HOLMES BEACH – On Jan. 27, city commissioners engaged in an impromptu discussion about the currently vacant Gloria Dei Lutheran Church property last used for church services in January 2025.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer initiated the discussion during his commissioner’s comments when he referenced comments Commissioner Carol Whitmore made about the Gloria Dei property during her town hall meeting at the Island Branch Library on Jan. 22.
None of the other commissioners attended Whitmore’s town hall meeting, but it was livestreamed and archived at the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page.
During the town hall meeting, Whitmore expressed her opinion that the city’s $3 million offer for the church property in mid-2025 was too low and that’s why it was rejected. The property was then placed on the open market with an initial $9.9 million asking price.
During the town hall meeting, Whitmore said she never saw a specific plan regarding how the church building and church property would be used if purchased by the city.
During the Jan. 27 meeting, Schafer said, “There was an implication that the city was making an offer for which it had no intended specific need or use. Not true.”
Schaefer said several agencies and entities expressed interest in occupying the church building if purchased by the city.
“You felt our offer wasn’t adequate enough. I want to remind the public that when we made our $3 million offer it followed our appraisals. And our appraisals were based on the current zoning,” Schaefer said.
The church property is currently zoned Public/Semi-Public (PSP) and that zoning designation does not allow residential or commercial development.
Schaefer said the property owners’ $9.9 million dollar appraisal was based on the potential to rezone the property for residential or commercial development.
Regarding the city’s offer, Schaefer said, “It was rejected, but I don’t think it helps our case for anyone of us to say the property is worth more than we offered. And consequently, if we have an opportunity to re-discuss the acquisition of this, it doesn’t put us in a very advantageous position of leverage for our chair to be saying we didn’t offer enough.”
In response, Whitmore said, “We offered our max and they didn’t accept it.”
Whitmore said she asked for a plan regarding the use of the church building and property and was by told by “leadership” that some non-profit organizations were interested in using that space and the School For Constructive Play preschool that previously occupied the church building was interested in returning.
“We never had a firm plan,” Whitmore said. “I wanted a better plan.”
Schaefer said there has been further dialogue with the church’s representative and the asking price has been reduced to $7.5 million.
Whitmore expressed her view that if someone else buys the property and wants to rezone it, the city can’t deny the rezoning request just because the city wanted the property and didn’t get it.
Schaefer noted that several years ago the church owners previously sought to rezone two of the three church parcels for residential development and the commission denied those rezoning requests.
Schaefer acknowledged the current asking price remains too high for the city, but the owner may eventually realize the current asking price may not be a realistic given the current zoning restrictions.
Whitmore said she doesn’t think the city can afford to pay $6 million to $9 million to buy the property and she doesn’t want the city going into to debt to buy it.
After further discussion about the condition of the church building, City Attorney Randy Mora reminded that commissioners they were in commissioners’ comments and may want to curtail any further debate about the church property in that setting.
HOLMES BEACH – Steve Oelfke, Jessica Patel and Terry Schaefer were sworn in to their two-year city commission terms on Nov. 18, followed by the newly-reconfigured commission’s organizational meeting, during which Commissioner Carol Whitmore was elected as chair.
Swearing in
During the city election that concluded Nov. 4, incumbent commissioners Oelfke and Schaefer were reelected and Patel was elected for the first time. After receiving the least number of votes in the city election, longtime commissioner Carol Soustek’s time in office has ended.
From left, Commissioners Terry Schaefer, Jessica Patel and Steve Oelfke were sworn in on Nov. 18. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
City Clerk Stacey Johnston conducted the well-attended afternoon swearing-in ceremony. Johnson provided some background information and her personal appreciation for each commissioner before swearing them in and administering the oath of office.
Whitmore elected chair
The ceremony was followed by the commission’s annual organizational meeting, during which the five commissioners select someone to serve as commission chair and someone to serve as the vice chair for the next 12 months. The chair leads the commission meetings and works with the mayor and the city clerk to set the agendas for the commission meetings and work sessions.
Schaefer nominated current Commission Chair Dan Diggins to serve another one-year term in the position. Taking her first action as a new commissioner, Patel nominated Commissioner Carol Whitmore to chair the commission. Patel, Oelfke and Whitmore voted for Whitmore and Schaefer and Diggins voted for Diggins. The commission then unanimously selected Diggins to serve as vice chair.
Regular meeting
During the regular meeting, the reconfigured commission adopted on second and final reading two previously reviewed and discussed ordinances.
The city commission’s adoption of Ordinance 25-06 updates the city’s regulations for seawalls, bulkheads, docks and piers.
According to the memo that Director of Development Services Chad Minor included in the meeting packet, “The ordinance provisions provide clarity to homeowners and contractors on docks, lifts, mooring areas and structures within Outstanding Florida Waters.”
During the planning commission’s final review of the proposed ordinance on Nov. 5, Minor said during the multi-meeting ordinance review process that the city received several letters from property owners in the Seaside Gardens subdivision.
Minor said a provision requested by Seaside Garden property owners along the Watson’s Bayou shoreline now allows those docks to extend 30 feet from the seawall instead of 25 feet. The ordinance also allows shared docks for Watson’s Bayou shoreline property owners, including duplex owners who face additional space restrictions.
The adopted 18-page ordinance also addresses several other specific docking locations and includes diagrams of many of those locations.
The city commission’s adoption of Ordinance 25-13 brings the city into compliance with a recent state law that requires code-compliant plat and replat requests to be administratively reviewed and approved by city staff without being presented to the city commission.
Minor told city commissioners this was “a necessity ordinance” requested and written by City Attorney Erica Augello in response to the Legislature’s adoption of Senate Bill 784 earlier this year and the ensuing state law that took effect on July 1.
During the recent planning commission meeting, Minor said plat and replat requests are rare in Holmes Beach but the new state law could come into play if the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church property is sold and the new owners want to replat the property for future development.
Traffic signals
The commission voted 5-0 in favor of opting out of a previously reached 20-year agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that obligates the city to maintain the state-owned traffic signals at the Manatee Avenue/Gulf Drive intersection and the Manatee Avenue/East Bay Drive intersection.
City officials no longer want the maintenance responsibilities for this Manatee Avenue/Gulf Drive traffic signal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the existing agreement, the city must give FDOT two years notice of the city’s intent to opt out of the agreement. The opt-out will take effect July 1, 2028 unless FDOT wants the opt-out to take effect sooner.
The city’s public works department will continue to maintain the traffic signal at the Gulf Drive/Marina Drive intersection.
HOLMES BEACH – Incumbent Commissioner Steve Oelfke, first-time candidate Jessica Patel and incumbent Commissioner Terry Schaefer won the three city commission seats decided in the city election that concluded with in-person voting at the Island Branch Library on Nov. 4.
Longtime incumbent Commissioner Carol Soustek was not reelected and her final term in office will soon end.
Soustek was appointed to the commission in 2014 and she was elected to serve additional two-year terms in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Voters were allowed to vote for up to three candidates and the top three vote-getters earned two-year terms in office. Oelfke, Patel and Schaefer will be sworn in by City Clerk Stacey Johnston when the commission meets on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
Vote totals
According to the official election results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office website on Nov. 7, Oelfke received 753 votes (32.39%), Patel received 635 votes (27.31%), Schaefer received 499 votes (21.46%) and Soustek received 438 votes (18.84%).
Voter turnout was 42.9% and 948 ballots were cast, with 601 ballots cast in person on Election Day and 347 vote-by-mail ballots cast. According to Assistant Supervisor of Elections Sharon Stief, there are currently 2,210 registered voters in Holmes Beach and 496 voters requested vote-by-mail ballots for the city election that was the only election in Manatee County this fall.
Candidate comments
When contacted on Nov. 6, Soustek said, “I was very disappointed because I didn’t expect that result. Maybe they wanted change.”
She noted Oelfke and Patel received significantly more votes than she and Schaefer did, and to her that suggests many voters may have only voted for one or two candidates, rather than three.
Soustek said she was glad Schaefer got reelected.
When asked if she might run again in 2026, Soustek said, “No. Things have changed. I’m not sure where people are going anymore. Right now, I’m adjusting to getting fired.”
Soustek said she’ll miss helping guide the city and she’ll miss working with the city staff for whom she has great respect. She said she won’t miss “people telling lies” about what the commission and the city are doing.
Soustek said she’ll remain involved in community affairs and she’ll continue supporting the city’s efforts to purchase the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church property. She said she’d consider serving on a city advisory board or advisory committee if a seat opens up.
Oelfke first sought election in 2024 but he was not elected at that time.
When asked if he was surprised to be the leading vote-getter, Oelfke, who was appointed to the commission in February, said, “Somewhat. I knew I had a good chance because I’m seen as someone fresh who’s also an incumbent. I felt I could get a good cross section of voters. I’m thrilled and I’m encouraged. I really wanted to continue being a commissioner and not have to run three years in a row.”
Oelfke praised Patel for running a strong campaign and said, “I hate that Carol isn’t on the commission anymore but I’m excited for Jessica. When I was a planning commissioner, Carol was the city commission liaison and she provided us with a lot of good insight, feedback and support. She’ll definitely be missed.”
When asked about his to-do list, Oelfke mentioned the annual stormwater assessment fees and said, “I want to tackle the stormwater and drainage initiatives next year and make a good plan to raise the funds in a more fair manner than going strictly by the square footage of a person’s property.”
Schaefer said he was pleased and somewhat surprised by the voter turnout percentage, even though the number of registered Holmes Beach voters has dropped from approximately 3,500 to 2,200 registered voters since he was first elected in 2019.
“I’m grateful for the support and trust of our city and I’m happy to return for the next two years,” he said.
“I was certainly disappointed not to see Carol get re-elected. I personally feel she deserved it, but the voters have spoken,” he said.
Schaefer also mentioned vote totals that appeared to be impacted by some voters not casting all three of their allotted votes.
“It really skewed the numbers, but that’s the voters’ right,” he said.
“I’m glad it’s over and we can roll up our sleeves,” he said of the work that lies ahead.
When asked about her first election victory, Patel said, “I’m very excited and I’m thankful for our community.”
By a wide margin, Patel sought and received the most campaign contributions.
“I think that says people supported me and wanted to support someone they know. I also think it shows the people in the community wanted change. If I had lost, that would’ve showed me they were happy with everything as it is, but that wasn’t the case. They want change.”
Patel also offered her sympathies and appreciation for Soustek.
“I think Carol is a wonderful person for giving so much of her time and providing our community with as much as she did for as long as she did. I commend her for that and I thank her for her service to the community.”
Campaign finances
The most recent campaign treasurer reports the candidates filed covered the Oct. 18-30 reporting period, with one more report due.
As of Oct. 30, Oelfke reported $350 in campaign contributions received and he loaned his campaign an additional $300. His reported campaign expenditures totaled $423, including the $80.80 qualifying fee. He also reported $1,613 in self-funded in-kind contributions to himself for expenditures that included campaign mailers, flyers, signs and newspaper ads.
Patel received 24 campaign contributions that totaled $4,510 and ranged from a $10 contribution to a $1,000 contribution. She also loaned her campaign $150 during the first reporting period. As of Oct. 30, Patel’s reported campaign expenditures totaled $4,531 and her expenditures included the qualifying fee, signs, flyers, promotional materials and newspaper ads.
Schaefer self-funded his campaign with the $2,500 he loaned to his campaign. His reported campaign expenditures totaled $1,876 as of Oct. 30 and his two reported expenditures were the qualifying fee and $1,795 for campaign mailers. On Nov. 10, Schaefer filed his final TR-E report in which he reported the additional $1,400 he loaned his campaign and the $2,005 he spent on newspaper ads for his campaign.
Soustek self-funded her campaign with the $4,000 she loaned her campaign. Her reported campaign expenditures totaled $3,338 and included campaign mailers and newspaper ads.
“The candidates now have 90 days to disperse of their remaining funds in their campaign accounts, pay invoices, repay themselves the money they loaned themselves, etc. The final report is due on Feb. 2,” Stief said.
I am writing to thank and express my gratitude to Carol for her years of service as a Holmes Beach Commissioner and former chair. I have had the pleasure of working beside Carol for the past six years and have witnessed her devotion to our city in many capacities. During each discussion and ultimate decision, she displayed her grasp of the issues with conclusions she believed were in the best interest of our city for the long term. Carol addressed each issue with honesty, openness and, I believe, a sincere desire to improve our city. Her focus on the Grassy Point expansion and involvement with the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee benefitted those important functions within our city. Carol’s accounting background served her and the city well during the tedious budget decisions. Most of all, I will miss her genuine care for our citizens along with her strong character and sense of humor. Carol, you served your city well and I am appreciative of your many contributions over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work along with you.
HOLMES BEACH – The three winners in the four-candidate Holmes Beach City Commission race will be known after in-person voting concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Carol Soustek, Terry Schaefer, Steve Oelfke and Jessica Patel seek the two-year commission terms to be determined by Holmes Beach voters.
On Nov. 4, in-person voting will occur at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The election results will be published that evening at www.amisun.com.
According to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, there are currently 2,210 registered voters in Holmes Beach and 473 voters requested vote-by-mail ballots for the city election.
THE CANDIDATES
Soustek, a retired corporate accountant, was appointed to the commission in 2014 and then elected to serve additional two-year terms in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Schaefer, a retired bank executive, was elected to the city commission in 2019 and re-elected in 2021 and 2023.
In February, Oelfke, a skilled nursing facility administrator, and planning commissioner at the time, was appointed to fill the commission seat vacated by long-time Commissioner Pat Morton. Oelfke seeks his first term as an elected commissioner.
Patel, a creator and executive director for a non-profit organization and a former journalist, is a first-time candidate.
CANDIDATE FORUM
On Sept. 24, The Sun hosted a 90-minute candidate forum. A partial recap of the forum appeared in the Sept. 29 issue of The Sun and at www.amisun.com and focused on the candidates’ opening remarks and their views on the city’s hurricane recovery efforts, the city budget and millage rate, stormwater and drainage expenditures and the annual stormwater fees paid by Holmes Beach property owners. That night, the candidates also shared their thoughts on several other issues, some of which are recapped below.
REZONING REQUESTS
In response to a question submitted in advance by a Sun reader, the candidates discussed rezoning requests that seek to increase the zoning density and intensity for the use of a property.
“The last rezoning question that came to us was two years ago and we rejected it, when the Lutheran church asked to redevelop two of their three parcels into residential,” Schaefer said. “Our commission has taken a stand not to allow rezoning to increase density.”
Terry Schaefer seeks re-election. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Soustek said the city’s comprehensive plan is the commission’s guiding document for rezoning requests.
“You use that as your guide and we’ve done that very well,” she said.
She noted the commission is bound by law to approve a proposed site plan that complies with city codes and regulations; and the failure do so could result in the city being sued.
“The comprehensive plan is our directive,” Oelfke said. “It can help commissioners make decisions that are going to be in the best interests of the residents.”
“One of first things I did when I decided to run was read that comprehensive plan. I agree it’s not the solution,” Patel said regarding rezoning requests.
Patel noted the comp plan also addresses affordable housing, which remains in short supply.
“When you have four grand a month to spend on a place and you can’t afford to live on this Island, it’s a problem. Maybe changing some ordinances to allow for density where families can live in those areas, that should be open for discussion,” she said.
GLORIA DEI PROPERTY
Earlier this year, the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church’s representatives rejected the city’s $3 million offer to purchase the property and church building for use as a public facility. The property is currently listed for $9.9 million based on the seller’s assumption that the property can be rezoned for residential or commercial development.
“Don’t give up on the city getting the Gloria Dei property,” Soustek said.
As for rezoning the church property, she said, “Again, you use the comprehensive plan. If they met the rules, we’ve got to give it them, but they are very stringent rules.”
Carol Soustek seeks re-election. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“There’s a significant opportunity to keep the structure and the density as it is,” Oelfke said. “I want to see that property and that structure used to benefit the residents and I think it’s worth some money to do that.”
Jessica Patel seeks election for the first time. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We definitely should not be rezoning it,” Patel said. “We should keep it as it is. We should be looking at different ways to use that property to potentially bring in revenue for the city.”
“The position that the city took was much more realistic than the position that the church took,” Schaefer said. “We made a legitimate offer of $3 million for the property. We had four agencies in the city that wanted to rent space from us.”
SPEED TABLES
The city plans to soon install two speed tables along Key Royale Drive, between Marina Drive and the Key Royale Bridge. At the time of the forum, three speed tables were anticipated.
Soustek said she’d be OK with just one speed table but something needs to be done to discourage speeding there.
Oelfke reluctantly agreed that something must be done, but he wants the speed tables to be constructed in a manner that allows motorists to pass over them while traveling at or near the 25 mph speed limit. He’d also like to see a roundabout constructed at the Marina Drive/Key Royale Drive intersection to make it safer and easier for Key Royale traffic to access Marina Drive.
Patel said the Key Royale residents she spoke with oppose the speed tables and feel the city is taking an unnecessary action to address a small number of speeding motorists.
Schaefer said, “This all started with a request of those neighbors living on the most narrow part of Key Royale Drive. This was not a city initiative. It was the city listening to its constituents about the concerns they had.”
CITY MEETINGS
The candidates discussed what might be done to increase public attendance at the twice-monthly city commission meetings usually held on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.
Oelfke said he has the flexibility to leave work to attend afternoon meetings but many other residents do not so it might be better to hold city meetings in the evening.
“As a commissioner, I need to hear their voices,” he said, noting that meeting times don’t matter if the residents feel the commission isn’t listening to them.
Patel, who works full-time, said more people might show up for evening meetings, in part because many parents have to pick their kids up from school in the afternoon.
“When you have a four-hour meeting, that’s a real sacrifice,” she added.
Patel suggested the city make a greater effort to promote the city meetings on social media.
Regarding the forum attendance that evening, Schaefer said, “I wish we had this type of attendance at our meetings.”
He then noted city meetings are promoted on the marquee sign in front of city hall, noticed on the city website and Facebook page and noticed in the emails the city clerk’s office distributes to registered subscribers.
“All you have to do is contact the city clerk. She will add you to the list. It goes out well in advance of the meetings so you know what the topics are,” he said. “Please show up, because that is the best way to hear directly from the public.”
Soustek said the meetings times changed from evenings to afternoons a couple years ago and that made no impact on meeting attendance.
“We have some loyal people that come because they want to know what’s going on, but we don’t see new people unless something on the agenda affects them,” she said.
ADDITIONAL MATTERS
The four candidates agree that paid parking near city-controlled beach access points might be inevitable but none of them support doing it now.
The four candidates agree that beach cabana rentals should remain an allowed activity but additional commercial beach activities that could include watercraft rentals and food and drink vendors present potential concerns.
The candidates agree that vacation rental-related noise ordinance complaints have declined in recent years in most neighborhoods and relations have greatly improved between the city and the short-term rental owners and managers.
All four candidates said they would support the city contracting with a firm to conduct a residents’ survey that asks residents which city issues and concerns are most important to them.
CLOSING REMARKS
During his closing remarks, Schaefer said it would have been nice to run unopposed but he thanked Patel for running. He said that’s another example of the willingness Holmes Beach residents have when it comes to serving on city boards and committees.
“I’m willing to do that and I think I’ve been a contributor. I realize everybody doesn’t agree with every decision I make, but that’s our system. I sleep well at night and there isn’t a decision I made that I regret or believe was wrong. I look forward to serving the city for another two years,” he said.
Soustek said she wants to work more aggressively with the city’s Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee, Suncoast Waterkeeper and other organizations to help address the off-Island sewage spills that negatively impact the Island’s water quality.
She said she’s not giving up on the city’s purchase of the Gloria Dei property and she said the city and its residents must continuing fighting to protect the city’s home rule rights from state legislators who feel a “one law fits all” approach is best.
“I like my job and I want to continue to be your commissioner,” Soustek said.
Oelfke said, “I’m a listener and I care, and I think that’s going to bear good results for the city – to have a city that listens to every stakeholder that’s involved with the city. I want to do things that are going to help the residents.”
He, too, stressed the importance of protecting the natural waters that surround the Island.
Patel said, “I like to help people, I like to make a difference and sometimes you need fresh eyes. Where can we do better, what can we see differently and how can we navigate this in a new and different way? Sometimes you need to visualize new ways, new paths and new ideas. Sometimes you just need something new.”
The Holmes Beach candidate forum video can be viewed here.
HOLMES BEACH – Police Chief Bill Tokajer reminds everyone that it’s illegal to remove a political campaign sign from someone else’s property.
According to Tokajer, all four Holmes Beach City Commission candidates have had their signs removed.
The four candidates seeking the three commission seats to be filled by the city election that concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 4 are Steve Oelfke, Jessica Patel, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek.
Tokajer addressed the missing campaign signs during the Oct. 16 city commission meeting.
“We received a call yesterday about some political signs that were taken from Ms. Patel,” he told the commission.
He also referenced a call he received earlier from Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short while that day’s commission meeting was in progress. Short told Tokajer someone delivered 11 Patel campaign signs to Anna Maria City Hall the previous day and there was surveillance video of the unknown person who did so.
“Every candidate has had signs stolen. That is a crime. It happens every year,” Tokajer.
He also noted the two-year city commission terms set forth in the city charter result in a city election taking place every year. He said the annual election cycles often pit residents against other residents in terms of which candidate or candidates they support.
When contacted the following day, Tokajer said he received and reviewed the Anna Maria surveillance video photographs.
“If we can identify this person, we can find out what their purpose was and where the signs were taken from. Each of our candidates had signs removed by someone unknown, for purposes unknown. If someone thinks a sign is improperly displayed, they need to contact code enforcement for their respective city. Code enforcement will educate the owner of the sign to make sure they are properly displayed,” Tokajer said.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer said stealing a campaign sign is a crime. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holmes Beach city code prohibits placing signs on city-owned property and in city-owned rights of way. City code also prohibits placing a sign on a property without the property owner’s permission.
When contacted on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Tokajer said he wasn’t aware of the person in the video and the photographs being identified.
HOLMES BEACH – City Commission candidates Steve Oelfke, Jessica Patel, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek participated in a candidate forum hosted by The Anna Maria Island Sun on Sept. 24.
Oelfke, Schaefer and Soustek currently serve on the city commission and seek additional two-year terms in office. Patel, a first-time candidate, seeks to unseat one of the incumbents.
The top three vote-getters in the city election that concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 4 will claim commission seats. In-person voting will occur at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach on Nov. 4; there will be no in-person early voting for the city election. Vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed out in early October.
During the forum, the candidates shared their views on several city issues, including the city’s hurricane recovery efforts, the city budget, property taxes, drainage and flooding and stormwater fees. The forum video can be viewed at The Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page and on YouTube.
The candidates
Oelfke, a nursing home administrator, said he and his wife moved to Holmes Beach in 2011 after growing up in the Maitland/ Winter Springs area of Orlando. Their two children attended Anna Maria Elementary and Oelfke served on the Holmes Beach Planning Commission before being appointed to the city commission earlier this year when Pat Morton resigned.
Patel and her husband met many years ago in Bradenton Beach and after time spent living in New York and California, they and their two children became Holmes Beach residents in 2020. Patel is the vice-president of the Anna Maria Elementary PTO board and the vice-chair of the School Advisory Committee. Patel, a University of Florida graduate, works for a non-profit organization.
Schaefer, a retired bank executive, has served as city commissioner for the past six years. He grew up in St. Louis and met his wife at the University of Missouri. They have been Holmes Beach residents for 19 years and have two children and five granddaughters.
Soustek was appointed to the city commission in 2014 and has remained a commissioner since then. She first visited the Island as a child while living in Tampa and later made Holmes Beach her home. She was an Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteer for more than 30 years.
“When you are a commissioner, you have to make decisions up here that affect a lot of lives, so we take that job very seriously,” Soustek said.
Hurricane preparedness, recovery
The candidates were asked what the city did well in its response to the 2024 hurricanes and what might be done better the next time.
Schaefer said before the 2024 hurricanes struck, the city completed the creation of a 600-page emergency management document that helped guide the city’s hurricane response.
“What can we do better? That is being studied right now,” he said.
Terry Schaefer has served three terms as a city commissioner. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Soustek said four or five years ago, Mayor Judy Titsworth told the commission she wanted to improve the city’s hurricane preparedness and those efforts included lining up emergency contractors to assist with the recovery efforts.
“We were prepared. Nobody’s prepared for 5 feet of water in their houses,” Soustek said.
Oelfke wasn’t in office when the hurricanes struck.
“I think the police did a great job. I think the city pulling in a group from Texas to help give guidance was great,” he said.
Regarding the city’s contracted debris hauler, Oelfke said, “The vendor we relied on struggled. They gave us a good rate, but they struggled to deliver as well as we would have liked.”
After noting the city now has agreements in place with multiple debris removal companies, Oelfke said, “That’s an area of improvement.”
Patel said the first responders did a great job.
“Outside of that, it was a disaster,” she said. “The contractors were a total mess. There were a lot of problems and the community was not proud of us. People were really disappointed and really upset, myself included.”
Budget, taxes
The candidates were asked about the city’s $22 million 2025-26 fiscal year budget, retaining the 1.99 property tax millage rate and the city’s expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
“Nobody wants to raise taxes,” Soustek said. “This year, city hall understood the fragileness of our community and they cut back on projects they planned to do. A lot of things were cut so we could keep our millage the same.”
She noted the property taxes levied by the city make up a small portion of a property owner’s tax bill, but that small portion plays a key role in funding the city’s operations.
“Go home and look at your tax bill. Look at the amount of money the city gets compared to some other things,” Soustek said.
Carol Soustek has served multiple terms as a city commissioner. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Oelfke said he doesn’t mind his own taxes increasing slightly but as a commissioner he feels a “huge responsibility” to keep property taxes low and ensure the tax revenues received are spent efficiently.
“I believe the people in this community need to feel heard and there’s a feeling that they don’t feel heard,” he said.
Patel said she doesn’t understand why the tentative millage rate was initially set at the higher 2.1812 mills rate and later lowered to the existing 1.99 rate after additional cost savings were identified.
Jessica Patel seeks her first term as a city commissioner. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“There’s always places in a budget that can be trimmed,” she said. “ Only after the fact – after the community was furious – did they say maybe we should take a look at the budget. That shows that we’re not talking to the community before making big decisions.”
Schaefer praised the mayor and the department heads for the comprehensive approach they took when crafting the new budget.
“I think a lot of people misunderstood when we set the maximum millage,” he said of the maximum millage rate adopted in July that could be, and was, lowered before the final budget was adopted in September.
Stormwater improvements, fees
Earlier this summer, Oelfke and Soustek and Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposed increasing the annual stormwater fee from $2.95 per 100 square feet of property to $4.95. Schaefer and Commissioner Dan Diggins supported the proposed increase.
During the forum, Oelke said he wasn’t comfortable increasing the stormwater fee when so many residents are still dealing with hurricane recovery expenses, but he said the fee will need to be increased in the future to make the necessary stormwater and drainage improvements.
Soustek expressed a similar view.
Patel said, “I shouldn’t have to drive through a no wake zone to take my kid to school. It’s a big problem. I feel like we’re playing this game of throw it at the fridge and see what sticks and nothing’s yet worked.”
She suggested looking at how other coastal cities address drainage and flooding issues.
Schaefer said the before 2024 hurricanes struck, the city asked a consultant to conduct a comprehensive drainage and stormwater system study. He said the consultant and city staff identified the $21 million worth of stormwater and drainage projects that should be pursued in the next five years and the stormwater fee revenues provide the money the city needs to receive the matching grants that help fund those projects.
All four candidates agreed that the existing square footage-based stormwater fee calculation method should be revised in a manner that factors in total lot coverage and impervious surface coverage.
Steve Oelke was appointed to the commission earlier this year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It’s not OK that some of our water issues are related to new development or new homes that maximize every square inch allowed on a lot. Those are the ones that should carry more of the burden,” Oelfke said.
Additional forum coverage will appear in The Sun before the Nov. 4 election.
HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Sun will host a Holmes Beach city commission candidate forum at Holmes Beach City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6-7:30 p.m., and the public is invited.
The forum will feature the four city commission candidates seeking the three seats to be filled by the city election that concludes on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Current commissioners Steve Oelfke, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek seek additional two-year terms in office and challenger Jessica Patel seeks to unseat one of the incumbents.
Sun reporter Joe Hendricks will moderate the forum to be held before vote by mail ballots are delivered and mail voting begins. The candidates will not be provided with the questions in advance and the public is welcome to submit questions to be posed to all four candidates. Please email your forum questions to jhendricks@amisun.com no later than Sunday, Sept. 21. The forum will be livestreamed and archived for 30 days at The Sun’s Facebook page.
According to Manatee County Assistant Supervisor of Elections Sharon Stief, military and overseas vote by mail ballots will be mailed out on Friday, Sept. 19. All other vote by mail ballots will begin being mailed out on Friday, Sept. 26. The deadline to request a vote by mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. To request a vote by mail ballot or to check your current vote by mail status, visit www.votemanatee.gov/VBM or call the elections office at 941-741-3823 and press 1.
Monday, Oct. 6 is the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming city election.
HOLMES BEACH – Holmes Beach city commissioners discussed the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA)’s consolidation study on Nov. 14, which lists the city of Bradenton as a possible annexation destination for Holmes Beach, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.
Reading aloud a statement, Commissioner Greg Kerchner said, “When I offered up my last soliloquy, I poured out my concerns over the influence of local developers, about state and county politicians not having our best interests at heart and about the threat of a consolidation being forced down our throats.
Commissioner Greg Kerchner stressed the importance of providing OPPAGA with all the pertinent facts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“But maybe we can turn this threat into an opportunity. Our job now must be to help the evaluators follow their own guidelines. We must ensure that they learn the unblemished truth about what has already transpired and must guarantee that they have all the facts they need to reach fair and just conclusions so that their recommendations are in the best interests of everyone involved, islanders and off-islanders alike,” Kerchner said.
“We need to wipe away any taint of political wrangling by clearly and fairly highlighting the relevant facts while insisting that all pertinent issues are considered. Unfortunately, this includes all the issues around visitor parking in Holmes Beach, which, for whatever reason, continues to play an outsized role in all our interactions with legislators and other governments,” Kerchner said.
Commission Chair Terry Schaefer said the consolidation of the Island cites would be “the granddaddy of destruction and overriding home rule in our community.”
Commissioners also discussed statements that Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) made the previous week regarding the study.
Titsworth said she hadn’t planned on addressing the OPPAGA study again until she read Robinson’s comments in the newspaper.
“Just because they’re saying something doesn’t mean it’s true. Just because they keep repeating the same thing doesn’t make it any more true. I don’t know how to respond to this continued narrative – and it’s always directed at me, it’s always directed at our city. We are upholding our charter, our comprehensive plan, our land development code. We care about quality of life. We are showing up to work every day,” she said.
“They keep pointing at the mayor that’s ‘putting up roadblocks,’ the mayor’s ‘that’s not doing what she says.’ I have done every single thing that’s been asked of me except putting unlimited parking in our residential districts. Name me one coastal community that has unlimited parking. There are none. We’ve proven that we have excess parking on any given day. Everybody who wants to can come right now; they just don’t want to because there’s too much congestion and traffic,” Titsworth said.
She noted the city recently created additional public parking spaces along Holmes Boulevard. She also noted she previously took Manatee County commissioners George Kruse and Jason Bearden on tours of the city’s available parking spaces.
“During that peak season tour, there were empty parking spaces in our city right of ways. I showed him (Kruse) the church parking available for overflow. He was amazed. Same thing with Bearden. Spring break, height of season, there were empty parking places everywhere. How can you continue to say we’re preventing families from coming out here? It’s wrong and I’m over the false narrative,” Titsworth said.
Titsworth said the consolidation study is “a power grab from the top down” being driven by state legislators and not by the Island residents and property owners who will have no input on the consolidation study requested by Robinson, Sen. Jim Boyd and the other members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation.
Titsworth said all three Island cities are thriving.
“Why wouldn’t somebody want the city of Holmes Beach?” she asked. “We have zero debt. We have $12 million in reserves. At a height limit of 36 feet, we have a $3 billion taxable value in our little city of Holmes Beach. The city of Anna Maria is $2 billion. The city of Bradenton Beach is $1 billion. Our three tremendous little cities equal the taxable value of the city of Bradenton and all their high rises and everything else.”
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, the total taxable value of all Bradenton properties in 2023 is $5.91 billion. The total taxable value of all Anna Maria Island properties is $6.15 billion.
The current millage rates in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach are 2.05 mills. The current millage rate in Bradenton Beach is 2.3329. Bradenton is 5.8351 mills and Manatee County is 6.2326 mills.
“Consolidate us into the city of Bradenton, they just doubled their taxable value. This is not about parking. It has never been about parking. It’s about doing what they want to do,” Titsworth said. “I don’t want to play these games. I want them to leave us alone. I promised OPPAGA we are going to work with you and give you every single thing you want from our city. We are a good city. We have so much to be proud of and we have every right to continue to be a city that serves the people who want to be here.”
Titsworth refuted Robinson’s statement that the Holmes Beach population has declined.
“That is not true. Our population is increasing, and it’s because of the hard work of our commission and our boards; and because it’s paradise out here,” she said.
In his recent statement, Robinson said he would support maintaining the height limits currently established in each of the three cities’ charters.
Earlier this year, Robinson co-sponsored state legislation that allows Manatee County to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.
“Representative Robinson said he’d respect the limits we have right now, but he told me if he could have had six stories, he could have gotten 1,500 to 1,700 parking spaces,” Titsworth said.
Commission Chair Terry Schaefer believes the consolidation study is motivated by financial interests. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In support of Titsworth’s comments, Commission Chair Terry Schaefer said, “The commission stands squarely behind you. It seems like some legislators have forgotten where they came from.”
Schaefer expressed confidence that the information provided by each of the three Island cities would support their continued operation as independent cities.
“I was encouraged to hear elected officials will be interviewed. I was discouraged to hear the plan is not to hear from the public,” he said.
Shaefer said he’s been researching the city of Bradenton and Manatee County regarding their debt obligations and financial reserves.
“It’s an eye-opener, folks. Strong positive reserves in all three Island cities. Not so much the case in the alternative. I don’t have any doubt that the whole motivation is financial. I think the garage was a smokescreen. I think it was an issue that they took up to try to taint and create ill will to divide people from off-Island and those of us who live and serve here. I think it backfired,” Schaefer said.
“If anyone is wondering why, the why is the money and the dissolution of charters. Height restrictions go away. If you don’t think there are aggressive developers out there who wouldn’t like to have an opportunity to build something higher than 36 feet in our city and on our beaches, pay more attention to what’s happening where communities don’t have control,” he said.
On Nov. 16, the city of Holmes Beach received a request for information letter from OPPAGA. That letter can be read here.
HOLMES BEACH – Campaigns are heating up ahead of the Nov. 2 election and before voters take a trip to the polls, The Sun is talking with each candidate to find out what they think about some of the issues facing the city. Here, they answer the question “How do you feel about water quality?”
Renee Ferguson
“Our habitat depends on our water quality and this is certainly a hot topic for our island and Manatee County. We need to mitigate and close Piney Point, and work with the other local, county and state groups and organizations to reduce algae and bacteria including red tide. Continuing to establish oyster reefs is part of a positive solution. Sewer line breaches are a huge problem and this definitely needs more attention from both county and state. We need to work with our neighboring cities to control pesticides and fertilizer runoff. Holmes Beach is currently working to establish a committee to review and determine answers.”
John Monetti
“I would preface my response with the recognition that I do not have all the current information available since I currently am not a city commissioner. My feelings on the topics reflect topical knowledge though I do stay abreast of these issues as an interested resident. This is an issue that I don’t see how it is even considered an issue. I haven’t run across many folks here on this Island that don’t care about our surrounding water. It is why we chose to live on an island.”
Pat Morton
“Water quality is one of our biggest concerns.”
Terry Schaefer
“I ran for election two years ago with a focus on the environment and water quality. I have been proactive since then suggesting methods to address those concerns. My sponsorship of creating a Water Quality Committee was unanimously approved by the commission along with strong support from Mayor Titsworth and staff. We are in the final stages of initiating that committee with the intent of startup this fall. The committee will be charged with coordinating efforts with other local environmental groups and hopefully with representation from both Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach with the objective of creating means and methods of improving water quality with recommendations of potential new ordinances, if appropriate. In addition, I recently suggested drafting a resolution concerning the city’s recommendations to Manatee County and the state concerning strengthening the vetting process of phosphate mining and consideration of new mining sites by the county and state. This was unanimously approved by our commission and our city attorney has been asked to proceed with drafting the resolution. The tragedy of Piney Point must never be repeated.”
Carol Soustek
“Water quality is in trouble. The discharges going into our bays is out of control. Your city has for the last seven years focused on flood and stormwater discharge. We have replaced aging pipes, no pipes, valves and so much more to clean the water before it gets to our bays. We have protected our wetlands and purchased property to develop watershed areas. Much more needs to be done and everyone needs to lighten their footprint on this Earth.”
HOLMES BEACH – Political newcomer Terry Schaefer is no stranger to the city’s government.
Prior to running for what would be his first term on the dais, if elected, Schaefer served on the commission-appointed ad-hoc form of government recommending committee. He’s been a full-time Holmes Beach resident for 13 years.
Schaefer joins incumbent Commissioners Rick Hurst, Jim Kihm and Carol Soustek in running for three available Holmes Beach commission seats. To help the voters get to know each one better, The Sun is conducting an interview with each candidate to find out where they stand on the issues. Here are Schaefer’s answers.
What should the voters know about you?
“Number one, we’ve been on and around the Island since 1996. We (Schaefer and his wife) have lived here full time for 13 years and have gotten a pretty good grasp of the community, certainly not from being a native but from absorbing the lifestyle and getting to know the culture of the Island and Holmes Beach in particular. Our first property and our current property are in Holmes Beach.
My background was in banking. I was in banking for 35 years. Through the course of that career I was heavily involved in the community… The banking business lends itself well to being involved in the community and I had that opportunity and I enjoyed the community service end of it, the volunteerism, and consequently bringing that experience with me from my career I had an interest in learning more in time, learning about the community and government. The experience serving on the ad-hoc committee was very decisive in my knowledge, expanded knowledge of the city and its governance, and was really instrumental in my decision to run for commissioner.”
What has been your greatest accomplishment for the city?
“I think helping conduct a very fair, objective and fair investigation of that issue (city manager). Ad-hoc committees are only advisory. I think the greatest achievement, I can’t say it’s mine personally, it’s the collective achievement of the eight of us, finding common ground and unanimity in the issue that we were chartered and responsible for investigating. I feel good about the process and the work that was completed by the ad-hoc.”
hat would you hope to accomplish in a new term as commissioner?
“I think representing our constituents is number one. In all of my material, what I’m committing in the material that I’m distributing pre-election is that I would be an open and inclusive commissioner, stressing the point that I want to hear back. Every time the subject comes up, I try to encourage more and more people to attend the commission meetings. The press does a very good job of covering what has happened but once you read the articles, it’s important to stay abreast but it doesn’t give you, as the citizen, an opportunity to address it at the time of the discussion.
Number one, an open dialogue with our community. I’m also focused on the quality of life issues that exist. Obviously, the issue of short-term rentals will continue to be an issue in the minds of those folks who are living in the midst of a real build-up of tourists. Although everyone has property rights and equal rights, whatever the issue is I think we need to seek common ground and a balance, an equilibrium of enjoyment of those who are visiting our community and protection of rights for those who live here and have chosen to be fulltime residents.”
Terry Schaefer
What is the biggest problem facing Holmes Beach?
“I think the biggest problem as far as financial risk is Bert Harris. There are no other challenges presently, currently that create any more financial risk than the continuation of resolution of the Bert Harris cases. Beyond that, and concurrent now and tomorrow, is going to be environmental issues and sea rise. I’m getting a lot of comments about sea rise and what can our city do.”
How would you fix it?
“Number one, you can’t think that as an Island we and we alone have all the answers and can create all the barriers (to sea level rise). It has to be a coordinated effort through the state of Florida and most importantly through Manatee County to coordinate efforts so that we’re not independently speaking, we’re collectively studying and determining what can be done.
I don’t want to mislead. I don’t have the answers. I have a desire to seek the answers and I think it has to be a collective effort, not an individual city effort.”
Do you think the residents have enough of a voice in city government?
“They have a vote. That’s the loudest voice citizens have, coupled with physically and narratively appearing in meetings. If you think there’s an issue, if you believe that a city is not addressing an issue properly, in my opinion, the single most impactful way of addressing it is appearing.”
Some say the city’s budget needs to be cut. Do you agree? How would you address this issue?
“The test of reasonableness and that’s how I intend to look at every line item to evaluate whether we’re spending it properly, whether we’re overspending, underspending and what is reasonable. Test of reasonableness is an accounting term where you look at something and say, ‘This is the objective. This is where we’re trying to get. Are we doing so most effectively and most efficiently?’ If we’re not, that’s an issue and the commissioners have the control. It’s up to the treasurer and it’s up to the mayor to offer the budget. It’s up to the commissioners to evaluate it.”
What is the most important part of being a Holmes Beach commissioner?
“Representing the people fairly, openly, objectively and with candor. Honesty is what it gets down to and responsibility. Conducting ourselves in a responsible and responsive manner.”
Is there anything else you’d like the voters to know?
“I’m very fair-minded. I am a positive thinker. I’m a half-full glass person, not a half-empty glass person. I believe that through honest endeavor problems can be solved even with people who have a different opinion.”
