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

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.

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:  

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

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

3. 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.

4. 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

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 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: 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

Habitat has homes for rent and sale: While recent attention has focused on affordable rental housing for tourism industry employees, there are other options available for people in need of affordable housing in the Upper Keys. Click here for details.

More Baseball! More Confusion? - Last week the Village Baseball Task Force met Monday, the School Board met Tuesday and the Village Parks and Rec Committee met Thursday. The Coral Shores baseball field at Founders Park was on the agenda at each of the meetings.

The Task Force, on Monday, seemed divided on the artificial turf versus grass.  They did not seem divided as to maintenance and replacement costs if it is artificial turf.  They seemed adamant that the cost of the upgrades to the field and future replacements should be funded 100% by the School District.

The School Board, on Tuesday, questioned who would be responsible for replacements and were told by facility spokesman, Patrick LeFere, that this does not need to be discussed at this time and can be dealt with closer to the time when the turf would need to be replaced.

The School Board voted to approve the preliminary design with artificial turf; an 800 sq ft concession stand with 4 public restrooms and press box on the second floor; a 2200 sq ft building with home team locker room and restroom, umpires’ dressing room with restroom, coach’s office with restroom. Total - 7 new restrooms to replace a porta potty currently used to avoid the need for the restrooms 200 ft down the first base line.

Parks and Rec, on Thursday, learned that the building built by the school in about 2001 down the first base line had restrooms, a concession area, and locker rooms.  

Village Manager, Ron Saunders, has proposed that the Village ask the School Board to eliminate the 2200 sq ft building and instead allow the Village to upgrade the existing building (first base line) so that the 2200 sq ft new building will not be needed, saving an estimated $1.5 million that could then be used elsewhere.

Stay tuned!  Mr. LeFere is claiming that by making any changes to the preliminary design approved by the School Board Tuesday, including eliminating the 2,200 sq ft building, the entire project would be delayed a year.

What about the promise that as property owners the Village would have a say.

Public Workshop Aug 27: to discuss ideas for Village owned properties!  Should they be sold or should we find the perfect use? The Village spent approximately $8.5 million for three costly purchases of properties sitting unused.  

1. The prior Island Silver and Spice location in the heart of town. ($2.75 Million)

2. The Island Community Church building south of Publix ($3.9 Million)

3. The “Machado” vacant property across from the Marlin gas station on the bayside of Plantation Key ($1.8 Million)

Southcliff Estates Affordable Housing: Congratulations to the residents of Monroe County!!!

The residents’ voices were loud, and unmistakably clear. I can’t overstate the fact that a united, clear speaking electorate can and will be heard by our government officials or they will be shown the door! I am proud of all of you.

$3000/month for a 1-bedroom apartment was over the top. The Commissioners heard our voices and dropped the rent to a variable rate based on the income of the tenant.

This is the formula they agreed to:

Annual income of applicant times 30%, divided by 12 months = monthly rent.  

They did not change the qualifying income range: $71,880 to $125,040.  Rental range is now $1797/month to $3126/month using the Commission’s new equation which depends on the income of the tenant.  

I commend the commissioners but the work is not over. A minimum salary of $71,880 is too high. And where did it come from? That salary is not commensurate with salaries of non-supervisory hospitality workers. Reality dictates that it be re-evaluated. Your move, Commissioners!

This Fills situation is still confusing. The Village had a 5-year lease with FDOT and FDEP for the entire Fills between Upper and Lower Matecumbe.  The effort was to control the congestion, environmental damage, and safety issues that had been occurring for several decades on weekends.

The lease ended a full year ago, with no discussion about a renewal. Impossible to explain why the Village has spent significant taxpayer funds to continue to patrol the area on weekends with two Village Public Works employees being paid overtime to sit in village owned vehicles and watch DOT property for illegal parking.  There is no precedent or logical reason for this.

For the current year, just over $182,000 of Village funds was budgeted for monitoring the Fills even though we have not had any authority there since last September. When asked why Public Works continues to pay overtime - the Village Public Works Director, A.J. Engelmeyer, responded to Council that we do this “Because it is in the budget.”

Wrong answer. Cease the “guard duty” and reprogram the money to other Village needs.

Think Bus Stops:

1. It nearly broke my heart passing through the Village recently seeing employees waiting for their bus to the mainland in the pouring rain, some drenched to the bones.

2. The Council has been discussing bus stops for years.

3. The County Transit Director, Richard Clark, asked for us to hold up on bus stops as the County wanted to install bus stops throughout the Keys - utilitarian, attractive, and uniform. Mr. Clark’s position has been eliminated in the 2025-2026 budget. 

4. So the cavalry isn’t coming.

5. We should use the money we can save from the useless Fills “guard duty”.

Suggestion: Make bus stops a joint project with employers, the Chamber and the Village.

We have an obligation, as good citizens, to protect a precious commodity - our workforce.

Protecting our workforce from the sun and rain trumps “guard duty” on DOT property. This is doable and can be completed quickly.

I challenge the involved parties to put this on top of their “to do” list. Any delays would be disrespectful. It is what our council was elected to do…  make obvious changes for residents, property owners and our workforce.

Remember elections have consequences!

Do you have any ideas or complaints? Please let us know.

As always,

Tom Raffanello

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