FKAA Throws Hot Potato to the Governor’s Office

Posted on September 26, 2015 by M_Blank

mr-potato-353270__340From KeysNet this morning, a very unsatisfying non-resolution to Dean’s residency issues:  Dean said he’d resign if Scott says so.

Yes, throw the hot potato to the governor.  Tallahassee is a strange place.  The voters of the Keys have made it very clear they want the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) to be headed by an elected, rather than an appointed, board.  The state slammed the door on that, not once but twice.  The first time, Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed Rep. Sorensen’s bill calling for an elected board.  The second time, Rep. Holly Raschein’s bill died in the senate. Continue reading →

Posted in Bubba System, FKAA, State government | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Technology Choice – Why Grinder Pumps?

Posted on September 22, 2015 by M_Blank

questions-687560__340Why was low pressure the technology of choice for so much of the Cudjoe Regional area?  I don’t know.  To be honest, I never really pursued the answer until recently.  I certainly questioned it but I was up to my ears in alligators at the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District (District).

My main concern was, and still is, the excessive financial burden placed on Key Largo by the county’s grossly unfair funding practices.  But as I read more and learn more, the more I realize that the problems with the two projects are interrelated.

As the cost of the Cudjoe project increases, the chance of funding equity for Key Largo decreases.  While the customers in Cudjoe Regional may not suffer financially on the capital cost side, who’s to say what will happen when it comes to operating costs?  At the end of the day, a financially out-of-control project of this magnitude will hurt all taxpayers. Continue reading →

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Selective Amnesia – Who Pays?

Posted on September 22, 2015 by M_Blank

well-1008977__340There’s a story on KeysNet.com about another county project gone off the rails:  Rising cost of new Upper Keys jail complex annoys county commissioners.  The project was originally estimated to cost $15 million.  The taxpayers are now looking at $30 million.  The reactions from the various commissioners are interesting as always. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Budget, Financial Condition, Monroe County | Leave a comment

KeysNews On Nepotism Charges

Posted on September 18, 2015 by M_Blank
blinking monkey

This headline deserves some good side-eye.

Here’s the actual head line:  Former FKAA board member vindicated.

Some might say “vindicated”.  Some might say “got away with”.  The Barroso situation certainly looks fishy.  Being unable to prove that something illegal took place is a far cry from vindication.  The Florida Ethics Commission is somewhat toothless and they know it.  May as well be up front about that.  But they continue their attempts to tighten things up.  Here’s a link to an article about some of their doings.  They’ve also got a lobbyist website.  I haven’t looked at it in a while.  Looks like they’ve done some upgrades.  Integrity Florida has some good information about ethics issues as well. Continue reading →

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It’s Blue Paper Friday!

Posted on September 18, 2015 by M_Blank

Update:  Scroll down to the first comment by “Colby”.  Interesting stuff about Dean’s first stint on the FKAA board.  According to this, Dean represented District 1 from 1986-2001.  He was not reappointed in 2002.  The next opening that came up was District 3 in 2005.  He did manage to get himself appointed that time.  Colby’s comment is also posted to the KeysNet article.

There’s another good article in the Blue Paper today:  State Attorney Challenges FKAA Chairman’s Right To Vote In Key West Elections.

The thing I really like about the Blue Paper is that they always give plenty of background.  They provide much-needed context and they provide links to their source material.  The other sources report the issues as series of isolated incidents.  To read the Citizen, for example, you wouldn’t know that Dean’s residency has been an issue for years.  Knowing this has been a controversial issue for some time makes it harder to dismiss as a simple mistake.  It begins to look more like a willful attempt to circumvent the rules.

I don’t know where all this will lead.  Perhaps, it’s an opportunity for positive, lasting change.  The citizens and the voters have made their wishes very clear.  They want the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) to be governed by an elected board.  They want a voice.  They want openness and transparency.  That wish has twice been overruled by the state.  Why?  I don’t know.

Posted in Bubba System, FKAA | Leave a comment

Monkey Math – Road & Bridge

Posted on September 17, 2015 by M_Blank

The Keys received a total of $4.3 million in gas tax revenues in FY2013.  About $2 million of that went to Monroe County.  There are three gas taxes.  They include the ninth cent fuel tax, 1 to 5 cents fuel tax, and 1 to 6 cents fuel tax.  The ninth cent fuel tax is distributed to the county and the county may share that with the municipalities by interlocal agreement.  Monroe County does not share this tax with the municipalities. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Incorporation, Key Largo's contribution, Monroe County, Taxes | Leave a comment

Cudjoe Documents – Update

Posted on September 17, 2015 by M_Blank

I got the documents I requested.  They were never this nice to me when I worked at the District.  I always got the run-around.  You don’t suppose it’s got something to do with the blog, do you?

Stay tuned.

Posted in Bubba System, Cudjoe Regional, FKAA, Public Records, Wastewater | Leave a comment

Monkey Math – Fine & Forfeiture, Parks/Rec/Planning/Zoning, Municipal Policing

Posted on September 17, 2015 by M_Blank

Getting through general fund revenues was a hard slog.  I’m still waiting for some information from the Florida Department of Revenue so I can finish up.  Fortunately, the rest isn’t so bad.

As you might know, I’ve been examining this report prepared by Monroe County:  Key Largo-Tavernier-impact (1).  The report was prepared by the county in an effort to stifle talk of incorporation.  Documents previously issued by the county have proven to be misleading.  See here and here.  My assumption is that this report is inaccurate as well, but you know what they say about assumptions.  Fact checking this thing is turning out to be tougher than I thought, but I think the exercise is worthwhile.  Good information leads to good decision-making. Continue reading →

Posted in Incorporation, Key Largo's contribution, Taxes | Leave a comment

Don’t Blame the Citizens Please

Posted on September 17, 2015 by M_Blank

stress-explosion-concept-exhausted-businessman-45371680Thursday isn’t my usual Keys news reading day, but maybe it should be.  I took a look at KeysNet this morning and there’s some good stuff in there.

Judge tossing whistleblower lawsuit in the Acevedo finance scandal tosses justice, too.  This letter pretty much sums up my thoughts on the matter.  It’s unseemly that the whistle  blower would be forced out and I’m very curious about what’s behind that. Continue reading →

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Cudjoe Regional, Monroe County, Wastewater | Leave a comment

Cudjoe Documents

Posted on September 16, 2015 by M_Blank

I submitted a public records request to the county about the Cudjoe Regional project.  Why the county?  Why not the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority?  The county is the entity 100% responsible for funding the project.  If the county is providing diligent oversight, the documents I requested (or similar) should be readily available.  In the case of Gianetti, the schedule of values should match the bid tab.  Layne’s design-build contract did not spell out quantities, but the schedule of values should.  And the dollar amount on the schedule of values should tie to the bid tabulation.  From there, the applications for payment should show a logical progression when compared to project progress and approved change orders.

No response yet.  Not even to say they’re working on it.  The silence is deafening.  I’ll give it a few more days.  If I haven’t heard anything I’ll try again.  If I still don’t hear I’ll take it where I need to take it.

Here’s a link to the email:  Gmail – public records request.  Should be an easy and straightforward request to fulfill.  Theoretically.

Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Cudjoe Regional, Monroe County, Public Records, Wastewater | Leave a comment