Covering All The Keys From Key Largo To Key West

Please note that more than one Marathon City Council/Board/Committee member may participate in the meetings listed.

To view the City of Marathon’s full calendar, please visit www.ci.marathon.fl.us/calendar

Firefighter from page 4

Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at any meeting or workshop noted herein, he or she will need a record of the proceedings and for such purposes he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. The City of Marathon complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a disabled person requiring special accommodations or assistance, please notify the City ADA Coordinator at (305) 289-5022 of such need at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance.

Seven Mile Bridge Run to affect traffic April 1

The 42nd annual Seven Mile Bridge Run is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, and will affect U.S. 1 traffic for about three hours as the bridge will be closed in both directions. The bridge will close at about 6 a.m. All motorists should plan to be across the bridge by that time to avoid being stuck on one side or the other. Traffic lanes will reopen at about 9 a.m., but it usually takes about an hour for traffic to return to normal. Please help spread the word, plan accordingly and be patient.

America’s Boating Club to offer NASBLA safety course

America's Boating Club is offering a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators boating course necessary to obtain the required Florida State Boater ID Card. The course qualifies participants for rate reductions from many insurance companies. America’s Boating Course teaches the basic skills of boat handling and seamanship, boating regulations, safety skills, aids to navigation, charting, weather, radio operation and the Florida boating regulations. Students will also learn to use flares, tie some knots, and learn facts about local waters.

This 1-1/2 day course will be offered on Saturday, April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 2 from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost for a nonmember is $70, or $85 for two students sharing materials. The U.S. Power Squadron members price is $30, or $45 for two members sharing materials. Class will be held at the America’s Boating Club building at 5205 College Road, Stock Island. Saturday will include a free lunch followed by a guest speaker from Florida Fish and Wildlife. To reserve a place in this class, please call Vince Melendy at 305-296-1126.

Anne McKee Artists Fund grant applications are open

The Anne McKee Artists Fund is offering grant opportunities to individual visual, performing and literary artists who reside in Key West and the Florida Keys. The fund was created to give project-based assistance to individual artists. Grants are awarded on the basis of financial need and/or to promote recognition of emerging talent. Other factors considered are a history of dedication and excellence in the applicant’s area of expertise and their commitment and involvement in the cultural community of Key West and the Florida Keys. The original Anne McKee Fund artist grant awards up to $2,000 per artist for as many as 20 artists for project-based work. In addition, there are three youth-based scholarships, with categories for age 14 and over and 14 and under, as well as the John McIntosh Student Grant for Artistic Advancement. An application and details can be found at McKeeFund.org or by emailing McKeeFund@gmail.com. Submission deadline is April 14.

John Bartus devoted his March 23 Keys Weekly op-ed to educating us unenlightened rubes on wokeness. We learned that depending on whether your child does or does not like to play with dolls, the government reserves the right to intervene and snip the kid. His scholarly dissertation seems to confirm the rumor that he amassed his vast worldly knowledge and oh-so-virtuous credentials by spending his lunch hours watching “The View.” If Mr. Bartus harbors an adult fantasy to become a eunuch, he is welcome to the scalpel. Just leave our children alone.

Inform former Mayor John that few are buying into his self righteous screeds. He lost all credibility after totally screwing up the entire Marathon building department. It still takes months just to obtain a simple building permit. We are now depending on Governor Ron to clean up his mess and prevent the possible demolition of 400 housing units in various states of construction, including some that are already occupied. All things considered, he would be well-advised to put down both the gavel and the pen and just stickin' to pickin' and grinnin'.

Michael Finigan Marathon

FLOOD OF SURPRISE: COUNTY-REQUIRED DOWNSTAIRS ENCLOSURE INSPECTION PRIOR TO HOME SALE DRAWS OPPOSITION

Emily Schemper, county planning director, said the county doesn’t normally notify every single party who may be affected by an ordinance.

“They’re publicly noticed when there’s an adoption hearing. In November at the adoption hearing, it was noticed. And Karl went through all the community meetings.”

Explaining the ordinance adoption process leading up to the March 7 effective date, Schemper said there’s a 30-day appeal period once the BOCC gives approval. It’s then sent to the state for review. The state then issues a final order, which triggers a 21-day challenge period. If no one issues a challenge, the ordinance takes effect.

“It was not a specific date set up by the county for that ordinance,” she said. “That inspection requirement isn’t new. It’s on the books.”

County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln questioned whether anyone in the real estate industry requested the Transfer of Ownership inspection. Rick Griffin, county building official who appeared on Zoom, replied in short, “not to my knowledge.” Schemper said she wasn’t sure if that was true.

“There are records of inspections,” she said.

Tom Wright is a board-certified real estate attorney. He told commissioners that he was part of the committee that drafted the Florida FAR-BAR contract, or a standard form agreement used in real estate upon a sale. He said the contract already requires a disclosure of any unpermitted and illegal work from the seller to the buyer. And there are strict civil penalties for a seller who doesn’t comply with those contract requirements.

“I describe it to some people as killing a fly with an atomic bomb,” he said of the county’s ordinance on downstairs enclosure inspections. “It just seems like a really onerous requirement to put on to a seller. If they have complied with the contract, they provide a written disclosure of these issues to the buyer.”

Commissioner Holly Raschein said she’s looking forward to future conversations and work to resolve the matter.

“We never, to use somebody else’s quote from this weekend, would want to weaponize the industry for something like this,” she said.

Also included in the updated flood ordinance is a prohibition of breakaway walls in VE flood zones. But coverings made out of lattice or screening are allowed. Downstairs enclosures would also be limited in size to 299 square feet. Commissioners told staff to examine changes to the code to allow opaque breakaway walls for downstairs enclosures.