City Hall does good deed for disabled vet

Bradenton's City Hall did a good deed Tuesday.

VFW Post 10141 members Joe Best and Mike Clinesmith had begun building a wheelchair ramp that morning for Bill Williams, an 85-year-old disabled World War II veteran whose feet and lower legs are still affected by the hypothermia he suffered during combat that bitter German winter 66 years ago.

After getting nowhere with the VA for the past three years, Bill's wife Binnie reached out to the VFW.

They were happy to help and got right to work in the Williams' backyard.

Only they overlooked one detail.

No permits.

Uh, oh.

So Binnie called Marianne Barnebey, the council member for her ward.

She explained the situation and how the VFW volunteers were doing something noble for her husband that our own government would not.

Barnebey called the permit department downtown and brought them up to speed.

There was a permit waiting for Binnie Tuesday afternoon.

And the fee was waived.