Changes

Significant turnover produced significant changes in KCB.

Following the abrupt resignations of Patti Trefry and Beth Vickrey in 2023, the City Commission did not renew the contract of former administrator Dave Turner in January. "Lenny" Leggett abruptly resigned as KCB building official in February, following code enforcer Barry Goldman's departure a week earlier.

"I'm in for compliance. I'm not in for punishment, I'm not in for fines, and I don't think we should budget for (them)," said then-Vice Mayor Foster, stressing the importance of prompt notification of violations to prevent accrual of fines. "I think we should be facilitative and work with the citizens, not work as an enforcement agency."

KCB celebrated its 67th anniversary during a festive Key Colony Beach Day in the reopened City Hall after almost seven years of closure and inactivity.

The commission looked for public input about using solar panels on the retention pond or on other city locations. They decided against the retention pond location but are still investigating options over the sewer plant and other city buildings.

The Community Rating System (CRS) is FEMA's "voluntary" incentive program for floodplain management practices. KCB is at Level 7, so flood policyholders should now receive a 15 percent CRS discount on their annual full risk premiums. Commissioner Harding reported that that discount is scheduled to increase to 20 percent in 2025. There are concerns that we don't get the discounts allowed and that FEMA says future discounts are dissolving. Despite that, Commissioner Harding restarted the monthly CRS workshop.

The commission has revisited the Sewer Billing system. The Utility Board suggested changing from the current "flat rate" bills to a bill based on usage. The discussion continued through the summer and fall.

A developer asked to transfer the ROGO rights for the still-vacant 2.10± acre parcel across from the Key Colony Inn to the City of Marathon. There was a proposed interlocal agreement. That was denied.

The Commission hired Tony Loreno as permanent Building Official. He received his "Provisional Building Code Administrator" license 10/8/24. Certification is required to perform the duties of a building code administrator. The provisional license is good for two years. The building code administrator may not perform the duties until the provisional certificate has been issued.

Former Marathon mayor and longtime city councilman John Bartus took the helm as our part-time city administrator, following a unanimous vote by the commission.

Two changes to KCB's floodplain regulations should aid residents in repairing or improving damaged or ground-level homes. The city shrank its "substantial improvement" time period from three years to one year. The city's required height above base flood elevation reverted from three feet to the (Florida statutory) one foot above base flood.

Taxes and Fees

City and County officials publicized that they reduced the property tax rate. But city and county revenues soared as the actual taxes we pay skyrocketed. General county, public schools, water management, mosquito control and county solid waste charges have also risen.

In 2016 the tax rate was 2.2300 mils which raised $1,441,533 in property taxes. In 2023 the tax rate was 2.8726 mils which raised $2,621,200 in property taxes and added over $100,000 to our fund reserves. The 2025 tax rate is 2.7600 mils which is expected to raise $3,246,270 in property taxes and to reduce our fund reserves by $374,393.

Commissioners made several city code changes. They amended the Land Development Regulations on freeboard requirements, changed the order of business for city commission meetings, and increased the fixed monthly sewer fees.

The commission passed new fees including building permits (with added fees for the city engineer, legal, fire safety, and many more), variance charges, application charges, trailer parking changes, and more. They also "updated" the fine schedule with 47 revised and new violations with punitive fines ranging from $25 to the maximum $250 per day. 16 of the listed violations and their fines are brand new.

The Building Department remains a major profit center for the city in every budget cycle. It brought in $531,914 in 2023, $823,422 this year, and a budgeted $638,645 next year with $170,895 of that transferred to the General Fund. That can't be done...legally.

The City had four commission seats up for reelection in November. Four sitting commissioners--Doug Colonell, Tom Difransico, Tom Harding, and Joey Raspe--ran unopposed. Under Florida law, all four were re-elected without appearing on the ballot.

Commission Seats and Volunteers

The City had four commission seats up for reelection in November. Four sitting commissioners--Doug Colonell, Tom Difransico, Tom Harding, and Joey Raspe--ran unopposed. Under Florida law, all four were re-elected without appearing on the ballot.

Commissioner Raspe opted not to seek a second term as mayor and nominated Freddie Foster as mayor. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Raspe was elected vice mayor. Commissioner Harding is Secy-Treas again. All city committee and board appointees were voted unanimously in single motions. The Vernis & Bowling contract passed unanimously.

• Freddie Foster, Mayor
• Joey Raspe, Vice-Mayor
• Tom Harding, Secretary-Treasurer
• Doug Colonell, Commissioner
• Tom DiFransico, Commissioner


• Kris DiGiovanni, Chief of Police
• Dirk Smits, Vernis & Bowling, City Attorney
• John Bartus, City Administrator
• Tony Loreno, City Building Official
• Silvia Roussin, City Clerk

Beautification - 2-year Term

• Sandy Bachman
• Mary Kohl* (Alternate)
• Robert Michon* (Alternate)

Recreation - 2-year Term

• Tom Alferes
• Barbara Tatarchuk*
• Aleta Williamson* (Alternate)

Planning & Zoning - 2-year Term

• Lin Walsh
• Leonard Geronemus*
• Lynne Conkling*
• Carman Slusher* (Alternate)
• Patricia Diebold* (Alternate)

Utility Board - 1-year Term

• Edward Carey
• Donald Steamer*
• Gil Gilbertson*
• Fred Swanson*

Disaster Preparedness - 1-year Term

• Joey Raspe
• John Bartus*
• Mike Guarino
• Kris DiGiovanni
• Tony Loreno*

CRS Resident Appointment - 1-year Term

• Kimmeron Lisle

City Hall

The commission approved their new City Hall renderings at a special November meeting. They didn't "want resident input" to affect the process. Most commissioners said they were not in favor of the "three tower" plan they approved, one that looks very much like the LIVS design and very little like the design and style of existing building. An A&E firm has been chosen to create a design based on the selected layout for commission approval.

At the meeting, they said the "thinness" of the floor was a "surprise" and that they had to redesign the cage (meaning the layout of rebar or screen that reinforces the pad at the top of the pin piles and connects to the existing floor).

The foundation/grade beams have been inspected several times and found to be sound. That has allowed the city to pin pile, repair, and level the existing city hall floor. The floor slab is now repaired, leveled, and supported. The underground waste plumbing has also been replaced. The bathroom trailer in the parking lot is temporary while the city hall bathrooms are finished. When the slab was cut for pin piles they found no voids under existing slab. That directly contradicted all the reports the city made to convince us that city hall was condemned.

Even the commissioners noted "We're about a month behind on starting the architecture" for City Hall.

And the Rest

The year also included the Post Office relocation and makeover, the pickleball/tennis court project, a new restaurant coming to the Causeway, and the good news that two of the trailers are gone. The KCB Farmer's Market is back in the City Hall parking lot.

Unanswered Questions People Are Asking

Looking Back at 2023

KCB started turning the corner in 2024. Now it's up to KCBers to keep the successes going.