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VOL 15 No. 23
Fitness fallout
April 1, 2015
Residents and commissioners support business owners
They oppose the Island Community Center board’s plan to install a fitness facility in the Center. BY PAT COPELAND SUN STAFF WRITER | pcopeland@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – It was standing room only at last week’s city commission meeting with residents supporting two business owners who oppose the Island Community
Center board’s plan to install a fitness center in the Center. “We want to express our concern about the proposed $500,000 state of the art fitness facility taking place at the AMI Community Center and how it will greatly affect our businesses, if not shut us down,” said Brenda Canning, of Island Fitness. Jen Crady, of AMI Health & Fitness, said the Community Center has been “dear to my heart” and “helped shape my children to be
who they are – exceptional students and athletes,” but it is a nonprofit organization that pays no taxes and “holds an unfair business advantage when they decide to compete with small business. “It’s clear that the proposed fitness center plan is targeting seasonal residents as well as visitors. It is also clear that the board members own the companies that are overseeing the project. You see center, page 32
pat copeland | SUN
Residents filled Holmes Beach City Hall last week to express their concerns about the fitness center planned for the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
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MANGROVE
TAll bridge PLAN BACKED BY
Corps of Engineers rejects developer’s request. 4
FDOT. 8
REMOVAL:
Anna Maria Island, Florida
Whitmore seeks help to keep HB post office open. 4
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