From a final field of three, Dave Turner was offered the position to become Key Colony Beach’s new city manager.
“After nearly three years as executive director of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce, I wanted to return to a government setting to better serve the community,” Turner told the Keys Weekly. “With my previous 30 years as a public servant in a government setting, I will hit the ground running.”
He said the Middle Keys municipality has several exciting projects on the horizon, including “a large construction project that is about to come online.”
“With my background in construction and project management in the Northeast, this is right in my wheelhouse and I look forward to contributing my expertise. Key Colony Beach is a vibrant community and I am excited for the bright future ahead of us,” he said. “I want to thank the City Commission and city staff for placing their trust in me to help lead this community that truly is the ‘Gem of the Florida Keys’ into the future.”
Turner said Key Colony Beach is facing many of the same challenges as other municipalities in the Keys. He cites sea level rise, storm mitigation and infrastructure hardening, increasing traffic and the effect of tourism on residents’ quality of life.
Steve Miller has agreed to step into Turner’s former position as acting executive director of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce.
The former manager of Key Colony Beach, Chris Moonis, stepped down in October of 2020.
Prior to hiring Moonis, the little village in the Middle Keys had a strong-mayor form of government. The top elected official received an additional $2,000 in salary on top of the base $8,000 that all commissioners receive. The council voted in 2018 to amend its charter to allow for a city manager.
Moonis was hired in January 2017 at $60,000 a year for part-time management, described as 80 hours a month, and subsequently saw his salary increase to $130,000 plus benefits with an estimated value of $200,000.
Turner will earn $80,000 annually.
