Key Colony Beach has a new commissioner and a starting point for its 2025-26 budget.
After a lengthy discussion of near-final plans for the city’s upcoming City Hall remodel, the commission’s July 17 session saw Kirk Diehl appointed to fill the seat of recently-resigned Vice Mayor Joey Raspe. Diehl’s appointment was confirmed in a 3-1 vote, with commission Tom DiFransico against. A unanimous vote also confirmed commissioner Doug Colonell as the city’s new vice mayor.
A Key Colony resident since 2018, Diehl was one of two applicants for the open post, vying with current Utility Board member Fred Swanson for the seat. His application described a 32-year career with the U.S. Postal Service along with general contracting and real estate investment work.
“I’m all for quickness and getting things done as soon as possible, so with that drive I think I’ll be a great asset in decision-making and guidance,” Diehl told the commission on Thursday.
Colonell praised Swanson’s work on the city’s Utility Board and his career in engineering, calling his input on the board “paramount” as the Key Colony approaches upgrades to its sewer plant. Ultimately nominating Diehl for his construction background, Colonell said he preferred to see Swanson remain on the Utility Board to guide upcoming projects – ideas both echoed by Mayor Freddie Foster.
DiFransico instead nominated Swanson for his years of service to Key Colony Beach, saying Swanson would still be able to guide the sewer plant upgrades from his place on the commission.
“Just because a guy is good at doing what he’s doing, that shouldn’t be a reason for not promoting him,” DiFransico said.
“We have a big project we need to finalize (in City Hall), and a couple more projects we need to finish for a good future,” Diehl told the Weekly after the meeting. “There’s a lot on our plate in the near future, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Budget framework approved
Following two city budget workshops earlier in July, the commission unanimously approved a millage rate of 2.82, or $282 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value, for Key Colony Beach’s 2025-26 ad valorem taxes. The rate may be decreased, but not increased, at future budget meetings before its final approval in September.
The proposed millage represents an 8.92% increase over the rollback rate – defined as the rate required to raise the same ad valorem tax revenue as 2024-25 – of 2.589 mills.
The city’s public budget hearings are set for Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, both at 5:05 p.m. at City Hall. As the proposed millage rate exceeds the maximum millage that can be adopted with a simple three-fifths majority vote (2.7058), approval of the final budget at the proposed rate would require approval by four of the five commissioners, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Harding said.
In other news:
- Foster recognized Police Chief Kris DiGiovanni for 20 years of service to the city, serving with the Department of Children and Families and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office before coming to Key Colony Beach in July 2005. He has served as the city’s chief since July 2011.
- Joining other Keys municipalities and utilities, the commission unanimously approved an amendment to include the city of Layton in funds divided and distributed from the Florida Keys Stewardship Act. Since 2012, the annual state allocation has funded wastewater and water quality improvement projects throughout the island chain. Under the amendment, eight government entities and utilities would each receive 12.5% of allocated funds each year, with the ability to redistribute funds based on individual cities’ needs. In lieu of the agreement, municipalities and utilities would submit individual projects to a grant portal to earn a share of the funds.
