Highlights From the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners Nov. 20 Meeting in Key West

KEY LARGO, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners held its monthly meeting Wednesday at the Harvey Government Center in Key West. Below are a few highlights:

New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem Selected

At Wednesday’s Board of County Commissioner’s meeting, the board chose Commissioner Heather Carruthers to serve as Monroe County Mayor and Commissioner Michelle Coldiron to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for the next year. Mayor Carruthers is in her third term as commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Coldiron is in her first term.

Mayor Carruthers recognized outgoing Mayor Sylvia Murphy for her mayoral duties for the past year.

The mayor title is given to the chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners. The commissioners choose the designee based on a majority vote, usually at the November board meeting. A mayor pro tem is also designated to fill in when the mayor is unavailable. The mayor presides over the Board of County Commissioners meetings and serves as the Monroe County representative at ceremonial occasions. The mayor is also responsible for signing and cosigning documents with the County Clerk.

Emergency Operations Center Location Selected at Marathon Airport

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners selected the southwest corner of the Marathon airport property for the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the recommendation of staff. Staff evaluated seven locations on the property. The location recommendation was based on the amount of space needed, the need to avoid protected airspace, the airport’s master plan, and security setback requirements.

Kevin Wilson, Assistant County Administrator, presented the options to the commissioners. Currently, in the event of a disaster or threat, the Marathon Government Center Board of County Commissioner’s second floor chambers are converted into the operational space.

The new building will be a category 5 hurricane hardened building built to FEMA 361 Safe Room standards. The location will be used for the EOC, Monroe County Emergency Management, Monroe County Fire Administration, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office 9-1-1 Dispatch. Phase II of the design will now begin.

“An EOC is a place to safely convene to properly run the response to a crisis and train for crisis,” said Marty Senterfitt, Monroe County Emergency Management Director. “Right now, we are just making the best of our temporary area. It lacks the dedicated space, technology, and equipment needed to properly run a disaster response.”

Conceptual drawing of the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center to be located in Marathon.

Poinciana Gardens Project Proposal

  1. Manuel Castillo, Sr., Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Key West, recently proposed the County consider taking over operation of Poinciana Gardens Senior Living in Key West. Poinciana Gardens is a 106-unit facility offering both assisted and independent supported living arrangements. The Board of County Commissioners instructed Monroe County staff to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the financial aspects of the possible acquisition or management of the facility.

“There are a lot of moving parts right now,” said Sheryl Graham, Director of Monroe County Social Services. “This could be a good opportunity to expand our services, like respite care, a senior center, and a meal site, in addition to more beds.”

Monroe County currently owns and operates Bayshore Manor Assisted Living Facility on Stock Island with 16 residents. There is a waitlist at Bayshore Manor, which includes those who would like to move closer to a friend or relative who lives there, for income level reasons, or on the list to hold their place.

“The residents of Bayshore Manor said they are enthusiastically in support of the idea,” said Graham. “They would entertain the idea as long as they get to keep their staff, their friends, and have the enhanced services offered.”

Poinciana Gardens has a possible capacity of 168 beds. Currently, Poinciana Gardens has 41 residents. The current rates in supported independent living start at $1,377 per month, while assisted living rates, which include additional care and services, start at $1,815 per month. The rates are based on income levels.

“These are the probably the best rates in the State of Florida, and maybe the country,” said Castillo. “This would allow us to keep an expanded and much-needed facility in Monroe County.”

Poinciana Gardens other benefits include the ability to accept Medicare waivers and Veterans Aid and Attendance waivers, which Bayshore currently cannot accept.

Hurricane Irma Financial Update

Monroe County Director of Budget and Finance Tina Boan presented the Hurricane Irma recovery finance report at the November Board of County Commission meeting.

As of Nov. 20, 2019, the County has submitted $60.6 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, $40.5 million of the $47.7 million in completed or in-progress projects to be dispersed to Monroe County. The County has received a total of $26.6 million (in the bank). The remaining expenses are still in the first review phase. 

Community Highlights

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed Dec. 21, 2019 as National Homeless Person’s Memorial Day and the week of Nov. 16 through 24 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Yearly, Monroe County Social Services, Monroe County Outreach Coalition, and Monroe County Homeless Services Continuum of Care coordinate a memorial service for homeless individuals who have died in Key West and Monroe County. During the ceremony, the organizations place the cremains in a vault at Key West Cemetery. Stephanie Kaple of Florida Keys Outreach Coalition and Sheryl Graham, Director of Monroe County Social Services, accepted the proclamation.

In addition, for the past 29 years, the National Coalition for the Homeless has sponsored National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless. Stephanie Kaple of Florida Keys Outreach Coalition and Emily Nixon of Star of the Sea (SOS) Foundation accepted the Board’s proclamation.

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