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Head to head with the state
Local governments can
say 'uncle' or face clamp-down on development
BY TRAVIS
JAMES TRITTEN
keysnews.com
The Florida Keys have a final chance this week to either accept or deny
a state offer that could bring in $113 million to purchase endangered
hammocks and uplands for protection
Colleen Castille,
secretary of the state Department of Community Affairs, will reiterate
her proposed deal today when she addresses Keys media during a special
meeting in Key Colony Beach.
To get the funding,
she says, Marathon, Islamorada and Monroe County must bond out a total
of $356 million to construct sewage treatment systems.
"If they agree to their part of the proposal, I am willing to go to the
governor and Cabinet and follow through on what I promised," Castille
said.
Reject the deal, and
she says she will deliver a negative annual report on Keys environmental
progress to Gov. Jeb Bush next Tuesday -- a report that could mean a
further reduction of development allowed in the islands.
The county and cities
are down to the wire on making a decision about incurring the
substantial amount of debt requested by the secretary.
County commissioners
will weigh bonding $200 million during a special meeting today just
hours after the secretary addresses the press.
Marathon was expected
to vote Tuesday night on a resolution to bond $80 million for a citywide
sewer system, and Islamorada will discuss a $76 million bond issue
Thursday.
"They have time to
officially commit to something," Castille said.
But the county says it
cannot take out $200 million in debt.
"The $200 million is
not going to fly," Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy said. "First of
all, we can't bond it."
That sentiment echoed
throughout the commission. County Administrator Jim Roberts said Monroe
County can only handle about a quarter of the debt asked for by Castille.
Some on the commission
said they support bonding smaller amounts incrementally as sewer
projects come up.
The county could decide
to immediately bond about $24 million to sewer Rockland, Geiger and Big
Coppitt keys, Commissioner Dixie Spehar said.
Commissioner George
Neugent lauded an offer Tuesday by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
to use its borrowing and technical ability to step up construction of
sewer systems on the island chain.
"This something that I
feel like makes a heck of a lot more sense," Neugent said.
The FKAA was delegated
by the state to handle sewage treatment in the Keys, though the agency
has had a rocky relationship with the county and cities.
Neugent said the FKAA
could bond money for projects instead of the county.
About $104 million
would still be needed to sewer the islands even with the help, FKAA
Executive Director Jim Reynolds said.
He said the agency is
willing to bring on more staff and tap the State Revolving Fund loan
program if the county wants the closer partnership.
However, the water
agency has not been favored by the county commission lately.
Commissioners chose a
private utility over the Aqueduct Authority to sewer Stock Island.
Despite major complaints over that project, Commissioner Dixie Spehar
proposed taking authority of a large chunk of the Lower Keys away from
the state utility, but the proposal was voted down.
Neugent said he is
concerned that the three commissioners who appear to have formed a
strong opposition to the FKAA -- McCoy, Spehar and county Mayor Murray
Nelson -- will block the last-minute offer by Reynolds.
The commission meets
at 1:30 p.m. at the Harvey Government Center in Key West to consider how
to move forward.
ttritten@keysnews.com |
