Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide who will be part of the five-member elected board that sets policy and director for the Monroe County School System.
There are sets up for grabs in District One, predominantly Key West, and District Five, predominantly Key Largo.
Alleged improprieties in spending practices aside, the future of the relationship between Monroe County and Stand Up For Animals, animal control provider for the middle Keys, appears bleak, says County Commissioner George Neugent.
County staff Wednesday morning intended to recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that the contract with SUFA be terminated in 15 days, but the item wasn’t placed on the agenda prior to the deadline.
Because of that, it took agreement from all five commissioners to add the item for action. Commissioner Mario DiGennaro said he would not grant that approval, forcing the item to be heard for discussion purposes only.
SUFA’s contract was extended for 90 days last month to give the county time to look at other options when the provider asked for a 24 percent increase to continue to run the Marathon and Big Pine Key animal shelters.
One of the decisions voters will make August 24 are candidates for two Mosquito Control District seats.
Continue reading ‘Budget control priority for bug board hopefuls’
The attorney for Big Pine resident Sandra Carter has asked for a rehearing and plans to appeal the illegal downstairs case to the Florida Supreme Court.
Carter was cited by county code enforcement more than 30 years after the fact for what it called an illegal downstairs enclosure. The enclosure, according to court documents, was originally part of the house when it was built in 1975, and the county issued permits on the property several times over the last 27 years.
The county has also been collecting property tax dollars on the enclosure since 1983 as habitable living space.
The county’s special magistrate for code enforcement, who is paid from county coffers, ruled against Carter when she challenged the citation. She appealed to the local courts, which overturned the magistrate’s ruling twice.
The county appealed that loss to the Third District Court of Appeals.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration last week issued a statement that the possibility of heavy surface oil landing on Keys’ beaches, or interfering with sport and commercial fishing in Keys’ waters is now remote.
Monroe County’s District 4 County Commission race pits an incumbent who was never elected against the man whose seat he inherited in the August 24 Republican primary, with the winner of that contest moving on to the general election in November against two former municipal elected officials.
District 4 incumbent Mario DiGennaro was appointed by the Governor to his seat when he turned out to be the only candidate seeking to replace his challenger David Rice when the latter resigned the seat to seek the State Representative job won by Democrat Ron Saunders.
Two other candidates declared for Rice’s vacated seat, but neither qualified, leaving DiGennaro the winner by default.
Continue reading ‘Three seek to unseat Distict Four incumbent’
A new lobster season opened today amidst high hopes from local fishermen that it will be much nicer to them than either of the last two seasons, and nicer to them than the just passed crab season.
Two years ago, the price on wholesale lobster was adequate for most fishermen, but the catch was off. Last year, the catch was fine, but the price was so low many boat captains remained at the dock.
Most of last season, fishermen got paid $3 per pound for spiny lobster. That barely paid the expenses of operating the boat for most of them. And because they couldn’t sock any money away for the lean times, they skimped on needed, but unnecessary boat upgrades and repairs, and replaced fewer older traps, leaving those who would do that work skimping on less money.
And while no one is really guessing what price commercial fishermen will get this season as opening day bursts on the scene, “It has to be better than last year,” said Summerland Key fisherman Bobby Piller.
“I’ve heard that it will be at least $5 per pound this year to open, maybe as much as $6 per pound,” said Piller.
Continue reading ‘Bug season uncertain but high hopes reign’
Monroe County voters head to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 24 to possibly determine who will fill two school board seats and one county judgeship.
They will also be asked to decide whether the school system should transition from its current elected superintendent format to one where the superintendent is selected by the school board.
But they will also be asked to decide which candidates in other races will be selected to represent the major political parties come the general election in November.
Continue reading ‘Newcomer, perrennial challenge three-term incumbent’
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority last week lifted one of its operating rules that will allow it to run water lines into any environmentally sensitive areas in the Florida Keys.
The utility’s Board of Directors voted 3-2 to lift its prohibition on running water lines into National Wildlife Refuge areas, hardwood hammocks, wetlands and specific areas of environmental sensitivity including Middle and Big Torch Keys, No Name Key, areas on Cudjoe Key surrounding endangered species nesting sites and environmentally sensitive areas in North Key Largo.
The rule, which had been in place for about 30 years, will also allow the utility to now run water lines to offshore islands located inside refuge boundaries and marine sanctuary boundaries.
Continue reading ‘FKAA lifts water rule, eliminating prohibition’
Many local lodging establishments and vacation rentals are reporting full bookings this week in anticipation of the annual lobster mini-season.
Serving all the Communities of the Lower Keys
Recent articles
Past Issues
Recent Comments
Supplements
