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Bridge work kept Treasure Island drivers detouring

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published January 1, 2006

TREASURE ISLAND - Bridge news, a big birthday and broad support for the local police department were all part of 2005 history for Treasure Island.

Public works officials warned of bridge closings and they were right. Nearly every week for the past several months, drivers have been making the detour through Madeira Beach or St. Pete Beach while crews pour concrete for the new $50-million causeway bridge. Tuesday, at 7 a.m., the old bridge will close for good. Construction workers will demolish the 65-year-old structure and begin preparing the southern half of the span for a summer opening.

In May, residents celebrated the city's 50th birthday with a string of festivities including a '50s themed street party; golf, tennis and fishing tournaments; a citywide potluck dinner and beachfront concerts by the Florida Orchestra. The monthlong TI Five-O party commemorated the city's incorporation at 2:32 p.m. May 3, 1955.

A couple of months later, police Chief Joseph Pelkington announced his retirement after 18 years. Almost immediately, the city got a call from Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats offering to take over the department and save the city between $10-million and $15-million over 10 years.

City commissioners considered the offer for several months while the sheriff made presentations to the city and the staff reviewed the proposals. Residents were passionate about the issue and rallied to keep the local department.

In December, commissioners told the sheriff, thanks, but no thanks.

City Manager Ralph Stone said one of the first things on his 2006 to-do-list is to devise a plan for finding a permanent police chief to head the 21-member force. Acting Chief Tim Casey wants to be considered for the job.

Another police-related issue that brought crowds to City Commission meetings this year was the board's decision to put the names and photographs of convicted sex offenders on the city's cable television station, Channel 15.

The parents and friends of one of the offenders pleaded with commissioners to keep a Sunset Beach man off the station because he allegedly had consensual sex with minors when he was a young adult. Photos of Tyler Smith still air regularly on TITV along with the names of a couple of other sex offenders who live in the city limits.

On a more syrupy note, the landmark Robby's Pancake House closed May 31. Owner Dave Coover decided to stop serving pancakes after 32 years and remodel his business into a steak and seafood restaurant, expected to open in 2006.

Also opening in the new year are the mayor's job and two City Commission seats. Commissioners Richard Kraus and Phil Collins won re-election last March. Fellow Commissioners Ed Gayton and Alan Bildz can begin qualifying for the March 14 city election next week. While Gayton and Bildz have not said publicly whether they will run again, Mayor Mary Maloof already has begun campaigning to keep her job.

Qualifying for candidates begins at noon Tuesday and ends at noon Jan. 17. Candidates in District 2 and District 4 must live in the districts in order to qualify. Commissioners are elected for two-year terms. The mayor is elected citywide and serves for three years.

Treasure Island will have a new clerk overseeing the next city election. Commissioners have offered the newly restructured city clerk position to Dawn Foss, a Pinellas County accountant with 20 years of city government experience in New Hampshire. Foss was offered $43,000-a-year salary and is expected to accept the job in January and begin work in time to supervise the city election process.

This year, commissioners adopted a new ordinance making the city clerk position separate from the city manager job. In the past, the manager was the official clerk, although he did not handle the clerk responsibilities. Commissioners gave the title to former clerk Jennifer Nye in November but she left the city the same day to pursue other career goals. The new clerk will be hired by commissioners and supervised by the city manager.

In April, the city manager will be looking for a new deputy clerk to replace Sandra Carnevale, who is retiring after 23 years at City Hall.

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:28:15]