FLORIDA BUDGET APPROVES CRITICAL KEYS FUNDING ASKS

Governor Has Final Say Over Largest Spending Plan Yet

JIM McCARTHY jim@keysweekly.com

Florida legislators concluded a 60-day session in Tallahassee on May 5 by unanimously approving a record $117-billion budget — up by roughly $5 billion from the previous year’s approved spending plan.

Overall, the Florida Keys came away with some $27.5 million for a host of projects that address everything from water quality and renovations to construction and providing more clean drinking water.

A request by Monroe County officials for full Florida Keys Stewardship Act funding landed in the final legislative budget, with $20 million for water quality projects and $5 million for land acquisition. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ budget proposal included the county’s request, as did initial House and Senate spending plans. The Stewardship Act financially aids Keys municipalities in cleaning canals to produce better water quality and addressing stormwater.

It’s the third straight year that the Stewardship Act program was funded at the county’s request.

“It’s very nice to see that they funded the full amount the past couple years,” said Lisa Tennyson, county legislative affairs director.

Issues over drinking water were at the forefront in March following a series of pipe breaks in the Upper Keys. It led to a drop in the amount of water flowing through pipes per day, 26 million gallons to 22 million gallons, by Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority to try to mitigate any future breaks.

With a 40-year-old water main reaching its life, FKAA officials are digging in and planning a series of replacement projects. FKAA received some state assistance in the budget with some $10 million for a reverse osmosis facility in Marathon. FKAA can use reverse osmosis treatment plants in Stock Island and Marathon to supplement water supply during emer- gencies. The plants withdraw from seawater wells to produce potable water from saltwater.

Recently, county officials visited the site of the new emergency operations center in Marathon for a “topping off” celebration. A $38-million project that’s slated for completion in 2024 needed several millions to cover a cost gap — the result of increases in products. State legislators decided to approve $6.2 million to help county officials cover construction costs for a state-of-the-art building that’s designed to withstand 220-mph winds.

And $10 million was included in the final budget for Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for an artificial reef within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The funds were initially included in the Senate proposal, but not the House spending plan.

“It came out of the blue,” state Rep. Jim Mooney said. “It was getting no traction on the House side. That was like a bonus for us.”

A county request was included for $1.6 million to engineer, design and install 100 new moorings near Boca Chica channel and an area off Wysteria Island. And $2 million in the state budget will go to renovations of Key West’s Bruce Hall — the Monroe County School District’s future administrative headquarters. San Carlos Institute in Key West received $1.2 million for urgent structural repairs.

Two requests from Islamorada made the final budget, including $250,000 for a council chambers and public works facility and $190,000 for a new ambulance. Key Colony Beach received $1 million for city hall repairs following damage from Hurricane Irma.

After receiving no funding from the state last year, Florida Keys Area Health Education Center will obtain $975,000 for its children’s primary medical and dental health centers.

The budget also included $300,000 for the Harry S. Truman Little White House’s ongoing exterior hardening and restoration project. At Pigeon Key in Marathon, $500,000 made the state budget for restoration and enhancements.

A $1-million request for Mote Marine Laboratory’s coral restoration in the Keys, brought forth by Mooney and state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, was also included in the final budget.

“It’s always a pleasure to work alongside Representative Mooney and our local stakeholders to make sure we get our priorities over the finish line,” Rodriguez said. “I am honored and humbled by our many successes this session.”

To address safety issues on Card Sound Road — the Florida Keys’ alternative thoroughfare to the 18 Mile Stretch — the state budget included $300,000 for signs and pavement markers.

Not all funding requests made the budget, however. Requests by the Florida Keys Domestic Abuse Shelter and local Habitat for Humanity organizations didn’t reach the finish line. Mooney said he pushed hard for a Key West beach renourishment pilot project that didn’t garner approval.

The budget will head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk where he can approve or veto funding line items before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Last year, the governor cut $3.1 billion from the legislature’s $112.1 billion state budget.

No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to spotlight our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.

This week’s neighbor has the (legal) hookup as she takes care of Marathon’s pharmaceutical needs at Walgreens’ 53rd Street location. Originally from Tampa, Kendahl Burnett moved to the Keys in late 2020 after graduating from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and working for a short period at an independent pharmacy.

“One of my classmates was living down here, and I wanted to get out (of my old job),” she told the Weekly. “I reached out to him because I saw there was a position available here; he put in a good word for me, and it worked out. That was between the end of September and October, and I was down here by November.”

KENDAHL BURNETT Pharmacy Manager, Walgreens

What’s the most ridiculous fight you’ve seen on social media? When Kanye West was going off on Pete Davidson. He was one of my favorite artists when I was growing up, but that was crazy.

If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be and what would you eat? Idris Elba, and I’d probably give steak a try.

Have you ever had a brush with death? I went up to Miami with my best friend to go on her dad’s yacht. You’ve probably seen those videos of inlets where boats are going crazy. The dinghy was attached to the end of our boat, and it snapped off three times in the inlet, so we had to stop in the middle of everything. We thought the boat was gonna capsize that day.

Which is worse: people who clap when the plane lands, or people who stand up right away in the aisles? Standing in the aisle. They’ll tell you to get up; don’t rush.

The title of my autobiography would be… “YOLO. Just enjoy your life, you only get one.”

Two truths and a lie: I played volleyball in high school, I swam with dolphins, and I’ve been attacked by a swarm of wasps.

If you could shop for free at any store, which one would it be? Nordstrom.

What’s your best “hot take?” I don’t get the obsession with the Kardashians.

If you could be one character from a TV show, who would it be? Jess from “New Girl.”

What’s one thing most people never knew about you? I played clarinet and bass clarinet in my middle school symphonic band.

What’s the weirdest or funniest app on your phone? Honestly, TikTok.

City of Marathon City Council Executive Session Notice

Notice is hereby given that the City Council consisting of Mayor Luis Gonzalez, Vice-Mayor Robyn Still and Councilmembers Landry, Matlock and Smith, City Manager George Garrett and City Attorney Steve Williams, and Special Counsel Mike Burke will meet in an Attorney-Client Session, pursuant to Section 286.11 (8), Florida Statutes to discuss the following case:

Rodney Shands vs. City of Marathon, a Florida Municipality; Monroe County, a political subdivision of the State of Florida; and Department of Community A airs, an agency of the State of Florida; Case No. 2007-CA-99-M pending in the Circuit Court for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in and For Monroe County, Florida.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 5:00 pm at the Marathon City Government O ces, 9805 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida.

WALK for

Mental Health Awareness

SATURDAY, MAY 20th Registration 8:00 a.m.

Home of the Miami Marlins

Mental health and suicide prevention can

save

lives.

NAMI Miami-Dade is part of a national organization that offers free mental health programs. We are here to listen, offer a friendly voice and provide support to create awareness and help prevent suicide.

If you’re in crisis, please call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline