Residents spoke out about the November 16 Key Colony Beach Commission meeting:
Tony Rosabal of LIVS Associates reminded us that our options include
- Repairing the entire existing City Hall
- Restoring Marble Hall and the Post Office and building a new Administration wing at current elevation standards
- Building his design.
The current FEMA flood zone for the City Hall complex is AE-7. Florida Building Code sets the elevation requirement for any structure to be eight feet (8') above nominal sea level, not the 7' above ground level mentioned. Visit bit.ly/KCBCityHall for a look at some of the current proposals for City Hall.
I have been a successful contractor and business owner for over 50 years. I have learned and practiced a very important trait, which is to listen carefully to what your customers have to say. After all, the customer pays the bills and the customer is always right.
As KCB voters, we are your customers. As the folks paying the bills, we've seen the FEMA investigations ignored. We've seen no progress on the fraud investigations. And we know that citizen protests are forgotten.
Today isn't the day to talk about those problems. Today I want to talk about solutions. As one candidate amongst the seven applicants vying for a commission seat, I am impressed by the resumes. That tells me we can solve this. We can bring back the shine to our little gem.
The number of applications alone I believe to be indicative of those who wish to change the course of the city. That's the best news for today.
I trust you will decide on a candidate who will believe as I do and entertain solutions to fix City Hall and solutions to upgrade our police department. We're now six years post Irma and people here just want to re-open Marble Hall for residents and for city meetings like this one and to move the post office back to where it belongs. That's first on my list, too.
Furthermore, the voters who put you in your seats want change that moves us forward to the friendly, close-knit community we were before Irma. Those same constituents agree with the need for change.
Lastly, having said my piece again, hopefully for the last time, I am withdrawing my application for the vacant commission seat. I have been offered and accepted the position to chair the committee to recall Commissioners Vickery and Harding. We all truly hope that's not necessary. Please take this opportunity to join me by stepping down to help heal the community.
Thank you.
Joseph Schmidt
Key Colony Beach
Commissioners and KCBers, Good Morning
Laurie Swanson for Concerned in KCB, 620 9th Street-----
Not I, nor the citizens have stalled the now and future city hall. The commissioners are holding progress on the city hall project hostage. Commissioner stonewalling of our referendum petition, through repeated legal trickery and "secret meetings," is obstructing the will of the people of KCB. KCBers want a city hall. KCBers want a say in what that city hall looks like. KCBers want a say in how it is paid for. KCBers want to be informed about what the commission is doing and why. Concerned in KCB aims to get those wants and needs fulfilled.
Commissioners Trefry, Harding and Vickery continue to spend tens of thousands of city dollars blocking the will of the people—blocking our overwhelmingly successful petition. Now the commission refuses to reveal that the H.O.B. bid is dead.
Instead of trampling our rights, why can't we work together? We at Concerned in KCB hope to help you create a pathway forward.
As everyone in this room knows, the people of KCB love their Post Office and Marble Hall. Those spaces are the heart of KCB. Right now, the best and cheapest way to move forward is to move back into them. We have a committee of informed, interested, and expert residents ready to help make that happen.
Nevertheless, the city hall project is at the top of everyone's mind. That same group of residents is also ready to help you figure out how to fix what can be fixed and to build what must be built to get us back into a city hall we can be proud of.
Everyone in this city wants a real idea of what it will take and what it will cost to repair the existing city hall. Please move to get started on this today.
If we all work together, we can make this a win-win for the city of KCB.
Everyone wants to be in the Marble Hall for the next city meeting!!!!!
Thank you for your attention.
Laurie Swanson
Key Colony Beach