Monroe County Mayor Michelle Lincoln joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
Officials proclaimed last week National Tourism Week – and they made the proclamation on a paddle board.
Lincoln said, “That was so much fun. We were a little concerned about what the weather was going to do. If you recall, it was a stormy Sunday, and the forecast said stormy on Monday. We were very lucky that it didn’t. We did a dress rehearsal on Friday afternoon, because we were all just concerned about the logistics of everything. And I’m so glad we did that, because they’re like, yeah, just get out on the paddle board, and then sign the proclamation. Put it up to the drone so that everyone could see it, and then sign it. And I’m like, well, where is the proclamation going to be? Because I need both hands to paddle aboard. So then we came up with this. I’m going to wear it around my neck on a clipboard. So there were so many logistics of when I then pick my paddle up, I start floating away. Everyone else is stationary. Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and I’m just so proud of all of the other elected officials who were brave like I was, and bold and strong and balanced, and said, let’s get out on a paddle board and have fun with the proclamation. It was straight from the heart and the adrenaline running in my body. But it is absolutely true to be an elected official anywhere, but especially in the Florida Keys, where you have so many different personalities from Key West through Key Largo and different issues and concerns and to be an effective leader here, you really do need to be bold and you really need to be strong and you need to be balanced, because it takes all of those characteristics and more to truly be effective in leading your community well.”
The governor’s hurricane conference is coming up.
Lincoln said, “Every year there is the governor’s hurricane conference where all of the leaders and people in the hurricane industry get together to share best practices. And so Commissioner Jim Scholl and our emergency director Corey Schwisow and myself have been invited to speak on a panel on the roles of elected officials during a state of emergency, because everything kind of goes a little wonky. So looking forward to sitting on that panel with my my colleagues. I believe there’ll be other people on that panel from, I think from Broward County and from, I think, Lee County so other counties that have also experienced hurricanes, and the different roles we all must assume during a state of emergency.”
Lincoln is also the president of the Florida Association of Counties.
She said, “The last two years in our legislative session, that goes up before the state legislative sessions, we discuss policies, and one of the policies we always discuss is communication to commissioners during states of emergency, and the ability for commissioners to still weigh in with their opinions. So yes, it’s always good to see my colleagues from other parts of the state.”
Being prepared and vigilant is critical for hurricane season.
Lincoln said, “We’re not trying to jinx us or anything, but it’s been years, I think 2017 was when Irma hit. I would imagine there are people who are living here now who were not living here during our last evacuation, and it’s so important for everyone to start planning right now what they would want to pack in a bag to potentially leave here and and be gone for a few days and might come home to a not ideal situation in their own home. So now is the time to prepare. Now is the time to get your extra month of medical supplies, all of your paperwork, all the documents that you need to take with you, have them already in a bag, ready to roll out the door. When you’re faced with that emergency, the stress level in your brain is incredible, and so if you already have your plan in place, then you can calmly implement your plan.”
The Marathon Airport will receive an award for runway Project of the Year.
Lincoln said, “That’s very exciting. I think that the airport, when I first had that run across my desk, I thought for sure it said Key West International Airport, because they’re receiving so many awards and compliments on the beautiful job of that brand new concourse. And then I’m like, wait, that says Marathon for the new runway. So very excited about that and all of the work that is going to be planned for that airport. And hats off to Richard Strickland, our director of airports. He is really doing a fabulous job at both airports, listening to the needs of our community, not just in Key West, but also in the Middle Keys, with their desire for bringing back commercial air service and the runway was absolutely the first step in that, in that process. So very excited to hear more from Richard about that airport and about all the work that they’ve been doing at both airports and continuing to do.”
Memorial Day will be on May 25 an county offices will be closed.
Lincoln said, “We would not be where we are with the freedoms we have today, if it were not for the brave that ensured our freedom and some made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, and we want to always honor and remember them and their families. So yes, that will be all this weekend, I think starting tomorrow night, we’ve got something in Key West, and then it goes through the weekend. I’d be remiss if we didn’t in our recognitions, also they were recognizing Monroe County’s fleet management program. They also earned top 10 national ranking in the United States of America. Super excited for them, and it’s also automated service professionals month. So just very excited about our fleet program. I know a few years ago, we recognized them for every one of the employees have received the highest amount of certifications imaginable for their line of work. So very proud of of our fleet management department, as well as all of our departments that work for us here in Monroe County.”
Remember the Habitat Conservation Plan meeting on March 28.
Lincoln said, “Everyone in the Big Pine area, we will be having a community meeting on Thursday, March 28, where we are going to really dive into the Habitat Conservation Plan and the incidental taking plan for the Big Pine and No Name Key area. We wanted to have a community meeting prior to having our county commission meeting in June. Let me just put it out there. There is no one on the commission or staff that want to do anything that would alleviate protecting the key deer and the natural environment there in Big Pine, so whatever we come up with will continue to protect that special habitat and the creatures that live there.”