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

In America we have a Representative Democracy.  I assume that applies to the Village of Islamorada.  

Voters elect members of Congress and Village Council to make decisions on our behalf based on our input.

Any decision by a representative to ignore their pledge to represent the will of voters, is a risk. Some are anesthetized by their perceived power and fail to express the will of the people.

 

A few years ago a  Councilman insisted the voters had elected him to make decisions, sometimes disregarding their input.  He was not reelected.

Founders Park, Baseball Field, Artificial turf: The council has an important decision to make impacting our much-loved community park.

The Founders Park purchase in 1998 has often been referred to as the smartest thing the Village has done (I concur), creating a much-loved centerpiece for the community owned 100% by Islamorada and its residents.

We elect 5 members of Council – and they have the final say in what happens at the community park.

Will they be strong representatives of the voters who care deeply about the park?

The baseball field is used by the Coral Shores High School baseball team, January through May via an agreement with the School Board. The School Board wants to upgrade the baseball field at taxpayer expense. Islamorada property owners all pay school taxes as well as Islamorada taxes.  Ergo, it is our money.

Artificial or Real

The School Board’s planned design for the Village Park includes artificial turf.  There is also a tremendous case to be made for “God’s green grass.”

Last week a Baseball Task Force met, made up of 5 local residents, formed to help the council with decisions related to the baseball field at the park. 

Choosing between artificial turf and real grass involves many factors:  

Costs, maintenance, aesthetics, durability, playability, environmental impact are all important factors 

The task force heard from a scientist favoring real grass with scientific reasons and a salesman who sells artificial turf.  Do we listen to the dynamic salesman?  Or do we want the scientific facts? It seems like there is more research to do.

Will there be a survey of residents?

The task force recommended that a survey be conducted to find out whether the property owners/taxpayers want real grass or artificial turf at the park. 

Will our council want to hear from the voters?

 Will our elected representatives choose to ignore their campaign promises to represent us, safe in the knowledge that their position is secure until the next election and perhaps forgotten by then.

Many residents have long memories and will vote accordingly.

The baseball coaches think the decision needs to be made immediately so there will be artificial turf installed by the 2027 season.

 

The real grass will be what they play on in 2026 (and what Coral Shore players have played baseball on for generations). 

If we don’t have all the answers, we should continue to gather the facts.

  

There is sufficient time to hear from the Islamorada residents. The residents own the park and their will should be the litmus test.

Waiting another year will only reflect a better decision… and the continued improvement of the artificial turf product.

We have artificial turf at the dog park.  And we are getting artificial turf at the new playground at Founders Park. 

I say - Ignore self-imposed deadlines and make good decisions.

The council owes the residents the ability to weigh in. We urge our Council to commission a survey of the residents of Islamorada. Let’s make the right decision.

 

 

Another topic: WE HAVE A WASTEWATER EMERGENCY!

While we thankRon Saunders for making wastewater a high priority, proper wastewater decisions are at a critical stage. What does it take to convene the council to explain our problem to residents and lay out the solutions and taxpayer costs?

It is undoubtedly the NUMBER ONE health and safety issue we have. Raw sewage is known to contain harmful disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites.  If we continue to slow walk, we can destroy the environment that makes us special.

Anybody listening?

A maintenance plan and review of the 7 water crossings that contain buried sewer pipes should be regularly assessed for functionality and longevity. Foresight and prevention will prevent another wastewater calamity.

We urge a special public meeting to be conducted outlining problems, solutions and costs. It is what local governments are required to do for their constituents.

Elections have consequences.

Tom Raffanello

Coastal flooding damaged beyond repair the old restaurant at Plantation Yacht Harbor that had been serving as Islamorada’s Village Hall. Many public record documents were stacked on the floor. Numerous homes on the bay side of town were also badly damaged by storm surge.

On Oct 18, 2005,  Wilma transformed from a tropical storm to a Category Five hurricane in less than 24 hours.  Oct 24 was the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Wilma plowing through Islamorada with 4-8 foot storm surge.

Perhaps now there is reason for just a touch of optimism.

But first the latest news: FDEP, Florida’s environmental regulators, have ordered the Village to fix Islamorada’s wastewater pipeline to Key Largo and pay $11,320 in fines for the repeated sewage spills that violated state clean-water rules.  There have been six overflows from May 2021 to March 2025 with a total of 430,000 gal of raw sewage leaking from pipe ruptures.

On 12/23/23, FDEP authorized the Village plan to remedy the problem by replacing the pump facility on Gardenia St.   But nothing has been done since then - almost two years and no action. And so the letter, dated October 15, 2025, from FDEP asks for the Village “Consent” to proceed with the changes the Village requested, with deadlines and stated penalties for pipeline failures - up to $15,000 per day.

Click here for the Consent Order draft to the Village from the Department of Environmental Protection detailing the issues, deadlines and possible fines they are asking Islamorada to agree to.

The Village has allocated $4.5 million in their current budget for the fix.  It is unknown whether that will be the actual cost.  

Since 2021, the Village engineers and Key Largo engineers have disagreed on the best approach, delaying work and resulting in more ruptures. Now Key Largo has agreed to accept the Village solution and will no longer object. Islamorada can now move forward. Whether Key Largo engineers had a better solution is still possible, but a stalemate resulting in doing nothing is not an option.

Since the first leak in 2021, Islamorada has had 4 Village Managers and 4 Interim Managers. Finally current Village Manager, Ron Saunders, is treating wastewater problems as a very high priority concern. And Saunders has brought in Peter Rosasco to help straighten out financial issues and EDU inconsistencies with our Wastewater Fund.

Best news: Saunders is being transparent about Village concerns and the impact on taxpayers.  He provided the details of the FDEP demands in a Village newsletter last Friday.   He acknowledges the wastewater concerns and is determined to clean things up.

An EDU is an “Equivalent Dwelling Unit”assigning wastewater system usage based on the water consumption of properties compared to a typical single-family home. (157 gal/day = 1 EDU, approximating water in = wastewater out.

We have highlighted several specific concerns about whether the wastewater charges to Village property owners are fair and equitable.

In recent newsletters we have already questioned:

1. Is Sun Communities paying their fair share of wastewater costs?

2. Is the tiny 1947 trailer park near the Islamorada Post Office paying too much?

3. What about the three breweries in the Village paying a minimal amount?

Another concern:

1. Why does Village policy provide a volume discount for wastewater costs to the larger developments, resorts, marinas, restaurants with more than 10 EDUs?  Shouldn’t they pay based on the volume of wastewater that goes into the central system? The wastewater fund has had million-dollar deficits - why would there be any discounts?  

Wastewater is required to be self-supporting. When is the last time the Village established updated EDU counts and reviewed the billing policies?

In 2019, Friends of the Pool applied to acquire the 150-year-old Alligator Light. In 2021, Secretary of the Interior notified them that they would be deeded Alligator Light, no longer in use by the Coast Guard. But with the deed came a promise to restore Alligator Light, estimated cost: $9 million.

Those who love the iconic Light are invited to an annual fundraising gala on Tea Table Key, part of the Restore, Reignite and Reimagine campaign. Click Here for details.

FKEC monthly electric bills have been rounded up to the nearest dollar, as members donate up to 99 cents per month to Operation Round Up.

Since 1994, the pennies collected have allowed the FKEC Members Charitable Trust to distribute almost $4 million to help local individuals or families with special needs.

Each application for funds is carefully reviewed and verified by the volunteer board of FKEC Members Charitable Trust.

MONROE COUNTY  DELEGATION MEETING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81229342524... password:500812

Florida’s lawmakers are hosting legislative delegation meetings in each of the 67 counties— a vital opportunity for citizens to speak directly to their state lawmakers. These annual meetings give legislators a chance to hear local concerns and priorities before the next legislative session begins, and public comment can help shape what issues they focus on in Tallahassee.

Florida Chamber of Commerce graded each elected representative in Tallahassee for the 2025 legislative session. This organization addresses key issues facing Florida’s business community working to unite those businesses, to fighting for economic opportunities and grow private-sector jobs. Of the 120 House representatives, Mooney was in the top 5 with a grade of 96% on their report card.

Progress Florida and Florida Watch graded each state legislator based on their voting record on issues they believe matter most to Floridians: affordability, the economy, our health, public schools, clean air and water, and more. Mooney was near the bottom in their judgement, scoring an “F.”

Perhaps Islamorada is lucky. Jim Mooney is extremely knowledgeable about the Village, having lived here for decades and served on the Village Council. Islamorada has opportunities to interact with Mooney and get help on issues of significance locally.  The local government certainly should work closely with Mooney on legislative issues that impact the community.   The Monroe County Delegation Meeting on November 13th is one of those opportunities. Islamorada should communicate local concerns to Mooney so that he has an opportunity to assist - and to get an A+ on the Village report card.

Did you know: blue flag collection boxes created by local Eagle Scout Brian L. Neuzil in 2017 are located at the three Islamorada Fire Stations and the lobby of Village Hall.

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?

While running for office last year, all of the candidates for Village Council pledged to protect our environment, our quiet enjoyment of life, and our limited infrastructure.

All seemed opposed to those who want to keep building, and to the unfettered establishment of businesses and tourism.

It is no secret the Village is deeply divided on these issues. I believe that the majority of residents want to preserve our lifestyle and environment. And all the candidates last fall seemed to support that philosophy.

Once in office did things change? I always judge people on what they do, not what they pledged in order to get elected.

At the very first Village Council meeting last November, the newly elected Council waived their Meeting Rules in order to reconsider the number of additional BPAS building allocations Islamorada would request from the state of Florida.  The limit has always been based on assuring all residents can be evacuated within 24 hours in case of a major hurricane.  But perhaps adding a half hour, 24 1/2 hours, would be safe.

Our prior council, after months of workshops, studies and input from residents, requested 104 additional BPAS units. Council Member Steve Friedman expressed concerns about overdevelopment and the environment and noted his displeasure at the effort to overthrow the past council’s decision of adding another 104 homes.

In a 3-2 vote, with Friedman and Sharon Mahoney dissenting, the newly elected council nearly doubled the prior request for 104 permits. They voted to ask for 199.

Why?  Who demanded this? The prior number of 104 was derived by ceding middle ground, a staple of good governance. The revised number of 199 was strictly a display of power by the new council and their intention to use it.

Middle ground be damned! Our politicians focus on defeating their political enemies, not governance for all.

Too many residents refuse to speak up no matter how strongly they feel. By not calling attention to themselves, residents don’t face the contempt from those who wield political and commercial power. And these are real fears.

Those council members who support middle ground are voted down. Residents who disagree with the elected officials in power are considered political enemies, not simply citizens of Islamorada with a different point of view.

I think that the mark of a leader is one who encourages the public, listens to their concerns and reaches middle ground.

We have seen what demonizing one’s opponents can do. It creates deeper divides.

Of great concern to all is the effort to silence those who disagree, instead of reaching compromise and uniting a fractured village.

Another indication of eliminating minority opinion: the Council changed the selection process for Village citizen committees.

In the past, each member of council could select someone from the community to serve on the committees. Now committee selection is by majority vote of Council. Three votes rule. No minority opinions allowed!

That means that those in the majority on Council control everything, including the voices of some residents who’d like to serve on a committee, but have differing philosophies from the majority on Council.  This further weakens our village government processes.

Polarization isn’t just an obstacle to tackling serious problems, it’s preventing our community members from seeing their partisan rivals as friends and equals.

We pledge, at the ICA, to educate voters on the issues and call out those who do not perform and try to hoodwink voters.

You can count on us.

Elections have consequences.

Tom Raffanello