Commission seeks to crack open Beer Can issues

Beer cans don’t belong on Beer Can Island.

So, Longboat Key police confiscated two cans of Busch beer from a beachgoer Saturday. Neither do drinking games. So, on Saturday, police warned a 22-year-old man to table his game of beer pong. Police also warned boaters about playing loud music.

Although these incidents took place in the town of Longboat Key, they also occurred in an area that is maintained by Manatee County. To some, it’s Beer Can Island. Others know it as Greer Island. But, whatever you call the stretch of beach located at the northern-most tip of Longboat Key, it’s a favorite boating spot on weekends — and uses up police and fire rescue resources.

The Longboat Key town commissioners discussed the island at its Sept. 22 workshop and planned to talk more about enforcement at an Oct. 18 joint meeting with the Manatee County Commission.

At the workshop, commissioners discussed an interlocal agreement between the city of Bradenton Beach and Manatee County for police patrol of Cortez Beach, Coquina Beach and Coquina Bayside Park, which fall within city limits but are operated and maintained by the county, in which the city receives $7,688 per month to assist with the cost of providing police services to those areas.

It isn’t the first time the town has sought a joint agreement with the county for Beer Can Island enforcement. In August, Mayor Jim Brown and Town Manager Bruce St. Denis appeared before Manatee County commissioners to seek $76,500 from the county in West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) funds for marine patrol efforts on Beer Can Island. The county agreed to a one-time amount of $30,000.

Longboat Key Police Chief Al Hogle, who is currently serving as acting town manager, said that Manatee County deputies frequently assist police with Beer Can Island enforcement. His staff is currently compiling data on how much time Longboat police spend patrolling the island.

“I’m not sure what the answer is there,” Hogle said. “I think the Town Commission wants to investigate what the opportunities are.”

Rap sheet
The following incidents have been reported on Beer Can Island so far in 2011:
Animal violations          10
Alcohol violations         8
Public service                3
Disturbances                 2
Fire/rescue                     2
Traffic/boat violations   2
Camping                        1
Narcotics                        1
Suspicious activity        1
Trespassing                   1
Total incidents               31