MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Code Compliance Director Cynthia McPherson updated the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday with accomplishments regarding sewer connection compliance in the Florida Keys. Two years ago, more than 1,400 properties had not yet connected to the sewer system; today, only a few homes are not connected or have open permits.

Her department recently reached out to homeowners who had not connected or who have open permits to help them come into compliance. From April 2021 to November 2023, 482 open sewer cases were scheduled for Special Magistrate hearings compared to 490 regular cases, like work without permits, overgrown lots, etc.

“This has been a huge task for our department,” said McPherson. “Staff really stepped up to the plate to accomplish this effort.”

The Florida Keys moved to sewers years ago to protect nearshore waters from sewage runoff from septic systems.

McPherson also reiterated to the commissioners that her department is about compliance and not enforcement. “We want to work with homeowners to bring them into compliance,” she said. “If you get into code compliance, it is not a life sentence. Education is a huge part of what we do every day.”

To learn more about Monroe County Code Compliance, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/codecompliance.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners made several recommendations at their Wednesday meeting to be delivered to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) board of directors after a Clerk of Court audit brought numerous discrepancies that need further clarification and investigation. The TDC is a 9-member advisory board of the County.


TDC Board Chairwoman Rita Irwin attended the meeting. “We want to cooperate, we want to be better, and we want to look at this as an opportunity,” she said. “We have grown so quickly that we recognize that we need to make changes, be fluid, and be transparent with taxpayer dollars.”


The commissioners voted to exercise its statutory authority to hire an outside firm, Cherry Bekaert, to audit the books and accounts of the TDC. The commission also voted to recommend that the TDC hire the same firm to provide temporary financial and management assistance to the TDC and Visit Florida Keys, the nonprofit that employs TDC staff. Finally, the commissioners voted to recommend that the TDC place the marketing director, Stacey Mitchell, on administrative leave with pay pending the completion of the audit and future recommendations of the board.


Cherry Bekaert representatives at the meeting said they would lay out a plan to understand the organization and work to keep the day-to-day operations intact for the upcoming season while prioritizing identifying and closing gaps.


The TDC board will meet on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. at Double Tree Resort in Key West to discuss the audit and the BOCC’s recommendations. The meeting is open to the public and will be in person only.

MONROE COUNTY – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognizes its long-term employees for their contributions to the citizens of the County. See below those celebrating milestones this month.
 
25 Years

• Pam Scott, Public Library System

 
15 Years

• James Carey, Veterans Affairs

 
5 Years

• Kristen Livengood, Public Information Officer

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – At Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board chose Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein to serve as Monroe County Mayor and Commissioner Jim Scholl to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the next year. Mayor Merrill Raschein has been a commissioner since 2021, and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Scholl since 2022.
 
Mayor Merrill Raschein, Mayor Pro Tem Scholl, and the commissioners recognized outgoing Mayor Craig Cates for his mayoral duties for the past year and for leading the County through its 200th anniversary celebrations.
 
The mayor's title is given to the Board of County Commissioners chairperson. The commissioners choose the designee based on a majority vote, usually at the November board meeting. A mayor pro tem is also designated to fill in when the mayor is unavailable. The mayor presides over the Board of County Commissioners meetings and serves as the Monroe County representative at ceremonial occasions. The mayor is also responsible for signing and cosigning documents with the County Clerk.
 

​KEY WEST, FL, November 7, 2023— The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) celebrated the graduation of Basic Law Enforcement (BLE) Academy #85 with a ceremony on November 3 at Coral Shores High School’s auditorium. Ten cadets successfully completed the 770-hour training program, which was held at CFK’s Upper Keys Center in Key Largo. Upon passing the state certification exam, each will be eligible to become a Florida Law Enforcement Officer. 
  
Cathy Torres, Director of CFK’s Institute for Public Safety, recognized top performing graduates with special accolades. Class Captain Anthony Penton Delgado earned awards for leadership, academics, and “top gun” shooting skills. The “PIG” award, which recognizes pride, integrity, and guts, went to Odalmis Hernandez Netro. Physical fitness awards were given to Gissell Benitez and Alfredo Trujillo.  
  
CFK’s law enforcement officer program satisfies the training requirements of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. CFK is currently accepting applications for two upcoming basic law enforcement academies. Applications are due on December 15 for an academy to be held at the Key West Campus, starting in January 2024 and ending in October 2024. The College is also accepting applications for an academy that will run from May 2024 to March 2025 at the Upper Keys Center. For more information about CFK’s Institute for Public Safety, visit the College’s website at 
https://www.cfk.edu/academics/academic-departments/institute-for-public-safety/.  
  

​KEY WEST, FL, November 6, 2023— The College of the Florida Keys honored veterans as part of its festivities on Community Day on Saturday, November 4 at the Key West Campus. CFK President Dr. Jonathan Gueverra delivered his annual Salute to Veterans, honoring Danyle Gray, U.S. Army veteran, U.S. Army Reservist, CFK alumnus, CFK instructor, and Key West Police Officer. 
 
CFK President Dr. Jonathan Gueverra’s 2023 Salute to Veterans: 
“This Veterans Day, please take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that our service members bear for all Americans and for the principles of democracy. I salute all veterans as well as current servicemen and women, including my son Julius, who is serving in the Navy. I express my sincerest thanks to them and their families for their dedication and commitment, and for their continued service to protecting our freedom wherever they are deployed.  
 
Our heroes continue to serve in a variety of ways that benefit our communities. The Florida Keys and the College have indeed benefitted from the contributions of many veterans over the years. Each one deserves special recognition. Today, I salute one veteran in the CFK family: Danyle Gray, U.S. Army veteran, U.S. Army Reservist, CFK alumnus, CFK instructor, and Key West Police Officer. 
 
Gray dreamed of becoming a police officer since she was a teenager in her home state of California. She was inspired by the officers she waited on at the diner where she worked—viewing them as valuable leaders in the community with exciting jobs. Upon her high school graduation, Gray decided to pursue her dream via the U.S. Army. She became a military police officer, providing law and order on military bases and alongside troops on the home front and abroad. Her eight years of service spanned multiple duty stations and assignments around the world, including time in Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and Japan. 
 
Upon completion of her service, Gray moved to Key West to attend school for massage therapy. She fell in love with Key West, but not the new line of work. Realizing that she wanted to continue her law enforcement career, she joined the Key West Police Department (KWPD) in 2003 and KWPD sponsored her enrollment in a Basic Law Enforcement at CFK. Over the years, her various KWPD roles have included Recruiter, Background Investigator, Community Affairs and Training Team member. Since 2005, Gray has contributed her experience back to the next crop of cadets as an instructor for CFK’s Institute for Public Safety. As a High Liabilities instructor, Gray is qualified to teach any topic covered in the academies. 
 
While Gray was enjoying her civilian career in the Keys, she missed the camaraderie, travel, and training that she experienced in the military. She decided to join the U.S. Army Reserves in 2007.  Assigned to SOUTHCOM in Doral as an Anti-Terrorism Officer, she participates in Reserves training quarterly and is deployed on missions as needed. 
 
Just like those impressionable officers who frequented the diner of her youth, Gray spends a lot of time out in the community—building relationships and goodwill between law enforcement and people. She attends as many local events as possible— spanning from parades and fundraisers to children’s activities and civic organization meetings. She contributes her time and skills to the Police Athletic League, KWPD LOVE Fund, and the Military Affairs Committee. And when she is not serving our community or country, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Matt. 
 
It is with great honor that on this Veterans Day 2023, The College of the Florida Keys and I salute U.S. Army Veteran and Reservist Danyle Gray. She exemplifies the vast talent, dedication, and selflessness of the U.S. military. Thank you for your continuous service to our country, state, and community. May your achievements, sacrifice, and generosity serve as an inspiration for all.”  

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County offices will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day.
 
Monroe County Veterans Affairs is co-hosting with Key Largo VFW Post 10211 a Veterans Day ceremony to honor all who served on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. The Key Largo Community band will be playing a selection of patriotic songs. The U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard will be presenting the colors. Following the ceremony, Veterans and family members are invited to a picnic at Peace Park located behind the Nelson Government Center hosted by American Legion Post 145, Post 333, and VFW Post 3911.
 
During the same time, Monroe County Veterans Affairs staff will also be participating in the wreath-laying ceremony honoring Veterans at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park in Key West. Commissioner Craig Cates will read the Monroe County proclamation designating Operation Greenlight for Veterans through Veterans Day.
 
Other events taking place include:
 
American Legion Post 154 will host a Veterans Day parade from 20th Street in Marathon, making a U-turn at the traffic light at 107th Street, ending at the American Legion at 4115 Overseas Hwy. The parade will start at 11 a.m. Following the parade, there will be a ceremony at the Post starting around noon.
 
Islamorada Fire Rescue Station 20 will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 81850 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada at 11 a.m.
 
Later that day, Monroe County Veterans Affairs and Monroe County staff will participate in the Key West Veterans Day Parade at 4 p.m. Naval Air Station Key West hosts the Key West parade that will run along Duval Street. The public is invited to cheer on parade participants and pay tribute to Veterans and service members.
 
Veterans Day celebrates the formal ending of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 and is a national holiday observed for all honorably discharged Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
 
“Veterans Day celebrates all United States Veterans for their selfless service and sacrifice to our nation,” said Cathy Crane, Director of Monroe County Veterans Affairs. “Participating in Veterans Day events is a great way to demonstrate patriotism and pride for those who served.”

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Year 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Comprehensive Plan) and Land Development Code (LDC) require that all proposed development and redevelopment taking place within unincorporated Monroe County do not result in a reduction of the implemented level of service requirements. The Comprehensive Plan and LDC have established minimum level of service (LOS) standards for roads, particularly U.S. 1, which is part of the Florida Department of Transportation State Highway System.
 
The LOS standard is implemented through a review of development proposals, ensuring that the transportation facilities needed to serve development will be in place when the development impacts occur.
 
The U.S. 1 Arterial Travel Time and Delay Study (study) is prepared by the County’s professional traffic engineering consultant every two years to monitor traffic volumes and travel speeds on U.S. 1 overall, as well as on each of the 24 study segments on U.S. 1.
 
The 2023 draft study was completed utilizing the BOCC’s adopted methodology and indicates that the overall LOS for the entire length of U.S. 1 has fallen from LOS C to LOS D, and there is no reserve capacity for additional trips. According to the approved policies and regulations in the Comprehensive Plan and LDC, this would mean that the County may not permit new development, other than single-family homes, unless the proposed development’s traffic impact is mitigated.
 
Staff confirmed with the County traffic engineering consultant that the FKAA water main breaks and repairs during the data collection dates were accounted for in the study calculations and results. However, the consultant also verified the 2023 data includes excessive construction delays in 2023 compared to 2021 and more than double the delays due to traffic signals. The traffic consultant suggested an option to update the data in 2024 to capture signal retiming and to account for the possibility that construction delays were abnormally long.
 
The 2023 draft study requires approval by the Monroe County BOCC. Once approved, professional staff incorporate it into the Biennial Assessment of Public Facilities Capacity Report, which will be presented to the BOCC for adoption at a future meeting to be used for development review. If the draft study is adopted indicating an overall LOS D on U.S. 1, an applicant would need to work with the County and FDOT to identify mitigation and improvement projects to achieve and maintain compliance with the implemented LOS, represented by a median speed of 45 mph.
 
The Monroe County BOCC will discuss the 2023 draft study at the regularly scheduled BOCC meeting on Nov. 8, 2023 at 11 a.m. (time approximate) at Harvey Government Center in Key West. The meeting will also be available via Zoom at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/meetings.
 
The commissioners will discuss four potential options regarding what to do with the 2023 study findings. The options include:
 
A. Approve and utilize the 2023 study (development applicants must identify mitigation); and complete the next study when it is regularly scheduled for in 2025.
B. Continue to utilize the 2021 study (2023 data affected by excessive construction delays) and complete the next study during its regularly scheduled time in 2025.
C. Approve and utilize the 2023 study (development applicants must identify mitigation); and move the next study to 2024 instead of 2025, resulting in development traffic mitigation until complete.
D. Continue to utilize the 2021 study (2023 data affected by excessive construction delays) and move the study to 2024.
 
Other options may also be discussed at the meeting.

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee approved today a motion to recommend no consolidation of the judicial circuits. The vote was 20 to zero. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Florida Supreme Court for further consideration.
 
“This is great news for Monroe County as this takes us one step closer to making sure Monroe County and Miami-Dade’s circuit courts are not combined, which could have determinantal consequences for our local legal system,” said Monroe County Attorney Bob Shillinger. “I would like to thank the stakeholders and the community members who came together in one voice to express opposition to this proposal.”