Ron Saunders, village manager for the Village of Islamorada, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the village.
Budget talks are underway and the village has already held two budget workshops. Two required public hearings are scheduled for September 10 and September 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center.
Saunders says residents are asking local governments to keep spending and taxes down, and the village is looking for savings as it prepares its budget.
One issue local governments are watching closely is Amendment 3, which will appear on the November ballot and could affect property tax revenues.
Saunders said the amendment’s impact on the Florida Keys could be different from other parts of the state because a relatively small percentage of Keys homes are homesteaded.
“The Keys probably affect as much as some North Florida counties,” Saunders said. “If it passes, they’ll wipe out their tax rolls because their values are much lower than ours.”
Saunders said Islamorada is monitoring the proposal but is not making major budget decisions based on it because the amendment would need 60% voter approval.
Meanwhile, the village is preparing to receive $2.5 million a year for five years through the state’s Stewardship Act funding, assuming the legislature continues to appropriate the money.
Saunders said Islamorada plans to dedicate the funding to its aging wastewater system, including replacement of a pump station and pipes.
The village also recently approved participation in an interlocal agreement involving the county and other Keys governments to distribute the latest $20 million in state stewardship funding.
Saunders said reaching an agreement this year was an important accomplishment after disagreements prevented an agreement the previous year.
“We were able to accomplish that,” Saunders said. “So we do have an agreement in place, and I think it’s a good example of working together.”
The village is also taking over the property known as the Red Caboose, which is owned by the Florida Department of Transportation. Saunders said the county previously leased the property but decided not to continue the lease.
Rather than allowing the property to revert to the state, Islamorada agreed to take over the lease and plans to clean up and restore the site as a small park.
Saunders, a native Conch, said the property also contains historical markers and represents part of the Keys’ history.
Another major issue is stormwater. The village is working from a stormwater master plan as it seeks to address flooding and prepare for future challenges.
Sargassum is also becoming a focus of regional cooperation.
Saunders said residents contacted him about the increasing amount of sargassum washing ashore, prompting discussions with marine scientist Dr. Brian LaPointe about a proposed pilot project to intercept the seaweed before it reaches the beach.
Saunders said removing sargassum after it washes ashore can be difficult because sand can be removed along with it, while taking it from the ocean too early could interfere with marine life that uses it as habitat.
He said discussions are underway with the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and County Administrator Christine Hurley about potential funding and participation.
After newly elected Key West Mayor Sam Kaufman mentioned sargassum as an issue, Saunders reached out to him about participating in the effort.
“I think the more people that are participating, more bodies, more government bodies that are participating, the more effective it’ll be,” Saunders said.
Saunders said the proposed effort also needs to address what happens to the sargassum after it is collected. Currently, collected material must be dried, transported to the transfer station and disposed of by weight.
LaPointe is exploring potential commercial uses for processed sargassum, including fertilizer, which could potentially provide an economic benefit.
The village is also moving forward with improvements to the baseball field at Founders Park, where Coral Shores High School has played for more than two decades.
Saunders said the village and Monroe County School District recently reached a new baseball license agreement following months of negotiations.
The village owns the field, and Saunders said he signed a permit allowing the project to begin. The existing sod will be removed and replaced with artificial turf.
The goal is to have the work completed before the baseball season begins in January.
“We want to get it done for the kids,” Saunders said.
The village is also making changes to its Freebee transportation service.
The village recently instituted a $2 fare for the previously free service, which Saunders said had been subsidized by taxpayers regardless of whether they used it.
He said the fare has not significantly affected ridership despite some initial concerns.
The village is working with Freebee to increase the number of vehicles available and is considering eventually adding a loop-style service in addition to the existing point-to-point rides.
Saunders said improving public transportation is important because of traffic congestion along the Keys and because some residents do not have access to vehicles.
“I’m still a big advocate of transit and trying to get people moving around without cars on the road,” he said.
The village also plans to pursue additional state, federal and Tourist Development Council funding for transit and pedestrian safety projects.
Looking ahead to November, all five Isamorada Village Council seats will be on the ballot. Saunders said one candidate is unopposed, while the other four seats have contested races.
The village will also have charter amendments on the November ballot, including a proposal to change council terms from two years to three years and stagger the elections.
Saunders encouraged residents and others who travel through Islamorada to stay informed through the village website and newsletter. He said village meetings are recorded and archived online as part of an effort to increase transparency and public participation.
“We want everybody to see what we’re doing,” Saunders said. “We want everybody to be able to have input.”
The village’s next budget hearings are scheduled for September 10 and September 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center, with the new fiscal year beginning October 1.