HomeCommunity NewsAnna MariaMason Martin Builders selected...

Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop

ANNA MARIA – Frank Agnelli’s Mason Martin Builders is the city’s top choice to construct the restaurant and bait shop at the T-end of the new Anna Maria City Pier.

Based on Mayor Dan Murphy’s recommendation, city commissioners voted 5-0 in support of the mayor entering into contract discussions with Mason Martin Builders’ owner Frank Agnelli. That vote occurred during a six-minute emergency commission meeting on Thursday, June 6.

The city received four bids in response to its recent invitation to bid and request for proposals (RFP). Mason Martin Builders submitted the lowest bid at $1.04 million. D.L Porter Constructors’ bid was second lowest at $1.486 million, followed by the Burke Construction Group at $1.609 million and Jon F. Swift Construction at $1.688 million.

City Clerk LeAnne Addy provided the commissioners with sealed copies of the bid proposals during the previous week’s emergency meeting and the bids were made public during Thursday’s meeting.

Before making his recommendation, Murphy said the RFP states the contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder as determined by the city to be in the city’s best interests.

Murphy said he defined the best interests of the city as having the ability to quickly get started, having the ability to complete the project and a reputation for completing projects, having a vested interest in the project and taking into consideration the city’s interests at every step of the way.

“Having taken all that into consideration, I can give you a recommendation. My recommendation is that we go with Mason Martin,” Murphy said.

Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop
Mason Martin Builders owner Frank Agnelli was pleased by the commission’s decision. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Commissioner Doug Copeland and commission chair Brian Seymour said they supported the mayor’s recommendation.

“They came up number one in my choices. They’re local, all the subs will be local and it makes sense to me,” Seymour said.

Commissioner Carol Carter said Mason Martin appeared to have the most thoroughly thought out response. Seymour agreed and said that helped him make his decision.

Copeland made the motion to authorize Murphy to attempt to negotiate a contract with Mason Martin and the commission unanimously supported that motion.

The negotiated contract terms must be brought back to the commission for final approval.

If those negotiations prove unsuccessful, Murphy would then seek commission authorization to attempt to negotiate a contract with the commission’s next highest-ranked firm, which was not determined at Thursday’s meeting.

Post-meeting comments

Last summer, Agnelli and his crew removed the engraved wooden planks from the old pier so they could be returned to those who previously purchased them from a third-party. Agnelli did that at no cost to the city. The unclaimed planks will be repurposed as memorial walls or for some other public use.

After Thursday’s meeting, Agnelli commented on the commission’s decision.

“I’m glad I got the job, I’m glad this gets to stay local and we’ll get it done quicker than anyone else. It’ll be great to have my name on it for my kids to see, so I’m pretty happy about that too,” he said.

Murphy congratulated Agnelli and said, “I look forward to working with him. We know each other pretty well and I look forward to a good relationship and a successful conclusion.”

Regarding last year’s plank removals, Murphy said Agnelli did it out of the goodness of his heart.

Murphy said it was too early to know exactly when the construction of the restaurant and bait shop spaces will begin.

Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop
I+iconSoutheast continues its construction of the primary pier structure, decking and T-end deck area. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

I+icon’s construction of the pier structure, decking and T-end deck area is scheduled for completion on Aug. 27. I+icon did not bid on the construction of the restaurant and bait shop spaces to be built according to design plans created by architect Barron Schimberg.

Murphy said he expects to meet soon with current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder regarding his financial contribution to the interior build-out of the restaurant and bait shop. Schoenfelder’s current pier lease with the city expires in December 2020 and he is being asked to contribute to the pier project if wants to remain on the pier beyond that.

Murphy estimated the final cost of the entire pier project will now exceed $5 million.

Related coverage

Pier building bids received but not revealed

Last pier piling driven

Pier pavilion closing temporarily

Most Popular

More from Author

Anna Maria responds to county consolidation option

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has responded to...

Ellen Scott celebrated

BRADENTON BEACH – Family and friends joyously celebrated the life and...

Anna Maria increasing vacation rental registration fees

ANNA MARIA – The city is increasing its occupancy-based annual vacation...

Charter review produces potential amendments

ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Charter Review Committee has nearly...

Mangrove jurisdiction differs by county

ANNA MARIA – The outcome of the removal of 116 feet of mangroves to build a seawall at a Gull Drive home may have been different if the property had been located in Sarasota County instead of Manatee County. A contractor removed some of the mangroves prior to...

Bunny & Pirates Bazaar to close soon

CORTEZ – The closing of Bunny & Pirates Bazaar is imminent, but not by the choice of owners Elizabeth Shore and Jeffrey O’Connell. The news of the closing was announced by the two business owners on Facebook on March 16, two days after a notice to vacate was...

Anna Maria responds to county consolidation option

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has responded to a March 5 request for information from OPPAGA regarding the potential consolidation and annexation of the city into Manatee County. The cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach received similar requests from the Office of Program Policy...

Jewelry Sale offers great deals for a great cause

HOLMES BEACH - For the second year in a row, the Anna Maria Island community has shown incredible support for the Island Branch Library. The Friends of the Island Library (FIL), a group of volunteers dedicated to fundraising and support for the library, held their second annual...

Ellen Scott celebrated

BRADENTON BEACH – Family and friends joyously celebrated the life and legacy of longtime Braden­ton Beach resident and honorary Privateer Ellen Scott at the Drift In on Saturday, March 16. Ellen passed away on March 1 at the age of 85. Ellen’s son, Bob Slicker, thanked those in...

Anna Maria increasing vacation rental registration fees

ANNA MARIA – The city is increasing its occupancy-based annual vacation rental registration fee from $84.17 to $93.92 per occupant allowed by the local vacation rental ordinance. The annual registration fee is estab­lished each year by the adoption of a city commission-approved resolution. The increased fees were established...

City Park renamed Jan Vosburgh Park

BRADENTON BEACH – The park across the street from city hall, referred to only as City Park, will be renamed after longtime City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh. The discussion of the naming of the beach access park just south of the Beach House parking lot was introduced at the...

Bird Tips

During bird nesting season, March through August, please follow these tips: Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area. Teach kids not to chase birds – if they’re disturbed, bird parents may abandon nests. Don’t feed birds – our food is...

Government calendar

Anna Maria 10005 Gulf Drive For information, call 941-708-6130 Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. March 21, 1 p.m. – Charter Review meeting March 28, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting March 29, all day – City offices closed, Good Friday   Bradenton Beach 107 Gulf Drive N. For information, call 941-778-1005 Please visit...

Beach Nutz

       

Events

Wednesday, March 20 Creative Aging: Figure Drawing, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Holy Yoga, Roser Church outdoor stage, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 11:30 a.m. Nature Art, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 1 p.m., $10 Coral Reef Science with Mote, Island Branch...