BRADENTON BEACH – Comments Commissioner Janie Robertson made during last week’s candidates’ forum have drawn reaction from two local business owners.

During the Sept. 29 forum and again at the Oct. 1 City Commission meeting, Robertson voiced concerns about commercial vessels using the city-owned floating day dock adjacent to the Historic Bridge Street Pier.

Her concerns were prompted by an e-mail Jimmy Hopkins sent to the city on Sept. 21.

“As a resident of San Remo, me and my wife enjoy taking our boat to the many wonderful establishments on Bridge Street, but every time we try to park at the pier there are two commercial tour operators using the entire pier. On one occasion, I asked the large pontoon boat to please move forward two cleats so I could park as well and they became verbally abusive towards me and my wife,” Hopkins wrote.

“Is there a plan to control the pier’s use so private taxpaying citizens can use the pier and not be harassed by commercial tour operators, whom by all accounts should be paying for a slip like all of the other licensed tour/fishing guides have to,” he concluded.

Paradise Boat Tours owner Sherman Baldwin uses the floating dock for his two-boat tour operation, which may soon include water taxi service.

In response to Hopkins and Robertson, Baldwin said, “I am surprised and disappointed with Commissioner Robertson's newly found criticism of those of us who use the pier to bring our beautiful waterway to thousands of visitors every year. We are good neighbors, ambassadors and pay significant taxes while giving those who don’t own a boat a memorable tour of our natural beauty. Not once has a recreational boater looking to dock at the pier not been met with total cooperation from those of us who use the floating dock; and remember, we are on the dock no more than 25 minutes at a time, two to three times a day.”

Baldwin referred to a photograph he took Saturday that shows four boats, including one of his, tied to the floating dock.

“Four boats on the floating dock and we are taking up the least room,” he said.

“Commissioner Robertson continues to be anti-business with this latest position and I think that is bad for Bradenton Beach. I challenge anyone who thinks commercial boaters are bad for the pier and the city to sit down with me in a public forum to better address these concerns and dispel some of the misinformation being spread by Commissioner Robertson and others,” Baldwin said.

The floating dock and its use is expected to be discussed at the Pier Team meeting scheduled to take place at city hall on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m.

Bridge Street favoritism?

Sea-renity Spa owner Amanda Escobio attended last week’s forum and later addressed Robertson’s concern that Bridge Street Merchants Association members receive preferential treatment from the city commission.

“As for the notion that the city shows favoritism to Bridge Street and its merchants, I know I am not alone in saying that Bridge Street is the heart of Bradenton Beach. Bridge Street is vital on so many levels to our Island community and if you don't agree then maybe your heart is in the wrong place,” Escobio said.