IN BRIEF Law enforcement costs increasing

Anna Maria’s proposed 2023-24 fiscal year budget is projected to be 9% higher than last year.

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – The city will pay the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) an additional $212,626 to serve as the city’s contracted law enforcement agency.

Pines Park LLCs formed

Developer Shawn Kaleta’s name is associated with two recently-created limited liability corporations (LLC) whose names bear similarities to the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach. Many park residents believe Kaleta has or will purchase the mobile home park from the Jackson Partnership LLLC, but no sale or pending sale has been publicly announced or confirmed. On May 5, articles of incorporation for Pines Park Investors LLC were filed with the Florida Division of Corporations. The LLC lists Kaleta’s attorney, Louis Najmy, as the LLC’s registered agency and Kaleta as its manager. On July 24, articles of incorporation were filed for Pines Park Holdings LLC. That LLC lists Najmy as the registered agent and Kaleta as the manager. Najmy did not respond to The Sun’s email inquiry seeking clarification on the recently formed LLCs and no documentation regarding the park’s sale is available in Manatee County’s official records or in Manatee County Property Appraiser records.

Candidate qualifying begins soon

The two-week qualifying period for candidates seeking a seat on the Anna Maria City Commission will begin at noon on Monday, Aug. 14, and end at noon on Friday, Aug. 25.

The 2023 general election will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Commissioners Jon Crane, Charlie Salem and Robert Kingan are up for election. Crane and Salem said they intend to run but Kingan said he will not seek a second term. Kingan said he may seek a commission seat again at some point in the future, but for now, he and his wife have other things they want to do, including traveling and spending time with family.

Anna Maria commissioners serve two-year terms and are paid $4,800 per year for their services. Candidates must appoint a campaign treasurer, which can be themselves, and designate a primary bank depository for their campaign funds. For more information on the qualifying process and obtaining a qualifying packet, contact the Anna Maria City Clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

During the Aug. 3 budget meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy proposed and the city commission supported the increase, which will result in the city paying $1.34 million for law enforcement services during the 2023-24 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

The city of Anna Maria does not have its own city police force. Led by Sgt. Brett Getman, MCSO’s Anna Maria Unit serves as the city’s dedicated law enforcement agency. During his negotiations with the Sheriff’s Office, Murphy was told the increase is needed to help the agency retain and attract deputies in hopes of not losing them to other area sheriff’s offices that offer higher wages. Although the increase is significant, Murphy said he understands and supports it, and the commission agreed. The law enforcement and public safety expenses are among the

$6.59 million in proposed expenditures related to the general operations of the city during the coming fiscal year. Overall, these general operating expenses are projected to be $522,733 (9%) more than the similar expenses incurred during the current 202223 fiscal year budget.