In this post, Swap Agreement Follow-up, I linked to an email exchange between me and Bob Shillinger, County Attorney.  The county’s shady history combined with Bob’s evasiveness obviously did not inspire confidence.  However, I was told today that the validation complaint was submitted on September 10!

Again this is only one small step in a very long, uncertain process.  The Keys must secure sufficient wastewater money from the state.  The continuing implosion of the Cudjoe Regional project makes that already difficult task even more demanding.  Now there’s the added stigma of corruption at the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority.  I’m sure the county’s unfair and wasteful handling of the wastewater projects also raise concerns about corruption on the part of the BOCC and other county officials.  How could it not?  Perception is reality.  Especially in politics.  The irresponsible actions of the FKAA and Monroe County have created a huge hurdle.

The incestuous nature of the legal community in the Keys provides reason for concern as well.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

That’s the bad news.  Now for the good news.

The other entities of the Keys have stepped up and they have run their projects in a fair, responsible manner.  They controlled costs and met established deadlines.  They made every attempt to treat their ratepayers fairly.  Those projects have already had a positive impact on water quality.  They should not be punished for the actions of the county and the FKAA.  Neither should the taxpayers in the Cudjoe Regional area, whose concerns still have not been fully addressed.

The county should consider submitting to a forensic audit of the Cudjoe Regional project.  In fact, it would not surprise me if the state insisted on it.  It is long past time to clean house.