MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County’s Artificial Reefs Program is preparing for several upcoming reef material deployments on the gulfside of the Lower Florida Keys. These sites enhance marine habitats, create new recreational diving and fishing opportunities, provide waypoints for marine migration, and help relieve pressure on natural coral reefs. The deployments will include a variety of concrete modular structures.

The following deployment location is currently scheduled:
• Gulfside 5 Mile Reef – June 9, 2026
Latitude: 24.79793 N
Longitude: -81.69104 W

Additional deployments are planned at the following locations, with dates to be determined:

• Gulfside 8 Mile Reef
  Latitude: 24.904 N
  Longitude: -81.556 W

• Gulfside 9 Mile Reef
  Latitude: 24.899 N
  Longitude: -81.606 W

Members of the public are welcome to observe deployments from private vessels, provided they maintain a minimum distance of 500 feet from deployment operations. For safety reasons, no one may enter the water within the permitted site during active deployments.

All published locations and dates are subject to change based on weather and sea conditions, contractor availability, or county scheduling needs. Last-minute changes may not be reflected immediately online. Anyone wishing to confirm deployment schedules before traveling to a site should text 786-847-5443 for the most current information.

Monroe County’s Artificial Reefs Program is state-funded and provides valuable habitat for marine life while supporting the region’s world-renowned fishing and diving industries. To learn more about the program, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/reefs.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has proclaimed June 2026 as Automotive Service Professionals Month, recognizing the dedicated employees in Fleet Management whose work keeps county vehicles and equipment operating safely and reliably.

Fleet Management technicians and staff maintain more than 900 vehicles and pieces of equipment used for essential services, including more than 300 Monroe County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and approximately 70 generators.

“Whether responding to emergencies, maintaining infrastructure, or providing services across our island chain, county employees rely on safe and reliable vehicles and equipment,” said Mayor Michelle Lincoln. “Fleet Management works behind the scenes every day to keep those vehicles on the road and ready when needed.”

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Commissioners leaned into the Federal and State-recommended government efficiency effort last year. They examined county services and trimmed almost $19 million in non-core services, while increasing starting and overall pay for sheriff and fire employees. This was a direct action to save taxpayers' money, while increasing public safety. 

The county continues its efforts to streamline local government services and, where legally possible, shift expenses to visitor-paid revenue sources to help locals in the Florida Keys with affordability. 

This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a new bill (SJR 2-F) that threatens not only to decrease revenue but also to remove funding for non-core services. The bill would provide relief to homeowners who claim a homestead exemption (meaning they live in the home as their primary residence); however, as written, it outlines specific items the county can fund with ad valorem (property) tax revenue while omitting many mandated services and is not comprehensive. The omissions include:

• Medicaid and juvenile justice cost shares
• Support for public health and mental health services
• Planning and environmental regulation under the State-mandated Area of Critical State Concern
framework
• Veterans services
• Flood resilience and disaster recovery
• Affordable housing initiatives
• Code compliance to ensure structural safety
• Core government functions such as budgeting, procurement, grants administration, communications,
and legal services
• Libraries and parks
• Information technology systems supporting 911 and emergency operations
• Facilities and fleet maintenance
• Guardian Ad Litem support for abused and neglected children
• Constitutional offices responsible for elections, court operations, property assessment, tax collection, judicial administration, and legal proceedings.

On Friday, Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln sent a letter to members of the Florida Legislature expressing concerns about the proposed property tax changes and their impact on the county’s ability to fund these items and the constitutional offices.

The legislature will meet in Tallahassee for a special session on Monday to discuss the proposal. County commissioners were unable to meet before the special session, but each commissioner and the constitutional officers were given an opportunity to review the letter before it was sent. The county will also discuss the bill at the Wednesday, June 10 meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo or via Zoom.

Monroe County already takes ad valorem (property) tax very seriously. Approximately 91 percent of Monroe County’s ad valorem (property) tax levy funds public safety operations and constitutional officers. Public safety services alone account for roughly 69 percent of the levy, supporting the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, Trauma Star Air Ambulance, Emergency Management, detention operations, and emergency communications. Constitutional officers account for another 22 percent.

“Monroe County supports thoughtful discussions about tax relief, and the commission wants to provide tax relief to full-time residents, but any proposal must recognize the realities of providing legally mandated essential services in a geographically unique and hurricane-prone community,” said Lincoln. “Our residents depend on public safety personnel, emergency response capabilities, constitutional offices, and numerous other services that are required 

​BIG PINE KEY, FL – Mayor Michelle Lincoln and Monroe County staff hosted a community meeting on Big Pine Key on Thursday, May 28, to explain upcoming changes to the review process for development applications on Big Pine and No Name Keys beginning July 1, 2026, due to the expiration of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take Permit (ITP). Commissioner Jim Scholl was also present.
 
Many community members attended the meeting and had the opportunity to review information on the existing and future processes, speak informally with staff about questions and concerns, and provide comments and questions to the group.
 
Based on requests by the public for additional discussion on the topic of species protections on Big Pine and No Name Keys, Lincoln plans to hold future quarterly meetings with the Big Pine and No Name Key community on Big Pine Key regarding how the county can continue to improve protections of endangered species and quality of life for Lower Keys residents.

The BOCC will also discuss the HCP/ITP and take public comment at their June 10 Board of County Commissioners’ meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo and via Zoom. An approximate time will be announced.
 
BACKGROUND

The county received confirmation this week from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that the current protections specific to Big Pine and No Name Keys for Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake species, which have been in place through the HCP and ITP since 2006, will be carried over and maintained going forward in the FWS-issued Biological Opinion (BO).
 
“Residents should know that all environmental protections in the HCP/ITP are not going away,” said Monroe County Growth Management Director Emily Schemper. “Those protections have been incorporated into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion and will continue to guide conservation efforts and development reviews on Big Pine Key and No Name Key." 
 
Beginning July 1, the three species will be reviewed on Big Pine and No Name Keys through the county’s Permit Referral Process, which applies countywide to these three species as well as six additional species. The Permit Referral Process (which implements the BO requirements) does not have an expiration date, so the protections will remain in perpetuity.
 
In addition to the countywide requirements of the Permit Referral Process, properties on Big Pine and No Name Keys will remain subject to the existing special protections originally established in the HCP/ITP for Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake species, including but not limited to:

• A cumulative maximum limit on impacts to the species and their habitat.
• A requirement for mitigation of impacts through the county’s acquisition of conservation land.
• All special protection requirements listed in “Condition G” of the ITP (includes restrictions on fencing, land uses, etc.).

 
At the June meeting, the board will be asked to adopt a resolution accepting the FWS letter and utilizing the USFWS letter to review permits beginning July 1, 2026.
 
All presentation materials and handouts, including the USFWS letter, are available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/environmentalresources.

STOCK ISLAND, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recently discussed ongoing efforts to address abandoned and derelict vehicles on Stock Island, highlighting code compliance’s continued partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to improve public safety and neighborhood conditions.

MCSO’s Lt. Donny Barrios outlined ongoing concerns regarding abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping, unpermitted activity, and deteriorating conditions across several areas of unincorporated Stock Island. Commissioner Craig Cates and staff visited the area in January with Barrios to develop a plan to remove 76 vehicles identified as derelict, including trailers, boats, trucks, and cars. The process is lengthy; so far, eight of the 76 vehicles have been tagged for towing and removal. “This will be an ongoing process,” said Barrios.

Commissioners expressed support for continuing proactive enforcement efforts by the MCSO and code compliance.

“Stock Island is a unique and hardworking community, and our residents deserve clean, safe neighborhoods,” said Cates, whose district includes Stock Island. “This effort is about improving quality of life, addressing ongoing problem areas, and continuing to work together to make sure our community remains a place people are proud to live and work.”

County officials noted that cleanup and enforcement efforts are ongoing and encouraged residents and property owners to work with the county to help address unsafe or blighted conditions throughout the community.

POTENTIAL ABANDONED OR DERELICT VEHICLE OR TRAILER? County officials are encouraging owners of potentially derelict vehicles, boat trailers, or utility trailers to act now. Residents who remove, register, or repair their vehicles before enforcement actions begin could avoid potential fines, towing fees, and other associated costs. The right-of-way cannot be used as a storage area for vehicles and trailers.

BIG PINE KEY, FL – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has issued a letter confirming the transition of endangered species review for three species on Big Pine Key and No Name Keys from the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to the county’s Permit Referral Process under the 2010 Biological Opinion (BO) associated with FEMA’s administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. The letter is available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/environmentalresources.

The ITP allows limited impacts to the Key Deer, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, and Eastern Indigo Snake endangered species/habitat, with associated mitigation, and will expire on June 30, 2026. The associated HCP expired in 2023.

Staff has been working with the USFWS and FEMA to determine how the permit review process will change on July 1, and how impacts to these three species will be reviewed and mitigated to maintain compliance with the Endangered Species Act and continue protecting the species.

For the three species, development permits outside of Big Pine and No Name Keys are reviewed through what is commonly referred to as the “Permit Referral Process.” This process was developed to implement the BO's requirements for FEMA’s administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. The BO also covers six additional endangered species throughout the rest of Monroe County.
Per the requirements in the BO, the expiration of the HCP/ITP means permits on Big Pine and No Name Keys will now be reviewed through the same Permit Referral Process for the three species in question. 

USFWS has updated the Species Assessment Guides for the three species covered by the HCP/ITP for Big Pine and No Name Keys and has confirmed that key protections developed for the HCP/ITP will remain in effect and will continue to be tracked and reported to FEMA and USFWS in the BO annual reports.

Key Protections Confirmed in the Letter:

• The cumulative cap on species impacts that was established in the HCP/ITP will continue to apply under the BO (total of “1.1 H-impact”).
• The 3:1 H mitigation-to-impact ratio requirement will also remain the same under the BO.
• There is currently a surplus mitigation credit that will remain available to permittees under the BO.
• To accommodate additional ROGO units from the State of Florida, Monroe County will increase the maximum number of new residential units from 200 to 236, provided the total impact shall not exceed “H” = 1.1.
• Both the H-impact and the cap of 236 new residential permits will be tracked independently from the “take” associated with projects outside of BPK and NNK and reported as part of the Permit Referral Process annual report.
• Other than the increase in allowed units, the protection measures of the ITP and the associated County Ordinances that were established to implement the HCP/ITP will remain in place to ensure that “take” of covered species is minimized and mitigated.

At this evening’s community meeting, (Thursday, May 28, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Big Pine Academy), and again at the June 10 BOCC meeting, staff will be reviewing this letter and the new process set to begin July 1, the current status of impacts and mitigation, and provide a comparison chart showing how the protections of the HCP/ITP will be carried over to the BO review process. All presentation materials and handouts, including the USFWS letter, are available at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/environmentalresources.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) reviewed the county’s overtime policies during its May 20 regularly scheduled meeting following an advisory memo from the Clerk of Court’s office regarding overtime practices and policy language within the county’s Personnel Policies and Procedures (PPP) Manual.

Following the discussion, the commissioners recognized that no policy violations had occurred in implementing the policies and that the clerk’s office was calling attention to whether the policies should be maintained.  

The BOCC also directed staff to maintain the county’s existing policy for non-exempt (hourly) employee overtime under Section 5.02 of the PPP Manual. The current policy, which counts approved leave types toward the 40-hour workweek for overtime calculations, will remain unchanged. The commissioners recognized the work many of the operational departments perform off-hours, such as road, special event, and facility work, when systems like plumbing or air conditioning break down, as well as the need to ensure services have the least possible interruption. 

The BOCC also listened to examples of when exempt overtime is utilized. The airport was of particular interest, given the massive construction project that occurred over the past several years. The commissioners directed updates to the exempt (salaried) employee overtime compensation policy to more clearly define the limited titles for which this policy can be applied. 

Under the proposed revisions, the county will continue its general policy of not compensating exempt employees for overtime; however, the county administrator may approve compensatory time or overtime pay in limited circumstances involving unusually large amounts of overtime for exempt employees. The commissioners wanted the county administrator to approve it directly rather than it be delegated to an assistant county administrator or a department head.

Examples of approved overtime could include disaster response, peak seasonal workloads, strict operational deadlines, special events requiring extended staffing, staffing shortages, specialized operational coverage such as Aircraft Ramp Control, and prolonged repair or maintenance activities occurring outside normal business hours.

In addition, the commissioners directed staff to work with the clerk to add language requiring employee services to provide overtime reports to the commission every six months. The reports will include both non-exempt and exempt overtime.

Finally, the county will conduct the recommended investigation into the two airport employees named in the clerk’s advisory letter. That investigation will examine whether any overtime was claimed erroneously. The results will be reported when the investigation is complete. 

The proposed policy revisions will next be reviewed by the county’s internal committee before returning to the BOCC for formal consideration and adoption at a future meeting, anticipated in July 2026.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026. Monroe County’s Veterans Affairs Department and the City of Key West will co-host the Memorial Day wreath service at the Key West Veterans Memorial Garden at Bayview Park. Monroe County Veterans Affairs will also co-host a ceremony at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo with VFW Post 10211.

Ceremonies in the Florida Keys include:
• Key West Cemetery – USS Maine Memorial, Winslow Plot, Key West – 9 a.m.
• Key West Veterans Memorial Garden – Bayview Park, Key West – 10 a.m.
• Southernmost Cemetery – Big Coppitt Key – 11 a.m.
• Islamorada Hurricane Monument – 9 a.m.
• Murray Nelson Government Center – 11 a.m.
• Big Pine Key Community Park – “Murph” workout – 9 a.m.

Monroe County Veterans Affairs, Monroe County Fire Rescue, and Monroe County Parks and Beaches will host a “Murph” workout at Big Pine Key Community Park on Memorial Day. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m. with the workout beginning at 9 a.m. The event honors the legacy of Michael P. Murphy, who died in Afghanistan in 2005. All fitness levels are welcome. The event is free, and a participant waiver is required.

“Memorial Day is a time for our community to come together in remembrance and gratitude,” said Monroe County Community Services Director Cathy Crane. “We encourage residents and visitors to participate in these ceremonies and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives in service to our nation.”
​
Memorial Day is traced back to the end of the American Civil War and was known as Decoration Day, a day when graves of fallen soldiers were decorated in memory of their service. In 1971, Congress designated Memorial Day as a national holiday on the last Monday in May to honor those who died while serving in the military.

FLORIDA KEYS - The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognized May 2026 as National Military Appreciation Month during its recent meeting, honoring the service and sacrifice of active-duty military members, Veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and military families throughout the Florida Keys.

Commissioners invited Veterans and service members in attendance to join them at the front of the meeting chambers in recognition of their service to the country. Many individuals in Monroe County government have worn the uniform and continue contributing to the community through leadership, volunteerism, and civic engagement.

Monroe County encourages residents to take time throughout May to honor and support military personnel, veterans, and their families for their enduring commitment and sacrifice in service to the United States.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Safety and Security staff conducted CPR and First Aid training for Upper Keys Engineering, Roads, and Bridges staff on May 20. The hands-on training provided employees with lifesaving skills, including CPR techniques, first-aid response, and how to respond during medical emergencies until professional responders arrive. Staff participated in practical exercises designed to prepare them for real-world situations they may encounter both on and off the job.

“Training like this helps our employees be prepared to respond quickly and confidently during emergencies,” said Monroe County Safety and Security Coordinator Monica Calvert, who led the training. “Whether at a worksite, in the community, or at home, these are skills that can make a real difference when seconds matter.”

Monroe County regularly provides safety training opportunities to employees across departments to help maintain a safe working environment and strengthen response readiness countywide.