Joe Hendricks

Florida

Reporter at Anna Maria Island Sun

Featured in: Favicon

amisun.com Favicon

boredpanda.com Favicon

newsbreak.com Favicon

mycitymag.com

Articles

WMFR prevails in vacation rental lawsuit

4 days ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

HOLMES BEACH – The West Manatee Fire Rescue District (WMFR) has prevailed in a lawsuit disputing its ability to assess commercial fees on vacation rentals. Filed last year by Holmes Beach-based C&D Properties of AMI LLC against WMFR, the suit lists local realtor Lawrence (Larry) Chatt as its manager and owner. Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas presided over the case.
Youth group assists White Egret owners

5 days ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

ANNA MARIA – While visiting Anna Maria Island, the One10Youth group from the Mandarin United Methodist Church in Jacksonville spent several hours helping the owners of the White Egret home décor and gift store in Anna Maria. The Center of Anna Maria Island helped connect White Egret owners Barb and John Jaeger and the One10Youth group, which was on a mission trip and looking to do some volunteer work in the area.
City, county officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing

5 days ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

ANNA MARIA – City officials’ desire to rebuild the hurricane-damaged City Pier walkway and Manatee County officials’ desire to install a ferry landing at the pier are financially and philosophically intertwined. The city needs county funds to help replace the pier walkway weakened by Hurricane Helene and mostly destroyed by Hurricane Milton. The pier wasn’t insured and the city doesn’t have enough money to self-fund the project.
City Pier Grill operators hope to renegotiate lease

1 week ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

ANNA MARIA – The City Pier Grill & Bait Shop operators want to renegotiate their lease before committing to another five years in the city-owned City Pier building that’s currently closed due to damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Operating as GSM Partners LLC in a pier building leased from the city of Anna Maria, pier tenants Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham opened the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop on Dec. 10, 2020.
Speed table debate continues

1 week ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

HOLMES BEACH – The pending installation of three speed tables along the 500 block of Key Royale Drive remains a topic of debate even though an executed work agreement is already in place. On April 22, Holmes Beach commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a $233,000 agreement with Superior Asphalt for the multi-street street resurfacing project presented by Public Works Director Sage Kamiya.
Mayor seeks TDC support for pier replacement project

1 week ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommends that the county commission provide the city of Anna Maria with up to $2 million in tourist development tax revenues to help fund the replacement of the hurricane-damaged City Pier walkway. Mayor Mark Short presented the city’s funding request during the June 16 TDC meeting at The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria adopting ordinance prohibiting beach holes

1 week ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

ANNA MARIA – The city will soon have a “No Holes on Beach” ordinance in effect that prohibits using metal shovels and other gardening tools to dig holes in the beach sand. On June 12, Anna Maria commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of Ordinance 25-945, a city ordinance that will support the hole digging regulations already contained in Manatee County Ordinance 23-121.
City hosts hurricane preparedness workshop

2 weeks ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

HOLMES BEACH – During the city’s town hall-style Hurricane Preparedness Workshop, members of the city’s emergency operations team spent nearly two hours sharing information about hurricane preparation, response and recovery. Held at Holmes Beach City Hall on June 6, the workshop was livestreamed and the archived video can be viewed at the city website.
McDaniel returning as Rotary Club president

2 weeks ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Jim McDaniel will serve as the next president of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island. Succeeding current president Laurie Beppler and serving a one-year term that begins on July 1, McDaniel was installed as incoming president during the club’s June 3 board meeting at the Beach House restaurant in Bradenton Beach. McDaniel previously served as the club president from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
Clean Water Committee evolving

2 weeks ago | amisun.com | Joe Hendricks

HOLMES BEACH – With two new members and a relatively new chairperson, the Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee remains committed to their primary objective: “To research means by which to sustain and improve upon the condition and purity of the natural waters and drinking water around Anna Maria Island.”On May 27, city commissioners appointed Anna Maria resident Scott MacGregor and Longboat Key Public Works Director Charles Mopps as the committee’s newest members.