| Wisteria Island on the ballot?
By Kyle Teal
kteal@keynoter.com
Commissioners are split on voter
referendum
To annex or not to annex - that is the question
of Wisteria Island.
In fact, it's the only question, according to Key West City
Commissioner Harry Bethel, who doesn't see sense in holding a
non-binding referendum on the issue during the Oct. 2 election.
However, come the July 17 commission meeting, that's just what
some of his colleagues will propose.
Commissioner Bill Verge said he would push for a
referendum but not at Tuesday's commission meeting because
Bethel will be on vacation.
As a non-binding resolution, Key West residents would vote on
the potential annexation but those votes would not determine the
fate of the island. That decision would still rest with the
commission.
“If you start putting up all of the tough decisions up for a
vote, you don't need a commission,” Bethel said. “That's what
your public input is for.”
Commissioners Clayton Lopez and Mark Rossi
support a referendum.
The first reading of an ordinance for the annexation of the
property, better known as Christmas Tree Island, passed May 1,
with Verge and Rossi dissenting. It's to go before the
commission for a second reading July 17, but the new initiative
could push it back even further.
Verge noted that “we are going into Phase 3 water restrictions”
and thinks it might not be wise for the city to place more
utility services under its umbrella.
This has been a common complaint among those
opposed to the annexation.
Bethel refutes the argument, noting that a private contractor
paid for the installation of subaqueous cables that connect to
neighboring Sunset Key. |
