreational Vehicle Parks is mandatory.

Setbacks must be adhered to unless one of the following conditions is met:

  • The exposed composite walls and roof of either structure are without openings and constructed with materials that provide a one-hour fire resistance rating.
  • A one-hour fire-rated barrier separates the structures.

The Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Dr. N.

Manatee Beach open, county working to restore all Island beaches

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

HOLMES BEACH – With dozens of beachgoers soaking up the sun at Manatee Beach as the backdrop to a Manatee County press conference, county officials announced the progress in reopening all of Anna Maria Island’s beaches.

The conference on Oct. 25 was held to discuss the timeline and progress in beach clean-up and featured speakers were Manatee County District Three Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Deputy Director of Parks and County Grounds Carmine DeMilio, State Rep. Will Robinson, State Sen. Jim Boyd and businessman Shawn Kaleta.

“It’s so important that everybody knows the great strides that we are making in our recovery efforts. Our island and surrounding communities continue to exemplify what it is to be real, authentic and resilient in the face of adversity,” Van Ostenbridge said.

Manatee Beach is open and part of Coquina Beach will reopen next week, according to Van Ostenbridge.

“The sand is safe, the water is safe,” he said. “In about 30 days time we believe the entire seven miles of Anna Maria Island beaches will be open. The beaches will be safe and that includes dragging the sand multiple times with smaller nets to catch all the debris that we can and magnets for pulling any metal we can out of the beach.”

He said the website www.bradentongulfislands.com/recovery will list businesses that are open.

“It’s so important we get the message out that these restaurants and these businesses are back open for business so people will come back out to their favorite places,” he said.

Hunsicker talked about the efforts being made to restore the all the Island beaches.

“This was a significant event and that’s a huge understatement,” he said. “When hurricane Helene came in, that’s when we had an overwash of the Island and we now have sand throughout the Island.”

He said crews have been working to move sand to appropriate locations.

“We have a lot of sand out here that came right from the beaches, but we also have areas that were taken from parking lots and private homes and it’s a dark color,” Hunsicker said. “We’re going to be sorting and sifting beach sand at the county reception site at the end of Coquina Beach.”

He said the dark sand, which is not suitable for the beach, will be brought to an inland location in Manatee County and will be used for road building materials.

DeMilio said many county staff members have been working 29 straight days, 10-12 hours a day to clean up the beaches.

“We have removed 4 feet of sand from the rest rooms, the sidewalks and the parking lots,” he said. “We have removed truckloads of debris from these beautiful beaches. We have cut up and removed over 80 trees and two to three beach rakes daily to keep the beaches clean.”

He said safety is at the forefront of their efforts.

“Manatee Beach is clean, clear and safe and we invite all of you to come out and enjoy our beautiful beaches,” DeMilio said.

Before introducing State Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson, Van Ostenbridge said, “Remarkable help from the state level has helped us to rebound as quickly as we have.”

“It’s nothing short of remarkable to see what we see in front of us here today. Four weeks ago, this place was destroyed,” Boyd said. “Do we still have work to do? Yes we do. One thing I think is important is not to take our foot off the gas.”

“It’s truly remarkable to be standing here when four weeks ago water was over my head,” Robinson said. “Two weeks ago a Category 3 hit our area, and the pure devastation that we saw was not just on the Island but inland as well.”

He said the work is ongoing.

“I’m proud of the county and the state and our federal partners to get us where we are right now. To see folks bring out beach umbrellas and chairs is one step, we have many steps to take over the next few years,” Robinson said. “We will be there with you. It warms my heart to see the great beautiful sand is returned to our shores and we will always be here for our community as we recover the right way.”

In introducing Kaleta, Van Ostenbridge said a heavy responsibility is to get hospitality workers back to work.

“We employ directly hundreds of people, indirectly thousands of people,” Kaleta said. “We’ve kept all our employees and staff, maybe their job titles have changed a little bit in the short term, and we’re doing whatever we can do keep our employees with jobs.”

Kaleta said he works with an organization called amistrong.org.

“That’s a community organization led by community business owners that is a great resource,” Kaleta said. “Over the last couple weeks, we’ve been keeping our heads high with all of our staff and making sure we maintain all of our employees. They’re a vital part of our community and the tourism business as a whole.”

Kaleta said many businesses have been working around the clock to open their doors.

“We have natural resources here that we’re very fortunate to have – probably some of the best on earth. It’s impressive to see what has been done in the matter of less than 30 days,” Kaleta said.  “We’re here and we’re offering tourists to come back as quickly as possible.”