0 Comments
![]() For Hurricane Ian, the Monroe County Fleet Department had the mission of opening up the roads near the beach area in Key West so residents could have more accessibility. Sand, seaweed, and roadblocks were pushed far from the beach. They completed the task in a few hours. Wet sand weighs approximately 3,400 pounds per one cubic yard. One Monroe County dump truck has a capacity of approximately 18 yards. That equates to 61,200 pounds per truckload. The Fleet team removed about 367,200 pounds or 183.6 tons of wet sand from South Roosevelt and Bertha Street. Fleet also removed seaweed, debris, and boulders, and replaced the concrete barricades to their original spots. ![]() On Wednesday evening, the Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-4673-DR-FL) was amended to include Monroe County for Category A (debris) funding. The President authorized Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures assistance for roads and bridges, public buildings, and parks and recreational facilities, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 100 percent of the total eligible costs for 30 days. According to federal officials, IA is still under review. Monroe County is actively working with state and federal elected officials to expand the declarations to include the Florida Keys for Individual Assistance (IA) to help those with disaster-related needs. The Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) is working to meet the unmet needs of the community. Human needs assessments are ongoing. Monroe County continues to collect Hurricane Ian-related debris. Additionally, individual assistance is available for Florida Keys residents through SBA loans. For more information, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, County Administrator Roman Gastesi, and staff welcome Richard Clark from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida as the new Monroe County Transit executive director.
Clark has an extensive background in public service and was previously the director of Economic Development for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, where he developed sustainable transit initiatives. He was also an elected official for 10 years in Duval County. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida. “Richard has the experience and expertise to help Monroe County solve one of our largest challenges with transportation, and he appears to be the perfect match for what we are looking for in this new position,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. “His passion and understanding of safe and sustainable transportation will benefit our residents and visitors, and his experience at the local, state, and federal level should prove to be a great resource for Monroe County.” The transportation director is a new position. Clark will have the key responsibilities of developing plans and programs to deliver cost-effective, high-quality, innovative public transportation options to the people of Monroe County and the many communities served. Clark started on Sept. 19 and can be reached at [email protected]. Monroe County Continues to Work with Local, State, and Federal Officials to Expand Declarations10/4/2022 ![]() Monroe County officials are actively working with local, state, and federal elected officials to expand the declarations to include the Florida Keys for Category A Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA) to help those with disaster-related needs. The Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) is working to meet the unmet needs of the community. Human needs assessments are ongoing. Monroe County Emergency Management completed the damage assessments and has submitted information to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to be included in the declaration. “Our elected officials at all levels are aware and working on it with the FEDM and FEMA,” said Roman Gastesi, Monroe County Administrator. At this time, Monroe County is collecting Hurricane Ian-related debris. Additionally, individual assistance is available for Florida Keys residents through SBA loans. For more information, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov. ![]() The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners met last night to adopt the proposed $519.7 million Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget. The budget includes the Board of County Commissioners, the constitutional officers, like the Sheriff's Office, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Clerk of Court, and other appropriations for the Tourist Development Council, capital projects, and reserves. Monroe County has the lowest millage rate in Florida and has continued this trend for many years. FY23 budget highlights:
The Monroe County Office of Budget and Finance provides coordination and development of the budget that will go into effect Oct. 1, 2022. The award-winning office continues to work with inflation issues, Hurricane Irma, and COVID-19 impacts while providing for the department's daily operations, program enhancements, capital projects, and infrastructure improvements. For more information about the budget and budgeting process, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/budgetandfinance. Monroe County Marine Resources Replaces Regulatory 'No Motor Zone' Markers in the Upper Keys9/22/2022 Monroe County Office of Marine Resources replaced 80 regulatory marker buoys at the Whale Harbor Channel “Flats” in Islamorada and 11 regulatory marker buoys at Harry Harris Park in Tavernier. Both regulatory No Motor Zones areas were established in 2003. Within a No Motor Zone, all vessels equipped with internal combustion motors (e.g., gasoline or diesel motors) for propulsion must turn off the internal combustion motor and, if possible, tilt or raise the internal combustion motor out of the water.
This project was funded in part through a grant awarded to Monroe County by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP). Replacement of these waterway markers improves boater safety by increasing marker visibility and understanding of waterway regulations, promotes boating access, and protects shallow-water resources such as seagrass and coral. The Monroe County Office of Marine Resources maintains more than 550 aids to navigation, encompassing 22 boating regulatory zones and 36 channel marker chains throughout the Florida Keys. The FBIP funding significantly augments Monroe County’s Boating Improvement Fund, which is generated from recreational vessel registrations and is used to maintain waterway marking infrastructure and other important boating and waterways services. ![]() In August, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners prohibited smoking within all County-owned public parks and public beaches. The new ordinance reads: (a) It shall be prohibited for any person in or on any County-owned public park or public beach to smoke, burn, ignite, inhale, exhale, or possess any cigarette, pipe, or other lighted tobacco product other than an unfiltered cigar. (b) Any person who violates subsection (a) commits a noncriminal violation, punishable by a fine of not more than $100 for the first violation and not more than $500 for each subsequent violation. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has found that tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, and an estimated two-thirds of cigarette butts are discarded as litter. The State of Florida recently granted counties and municipalities the legal authority to restrict smoking within the boundaries of the county and municipal-owned public beaches and public parks, with an exception for unfiltered cigars. Before July 2022, counties and cities could not restrict smoking at parks and beaches. Monroe County-owned parks and beaches can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/parks. ![]() The Monroe County Building Department has set a go-live date for its new all-online permitting system on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. New permit applications starting on Oct. 3 will only be accepted using this online service. No paper applications or document submissions will be accepted. Permit applications and issued permits processed before Oct. 3 will remain in paper format and continue processing in paper format in the Building Department. “We have been working on this development since mid-2021 and are excited to bring it to the public,” said Monroe County Permitting Administrative Director Ed Koconis. “This will allow the entire permitting process to move more quickly, and we are confident the new system will bring much-needed improvements.” The Online Permitting Services website is www.monroecounty-fl.gov/onlinepermitting. Information related to the new permitting system includes instructional videos on registering an account, applying for a permit, and a walkthrough for applicants to see the application process from start to finish. The webpage will continue to have additional information posted as it becomes available. Account registration will be available starting Sept. 26. THINGS TO KNOW: Contractors who employ agents who submit permit applications on their behalf MUST submit the Agent Authorization Form, regardless of whether they have previously supplied this document to the staff. Submit the authorization form to [email protected]. Architects, engineers, and private providers MUST obtain a digital signature from a digital certificate provider for submitted drawings. Digital certificates are used to digitally sign and seal documents submitted, must adhere to the Florida Administrative Code and Florida Statutes, and must also be of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assurance level of three or higher. Certificate authorities accepted include Identrust, Global Sign, and Digitrust. Additional certificate authorities may be recognized in the future. NOTE: All licensed professionals will be responsible for verifying that the digital signatures purchased adhere to the requirements of the State of Florida and are utilized following the guidelines of their respective licensing boards. Anyone who will submit a permit application MUST complete the user account registration process. Additionally, any person who will be affiliated with a permit, such as architects, engineers, and administrative staff for a contractor/qualifier, private provider, or for a homeowner for which a permit application is submitted, should register to take full advantage of the application access and other permit searching features. Registration and instructions will be available on Sept. 26 on the website. For additional information, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/onlinepermitting or email [email protected]. ![]() A new toll rate on Card Sound Road will be effective on Oct. 1, 2022. The toll adjustment is following the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. Sunpass
Toll-By-Plate
The toll is completely electronic using Toll-By-Plate, SunPass, or another highway pass like E-Pass or EZ-Pass. No cash is accepted at the toll. The toll helps fund maintenance costs of the road and future repair and replacement of the five bridges along Card Sound Road. Two discount programs are available for drivers with a two-axle vehicle and a good-standing SunPass account.
For more information on the toll and discount programs, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/cardsoundtoll. |
Submit Your StoriesChamber members send us your press releases on your organizations accomplishments, staff awards and/or major happenings. We will post them for free. Archives
July 2024
Categories
All
|