GASTESI LETTER TO THE EDITOR: 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW, 2024 WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE

Roman Gastesi

​2023 was a year of celebration as Monroe County entered its 200th anniversary, and today, our commissioners and staff continue to enhance the quality of the lives of our citizens, business owners, and visitors. I am proud of our commissioners and employees’ remarkable accomplishments in 2023.
 
Department highlights from this past year include:

• Legislatively, Monroe County received $20 million in Stewardship funding, which supports the health of our nearshore waters, $6.25 million to complete our new Emergency Operations Center at Marathon airport, $1.6 million for mooring field development, and state and federal funds for other essential projects like resilience against sea-level rise, storm risk mitigation, and bridge replacements.
• Sustainability applied for and received notice of grant awards from the Resilient Florida state resilience program for partial funding of four Road Adaptation projects with an estimated cost of $186 Million.
• Engineering received approval from FEMA for the engineering, design, and permitting phase of up to $178 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds for County Roads and sea-level rise adaptation projects. 
• We received $10 million from the State for the creation of a new artificial reef program, kicking off in 2024.
• Monroe County Transit completed its year-long Existing Conditions Study to determine exactly how transit services are being delivered throughout the county, taking us one step closer to making transportation in the Florida Keys safer and more efficient.
• Code Compliance reached an almost complete connection rate to the central sewer system --another giant leap toward improved water quality in the Florida Keys. The department worked with the remaining 1,400 property owners who had yet to complete their connection.
• Budget and Finance produced the $667 million FY23 budget, which boasts Florida’s lowest property tax rate for another year.
• Parks and Beaches’ new Recreation Division developed the Keys Kids Swim and summer camp program and added two new community centers to impact our community positively and meet recreation needs for all ages.
• Key West International Airport continues to construct its new terminal, which services more than one million passengers annually.
• Solid Waste held illegal dumping offenders accountable for their actions in several areas, making our streets cleaner and safer.
• Project Management completed the Supervisor of Elections buildout and is almost finished with the Public Defender’s office in Key West.
• Information Technology continued supporting multiple departments by introducing new and modern software products while ensuring security, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
• Veterans Affairs assisted local Veterans in receiving more than $6.9 million in new annual disability payments, an increase of $1.4 million over last year.
• The library system’s electronic collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital magazines saw unprecedented usage, amassing over 105,000 circulations for the year, a 36 percent increase from the previous year, and continues to add cutting-edge technology at the five branches.
• Employee Services resumed the employee Health and Wellness Fairs with record-breaking attendance for County and Constitutional Officer employees.
• Building and Permitting improved the online permitting and plan review process with user feedback.
• Fire Rescue strengthened its emergency medical services program to complement the BOCC’s approval of three new medical helicopters. Trauma Star continues to provide a record number of lifesaving flights to the mainland while transporting our residents with no out-of-pocket costs, and the sixth “Hot Shots” firefighter training class graduated – a program that waives tuition for residents. 
• Guardian Ad Litem represented 100 percent of children involved in dependency proceedings through its Professional Child Welfare Team.
• For those with a green thumb, the Extension Service taught residents about local flora, fauna, and other vital Florida Keys resources. Also, it began offering First Aid and CPR certifications to the community.
• Strategic Planning is beginning to gather new information on community priorities to incorporate into a refreshed strategic plan. 
• The Fleet Department received ASE Blue Seal awards for each garage for its high standards in maintaining County vehicles.
• Facilities Maintenance and Public Works worked to help others in the community following unnamed storms that affected many islands throughout the Keys.
• The County Attorney’s Office celebrated the recommendations that Monroe County’s 16th Judicial Circuit not be combined with Miami-Dade’s circuit.

 
2024 will be a year for community-wide courageous communication as we navigate through many critical challenges that will shape the future of the Florida Keys, from our Rate of Growth Ordinance and hurricane evacuation modeling to transportation issues and more. 
 
For the past 15.5 years as Monroe County Administrator, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has been committed to creating a better life, every day, for everyone in the Florida Keys. We will continue to have open discussions and workshops about our future, and we will strive to make our island home a safe and enjoyable place to live, work, and play.
 
Cheers in Paradise 
 
Roman Gastesi
Monroe County Administrator 

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