As hurricane season approaches, the Pinellas Beaches Chamber is organizing a special town hall this evening, Thursday, April 24th, to address the state of the county’s coastal communities.

The event, dubbed the “State of the Beaches,” will feature mayors from several beach cities, including Treasure Island and Madeira Beach. Key topics on the agenda include beach renourishment efforts and recovery updates following last year’s intense hurricane season.

Hurricane Milton, which struck last fall, had a devastating impact on the coastline. Pinellas County estimates that one million cubic yards of sand were lost, with parts of Treasure Island left underwater. Despite the storm damage, city officials report that new permits are still being filed, indicating a commitment from residents to stay and rebuild.

“We’re in rebuild mode now,” said Jason Beisel, public information officer for the City of Treasure Island. “We have to think about the future—tighten the budget, anticipate changes in property tax revenue, and focus on long-term needs.”

Renourishing the beaches remains a top priority for city officials. However, progress has been slowed by ongoing negotiations between the Army Corps of Engineers and local property owners over required easements. These federal-level hurdles must be cleared before any work can begin.

The town hall is scheduled for tonight, April 24th, 5:30 p.m., at Madeira Beach City Hall.

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(Image credit: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

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