Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short emailed The Islander Oct. 24, reporting that the city had a barge docked at the T-end of the City Pier Oct. 21 to clear out the damages from hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
The contents of the buildings leased to GSM Partner’s City Pier Grill & Bait Shop and Mote Marine Laboratory’s Marine Science Education and Outreach Center were removed and taken to the mainland.
The mayor said the city needed to get everything out of those buildings to initiate the repair and remediation process.
Short also reported that a repair project was in progress involving the five largest swales in the city. Swales are integral to the stormdrain system.
“Retrenching is being done and new filtration cloth and stone will be added to help get our damaged swales back into working condition,” Short said.
Finally, Short was looking forward to the city’s first block party of the fall-winter season at City Pier Park. The event was held Oct. 24.
He wrote, “The Stockton Brothers will be performing and the city will be grilling hot dogs. This will be a monthly event through April, except for December due to the holidays.”
— Bonner Joy
