Friday, November 20, 2009

Local officials in Marathon were pleased with their annual trip to the state's capital this week.

Marathon Mayor Ginger Snead, Interim City Manager Peter Rosasco and City Planning Director George Garrett all took the trip to meet with the governor's cabinet to brief them on the progress the city has been making. All of Monroe County is designated as an area of critical state concern, a designation that puts certain restrictions and sets goals for progress in the Keys.

One of those goals is completion of advanced wastewater treatment systems -- a project on which Marathon is ahead of most portions of the county tasked with installing a new utility.

"Marathon was very well received," Rosasco said. "They praised the progress we made on our work plan items."

The city is about halfway through installing the central sewer infrastructure, a project that is mandated by the state to be finished by July 2010. Most of the county is expected to miss that deadline, but Marathon is currently scheduled to be finished by the end of 2010.

Snead, who spoke for the city, said she was surprised by the reception Marathon received.

"I didn't realize we had such a big face up there," Snead said. "It was a great learning experience."

City officials also used the trip to continue lobbying for financial help for the potential purchase of Boot Key. Although the vast majority of the island is owned by private entities, many city officials have expressed a desire to purchase the island and make it into some sort of protected park.

"Nobody promised any money, but they all agreed it was a good idea," Rosasco said.