Islamorada has at most a month to decide whether to connect to the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District's pipeline.

That announcement came Monday from district General Manager Chuck Fishburn during a first-ever summit between the Key Largo Wastewater Board and the Islamorada Village Council.

The short window is dictated by the district's need to proceed with pipeline construction in its southern sector.

If the village decides to connect to Key Largo's system after the south transmission line is installed, it would be responsible for laying its own pipe to the Mile Marker 100.5 treatment plant at a likely higher cost.

"I'm afraid we're not going to make it to your pipeline in the next couple of weeks," said Councilman Dave Boerner, a proponent of exploring the so-called "Key Largo option," an agreement between the two entities that would allow the village to pump sewage to Key Largo's plant.

Wastewater board member Andy Tobin, who has advocated doing business with Islamorada to lower costs for all Upper Keys ratepayers, told the council the ball was in its court.

"Three years ago we voted 5-0 to do business with you. Last year it was 4-1. Now it's down to 3-2. We want to do business with you," Tobin said. "It's a numbers game and you have the numbers. If they work for you, we'll go forward. Please don't force us to vote again."

For Islamorada to tie in with Key Largo it would have to agree, possibly at Thursday's council meeting, to work with the district as a customer. Any other relationship was ruled out Monday.

Expanding the Key Largo district's boundaries to include the village had been rejected at previous wastewater board meetings and all five members were ready to stand firm Monday, but Village Councilwoman Deb Gillis rendered that stance unnecessary.

"I also believe we can do this without expanding the boundary. In fact, there's no time for this," she said. "It can be done through an interlocal agreement."

The same held for Islamorada's request for a seat on the district board.

Boerner said he requires only a solid contract and made the case for not having a board representative.

"We send solid waste to the Miami-Dade landfill and we have not asked them for a representative on their board," he said.

District Engineer Margaret Blank reminded Key Largo officials that contractor Metro Equipment is ready to begin laying a pipe from the treatment plant south to Tavernier Creek.

"We may have time to upgrade our line to 24 inches" to accommodate Islamorada's sewage, she said.

Wastewater board members Charlie Brooks and Norm Higgins both reiterated their desire for the district to complete its $155 million central system first, then talk with Islamorada.

Village Councilman Michael Reckwerdt sounded a bit of hope after the three-hour meeting.

"No one left the meeting angry," he said.

sgibbs@keysnews.com