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UPPER KEYS WEEKLY / DECEMBER 9, 2021
STATE SESSION NEARING
Keys representative seeks more funding for environment
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ess than a month remains before a 60-day session of policy and funding discussions in Tallahassee begins. Coming off his first year in office, State Rep. Jim Mooney is hoping to secure funding for infrastructure, education, the environment and other critical projects in 2022. A 2020-21 legislative session saw Mooney successfully securing full funding for the Florida Keys Stewardship Act. With a $20 million appropriation approved, it was the first year the program received the entire amount requested since it was signed into law in 2016. Funding for the program, which supports ongoing environmental projects in the Keys, will remain a priority in the coming session. Initial budgets during the last legislative session saw no money for the Stewardship Act in the House and only $2 million in the Senate. That changed, however, before the conclusion of the session. DeSantis ended up signing a budget into law for the $20 million Stewardship Act funds and an additional $5 million for land acquisition. Mooney said he’ll be working this year to ensure the Stewardship Act is approved for recurring funds. “We’re going to put forth a bill to try to get recurring funds so we don’t have to fight for it every year,” Mooney said. “If we could get $20 million this year, that would be great. We’ll see how that plays out. We’re in an Area of Critical Concern, so that always makes things a little easier.” Mooney is also leading an appropriation in the House for $300,000 for installation of a glass crusher, conveyor and material handling components in Key West. Charley Toppino & Sons Inc. has agreed in principal to partner with the City of Key West to share land and operational resources, to establish glass reuse and material distribution. Waste Management Inc. is willing to collect and deliver recycled glass to the crusher for reuse in the community. The mayor and city commissioners have voiced support for glass reuse, according to the appropriations request.
Collection and delivery of recycled glass to a crusher for processing into usable materials will eliminate transportation costs to truck glass to landfills, which are located hundreds of miles from Key West. Recycled glass will be collected from residents and businesses, delivered to the glass crusher facility, converted into fill materials and distributed to material yards for use in concrete, asphalt and general fill material. “That’s already been heard in committee and passed in the first hurdle,” Mooney said. “I can’t wait to see that.” Key Colony Beach is seeking $2.6 million in state funds for construction of a stormwater collection and disposal system for the southerly drainage basin that extends approximately 1,000 feet north from some intersections of Ocean Drive. The system will be considered a stormwater treatment train consisting of a perforated PVC pipe swale system, followed by baffle boxes with hydrocarbon filter socks, to gravity injection wells. The existing roadway/shoulder areas will be enhanced with perforated pipe exfiltration trenches. Engineering study and plans are complete. Appropriation State Rep. requests are also Jim Mooney in for a wastewater treatment system and irrigation upgrades at Pigeon Key, $770,175; College of the Florida Keys for completion of the Academy Classroom Facility and Emergency Operations Center, $3 million; and Monroe County for a vessel pump-out program, $300,000. Mooney is also supporting a funding request of $942,000 for the construction of a Category 5 regional aquaponics facility. The project will see Fresh Ministries and College of the Florida Keys partnering to provide education, workforce training, economic development and food insecurity alleviation. “The direct services provided to the citizens would be job training, fresh healthy produce, lower cost produce and sustainable incomes,” according to the funding request application. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ full budget proposal hasn’t been unveiled yet. But he has released several plans, including more than $100 million to support Florida’s National Guard and establish the Florida State Guard, a civilian volunteer force that will assist the National Guard during state-specific emergencies. He’s also proposing $400 million in new funding to increase the salaries of first responders.
The Monroe County Public Library’s Marathon Branch.
TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES
County libraries get funds for more improvements
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he Monroe County Public Library system was recently awarded a record-breaking American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant for $975,469. This is the greatest amount awarded to a Florida library and the highest ever bestowed to Monroe's libraries. The 100% federally-funded grant includes a suite of technology and equipment solutions for library patrons to confidently access services while expanding access to digital, print and online information services. "Our community saw the robust technology implemented at the new Marathon library and implored us to expand it Keyswide," said Kimberly Matthews, library director. "This ambitious grant realizes a renaissance in library technology and user experience." The State Library Council ranked 63 applications seeking $6.7 million in Florida ARPA funds. Matthews, assistant director Anne Layton Rice and business manager Lisa Booker wrote the grant. Enhanced technology can include self-checkout, outdoor lockers for hold pickup, contact-free retrieval of DVDs and internet browsing and computing needs using laptops and tablets for social distancing. "The library envisions a comfortable, inclusive and empowering library environment for all Florida Keys communities," Matthews said. "Locations are also being scouted to place 24hour library kiosks to reach underserved islands further from the county's five library locations." The Florida ARPA grant program supports libraries responding directly to the pandemic community needs via equitable digital and in-person library services approaches. The program is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Division of Library and Information Services under the Florida Department of State. More information about library locations and services is at www.keyslibraries.org. — Contributed
