News Flash

MONROE COUNTY NOW HAS LEASH LAW FOR ANIMALS IN PUBLIC PLACES

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners amended the Monroe County Code to require animals in public places to be on a leash.

“Effective voice command” is no longer an acceptable means of control for an animal in a public place s...

STAIRWELL AT REYNOLDS STREET PIER AT HIGGS BEACH IN KEY WEST IS FULLY REPAIRED

Monroe County Project Management completed the concrete foundation repair to a damaged set of stairs at Reynolds Street Pier at Higgs Beach today. The stairs were damaged due to wave action during a winter storm. There was no damage to the second set of s...

MONROE COUNTY ENCOURAGES LOCAL PROPOSALS FOR EMERGENCY STANDBY SERVICES

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners approved requesting proposals from companies and vendors to provide a variety of emergency services in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster. Monroe County Emergency Management and the Monroe Co...

GOVERNOR DESANTIS VISITS MONROE COUNTY OFFICIALS TO TALK HURRICANE RECOVERY AND WATER QUALITY

MONROE COUNTY REPAYS $2.1 MILLION TO KEY LARGO WASTEWATER TREATMENT DISTRICT TO BENEFIT TAXPAYERS

Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Murphy, on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, presented the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District with $2.125 million. It is the fourth installment payment in a multi-year Interlocal Agreement regarding the distribut...

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS: SALE OF SURPLUS NETWORKING EQUIPMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday, May 16 at 3 P.M., the Monroe County Purchasing Office will receive and open sealed responses for the following:

SALE OF SURPLUS NETWORKING EQUIPMENT, MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA 

Review...

NEW FEDERAL COURT DECISION WILL HELP “BLUE WATER” VIETNAM NAVY VETERANS WITH BENEFITS

The Monroe County Veterans Affairs Department is reaching out to Vietnam Navy veterans to inform them of a recent federal court decision that could lead to collecting previously denied benefits related to Agent Orange exposure.

The opinion in Procopio vs. ...

MONROE COUNTY SUES DRUG AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES FOR COSTS OF DEALING WITH OPIOID EPIDEMIC

On April 3, 2019, a group of law firms led by Morgan & Morgan filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for Southern District of Florida in Miami against opioid manufacturers and distributors on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe...

MONROE COUNTY EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN FIFTH ANNUAL GREEN COMMUTE CHALLENGE

Monroe County employees participated in the fifth annual Green Commute Challenge led by the City of Key West. The challenge takes a percentage of carbon dioxide saved from the participants who walked, rode their bikes, took public transportation, or carpo...

MONROE COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE LAUNCHES NEW ‘FLICKR’ WEBSITE FOR COUNTY PHOTOS

Monroe County’s Public Information Office launched a new “Flickr” website for public and media use of Monroe County government-related photographs at www.flickr.com/photos/monroecountybocc.

The site has more than 800 images, with new pictures being added w...

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE AT HALFWAY MARK OF 2019 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The 2019 Florida legislative session reached the halfway mark last week with the Senate and House both passing their respective budgets.

Monroe County’s appropriation requests in both budgets include funding for the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, ...

MONROE COUNTY FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDICS ARE RECOGNIZED AT FLORIDA KEYS EMS AWARD CEREMONY

Florida Keys Emergency Medical Service (EMS) paramedics and firefighters were recognized at the annual Florida Keys EMS Awards that took place Tuesday at Florida Keys Country Club in Marathon. Monroe County Firefighter/Paramedics of the Year include Andre...

BIG COPPITT KEY BOAT RAMP TO CLOSE FOR REPAIRS AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW DOCK

Monroe County Project Management will begin boat ramp repairs and construction of a new pier at the County-owned Big Coppitt Key boat ramp, located on Barcelona Avenue at Gulf View Park. The ramp will be closed Monday, April 8 through the end of July.

Boat...

GUARDIAN AD LITEM: APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH - UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA

By Alexsa Leto, Guardian ad Litem Director for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, serving Monroe County

To prevent child abuse, we must understand it. That's why you'll soon see blue pinwheels and other signs that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The be...

FIRST PHASE OF DRAINAGE AND PARKING PROJECT NEAR COMPLETION AT EAST MARTELLO TOWER

The first phase of the drainage and parking project is near completion. It is part of a $1 million renovation at East Martello Tower in Key West.

The parking area near the west end of the fort was installed to retain stormwater onsite by combining sloped d...

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK AT WEST END OF 7 MILE BRIDGE REOPENS WITH LIMITED ACCESS

After suffering extensive damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017, the oceanside Veterans Memorial Park at the west end of the 7 Mile Bridge reopened Saturday, March 23 with limited access.

The parking lot and beach are open to the public. The permanent bathroo...

MONROE COUNTY OFFICIALS ATTEND FLORIDA KEYS DAY IN TALLAHASSEE

Monroe County Commissioners, senior staff, officials from Florida Keys municipalities and local business owners were in the state capital Tuesday for the 10th annual Florida Keys Day. In addition to meeting with legislators, Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Mur...

MONROE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPT 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN AT THE MARCH BOCC MEETING

At the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners monthly meeting Thursday, the Commission adopted the 2020 Monroe County Strategic Plan. This five-year Plan guides priorities and direction of County services through the annual budget process.

The updated...

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MARCH MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN KEY LARGO

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its monthly meeting Thursday at the Murray Nelson Government Center in Key Largo. Below are some highlights:

Proclamation:

Monroe County Mayor Sylvia Murphy and the Board of County Commissioners pr...

MONROE COUNTY LONG TERM RECOVERY GROUP CELEBRATES OPENING OF VOLUNTEER VILLAGE

The Monroe County Long Term Recovery Group opened its mobile Volunteer Village on Tuesday on Big Pine Key. The village, set up on County-owned land, is a creative solution to temporarily house volunteers who come to the Florida Keys to help with Hurricane...

APPLICATION AND RENEWAL PERIOD FOR HURRICANE PLACARD REENTRY PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH MAY 1

The application period for Monroe County Emergency Management’s 2019 Business Placard Reentry Program runs through May 1, 2019. NEW applicants can apply at www.monroecountyem.com/placardprogram. Businesses approved for the 2018 hurricane...

FIRST PITCH OF THE UPPER KEYS LITTLE LEAGUE SEASON THROWN BY MONROE COUNTY’S GLASSMER

Robert Glassmer, Monroe County Administrator of Buildings, Parks and Beaches in the Upper Keys, was honored to be invited to the mound to throw the first pitch of the season. He helped spearhead the effort to get the ball fields ready in time for the litt...

10 CANALS APPROVED FOR NRCS GRANT-FUNDED SEDIMENT REMOVAL ON BIG PINE KEY, MARATHON AND ISLAMORADA

On Feb. 26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) approved 10 canals in Monroe County for sediment removal caused by Hurricane Irma.

The County submitted 34 canals to NRCS for funding for sediment removal eligi...

MONROE COUNTY CONTINUES REPAIRS AT 3 BIG PINE KEY PARKS AND HARRY HARRIS PARK IN TAVERNIER

Monroe County has hired several contractors to work simultaneously on projects to repair Hurricane Irma damage at several County parks. Here is an update:

• At Watson Field, off Key Deer Boulevard, the tennis courts, dog park, and baseball field are now open...

BOCC TAKES MEASURES TO ADDRESS UPCOMING RELEASE OF FEMA’S DRAFT FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS

KEY WEST, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners took measures Wednesday to address the upcoming release of FEMA’s draft Flood Insurance Rate Maps, which are expected in April. This is followed by the publication of preliminary maps, likely ...

KEY WEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WELCOMES NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM CHICAGO AND PHILADELPHIA

Key West International Airport (EYW) celebrated two new nonstop services through American Airlines from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on Saturday. The first arriving passengers received a...

SENATOR MARCO RUBIO REVISITS CANAL 242 TO SEE PROGRESS OF MONROE COUNTY-LED MARINE DEBRIS PROGRAM

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio revisited Canal 242 with Monroe County, City of Marathon and Village of Islamorada officials on Friday to see for himself the result of a $49.2 million grant to remove Hurricane Irma marine debris from Florida Keys canals. This wa...

FLEET MECHANIC DONALD LOWRIE NAMED MONROE COUNTY’S 2018 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FOR HEROICS

In May 2018, Donald Lowrie heard screams coming from a young girl being attacked by two large dogs and came to her aid, suffering severe injuries to himself in the effort. For his heroics, as well as his day-to-day, exceptional performance as a Mechanic G...