Wednesday, April 15, 2009

KEY LARGO -- Despite opposition from Upper Keys community associations, the on-again, off-again effort to connect Islamorada to Key Largo's sewage treatment plant is back on.

The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District last week voted 4-1, with Charles Brooks dissenting, to reopen negotiations with the village. The board also voted 3-2, with Brooks and Norman Higgins dissenting, to determine what mutual savings might result.

"It's a small step for man, but perhaps a large step for two communities," quipped Islamorada Mayor Don Achenberg after the meeting.

Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District General Manager Chuck Fishburn said he expected to meet with Village Manager Ken Fields and a village engineer Monday afternoon to formally begin talks. The outcome of the first meeting was not known at press time.

The hope of cost savings through economies of scale brought the two community's back to the bargaining table despite opposition from the Tavernier Community Association and the Key Largo Federation of Homeowner Associations.

Before the vote Brooks said he was adamantly against spending another dime on talks and studies.

"We're looking to spend $2,000 to $5,000 just to start talking," he said before a full house.

Achenberg and Fields came to the meeting seeking answers to two questions: whether Key Largo was interested in considering an interlocal agreement whereby Islamorada would pipe and pay for its sewage to be treated in Key Largo, and whether Key Largo would be willing to "pay its appropriate share of a comprehensive study" to see if both the village and Key Largo would benefit from the arrangement.

"If [Key Largo] is willing to spend money on this, we can move forward," Fields said. "A re-engineering study [costs] significantly more than what you're talking about."

Commissioner Rob Majeska said he is against spending money on engineers for a new study.

"Our guys can set up the ground rules, but we are not responsible to pay for a study," he said.

Brooks, who voted against having the managers and engineers even meet, opposed funding a study.

"[W]e'll be spending money that should go for Key Largo work," he said. "I want to know the scope."

Higgins, who also didn't want to fund a study, said he was willing to take a second look at the pipeline option in the interest of cost savings.

"Does our community want to save money?" he asked rhetorically. "If we can bring the rates down ... let's look a little more into it. I'm wavering, but that's the way you do it to save money."

Commissioner Andy Tobin suggesting staff from both entities work together to determine potential savings.

Later Councilman Dave Boerner, who sat in on the meeting but did not speak, told the Free Press he just wants to know the bottom line.

"The only questions I am asking, is it good for Islamorada and is it good for Key Largo?" he said. "We're all tired of the costs."

sgibbs@keysnews.com