Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short emailed The Islander Aug. 1, saying he’d had “sort of a slow week this week in terms of newsworthy items.”
He noted the request for proposal to rebuild the walkway for the city pier — damaged by the September-October 2024hurricanes — was released July 29.
Short said there is a link on the city website — cityofannamaria.com — that will take people to the RFP. Bids are due Sept. 8 and the city anticipates selecting a vendor by the end of that month.
“Otherwise, it was normal business as usual … here in the city,” Short said.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth also emailed The Islander Aug. 1 from the Florida Keys, where she was vacationing, but she had no news. She deferred to police Chief Bill Tokajer, who responded Aug. 2 to our request.
The chief emailed us with need-to-know news about the new school year, which will begin Aug. 11.
“At the start of the school year, we will begin our speed enforcement at the Anna Maria Elementary School zone,” he wrote.
“Enforcement will take place for vehicles traveling at 10 mph over the 15-mph-posted school zone speed.”
When entering the school zone, motorists will see signage indicating photo enforcement, then signage telling them their speed and a flashing sign indicating the 15-mph school zone.
Tokajer added that HBPD enforcement would be during the times when the flashing lights are activated.
He also told The Islander that warnings would be issued in the first 30 days. After the warning period, violators will receive $100 citations.
Let’s hope that’s not you getting an HBPD citation.
As an added note from The Islander, you might take note of the posted speed on that stretch of Gulf Drive and throughout most of the city — 25 mph.
— Bonner Joy