A Holmes Beach resident is battling the city over three invasive trees in his backyard that he says damaged a drainage pipe and a neighbor’s home.
Bill Reilly, who has lived on 85th Street in Holmes Beach since May 2015, says two Australian pines and a carrotwood tree already have resulted in damages and likely pose further risk to multiple properties.
“These trees are very shallow and sitting right on top of a pipe,” he said.
A stormwater pipe from the city of Anna Maria passes under the trees and through Reilly’s backyard.
“A couple of days of heavy rains or sustained winds and they’ll blow over,” he said. “They’re 60 feet high and they’re leaning.”
His neighbor across the city borderline in Anna Maria, Hal Badger, lives on Periwinkle Plaza. He says his home has been damaged by the trees in excess of $30,000.
“Pine needles are ruining my deck,” he said. “It’s just a disaster, and I can’t replace my deck until they’re gone.”
Badger approached the city of Anna Maria on Reilly’s behalf, believing the trees to be located on an Anna Maria easement.
However, when Badger brought up the issue, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and public works director George McKay said they thought the trees might be in Holmes Beach.
If they were on Anna Maria property, Murphy said, the city would remove the trees at no cost. If not, it was a matter for Holmes Beach officials to decide.
A survey found the trees to be on a Holmes Beach easement, causing Reilly to turn to a different set of officials.
“I sent emails to the mayor,” Reilly said. “I have called at least three times and he’s never called back.”
Reilly said he also reached out to Holmes Beach Commissioner Judy Titsworth and building official James McGuiness.
He said Holmes Beach public works foreman Dave Benton examined the storm drain and thought the roots of the trees might be wrapped around the pipe, which could block drainage.
“We were told they would be removed by last October,” he said. Reilly said he removed fencing and other shrubbery from his yard to accommodate the city, but the workers never came.
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson says he is not aware of any city plans to remove trees from Reilly’s property.
Johnson said subsequent examination found the stormwater drain intact and undamaged.
“We did a full evaluation and investigation of that drainage line in August,” Johnson said. “There was no evidence of root intrusion. So essentially there are no issues for the city with regard to those trees. If he doesn’t want the trees, he can cut them down, pure and simple.”