Dick Harper's family has lived on 11th Street here in KCB since 1983. He sent this letter to City Clerk Sylvia Grantsee and to all five commissioners to be read into the record at the City Commission meeting and asked to share it with you ahead of the April 20, 2023, meeting.
Sylvia, I don't think I'll be here for the Commission meeting on April 20. Please read this into the record as my citizen comment.
There are two issues before the City Commission today: To repair City Hall and to consider our loss of community.
The KCB City Commission has been jonesing for a glorious new city hall for five and a half years, since then-Mayor John DeNeale told the city that we did not require any further grant application work.
Here are a few, critically important truths:
1. Despite what the city told us, City Hall was not "substantially damaged" and has never been officially condemned.
2. Despite what the city told us, the Post Office does not require a new building. The Post Office requires a safe building.
3. Despite what the city told us, FEMA does not require construction to be above the Base Flood Elevation. They have four options under the acronym "F.R.E.D." or "Floodproofing, Relocating, Elevating, Demolishing." Florida Building Code is the same. We could easily floodproof or elevating the existing city hall. (Last time I checked, the long-existing city hall flood barriers were still stored away in the closet behind Marble Hall.
4. Despite what the city told us, City Hall can be repaired.
5. And despite what the city tells us, we have nothing to show for five and a half years except a million and a half spent, parking lots clogged by trailers, and the grass mowed around a building we citizens are forbidden to use.
We have an opportunity here to combat that "tear it down and throw it away" culture by rebuilding something that is very good.
It's time for the city commission to recognize that we don't need to keep up with the Joneses.
The second issue is our KCB sense of community. The resident population is dropping as irritation with city overreach grows. We have lost population and we have lost community spirit day-by-day since the city went from a strong mayor who acted as our chief executive to a mayor who ceded those duties to an administrator who took over all the reins. It's time to return to a system led by an elected official who lives in and is part of our community.
Thanks.
Richard B. Harper
Key Colony Beach
April 19, 2023
Responses
Beautifully said and very well put.
Brett E. von Borke, Esq.
Well written ... and it soooooo speaks for soooooo many of our residents .....
We want our city hall back, and we want our well run city back as well. And we want to continue with a community, despite the high percentage of rentals now ....
Rose Richelson
Agree wholeheartedly.
I find it interesting that survey work has been done to cut into our golf course, and make more pickle ball courts. Two of the holeswould be shortened and redone. Anybody know of this?
The Code Board was disbanded and an administrative law judge hired to run the replacement "panel" formerly done by citizens.
Saw our esteemed Code Officer pull over to apparently ticket a Sadowski residence at 11:55AM this past Tuesday for perhaps having lawn debris out 5 (minutes?) early?
Recreation Committee folding. Another group of concerned and selfless volunteers who realized they were wasting their time?
And a new fiber optic system being installed now apparently that really came as a surprise.
Interesting little city.
Thomas Tucker
God bless him! Very well put.
Molly Shaffer
Well said.
JMVette
Dick Harper presented another well stated account of the current KCB. Thank you for forwarding.
Likewise, both of you & Fred made pertinent points to the commission today. I don't think Trefry liked that you were applauded for your statements but obviously your fellow citizens liked your comments very much.
Name Withheld
