And a parent and an Islamorada resident and taxpayer.

In a case that typifies the cronyism this village continues to apply to their decisions: At last week’s Council meeting, there was an appeal filed by prior Councilman Mark Gregg.

Gregg challenged the determination by the Village that a home he owns across from Founders Park is a single-family home.

He contends it is a duplex. 

Nearly 10 years ago, he appealed the original decision of the Planning Department.

The council, at that time, agreed with the Planning staff and voted 3-2 denying Gregg’s claim the home was a duplex.

Deb Gillis was on that council and voted against the majority, siding with Gregg that the home should be classified as a duplex. 

At that prior hearing, Don Horton, current council member, represented Gregg.

Now years later, Gregg filed a new request and asked the current Planning Director to revisit the prior decision of Council because of new information.

What was the new information???

Village Planning Director, Jennifer DeBoisbriand, rejected the request stating there was not sufficient new information to warrant a change in the decision. 

Gregg appealed DeBoisbriand’s decision to the council and requested a Public Hearing before Council. That appeal was heard last Thursday.

The Village Attorney, in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, suggested Councilman Don Horton should recuse himself. Horton did and left the room.  

Horton has had a long-standing business relationship with Gregg having previously represented Gregg in the original appeal a decade ago.

Horton’s resume was included in the agenda as an expert at the previous hearing.   The 5-page document (attached) described Horton’s qualifications and personal construction background,  first as a Building Department employee with the County, the Village, and then in private practice.

It is public record.

Unfortunately, this type of conflict will arise again for several current council members who will be voting on development issues… issues pertaining to current and former clients continues to be a concern.

Two people testified during Gregg’s public hearing last Thursday, stating, under oath, that they had been in the house in question prior to Gregg’s 2015 purchase. 

Both provided sworn testimony that the structure was a single-family home.

Gregg acknowledged that he continued the multi-family use of the house, though losing the prior case, and that he only paid wastewater, stormwater and solid waste assessments for one unit and only had a single water and electric hook-up, and one address.

No matter.

The council voted 3-1, with Vice Mayor Mahoney opposed, to overturn the prior decision and the recommendation of our current planning director.

They voted to accept Gregg’s word that the home has always been a legal duplex.  

I ask again, what was the new information that warranted this reversal?

In exchange for the favorable decision, Gregg agreed to numerous conditions being placed on the property – no TDRs to be transferred, no increase in the footprint of the home, no second floor, no vacation rentals.

But do conditions like this matter? Does Gregg have something else up his sleeve?

When the Crooked Palms Distillery’s use was changed from a bank to a distillery,   there were 20 conditions required after lengthy negotiations by the prior Council.

Less than a year later, the current Council removed all of the conditions.

Why??

Crickets…

It is because of these types of decisions that residents question the council members’ ability to apply rules to their friends and business associates. Is it a logical concern?

Elections have consequences.

Tom

Village Council election on Nov 3, 2026 Seat 1: Anna Richards versus Joe Wischmeier Seat 2: Steve Friedman versus Deb Gillis (Gillis switched Seats August 11) Seat 3: Corie McGraw-Abel versus Sue Miller Seat 4: Don Horton versus Tom Raffanello Seat 5: Sharon Mahoney, elected, unopposed

Here's Tom!

• Don Horton (Seat 4), Mayor, Don.horton@islamorada.fl.us

• Sharon Mahoney (Seat 5), Vice Mayor, Sharon.Mahoney@islamorada.fl.us

• Steve Friedman (Seat 2), Council Member, Steve.Friedman@islamorada.fl.us

• Deb Gillis (Seat 3), Council Member, Deb.Gillis@islamorada.fl.us

• Anna Richards (Seat 1), Council Member, anna.richards@islamorada.fl.us

Baseball at Founders Park: The question: With the recent retirement of Patrick LeFere, who will assure upgrades to the CSHS baseball field will be completed in time for the 2027 baseball season?   Apparently LeFere’s project responsibilities have been assigned to various school district department heads pending a replacement for LeFere. Superintendent Tierney reportedly will be responsible for oversight of the Coral Shores baseball field at Founders Park.

There may be a real time crunch based on the current permit status.  While the permit application for the improvements were officially submitted to the Village building department a month ago, it appears as if there are still issues remaining before work can get underway.

Increased cost, on water   bills; new $17 million loan Wastewater Rate Study Finally Presented The news is not good, though expected. August 20, the rate consultant, Raftelis, explained the need to increase the rate property owners pay monthly for wastewater through FKAA water bills, and also the need to borrow funds for needed repairs and upgrades.

According to the report, the consultant is recommending a 6% increase in what property owners pay monthly (on FKAA water bills) based on water consumption, to cover the shortfall in wastewater operating expenses currently experienced.   A $4.61 increase monthly is projected for typical household (per EDU) or $55.32/year. Over $38 million is needed for capital projects for repairs and upgrades to the wastewater system. Over $17 million is expected to be available via grants.  Another $17 million will need to be borrowed, creating an additional annual debt repayment cost of over $1 million/year. Little statistical information was provided in the study presented regarding the number and distribution of EDUs as was expected to be reviewed. Raftelis simply indicated during the discussion that they found no irregularities that would have indicated a need to address EDU distribution. Key Largo Versus Islamorada Costs For several years there has been discussion about turning our wastewater operations over to the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, (if they would take Islamorada).   We found the cost comparison in the Raftelis Rate Study related to typical monthly customer costs reflected on FKAA water bills interesting.

It shows your property’s current taxable value, proposed tax rates and budget hearing dates.  It is not too late to show up at public hearings or to contact elected officials to voice concerns.

TRIM notices for the Village are based on a millage rate of 2.8. Not only does this reflect a significant increase in the tax rate, but the taxable value of properties within the Village also increased by over $491 million since last year.  At the budget workshops, the Council seemed to be aiming for a millage rate that would result in a nearly 10% increase in revenue over the current year. On the November 2026 ballot, Florida voters will decide whether to increase homestead exemptions to exempt $150,000 of taxable value in Fiscal Year 2027 and $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2028, in an effort to help property owners who live here.. Budget Reduction Exercise Requirement This year HB 1329 was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor.  It forces local governments to conduct a budget reduction exercise, starting in 2027, identifying strategies that could reduce the new fiscal year’s budget by 10% compared to the current budget. The effort cannot compromise essential public services such as law enforcement, fire services, or legal obligations. This year the Village seemed hard pressed to limit a budget increase to JUST a 10% increase. A 10% budget reduction exercise could be a real challenge here.

Final Islamorada Budget Hearings: Sep 10 and Sep 17 at 5:30 PM. Voice your thoughts!

Tavernier Publix Update…work is moving right along.   Publix’s website currently lists “The Market at Toppino Cove” at 92501 Overseas Hwy,  Tavernier, FL 33070 as a “Coming Soon” location. Here comes more people and more traffic.

ReefStarter provided a presentation to the Islamorada Council last Thursday, asking for the Village to join them in pursuing a permit for an artificial reef 1200 ft offshore from Sea Oats Beach at MM74.5.  The plan is to install a modular system of integrated concrete blocks, weighing about 6 tons each, designed to mimic the structure and benefits of mature reefs. They are expected to reduce wave energy by 90% and support marine life.   ReefStarter is an early-stage company founded in 2025 that is developing and piloting submerged breakwater technology.  The hope is that the artificial reef structure would help protect U.S. One from storm surges that have damaged this area of U.S. One and shut off access to points south following storms. And also help restore the shoreline damage and provide habitat for marine life. ReefStarter is a collaboration between the Florida Institute of Technology, Florida Institute of Oceanography, University of South Florida, and Designer Ecosystems.

last week’s 999-page agenda “book.” It was definitely intimidating to the public and difficult to follow. Instead of providing the public with a single lengthy agenda file with all reports and TABs, provide a list of items in the agenda, a simple description.

The public can then quickly see items that may be of interest.  The entire staff report and backup material for each individual item could be reviewed by clicking on the link highlighted in blue.  The entire agenda would also be available to download, as it is currently, for those who read the entire agenda. The list with links would allow the public to easily scan for items of particular concern to them.

Short example of the simple list of agenda items:

Tab 2: Minutes from July 7, July 9, School Board/Council workshop July 21, Special Call Council meeting July 27

Tab 3: Approval of expenditures to fix air curtains on two canals ($8,534)

Last week we provided a very well received special edition of the ICA newsletter to provide a summary list of the 27 tabs with our own thoughts. Click here.

Chesapeake Restaurant and Lighthouse C 1960. after Hurricane Donna; Wright Langley Collection. Monroe County Library