Monroe County News

JIM McCARTHY

jim@keysweekly.com

ROAD RAISING PRICE TAG & NEW FACILITIES TOP COUNTY NEWS IN 2022

A new, but familiar, face took his seat on the Monroe County Commission in 2022. Meanwhile, new county facilities broke ground while others opened following a ribbon cutting. Also, county commissioners received the price tag to raise roads amid impending sea level rise.

GOVERNOR APPOINTS JIM SCHOLL TO VACANT COUNTY SEAT

A former Key West manager and naval aviator who commanded Naval Air Station Key West, Jim Scholl was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 29 to fulfill the term of Eddie Martinez, who resigned in December 2021 following his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. “I’ve always said I don’t run for office; I run from office,” the county commissioner told the Keys Weekly days after the news of his appointment. Scholl is serving the remainder of Martinez’s two-year term.

NEW GOVERNMENT CENTER OPENS ON PLANTATION KEY

The snipping of a ribbon marked the grand opening of the Plantation Key Government Center in Tavernier on June 2. The state-of-the-art, 48,240-square-foot facility, which broke ground Oct. 18, 2019, houses the 16th Judicial Court of Florida, Monroe County Clerk of the Court, State Attorney’s office, Monroe County Sheriff’s substation and Monroe County Public Works.

$1.6 BILLION TO RAISE KEYS ROADS?

Final results from a roads vulnerability analysis unveiled on June 15 stated that raising 311 miles of county roads vulnerable to sea level rise would come with a $1.6-billion price tag. Those roadways provide access to 71% of the county’s housing units.

BRIDGE RENAMED FOR THE LATE CHERYL CATES

A ceremony celebrating the renaming of Cow Key Bridge in honor of Cheryl Cates, the late wife of County Commissioner Craig Cates, saw more than 100 people in attendance on July 26. Cates died in December 2020 after a battle with COVID. The renaming was approved by the Monroe County commissioners, Key West commissioners and the Florida Legislature.

FARMER JEANNE IS AN HONORARY CONCH

Farmer Jeanne Selander received the Honorary Conch Certificate on Aug. 24. Selander has overseen the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm at the Stock Island Detention Center for 17 years. The jailhouse farm is believed to be the only one of its kind in the U.S.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER BREAKS GROUND

County, state and federal officials broke ground on a new Emergency Operations Center at the west end of the Marathon airport. The project consolidates several existing organizations into a new state-of-the-art 28,321- squarefoot, 220-mph-wind-rated facility that will include Monroe County’s Emergency Management, Fire Rescue administration and the Sheriff’s Office 911 center. It’s scheduled to be completed in spring 2024.

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS

Feb. 16 — Tom Hambright retires after serving 36 years as Monroe County historian.

June 6 — Corey Malcom succeeds Tom Hambright as county historian.

June 14 — Harry Harris Park restoration project is completed.

Aug. 17 — BOCC passes no smoking ban at county parks and beaches.

Aug. 24 — Pine Channel Nature Park in Big Pine Key opens to the public. Sept. 9 — State and county officials gather at the Marathon airport a day before the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma, to discuss the importance of preparedness. Irma hit the Keys as a category 4 storm.

Oct. 5 — Richard Clark named new executive director of transit.

Nov. 15 — Craig Cates named Monroe County mayor.

Commissioner Craig Cates, left, unveils the Cheryl H. Cates Memorial Bridge sign. LARRY BLACKBURN/Keys Weekly

County officials break ground on the new Emergency Operations enter. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

Farmer Jeanne Selander gets an Honorary Conch certificate. LINDSAY BALLARD/Monroe County Plantation Key Government Center houses several county services. DAVID GROSS/Keys Weekly

Jim Scholl is appointed to the county commission. CONTRIBUTED