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Mayor: Ruling lets officers patrol pier

By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
Published August 6, 2006

REDINGTON SHORES - Uniformed police officers still will patrol the Redington Long Pier, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The formal wording of the ruling is still not public, but Circuit Judge Brandt Downey resolved a disagreement between attorneys for the town and the owner of the pier, according to Mayor Jody Armstrong.

"He clarified everything so we all know where we stand," Armstrong said. "In effect, what he said was 'fix it' and this will all go away."

Pier owner Tony Antonious was unsuccessful, she said, in his argument that the presence of uniformed police officers was intimidating to pier visitors. He also was unsuccessful in his request to restrict police power to shut down the pier if the court order is violated.

"The order is totally enforceable," Armstrong said.

The nearly 50-year-old landmark pier came under court jurisdiction last month after the city and county tried several times to shut it down over safety issues.

The possible safety problem came to light after Tropical Storm Alberto, when several pier supports washed up on shore.

A subsequent marine engineer's report indicated that several pilings and other pier supports need repair.

When Antonious unilaterally declared the pier safe, the town and county sought a temporary injunction to close it.

The subsequent court order restricted the public from portions of the pier and limited the number of people on the pier at any one time.

No deadline was set for completing repairs.

Wednesday's hearing was called to clarify parts of that ruling.

[Last modified August 5, 2006, 19:43:20]