Islamorada Community Alliance

Advocacy For Residents, Education and Preservation

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September 1, 2025: Wastewater rate mess, brewery wants leniency, budget concerns, 2025 traffic study released, and more!

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Help lighten Islamorada Library’s load - get books to read while the library is closed!

3 Sep 2025 12:54 PM | Anonymous

The Islamorada Library’s refresh begins September 15. All materials must be removed while the work is taking place. All patrons are invited to stop before the last open day, Saturday, Sep 13 and check out as many books and DVDs as you want. They will extend the loan period – and no longer charge overdue fines. The closure is anticipated to take about five weeks. To stay updated go to keyslibraries.org.

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Traffic is on the Sep 10 County Commission Agenda

3 Sep 2025 12:48 PM | Anonymous

Traffic Study: The draft 2025 study will be discussed by the Commission Sep 10. There is concern that the travel times were measured by the County’s consultant after the “peak season” was over, which violates the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the approved guidelines.

The problem areas in the potentially flawed study remain traffic segments in Islamorada. Click here to see the list of traffic segments. Rankings below “C” means no additional trips in that segment can be added without disrupting acceptable traffic speeds.

The rating for Lower Matecumbe, Upper Matecumbe, and Windley Key are all ranked a “D.” Plantation Key has improved to a “C” in 2025, primarily because the construction related to the pipeline installation lowered the speed limit to 35 MPH.

In Monroe County, once a segment falls below a “C” no more construction can occur unless there is appropriate mitigation to reduce the deficiencies in that segment. Unlike the County, Islamorada does not stop construction when a segment is deficient.

If the overall Level of Service (LOS) for the entire 114 miles of US 1 falls below the LOS C Standard, then no additional land development will be allowed in the Florida Keys, unless mitigation measures are proposed to address the LOS deficiencies.

In 2019 and 2023 the overall LOS fell below the LOS C but the County simply did not approve the study so continued development was allowed.

4-Laning U.S. One, also on the Sep 10 County agenda

The Islamorada Community Alliance has joined nearly 2 dozen organizations throughout the Keys, objecting to this possible 4-laning. Click here to read the details as to the concerns.

Can you imagine converting Islamorada’s “Main Street” into a major 4-lane highway aimed at getting more folks through our community to points south.

The proposal to allow 4-laning the highway and to accept the 2025 US 1 Level of Service Study are to be heard back to back by the County Commission in Key Largo, Murray Nelson Government Center, beginning at 1:30 pm Sep 10.

Islamorada bought a church and two other properties: $8.5 M without a plan, just waiting for ideas.

3 Sep 2025 12:43 PM | Anonymous

Workshop: Discussion about Village properties, all purchased without a planned use.One of the properties… a church. The workshop was scheduled to see if members of the community had any ideas about possible uses for the prior Islamorada Community Church and several other costly properties owned by the Village, sitting unused.

Village Manager, Ron Saunders, suggested that in an effort to keep property taxes down and preserve critical fund balances that perhaps the church should be sold. Some in attendance, preferred improving efficiency and reducing Village operating costs as a more appropriate way to control property tax levels instead of the sale of valued real estate. “What will we sell next year?”

Purchased a year ago for $3.995,000, the church property was leased back to the church for the past year ($0 rent). The Village took official possession August 11.

The church property at MM82.8. is 110’ x 330’ on U.S. One, just south of Publix, 8/10 of an acre. The building is almost 16,000 sq ft with a sanctuary that can seat over 300. Originally built in 1972 as a movie theater, it was acquired by the church more than 20 years ago. In addition to the sanctuary, the building has classrooms and offices, previously part of a school operated by the church. Click here for photos from the appraisal done a year ago.

Another property discussed was the former Island Silver and Spice property that has been sitting vacant in the heart of Islamorada since being purchased by Islamorada December of 2021 for $2.75 million.

It was concluded that the third property, purchased in May, 2021, for $1.8M and referred to as the “Machado Property” should be used for affordable housing.

If you have ideas, the Village Manager is anxious to listen.

Why is this important? All three properties were purchased when there was the possibility the properties would be developed into high intensity uses unacceptable to the desires of the community. If we now sell the properties, to get top dollar, the future use, by a developer wanting lucrative profits, may well be unacceptable.

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Who should pay?

3 Sep 2025 12:41 PM | Anonymous

Who should pay? Wastewater service is an Enterprise Fund. That means that those properties receiving service are expected to pay for the capital cost and operation and maintenance of the system - based on their EDU count. Funds are not supposed to come from property tax revenues.

However, for at least the last five years, the Wastewater Enterprise Fund has operated at a significant deficit. No analysis of the fee structure has been done to date to correct the EDU counts and the fee structure. A quick look at the EDU list demonstrates many inconsistencies in the rates paid.

Should a 400 sq ft 1 bedroom cottage pay the same wastewater fee as a 6000 sq ft 5-bedroom vacation rental?
Should businesses be able to expand significantly, change uses, and not have their wastewater costs reviewed and adjusted?

Instead of adjusting wastewater fees and assuring the users are paying based on the volume of wastewater generated, property taxes have been used to bail out the wastewater fund shortfalls.

Typically there has been approximately a $2 million deficit every year - necessitating increases in property taxes. Not supposed to happen with a self-supporting enterprise fund.

This year over $4 million of Stewardship Funding has been moved to wastewater to avoid another huge deficit, and the budget still shows a projected wastewater deficit of $775,000. Until now Stewardship Funding has been allocated for canal restoration projects already planned and underway. And wastewater is supposed to be self-supporting?

Of course we need a wastewater system that is reliable. Let’s fix the leaks. And let’s fix the funding, rates and accounting as well.

Florida’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) May Need to Visit Islamorada

3 Sep 2025 12:37 PM | Anonymous

Blaise Ingoglia

FLORIDA CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER BLAISE INGOGLIA: “When budgets go up over 4-5 years between 60-120%, I have issues with wasteful spending. I have issues with government spending on things that should not be spent on, and then continually asking the taxpayers for more, more, more. The taxpayers have had ENOUGH, and so have I.”

How much did the Islamorada Budget increase since 2021? If the proposed budget is approved by council at 2.65 mills,the General Fund expenditures will have increased by 56.6% since the 2020-2021 budget. The Total Village Expenditures for all funds will have increased by 82.8% (up from $35M to $65M).

Has there been much change in the services provided?

Cost of Village Personnel: The budget being proposed for Budget Hearing #1 includes significant changes in the cost of Islamorada’s staff.

Pay increases proposed based on Salary Study done earlier this year: $442,868
Health Insurance increase this year: $455,746 (up $1.428 million since 2022)
Overtime projected for coming year: $677,503
Total cost of personnel for coming year: $16,738,457

Labor Day at the Hurricane Monument 90 Years Later

3 Sep 2025 12:34 PM | Anonymous

And the rain arrived right at the start of the program to remind everyone that weather happens here!

But nothing could dampen the spirits of those who attended this special community event put on by the Matecumbe Historical Trust annually. Umbrellas went up and the sound system was moved out of the rain, but no one left, anxious to be a part of the day, remembering the tragedy that changed life in Islamorada 90 years ago.

In 1937 the Hurricane Monument was dedicated as a memorial to 423 people who lost their lives in the devastating 1935 hurricane; 259 were World War I veterans in the Keys working on extending U.S. One. A majority of the other 164 were Islamorada residents.

For the 90th anniversary of the storm, visitors were asked to brave the rain to help spread 423 flowers on the crypt where the remains of many who lost their lives in the 1935 storm are buried.

Wooden cut-out plaques were distributed as a memento of this historic event, 90 years ago. Thank you Barbara Edgar and the Matecumbe Historical Trust.

From the Desk of Tom Raffanello, President of the Islamorada Community Alliance:

3 Sep 2025 12:32 PM | Anonymous

The Islamorada Community is much more than a place—it is built out of the feelings and relationships that are so vital to our well-being.

Let’s talk about community change. It’s inevitable! Sometimes it improves a community and sometimes destroys it.

Community change can refer to a number of types of changes:

Social changes: sense of community and identity with our village and its unique characteristics

Positive Physical changes: enhancing housing, land use, facilities, recreational “green,” space and infrastructure

Political changes: responsible, public servants focused on improving participation and representation in local government. This can also be negatively affected by self-serving political persons with agendas.

Economic change - more businesses, more employment, more profits.

Our elected officials do not seem totally focused on improving our village. Village council should enhance our sense of community, recognize our infrastructure limits, and improve public participation in decisions.

Too often decisions made reflect a “Chamber of Commerce” mentality (#4) – improve the business community and their profitability. Our residential communities are not a priority. Profitability of the local investors and developers has usurped the pledge to keep residents and our environment as the priority.

In the end it is the local residential property owners that will be paying a bulk of added costs for bad decisions. This trend must stop! Community Change! Let’s always work to make changes that will make us a better place to live…. Not a place that sends more of our residents packing up and moving out!

Crooked Palms Cabana: scam! Why do we put conditions on properties and discard them a year later. On September 11, there is a public hearing to eliminate numerous conditions placed on the Crooked Palm Cabana.

When that business was approved in a 3-2 vote of council after 17 months of meetings, workshops, and negotiations, there were voluntary conditions agreed to by all parties, including the owner, not just imposed by the Village Council. Now the owner claims that anticipated problems have not occurred, instead the business has proven to be a benefit to the community. (how?)

They want important restrictions eliminated. Logically, conditions should remain in place. The establishment has not lived up to expectations as far as profitability, so the hours have been cut down due to lack of activity. Perhaps there have been no problems because there are strict conditions and neighbors are watching.

When the Village Council approves conditions, especially voluntary conditions, (as well as deed restrictions and limitations when approving zoning changes)… they most often are meant as a means to protect our community and our environment. They need to be long term.

Consideration of changes should only be reviewed under special circumstances, not lack of profitability or desire to sell a property. Community planning is long term. Something our residents and future residents know they can count on. It should not be the purview of a “favorable council” to change the core of a community, especially with a simple majority of three votes.

Serious decisions like these should require four, if not a unanimous vote by council. Long term should mean long term, not disrupted by a letter to the planning department.

I do not see any legitimate way this gets the support of the Village Planning officials. They have the same mandate to prioritize residents and the environment’s uniqueness. This is Islamorada, not Miami. Start acting like it or we’ll lose it.

Reply to: ICA.in.Keys@gmail.com

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Congratulations Dianne Wischmeier!

26 Aug 2025 10:59 AM | Anonymous

Congratulations Dianne Wischmeier! Each month at the School Board meeting, the School District recognizes a school partner as a “GEM.” At the August 19 School Board meeting Coral Shore math teacher, Dianne Wischmeier, was named this month’s GEM.

We often hear eloquent and helpful ideas during public comment at Village Council Meetings from Joe Wischmeier. Now we know, Joe is not the only one in the family making important contributions to the community. Wife Dianne is a hero too.

The Storm of 1935 - 90 years ago

26 Aug 2025 10:55 AM | Anonymous

The Storm of 1935 - 90 years ago

On Sept. 2, 1935, one of the most treacherous storms to ever hit North America, brought death and destruction to Islamorada. The storm was the most significant event ever for the Islamorada community. The Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching as much as 200 mph, claimed the lives of more than 420 people. The hurricane devastated Islamorada and destroyed portions of the Florida East Coast Railway.

Henry Flagler had connected Key West to the U.S. mainland with the completion of his overseas railroad in 1912, often considered the 8th Wonder of the World. It operated until the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

But travel to the southernmost city in the U.S. was not cut off for long. The railroad was never rebuilt and instead the railroad right of way became the right of way for the Overseas Highway. The Overseas Highway opened March 29, 1938, less than 3 years after the storm of 1935. The popularity and subsequent conversion of the Flagler railroad route to Key West, as the busy Overseas Highway, remains a legacy benefiting residents, visitors and the economy of the Florida Keys.

Please join in! Yes - we understand, Labor Day in the Keys can be very hot and muggy even at 9 AM in the morning. … but the Labor Day Program at the Monument is always an event that brings to life the most dramatic day in Islamorada’s history. Don’t miss this special program celebrating such an important part of the history of our community. Remind your friends and neighbors.

Indian Key State Park Closed for Refurbishments:

26 Aug 2025 10:53 AM | Anonymous

Indian Key State Park Closed for Refurbishments: Effective August 25, 2025: An environmental restoration project will begin at Indian Key Historic State Park.

For the safety of visitors, the park will remain closed while the project is active. The mooring buoys may still be used but no entry onto the island will be allowed. On area of the Fills will be used as a construction parking and materials staging area. For more information: floridastateparks.org/IndianKey or 305-664-0655

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Your Chance to Speak Up!

Thursday September 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM

Village Council Budget Hearing #1 For Fiscal Year 2025-2026