We continue to work diligently to educate the public regarding local issues that impact quality of life, our fragile environment and our limited infrastructure.

We continue to make rational suggestions. Is anyone in Village Hall listening?

I am compelled to respond to the ridiculous assertions made at the baseball field discussion last Tuesday.

To be clear, our position, from the beginning of this issue, has been asking council to adhere to the procedures and rules imposed by our Village.

That request has been ignored.  The baseball preliminary design was in the agenda as a discussion item only.  Yet they broke with their own rules and voted to approve the design which included the controversial artificial turf.

Our position on the “turf or grass” is simple — Have council and the public hear both positions, pro and con, and make the right decision consistent with the Villages’ mission statement.

Additionally, to be clear, this newsletter has over several thousand readers, certainly not a small voice of loonies, considering only 3-4,000 residents vote in our elections.

There is not a movement of people who would “be happy if the baseball field and other sports fields used by our entire community disappeared.”

There is more nonsense in the actual quote from last Tuesday but this is the crux of the statement and I don’t want to bore you. Suffice it to say it was a stupid, insulting, ill advised statement that has zero factual basis.

Shameful.

 

Our position remains consistent. To ask Council to hear the people and ensure the correct decision is made. For some this is hard to do because many officials do not seek opposing opinions but rather operate in their own bubble.

Example:

A  Baseball Field Task Force  of residents, authorized by our Village manager, made the recommendation to do a survey of residents to address the baseball field controversies. The task force request was ignored by Council who did not want to “kick the ball down the road.”

It would not take a great length of time or effort to settle this issue by hearing from  constituents.

Unfortunately, many residents are afraid to comment publicly. They fear both personal and commercial reprisals. This has been expressed by many readers.  

Power, bully politics, with occasional name calling in public, is now the norm in the village council meetings and other forums. We reject childish behavior.

Real public servants adjust their positions when given additional information. Not in this Village. Some council members were predisposed and made campaign promises.

We will never shrink from reporting issues as we see them.

As always, we welcome rational discussion in whatever forum is appropriate.

The “Will of the People” is more than a slogan.  It is the basis for political decision-making, underscoring the belief that our government should act while considering the wishes of its citizens. 

As a community we must do better. Remember, elections have consequences.

Tom Raffanello

With two long meetings last week, the Council made numerous important decisions, sometimes with lengthy discussion, sometimes with no discussion.  

You should have been there.  But then - would it have mattered?

Tuesday Meeting:

• Baseball design approved - while in the agenda for discussion only, the Council voted 4-1, Friedman dissenting, for preliminary Founders Park baseball field design with estimated cost over $6 million, including artificial turf and an 800 sq ft building with concession stand, 4 restrooms, and press box.

• Founders Park Master Plan approved - with estimated cost for proposed improvements over 15 years at $78,922,000

• Line of Credit approved: $20 million for emergency funds during a natural disaster or to finance  emergency capital improvements

• Contract approved retroactively $9,250/mo, for financial consulting services with Bishop, Rosasco and Co

• Ambulance Remount approved for Fire Rescue Department, $351,904

• 28’ Contender boat purchase approved for Fire Rescue, $350,000

• Work Authorization for Civic Engineer for $907,645, primarily wastewater

Thursday Land Use Meeting:

• 4 administrative relief approved: awarding 4 BPAS allocations for applicants in system, not awarded based on points but for being in system 4 years.

• Request approved: for Comp Plan change by applicant to enable building 42 affordable housing apartments on an acre in a Coastal High Hazard area (V flood zone)

• Approved Reversal of Planning decision: granting transient development rights for motel units changed to nonresidential use 40 years ago, against Planning Staff recommendation.

At the Council Land Use meeting last Thursday, Sue Miller, representing the Islamorada Community Alliance (ICA), spoke against adding 42 affordable housing units to a 1-acre oceanfront lot on Windley Key as being too dense, especially in a “Coastal High Hazard,” V Flood zone, location.

The applicant’s attorney commented at the podium that the ICA would be against anything the applicant wanted to develop there.

 

Perhaps so.  The ICA has consistently pointed to evidence of “overbuilding.”

• Windley Key is listed in the 2025 Traffic Study as a “D” classification - a segment that should be given particular attention when approving development applications.

• Serious evacuation and safety concerns have been repeatedly mentioned for decades by various speakers like Captain Ed Davidson quoting flaws in the evacuation methodology.

  
  

The ICA does not appear to be alone in their concerns. And the State objected to the change after first reading as it conflicts with our Comp Plan.

At the County Commission meeting last week, a resolution was passed asking for help from South Florida Regional Planning as they review a planned project along Miami-Dade’s Krome Avenue (an important way out for the Keys during an evacuation): 954 acres of agricultural land along Krome  Avenue would include 7,800 new residential units, more than 2 million square  feet of office, retail and industrial space, and three new schools.

The Monroe County Commission is rightly worried. But they have no jurisdiction in Miami-Dade. (Click here for the story in the Keys Citizen Saturday)

Florida Keys elected officials do have jurisdiction in Monroe County. And the ICA has often voiced concerns when Keys elected officials find ways to ignore traffic studies and evacuation methodology, ignore limited water sources, upzone properties to add more building rights; ask the legislature for more ROGO building allocations.  Silent on the tens of millions of annual TDC spending to bring in more tourists.

There are major wastewater concerns in Islamorada.  We will highlight concerns every week until there are none left to highlight!

The wastewater system is operated as an enterprise fund… a self-supporting government fund that sells goods or services to the public for a fee intended to cover all costs… just like a business.  We question whether the Village Wastewater Enterprise fund is operating in a businesslike manner!   Self-supporting? No - they show major deficits year after year. Thank you Islamorada Council for finally scheduling a wastewater special call meeting Nov 17 at 5:30 PM.  Now, let’s find solutions. This week’s concern: The 2022 Wastewater Rate Study is in the Nov 17 meeting agenda.  In the study there are critical recommendations approved almost 4 years ago but never implemented.  Hopefully those important suggestions can be used now to help eliminate the annual deficits the sewer system has been experiencing. Note - In recent past newsletters we have already questioned: Why isn’t Sun Community paying their fair share of wastewater costs? Why is the tiny 1947 trailer park near the Post Office paying more than their fair share? Why are the three breweries in the Village paying a minimal amount? Why does Village policy provide a volume discount for wastewater costs to the larger developments, resorts, marinas, restaurants with more than 10 EDUs? Need for public special call meeting about Wastewater FDEP consent order approval. (Special Call Wastewater meeting now on the agenda for Nov 17, 5:30 PM) Budget concernhighlighted in Nov 10 wastewater agenda item: Year-end (9/30/25) budget amendment shows a wastewater DEFICIT of $5,343,345 for the year just ended, 9/30/2025. We will continue to add/delete concerns until all have been resolved.

with Representative Jim Mooney and Florida Senator Ana Marie Rodriguez.

Prior to legislative sessions, delegation meetings are held in counties throughout Florida. Local governments and citizens have an opportunity to discuss legislative proposals and concerns. On Nov 13 Representative Jim Mooney and Senator Ana Marie Rodriguez listened as the local governments listed their priorities.  

The most common requests:

1. Fix SB180 that passed in 2025 and seriously restricts local government in addressing changes to Comprehensive Plans and Land Development Regulations.  

2. Protect property tax revenues from efforts underway to let voters decided in November 2026 whether to eliminate or significantly reduce property taxes, particularly on homesteaded properties.

3. Approve funding for local governments, Stewardship funding for water quality at the top of the list for most Monroe County jurisdictions.

Mooney reminded the jurisdictions present that their specific requests for funding is due soon.

Islamorada Appropriations Request: While not discussed during a public meeting, Islamorada has submitted a list of four items they would like to have the Legislature approve for state funding in 2026.

• $750,000 - North Plantation Key Wastewater Pump Station

• $300,000 - Sea Oats Beach Breakwater

• $350,000 - Schools to Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety

• $350,000 - Enhancement of Public Transit

  
  

Click here for details regarding Islamorada’s request.

Tours of house and hammock, games, music, art lessons by Pasta and so much more! Click here for details.

Please donate new, unwrapped toys to the bins at all three fire stations. Also at the Holiday Fest at Founders Park, and at the yearly Islamorada Fire Department Santa Parade!

Experts say there is no need to stash away everyday pennies. Most will remain worth exactly what they were before production stopped. While 2025 pennies may become collector favorites, the average coin will continue its familiar role in jars, drawers, and cash registers nationwide.

We continue to work diligently to educate the public regarding local issues that impact quality of life, our fragile environment and our limited infrastructure.

We continue to make rational suggestions. Is anyone in Village Hall listening?

There was an important agenda item during the Nov 10th Council meeting regarding the Baseball field renovation.

Why is this important? Let me count the ways. 

While the issue is not in the Council agenda for a decision, just a report, with no public comment, we have been led to believe that the Council may waive their meeting procedures so they can actually vote on this controversial issue, without appropriate public notification. 

That is wrong on many levels.

This adds to the procedural missteps that have plagued this project since 2021.

We are prepared to list the procedural violations and are forwarding them in a letter to Village Council and Village Attorney.

It is incumbent on the VILLAGE ATTORNEY to opine on the legitimacy of these proceedings.

The failure to adhere to our own laws is a concern and we seek the Village legal opinion on the record. An immediate opinion is both appropriate and necessary.

If the Village Attorney needs more time, we understand. Then postpone the baseball ”discussion” until such time as the Attorney can provide his opinion.

Bottom line, the baseball field project needs to be resolved by adhering to all requirements of Village regulations, all in the Sunshine.

• Did the Baseball Design Committee follow public notice requirements for meetings that have been taking place since at least 2021. It does not appear that they did.   

• Islamorada is a party to the proposed Design Build contract but has never signed the contract – yet the contracted designer is hard at work without a legally signed contract.

Consider these factors:

The Interlocal Agreement signed by the School District and Village, requires a Baseball License and Use Agreement.  A first step.

The terms in that agreement need to be succinct and agreeable to all parties before a design can be determined. It must be carefully negotiated with School District approval with very specific terms as to the allowable uses as well as all capital costs, operational, maintenance, and replacement costs during baseball season as well as the remainder of the year. Who is entitled to use all of the facilities, when. Who does the maintenance. 

The draft of the license document provided in tonight’s agenda needs significant improvement and school board agreement before design decisions are appropriate.

We do not think the public and Village Council have been provided all the facts and data regarding the use of our community park.

• Have we heard all the pros and cons about artificial turf versus real grass? 

• Have we weighed the cost, safety and environmental concerns?

We’ve been told repeatedly that the costs are school board costs, not Village money. Isn’t the School Board funded by our taxes?  Of course it is.

Check your tax bill – school taxes are listed. We pay both school and village taxes.

The Islamorada Taxpayers are entitled to a Voice!

And consider the fate of the Baseball Task Force:

Our Village Manager appointed 5 members of the community to a Baseball Task Force to help sort out the facts. 

• These community members put in significant time and energy.  

• A majority of task force members proposed the need for a community survey to assure the taxpayers of Islamorada have a voice. 

• There is no report from the Task Force in the agenda this week. 

• There is no discussion of a survey.  

Why did we have a Task Force?

If we are incorrect with any of our assertions in any of this editorial, please help us correct the record.

Our goal is to report the facts and we will gladly correct any part of our assertions and publish the replies.

The taxpayers of Islamorada own Founders Park.  We all deserve a very loud voice.

Hear us!

As a community we must do better. Remember, elections have consequences.

Tom Raffanello

An EDU is an “Equivalent Dwelling Unit”assigning wastewater system usage based on the water consumption.

There are major wastewater concerns in Islamorada.  We will continue to highlight concerns every week until there are none left to highlight!

The wastewater system is operated as an enterprise fund… a self-supporting government fund that sells goods and services to the public for a fee… just like a business.  We question whether the Village Wastewater Enterprise fund is operating in a businesslike manner!  

Self-supporting? No - they show major deficits year after year.

To address consistent deficits in the wastewater fund, when Greg Oravec was Village Manager, the council voted on 9/30/21 to approve a wastewater rate study at a cost of $42,820. The study was presented and approved by Council on 3/31/22. Oravec was no longer manager and the suggestions in the rate study were never implemented.   The Wastewater Fund continues to operate at a significant deficit year after year.

The current council has now been in office a full year - a year which resulted in a $5 million wastewater deficit….   No longer able to blame the past.

Thank you Islamorada Council for finally scheduling a wastewater special call meeting Nov 17 at 5:30 PM.  Now, let’s find solutions.

This week’s concern:

1. Several budget concerns highlighted by Nov 10 wastewater agenda items:

• Year-end (9/30/25) budget amendment shows a wastewater DEFICIT of $5,343,345 for the year just ended.

• Approval of work authorization with Wade Trim to fix MM92 force main raw sewage leaks at cost of engineering at $846,505, while only $370,00 is budgeted, potentially increasing the $775,128 wastewater deficit projected for current year by almost $500,000. Engineering costs are in addition to the $4,125,000 million projected for the actual construction.

• Time to correct wastewater rate problems and inequities

  
  

These wastewater budget concerns should be moved to the Special Call Wastewater meeting Nov 17.

Note - In recent past newsletters we have already questioned:

1. Why isn’t Sun Community paying their fair share of wastewater costs?

2. Why is the tiny 1947 trailer park near the Post Office paying more than their fair share?

3. Why are the three breweries in the Village paying a minimal amount?

4. Why does Village policy provide a volume discount for wastewater costs to the larger developments, resorts, marinas, restaurants with more than 10 EDUs?

5. Need for public special call meeting about Wastewater FDEP consent order approval. (Special Call Wastewater meeting now on the agenda for Nov 17, 5:30 PM)

We will continue to add/delete concerns until all have been resolved.