Commentary about the May 16 Key Colony Beach City Commission meeting:
The Marathon Weekly reported Key Colony Beach moves closer to office repairs and pickleball expansion. Some readers have reported difficulty with external links so we also have a local copy.
• The City Hall sagging ceiling will get a support beam and the administrative offices may receive sub-floor foam injection on the path to reopening.
• Commissioner Harding requested a quote for repair of the administrative area floor using pin piles, while commissioner Colonell spoke in favor of formal budgeting for repairs, hardening and additions to City Hall.
• Four building permits were extended without charge.• Four building permits were extended without charge.
• Applicant Joseph Fema accepted a job outside of the Keys so Building official position will be advertised.
• The city is headed for a reshuffling of its pickleball, tennis and basketball courts.
• Major work is needed on the 7-Meter Sadowski Causeway bridge.
• The city's mailboxes will now move back into the City Hall post office June 21.
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"Executive Assistant to the City Commission"
The City Administrator job description and employment agreement (a legal contract) were not available to the public when the commission voted on it.
The wimpy and demeaning "Executive Assistant" job title took flack from our correspondents. Nobody likes it. So far, the three leading titles are City Administrator, City Coordinator, or Operating Officer. It has been mentioned that, in a right to work state such as Florida, the job description and employment contract hold more sway in determining compensation and benefits that putting "Administrator" in the job title.
Likewise, the job description needs more thought.
James (JR) Rider notes that "With regard to the 'Executive Assistant, etal' I would only caution that in my experience in business for many years, I always found that if you grant someone responsibility for work, you need to be very sure they have both the 1) Authority to achieve it, and 2) Resources needed to accomplish it. Reading the description, it seems to me that the responsibilities are very broad, but the assignment of authority and assets is unclear."
Other correspondents enthusiastically supported John Bartus for the position. One noted "He's likely the best you'll find with a local track record vs. a massive geographical talent search coupled with outlandish wage & benefit demands."
Former KCB commissioner Kathryn McCullough wrote, "I am currently traveling so have not read the job description. However, I do not like the title and I DONOT like the position reporting to the City Clerk. All the Department positions should report only to the Commission, i.e., City Clerk, Building Official, Police Chief and whatever you call this new position. Just my opinion!!"
May 21 Storm Report
Tim Heitman wrote, "The official Marathon rain total was 7.21 inches but three different rain gauges on our street--11th--were between 10.5 and 12+ inches. My rain gauge said 11.75 inches.
"The weather station for Marathon is at the airport next to a building and in the past has been inaccurate due to its positioning. Indeed if our rain totals were as recorded locally, then the water drainage was excellent."
"The amount of beach erosion would testify for a greater amount than 7 inches as there was minimal erosion after the 8 inch deluge last year. At 1pm the water was 6 inches deep in the middle of West Ocean drive. At about 2:15 there was only standing water near the curbs. I drove it personally and can verify that the water cleared remarkably quickly. On our driveway at 1pm the water came up to about 6 feet from the garage and at 2:15 when I returned, there was only a puddle of water which cleared by morning. Yes there were persistent puddles on 11th st in the middle of the block until Tuesday am."
Former KCB utility clerk Pat Hyland wrote, "I'm writing to just add a bit of information regarding the stormwater remediation for 11th Street. When I worked for the city, 11th Street was to get injection wells installed. However, injection wells are useless without swales. At the time of my departure I don't think there were ANY plans to put in swales on 11th Street. The right-of-way configuration on 11th Street is unlike the rest of the city."
Mayor Raspe reminded KCBers to send anything we would like the commissioners to discuss to City Clerk Silvia Gransee.