Identifying Local Opportunities

1. Barge strikes new Anna Maria City Pier
https://www.amisun.com/2019/09/10/barge-strikes-new-anna-maria-city-pier/

• On Tuesday September 10th the Anna Maria Island pier that is still under construction was crashed into by a tug boat operator that lost control of the construction barge. The pier was currently undergoing a reconstruction project amounting to almost 6 million dollars!
• The problem presented is the serious damage that was received by the pier that was still under construction. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed. With the addition of hurricane Dorian they were already beginning to expect to add a few more weeks to the time table.
• The organization that the problem has been pushed to is the I+Icon Southeast that was declared responsible for the damages and repairs by Mayor Murphy.

2. City leaders consider stormwater fee increases

https://www.amisun.com/2019/09/10/city-leaders-consider-stormwater-fee-increases/

• Holmes Beach residents are going to be forced to pay higher utility fees in the coming years. New policy still being debated on to give the residents a 262% increase in their utility fees in order to provide better storm water systems from the excessive flooding. Based on the sizes of owned properties determines how much more they have to pay. The current fee is $1.68 per 100 square feet of property. It is still up for debate whether the fee will be doubled next year or spread out over the next couple years with smaller increases of about 25% per year. It's even more shocking that the city plans to leave these increases on the utility fees for as long as they can.
• The problem restated is the incoming increases on utility fees for Holmes Beach residents. Holmes Beach residents can expect a doubling of their current utility fees in the next few years if not next year.
• The people affected by this problem are all the residents on Holmes Beach, future residents, and the city that is ultimately trying to solve the storm water problem.

3. Counterfeit money being passed around

https://www.amisun.com/2019/08/27/counterfeit-money-being-passed-around/

• There have been multiple cases of people using counterfeit money to pay for inexpensive things. Reported in Manatee county and Bradenton beach counterfeit money was presented to pay for inexpensive orders at restaurants. The suspect is presumably using the counterfeit money to get change for inexpensive orders by using 50 and 100 dollar bills. 
• The problem is that the suspect has still not been apprehended. Local businesses have had to report the incidences to the police department for further action but the investigation continues. The bill that was posted by the Cortez Kitchen looks real at a glance but ended up failing the marker test. It would be easy to mistake the bill for a real one making a lot of places vulnerable. Attempts have been made to notify local stores in order to deal with this ongoing situation
• This problem is causing concern to local business in Manatee county and nearby areas. It has also become the problem of the Bradenton police department as they have undertaken part of the investigation.

4. Anna Maria liquor ordinance explained

https://www.amisun.com/2019/09/10/anna-maria-liquor-ordinance-explained/

• This new article was a clarification on the liquor ordinance in Anna Maria. City commissioner Brian Seymour had proposed his plan of adding a liquor store to his current general store. He even proposed the city give him special permission to sell liquor at his store considering previous exceptions. The city ended up not allowing his request and may have inadvertently caused Seymour to resign. The request was ultimately denied because of the general store's proximity to a church.
• The problem presented by Seymour was a lack of liquor services on the island. Even though he was following his business pursuits, he still decided to see if the city would make an exception for him. The island would not allow him to expand his business and sell liquor from his general store. This may have been part of the reason he left the city commission too. Another problem from this article is the city commission losing a member.
• Brian Seymour has this problem. The owner of the general goods store and former member or the city commission. He will now have to find a better way to expand his business opportunities. The city commission also has this problem now that they have lost a member.

5. ‘I just heard a loud boom.’ Lightning strikes historic Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria

https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article234693067.html

• The Rod and Reel pier was struck by lightning causing damage to the restaurant that is located at the end of the pier on the water. The extent of the damages were not severe enough to keep the restaurant closed but they did cost them a few electrical appliances. The historic pier still stands despite previous weather altercations and over 70 years of service.
• The problem in this article was the dangerous weather that caused damage to the restaurant. Located at the end of a pier, the restaurant is in a place that is constantly being plagued by bad weather. This would not be their only weather related incident. 
• The organization affected by the problem is the Rod and Reel Pier restaurant. Their location is vulnerable to future weather incidences and could probably use some guidance to remain safe.