KEY LARGO -- What's the best way to spend $1.8 million in county impact fees: building bike paths or paving roads? That's a matter for the Monroe County Commission to decide.

The $1.8 million was initially earmarked for a curve that would increase the flow of evacuating traffic at the intersection of Card Sound Road and County Road 905. The redesign of the 18-Mile Stretch, however, has rendered that curve unnecessary.

The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District wants the county to use those untapped funds to help cover the cost of paving 13 miles of roads the district must dig up and patch to install sewer pipes. Last week, the district voted to pitch that idea to the commission when it meets Wednesday, Nov. 18 in Key Largo and to offer $2.2 million of its own money to get the job done.

One problem: county impact fee funds must be spent on new projects, according to County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy.

"'New' is the key word," she said. "Thirteen miles of paved roads has nothing to do with [it]. I'm willing to listen to all of the ideas, but I want to limit it to ideas that concern the beautification of the island of Key Largo."

Ron Miller, chairman of the Key Largo Federation of Homeowner Associations, and a few other federation officers who say they are acting outside as independent citizens, hope to persuade the county to spend the $1.8 million on a bayside bicycle path along the Overseas Highway. The island has an oceanside path from mile marker 106 to 100 and from mile marker 97 south. A three-mile segment stretches along a wide median between the north and southbound lanes.

"This would aid businesses along the way," Miller said. "It would serve tourists and residents alike. Half the people live on the bay side. Why should you have to cross the highway if you don't have to?"

But Miller and his cohorts aren't the only ones with their eyes on a new path.

David Ritz, president of the Ocean Reef Community Association, would like the county to build a bike path from mile marker 106 up County Road 905 to Card Sound Road.

"When the $1.8 million freed up, I thought it would be logical to extend the bike path north at least to the intersection," he said. "Ten years ago there were three options. The Monroe County Commission rejected the one I wanted, to put a bike path along the edge of the [Florida Keys Electric Cooperative] power lines. The other options were a bike and pedestrian trail on the north side of the road, or to widen the pavement.

"I think a nice nature trail there could be an asset to the entire community."

Miller says building a path along CR 905 would be a poor use of funds.

"I'm surprised they would consider anything on 905 since it would serve so few people. That road is like a backwater compared to the Overseas Highway in Key Largo," he said.

But the sewer district is not ready to concede.

Board member Andy Tobin, a land-use attorney, says he believes impact fees can be used to offset the impact of development.

"Development means new homes, new sewers," he said.

Gary Bauman, a former sewer board member who has been hired by the district to pursue grants and other funding, says the money would buy little bike path.

"I'm told that $1.8 million gives us three miles of bike path on the bay side," he said. "Where would they put it and how would they maintain it? They don't have the money to maintain the parks, much less two bike paths."

The matter is to be heard at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Murray E. Nelson Government Cultural Center.

sgibbs@keysnews.com