HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AUG. 21 MEETING IN KEY WEST 

KEY WEST, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its monthly meeting Wednesday at the Harvey Government Center in Key West. Below are some highlights:

Gastesi Contract Renewal

Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi accepted a contract renewal from the Board of County Commissioners to extend his employment to Monroe County through Oct. 18, 2024.

“Working for the citizens of Monroe County at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners has been one of the highlights of my career, and I look forward to spending the next five years before my retirement committed to the continued success of Monroe County,” said Gastesi.

Before accepting the County Administrator job for Monroe County in May 2008, Gastesi served as Regional Director of South Florida Water Management District for five years and held various positions at Miami-Dade County for 15 years.

Gastesi was commended on his leadership and ability to hire motivated and professional staff in his 11 years in the County’s 22 departments and approximately 560 employees.

“That person at the top is the glue that holds the team together,” said Commissioner David Rice.

Following the leadership of the Board of County Commissioners and Monroe County’s dedicated staff, Gastesi has advanced the County’s presence at State and Federal levels.

Gastesi plans to move into the Florida Retirement System’s Deferred Retirement Options Program (DROP) in November, a pension plan where he can continue to work while his earned pension is deposited into a savings account for up to five years.

2020 Legislative Agenda approved

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners approved the 2020 state legislative agenda. Each year, the commissioners and staff evaluate the trends and issues affecting the County’s programs and services to identify potential policy or substantive legislative issues.

The County will continue to focus on unique water quality and land acquisition needs, the importance of wind insurance affordability, and vacation rental regulations. The County will also continue to advocate for the creation of a 50/50 rule for a joint County/State shared financial responsibility in takings-cases.

The county will be seeking legislative appropriations of $20 million for water quality, $5 million for land acquisitions, $750,000 for the vessel pump out program, $3 million for the Overseas Heritage Trail, and $500,000 for upgrades to the Guidance Care Center’s Baker Act Receiving Facility.

The draft legislative agenda can be viewed at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/legislativeaffairs.

Sugarloaf School Workforce Housing Subarea approved

The Board of County Commissioners approved a future land use adjustment from education to mixed and commercial use for the Sugarloaf School Workforce Housing Subarea. The Monroe County School Board use of the property includes a site-specific adoption with density up to 20 affordable units to build workforce housing. A representative for Monroe County School Board said it would be for school board employees.

Employee Housing Options

The Board of County Commissioners directed staff to investigate ways to address the employee housing issue. The commissioners were updated by Bryan Cook, Director of Employee Services, on specific turnover and recruiting challenges in the County. He also answered questions regarding the recent Evergreen study that were raised by the commissioners. Monroe County has about 30 positions that remain unfilled due a variety of reasons, including salary discrepancies and housing. He presented the commissioners with seven recently declined employment offers for open positions.

Possible housing programs for consideration include, but aren’t limit to, rental assistance, homeowner assistance loan program, county owned housing, and/or signing bonuses.

Hurricane Irma Financial Update

Tina Boan, Monroe County Director of Budget and Finance, presented the Hurricane Irma recovery finance report at today’s Board of County Commission meeting in Key West.

As of Aug. 21, 2019, the County has submitted $60.9 million in completed and tentative projects for approval to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM). The state has validated, or approved, $37.1 million of the $45 million in completed or in-progress projects to be dispersed to Monroe County. The County has received a total of $26.3 million (in the bank). The remaining expenses are still in the first review phase. Monroe County has an expectation to get about $55 million in reimbursements.

A detailed list of projects submitted to FEMA that have been obligated, paid, pending, or are under review can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/irmafinancials.

Solid Waste Assessment Clarification

Monroe County property owners recently received a notice regarding the Solid Waste Assessment (garbage collection and haul out) commencing Oct. 1, 2019.

This is not a “new assessment,” it is a notice required by F.S.197.3632, that there is going to be an increase over last year’s Solid Waste Assessment. The increase is $8, not $402.

Last year all property owners paid $394, this year property owners will be paying $402, hence the $8 increase and need for a notice.

The County apologizes for any confusion the “Notice of Hearing to Impose and Provide for Collection of Solid Waste Assessments” may have caused.

If this does not address your concerns, contact the office of Monroe County Solid Waste Management at 305-295-4323 or 305-292-4536.

Special Meeting

A special board meeting will be held on Sept. 5 at 3 p.m. before the special budget hearing at Harvey Government Center in Key West to address items on the agenda that were postponed until them.

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