The Islander reached out in the past week to the three cities on Anna Maria Island for our city officials’ wishes for 2025, and the results follow:
From Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer by email:
Happy new year for starters! Let’s hope state and county anxieties are reduced and that we draw a pass from storms this year…. if that occurs we can focus entirely on citywide improvements.
My objectives for the year include:
- Continued focus on finite clean up of rights of ways, parks and city entry points, replanting of vegetation for beautification and facility repairs and improvements.
- Positive communication with county board and state representatives with cooperative measures for funding assistance and overall community betterment.
- Working more closely with Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach to assess projects and improvements benefitting the entire island.
- Continued efforts to identify potential ad-hoc committee members and future commission candidates.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond,
— Terry Schaefer
Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek wrote in an email to The Islander:
What will I do to make my city, Holmes beach, better for residents and visitors in 2025?
Following the example of my fellow islanders’ positive attitude to rebuild their homes and businesses inspires me to be a better commissioner. The way they have faced the challenges and setbacks daily, is to be admired. I have seen and experienced the helpfulness and kindness of neighbors toward each other. I have witnessed the city use its powers to expedite red tape and supply help in all areas. But it is the islanders that make our community the best place to live. My hope for 2025 is to make sure my community is once more a place of beauty and safety for all. I will do so by using my powers, as a commissioner, to uphold the ordinances and laws that benefit my community.
— Carol Soustek
From Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Whitmore:
My goals and wishes for 2025 are:
- Improve our city and state relationships so we can receive our fair share of state funding.
- Respond and communicate with our citizens on a regular basis.
- Work better with our business community and our residents for a common goal.
- Work closely with the TDC on eligible funding and educate those who don’t understand the funding restrictions.
- Remain open to ideas and solutions to retain the quaint community we have, although hanging on by a string.
— Carol Whitmore
From Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth:
I will continue my work on resiliency. Climate change continues to bring challenges to barrier islands and I will continue to work hard in upsizing storm infrastructure and adding infrastructure where needed in order to help mitigate the threats of increased rain events and increased intensity of storms. I also understand that property owners are becoming weary of the challenges of living on the island due to these storm events and I will focus the next two years on promoting our city for what it truly is, a wonderful place to live!
Our community is exceptional. Our schools are exceptional (including our pre-school). Our social media outreach promoting our city and our Destinationholmes.com website will be heightened in the hopes of sustaining our residential community. After all, our local business community depends on residents, as do our churches and schools.
— Mayor Judy Titsworth, City of Holmes Beach
Editor’s Note: Look for more wishes next week from Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.