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VOL 24 No. 1

August 30, 2023

Island consolidation back on table The Manatee County Legislative Delegation wants a study that could lead to the consolidation of Anna Maria Island's cities. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

CONNOR FIELD | SUN

A summer lightning storm mimics a sunset in the Gulf of Mexico off Holmes Beach.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The threat of consolidation of the three Island cities isn’t over. Members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation have warned Island mayors that they’re getting ready to start up talks again at an October meeting. In an Aug. 21 letter, delegation members Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton) sent a letter to all three Island mayors noting that they’re ready to initiate a Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study, known as OPPAGA, to “focus on the potential benefits of combining the three municipalities of Anna Maria Island, which encompasses the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach.” The letter is in response to Jan. 30 talks with the mayors about the possibility of combining city services. In the Aug. 21 letter, Boyd and Robinson said they haven’t received a major update from the mayors and blamed Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.

SEE CONSOLIDATION, PAGE 33

City seeks TDC approval for path funds

Holmes Beach seeks a funding recommendation from the TDC for a new multimodal path in the wake of a pedestrian death.

BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – City officials are seeking tourist tax funding for enhancements to the city’s multimodal path and the creation of a new path. Public Works Superintendent/City Engineer Sage Kamiya addressed the Aug. 21 Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, citing the recent death of a bicyclist in the city and the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a truck earlier this year while crossing the street. Kamiya told the TDC at the meeting at The Center of Anna Maria Island that a functional multimodal path running the

Page 33

Vicious dog attacks again

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN

Holmes Beach Public Works Superintendent/City Engineer Sage Kamiya addresses the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Aug. 21 seeking funding for the city’s proposed multimodal path. length of the city was a matter of “life and death.” Kamiya noted that there is a path for walkers and bicyclists that runs along a portion of Marina Drive, but it needs improvement.

SEE PATH, PAGE 35

HOLMES BEACH - A Holmes Beach resident says she and her dog are lucky to be alive after being attacked by a 143-pound mastiff while going for a walk at her condo. Evalena Leedy was taking her 9-pound toy poodle, Alonzo, for a walk on Aug. 21 about 8:30 p.m. when the unleashed 143-pound dog approached rapidly. “The whole ordeal was terrifying!” Leedy said. “I was walking Alonzo near the condo when out from the bushes,

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next to the dumpster comes an unleashed, large mastiff dog running straight for us. I picked up Alonzo and threw him on top of a parked car. The dog repeatedly lunged at me and bit my right arm, causing me to bleed. The dog kept coming, I was trying to protect myself and Alonzo and was unsuccessfully attempting to kick the dog away.” Leedy said after she had been bitten, the dog’s owner, later identified as Anthony Santamauro, arrived and pulled the mastiff off her.

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Holmes Beach resident Evalena Leedy, with her dog, Alonzo, says she’s lucky they are alive after being attacked by a 143-pound mastiff while going for a walk.

SEE ATTACK, PAGE 31

TOURISM STAYS STRONG on Anna

Maria Island. 8

LOCAL AUTHORS write about Hurricane

Ian, flamingos. 36