Dear Editor,
At the last Stock Island Association (SIA) meeting, members discussed the prospect of annexing Stock Island and Key Haven to make them part of the city of Key West.
Let me make clear, SIA has not endorsed in favor or not, but we would like Monroe County and the city of Key West to offer more information about how annexation would affect us all.
1. Stock Islanders can easily travel to city meetings compared to county meetings.
Having to travel up to Marathon or Key Largo is a challenge of time and expense. We’ve had county commission agenda items, specifically related to Stock Island, voted on in the Upper Keys, making public input from Stock Island residents difficult. To be annexed with Key West, traveling to their city meetings would be much easier and allow us to be more engaged in local politics.
2. Attention to citizens during public meetings in Key West vs. county
Many SIA members felt that the city commissioners of Key West listen more intently to citizens when they speak at public meetings. For example, when the issue to evacuate liveaboard boaters came up at a Key West city commission meeting, many liveaboards showed up and spoke about how difficult it is to re-anchor every 90 days. Key West city commissioners were thoughtful and ensured that at least 300 permanent, managed moorings were built before enforcing the 90-day rule. On the same issue, the county commission did the opposite. Instead of protecting the liveaboards, county commissioners voted to knock down the number of moorings to be built from 300 to 100, which would displace hundreds of people looking for a place to live. We don’t feel the BOCC listens to the little guy, but instead represents and benefits developers and large companies.
3. Single-district elections
This was a big one. Some members tried last year to get enough signatures to put single-district elections on the ballot with regard to electing our county commissioners. To travel 107 miles to gather enough signatures for a vote proved impossible, so the effort failed. However, if we were annexed with Key West, we would have single-district elections for our area, meaning commissioners are elected only by the voters in their respective districts and not by the whole city, whereas county commissioners are elected countywide. The majority of Stock Islanders want only the residents who live in our district to choose our commissioner. Why should Key Largo residents, who know little of what is going on in Stock Island, vote for our commissioner and representative?
4. Maintenance of public property
The bicycle path on U.S. 1 is maintained by Key West and the county. The southern end is Key West’s side and maintained nicely, but on the county side, we make numerous phone calls to trim overgrown foliage, often because the maintenance crew is up in Marathon. The city of Key West could complete maintenance tasks more quickly and efficiently.
5. Looking at a map
A look at a map shows that Stock Island and Key Haven should have been included with the rest of Key West. We were split up awkwardly. These three areas have more in common with each other and can work together to address common issues versus the challenges of working together with communities as far away as the Upper Keys.
6. Taxes
We don’t know how much more in taxes we would have to pay, and this may not be the deciding factor whether to annex the three regions. We want a good local government that works for us, the people who live here.
We respectfully request more information from both Monroe County and Key West. It’s time we stop talking about this, and bring it to a vote.
Sincerely,
Diane Beruldsen
President, Stock Island Association
facebook.com/groups/StockIsland/
