President Dave's Corner Thank you to all those who attended the recent annual meeting. Communication is essential to keep everyone up to date on the many aspects of life on Duck Key. First of all, I wish to welcome our three new members of the board of directors. They are Laura Goodman, John Shebel and Jim Boback. Each has strong talents that will truly benefit DKPOA as we move forward. When you read the newsletter, do you wonder who has put all the time and energy into its creation? Brian Lancaster deserves all the credit! In addition, Brian has been responsible for the production and distribution of the new DKPOA family membership cards. Currently he is working hard to update our website. He also has created the Facebook page and the YouTube Channel. Next time you see Brian, be sure to thank him for his hard work and dedication. I have been receiving very positive feedback from DKPOA members who have contacted Flood Zone Revisions, LLC. The information offered has reportedly been very helpful. Their phone number is 561-702-7936. I also understand that members are making good use of their membership cards for discounts at the Hawk's Cay Calm Waters Spa, as well as for evening meals at Alma and Tom's Harbor restaurants. Just a reminder that if you have not renewed your DKPOA membership, this most likely will be the last newsletter that you receive. Having said that, renewals are continuing to come in. Also, new memberships are on the rise. A large portion of the money in our treasury is being earmarked for beautification. Once the sewer project is fully completed, a great deal of landscaping will be performed. Please put Sat. November 17th on your calendar for the Welcome Back Party which will be held at Club Duck Key. I hope each of you has a healthy and happy summer. I look forward to seeing you next fall. WASTEWATER UPDATE MARCH 2012 The treatment plant, as previously noted, is complete and continues to function well. Phases 1,2 and 3 are complete and ready for connection, pending certification by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection(FDEP). This certification is anticipated on or around April 4th, 2012, in which case the "Thirty Day Notices of Service Availability" will be mailed around April 9th. All notices will be mailed simultaneously and not in batches as had been indicated previously. Phases 4,5, and 6 were awarded to Metro(the contractor for the earlier phases) in February of this year. The current best estimate is that sewer work on Yacht Club will start towards the end of April. Timing is a little uncertain because the FDEP has yet to issue the permit for the dewatering wells which is the first step. Metro will start at the west end of Seaview Circle and proceed east. Completion of these three phases is anticipated in late summer 2013. Phase 7 will go out for bid shortly with completion slated for the fall of 2013. Final paving should take place in late fall/early winter 2013. The Wastewater Laterals Committee was formed by DKPOA several months ago to investigate plumbers and make recommendations to DKPOA members regarding hookups. Their findings were the subject of an extensive presentation at the AGM. The three contractors that the Committee recommended were(in order) 1. 3rd Generation Plumbing 305-743-4245 2. Windy Day Plumbing 305-664-9701 3. MCF Construction 305-522-5643 Members are recommended get multiple quotes, broken out by line item, and not to feel under undue time pressure to connect. Finally, members are encouraged to provide feedback to other members by rating their contractor experience on a scale of 1(not good) to 5(excellent). Ratings and any comments should be emailed to roger@marriottpartners.com. They will be tabulated on this website and included in the DKPOA newsletter. All submissions will be posted anonymously unless explicit permission is given otherwise. The FKAA has split the program into five separate contracts as follows: Contract 1-Phases 1 and 2.  Jan 2011-Feb 2012 Contract 2-Phase 3.  Feb 2011-Dec 2011 Contract 3-Phases 4, 5, 6.  Sept 2011-Dec 2012 Contract 4-Phase 7. May 2012-June 2013 Contract 5-Final Paving. June 2013-Aug 2013 The map below shows the areas involved. Phases 1,2 and 3 are fully funded and we should see ground breaking in February 2011. The construction schedule appears sensible and there are significant penalty clauses for late completion, so it is likely that these Phases will be completed on or close to schedule.  The remaining four Phases and final paving are in the BOCC's budget for FY 2012; they are not yet funded. FKAA as the general contractor will not proceed to award the remaining contracts until certain of funding from the BOCC. Thus whilst one is finally cautiously optimistic the timing of the remaining phases is still somewhat uncertain. Overall the timing looks, in my opinion, a little ambitious. Given the natural tendency of construction projects to run late, combined with the funding uncertainties, I suspect that we will do well to finalize this project by 2014.   The treatment plant is approximately at the half way point and will be completed in mid 2011, in time to accept hookups from phases 1, 2. and 3. Once each phase is complete homeowners will be required to hookup within 30 days, and will be billed at that time whether hooked up or not. Hookups are the responsibility of the individual homeowner and typically cost around $50/linear foot, according to the FKAA.There is still time to change where on your property line you wish the hookup point to be. DKPOA has established a "Wastewater Laterals Committee" which will meet in early 2011 and attempt to negotiate bulk discounts for our members for sewer hookups from approved contractors. DKPOA is also working with the FKAA on the best ways in which to keep everyone updated on progress and timeframes.   Rates have yet to be set but are likely to be in the range of $50 per month fixed charge and and $7.65 per thousand gallons variable charge. Reclaimed water will be charged at 70% of potable water but its availability will be limited. Once the initial pipes are in the contractors will resurface with 3/4" asphalt and the final resurfacing will be done once the entire project is complete.   This project will be a difficult one for the islands of Duck Key. In the words of Jim Reynolds, Executive Director of FKAA, the process will be "a mess, a dirty process." We as residents need to constantly remind ourselves over the next few years that we are getting the best possible collection system, a very competent general contractor in FKAA, and that we are doing this for our grandchildren.    If you have any questions please feel free to call Roger Marriott at 305-743-3659 or 518-527-33509(cell) or email him at roger@marriottpartners.com.

Fire Protection Update 8/15/10

Taxes For Fire & Ambulance May Rise 39%

Taxes for Fire and Ambulance District 1 in the Lower and Middle Keys are now 1.87 Mills.  That includes Duck Key.  The new 2011 budget originally proposed by County Administrator Roman Gastesi raised the millage to 2.83 mills ($849 on a $300,000 assessment).  He has since then reduced it to 2.6 mills ($780 on a $300,000 assessment).  This amounts to a 39% increase in the tax for fire & rescue services.  The rollback rate is 2.14 mills.  This is the rate the millage would have to be set at to raise the same amount of taxes next year as this year due to declining property values.  The proposed budget would generate $11.5 million to pay for most of the costs of Fire and Ambulance service in most of unincorporated Monroe County.   According to County Fire Chief Jim Callahan, the budget increases are necessary to replace outdated equipment, the cost of staffing the fire station in Layton, and salary increases mandated by union contracts.  As a comparison, Marathon's millage rate for all city services including Fire Rescue is 1.685. Keynoter Article of 7/31/10

 Key Colony Beach Will See Little Change in Fire and Ambulance Taxes

Key Colony Beach currently contracts with the City of Marathon for fire and ambulance service.  The contract was in the process of being renegotiated.  Marathon proposed a 5-year contract of $525,000 per year.  KCB then went to the County for a proposal and received a figure of $541,330 for three years.  KCB voted on July 22 to go with Monroe County for fire and ambulance.  Why?  Well it was not the cost.  Marathon's proposal was lower, and in addition to the County's being higher, KCB would have to build a fire station or come up with some way to house the two firefighters and equipment.   Some think that KCB commissioners were upset with the negotiating tactics of Marathon City Manager Roger Hernstadt.  Well KCB finally came to its senses.  At the urging of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce which represents 400+ business in the Middle Keys and over 3,000 employees KCB decided to go back to Marathon for fire and ambulance.  The Chamber of Commerce found out that the insurance rates for business were going to increase dramatically.  That would make sense since Monroe County would only be staffing KCB with 2 firefighter/paramedics, have less equipment and no ladder truck for tall buildings. Keynoter Article of 8/14/10

What Should Duck Key Do?

We think  that there are only two things that can be done in the wake of a projected 39% increase in Fire and Ambulance:

• Write the Monroe County Commissioners and tell them that the increase is too high.  We would like an explanation with hard facts.  Where is all this money going?  Outdated equipment sounds a little vague.  The County will be staffing Layton with 2 men. Is it necessary?  What did they do before?  Did they have volunteers?  Did that not work?  Can it be justified?  The Commissioners also blamed union contracts.  What are the details? Are the pay increases or other benefits justified?  Who negotiated these contracts?  How long do they last? Are they in line with other areas.  Is there a turnover problem. Are they having trouble staffing?
• Contact Marathon and explore the possibility of having them provide fire and ambulance service to Duck Key.  They have 2 firefighter/paramedics on Grassy Key already.  They may offer better service and lower taxes.  

County Engineer Updates (From Judith Clarke, P.E.) 4/20/10

SECURITY CAMERAS

Clark Briggs sent the Request for Proposals over to County Attorney for review several weeks ago. This was after he was out on site with Tom and the rep from ADT. I believe County Attorney will have comments back to us this week (hopefully) and then we will make revisions and advertise for responses. We post RFPs for 30 days and then will have to evaluate the responses.

BRIDGE REPAIRS

We received $1,159,000 in funding from Department of Transportation to perform repairs to the bridge from US 1 to the Island (it is the one in the worst shape). The county will match the DOT funds with approximately $400,000 of its own out of the road and bridge fund. That agreement with DOT is on tomorrow’s agenda for the board to approve and then we will get proposals from engineering firms to do the repair design and permitting. I anticipate that construction on that will begin in late fall

.As I mentioned previously there is additional impact fee money that can be used for pedestrian bridges or widening the existing bridges to allow for a bike/walking lane. I have tentatively reserved the funds but have not taken the impact fee expenditure before the board for approval yet. When the design firm that will do the repairs on the larger bridge goes out to inspect it as part of that project we intend to have them take a look at the two hump back bridges and give us an idea of the feasibility of widening them instead of installing a pedestrian bridge. As long as it is technically feasible and we have the funds it may be a better solution than trying to find a pedestrian bridge that is aesthetically pleasing to everyone.

Welcome To Duck Key

How to print the 2009 address book:

Go to the Community Documents tab on the "sidebar."

 Hit on "ADDRESS BOOK",  it will take you to, 

Community Documents/view Folders: 

Then just hit on Download which is beside 06/28/09, 2009 address book, printable.  A pop-up will come up and ask "Do you want to open or save this file?  Hit Open.  This is a PDF document and is universally opened.   You can now print the address book.

CHECK FOR LOCAL WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WIND SPEED AND FORCAST FOR MARINE INTEREST:   sailflow.com/windandwhere.iws

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