Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats
The city of Bradenton Beach’s hurricane response has been a source of much controversy in recent months.
BY JOE HENDRICKS and LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENTS
| jhendricks@amisun.com, llake@amisun.com
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 hurricanedamaged 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
Feb. 13. During the meeting, Cushing handed Siddique a fourpage 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
Fishing Festival proves 'Swamped, but never sunk'
Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival organizers threw a two-day post-hurricane party.
BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ – For the first time in the five months since a hurricane swamped the area, people were once again smiling and enjoying the camaraderie of their friends and neighbors at the 43rd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
“I’m so proud of Cortez right now,” Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS) vice-president Paul Dryfoos said on Saturday afternoon. “After all that everybody has been through and to pull off a festival like this and make it successful is so great.”
This year’s theme, “Swamped but Never Sunk,” was an appropriate nod to the resilience of Cortez. On the same streets where, in September, Hurricane Helene’s storm surge flooded many homes SEE FESTIVAL,
Morton resigns from Holmes Beach commission
Planning Commissioner Steve Oelfke is expected to be appointed to the city commission on Feb. 25.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Longtime City Commissioner Pat Morton has resigned and recent city commission candidate and current Planning Commissioner Steve Oelfke is expected to serve in that role until the next city election in November.
Morton joined the commission in 2003 and he announced his resignation during the city commission work session that followed the city commission meeting on Feb. 11.
At the start of the regular meeting, Morton noted he’d been gone for about six weeks. He spent two weeks near Asheville, N.C. assisting hurricanerelated flood victims before visiting family members in West Virginia. He briefly mentioned the social
SEE CUSHING, PAGE 15 SEE MORTON, PAGE 11
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Crowds gathered on Saturday to hear live music and enjoy local seafood at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
Pines homeowners offered more time in exchange for titles
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Park homeowners may be able to extend their tenancy under conditions that include relinquishing the titles to their mobile homes to the park ownership.
In a Feb. 4 email to Pines Trailer Park homeowners, Fort Lauderdale-based property acquisition company The Urban Group offered homeowners some options which included turning over the title to their mobile homes in exchange for extended tenancy until January 2026 along with state statute-required compensation for abandoned units.
Those terms are governed by Chapter 723 of the Florida Statutes, also known as the Florida Mobile Home Act. The law states in part: “If a mobile homeowner is required to move due to a change in use of the land comprising the mobile home park as set forth in s. 723.061(1)(d) and complies with the requirements of this section, the mobile home owner is entitled to payment from the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Corporation of: The amount of actual moving expenses of relocating the mobile home to a new location within a 50-mile radius of the vacated park, or the amount
of $3,000 for a single-section mobile home or $6,000 for a multisection mobile home, whichever is less.”
The last correspondence that homeown ers received from park owner Pines Park Investors LLC was a Jan. 4 notification that the park would be closed. The LLC manager is developer Shawn Kaleta.
On Jan. 22 Bradenton-based attorney Louis Najmy sent the following text to The Sun: “The owner group has no more comment on this. That’s all I’ve been authorized to state.”
The Feb. 4 email states in part:
“As you have been previously informed, and as a direct result of the communitywide damage dealt by hurricanes Helene and Milton, coupled with non-payment of lot rent, Pines Trailer Park is no longer sustainable as a trailer park, and must be closed, with an official park closure date of July 31, 2025.”
As per statute, there will be compensation for abandonment and transfer of title.
the Pines lot into public paid parking in December 2024.
“If you are able to relocate your mobile home outside the park please contact our office to discuss the details related to relocation and removal of mobile home from the park,” the Urban Group email states.
Pines homeowner Steve Jackson said he will likely walk away from the mobile home he purchased in 2024 for $125,000.
“If they had said two years, that would be different,” he said. “I don’t want to put another dollar into it for that short amount of time. I’ll just walk away from it and deal with the money I lost.”
The email states that for those who would like to proceed with abandoning their mobile home or extending their tenancy until January 2026, the following is required:
Residents must sign an Agreement to Terminate Chapter 723 Tenancy, Abandon Property and Release Claims. Residents must then execute a bill of sale and transfer
Homeowners will receive a refund of any lot rental payments made between October and December 2024. Residents will receive a credit or refund for lot rental amounts and payment for January through March 2025 or the vacate date, whichever occurs first.
Lot rent payments will commence in April 2025.
The facilities, including laundry and clubhouse, remain in disrepair following the 2024 hurricanes. For nearly half the residents, there is no available parking since the Pines ownership converted
Another Pines homeowner, who asked not to be named, said he will also walk away from his investment there.
“I just don’t want to be involved with it anymore. We are done,” he said. “We are just writing it off as a loss and moving on. We have such a sour taste about Bradenton Beach right now.”
PINES TIMELINE SINCE HURRICANE HELENE
On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene swamped mobile homes at the waterfront Pines Trailer Park.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Pines Trailer Park homeowners are asked to turn over title to their mobile homes.
ISLAND NEWS
Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
County commissioner addresses building permit delays
Property owners seeking county-issued building permits are experiencing significant delays.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County Development Services department has received more than 11,000 building permit applications in recent months, many of them hurricane-related.
The ongoing delays in obtaining county-issued building permits were discussed during District 3 Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique’s town hall meeting held on Feb. 13 at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach. During his opening remarks, Siddique briefly addressed the county’s struggle to keep up with the current permitting demands.
Cortez Road west of 75th Street West are all in unincorporated Manatee County.
fixing our own home. Do something and stop acting like everything’s fine. It’s not,” Horesh said.
“We are very behind. Permits have been a big topic for me,” he said. “We can’t hire enough people. I keep telling the board (of county commissioners) to find some solutions. We need to get people back in their homes, get their roofs fixed, get their houses fixed and get back on track.”
According to the FEMA website, “Every part of a building – from roofs, walls and siding to plumbing, septic systems and heating/air conditioning systems – may require a permit before you start to rebuild. A permit may also be needed for demolition.”
After Siddique’s opening remarks, Flamingo Cay resident Darren Horesh initiated a longer discussion about the county’s permitting challenges.
“Those of us who had our homes affected are being tortured by the insurance companies, by the mortgage companies and then by the county who won’t give us permits. They won’t let us fix our homes,” Horesh said.
The Flamingo Cay community is located along Manatee Avenue in unincorporated Manatee County, near Anna Maria Island. Unincorporated areas are those located outside the city limits of one of the six Manatee County municipalities. Hurricane repairs made to properties located in unincorporated areas are permitted and inspected by county staff. The properties in Cortez, Sunny Shores and along
“We’re all sitting pretending like we’re all fine and we’re building back and we’re not,” Horesh said.
He alleged the county only has two employees working on permit applications – a claim the county later disputed.
“It just goes on day after day. Nothing’s happening. No permits are being issued, so what are we going to do?” Horesh said.
“It’s getting hot out. All these homes you’re not letting us fix are going to fill with mold in the next few months. Is the county go to pay to remediate that? The citizens of the county are suffering and nothing’s happened,” he said.
Siddique said he doesn’t get involved in the day-to-day operations of the building department but he has been contacted by a dozen county residents regarding their permitting delays. He said he asked the department directors to submit proposed budget amendments seeking funds for additional staffing. He noted Manatee County is currently competing with several other counties, from Sarasota to Naples, in its efforts to hire more staff. Siddique, who was elected in November, said the county lost 1,100 employees during the past four years.
Horesh asked why Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state aren’t providing more assistance.
“This is a national disaster. This is an emergency. We’re not some thirdworld country. We deserve to get back in our homes. We deserve to not be worried about having our homes red-tagged and us being penalized for
After noting that hurricanes are not new to this area, Susanne Arbanas said, “Why weren’t we prepared for something like this? We were not ready. You don’t get ready after it happens, you get ready before it occurs. It wasn’t done appropriately beforehand and now we’re suffering. I’m a renter, but I lost everything I own. Why weren’t people in place to take care of a situation like this? Who was responsible? Who can we talk to about that?”
Siddique said the blame ultimately falls on himself and the other county commissioners.
“I’m putting real public pressure on staff to get after that problem,” Siddique said, noting he’s also reached out to State Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. for assistance.
COUNTY RESPONSE
On Feb. 14, The Sun emailed Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan, County Administrator Charlie Bishop and County Commission Chair George Kruse seeking clarification on some of the statements and assertions made at the town hall meeting.
In his email response, Logan wrote, “We have approximately 11,000 properties that received substantial damage and this is directly contributing to the increased levels in permit applications we receive. In October and November, we saw a 50% increase in permit applications compared to pre-storms – approximately 6,200 compared to 4,000. In
January, we saw another increase with over 6,500 applications.”
According to Logan, the county currently has approximately 12 permitting technicians, approximately four floodplain review specialists, 20 additional permitting employees contracted from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, approximately five plan review officers and the contractual services of two private companies assisting the county with plan reviews and floodplain reviews and approximately 29 building inspection officers.
According to state law, only one person per county or city can be designated as the building official. Logan said Matthew Rush is currently serving as the county’s interim building official.
When asked when and why former Manatee County Building Official Bill Palmer recently vacated that position, Logan referred The Sun to the county’s human resource department. Kruse confirmed Palmer’s recent departure, but he didn’t know Palmer’s departure date or the reason for his departure.
On Feb. 14, Bradenton Beach Commissioners approved hiring Palmer to serve as the city’s new city-employed building official and former county employee Sandy Tudor to serve as the city’s floodplain manager.
Palmer will replace former thirdparty-contracted building official Darin Cushing, who was suspended in late January and later terminated. The town hall meeting video can be viewed on YouTube by searching for “Tal Siddique Town Hall @ Island Branch Library.”
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique, above left, discussed permitting delays during his Feb. 13 town hall meeting. More than 30 people attended the meeting.
City approves building official, floodplain manager candidates
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH –
The city has gotten one step closer to finding a full-time replacement for former Building Official Darin Cushing. Cushing, a contractual employee of M.T. Causley, was suspended by the city on Jan. 22 and subsequently terminated by his employer. At a Feb. 14 special city commission emergency work meeting, commissioners approved the hiring of former Manatee County employees Bill Palmer as building official and Sandy Tudor as floodplain manager. Neither Palmer nor Tudor was present at the meeting. According to Palmer’s LinkedIn account, he served as Manatee County Building Services Division Manager/ County Building Official from January 2022 through February 2025. He was the Building Official/Floodplain
Administrator for the City of St. Pete Beach from March 2000 through January 2022.
Tudor’s LinkedIn account states she has been Floodplain Section Manager of the Manatee County Building and Development Department since May 2022.
“The last regular meeting I volunteered to talk to some of my contacts at Manatee County for a building official and floodplain manager,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said. “I reached out to people that I worked with who I know have 20 plus years’ experience in building. She (Tudor) was a floodplain manager for Manatee County before she retired. I know her work ethic and she’s very well regarded. She agreed to talk to the mayor and city attorney, and she agreed to come on board to help us with what we’re going through right now.”
Scaccianoce also reached out to Palmer.
“He was available, and he also has years and years of coastal city experience,” she said. “He is very wellregarded. The mayor and city attorney had a conversation with him, and he also agreed to come on board and help us. He has all the certifications we need and all the experience we need.”
post-hurricane building processes. That review could possibly jeopardize the city’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) discounts on flood insurance, and even the ability for city residents to obtain flood insurance.
and Milton in 2024, Mayor John Chappie said. “We’ve done amazing in recovery, but we’re faced with a situation that we have to deal with in the recovery process and the FEMA guidelines. We need to be part of the National Flood Insurance Program. Every piece of property in our community benefits from that. There are many guidelines we are required to follow. We need people with experience and understanding of working with FEMA.”
From left, Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce, Mayor John Chappie, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Commissioners Scott Bear, Ralph Cole and Jan Vosburgh discuss hiring Bill Palmer as building official and Sandy Tudor as floodplain manager at a Feb. 14 special city commission emergency work meeting. SEE PALMER,
Chappie said that the review process by FEMA may linger for years.
Bradenton Beach is under review by FEMA for the city’s
“We’ve been in an emergency situation” since being hit by Hurricanes Helene
“They (FEMA) are going to come back and they’re going to be asking us for a lot of documentation, and this can go on for years,” he said. “It has gone on in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where they’ve actually forced people to tear down houses. Some of those
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
email:
The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff
Owner | CEO
Mike Field
Editor
Cindy Lane
General Manager
Bob Alexander
Reporters | Photographers
Joe Hendricks
Leslie Lake
Columnists
Louise Bolger
Rusty Chinnis
Contributors
Steve Borggren
Capt. Rick Grassett
Tyler Bekkerus
Layout
Ricardo Fonseca
Advertising Director
Shona Otto
Classified Ads
Bob Alexander
Graphics
Elaine Stroili
Ricardo Fonseca
Distribution
Bob Alexander
Connor Field
Tony McNulty
Brian Smith
Accounting
Leslie Ketchum
Co-founding publishers
Mike Field
Maggie McGinley Field
Family-owned
Drop us a line
Got an opinion, a complaint or a compliment? Is there something you need to get off your chest? Send us a letter to the editor and have your say. There are a couple of ways to do it. The easiest and most direct is to email The Sun at news@amisun.com. Remember to put Letter to the Editor in the subject field. Or you can snail-mail
a letter to us at The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 1189, Anna Maria, FL 34216. Letters should be kept to 300 words or less and must contain your name and the city in which you reside. Personal attacks and obscene language will not be printed. The Sun reserves the right to edit letters for length or content.
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
Feb. 27, 1 p.m. – City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.
Feb. 19, 1 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting
Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Feb. 20, noon – City Commission meeting
HOLMES BEACH 5801 MARINA DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Please visit www.holmesbeachfl. org or contact city hall for more information.
Feb. 25, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting with work session to follow
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19
Coquina Beach Market, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holy yoga, Roser Church, outdoor stage, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 11:30 a.m.
Mah-jongg for intermediate players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
One-on-One Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.
Town hall meeting with Commissioner George Kruse, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 20
Seashell Shore Walk, Coquina Beach South, meeting under the Longboat Key Bridge, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 9 a.m.
Roser Robics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.
TreeTots: Size Wise, Robinson Preserve Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.
Island Morning Book Club, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10:15 a.m.
Friends of the Island Library 2025 Lecture and Travel Series: Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 21
Forty Carrots toddler playtime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Coquina Beach Market, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tall Tail Tribe: Loops, Arches and Swirls, Neal Preserve Pavilion, 12301 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
All About Palma Sola Botanical Park, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
Bingo, The Center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 6-8 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 22
Saturday Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic NEST, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon
Author Read Aloud for Kids, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Family movie night, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 3:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, FEB. 23
Coquina Beach Market, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MONDAY, FEB. 24
Gentle Yoga with Delphine, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
TUESDAY, FEB. 25
Anna Maria Community Farmers Market, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Roser Robics, Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 9:30 a.m.
Siddique discusses future of Cortez Marina at town hall meeting
The Manatee County Commission may consider charging for the use of boat ramps at the new marina.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – Commissioners are floating the idea of charging for ramp access at the yet-to-be constructed Cortez Marina.
Manatee County purchased the Seafood Shack property in December for $13 million with the intent of creating a public boat access facility that will include boat ramps.
Plans for the marina were discussed at a Feb. 13 town hall meeting conducted by District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique.
Capt. Scott Moore asked about possible fees for use of the boat ramps
“How do you not charge and apply a discount for residents and commercial fishermen?” Moore asked.
“That is the conversation
we’re having around the marina property,” Siddique said. “One, we don’t have a plan, and two, I’m very careful when discussing fees. The marina property gives us an opportunity to have an Annie’s-like amenity (Annie’s Bait and Tackle, which is severely hurricane damaged). We’re not ready to propose it, but that’s where the thought is.”
Siddique said he asked staff to prepare a business model to ensure that any funds collected at boat ramps will stay at the boat ramps.
Moore noted that many other counties charge for boat ramp usage.
“Tampa, people pay to use the boat ramps,” Moore said. “We’ve been very fortunate here.”
TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC INPUT DISCUSSION
“We had no notification, we had no idea the county was going to buy the Seafood Shack. There was no planning, there was no discussion,” said one Cortez resident, who did not give her name. “To get to Seafood Shack, that’s the access to our homes back there. There will be
trucks going back and forth to pick up their boats. I’m here to ask if there is a plan and who is planning this? How do I find out what’s going on?”
“As far as a plan goes, it was bought with the intent to have boat ramps and a marina,” Siddique said. “My plan is this; add sufficient parking so we can relieve traffic on the new bridge, have a ferry service to Bridge Street, we already have the boats to do it, and the ferry to take you from downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria. We’ll take the two that we have and run them north-south just on the Island. For Seafood Shack, my challenge is this, to get cars off the road.”
Attendees asked Siddique what the specific plans for the parcel are.
“Is that normal to buy something for millions of dollars with no plan?” one attendee asked.
“We’re working on it,” Siddique said. “If Manatee County were to buy the property and not tell you what the plan is and not have any public input… I’m working now on having public workshops.”
He said he visualizes a trolley service to help alleviate traffic.
“My vision is we get a trolley just for Cortez that takes you from Seaflower (on 75th and Cortez Road), loops through Cortez and stops at the marina, people get off there and they can take the ferry. I want to make sure we’re giving people options.”
Siddique said a priority for the property now is to try to clear some 15 boats that are sunk at the former Seafood Shack marina.
He said he would like to expand the historic designation that the village has to the boat ramp area across Cortez Road.
“I want to be sure we preserve a significant part of that for charter boat captains and for fishermen,” he said.
Siddique said the final plans for the boat ramp will be a product of public input.
“There will be workshops in the near future,” Siddique told The Sun on Feb. 14. “I’d like to see those happen as soon as possible.”
FESTIVAL: Swamped, but never sunk
FROM PAGE 1
throughout the village, thousands of visitors gathered on the first day of the weekend festival on Feb. 15 to enjoy live music, local seafood, crafts, educational displays and kids’ activities. The festival continued on Sunday.
“There’s been a steady stream of people today,” Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) Treasurer Jane von Hahmann said.
Unsure that there would be a 2025 festival due to the hurricane damage, in November the FISH board held a meeting asking for Cortez residents’ opinions about holding the annual festival. Many residents agreed that a festival would be uplifting.
100% of the proceeds from the volunteer-run festival will benefit FISH and its mission to preserve the village of Cortez and continue the conservation of the 98-acre FISH Preserve.
On Saturday, von Hahmann introduced Manatee County District 3 Commission Tal Siddique and Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown.
She thanked Brown for arranging to have the 2025 Bradenton Area River Regatta rescheduled to Feb. 22 to avoid its conflicting with the festival.
Siddique is a newly-elected commissioner whose district includes Cortez.
“Cortez is a beautiful piece of old Florida,” Siddique said. “I’d like to welcome you all and enjoy the fishing festival.”
LESLIE LAKE | SUN Cortez village displays its sense of humor.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Sycamore Shade performed on Saturday at the 43rd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Stone crabs and oysters were on the menu at one food stand, above left. Fried grouper sandwiches were on the menu at another food tent, above right.
Dr. Angela Collins, extension scientist for the Florida Sea Grant program at the University of Florida, presented educational Dock Talks on Saturday.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Families enjoyed the touch tank at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival on Saturday.
Wagner Realty moves to new location
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Wagner Realty, one of the oldest full-service real estate companies on Anna Maria Island, will relocate its 2217 Gulf Drive N. office. The move was necessitated by the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The building has been sold to EGF Bonaire LBK Lot 3 LLC, whose authorized representative is Edward G. Fischer, according to the Florida Division of Corporations.
For more than 85 years, Wagner Realty has been a presence on Anna Maria Island, and will continue to be at its new location at the Anna Maria Island Centre, 3226 East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach.
“We are heartbroken to leave our longtime home on Gulf Drive, but we are thrilled to remain on the island and continue serving this wonderful community,” Wagner Realty President and Broker/Owner David Eckel said. “Our new location in the Anna Maria Island Centre will allow us to maintain our connection to the island while embracing new opportunities to serve our customers better.”
Wagner Realty was named “Best Real Estate Company” for 26 years in a row by readers of The Bradenton Herald. Wagner Realty also has been awarded top large business of the year by the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, as well as recently being presented the “Key to the City of Bradenton” by Mayor Gene Brown. The new office is set to open soon, with dates to be announced.
For more information, visit www. WagnerRealty.com or call 941-727-2800.
WAGNER REALTY | SUBMITTED
Wagner Realty will be located at the Anna Maria Island Centre, 3226 East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach.
MORTON: Resigns from Holmes Beach commission
media criticism the city of Holmes Beach received for its hurricane cleanup and debris removal efforts and he later returned to that topic when announcing his resignation.
“I’ve been on the city commission for 22 years. I’ve always said when I become not happy with serving on the commission, not enjoying it, I was going to resign. We got chastised. It’s been shameful what people said about us on social media. We tried to keep everything safe for the citizens of Holmes Beach,” he said during the work session.
He also mentioned the vacation rental management companies that publicly opposed the city’s short-lived, hurricane recovery-related vacation rental moratorium.
“I don’t appreciate that,” he said.
“We’ve got some very fine residents that live in Holmes Beach and I’ve met a lot of them. I call them my ‘extra family.’ That being said, I will resign from the city commission as of today. I’ve enjoyed 21 and a half years. It’s done,” he said.
After praising the city commission, Police Chief Bill Tokajer and the Holmes Beach Police Department, Morton said, “We have an awesome group running our city. It’s horrible what they were saying about us. How they wanted to get rid of us.”
During the initial cleanup and debris removal efforts, Morton defended the city on Facebook,
which prompted criticism aimed at him too. He also made inaccurate Facebook statements alleging the city of Anna Maria was not following FEMA debris removal requirements and would not qualify for FEMA reimbursement. Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy publicly disputed and dispelled those allegations and he and the Anna Maria Commission suggested Morton focus on Holmes Beach.
COMMISSION REACTS
After Morton’s announcement, Commission Chair Dan Diggins said, “Pat, we’re really sorry to see you go; sorry it affected you this way.”
He later said, “People’s perspective on things doesn’t mean it’s accurate.”
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “Anyone who devotes, on a volunteer basis, 21-and-a-half active years of their life to any municipality is owed a debt of gratitude. I’ve had the pleasure of working with you at the commission level for six years and I’ve always respected your down-to-earth approach to city governance. It’s always a practical, logical approach, not a political approach. You were the voice of many people in our community. You brought that sense of reason to our deliberations.”
The following day, Schaefer told planning commissioners that Morton is moving to West Virginia.
During the work session, Commissioner Carol Soustek
said, “Pat was from the old regime. Twelve years ago, the new regime showed up and Pat joined in. We took a city that was facing bankruptcy and turned it around.”
Soustek said Morton’s longtime employment at the Ace Hardware store in Holmes Beach and his interactions with customers there gave him a great feel for the pulse of the city.
“They felt comfortable bringing him their problems. He was a conduit to a lot of things we did up here,” Soustek said. “When you lose a person of his quality in public service, you’re losing a very important part of your city government. It is hard for people to understand what you give up when you come up here. You are a target, but what you do with what you have been given is so important.”
Before returning to the city commission late last year after a long tenure as a county com-
missioner, Commissioner Carol Whitmore served for many years as a Holmes Beach commissioner and as mayor.
“I’ve been with him since day one. He’s a good guy,” she said, noting Morton did a “wonderful job” as the city commission’s Waste Pro liaison.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said, “If you looked up the definition of ‘civic duty,’ you would see Pat’s picture. I hope the community understands just how important it is to get people up there that are only here for civic duty. They’re not here for a political climb. They’re not here for the power. They’re here for their civic duty because they love this city so much. That’s Pat; that’s all of us here.”
Tokajer said, “You’ve been a champion for the police department since I got here. I appreciate you and all the love you’ve shown to my officers over the last 12 years.”
Diggins then raised the topic of appointing Morton’s successor. Citing the city charter, City Attorney Erica Augello said, “A vacancy on the commission shall be filled by appointment of the commission. Such appointment shall receive the approval of the majority of the remaining members and shall be for a term expiring at the end of the next city general election. The unexpired term, if any, shall be filled by election.”
Titsworth referenced the 2024 election in which Diggins and Whitmore won the two open commission seats. Oelfke finished third with 20.6% of the votes and Bill Romberger finished fourth with 11%. Titsworth said the city could solicit applications or defer to the recent election results. Soustek said that’s how she originally became a commissioner after losing a close election.
“We already know who that is. He happens to be here,” Whitmore said of Oelfke’s presence. She asked if the vacancy could be filled without advertising the open position. Augello said there’s nothing in the charter or state election law that requires a vacant seat to be advertised but the commission can’t take an official action during a work session.
Oelfke is expected to be appointed on Tuesday, Feb. 25 and serve what remains of Morton’s two-year term that expires in November.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Pat Morton served on the Holmes Beach City Commission for 22 years.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Bayfront Park reopens
Bayfront Park in Anna Maria officially reopened on Feb. 14, just in time for the Valentine’s Day/Presidents Day weekend. The city-owned, county-maintained park sustained hurricane damage and fallen trees and the parking lot was used as a hurricane debris collection and removal site. The parking lot has been cleaned and restored, the public restrooms and picnic pavilions are open and swimming is allowed.
AMI Historical Museum reopening
The Anna Maria Island Historical Museum at 402 Pine Ave. in Anna Maria will host a soft reopening on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 4-7 p.m. The free event will celebrate the museum’s recovery from the damage sustained during the recent hurricanes. Wine, refreshments and music will be provided and the museum docents and board members will be on hand to greet and welcome attendees.
Garden Club fashion show to assist local retailers
The Anna Maria Island Garden Club will host its annual fashion show and luncheon at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s show will feature more than 40 models and several local retailers will have pop-up shops on-site for attendees to buy the fashions featured in the show. The luncheon will be catered by Harry’s Continental Kitchens and valet parking will be available. All proceeds from this year’s event will be given to the participating retailers to help with their ongoing recovery from the back-to-back
AMI GARDEN CLUB | SUBMITTED
hurricanes that struck the Island. Any profit the garden club makes from its raffles will go toward the club’s Island restoration and beatification projects. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online at https://amigardenclubfashionshow.rsvpify.com. The Center is located at 407 Magnolia Ave. in Anna Maria.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
2025 Anna Maria Island Sun Readers’ Choice
Auto Service
Bait & Tackle Shop
Bank (include location)
Boating
Car
CBD
Clothing
Convenience
Liquor
Manicurist
ENTRY FORM (Must be completed for votes to be accepted)
Name:
Address:
Phone: Day | Night
I am at least 18 years of age or older (please check box)
Signature:
RULES
Please read carefully. To vote in The Sun’s Readers’ Choice Awards you must use an official entry ballot published in The Sun. Copies and faxes will not be accepted. The ballots will appear in The Sun on Feb. 12, Feb. 19 and Feb. 26. Only one ballot per person is allowed. At least 10 CATEGORIES must be filled in for the ballot to count and the entry form must be completed. Complete ballots may be dropped off at The Sun office, 3909 East Bay Drive Ste. 210, Holmes Beach. or the Anna Maria Chamber office at 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. Or you can mail them to The Anna Maria Island Sun, P.O. Box 15179, Bradenton, FL 34280. All ballots must be in by Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 4pm. Prizes in the drawing may not be transferred. Winners are drawn at random from all entries and you don’t have to buy anything to win. Accepting the prizes means winners agree to the use of their names and photographs in subsequent ads and news stories. You must be 18 years or older to participate. Ballots which show signs of tampering will not be counted. We reserve the right to reject any ballot(s) or disqualify any contestant(s).
CUSHING: Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats
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.
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
During a Feb. 13 town hall meeting, Darin Cushing said other city officials encouraged him to assist a particular developer.
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.
“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,” 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
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Elevate Florida now accepting applications
Applications are now being accepted for the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Elevate Florida program that will cover at least 75% of the cost to elevate ground-level homes.
The state-managed program’s goal is to enhance community resilience by mitigating private residences against natural hazards. Eligible projects include structure elevation, mitigation reconstruction for homes not structurally sound enough to elevate, wind mitigation and the acquisition and demolition of ground-level homes to create more undeveloped open space. Applicants must be over the age of 18, U.S. citizens, the legal owner of the residential property and able to contribute up to 25% of the project’s total cost. Duplexes, triplexes, condos, townhomes, semi-detached homes, apartments and manufactured homes may also be eligible. The property does not need to have experienced flooding or damage
in the past to be considered, but applications may be prioritized based on the history of loss. Secondary residences may be considered if sufficient funding is available. For more information or application assistance, call 1-877-353-8835 or visit the www.floridadisaster.org/ dem/mitigation/elevate-Florida/ website to learn more and begin the application process.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Ground-level homes can be elevated using Elevate Florida funds.
PINES: Homeowners offered more time
Former city Building Official Darin Cushing said on Oct. 17 that FEMA guidelines characterized the subsequent water intrusion into Pines’ mobile homes as major damage, triggering a city ordinance requiring elevation of the units.
On Dec. 5, the parking lot for Pines Trailer Park residents at 201 First St. N. was converted to a public paid parking lot, effectively removing parking for nearly half of the residents at the Pines who have no parking at their units and had paid $750 per year to park in the lot.
A letter from Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing stated the following in part:
“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.”
according to the letter.
“At this time, the data suggests that costs to perform repairs and restoration will not constitute a substantial damage repair,” Cushing’s letter stated.
Many Pines homeowners said they would not be making repairs until they heard from park ownership about future plans. They got their answer on Jan. 4 when they received notification from Pines Park Investors LLC that the park was being closed.
Pines Trailer Park mobile homeowners found eviction notices taped to their windows and doors on Jan. 24, notifying them of a July 31 deadline to vacate the park, with the possibility of extended tenancy. FROM PAGE 3
On Dec. 9, 83 of the 86 Pines Trailer Park homeowners received notice from the city that they could repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes with the proper permits.
Following the results of that second inspection, and with a review of the data, as well as a review of the property values, repairs could be made with the applicable permits,
OUTDOORS
Harbingers of spring
Reel Time
he signs of spring are in the air, even though the official start of the season is a month away. I heard the first whippoorwill this past week and bait is starting to school in Sarasota Bay, welcome signs to winter
This doesn’t mean that there won’t be another cold snap, and if the calendar says spring isn’t here yet, we know it’s just around the corner. Experience tells the savvy angler that fish have their own special calendar, one that consists of the angle of the sun, temperature of the water and the length of the days. When water temperatures rise into the 70s, fish come out of their winter haunts, even if it’s winter one day and spring the next.
It’s a time to keep an eye on the Gulf, looking for the first snook in the surf and for wheeling, diving seabirds as they forage on schools of baitfish that will begin to gather off the beaches in a seasonal primal ritual.
Anglers know from experience that schools of little tunny, Spanish mackerel, cobia and kingfish won’t be far behind. It could be just a matter of days before they will be swarming the bait schools, wrecks, reefs and hard bottom just off the beaches.
In the bay, trout, redfish and snook will also be roaming the flats in search of pilchards, shrimp and glass minnows to replenish themselves from their winter fast. Spring is the time when local anglers have a host of piscatorial choices and some of the best conditions to pursue them. Of course, it can all seem like just an illusion as another front riles the Gulf, sending chill winds and muddy water into the bay, and forcing anglers to put on a sweatshirt. It’s the kind of weather that plays with the emotions of fishers. But hope springs eternal, and we know from experience that it won’t be long before the run is on. That’s why it’s time to be prepared, flies tied and tackle ready for that day when it’s no longer a question of when it will
happen, but what species we’ll fish for! I like this time of year even if it can be exasperating. One day the flats and Gulf can be barren and the next the action red hot. That’s why it is so important to be ready for just about anything. Having rigs on board that can handle a big cobia and wire leaders in case kings make an appear-
ance can make the difference between frustration and success. Anglers who are vigilant, prepared and persistent will be rewarded. Whatever your fishing style or whether you like fishing the Gulf of Mexico or local bays, take advantage of this swing time and you’ll be rewarded.
RUSTY CHINNIS
CAPT. TODD ROMINE | SUBMITTED Grayson Bennett, left, and his dad, Justin Bennett, had a banner day this past Saturday fishing with Capt. Todd Romine in Sarasota Bay.
PALMER: City approves building official, floodplain manager candidates
houses weren’t in the same ownership after six years, but you have to follow the guidelines. “If you don’t, you can be yanked out of that NFIP. It’s scary stuff. Our city is not the only one that is experiencing the struggles and maneuvering through all the guidelines.”
Scaccianoce said Tudor has already begun to look through city ordinances to make sure they’re up to date.
“She’s willing to help us with that rating for the city so we can get a better rating,” she said. “We’ll have people now who are dedicated to the City of Bradenton Beach. They would be working to make our city better and get us where we need to be in the current situation.”
All the commissioners, with the exception of Jan Vosburgh, have spoken to the candidates.
Commissioner Scott Bear asked both Palmer and Tudor how long
they expected to be in the positions, and both said about one year.
“The idea of hiring them is the right idea,” Bear said. “They will help us get out of the mess we’re in. A year from now, there’s the potential we may be back here and I think they’re great candidates.”
“In a year, we’ll re-evaluate it, but we’re in an emergency situation,” Scaccianoce said. “This is not permanent. We need to get them in here. We’re at a standstill and we can’t have that. Not for our citizens, not for our businesses. We have to get this moving.”
Palmer will be an employee of the city as opposed to being an appointed official. Removal or termination of an appointed official requires majority city commission approval. An employment contract is at will and can be terminated during a trial period, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said.
“In three months, if you decide to make him an appointed official, this is something we can always
FROM THE PREHISTORIC TO THE PRESENT,
revisit at any point,” Perry said. “I have to think about FEMA and where we are with the hurricanes.”
“In talking to Bill, he said he’s going to retire in a year,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said. “It’s more of a temporary situation.”
Scaccianoce asked who would have authority over the building department.
“Ideally we would like a department head in the building department, especially as we are moving forward creating SOPs (standard operating procedures) and establishing standards and getting everything that’s needed from the hurricane recovery fallout, in looking at a delegation of duties, if you’re bringing Mr. Palmer on as an employee and not as an appointed official, you can give him the responsibility in his employment contract to supervise and delegate responsibilities to city staff,” Perry said.
Perry said the current remaining building department budget is $215,977 for fiscal year 2024-25.
Palmer’s salary and benefits would be approximately $180,000. The remaining funds could be used for a part-time floodplain manager at a rate of $35 per hour.
Commissioners unanimously voted to approve Palmer as a fulltime employee building official, as a non-appointed official, pending the completion of background and administrative requirements for hire. The commission reserved the option to appoint him as an appointed official at a future date. Tudor was approved unanimously as a part time hire for floodplain manager.
City Clerk Terri Sanclemente will oversee the bookkeeping aspects of the building department and commissioners approved an annual salary increase of $5,000 for the increased duties.
The city remains under contract with M.T. Causley and that company will provide a city planner to Bradenton Beach at least until the contract expires in June.
REAL ESTATE
Expenses increasing for homeowners
The day you close on your home, whether it’s your first or fifth, is always a happy day - almost as happy as the day your mortgage commitment is approved - but that’s just the beginning of homeownership.
As any homeowner can tell you, the expenses of owning a home in recent years have risen to the point where the mortgage payment, in spite of elevated interest rates, is frequently less than the combination of other monthly expenses.
Castles in the Sand
item. The monthly fees are disclosed in the real estate listing, however, special assessments for storm damage or large repairs that haven’t been anticipated will likely be funded by special assessments that generally do not appear on the real estate listing.
Last week, we talked about insurance, and that, of course, is probably the biggest expense after the mortgage payment. Buyers should shop around for insurance quotes prior to committing to a property to purchase, especially in areas of the country like ours that are prone to natural disasters. According to the International Exchange, the cost of $1,000 of coverage in areas prone to hurricanes and wildfires is more than three times the national average.
Property taxes are also a large portion of your monthly carrying charges and can increase as the value of your property appreciates. In Florida we have homestead exemptions for full-time Florida residents, which lock in the value of your property, but this is not true in other regions of the country. This is one of the reasons why Florida still imports new residents from other parts of the country with much higher property rates. It’s also why so many Florida homeowners, many of whom have second homes here, convert to full-time residents.
For potential condo owners, association fees in the form of monthly fees and special assessments is a big-ticket
Special assessments that have been approved by the board but not yet assessed to the owners will appear in the minutes of the board meeting from the date of the vote. However, there could be other discussions about potential assessments that are still in the decision-making stage that are also in the board of directors meeting minutes that will be important to a potential buyer.
Utility bills are frequently underestimated when budgeting; electricity, gas, oil and water bills are increasing yearly. Water bills are a special concern in Florida, especially during our dry season, and nationally, the average water bills are nearly $1,000 a year.
It goes without saying that routine
maintenance is an ongoing expense when you purchase a property. You never really know when you might need to replace an appliance or take care of landscaping problems and heaven forbid the air conditioning/heating system decides to blow up during August. Zillow estimates that an average of about $500 a month should be anticipated for home maintenance, a number that smart buyers will allocate in a cash account. You hear a lot of homeowners say, “We could never afford this house today,” and this is not their imagination. According to Redfin in January 2012 the household income required to afford the typical home in the United States was $39,223. As of November 2024, home buyers need to earn $126,764 annually to purchase the average home, a 223% increase. Florida’s success as a retirement and relocation destination is threatened by the by-product of increased expenses. It’s not your parents’ Florida anymore; the bar has been raised for the good or bad.
LOUISE BOLGER
BEACH BEAT
HOLMES BEACH
Feb. 9, 100 block of 48th Street, 9:15 p.m. Trespass in unoccupied structure. While on foot patrol, police reportedly observed a male who was known to them as a transient laying down and covered near the back door of a vacant vacation rental property. Upon entering the property, police discovered another male in the living room and two adult females asleep in the master bedroom. Police contacted the
on-call staff for the vacation rental property and staff confirmed no one was supposed to be in the home, and that the building was undergoing maintenance due to storm damage. A representative for the rental company said they wished to prosecute the trespassers. Police said there were no signs of damage, theft or forced entry. One of the males reportedly had allowed the other three entry earlier in the day. Those three individuals were issued a trespass warning. The fourth individual was charged with trespass in an unoccupied structure and was transported to the Manatee County Jail.
BRADENTON BEACH
Jan. 31, Bay Drive North, 9 a.m. Jewelry theft. A woman reported to police that a gold ring with diamonds and other gold and silver jewelry was missing from her condo. The woman stated that she had been staying with a relative while hurricane-related repairs were being made at her condo. She said she had last seen the jewelry on Dec. 15, 2024. Police said she was unable to be specific about the other missing jewelry. The woman stated the only people who had access to her condo were members of the HOA and contractors.
Holmes Beach Police Department warns against text scam
The Holmes Beach Police Department (HBPD) is warning about a text message scam in which cybercriminals attempt to gain personal information. According to HBPD, “In a recent text message phishing (smishing) scam, cybercriminals send you a text that appears to be from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The text says that you have a package at the post office that cannot be delivered due to an incomplete address. The message contains a PDF file and directs you to open it to complete
your address. You are then directed to click a button in the PDF file, which takes you to what appears to be a USPS web page.” The page instructs you to enter personal data, including address and credit card number, so the USPS can redeliver the package. “The USPS page is actually fake and controlled by cybercriminals. If you enter any information here, cybercriminals will be able to steal it immediately!” according to HBPD. Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a smishing scam:
• This smishing scam claims to be from the USPS, but be wary of any unsolicited text messages from unknown numbers. If you aren’t sure if a message is legitimate, delete or report it.
• Don't reply to unexpected text messages, even to say "STOP" or "unsubscribe." If you have any questions regarding delivery, contact your local post office directly.
• Never click on any attachments or links from suspicious text messages or emails.
Bradenton Beach commissioners to discuss teardowns
City commissioners are scheduled to discuss properties that must be torn down at a city commission meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20 at noon. An agenda for the meeting offers no further explanation and does not list the property addresses. Commissioners also are scheduled to discuss approval for street sign design in the northern part of the city, the 26th Street North walkover, city garbage cans and city liaison duties. The meeting will be held at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.
CUSHING: Former building official alleges pressure to condemn properties, threats
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.
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
or again, ‘maybe we need to get a different building official,’ ” Cushing states in his letter. 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 CITY RESPONSE
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 hurricanedamaged 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;
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 at www.amisun.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Mayor John Chappie and City Attorney Ricinda Perry are alluded to in Darin Cushing’s four-page letter.
Center of Anna Maria Island football, soccer standings
Horseshoes winner’s circle
For the second week in a row, there was no need for a playoff as there were two outright winners at Anna Maria Horseshoes. From left, Bob Rowley teamed up with Bob Heiger to earn the day’s bragging rights on Feb. 12, and Bob Mason and Ron Gagnon shut down the competition on Feb. 15 after posting the only 3-0 record and ended up in the winner's circle.
Shorten makes third hole-in-one
For the second week in a row, a player made a hole-in-one at Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach. Using a 7 wood while playing hole #3 at 132 yards, Greg Shorten scored his third career hole-in-one. As tradition dictates, he treated all the golfers that day to their favorite refreshment.
LADIES’ PRESIDENT CUP TOURNAMENT - MODIFIED
STABLEFORD
Flight A
First Place - Rene Chapman with 18 points
Second Place - Jenny Huibers with 15 points
Third Place - Ceal Barry with 14 points
Flight B
First Place - Terry Taylor with 17 points
Second Place - Debra DuVernay with 16 points
Third Place - Pam Lowry and Andi Saia tied with 14 points
Flight C
First Place - Jackie Gorski and Helen Pollock tied with 14 points, with Jackie winning a scorecard play-off for First Third Place - Jana Samuels with 13 points
FEB. 10 - MODIFIED STABLEFORD
First Place - John Kolojeski and Charlie Porter tied with a score of +5
Second Place - Tim Friesen and Tom Nelson tied with a score of +4
Third Place - Bill MacMillan and Terry Schaefer tied with a score of +3
FEB. 11 - LOW NET SCORE
Flight A
First Place - Debra DuVernay with a score of 29
Second Place - Mary Wilke with a score of 30
Third Place - Jana Samuels with a score of 31
Flight B
First Place - Connie Livanos with a score of 27
Second Place - Jan Turner with a score of 31
Third Place - Marilyn Niewijk with a score of 32
FEB. 13 - COMBINATION SCRAMBLE/ SHAMBLE WITH PAR BEING 50
First Place - Bob Barret, Jim Holtgrieve, Terry Schaefer and Bob Schultz with a score of 44, 6 under par
Second Place - Janelle Clements, Dale Hudson, Eric Lawson and Chuck Patrick tied the team of Brian Comer, Larry Davis, Gary Razze and Bill Shuman with a score of 46, 4 under par.
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THRIVE BEACH YOGA: All Levels Welcome! 100 Pine Ave on AMI. 8:30am every Saturday & Sunday, Wednesdays (Oct-May). $15 PreRegistration required at ThriveYogaFit.com
BOATS
BOAT ARE SELLING
VERY WELL. Season is here. Northerners are shopping now. Great Timing! We Also Buy Boats. Please visit- IslandBoatSales.net- 942228-3489Boatsalesflorida@Gmail. com
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island
RARE OPPORTUNITY TO RENT all inclusive executive office space in Holmes Beach. Great frontage and advertisement visibility. Great for realtors, contractors, accountants, lawyers, etc. Electric and water included. 3 offices available. Suite 101 Approx. 200sf. $700.00 month $500.00 deposit Suite 104 Approx. 400sf. $800.00 month
$500.00 deposit Suite 106 Approx. 400sf. $650.00 month $500.00 deposit. Call 941-746-8666
CLEANING SERVICE
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931
HOME
IMPROVEMENTS
RENOVATION SPECALIST
ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.
KERN & GILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-7781115. NEW OFFICE ADDRESS: 1878 59th Street W Bradenton, FL 34209
GET’R DONE DRYWALL, INC Specializing in Remodels & Repairs. Island Resident for 20+ years. Call Neil. Cell 941-9621194
JSAN CORPORATION
Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-286-0607.
BMF INTERIORS Home repairs and more, No job too small. Please call 786318-8585
CCS DRYWALL REPAIRS We are local. Family owned & operated since 1991. Free Estimates. Licensed/Insured/Bonded. License # SCC131149803 Call 941-713-6531.
HURRICANE DAMAGE?
I’m an Island resident. Pressure washing, tree work, fence repair, mailbox replacement. Also see ads under “Landscaping & painting. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
FROM HOME TO BUSINESSES, we build it all. You’re Reliable General Contractor for new construction, water damage, restoration 941-894-7549 or email at@constructionatr.com
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315
SHELL DELIVERED AND spread. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, top soil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941795-7775, "shell phone" 941-720-0770
{SHELL DRIVEWAYS & LANDSCAPE}. Specializing in Old Florida Seashell and Lime rock driveways and scapes. Also River Rock, Sand, Mulch, & Soil. Call Shark Mark 941-301-6067
DEVINE DESIGN LANDSCAPE - Professional Landscape and Design Services for your entire property. Irrigation services, Tree Removal and trimming, Sod, Mulch, Fencing, Pavers and Landscape Lighting. Commercial and Residential. Call 941-4656015 DevineDesign7@ yahoo.com
MOVING & STORAGE
MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING
PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507
“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980 Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455
DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
PEST CONTROL
ANNA MARIA PEST CONTROL Call 941-778-1630
POOL SERVICES
FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657
COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
FOR SALE, 1BR/1BA full Gulf front condo on Bradenton Beach, second floor, undamaged by hurricanes, new A/C, wood floors, on-demand water heater, allin-one W/D. $595,000. 941-778-5070.
RENTALS: ANNUAL
2BR/2BA BRIGHT RENOVATED CONDO - Perico Bay Club, minutes from AMI beach - pool/hot tub/tennis/gym/ parking/ Security gate. $2500/ month Starting January 25 Call 952-818-4685
ANNUAL RENTAL minutes to beaches 2BR/2BA Condo. Water/cable included, pool, washer/dryer. $1795/mo First Month Free. Call 941-713-6743
ANNUAL RENTAL in Holmes Beach. 2BR/2BA Ground Level, all new appliances. 2 off street parking spaces. $2500 mo. First Month and Security. Call 941 565-8407
ON ISLAND annual lease JUST STEPS TO GULF 2BR/1BA full sized duplex the home is renovated including new appliances parking for 1 or 2 cars . $2375 plus utilities Nonsmoking property. No pets. No subletting. Payment history/ references . 508-496-8480.
HOLMES BEACH 209 83rd St.: 1BR/1BA efficiency apartment. Small but cute! $1700/ mo. 2BR/2BA private pool, large screened lanai! $3500/ mo. Water, trash, lawn care included. Also pool care. Annual, unfurnished. 1 Year lease. 1st, last & security. Call 941-809-2488
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
AVAILABLE FEB & MARCH 2025-Westbay Point & Moorings, ground floor, 2BR/2BA, Open water view. Contact Fran Maxon Real Estate 941-778-2307.
FULLY FURNISHED 2BR/2BA Condo in Holmes Beach. Includes all utilities, cable, internet, and trash. Seasonal, monthly or 6-month lease available March 1, 2025. Call Jack at 312-835-2323
TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941-201-2190
BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT QUIET renovated condo 2BR/2BA seasonal $4750/ month. On pond Perico Bay Club: pool, tennis, pickleball, gym, parking Min from AMI beaches Call 952818-4685
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-779-5095
AIRPORT SHUTTLE Quality Transportation: 10 Years by Lewber 352-339-3478. Happy New Year
