ANNA MARIA – Marketing has begun on the housing development formerly known as Villa Rosa, which has been renamed Angler’s Cove at Villa Rosa.

The project includes 15 canal front lots, plus one home facing South Bay Boulevard with no direct water access. There is also one home that was already built when the project was known as Villa Rosa.

A victim of the economic downturn nine years ago, Villa Rosa sat empty with only a paver street and the house already built, but unoccupied for years. The developers lost ownership, and now that the economy is recovering, Michael Saunders has been hired by the new developers to market the project. Agent Kelly Baldwin said there is a good selection of lots.

“Prices begin at $449,000 for the lot not on a canal to $475,000 for the canal-front lots,” she said. “We will build models soon, the first one will be 2,900 square feet, and we’ll build another measuring 2,400 square feet.”

Baldwin said they are marketing the lots, but buyers can choose a recommended builder or bring their own builder.

“It’s a great location with canals on each side offering deep water access for boaters,” she said. “We feel this project will attract the attention of buyers of all types.”

The project is located on the northern end of the Island close to Pine Avenue.

For information, call Baldwin at 941-404-9396, or e-mail kellybaldwin@michaelsaunders.com. Log onto www.anglerscoveami.com for more information.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following up on a recent letter sent to city officials addressing complaints about Mayor Bill Shearon and others, Laurie Jo Higgins addressed the mayor and commission during last week’s meeting.

“You have an obligation, not just to your constituents in Bradenton Beach, but to the rest of the Island, and the people from the mainland who own businesses and rentals in Bradenton Beach. You’re representing all of Manatee County, not just Bradenton Beach Mr. Mayor, and your actions as of late, they’ve been atrocious. I’ve addressed them in a letter and the commissioners are quite aware of what’s been going on,” Higgins said during public comment.

Before Higgins spoke, Shearon noted that each commissioner received a copy of her July 23 letter and the letter is public record. The letter included allegations that the mayor and his girlfriend, Tjet Martin, have created a hostile work environment for city employees.

Higgins’ letter also refers to a June incident involving her husband, David, who works for the city’s Public Works Department; Martin’s presence at city hall; and alleged behind the scenes efforts to terminate Public Works Director Tom Woodard and Police Chief Sam Speciale.

Before Higgins spoke, Shearon addressed her request to have her letter read aloud.

“I will not read it into the public record because it fails to meet our pledge of public conduct,” he said of the emotionally charged correspondence.

Before the meeting began, Shearon asked for a police officer to be placed on stand-by status.

“The mayor called me at about 10 minutes to six, when Mr. and Mrs. Higgins walked into city hall, and requested to have an officer present,” Police Chief Sam Speciale explained.

Mayor responds

Later in the week, Shearon discussed Thursday’s events and the allegations made by Higgins.

“I had a concern, because of the tone of her letter, so I called the chief and asked for an officer to be standing by in case something happened. I would do that anytime I felt there might be a disruption to a meeting,” he said.

“It’s an abuse of power and it’s intimidation,” Higgins countered, noting that she plans to stage a protest outside city hall.

As for the notion that Higgins would be removed from city hall, Shearon said, “That’s a public building, I can’t do that.”

When asked about his role in directing former city employee Pat O’Neill to file a written complaint regarding David Higgins’ improper use of a city vehicle in June, Shearon said, “If you want me to respond, put it in writing; that way there’s no misunderstanding or he said-she said.”

The mayor then discussed the city workplace.

“I don’t feel there’s a hostile work environment at city hall. People now have clearer defined responsibilities and are being held accountable; I guess that could be considered hostile? No employee has come to me and voiced a concern. If they did, the first thing I would say is have you talked to your supervisor? If they have, they can file a written complaint or contact the city attorney. They have the right to do that.”

Shearon questioned why someone who does not work for the city is voicing these concerns and pointed out that David Higgins attended last week’s meeting, but did not speak.

“If it’s so bad, why are they working here?” Shearon said.

When it was pointed out that city employees depend on their paychecks and benefits and are fearful of retribution, Shearon said, “How do I confront something if they’re scared to put it in writing?”

Vice Mayor’s concerns

During the meeting, Vice Mayor Jack Clarke publically addressed the allegations he found most troubling.

In regard to Higgins’ fear that she would be removed from a city meeting, Clarke said, “She was able to speak briefly, but just the fact that Mrs. Higgins thinks that is pretty awful.”

Concerning Higgins’ claim that Shearon made derogatory comments to city employees, Clarke said, “Have they been proven or disproven? These are questions that I don’t have the answers to that I think we should take under consideration.”

The following day, a city employee who attended the meeting said, “The city is full of turmoil caused by the mayor, Tjet and (Commissioner) Janie Robertson.”

In response, Robertson said, “I was voted into office by those who did not agree with the decisions of the 5-0 Shaughnessy commission. I owe it to the public to vote their convictions, and I do.”

The vibrio vulnificus bacteria that has sickened two people and killed one this year in Sarasota County so far has not been reported in Manatee County, according to both the Manatee County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Vibrio vulnificus occurs naturally in warm seawater, but infections are rare, according to the CDC, which warns that people at the highest risk have weakened immune systems, particularly those with chronic liver disease.

Also at risk are people who eat raw seafood, especially oysters, and those with open wounds; infections may lead to the bacterium invading the bloodstream, causing a life-threatening illness, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of infection include abdominal pain, vomiting, fever and shock.

In Sarasota County this year, two cases have been reported, with one death, according to the CDC. Statewide, 13 cases have been reported this year, with three deaths.

In 2013, Manatee County had two reported cases and no deaths. From 2008-2013, 44 deaths were reported statewide from vibrio.

According to the Florida Department of Health’s beach water quality monitoring system, no alerts were posted as of Aug. 7 on Anna Maria Island’s beaches. On July 29, a different bacteria, enterococcus, was reported in moderate amounts at one site on Coquina Beach; all other sites tested good.

Tips for preventing Vibrio vulnificus infections

• Water and wounds do not mix. Do not enter the water if you have fresh cuts or scrapes.
• Individuals who are immune compromised (chronic liver disease, kidney disease or weak immune system) should wear proper foot protection to prevent cuts and injury caused by rocks and shells on the beach.
• Do not eat raw oysters or other raw shellfish.
• Cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly.
• For shellfish in the shell, either a) boil until the shells open and continue boiling for 5 more minutes, or b) steam until the shells open and then continue cooking for 9 more minutes. Do not eat those shellfish that do not open during cooking. Boil shucked oysters at least 3 minutes, or fry them in oil at least 10 minutes at 375°F.
• Avoid cross-contamination of cooked seafood and other foods with raw seafood and juices from raw seafood.
• Eat shellfish promptly after cooking and refrigerate leftovers.
• Avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to warm salt or brackish water, or to raw shellfish harvested from such waters.
• Wear protective clothing (e.g., gloves) when handling raw shellfish.

Source: CDC

HOLMES BEACH – The Island Congestion Committee has two goals in mind when it meets with the city commission at the work session on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m.

The first goal is to get approval of parking locations to fulfill beach renourishment requirements, and the second is to get approval of its proposal to eliminate street and right of way parking in residential areas.

“We have the data and we want to forward that to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to receive a letter back from them assuring there’s no endangerment of the beach renourishment,” Chair Carol Soustek said regarding the first goal.

The committee looked at the signed existing parking spaces shown in a county parking study and found that many of them were in front of residences or non-existent. They then found alternative parking spaces.

“The chief and I went down every road with a beach access and even some without,” member Jayne Christenson explained. “We verified what the parking study said versus where we could add parking that is not (currently) signed.

“The chief also found some other spots. We removed 40 and added 88, a net increase of 44 parking spaces.”

Members want the DEP to approve those alternative parking spaces, which then must have signs indicating parking is allowed in order to count for beach renourishment.

Restricting parking

On the group’s second goal, Pam Leckie pointed out, “In my neighborhood, we’re blocks from the beach. My neighbors ask why restrict parking here? People that are not affected don’t want it.”

Soustek said if the county implements paid parking at the public beach, people would park in the neighborhoods, and it also would restrict rental party houses.

“We do have complaints from folks that live in neighborhoods that have party houses,” Christenson added. “They’re parking in front of residents’ yards and residents can’t have their company park there.

“That’s why it’s city-wide. We have to educate people on how this will work to their benefit.”

Leckie said people also have complained that they won’t be able to park in front of their own homes, their guests won’t have a place to park and that it is too much government control.

The group’s plan includes some type of parking permit for residents with special permits for guests. Members also said guests could park in the residents’ driveways or if there is a party, residents could call police and tell them there would be several vehicles parked there.

Christenson said she received an e-mail from resident Mike Kelly with some suggestions including limiting the number of times per year that special parking permits can be issued to a residence such as for major holidays, weddings and funerals and limiting the length of stay to 24 hours.

Leckie said that is being “too picky,” and member Ursula Stemm said it could create bad feelings among neighbors. Christenson passed out sample petitions supporting

their proposal and asked members to ask their neighbors to sign them and bring them to the work session.

BRADENTON BEACH – During last week’s commission meeting, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh publically fired back at the recent actions of Tjet Martin, her Ward 4 opponent in the November election.

“While I was in Utah and since I returned, I have spent a great deal of unproductive time answering Tjet Martin’s untrue accusations and have been unable to do my job as a commissioner as a result of her continued harassment,” Vosburgh said.

“When bringing this to the attention of our mayor, he indicated that he had no control over her and that she is her own person. He also said now I know how they feel with all of their lawsuits. What does that have to do with me? I can only assume they are doing everything they can to make me quit. Well, I’m not.”

In conclusion, Vosburgh said, “I’m not the only one in the city who’s unproductive doing the city’s business because of them. I suggest our citizens put a stop to this. This city is out of control.”

Vosburgh’s remarks were prompted by Martin recently filing a public records request for Vosburgh’s e-mail records, and a complaint Martin filed with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) pertaining to licensing requirements for Vosburgh’s rental properties at Perico Bay Club in Bradenton.

Martin lives with Mayor Bill Shearon and is running against Vosburgh despite the potential Sunshine Law implications that would exist should two members of the same commission share a household.

The day after Vosburgh made her remarks, Commissioner Janie Robertson questioned whether commission liaison reports were the proper venue for Vosburgh to issue complaints against her campaign opponent.

Vosburgh countered by saying she felt her actions were appropriate because the time she spends serving as a liaison to various committees and organizations has been compromised by Martin’s actions.

In an effort to address what she believes to be an unjustified licensing complaint filed by Martin, Vosburgh submitted a letter to DBPR last week that was written by condo association treasurer Jim Hawkinson.

His letter states, “Presently, her unit is under a yearly rental contract in accordance with our condo docs, which she follows to the letter. She knows that the rental policies do not allow for weekly rentals, that we must have a 60-day minimum, and that units can only can be rented three different times a year.”

Vosburgh is hopeful that this information will further assist her efforts to dispute Martin’s claim that she is using her units for short-term rentals, which do require a public lodging license. Vobsurgh maintains that all three of her Perico Bay Club units are rented on an annual basis only.

Monday afternoon, Vosburgh received a call from the state informing her that she did no wrong and her annual rental properties do not require a state license.

In the heat of summer, it’s hard to wear shoes. Flip-flops are the footwear of choice at the beach and everywhere else on the Island.

But if you want to help raise money for the Anna Maria Island Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 23, starting at 5 p.m., you’ll have to wear bowling shoes. Sure, you could wear flip-flops to AMF Lanes at 4208 Cortez Road W., but you’ll need to pack a pair of socks too because they’re required and only make sense.

For $25, you’ll get shoe rental and you’ll get to bowl three games. You’re not bowling against anyone; you’ll be bowling for yourself. There will be trophies for both men and women for high games, high series and low game and low series, so even if you’re not the most experienced bowler, you’ll still stand a change of being recognized.

Bring some cash for raffles and purchase a ticket or two for the big screen television sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Sun. Bring more money for beer, if you like, and don’t forget the awards party at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, 6696 Cortez Road W., where bowling trophies will be handed out as well as raffle prizes. The restaurant will be offering special menu items and refreshments.

For more information, call the Community Center’s Sandee Pruett, at 778-1908, ext. 0, or sandee@myamicc.com.