BRADENTON BEACH – A proposed plan to beautify trash can bins along Bridge Street may include a decorative representation of the landmark clocktower on the city pier.
At a May 3 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said, “We’ve had this discussion a number of times. It’s become cumbersome and expensive to say the very least. The quotes I’ve been getting have been over $500 per trash can and they’re nothing special, they’re very basic.”
Perry then said she met someone who has a small business on the Island that uses marine-grade steel to create decorative art.
“I took the graphic (of the clocktower) that we tried to do the bike racks on and I sent it to her and asked to give me an idea of what it’s going to look like and she made me one,” Perry said.
Perry displayed the 12-inch metal cut-out of the proposed decorative enhancement to the trash bins.
“This will be $80 apiece. So, I thought you could take the white trash can and put something like this on there,” she said. “We have a black and white theme; you could even get them powder-coated black. I think it would really dress it up.”
Board member David Bell expressed approval of the design.
“It’s really clean…that’s awesome,” Bell said.
To avoid theft of the cut-outs, board member Jake Spooner suggested screwing them into the trash cans and gluing them.
“I could see people wanting to take those as a souvenir to go home with,” Spooner said.
Mayor John Chappie said since the bins are painted each year, they would have to be screwed in but said Public Works Director Tom Woodard could figure something out for security.
“Where would we install trash cans, and how many?” Perry asked the board.
“I would suggest we work with Tom and the merchants,” Chappie said.
The currently-used wooden trash bin containers are constructed and maintained by Public Works.
“We will be asking for funding to pay for the trash cans and get the decorative touch on it,” Perry said.
“How many do you want? How big do you want them? Where do you want them to go? Do you want the backs open or closed?” Woodard asked the board.
Chappie said he would work with Woodard as to location and materials.
“I want to make it less work for our guys and make it cleaner and easier for them to handle,” Chappie said.
Prior to voting on approval, the cost was discussed.
“Price of wood is going up,” Woodard said. “I’m guessing $500 or maybe less for one. It’s a guess.”
“I’m just saying $10,000 to stay with a number,” Chappie said. “It could change with more understanding of the overall budget. $7,000? $5,000? We have to start someplace. If we run out of money, we’ll come back.”
City Treasurer Shayne Thompson said,” The funds we’re using is the cost we’re saving in undergrounding. So, the finish line for that dictates all the other little pet projects.”
“We have $10,000 in that overage for the undergrounding,” Perry said. “We can afford these trash cans.”
Cole suggested a motion to start with $10,000 for trash cans and bike racks. The motion passed unanimously.
