Saw this item in the Citizen.
Supposedly, the county is purchasing property to preserve working waterfront. From the Citizen… Continue reading
County Games
Posted in BOCC, Bubba System, Media, Monroe County
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Off Topic: “Leadership” by Tweet?
I saw this little item, which I thought was scary/hilarious. A Boston journalist predicted one of Trump’s deranged tweets simply by watching Fox News. So much for “unpredictable”.
So that’s how our country works right now. Trump sees something on Fox News – no idea whether its true, false, spun up – and tweets about it. He simply reacts to crap he sees on TV. No wonder Sweden is so confused.
We’re doomed.
Not singling out Fox. They’re all bad. Cable TV news is just an outrage factory.
Posted in Off topic
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Sanitary Sewer and New Development
Ahh…here’s a great place to build my dream home.
Update2: The Blue Paper published my post and the Citizen published this article. Looks like the Citizen has a FART – Fast Action Response Team – that immediately responds to uncomfortable stories about the county and/or the FKAA. Can’t complain too much though. The article provided a very useful factoid – there is a 43-unit development going up in the Key Haven area. Nothing from the Reporter/Keynoter, but they did publish a story about caring for your pet’s teeth today. Lol.
Update: I emailed county staff asking about this one. I copied members of the Keys media, too. That’s my new thing. If I hear anything (doubtful!) I’ll let you know.
I was perusing Monroe County’s Comprehensive Plan Update the other day and I saw something very interesting. Continue reading
Posted in Big Coppitt, Duck Key, Key Haven, Monroe County, Wastewater
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Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge – Hickory House
Sheep lining up to be sheared.
Update: I followed up with county attorney, Bob Shillinger, regarding this matter. We’ll see where that goes…
The Hickory House property has been a source of scandal ever since the BOCC paid an exorbitant price for it back in 2006. After that, the property sat vacant for many years as the hapless nincompoops on the BOCC dithered around trying to figure out what to do with it. Here’s a history of all their attempts to sell it from Demandstar.com. See below. Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Monroe County
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Great Editorial About Key Largo Fire and Rescue
Update: I added a graphic below.
There’s no question that recent events have showcased the dedication and competence of Key Largo Fire and Rescue. This terrific editorial in the Reporter/Keynoter really says it all.
After rightfully singing the praises of the department, the editorial says this. Continue reading
Posted in BOCC, Media, Monroe County
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What Happened to the Strategic Planning Department?
How did we lose a whole dang department?
Update 3: George Neugent isn’t the only county commissioner to have a run-in with the ethics commission. Since this post was written, all five commissioners, including the “ever-so-proper” Danny Kolhage have been fined for ethics violations related to their financial disclosure forms. While I certainly enjoy seeing Kolhage knocked off his high horse, I’d really love to see him knocked out of office.
Also updated to correct an embarrassing typo/math boo-boo. Madok’s do-nothing job netted him $10,000 per page, not $40,000 per page. Still a whole lot of money for nothing.
Update 2: There’s a Strategic Planning survey at the county’s website. Maybe the Strategic Planning Department will be revived? I hope people take the survey and let the county know what they really think.
Update: Well, the Clerk’s office responded to my information request. Here’s the latest go-round. I also got a copy of the famous strategic plan. It’s 40 pages long. This is what Madok was working on for four years at $100k per year. Ten pages per year, $10,000 per page. If I made $10k per page, I’d be a billionaire by now.
End of updates.
Hey, remember when Kevin Madok was running against Ron Saunders for Monroe County Clerk? Remember this exchange from Hometown Key West’s candidate forum?
Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge – Lining Up Our Tools
Let’s get ready to do more digging.
My least favorite part of any project is jumping through Planning Department hoops. Even so, I understand the need for it. The rules are there for a reason.
The Key Largo Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant project went through the whole planning review process. We saved trees. We moved snails from tree to tree by hand. We put them in little paper cups stapled to trees and made sure they were pointed in the right direction. (Apparently, it takes a snail a really long time to turn around, so you have to get that right.) We did it all. With the county hindering us every step of the way.
Like I said, I’m okay with rules. But I’m not okay with obstructionism, goalpost moving, and impossible demands. Especially coming from people who have no idea what the heck a wastewater treatment plant is even supposed to look like. And, even worse, don’t care. The Planning Department wanted the District to plant trees on top of pipes. And put in loopy driveways so a sludge truck couldn’t possibly turn around. I guess the sludge is just supposed to stay on site forever? Or be carried out in buckets? County planning officials also wanted to route increased truck traffic right past a school bus stop. Zero regard for safety, cleanliness, or common sense. I can’t tell you how many hours I logged on pointless arguments with arrogant county bureaucrats who don’t give a damn about the community.
And yet…when a developer wants to come in and build a 175-room hotel, the project sails right on through. As if there’s no affordable housing CRISIS! As if there’s plenty of working waterfront. As if locals don’t need or deserve access to the water. So what the hell happened? Why make a beneficial project an onerous slog, while allowing yet another unnecessary and burdensome hotel to gobble up scarce real estate? Continue reading
Posted in Affordable Housing, BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County
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Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge – Sender Sites
The map above shows the locations of the receiver sites and sender sites for the Ocean’s Edge project. A detailed map of the receiver site is below, and a brief discussion can be found here. Continue reading
Posted in Affordable Housing, BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County
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Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge – Getting My Bearings
Understanding this Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge situation is really important I think. Lots of moving parts, lots of players. As discussed in the Land Scarcity Chessboard posts (here, here, here and here), there’s only a finite amount of land that can be developed, and many competing demands. Continue reading
Posted in Affordable Housing, BOCC, Bubba System, Monroe County
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Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge – Document Tracking
I don’t know much about Monroe County’s Land Use regulations. Never really wanted to know to tell you the truth. But the Oceanside/Ocean’s Edge situation has a scandalous tinge to it. So I’m digging into the documents and trying to educate myself.
You see, Keys politicians have declared that we are in the midst of an affordable housing CRISIS!!! Yet somehow Ocean’s Edge, a self-described development of 175-guest rooms and suites, has recently been completed in Stock Island. I don’t understand how approval of this development is consistent with resolving the CRISIS!!! But I’d like to. The Blue Paper has done a great job tracking this issue, but even with their straightforward reporting I’m still having trouble following.
I started putting together this tracking spreadsheet with hyperlinks to the documents, which can be found on the Clerk’s website.
Next step is putting together a map. (I love maps!) What’s especially interesting is the role of the Hickory House in all the Ocean’s Edge shenanigans. As you might recall, the Hickory House was proposed as a possible site for a community center serving Stock Island. The BOCC preferred instead to build a $5 million Taj-Mahal at Bernstein Park despite concerns over the cost and the loss of green space. They sold the Hickory House to Pritam Singh for a $1.1 million loss after rejecting offers from several other buyers. (Probably another worthy research project.)
Posted in Affordable Housing, BOCC, Bubba System
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The Real Poop 