Key Largo •Islamorada •Marathon •Big Pine Key Rule Changes
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Keys teams score all TDs FLORIDA KEYS on ground •Key Largo F Page 39 •Islamorada R •Marathon E •Big Pine Key E PressWednesday, September 4, 2013 ◆ Volume 26, Number 42 ◆ 52 pages FREE KEY LARGO: FIRE-EMS Bridge tab: Rule changes $62M over 30 years BY TIMOTHY O’HARA Free Press Staff Lease unresolved Page 6 MARATHON — Monroe County would have to spend MARATHON: AIRPORT up to $62 million over the next 30 years on the Old Seven Mile Bridge if it took it over from the state, according to the most recent engineering report. The county is considering See BRIDGE, page 3 City gets update Page 14 Grinder pumps ISLAMORADA: LEARNING proposed for half of island BY ROBERT SILK Free Press Staff ISLAMORADA — Under preliminary designs, all of the approximately 260 Lower ‘College’ of arts Matecumbe Key properties FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION/Contributed north of mile marker 75.3 are Page 19 State fishery managers instituted catch-and-release-only protection for tarpon this past Sunday and will vote on another protection for the prized backcountry fish on Thursday. Changes were also made slated to be serviced by grind- in the snook fishery. See stories on page 9. er pumps and a low-pressure See PUMPS, page 10 Waterfront Dining and Tiki Bar Rated #1 on Trip Advisor Winner of Key Largo Cook-Off in all 3 Divisions: for Sunsets 1st Place Appetizers, 1st Place Entrees, 1st Place Desserts “Known as the gathering place to catch our world “The Big Chill features one of the most famous sunsets and our most colorful happy hours, impressive dining and entertainment the Big Chill Tiki Bar is a crowd favorite.” experiences in the Florida Keys.” 353068 WWW.JJSBIGCHILL.COMJJSBBIGGCHILLL COM • 104000104000 OVERSEASOVVERSEAAS HWY.H KEY LARGO • (305) 453-9066 2 • UP FRONT key largo County to consider tax rate increase Wastewater board 66 considers term limits BY TIMOTHY O’HARA tax revenue as the previous straight year to remain in the ees’ salaries are correct and September 4, 2013 • Free Press September 4, Free Press Staff year. black. based on their skill level and The commission is handling Kolhage suggested the responsibilities. KEY LARGO — The Monroe a roughly $284 million annual county modestly raise taxes “I appreciate our employees islamorada County Commission will con- operating budget. It can lower in the 2013-14 fiscal year to and the hard work they do, but Nine attorneys sider a 2.6 percent property its proposed rate, but not spare taxpayers from possibly I want this completed before 1010 to be interviewed tax increase as it heads into increase it. being subjected to a dramatic we give across-the-board rais- the first of three final budget County Administrator increase in 2014-15. es,” Carruthers said. hearings this week. Roman Gastesi had proposed Commissioner Heather The commission will meet The first meeting will be a budget that came in at roll- Carruthers voted against the at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the marathon Wednesday, Sept. 4, in Key back, but would have taken tentative tax rate and the Murray E. Nelson Government Taxis complying Largo. $4.9 million out of reserves to accompanying budget because and Cultural Center. The 1414 with new ordinance In July, the commission balance. it included a 3 percent raise for second meeting will be at 5 agreed to levy a property tax of Commissioner Danny employees. She said she wants p.m. Sept. 9 at the Marathon $400 per $100,000 of assessed Kolhage instead proposed a wage and benefit study and Government Center. The final property value for the 2012-13 — and a majority of the com- employee reviews completed meeting, in which the tax rate big pine key fiscal year, which starts Oct. mission approved — raising before raises are doled out. will be set, will be at 5 p.m. Sept. School embraces 1. The rate is 2.6 percent over the tax rate above rollback, The county is soliciting firms 12 at the Harvey Government 1717 app technology rollback — the rate that would which spared the county from to conduct such a study to Center in Key West. generate the same amount of raiding reserves for a second determine if county employ- [email protected] business a man was found in a wooded thing, walked into a woods identification, but because the Boat lift companies area off Sombrero Road last and found the dead man lying body was decomposed, the 3636 make moves brief Friday at 11:30 a.m., according on his back. county medical examiner will to the Monroe County Sheriff’s The body is believed to be have to conduct further work Body found Office. that of a white male who may to confirm it. sports in wooded area A member of a Marathon have died up to several weeks Investigations into the cir- Public Works crew working in ago. cumstances of the death con- Prep swim teams back in the water MARATHON — The body of the area said he smelled some- Detectives have a tentative tinue. 4040 378922 Call for Details and Showing Appointment Ken Craig Reda Stephens 305-367-3969 NEW BROKERAGE BOATS & PRE-OWNED 2013 195 SCOUT SPORT FISH 115 HP YAMAHA “IN STOCK” “UN-NAMED” 2012 15’ BOSTON WHALER SUPER SPORT MERCURY 60 HP $19,108 2012 210 SCOUT XSF 150 HP YAMAHA OB “IN STOCK” “UN-NAMED” 2012 20’ BOSTON WHALER DAUNTLESS 2012 MERCURY 200 HP $55,900 “UN-NAMED” 2002 24’ PROWLER CENTER CONSOLE TWIN YAMAHA 115 HP $32,900 2013 225 SCOUT XSF 150 HP YAMAHA OB “IN STOCK” “UN-NAMED” 2012 25’ SCOUT 251 XS YAMAHA 300 HP $79,995 2013 245 SCOUT XSF 300 HP YAMAHA OB “IN STOCK” “UN-NAMED” 2004 26’ TRITON WALK-A-ROUND TWIN YAMAHA 200 HP $63,200 “UN-NAMED” 2002 27’ PROLINE SPORT YAMAHA 225 HP $26,995 2013 320 SCOUT LXF TWIN 300 YAMAHA OB “IN STOCK” “LEGACY” 1995 29’ PURSUIT-OFFSHORE TWIN CRUSADOR 320 HP $45,000 2013 15’ BOSTON WHALER SUPER SPORT 60 HP MERCURY OB “IN STOCK” ‘SYNERGY” 2000 29’ TIARA CORONET TWIN CRUSADER 320 HP $49,900 “UN-NAMED” 2011 32’ BOSTON WHALER OUTRAGE TWIN MERCURY 300 HP $189,000 2012 17’ BOSTON WHALER SUPER SPORT 60 HP MERCURY OB “IN STOCK” “UN-NAMED” 2005 33’ LUHRS FLYBRIDGE TWIN YANMAR 370 HP $109,000 2013 23’ BOSTON WHALER DAUNTLESS 250 HP MERCURY OB “IN STOCK” “ISLAND SON” 2010 36’ YELLOWFIN CENTER CONSOLE TWIN YAMAHA 350 HP $259,000 2013 32’ BOSTON WHALER OUTRAGE TWIN 300 MERCURY OB “IN STOCK” “UN-NAMED” 2007 39’ TIARA FLYBRIDGE TWIN CUMMINS 540 HP $379,000 “LATE NITE BITE” 2002 43’ TIARA EXPRESS TWIN CAT 3196-E 660 HP $299,900 2013 450 SEA RAY SUNDANCER TWIN CUMMINS ZEUS “IN STOCK” “TIME ODE” 2002 43’ MAINSHIP TRAWLER TWIN YANMAR TURBO DIESEL $229,000 “UN-NAMED” “UN-NAMED” “UN-NAMED” “UN-NAMED” “TIME ODE” 2010 36’ YELLOWFIN. LIFT KEPT. ONLY 156 2005 33’ LUHRS FB 2011 32’ BOSTON WHALER - OR 2012 BOSTON WHALER 20’ DAUNTLESS 2002 43’ MAINSHIP TRAWLER HOURS ON 350 YAMAHAS. NEAR TO NEW 370 YANMAR DIESELS T/300 VERADO POWER 200 HP MERCURY, LOW HOURS TWIN YANMAR TURBO DIESEL CONDITION. WELL EQUIPPED. $259,000 NICELY EQUIPED READY TO GO WARRANTY, TRAILER, CANVAS $109,000. CALL FOR DETAILS. CALL FOR DETAILS. READY TO GO! $229,000 3 UP FRONT 2013 • Free Press September 4, to vehicle traffic and fishing states. the county taking over main- The overall $18 million in Bridge in 2008. By year 20, the county would tenance of only the top of the repairs his agency suggested Continued from page 1 “FDOT has continued con- have to spend another $14.3 bridge, and FDOT remaining would allow “pedestrian, bike ducting annual bridge inspec- million to replace some floor in control of the lower sec- and emergency vehicle traffic” taking over jurisdiction of the tions which reveal the struc- beams and substructure, and tions. on the bridge, Pego said. nearly 100-year old bridge ture has continued to dete- another $4.9 million by year “We can’t bear these kinds Generally, when FDOT from the Florida Department riorate at an accelerated rate,” 30 to replace other beams and of numbers,” he said of the transfers a bridge it doesn’t of Transportation and had HDR reported. substructure, it says. projected costs to maintain need “major capital repairs” engineering firm HDR Inc. It marked the first engineer- “These costs are substantial, the bridge. for 10 years, he said. But there review two FDOT bridge ing firm to give the county the but so is the state of distress,” FDOT District 6 Secretary could be maintenance projects inspection reports from 2012. projected long-term costs of HDR wrote. Gus Pego has reviewed the that need to be completed. HDR concluded that the taking control of the bridge. HDR is tentatively sched- HDR report “cover to cover,” “There is a general desire on bridge is “structurally defi- Before HDR’s report, the coun- uled to give the County but said he would not com- both sides to find a solution cient” and has a “poor” sub- ty and FDOT had discussed Commission a formal presen- ment until his staff could thor- for the bridge,” Pego said. structure rating. The steel sub- only splitting the roughly $18 tation at its Sept. 17 meeting oughly review it. [email protected] structure bracing system has million FDOT said was needed in Marathon. FDOT officials “severe corrosion with associ- to renovate the top sections of also plan to attend to hear the ated minor section loss,” the the bridge.