You could hear fans of the Anna Maria City Pier breathe a sigh of relief.
For Anna Maria officials, the decision to preserve history was decisive, although not unanimous.
City commissioners Feb. 25 voted 4-1 to move forward with plans to refurbish the Anna Maria City Pier during their meeting at city hall.
Commissioner Nancy Yetter was the dissenting vote. Yetter said she believed the city was spending “good money on a bad cause. It’s more of a Band-Aid situation, which we’ve already been doing.”
Refurbishing the pier would cost $1.4 million-$1.7 million and extend the life of the pier 20-25 years.
Rebuilding the pier could extend the pier’s life by 50-75 years, according to Bridge Design Associates engineers, but could cost $2.3 million-$2.8 million. Bridge Design Associates performed a survey of the pier structure in July 2015 and provided the results to the city last month.
But rebuilding would result in a loss. If the city has the pier rebuilt, it would lose the restaurant and bait shop.
Commissioner Chuck Webb said in his research he’s found that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department Environmental Protection — two agencies the city would need building permits from — would not allow buildings on the pier extension.
Mayor Dan Murphy said the restaurant and bait shop are treasures and he supported the decision to refurbish.
Commissioner Dale Woodland said the fate of the buildings on the pier made the decision simple: “From a historical perspective it’s very important. It’s a landmark that people all over the world can relate to.”
Murphy said he would begin working on a plan to fund refurbishment. He said he would like it if the city didn’t pay for anything.
The pier lease held by Mario Schoenfelder reads, the “tenant shall, at its sole cost and expense, maintain the entire leased premises in good order and repair” and “repair any damage to the leased premises caused by the negligence … or acts of omission.”
Murphy said he and Schoenfelder will discuss payment options March 18 when Schoenfelder is expected to arrive from his home in Germany.
Reached Feb. 24, Schoenfelder declined to comment to The Islander.
Murphy said he’s also looking into county, state and federal government grants for historic places.
Murphy said people remember the pier. “Our pier is a historic place.”
He offered to have a plan of action ready for the commission by the end of the month.
Yes what about the customized planks? If they intend to remove them we should be able to claim them, I would think.. Since they were paid for.
Does this mean that the planks that people donated with their names will be lost?