Monroe County Commissioner Jim Scholl joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
Crews have made significant progress containing the Big Pine Brush Fire. It has been about 95% contained, although firefighters remain on the scene monitoring for flare-ups.
Scholl said the location has made the fire particularly difficult to fight because much of the affected area is within the National Wildlife Refuge and consists of saltwater marsh and other terrain that is difficult for firefighting equipment to access.
“It’s probably one of the most challenging geographic environments to manage a wildfire,” Scholl said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has firefighters working the blaze, along with Monroe County Fire Rescue and other agencies.
Firefighters have also had to contend with poisonwood exposure while working in the area.
“It’s been very difficult because you can’t get any kind of firefighting apparatus in there just because of the nature of the land there,” Scholl said.
The county will continue supporting the firefighting effort while crews monitor the area for additional flare-ups.
Scholl also discussed updated projections presented to county commissioners by Monroe County Property Appraiser Scott Russell regarding the potential financial impact of Amendment 3.
The amendment would change the way homesteaded property is taxed. Scholl said earlier state projections had suggested a significantly larger financial impact on Monroe County, but updated property-value information has reduced the projected loss.
Monroe County’s unique property-tax base could make the impact less severe than in many other Florida counties.
“Monroe County, our property values obviously are very high compared to anywhere else in the state of Florida,” Scholl said.
He noted that only about 20% of the county’s residential property tax base is homesteaded, meaning roughly 80% is not homesteaded.
Scholl said the amendment primarily affects homesteaded property, while the largest portion of most property-tax bills — funding for public schools — would not be affected.
He also said the county would still have to fund services that are required by the state, as well as core local services including law enforcement, fire rescue and emergency medical services.
“Regardless of whether we see that amendment pass or not, Monroe County should be able to continue to provide the appropriate level of service that our residents obviously deserve and expect,” Scholl said.
He acknowledged that more serious reductions could become necessary under a worst-case scenario if the county cannot replace lost revenue, including consolidating government offices or, as a last resort, closing a fire station.
Scholl characterized those possibilities as low-probability scenarios.
Commissioners also approved changes to some planning and building fees following a review by county staff.
The county was facing an estimated $2 million shortfall in revenue collected for services provided by the planning and building departments. State law allows those departments to charge fees intended to cover the cost of providing services, but some Monroe County fees had remained substantially below the actual cost.
“The staff analysis was very detailed, and gave us the appropriate level of input to be able to make those changes,” Scholl said.
Some fees increased substantially, while others remained unchanged.
Scholl specifically pointed to planning appeals as an area where the cost of the county’s process had been significantly higher than the fee previously charged.
Scholl also praised the Key West International Airport after it received the Florida Airports Council Benjamin J. Siwinski Sustainability Award, which recognizes sustainability efforts in Florida’s aviation system.
The airport’s major renovation has modernized the terminal while maintaining airline operations throughout the construction process.
“The really amazing part … was the environmental stewardship with all of it,” Scholl said.
He credited airport staff, including Richard Strickland and his team, for managing the project while addressing environmental requirements.
The roughly $80 million renovation has included major improvements to the concourse and arrival and departure areas, with work continuing on the baggage claim area.
Scholl also recognized Jethon Williams, an information technology senior coordinator involved with MCTV and county multimedia operations, after Williams was selected as Monroe County’s Employee of the Second Quarter for 2026.
Scholl nominated Williams for the recognition.
“He is one of a kind,” Scholl said. “He is an amazing gentleman and just so professional.”
Scholl said Williams provides technical support for county commission meetings, public meetings and online speakers while also handling the MCTV broadcast operation.
He said Williams frequently travels between the county’s three government centers to provide technical support.
Drawing on his military background, Scholl also discussed the strategic importance of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
Scholl, a U.S. Navy veteran and former commanding officer of Naval Air Station Key West, said Oman is an important U.S. partner because of its location along the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran controls the northern side of the strategic waterway, while Oman and the United Arab Emirates have territory along the southern side.
Scholl said the strait is a critical passage for international commerce, particularly oil shipments.
“Straits like this that divide bodies of water, you have a right of free passage,” Scholl said.
He described Oman as a friend of the United States but said the country also faces complicated diplomatic relationships throughout the region.
Scholl said he previously flew training missions with the Omani Air Force and described Oman as historically supportive of U.S. military operations.
Scholl also discussed the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East. He said the deployment was unusually long compared with the six-month schedule normally planned for carrier deployments.
Scholl said the extended mission created challenges involving supplies, fuel, food, spare parts and maintenance.
“The ships have a maintenance cycle, and when you disrupt that maintenance cycle, it is very difficult to be able to maintain all the systems in good working order,” he said.
He also said extended deployments without port visits can affect morale.
Scholl noted that the Navy has fewer ships and aircraft carriers than it did decades ago, increasing the demands placed on the fleet.
Finally, Scholl said higher military recruitment numbers are encouraging and described military service as an opportunity for young people to receive education and training.
“It would be a great opportunity because … the education opportunities,” Scholl said. “Whether you stay in or if you just do your minimum term and get out, you’re way ahead of the game as far as pursuing any further training or education on the civilian side.”