Replacing lost memorial benches in Holmes Beach won’t be cheap.
But the city will shoulder some of the cost to lighten the load on sponsors.
City commissioners reached consensus May 13 to absorb $367.87 of the cost of replacing each memorial bench, bringing the total replacement cost to $1,000 per bench for sponsors.
The benches are made by city staff and consist of a pair of cast concrete legs connected with wooden boards that form the seat and backing of the bench.
Small plaques in the center of the benches’ topmost wooden boards display messages of dedication determined by their sponsors.
Many of the benches were placed near public beach accesses to provide resting places for beachgoers.
However, about 122 of the city’s 166 memorial benches were lost in hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.
So far, 29 sponsors have contacted the city about replacing damaged or lost benches.
The city unveiled a program April 22 for sponsors to replace lost memorial benches that were installed over the past 10 years if they can cover the cost, which was projected to be $1,200-$1,400 per bench.
Public works staff will address replacement requests on a first-come, first-served basis, and are projected to be able to complete up to two benches per month.
However, former City Commissioner Jim Kihm — who lost a memorial bench dedicated to his late wife — implored commissioners during public comment to lower the price.
Commission Chair Dan Diggins brought the item back for discussion at the May 13 meeting.
Public works director Sage Kamiya began the discussion by presenting a breakdown of the costs for replacing lost memorial benches.
The biggest slice of the cost is for labor, with a projected 15 hours of work hours at a $47.95 hourly rate for a maintenance technician resulting in a $719.19 total labor cost.
Along with $226.70 in equipment costs and $421.98 in material costs — largely attributed to the $306.98 cost for bronze memorial plaques — the total cost of building each bench would be $1,367.87, according to Kamiya.
Kamiya added that administrative costs were not included, but there was also opportunity cost to consider, since tasking public works staff with building benches takes them away from completing other tasks.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said there were too many memorial benches before last year’s storms and there were still enough to be found at almost every public beach access.
She said the benches are dangerous for sea turtles and the replacement program provides a “slow descent” from their use.
“Our storms are getting more frequent and stronger. And this will just continue to be an issue,” Titsworth said.
Titsworth said she would have the city’s parks and beautification committee explore a new memorial program that would involve planting trees instead of building benches.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he was in favor of restoring the lost benches and proposed absorbing the $226.70 equipment cost, as well as $200 on top of that, for replacing each one.
That would bring the cost for sponsors to $941.17.
Schaefer added that Kamiya’s cost analysis also may help sponsors understand why the benches will be more expensive to replace than they were to build in the past.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore also supported lowering the price for sponsors, who she said were understandably “shocked” by the new expense.
“We hit them with this price when they’re still trying to rebuild their homes,” she said. “It’s a one-time replacement and, if it happens again, then we have this policy in place. This has never happened to us before.”
“We have a $25 million budget and we have, I don’t know, maybe $3-$4 million in unrestricted reserves? Why can’t we help our citizens out this one time?” Whitmore added.
Commissioner Carol Soustek said she understands the shock of a higher price tag, but told people to “get over it.”
Nevertheless, she recommended the city absorb the material cost to bring the price to just under $1,000 for sponsors.
Titsworth proposed bringing the replacement cost to an even $1,000 for sponsors.
Commissioners reached a consensus in support of her recommendation.
People can contact Kamiya about replacing damaged or lost memorial benches by calling 941-708-5800 or emailing skamiya@holmesbeachfl.org.