HIGHLIGHTS FROM MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 19, 2018

MARATHON, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners held its monthly meeting, Thursday, April 19, 2018 at the Marathon Government Center.

The Commission conditionally approved buying four lots on Big Pine Key from the non-profit Florida Keys Community Land Trust for $399,996 ($99,999 per lot) – and leasing these lots back to the Land Trust for a nominal fee. The potential deal includes the Land Trust building a single-family home on each lot and deed restricting it for affordable rental homes for people who meet the low-income threshold.

Attorney Bart Smith, representing the Land Trust (www.affordablekeys.org), told the Commission that three of the four lots already have building permits for code compliant and energy efficient homes. The first home could be built by the end of the June and the other three homes could possibly be built by the end of July. The rent would be limited to 30 percent of the renter’s income “to make sure it truly is affordable for working people.”

“The concept of buying property for affordable housing really is nothing new,” Monroe County Mayor David Rice said. “What I value most about this project is government, as you have heard me say many times, moves at the speed of a snail and this is a model that is moving ahead. It is the first great opportunity after the storm to build new affordable housing.”

Monroe County Commissioner George Neugent, who has championed this project, applauded the Land Trust and its benefactor’s Margaret and Richard Whitcomb for choosing to build in “the hardest hit areas of the Keys – the Avenues” and for taking the “profit motive out of it.”

The Commission also approved a contract for purchase of a lot on Conch Key for a potential site for affordable housing. The $165,000 price includes the acquisition of three Rate of Growth Ordinance (ROGO) exempt dwelling units associated with the property.

More Commission meeting highlights:

  • The Commission authorized each of the Tourist Development Council’s District Advisory Committees to move a portion of their unallocated Brick and Mortar Capital Resources from Fiscal Year 2018 into Fiscal Year 2019 Advertising budget as a special exception due to the impacts of Hurricane Irma.  The amounts are: $285,498 for DAC I, $29,741 for DAC II, $280,966 for DAC III, $702,969 for DAC IV, and $22,101 for DAC V. And for DAC I, DAC II and DAC V, the unallocated funds from Fiscal Year 17, as per the audited financial statements, will be utilized as an additional source of funds in the amount of $285,498  for DAC I, $29,741 for DAC II, and $22,101 for DAC V.
  • The Commission heard the Reentry Task Force’s recommendations on how to improve Monroe County Emergency Management’s evacuation reentry program. The Commission made a few suggestions. These suggestions will be worked into the new plan, which will be brought back before the Commission for approval. The recommendations and information about the Reentry Task Force can be found on the County website: http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/reentry.
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