“We had a Dream”

The United States will mark 250 years as a republic on July 4, 2026.

This commemorates the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the enactment of the  Constitution.

This milestone is both a celebration of achievement and a test of whether the nation still lives up to its founding ideals.

The Founders of the United States recognized that liberty erodes when the citizens' vigilance fades.

The U.S. Constitution’s “checks and balances” were meant to protect against both authoritarianism and the dangers of unchecked majority rule.

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential of America’s Founding Fathers, known for emphasizing liberty, vigilance, and the responsibility of citizens as essential protectors of democracy.

Franklin’s famous quote — “A republic, if you can keep it” — remains a challenge centuries later.

The Republic depends on citizens’ active participation, moral accountability, and trust.

To “Keep the Republic,” Americans must:

·       Remain informed and vigilant.

·       Insist on upholding constitutional principles.

·       Engage in civic life and community investment

As residents of Islamorada we should also subscribe to and uphold these principles!

Islamorada came to be as a local municipal government 28 years ago.

Are we fulfilling the “dream” we once embraced?

The first meeting of the Islamorada Council was held Saturday March 28, 1998 at 7:30 PM.   A longtime resident shared the souvenir “agenda” with me. Click here to see it!

What struck me – the 1998 message “We Had a Dream” from local historian Irving Eyster (1928-2014) in the very first Village agenda:

“For a long time the folks in this part of the Keys had a dream. They believed that through self-governance they could create a unique village atmosphere with emphasis on history, culture, parks and recreation, the environment, and less or simpler regulations”

Eyster went on to say:

“We now have Islamorada, Village of Islands, and are starting a new phase of our history. We have responsible and dedicated people planning our future, but each of us must help make it a success by offering our help.” 

Unfortunately, we appear to have taken our eye off the ball.

Do we still share a common vision of the Village we want to be — and do we still believe in our local government’s efforts?

The citizens here must decide whether to allow the Village principles to erode or strengthen our principles through active participation in government.

Are we willing to be those citizens needed to take on the responsibility as “essential protectors of democracy.”

Miami Attorney Gene Stearns played a  critical role in guiding our residents through the incorporation process back in 1996-1997. 

Once the Village became a reality through a voter referendum in November 1997, Stearns sent the Village Founders a letter of advice.  That advice, printed in the Village’s souvenir agenda should be reiterated often so we never forget:

• Be kind to each other. Don’t respond to meanness with meanness (or, as my mother used to say, two wrongs don’t make a right). Tolerate and encourage criticism.

• There is no room in public office for those with thin skins. Listen. Be respectful to those who lack the ability to articulate their opinions effectively.

• Avoid excessive political posturing.

• Before telling a citizen what to do, try doing it yourself, leading by example.

• Keep it simple. A bureaucratic answer is no answer.

• Plant lots of trees and shrubs.

• Acquire critical land for public use before price escalations make acquisition impossible.

• Every dollar you waste is a dollar which could have been used for a better purpose, either better public services, facilities or tax reductions.

• Include those who opposed you as soon as possible. 

• Hire good people and insist that public employees treat each citizen with the same respect you would want to be treated.

• Sometimes you have to say no.

• Always think about what it will be like in the future. 

• Keep your meetings crisp, with discussion of one subject at a time.

• Avoid all conflict of interest and all possible appearance of conflict of interest.

• Be ethical in all your dealings. 

• Keep smiling when all is falling around you (which from time to time it will).

• And finally, always remember, if it was easy they wouldn’t need you. 

The aforementioned guidance from Eyster and Stearn should serve as a reminder to all of us how business and government should be conducted.

“Each of us must help” – but how often do the folks in Islamorada show up for council meetings and workshops unless there is something on the agenda that directly and immediately would impact them?

When will residents learn that many decisions, though subtle as they may be, will have a lasting impact.

Include those who oppose you as soon as possible.  Instead residents here often fear retaliation just because they are not like-minded.

“Emphasis on the environment” – I think about all the hammocks that have been damaged. Sometimes on Village owned land, sometimes because we don’t consistently enforce the rules.

I think about the only living coral reef in North America that is just barely alive.

Encourage criticism. Listen. The Village has, over the past several years, restricted public comment as if it were a bother.

“Acquire land for public use.”  Conduct public meetings to discuss uses for the properties we have acquired. (It should be done before we purchase them)

Putting a “for sale by owner” sign on a $4 million Village property without any public comment is absurd.

Sometimes Council has to say no – even if it is a close friend.

Avoid conflict of interest or appearance of conflict of interest. We do a very poor job of asking council persons to recuse themselves if there is any possibility of a conflict.

The budget – how often we hear – “rich community” and thus do little to protect financial diversity in our demographics, ignoring opportunities to make costs more rational, eventually driving out all but the very rich.

Our Dream

We celebrate “our dream” and urge everyone here to refresh our memories as to the founding of our Village and our hopes for the future of the community.

Remember the words of Irving Eyster, our historian, when you want to energize yourself about our very special Village.

Enjoy the freedoms we have fought for.

This is the best country, the best in the world!

It’s not even close.

Tom

The Village of Islamorada welcomed Florida Bay Forever back into the Cottage , where they have an Eco-Gift shop alongside the Village's new Environmental Resource Center.

The Village created the Environmental Resource Center as a shared community space for local environmental nonprofits.

Florida Bay Forever will be there Wednesdays and Saturdays, welcoming visitors and storytelling about Florida Bay. On Thursdays and Fridays you can meet some of The Village's other nonprofit partners, making this a rotating hub for community learning, connection, and stewardship.

The Islamorada Library is hosting special events and activities for Summer Reading for kids.

Summer events:

Monday, June 22, 3-4 pm: Windell Campbell, puppeteer. Campbell's storytelling shows reach both children and adults with their memorable tales and the expert use of puppets.

Saturday, June 27, 12:30 pm: Movie Matinee

The Iron Giant (PG) is a giant robot from outer space — so what is it doing in Maine?

Monday, June 29, 2 pm: Movie Matinee

The original blockbuster filmed in Massachusetts half a century ago retains its bite: time to go back into the water with Jaws (PG).

Tuesday, June 30, 4 pm: Florida Bay Forever

The local nonprofit group shares the science and strength of a community through a unique program for our younger patrons.

Wednesday, July 1, 3-4 pm: Painting with Diana McGuirk

Join us for this all ages canvas painting class with Diana. All supplies provided. Registration is required.

RIDESHARE: On Wed, June 24, a seven member Task Force selected by Village Manager, Ron Saunders, will be having a public workshop to discuss components of a two-year contract with Freebee so the Village can continue providing Rideshare services in Islamorada.

During the Village Council selection process, ideas were discussed to make the service for both taxpayers and the riders even better.  Essential components of the proposed contract will be discussed by the committee at the workshop. The public is encouraged to attend and bring ideas.  

 

The proposed contract price from Freebee’s proposal to the Village was $665,000 with credits back to the Village for 100% of a new $2 ride fee and a guaranteed $60,000 advertising credit.  

The Village anticipates 50% of the net cost will be covered by a grant from FDOT.  The second year’s grant funding is uncertain.

Members of the Task Force: Alina Davis, Jamie Engel, Jonathon Lindback, Sue Miller, Kelly Reid, Rob Stober, Joe Wischmeier

Finally - the Monroe County School Board has the Founders Park baseball field on their Tuesday Agenda, June 23, at Coral Shores, 3 PM meeting.  

And we expect it on the Village agenda in July.

Let’s review:

Cost of Construction: The entire estimated $6 million cost of the upgrades are to be paid by the School District.

Location: On Village owned Park property leased to School District for $10/year.

Debate:  Who should have the right to provide final approval of critical improvements – the owner of the property, the entity paying for upgrades or both?

Who will use the field during the offseason? What limitations will be required to protect the condition of the field’s surface?

When fighting for artificial turf, the argument to Village residents was that this new surface would provide an opportunity for multi-uses.  Other school uses were outlined.

Owners’ Version of Lease (called the License and Use Agreement): January 2026 the Islamorada Council approved, 5-0, a License and Use agreement spelling out responsibilities for both the Village, as owner of the field, and the School District, who leases it for $10/year for use as high school baseball field (Jan – May season).

Tenants’ Version of Lease: On Tuesday the School District attorneys are presenting their own version of an agreement to the School Board – as the tenants. It’s quite confusing to figure out what they don’t like about the Village agreement.   

 

Design Build Contract: Over a year ago, February 2025, the School Board selected Keystar,  Inc, a Key West firm, to design and build $6 million baseball field upgrades at Founders Park.

The Village is listed as a party to the contract but has not signed on the signature page, yet Keystar has been working on the design for over a year.

Design Features: The design features have been debated.  But any changes the Village suggests come with a hefty cost to the Village… as change orders.

Deadlines: The deadline for completion of the project in time for the 2027 baseball season has passed.

Reduced Project Design: In order to have a ball field for the 2027 season, the School District staff and Village staff have been negotiating behind the scenes to split the project so that artificial turf can be installed now, delaying the other improvements.

Public: While Founders Park is a community park, the  public has not been included in deals being made.  

Compared to other School Fields: This is a high school baseball field, the only one in the county not on school property. And just like at the ballfields they do own, the School District is going to be paying 100% of the cost to upgrade the leased field at Founders. 

What about maintenance and replacement:  There is an agreement in the School Board agenda on Tuesday, “renegotiated by School and Village staff.” It suggests the Village taxpayers must share some costs of repairs, replacement and maintenance with the School District.

Do taxpayers in Marathon and Key West share maintenance and replacement costs with the School District at their local school athletic fields?

Extraordinary Costs: The School Board members have stated they are policy makers and do not get involved in the dollars and cents – leaving details up to staff.  Isn’t that a dangerous approach to governance? The costs suggested by Keystar for providing just the artificial turf and some fencing appear to be extreme.

The lifespan of the field surface is 8 – 10 years (maybe less with our weather conditions). It appears the School District thinks the Village should be responsible for paying a portion of replacement costs if the field is damaged by hurricane, or just worn out from use in the future. Why?  The Village is providing very costly land for just $10/year. Isn’t that enough?

ADA: The School District has allowed non-ADA compliant facilities to exist for nearly 25 years at the Founders Park baseball field – including the portable bleachers with no stairs and no railings.  

What will elected officials decide?

Village Council: We feel confident that the Village Council does not want major changes to their January agreement that would negatively impact Islamorada taxpayers.

We believe they will stick to the basics approved last January as promised.

School Board: We don’t understand why the School Board won’t even meet with the Village Council.

Why wouldn’t the Coral Shores baseball team get the same quality facilities provided for the other teams in Monroe County… at total School District expense?

Come on… the kids want to play ball and we all want a safe, well-maintained field for them. It should not be this difficult.

We have noticed a “procedure” being utilized at Village meetings that needs to be exposed and explained.

The “thumbs up” signal given by Council members on an issue is not a procedure that is covered in any Village rules or procedures.

The Village Charter includes provisions that uphold the rights of our citizens.

We are currently going through a Village Charter review process. It is a process that demonstrates the significance of Charter provisions.

It explains why charter provisions cannot be changed without approval by voters on the November ballot.

The use of the “thumbs up” by Council members and the Village Manager circumvents the ability of the public to comment and for the issue on the table to be discussed as part of our decision making process.

The facts:

Section 5. Village Council. (8) ( c ) states: All actions of the village council shall be by ordinance, resolution, or motion.

All three of the vote mechanisms for action give residents the right to public comment before a “final” vote. It appears the “Thumbs Up”, a pseudo voting mechanism, is used regularly by this council to avoid public comment requirements.

We know that Julius Caesar used the “thumbs up” (and down) with great success at the Roman Colosseum but the Village rules did not apply there.

This “vote” often provides controversial direction, and the start of often expensive and unpopular projects that never get to the final approval stage.

This needs to stop.

 

The prior church property now owned by the Village got a “thumbs up” for a “for sale by owner” sign on the property: Bought for $4M on Aug 12, 2024 in spite of a grim report on the condition of the structure… and no real plan for future use. 

Tuesday night, the agenda had a discussion item, “Village Owned Properties” —-  the former Silver and Spice, Machado property and the former church. No tabs, no staff reports, no explanation in advance.

All three properties are in need of a plan.

For almost two years, the $4 million church property has been sitting unused except for some public works equipment stored in the parking lot. 

With a “thumbs up” the Council decided to direct staff to put a “For Sale by Owner” sign on the property. No public workshop, no public discussion, no price/value analysis, and not even public comment at the meeting… just a claim the council had agreed to sell the property a year ago and never followed up.

 

The Village is continuing to make poor decisions at taxpayer expense.

The only people benefiting from our mistakes may be the real estate agents. Do we have a designated “Village real estate agent?” If we do, do they work at a deeply reduced commission rate?

 

Sun Community RV Park at MM87.4:  The 55 stilt homes on the Sun Community property are registered as mobile homes, though they are not mobile homes and not mobile!The property is an RV park with homes on stilts. No mobile homes.

The homes pay a vehicle registration fee of less than $100/yr and no property taxes.

Dwellings within MOBILE HOME PARKS in Florida can be treated as “mobile homes” and registered as vehicles, even if they are not mobile homes. This is an effort to ensure some affordability throughout the state where so many mobile home parks provide the area’s most affordable place to live.

The Sun Community Islamorada Park is not what the legislators had in mind when this statute was enacted.

Mayor Don Horton has given up on the legislature amending the statute. Why?

All Legislation is made to be changed. We just need a carve out in the statute to exclude homes like these. Perhaps make short term rentals in mobile home parks illegal if using this “Vehicle Registration” angle.

I was told several years ago, that the TDC legislature’s funding requirements were not going to be revised. That has proven to be wrong. TDC funds have recently been used to cover more that direct tourism expenses.

Engage our lobbyists (if they don’t also work for Sun Communities) to seek change to these MM87.4 homes.

Engage our legislators. If they can’t fix this, have them explain why… at a public meeting.

These homes are selling for $600,000 to $900,000.  And most all of them are short term rentals.

I challenge anyone to take a look at the site and tell me it is “affordable.”

Those 55 stilt homes selling for $600,000 to $9800,000 should be taxed as real property.

Horton and Village Attorney, John Quick, have a plan to create a special taxing district for the property.  The Village would charge the 55 stilt homes an annual assessment to cover their share of our fire protection cost.  

The Village would have to hire a consultant to determine what portion of the Village cost, for fire protection only, should be the responsibility of each of the 55 homes.

Another consultant?

A simple “thumbs up” from council gave the staff direction to start the process. No real public discussion, no price/value analysis and not even public comment at the meeting.

So what would the Village get if we do the special taxing district, which could only cover fire protection costs, not emergency medical services, not Public Works, Parks and Rec, or any other Village departments that provide local services?

If taxed as real property, a Sun Community stilt home with taxable value of $500,000 would pay about $4,500 per year in property taxes.

Of that, at 2.65 mills, the Village would get about $1,350/home.  At best the special assessment would provide about $340 per home; less than $20,000 total for all 55 homes. That is far less than the increase in pay the council members will receive if we pass the charter amendment in November increasing their pay to $1500/month.

     

The Islamorada Community Alliance believes there is a better way – a way that would require the 55 stilt homes to be recognized as real property.

The Florida law treats all dwellings in mobile home parks as if they are mobile homes and eligible for $88/yr vehicle registration instead of property tax. 

Why is Sun Community Islamorada considered a mobile home park? There isn’t a single mobile home on the site.

Currently the 55 homes are all non-conforming uses!

Shouldn’t we change the zoning so they are not zoned Mobile Home Park? They are not a mobile home park. They are an upscale ocean front RV Park and housing project.

Council, do the hard work we elected you to do. Seek changes to the law.

We do not subscribe to taking the path of least resistance for a token return.

Fight for the right thing for the taxpayers! 

Tom

The drive between Key Largo and Key West on Sunday, was a highly patriotic display of red, white and blue in celebration of National Flag Day. Fire stations, public agencies, community organizations and private businesses joined in to make Flag Day 2026 an appropriate lead up to America’s 250th birthday with huge flags on display.