Monroe County Approves Gravity Funding

On Wednesday, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, at it’s monthly meeting, approved two resolutions that provide funding of almost $ 11 million to expand the number of subdivisions getting gravity sewers rather than low pressure grinder pumps.  This change will affect 1,152 of the almost 2,800 EDUs or homes originally slated for grinders.

The affected subdivisions include: Buttonwood Dr. and Allamanda Dr, on Lower Sugarloaf Key, Logger Head Ln. on Upper Sugarloaf Key , Cudjoe Gardens and Cudjoe Shores on Cudjoe Key, and Eden Pines, Doctors Arm, Big Pine North and Big Pine South on Big Pine Key.

This reduction, of over one-third of the planned grinder pumps, will assure long term savings far in excess of the initial construction cost differential.  The changes will also reduce the requirement of homeowners to provide an electric supply to the grinders and to deed a portion of the property to the FKAA.  Regular maintenance by the FKAA and the need for emergency generators after storms will also be reduced significantly.

We applaud the County Commissioners for their willingness to address this issue and to FKAA for supporting the decision.  Most impotently, we thank all of the citizens that supported the Sir Isaac Newton Coalition in this endeavor.  Given this action by the County and FKAA, the two lawsuits that address the funding and decision process will be reassessed in the next few days.