Milton: Paradise Lost Rebuilding
Come hurricane or high water, the iconic Anna Maria City Pier will be rebuilt, officials say, as businesses and residents continue to reconstruct their lives after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Page 11
Pines, Sandpiper homes deemed uninhabitable
BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 17 city commission meeting, Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing delivered news he never wanted to give and mobile home residents never wanted to receive - FEMA guidelines related to water intrusion from hurricanes have rendered the mobile homes at the Pines and Sandpiper Resort mobile home parks uninhabitable.
Based on the city’s flood plain ordinance, the mobile homes could only remain if elevated to a height of up to 12 feet, an alternative Cushing said would likely not be economically or structurally feasible.
Cushing addressed the anxious residents who packed city hall chambers at the noon commission meeting.
“We’ve gone back and forth a few times trying to find some way to get a good answer and a good solution,” he said.
He then read his notes outlining FEMA guidelines:
“In accordance with FEMA’s damage assessment guide, there are different degrees of damage when it comes to mobile homes, or as they call them, manufactured homes, and those different degrees of damage are affected, minor, major and destroyed. By these degrees of damage, all of the mobile homes in the Pines and many in the Sandpiper, but not all, have major damage by that guideline,” he said.
He said that major damage occurs when water covers the floor system and enters the living space of the residence, but is below the ceiling.
Bridge Street merchants reopening
Neither Helene nor Milton nor the Grinch will stop Christmas on Bridge Street.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – As Bridge Street comes back to life with merchants reopening businesses following back-to-back hurricanes, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) discussed its vision for the area, which includes Christmas on Bridge Street.
“We had already paid to complete the pergola, and we know that’s an important vision for the street, and in talking with Chief (John) Cosby, one of the goals and objectives we have that ties in with that is we are going to be open and supporting Christmas on Bridge Street,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at the Oct. 18 CRA meeting. “That is not an option, that is going to happen.” She said Bridge Street merchants have been working hard to get up and running by Nov. 23.
Rod & Reel Pier memorial plaque returned to parents
Ross Built Construction found the plaque in a pile of pier debris.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT
| jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – A memorial plaque that hung on a wall at the Rod & Reel Pier in memory of 10-year-old Max Schiller has been returned to his parents, United Kingdom residents Shira and David Schiller.
Shira and David live in London but spend five months a year at their second home in Longboat Key. Their daughter, Molly, 25, is a medical writer for a media corporation in London.
After Max passed away unexpectedly in his sleep in January 2015, his family learned he had an undetected, undiagnosed genetic heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomy-
opathy, a thickening of the muscle wall of the heart.
PLAQUE RETURNED
On Oct. 9, Hurricane Milton destroyed what remained of the Rod & Reel Pier and restaurant in Anna Maria after Hurricane Helene previously inflicted serious damage to the wooden pier in late September. Much of the Rod & Reel’s Milton-related debris landed in the waterfront yards of several nearby residential properties to the northwest, along the 800 block of North Shore Drive.
A significant portion of the pier debris landed on two residential properties owned by the Clark family. Their two adjacent ground-level residential properties were already
TROY MORGAN/PHOTOSFROMTHEAIR.COM | SUBMITTED
Rod & Reel Pier owner hopes to rebuild
Hurricane Helene badly damaged the Rod & Reel Pier. Hurricane Milton destroyed what was left.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Rod & Reel
Pier owner Oliver “Oli” Lemke hopes to rebuild the iconic pier and restaurant building that was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene and then destroyed by Hurricane Milton.
On the evening of Sept. 26 and the morning of Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene pounded the privately-owned wooden pier and restaurant building with high surf and powerful waves, leaving the pier walkway in tatters but the restaurant building at the end of the pier still standing.
On Oct. 9, Hurricane Milton’s high winds smashed to pieces what remained of the Rod & Reel Pier and scattered its remains in the
waterfront yards of several houses northwest of the pier. All that remains now is the famous Rod & Reel Pier sign, the locked front gate, and the skeletal remains of some pilings and deck supports.
At one point during Hurricane Milton, the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport measured a 120-mph wind gust and some locals suspect a tornado or waterspout may have inflicted the fatal blows upon the Rod & Reel Pier while also wiping out a significant chunk of the nearby Anna Maria City Pier walkway.
Lemke, a Germany-based brewmaster, brewery owner and restaurant owner, bought the Rod & Reel Pier from fellow German and longtime Rod & Reel Pier owner Mario Schoenfelder last November. He now faces the monumental task of rebuilding his investment.
When communicating with The Sun via email on Oct. 15, Lemke said, “There’s no definite plan on how to
proceed yet. Right now, we are gathering information trying to assess our situation. We will do everything within our means to rebuild the pier, but there are many issues to conquer.”
When asked if the Rod & Reel Pier was insured, Lemke said, “There is no insurance whatsoever. The former owner never had the pier insured for
hurricane or flood. I really tried hard to change that. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to get insurance on a building like this, over water.
“This is by far the worst blow I’ve had to take in my 25 years of business life. There’s not only a lot of money lost that we’ll have to pay off for many years to come, but
it’s also terrible because I waited for many years to get the opportunity to invest in a U.S. restaurant that fit me so well, personally and business-wise,” Lemke said in his email.
No cost estimate has been provided yet for the potential Rod & Reel Pier replacement. In 2017, Hurricane Irma badly damaged the nearby city-owned Anna Maria City Pier. That pier replacement project completed in 2020 cost $7.3 million.
HELP NEEDED
After Hurricane Helene, Lemke organized the “Help Us Rebuild Rod & Reel Pier” GoFundMe online fundraising page. As of Sunday morning, Oct. 20, there were 569 donations totaling $53,077. The updated post-Milton GoFundMe page now says, “The pier has been an iconic part of this community for over 75 years – a place where
ROD & REEL, PAGE 12
TROY MORGAN/PHOTOSFROMTHEAIR.COM | SUBMITTED
The Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria disappeared during Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9. SEE
Pines residents devastated by damage, ‘uninhabitable’ homes
Pines Trailer Park
residents have been told their mobile homes are uninhabitable.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH –
Pines Trailer Park residents
Mary Mox and Lesley Mullaney are among those who’ve been told their mobile homes are considered uninhabitable, mostly due to flood damage sustained during Hurricane Helene.
Citing FEMA substantial damage guidelines and the city’s floodplain ordinance during the Oct. 17 city commission meeting, Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing offered his assessment that the flood-damaged mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park are uninhabitable, as are the flood-damaged homes in the Sandpiper Resort mobile home park at the north end of the city.
After Thursday’s meeting, Mox and Mullaney sat on the swinging chair at neighbor Joe Klinger’s place and lamented what’s transpired since back-to-back hurricanes struck the mobile home park they’ve long called home.
Trying to find a glimmer of joy in a devastating scenario, Mox and Mullaney joked about the amount of time they’ve spent on Klinger’s swing over the years.
“We’re the two old ladies that constantly bothered him, and he loves it,” Mullaney said.
Mox, an Ohio native, lived in the Pines seven months a year. Mullaney, a New York native, lived there full-time and has no other home.
When asked about the city meeting, Mox said, “I was disappointed. I really was.”
“At one point I felt we were being scolded, and that they felt that it was all about them and how hard they’ve been working,” Mullaney said. “Yes, they’ve been working hard every day and night. I get it, but these are our homes. This is my only home.”
“How long do we have to sort through stuff to try to keep pictures and stuff like that?” Mox said. “We don’t know.”
“We don’t know anything. I feel defeated and sad,” Mullaney said.
“I feel very let down,” Mox said.
Mullaney and Mox hold little hope that park owner Shawn Kaleta and his investment partners will provide
any assistance or relief.
“I think we all know that,” Mullaney surmised.
During Thursday’s meeting, a Pines resident noted many in the park had already paid their October lot rent by the time the back-to-back hurricanes struck.
“I was wondering if there was any way to get our money back from the owner,” one resident said. “Our places are unlivable.”
In response, Kaleta representative Sam Negrin said, “It seems there’s a misconception there is just one owner. There are over 10. It’s an investment conglomerate. We cashed the October rent checks because we still have to pay our very high mortgage on the property. This will have to come up
for discussion and there will be compassion shown.”
THEN, NOW, NEXT
“My husband’s been coming here for 76 years. We’ve been married for 54 years,” Mox said. “We came every year with our kids and we bought in here 32 years ago. We have supported this Island with our hearts and souls and the gal that spoke up for us at today’s meeting is to be commended. She said everything perfectly. We’ve been working for two solid weeks, pulling stuff out and trying to do things right and no one ever came along and said you might want to hold up. Basically, we’re out here by ourselves with no guidance from anybody.”
When the claw came to pick up the stuff that we had emptied from the house, it was just a sickening sound.”
Lesley Mullaney, Pines resident
“My mom lived in #2 for over 17 years,” Mullaney said. “My husband and I would come down on vacation. We just loved it here. We couldn’t wait until we retired so we could buy a place here, and that’s what we did. I’m glad my husband just passed away because this would have killed him. He loved this place.” Mox is currently staying at a friend’s vacant mobile home in Palmetto. Mullaney didn’t say where she’s staying. As for what’s next, Mullaney said, “I have no idea. This is my only home. Everything’s gone. When the claw came to pick up the stuff that we had emptied from the house it was just a sickening sound. It went right through your bones. It was awful. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this nightmare and it’s not happening. I’m just going to put on my ‘big-girl’ panties and move forward.”
- Sun reporter Leslie Lake contributed to this story. The Oct. 17 city commission meeting video is archived at the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Pines Trailer Park residents Lesley Mullaney and Mary Mox found a few moments of comfort on a neighbor’s swinging chair.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Many Pines Trailer Park residents attended Thursday’s city commission meeting.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
According to FEMA guidelines and city code, these mobile homes are considered uninhabitable.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
These were among the more colorful mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park.
Sandpiper Resort evaluating FEMA guidelines, damage assessments
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of the Sandpiper Resort Co-Op are fighting back against a city flood ordinance triggered by FEMA guidelines that specify that they can’t continue to live there unless they raise their mobile homes 10-11 feet.
City Building Official Darin Cushing said during an Oct. 17 city commission meeting that those FEMA guidelines identify the hurricane-related damage as “substantial,” making the homes uninhabitable.
“We assumed this would be on a case-by-case basis, by the 50/50 rule,” Sandpiper Manager Tracy Moon said on Oct. 18. “Some of the units only got a couple inches of water, some got maybe 15-16 inches, but people can live in them. It’s a matter of replacing floors and some drywall, not a blanket condemnation of the whole co-op.”
Cushing did not officially declare the park condemned.
Moon said the co-op is receiving legal advice and an attorney representing Sandpiper will be reaching
MOBILE PARKS: Deemed uninhabitable
FROM PAGE 1
“By this description, according to FEMA, the structure is considered to be substantially damaged. In accordance with the city of Bradenton Beach flood ordinance, it says if an existing manufactured home has incurred substantial damage as the result of a flood it shall be elevated such that the bottom of the frame is at the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus 3 feet,” Cushing said.
The BFE at the Pines is 9 feet and at the Sandpiper, 7 or 8 feet, depending on the section.
out to the city for clarification of the FEMA rules.
“We were completely caught off guard by the city’s interpretation of the FEMA ruling of substantial damage,” Moon said.
Moon said there are 166 homes at the co-op. Of those, 120 are shareholders and own the land in its entirety. The other 46 mobile homes rent their space.
Cushing said approximately 150 of those mobile homes were impacted by flooding.
- Sun reporter Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
“It would have to be on columns, on pilings into the ground, and all the other engineering that goes along with that. It appears to me that the engineering involved alone would cost more than the value of the structures,” Cushing said.
He said utilities would have to be raised and stairs installed. Permitting would be the responsibility of the property owner. In the case of the Pines, that would be local developer Shawn Kaleta and other unnamed investors.
“I don’t believe there’s a unit over there that structurally could
withstand being 12 feet up in the air,” Cushing said.
The Pines has 86 units and Sandpiper Resort has 166.
One Pines homeowner said she and her husband had bought a unit as an investment earlier this year.
“Are you telling me all that money is gone?” she asked.
“So according to your guidelines, every single-story structure that had water covering the floor is condemned?” James Hughes asked.
SEE MOBILE PARKS, PAGE 17
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Debris lined the streets of the Sandpiper mobile home park after Hurricane Helene.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing speaks to Pines and Sandpiper Resort mobile home residents at the Oct. 17 city commission meeting about FEMA guidelines that render their mobile homes uninhabitable following hurricanes.
OPINION
EDITORIAL
Here comes The Sun
As Halloween approaches, Anna Maria Island becomes a real-life ghost town each evening when the electricians, insurance adjusters, building inspectors, drywall crews, roofers, mold remediators and demolition crews leave.
It’s scary, for real. Street lights are out. Sections of neighborhoods are without power. There is occasional looting. Hardly any residents remain. There are no sand dunes to protect what remains of beachfront buildings from another storm that may or may not be forming before the most terrifying hurricane season in our lifetimes ends on Nov. 30.
But after Halloween comes Thanksgiving, and we are already thankful for many things.
Gulf Drive is passable, mostly without nails. Someone finally picked up the furniture in front of the house. The office has electricity even if the house does not. The weather is cooler. The 20-foot piles of sand are down to 10 feet. Access to the Island is easier, despite the hardships of getting around once here. We are closer than ever to our friends and families. And businesses are reopening, one by one.
Despite the shock, the trauma, the disorientation and the grief, disasters also bring out the best in us, and in our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and even strangers. Like the Rod & Reel Pier memorial plaque that was found and returned to a boy’s surviving family members, a story told on the front page.
There are other, tiny bright spots, and we’ll take every one of them. Like the wellbroken-in pair of flip flops left outside a beachfront AMI condo between Helene and Milton. After Milton’s devastating winds ripped off roofs, toppled trees and pushed down power lines, the flip flops were still inexplicably there at the front door, a souvenir of good luck and a talisman of survival.
Share your heartwarming stories with us and we will share them with our readers who need a smile as we all ride the emotional rollercoaster of recovering from a disaster which propelled us from covering the news into being the news.
One of our promotional mottos has always been “Here Comes The Sun.” And like The Beatles said, “It’s all right.” It will be.
Stay Island strong.
email: news@amisun.com | ads@amisun.com | classifieds@amisun.com
Like us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Heroes, all
Just a heartfelt message to all our friends on Anna Maria Island. We've been lucky enough to holiday on the island for
over 20 years and so were very concerned and upset for you all when we saw the devastation wrought by the two hurricanes to such a special place.
The Herculean task before you must be so daunting. Please know that although we may be many
miles away in England, we are thinking of you and rooting for your heroic efforts to restore your homes and businesses.
With love and hope,
Sandra and Paul Weight England, United Kingdom
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ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
Oct. 24, 1 p.m. – City Commission meeting
Oct. 31, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning board 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.
Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – Pier Team meeting
Nov. 6, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting
Nov. 7, 6 p.m. – 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.
Nov. 6, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification Committee meeting
Nov. 6, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting
ISLAND-WIDE
Nov. 4, 2 p.m. – Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, Anna Maria City Hall
Nov. 5, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Election Day
NEWS BRIEFS
Turtle Watch Wednesday postponed
Due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton on Anna Maria Island, the 2024 Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday event scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Hurricane Hank’s in Holmes Beach has been postponed. A new date will be announced in the coming weeks.
AME Fall Festival canceled
Anna Maria Elementary School’s Fall Festival has been canceled due to the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. AME students have been attending Stewart Elementary School since Hurricane Helene. The AME PTO and Stewart Elementary PTO have partnered to host a Trunk-or-Treat Halloween celebration on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the Stewart parking lot at 7905 15th Ave. N.W., Bradenton, followed by trick-or-treating in the surrounding communities.
Anna Maria mail service resuming
Anna Maria residents and business owners should be able to retrieve their mail in Anna Maria this week rather than driving to the Palma Sola Post Office in west Bradenton due to the damage that two hurricanes inflicted on the Anna Maria Post Office. There is no home mail delivery in Anna Maria, and residents, business owners and property owners retrieve their mail from their post office boxes at the post office on Bay Boulevard. On Saturday, the following message was posted at the city
of Anna Maria Facebook page: “Help is on the way regarding the return of mail service to the city of Anna Maria. Through the efforts of Sen. Rick Scott, the postal authority and the city of Anna Maria government, temporary mail service will resume early this coming week. Residents and business owners will be able to pick up their mail at City Pier Park, by the shade sail. The exact date and time will be announced as soon as possible. Check back at this site for details.”
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Anna Maria Post Office was badly damaged during the two hurricanes.
Bradenton Beach CRA approves pier, dock repair
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s pier and its floating docks were heavily damaged following Hurricane Milton, and at the Oct. 18 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the board approved up to $500,000 for repairs to get ferry service back for Island residents and workers.
“One of the goals he (Manatee County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione) has isn’t for the tourism component so much but for displaced individuals and workers who are trying to access the Island without all of the traffic backup,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at the CRA meeting. “This would be something to try to make everybody’s lives a little bit easier for the people who work here and live here to get back onto the Island.”
Perry said the city pier sustained about $90,000 in damage.
“It’s largely what I’m going to call cosmetics,” she said. “The pier is structurally sound, it was handrails, boards, possibly a brace or two,
tremendous amount of wrecked boats under the floating dock.”
She said those boats included a 42foot boat, and within that was another boat and underneath those, multiple sunken vessels.
A discussion with Falcione about the possibility of a floating barge was rejected as he didn’t feel it would work particularly well and would require a ramp, Perry said.
to do these repairs over and over, seeing how well the Golden product held out, we are going to reuse that,” she said. “That is 100% salvageable - even the boards are in good shape. We think it’s probably wiser to spend a little bit more and just get Golden to rip out the first part.”
She said the rollers and floats on the floating dock are salvageable.
but because we were putting the improved bracing system in prior to the hurricane, it really did protect that structure,” she said.
She then outlined the damages to the floating dock.
“The piece that manufactured on what I would call part two of the project is in great shape. Golden is the one that manufactured that,” Perry said. “The other portion that was manufactured out of Barcelona is not faring quite as well. Now in fairness it could be the materials, it could be the fact that absolutely, we had a
“We know financially we’re not in a place where we can drop the money. I believe the price quote that I saw was about $350,000 to redo the floating dock,” Perry said. “Elliott has been looking at ways to market the city and if we’re able to do this quickly and get the ferry up and running there is certainly financial assistance to make that happen.”
She outlined a discussion she had with Steve Porter of Duncan Seawall about options.
“There was talk with Steve do we salvage what’s there from Barcelona and try to work with that. The plan is to salvage what we can salvage but the system itself he feels is an inferior product and by the time you continue
Porter committed to getting the work started quickly, Perry said, adding that by the end of the month he will have something for the ferry to operate from.
“What I would like is a motion that authorizes me and Chief (John) Cosby to make the necessary repairs to the city pier and floating dock with funds to be determined by the city treasurer and ISC (the contractor who manages the FEMA cost reimbursement paperwork) as well as the TDC (Tourist Development Council) at a cost not to exceed $500,000,” Perry said.
“That is the motion that I’m looking for so I can get bodies back onto this island, especially those that don’t
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
The Bradenton Beach Pier and floating docks sustained damage during Hurricane Milton, but the CRA approved repairs and ferry service is expected to return quickly.
CRA: Approves pier, dock repairs
FROM PAGE 8
have cars. We know that about 80% of the cars were destroyed out here. If we can do anything to help our people come back and forth, I think we should do that.”
Mayor John Chappie made the motion to approve and it was seconded by CRA member Jan Vosburgh. It passed unanimously.
Following the vote, CRA member Debbie Scaccianoce questioned why boats were allowed to be at the pier during a storm.
“We can’t deny somebody safe port. If they come tie up to your dock and they think it’s safe we can’t do anything about it,” CRA Chair Ralph Cole said.
“In a storm like that there could have been boats that came from across the bay or the Seafood Shack. Boats were moving every which way and eventually a lot of them hit something and sank.”
“In the past we’ve had boats that have come up from Sarasota Bay and crashed into our structure,” Perry said. “Boats are the most destructive force; it’s the vessels that are causing the most damage every single time. And there’s no way to stop it.”
Cole noted that Cosby and the police department have done a great job in getting rid of derelict vessels and there are very few left.
“That wind was blowing stuff every which way,” Cole said. “We’re lucky to have what we have left.”
Defiant
“Ed” Da Bull stands proudly in front of the Smoqe House BBQ restaurant on Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach, having survived to smoke another day after Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit Anna Maria Island.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Mayor clarifies debris cleanup efforts
Mayor Judy Titsworth says contractors are working diligently to clear debris from the city while also remaining within FEMA guidelines.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Debris pickup is ongoing in Anna Maria Island’s largest city in the days following Hurricane Milton’s visit to the area.
While some residents and property owners are concerned about how long it’s taking to remove household and landscaping debris from the sides of streets, city leaders say they’re working diligently within FEMA guidelines to clear debris. Titsworth said that city leaders have to work with FEMA to make sure that the cost of hurricane debris removal doesn’t fall back on the city’s residents and property owners.
Current estimates show that the debris in the city could cost more than $4 million to remove.
“I don’t want to write that check,” Titsworth said, noting that if the city doesn’t get FEMA reimbursement for the costs, that cost would eventually be a burden for the city’s taxpayers. That’s why, she said, she’s being so careful to follow FEMA guidelines to ensure 100% reimbursement for costs and no additional burdens on taxpayers from storms that have already taken so much from the city’s business owners and residents.
The city’s process for debris removal, she said, is guided by FEMA’s rules and regulations for reimbursement. She said in order to get 100% reimbursement, the city has to use a vetted contractor, in this case, Ceres.
Setting up the debris field at the City Field complex, Titsworth said, was something that was planned after Hurricane Helene hit the area, but the few days between that storm and Hurricane Milton didn’t leave enough time to establish and clear a debris field without risking damage to surrounding residences. If the debris field had been set up and been unable to be cleared before Hurricane Milton came in, she said flying debris from that field could have damaged nearby homes.
After Hurricane Helene flooded Holmes Beach, Titsworth said a primary goal was to get vacuum trucks in to clean out the city’s sand-packed storm drains to reduce flooding during Hurricane Milton, which was already approaching the area.
The debris field is being monitored by employees from Ceres to make sure that only debris picked up in Holmes Beach is deposited there. Once trucks
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
While some Holmes Beach streets have been cleared of debris following Hurricane Milton, others, like 78th Street, still have piles of household debris that city contractors are working to clear.
drop off the debris, it is crushed and then transported to a FEMA-approved Manatee County debris site off-Island.
As of Oct. 20, there were 24 debris removal trucks working in the city and 13,800 cubic yards of debris had been removed from city streets with more expected to be removed during the day. For comparison, Manatee County’s website showed on Oct. 20 that 136,561 cubic yards of debris had been removed from unincorporated Manatee County since Hurricane Milton blew through the area on Oct. 9.
Once the hurricane passed, Titsworth said her first priority was to get first-in teams of law enforcement, public works and other first responders back to Holmes Beach to clear streets and make the city safe enough for property owners to return as quickly as possible. After that, priorities became to get power, water and other utilities restored, provide residents with needed supplies, such as tarps, water and food, then pick up debris.
Though she said she understands there were lots of companies willing to come in and haul debris out of the city, Titsworth said Ceres, the debris removal company currently working with the city, went through the request for proposals process and was vetted according to FEMA guidelines prior to the hurricanes sweeping through the area. In order to qualify for FEMA reimbursement, debris haulers are required to meet FEMA guidelines, including being insured.
“It’s dangerous work,” Titsworth said of debris hauling, noting that while she appreciates those who would volunteer for the job, she doesn’t want to put potentially inexperienced people in harm’s way.
And while some have taken to social media to slam Titsworth for her residential road being cleared, she said city contractors had nothing to do with debris removal on her street.
Hurricane Milton shreds City Pier walkway
Manatee County will install a floating dock to accommodate the Gulf Island Ferry.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Pier fared well during Hurricane Helene, but Hurricane Milton destroyed a large chunk of the pier walkway.
The pier buildings occupied by the City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center are now stranded at the T-end of the pier and will remain closed until the pier is repaired. According to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, what remains of the City Pier will also remain closed until the pier is repaired, which could take several months, or longer.
During the city commission’s emergency meeting on Oct. 17, Murphy said the pier restoration timeline will be partially dependent on the availability of the materials and contractors needed to repair the pier. He estimated the repair costs might be $3 million. The city is already getting damage and repair analysis and cost estimates from three engineering firms/pier experts. Murphy said 75-100 yards of the pier walkway and dozens of concrete pilings are missing, as are the utility lines and conduits that serve the pier buildings. Murphy noted the concrete pilings were driven 40 feet deep and
75-100 yards of the City Pier walkway are now missing.
some simply snapped off during Hur ricane Milton. He suspects this was the work of a waterspout or a tornado. He bases that theory partially on the circular debris field; some of the pier walkway landed north of the pier and some landed south of the pier. Hurricane Milton also destroyed what was left of the nearby Rod & Reel Pier after Hurricane Helene.
Pier tenant and City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour said he already laid off his 15 City Pier employees and managers. He suggested the commission give consideration to temporary business assistance measures that might include a City Pier Grill food truck in the pier parking lot.
This is the second time in seven years the City Pier has been badly damaged by a hurricane. In 2017,
Hurricane Irma badly damaged the old City Pier and ripped the roof off the bait shop. The pier remained closed until the new City Pier opened in 2020 at a cost of $7.3 million.
FLOATING FERRY DOCK
Gone too is the pier boat landing utilized by Manatee County’s Gulf Island Ferry service. During Thursday’s meeting, commissioners adopted a city resolution that approves the county’s request to install a ‘spud barge’ anchored to pilings near the Lake La Vista jetty entrance. The resolution allows the county to operate the temporary floating dock for six months, possibly longer with additional commission approval. The floating dock will be accessible to other vessels, too.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
ROD & REEL: Pier owner hopes to rebuild
locals and visitors alike come to enjoy fresh seafood, stunning Gulf views, great fishing and a taste of ‘Old Florida.’ But recently, our Island faced a devastating blow. Hurricane Helene hit hard, followed by Hurricane Milton which finished what Helene had started. On a Thursday morning, I got the heartbreaking call from our manager, Adina. The pier was gone. Seeing the photo of the destruction was one of the most difficult moments of my life. I know so many of you here understand what that loss feels like. It’s not just a building, it’s a place filled with memories, history and the spirit of Anna Maria Island.”
“We’re determined to rebuild the Rod & Reel Pier but we can’t do it alone. There’s no insurance to cover the damage, no big investor to back us up. It’s just us – the community, the visitors, the people who love this place – and we need your help to bring it back. This isn’t just about rebuilding a restaurant. It’s about restoring a piece of the Island’s soul and helping our team of over 40 employees get back on their feet. The pier is more than
wood and nails: it’s a gathering place for generations of families, a spot where memories are made, and we want to ensure it continues to be that special place for generations to come,” the GoFundMe page says.
“To show our appreciation, we will engrave the names of those who donate $100 or more on a new wall of honor at the pier as an everlasting reminder of the community spirit that made this possible. Your support, whether financial or through spreading the word, will help us make the Rod & Reel Pier stronger than ever. Together, we can bring this beloved part of Anna Maria Island back to life,” the GoFundMe page says.
BRIDGE STREET: Merchants reopening
FROM PAGE 1
“It is my goal to execute what we’re going to call our Table of Hope, and that is going to be our kickoff to Christmas on Bridge Street,” Perry said. “The Table of Hope we put together for everybody who’s been a part of this experience, we’re going to shut Bridge Street down, line it with tables, get a bolt of fabric, we’re going to write what we want on that fabric and we’re going to hang that banner over our street for everybody to know that we are strong, that we are standing and that we are a hopeful community.”
“Mayor and I are going to be working with the decorators,” Perry said. ”It may not be pretty but it’s going to be something and we’re going to celebrate that heart of the city.”
She invited community members to reach out with thoughts and ideas.
“The merchants are certainly pressed to get where they need to be,” she said, noting that multiple businesses in Bradenton Beach have already reopened, including Dai -
quiri Deck, Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier, SALT Bar and Table, Bridge Tender Inn, Circle K (the north location is open with fuel, the south opens this weekend) and Smoqe House, opening on Oct. 21.
Staff at Drift-In AMI, Blue Marlin, Island Time and Island Creperie, among others, told The Sun that they are working to get back up and running as soon as possible.
The CRA board unanimously approved Christmas on Bridge Street and the Table of Hope. The date for the Table of Hope has not yet been determined.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The Rod & Reel Pier in November 2023.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
The Blue Marlin is one of the Bridge Street businesses working hard to reopen.
WMFR staff recounts hurricane response
During Hurricane Milton, WMFR firefighters assisted in over 120 evacuations and responded to emergency calls, even when the storm prevented them from getting there.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – After Hurricane Milton passed by the area on Oct. 9, some of the first people stepping out to assess damage and see what could be done to help were the crews from West Manatee Fire Rescue.
During the storm, Chief Ben Rigney said district staff operated their own version of an emergency operations center, answering more than 400 calls. Once weather conditions deteriorated to the point that first responders couldn’t
respond to emergency calls, staff said they had to triage calls, trying to talk people through things like evacuating. After the storm passed, a team of two people began calling everyone back who had called the district during the storm to make sure they were safe and see if they still needed emergency attention now that crews were able to resume service.
During Hurricane Helene, which passed just days prior to Hurricane Milton, Rigney and Deputy Chief Jay Johnson worked in the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center.
As water flooded homes during Hurricane Helene, WMFR responded to 252 calls, Rigney said. The primary issues as a result of that storm, he said, were fires caused by water getting into electrical outlets and large batteries, such as those on golf carts. Even though some people put batteries in higher places, such as on
top of refrigerators, Rigney said they still became inundated with salt water when the refrigerators toppled from the storm surge, causing fires to spark.
Johnson said during Hurricane Helene, the district was able to evacuate 120 people from Cortez using boats and high water vehicles.
Though WMFR staff elected to stay for Hurricane Helene in each of the district’s three stations, Rigney said they evacuated Stations 2 and 3 in Cortez and Holmes Beach, respectively. Though each station received some roof damage from Milton, he said no firefighters or first responders were injured and the district didn’t lose any equipment except for a few tires.
Rigney thanked not just the district’s staff but also the community for their response and resilience during and after both hurricanes.
RED TIDE REPORT
High (respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration)
Medium (probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)
Low (possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)
Very low (possible respiratory irritation)
Background (no effects)
None (no red tide present)
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Anna Maria debris removal nearly complete
Anna Maria expects to be fully reimbursed, contrary to comments made by a Holmes Beach commissioner.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria is suspending its hurricane debris removal efforts at midnight on Thursday, Oct. 24. The deadline was discussed and approved during the Anna Maria Commission’s emergency meeting on Oct. 17. After extending two local state of emergency declarations, Mayor Dan Murphy recommended the debris removal deadline, in part because he’s now seeing non-hurricane-related household and landscaping debris being placed out for free removal.
“It’s got to end. Otherwise, we’ll be here forever,” he said.
On Friday, the following message was posted at the city of Anna Maria Facebook page: “Effective midnight Thursday, Oct. 24, the city will no longer provide removal of hurricane related debris. In the meantime, all hurricane related debris must be placed in city right of way in separated piles; one for household debris and another for landscaping debris. Instances have occurred of businesses from other Island cities coming to Anna Maria and dumping debris. Any individual caught doing this illegal dumping will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Subsequent to Oct. 24, at their own expense, residents and
Bayfront Park is being used as a makeshift debris collection and processing area.
businesses may utilize dumpsters for large debris collection or they may contact a licensed hauling or other agency for assistance.”
The mayor and commission will review the debris removal efforts and impending deadline during the commission’s regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.
During Thursday’s meeting, Murphy recapped the city’s debris removal efforts. He also addressed Facebook comments made by Holmes Beach Commissioner Pat Morton alleging that Anna Maria won’t receive FEMA reimbursement for its expedited debris removal.
“Debris removal is paramount to the purpose of government, which is safeguarding the safety, health and welfare of our residents. It’s not safe having mounds
of debris sitting around the city. So, we took action,” Murphy said.
Anna Maria’s debris removal strategy includes using the Bayfront Park parking lot as a centralized debris collection and processing area, with debris deposited there later transported to the county landfill.
“We get a load ticket when they leave here, we get a load ticket when they go to the dump and we track all that. It’s all very closely monitored so we don’t get shortchanged,” Murphy said.
Murphy said the city had already spent approximately $750,000 on debris removal and he anticipates the final cost to be about $1.5 million. He noted the city currently has $1.5 million in its checking account and an additional $3.5 million in reserves.
HB DEBRIS: Mayor clarifies debris cleanup efforts
Titsworth said that Hurricane Helene dumped nearly 2 feet of floodwater in her Holmes Beach residence, causing some of the same losses that residents all over the Island experienced during the storm. The road that she and residents live on is a private
road, meaning that the residents are responsible for the upkeep of the road, including debris pickup after a storm.
She said her street’s property owners got together and elected to ask Waste Pro to pick up the piles of debris outside of each property, charging each property owner for the service.
“I don’t think we deserve any gold stars. We still have a long way to go and we’ve only done what’s expected of us. We’re going to get reimbursed. We’ve done everything by the numbers,” Murphy said.
MORTON’S COMMENTS
Earlier in the week, Nikki Gibson posted a message at the Island Ratz Unite Facebook page that was critical of Holmes Beach’s debris removal efforts.
In response, Morton posted this comment: “The city of Anna Maria is not following the rules to get reimburse (sic). The city of Homes Beach is. That (sic) why it’s taking longer to get it picked up. Not unless you as a taxpayers (sic) wants to pay for it.”
Morton also posted this comment: “There is a process that you have to go through to get reimburse (sic). The city of Anna Maria is not doing that, so the people of Anna Maria will have to pay for it.”
Regarding those comments, Murphy said, “There’s people circulating malicious rumors about reimbursement. We have followed every guideline and every rule and I am sick and tired of hearing it. This is not a new allegation. We used the same methodology and the same players for Hurrian Irma, Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Idalia, Hurricane Debby, Helene and now Milton. We know what we’re doing.”
Regarding Morton’s comments, former city commissioner and current mayoral candidate Brian Seymour said, “Worry about your own city. Worry about your problems.”
Titsworth said the state changed the debris pickup rules after Hurricane Milton, but that she was happy to pay Waste Pro for removal services to get the debris out instead of using city resources for debris removal.
While she said other private property owners can hire an outside
debris removal service, it’s at their own expense and the debris cannot be disposed of at the City Field debris field, which is strictly for use by Ceres. Trucks continue to work seven days a week to remove debris from Holmes Beach streets.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Stone crab season on
In a display of resilience following recent back-to-back hurricanes, both Cortez fish houses are participating in the stone crab harvest season, which runs from Oct. 15 through May 1.
Stone crabs are harvested for their claws, then returned live to the water. The claws are a delicacy in seafood shops and restaurants.
“One boat went out today,” A.P. Bell Fish Co. owner Karen Bell said on the first day of the season. “There definitely will be a season.”
The season will also carry on this year at John Banyas’ Cortez Bait and Seafood Inc., according to Swordfish
Stone Crab Festival canceled
The 12th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival scheduled for Nov. 9-10 has been canceled due to recent hurricanes. Cortez homes flooded during the storm surge from Hurricane Helene and many suffered further damage from the high winds of Hurricane Milton. In a social media post, organizers said, “Thank you for your continued support of the Cortez community. We look forward to bringing back the festival better and stronger next year.” Last year’s festival attracted more than 5,000 attendees who enjoyed crafts, live music and local seafood.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Grill General Manager Adam Sears. “We have gear in the water” he said.
The stone crab harvest tradition continues in Cortez.
REAL ESTATE
Sheetrock rocks
There are a lot of things about Hurricane Milton and its after math that are new to me and, unfortunately, so many people. I never thought much about sheetrock except what color to paint it, but I’ve learned in the last almost two weeks that it is the bloodline of a home.
If you were in Milton’s path, you were hit with hurricane force winds in excess of 100 mph and driving rain. If a home or condo didn’t have secure window and door coverings, it was penetrated, with the rain being driven by the wind, decimating walls constructed with sheetrock.
Castles in the Sand
Manatee County, you will see piles and piles of discarded sheetrock, reminding you just how important this simple building material is.
I have unhappily learned when the sheetrock gets wet, you have to get it out of your home soon, before mold sets in. Forget about your brand new high-end chef’s stove and the stressless chairs you have and get right to the sheetrock. If you ride around Anna Maria Island and coastal
Homeowners all over our region are filing insurance claims, putting furniture in storage and looking for temporary housing. This is something that no one alive has ever seen and coping with it is unimaginable. There are, however, some homeowners who may have an even worse problem.
I wrote part of this a few weeks ago, but now in retrospect, it needs to be said again. So, if you’ve already
read this, thank you, and if this is your first time, I hope it helps. Properties that cannot be restored could be facing condemnation. According to my research on FEMA’s website, FEMA does not have the legal authority to condemn or demolish houses or buildings. They can provide contractors to inspect disaster-related damage to homes and property, but they do not condemn property. Local jurisdictions have the legal authority to condemn your property, which is a complicated process. Check FEMA’s website on Condemning Property to get more detailed information. In Florida, if your property is condemned and you have an outstanding mortgage, you will still need to repay your mortgage. If your property is condemned, you will likely receive a condemnation payment to help pay off the loan or you
can work with your lender for a loan modification or forbearance. I can’t emphasize enough that if you find yourself in this horrible position, you need to consult an attorney. As I said, it’s a complicated procedure and legal assistance is essential. My heart goes out to anyone whose home is totally gone and to those who are working harder than they have ever worked to restore their properties. We will come back from this and rebuild our paradise. Most of us have lost valuable and personal items that can’t be replaced. We may have also lost value in our homes, but I firmly believe that, too, will come back. The lure of the water keeps us all drawn to the coast. The day I wrote this, I saw the first white pelican of the season; it lifted my heart knowing that eventually everyone and everything returns.
LOUISE BOLGER
PLAQUE: Rod & Reel Pier memorial plaque returned to parents
slated for future demolition and redevelopment as a single residential structure to be built by Ross Built Construction, a local company owned by Holmes Beach residents Greg and Lee Ross.
“We have a job site a few houses down from the Rod & Reel Pier and a lot of the pier crashed into our job site,” Lee Ross explained. “The day after the storm (Milton), our client said we think the pier landed on our property. We asked our team to meet at the Clark residence first thing in the morning to salvage any wanted items and pier memorabilia before people started taking them. The first thing we found was the plaque. Our son, Jake, found it still screwed to the wall with some signs and other items, so he unscrewed it.”
Lee then joined the Anna Maria Island Facebook group and posted a photo of the plaque and the following message: “This washed ashore at our job site. Does anyone know this family? We would love to return it to them. And hopefully someday back to the pier.”
“Within probably 15 minutes, someone said here’s the story of Max,” Lee said. “I was covered in goosebumps. Others reached out to Max’s mom and dad and within in an hour and a half we found them.”
On Oct. 16, Lee, Jake and a few other Ross Built team members met the Schillers at the Clark properties to present them with Max’s plaque.
“We used to holiday out here all the time before we owned our place in Longboat Key,” David said. “Max and I used to fish on the pier. We used to eat at the restaurant and have a drink with family and friends. After Max passed away those were good memories. One of our friends got the plaque made and asked the owner if we could put it up on the pier. They had no problem with that and every time we come back we visit it.”
“It means so much,” Shira said. “So many people have lost so much but they still took the time to find this. I think it’s amazing.”
“Shira was crying when she saw the picture on Facebook of the pier destroyed,” David said. “We were really upset. And then, we were contacted by these guys via Facebook. It was incredible the amount of people who looked up who Max was. There are memorial pages and videos of him and we run our own foundation and charity, Max’s Foundation, which raises money to research hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the condition he passed from. It’s a really big deal that we got this back. We’re hoping they can one day rebuild the pier and this
MOBILE PARKS: Deemed uninhabitable
“This is specifically for manufactured homes,” Cushing said. “If a single-story home reaches that category of substantial damage, yes, they’re going to have to elevate. Commercial buildings have the option of flood-proofing.”
Elaine Armaniaco asked if the local ordinances could be changed.
“You’re redesigning the entire town,” she said. “Couldn’t you all get in some room and say hey, we need to rethink this? There has to be a little more brainstorming and a little more effort put into the creative process here of how we can save the entire character of this town, including the mobile parks, because based on what you’re saying now, Bradenton Beach doesn’t exist. Let’s call this what it is. This is disastrous.”
“This ordinance was rewritten
just in the last couple of years just for that very reason, to save this town, to save the buildings,” Cushing said.
He said buildings that are compliant with the floodplain ordinance received very little damage during recent hurricanes.
“We’ve all been here a long time and over the years, the building requirements have changed for everybody,” Mayor John Chappie said. “Everybody has been affected by the FEMA rules by the flood insurance guidelines.”
Cushing explained those guidelines.
“The city participates in what is called the community rating system,” Cushing said. “It’s a system in which a city is graded by the federal government, FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. Every year they come through to make sure that we’re following the rules that were sent down by the feds.
If we were going to change rules they wouldn’t get less restrictive, they’d get more restrictive.”
“Basically their definition of substantial damage is – you’ve heard of the 50% rule,” Cushing said. “That rule says if damages to a structure are to a level such that it would cost 50% or more of the value of the structure to bring it back to its original condition, it has to be elevated to flood compliance and Florida Building Code.”
“At 8:30 yesterday morning I went to that training because it was required,” Cushing said.
“Every building official in the entire county was there as well as multiple inspectors. There was a representative from FDEM (Florida Division of Emergency Management) and from FEMA.”
Cushing said he raised his hand at that meeting and asked specifically about mobile homes on the Island.
“The guy from FEMA told me if they got any water in them,
plaque, or a replica, will go back up.”
Having grown up on the Island, the Rod & Reel Pier holds many memories for Jake Ross as well. When asked about finding Max’s plaque, Jake said, “We were walking around the debris and I saw a piece of wall with three signs on it and the memorial plaque. We unscrewed the plaque and figured we could return it somehow. Right when I saw it, I knew they’d want it back. I’m glad we got it back to them.”
The return of Max's plaque was also the subject of a television news story that night back in the United Kingdom.
TWO TAKEAWAYS
When asked, Lee also addressed the impacts Ross Built Construction and other contractors are dealing with in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes.
“Greg’s lived on the Island since 1966, so every bit of this is important to us and I’m proud of our team,” Lee said. “The two takeaways are: The ‘little things’ matter the most – and returning this plaque has been a bright spot for us and the community. And building codes are important. We used to complain about the building codes because they’re difficult and challenging and not always aesthetically pleasing, but none of our homes have any serious issues. Our homes did well and we’re proud of that. It’s important to do the work and build beautiful homes, but it’s the little things like this that truly impact people.”
that’s it, they’re toast. That’s basically what he told me,” Cushing said. “I don’t want to be the one to make this decision, but I am and I feel terrible for all of you and that’s where we are.”
City Attorney Ricinda Perry said that every municipality in the state of Florida was given the same directive and requirements from FEMA.
“Will Manatee County be going to the trailer parks and mobile home parks that were affected by flood waters and having the exact same discussion about not being able to rebuild perhaps within the 50%?” Perry asked. “Is your information different from what Manatee County is going to be giving those parks?”
Cushing said the only differences would be each floodplain ordinance.
“They’re all very similar,” he said. “I’ve lost sleep for the last three nights trying to figure out a way to make it so I didn’t have to tell you this, but this is what I have to tell you.”
At a resident’s suggestion that the Pines could be annexed
from the rest of the city, Perry replied, “This isn’t something we take lightly. It’s my job to make sure we are following the laws even if we don’t like them. The sovereignty of a municipality is absolutely trumped every single time by federal rules and law.”
FEMA will penalize the city if it does not execute what is necessary to enforce their rules, she said.
“It’s all starting to hit me all at once, but basically what you’re saying is all the mobile home parks in Manatee County are probably going to be condemned at some point?” Genevieve McDonald asked.
“I would say all the ones on the Island,” Cushing said. “The stuff on Cortez close to the river got the water we got on this side. I spoke to the Holmes Beach building official and he said any mobile homes there were gone.”
“The county is going to start their assessment of the three trailer parks right over the bridge this week, so they’re about to get the same news,” Police Chief John Cosby said.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
David and Shira Schiller are extremely grateful to be reunited with their son’s memorial plaque.
FUN IN THE SUN
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