Monroe county commissioners gave the go-ahead to reignite the search for a parks and recreation director during a March 17 meeting at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. Raises for two county commissioner assistants were also approved to move their salaries to the same level as other commissioner aides in Monroe.
A parks and recreation director position was posted for hiring last year, but a pandemic that unfolded a year ago brought a freeze. Many applied for the position — around 80 — according to commissioner Mike Forster, who brought the subject back to the commission for discussion.
“I think it’s time to concentrate a little more on the parks of Monroe County. I believe they’re diamonds in the rough. We just need to massage it,” he said.
Budget and Finance Director Tina Boan said the county should be able to find money for the position with sales tax revenue pleasantly rising to 2019 levels and money saved over the last year.
County Administrator Roman Gastesi he’d like to see the next director take the county’s 21 parks to the next level. The facilities maintenance department and director William DeSantis currently maintain the parks and beaches from Stock Island to Key Largo in unincorporated Monroe. Public works also provides assistance. There’s currently no county parks and recreation department.
“There’s pieces of a parks and rec department throughout two or three departments, and my idea is for that person to start picking away and make a department,” he said.
Commissioners unanimously approved $8,000 raises for County Commissioner Craig Cates’ assistant, Amanda Legett, and County Commissioner Eddie Martinez’s assistant, Eurie Sarimento. That brings their salaries to $60,000 a year.
Mayor Michelle Coldiron pulled the two items from the consent agenda to address issues raised by constituents and staff, whose raises were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coldiron’s remarks acknowledged how much the commission values staff. In addressing misconceptions, she said aides to commissioners work full-time — and that can mean seven days a week if needed.
“They’re on call at all times for their commissioner,” she said. “It’s contracted labor, and they’re not eligible for career services and tuition reimbursement and other benefits that some of our other staff have.”
Cates said the raises make all commissioner aides’ salaries equal. In addition, he said their jobs aren’t always guaranteed for the long term.
“If they (the commissioner) don’t run or get elected, that doesn’t mean the job will continue,” he said.
In other matters, a brief COVID-19 update by Shannon Weiner, emergency management director, and Bob Eadie, health officer for Monroe County, highlighted average cases per day and current vaccination efforts. Weiner said the county’s seeing 16 new cases a day for March with three hospitalizations a day for the past week. In total, 17,374 residents in Monroe County have been vaccinated.
Assistant County Administrator Christine Hurley said permitting offices except Ocean Reef will open for in-person intake beginning April 12. Hurley, who oversees building and permitting, noted that the department has counted 1,600 incomplete applications since an evaluation was done Nov. 1.
County Legislative Affairs Director Lisa Tennyson told commissioners that a bill in Tallahassee that would increase the sales tax in Monroe by a penny won’t advance, as it didn’t get the support from Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls. The sales tax increase looked to aid a road elevation program in Monroe County to address flooding. While disappointing, Tennyson said, it sometimes needs more than one session to gain traction.
“We thank our representative (Jim Mooney) and senator (Ana Maria-Rodriguez) for at least starting the conversation. No doubt, that conversation will continue,” she said. “We’re just in a more advanced place than the state is. We’ve done our studies, we know what we need to do and we know what it costs. The state just hasn’t gotten there yet.”
Tennyson said a bill in the Florida House was filed to provide $100 million for a Resilient Florida program to assist local governments fund projects to address flooding and sea level rise issues.
Gastesi announced that Monroe County Fire Chief James Callahan will be retiring May 15. Taking his place as fire chief is the current deputy chief, Steve Hudson. Callahan has served as fire chief since January 2009. He began his career with fire rescue as battalion chief in January 2006 and served as interim fire chief for two years.
“The fire department is in as good of a position as it’s ever been,” Callahan told commissioners via Zoom. “Hudson will absolutely move the organization forward and make it stronger and better.”
Hudson said he’s grateful for the opportunity to succeed Callahan and lead the men and women within the fire department. Hudson has been serving Monroe County Fire Rescue’s residents since December 2012 as a battalion chief before being promoted to deputy chief of operations in June 2015.
“He brought me on eight years ago and we’ve grown together as a department. He leaves behind big shoes to fill,” Hudson said. “I look forward to the opportunity ahead of us, as well as challenges.”
Discussion and direction regarding Poinciana Gardens Senior Living Facility in Key West was postponed to a future meeting. The county is examining an opportunity to manage the facility through the social services department. A comprehensive report is expected to be presented at the next meeting.
The board of county commissioners will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m. An agenda for the meeting hasn’t been released.
