Monroe County officials, judges, sheriff’s deputies, constitutional officers and the public gathered at the new Plantation Key Government Center for a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on June 2.
The state-of-the-art, 48,240-square-facility, which broke ground Oct. 18, 2019, houses the 16th Judicial Court of Florida, Monroe County Clerk of the Court, State Attorney’s Office, Monroe County Sheriff’s substation and Monroe County Public Works. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard presented the colors, and the Florida Keys Community Concert Band played the National Anthem. Guest speakers included Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi, Monroe County Mayor David Rice, Chief Judge Bonnie Helms, State Attorney Dennis Ward, Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Elizabeth Young, of Art in Public Places, and Cary Knight, project management for Monroe County.
According to Upper Keys historian Jerry Wilkinson, the original building, the sheriff’s substation, was built in 1958 with additions, like the courthouse and other government offices, dedicated in 1967.
Photos by David Gross, Geo Toth and Jim McCarthy. Full gallery at keysweekly.com.
