Two of the Three Motels in Belleair Beach Listed in Records as Non-Profitby Leo CoughlinBELLEAIR BEACH - The claim has always been, in the collective memory of all and sundry, that Belleair Beach is strictly residential, a municipality with no businesses. That story is largely myth - and glaringly so. Sitting right there on Gulf Boulevard are three motels, open for business, one at 2040 Gulf Boulevard (Belleair Beach Resort Motel), another at 3200 Gulf Boulevard (Belleair Beach Club), and the third at 3420 Gulf Boulevard (Nautical Watch). Ownership of the Belleair Beach Resort Motel is listed as Belleair Beach Resort Owners Association, Inc. Strangely enough it is listed in the Florida corporations index as a non-profit corporation, as is Nautical Watch. Usually non-profit corporations are organized for the benefit or purpose of educational, charitable or religious purposes. According to Chapter 617.0301 of Florida Statutes, a non-profit corporation may be organized for "any lawful purpose or purposes not for pecuniary profit . . ." Those purposes include, according to the statute, "charitable, benevolent, eleemosynary, educational, historical, civic, patriotic, political, religious, social, fraternal, literary, cultural, athletic, scientific, agricultural, horticultural, animal husbandry, and professional, commercial, industrial, or trade association purposes." Presumably, given the definition of Florida law, Belleair Beach Resort Motel and Nautical Watch fit into one of the enumerated categories. The registered agent for Belleair Beach Resort Motel is listed as Ken Cantrell, who provides an address at the motel itself, and also another address in Chattanooga, Tenn. Others listed in the corporate records are Donna Thurman of Largo, Malari Bishara of Clearwater, Magda Bishara of Clearwater, and Jill Nessler at the motel. Belleair Beach Resort Motel, like the others, has a web site which provides a map of its location, and a table of rates depending on the season with accommodations ranging from economy rooms to Gulf front suites. There is no indication in the hotel's advertising that it is restricted to any type of user. The web site describes the motel as "Your quiet destination, located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Clearwater Beach, north of Indian Rocks Beach, easily reached by car from Tampa or St. Petersburg International airports and near many Florida attractions, entertainment and restaurants." Also advertised for prospective visitors is "miles of private beach," which, of course, is inaccurate because the beach here is public. Nautical Watch, the corporate name of which is The Nautical Watch Owners Association, Inc., lists as its registered agent in state corporate records as Dennis Ditinno of St. Petersburg. Others listed in the non-profit corporate record are Nancy Stegura of Largo, Patricia Feehery of Lansing, Mich., Nancy Janock of Plymouth, Mich., Dennis O'Leary of Ravenna, Ohio, Patricia Zmecek of Parma, Ohio, and Robert Dugan of Rocky River, Ohio. Similarly, Belleair Beach Club, just a short distance north on Gulf Boulevard, advertises on its web site as a quiet getaway with "40 suites with fully stocked kitchens." In Florida corporation records it is listed as a limited liability company and was reinstated as such last October. The resident agent is listed as Stan Latek who provides an address at the motel itself and also an address in Orland, Ill., which is in the Chicago area. Others listed in corporate records are Angeline Latek and Mary Latek of the same Orland address. City Manager Nancy McCollum says that under city ordinance, the motels pay a fee of $100 for up to ten rooms, from 11 to 20 rooms an additional $10 per room, and more than 20 rooms an additional $5 per room. According to McCollum, the businesses pay no other taxes to the city.
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