An Open Letter to the Board of County Commissioners

Honorable Commissioners:

I had some concern about the Stock Island waterfront area going from commercial to mixed use. As you know, the County Commission voted to make the area mixed use and it passed. Back then I sent you a e-mail stating that any boat ramp in that area would need to stay in county hands to ensure that it always has access to the public. I’m not sure if this is still part of the deal with the redevelopment on Stock Island.

Now that they have their wish and are now zoned mixed use, they take their trash, such as the Tugboat Tilly, tow it out to sea and let it sink to be cleaned up at taxpayers expense. This is the thanks that the taxpayer gets for letting that area become affluent under the new zoning. This should be a criminal offense for what has happened, and now our county tax dollars will have to clean this mess up.

Now, back to the boat ramp and any public access issues for the redevelopment of the Stock Island Waterfront: Ensure that any public access areas planned for this area remain or become part of Monroe County property. I believe that any promises by the developers will not be honored in the long term, and will end up a problem in private hands, just like the Tugboat Tilly.

Wayne Nowocien

Big Coppitt Key, Fl