An Islamorada dais composed of five councilmen passed the one-year mark after prevailing over their opponents in the November 2020 election. Taking their oaths, the dais not only dealt with a 2021 with continuing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, but also turned down a multimillion-dollar state bridge project and brought on a new manager to lead staff.
A new council entered in a time when the village had an interim manager in Maria Bassett, following the resignation of then-manager Seth Lawless due to health reasons. By early summer, however, the dais had interviewed a number of candidates for the position. The council’s sights were set on Greg Oravec as the next manager. On June 2, the village picked the former Port St. Lucie Mayor in Oravec.
Councilman Mark Gregg said he gives Oravec an A-plus grade so far.
“He’s had different challenges along the way, and he’s risen to it all and done well,” he said. He’s a workaholic, He’s very aggressive on getting things done, and he’s good at managing the council.”
Councilman David Webb said the village manager came in committed and energetic to move the issues forward in Islamorada. Going into 2022, the council, staff and community will need to determine what Islamorada should look like 10 years out through development of a strategic plan.
“It’s not up to Dave Webb to tell residents what the character of Islamorada should be,” Webb said. As I shared from several people, ultimately we are elective representatives of this community, and if residents cannot come forward and bring consensus on what Islamorada should look like, we still have to do something. I would rather do it with a clear understanding of what residents prefer, but at the end of the day, we have to do something.”
Webb added that he’s committed to provide opportunities for the community to give their say on the village’s future.
Council members taking their seats were immediately faced with matters changing the landscape and character of the village — namely the $4.68 million pedestrian bridge near Founders Park. Following discussions and letters from Mayor Buddy Pinder to the governor’s office, Florida Department of Transportation informed the village in February that it wouldn’t go on with the project. Just over $1 million was spent on the project at that time. Around $460,000 was spent by Florida Keys Electric Cooperative to relocate utilities for the pedestrian bridge.
“We received input from the residents of Islamorada on that one. It was like 70-30 between residents who didn’t want it when the poll went out,” Pinder said.
Councilman Henry Rosenthal led the push in putting an end to the project, which saw work beginning as they entered office with the relocation of utilities. Rosenthal said it was on his agenda from the beginning of his time in office.
“It had the support of the public. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have pursued it,” he said. “Every time you’re successful it’s a good feeling.”
In their first budget, the council approved a $17.9 million spending plan for 2021-22. That’s up from $14.8 million from last year’s adopted budget. Increases in spending are largely attributed to one-time expenditures, such as $300,000 for a new program to remove derelict vessels from the water. Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies received a 7.86% increase and there was a 5% cost of living increase for village staff making less than $100,000. The village council adopted a millage rate of 3.00 mills, which is $300 for every $100,000 of taxable assessed value.
Among the notable approved purchases by the village was property at the former Walgreens, located at 81981 Overseas Highway, for $2.75 million. A restriction on the property wouldn’t allow uses such as a gas station, convenience store or pharmacy.
A process to develop a master plan for the Fills is also underway, with input being taken from the community. Work also continues to connect all residences and businesses in the village to the wastewater system.
Looking ahead, council members will have some work ahead of them with impending building permit issuance ending in 2023.
“I think we’re turning the corner a little bit on what the character of Islamorada should be. We are reassembling the land acquisition committee,” Webb said. “I know the village manager has done a lot of work looking at vacant land. Two reasons why we need to get on top of that quickly is because of 2023 and buildout. We need to preserve as much conservation land as we have left, and the community needs to support that.”
Rosenthal said the village must extend building permits from 2023 out to 2026.
“Quite frankly, it had not been addressed with the previous council that I could see and it wasn’t something that the council today was enthusiastic about. But they’re starting to turn the corner and see that this is important,” Rosenthal said.
Gregg said he’s prepared to tackle the village’s strategic planning. Twenty years ago, Gregg was on the council to develop plans that looked into the future. Now, it’s time to go through the process again.
“We wrote the book on who we wanted to be. It’s almost 2022, and the future is now,” Gregg said. “It’s a super exciting task and I’m excited to be part of it and anxious to get started on. This is a listening process. We don’t want to put our personal fingers on it since we’re five out of 7,000 in the village. We need anyone to chime in on that.”
