The Monroe County Commission is expected to consider an ordinance Wednesday that would give preference to local firms that bid on county contracts.

Under the provisions of the proposed ordinance, businesses must have paid a business tax for at least one year prior to the county's request for bids. The business must have a physical business address in Monroe County in which day-to-day business functions are being conducted. Post office boxes would not be considered a verifiable physical address.

"The important thing is that money is kept in the local economy," said Chris Gratton, president of the Florida Keys Contractors Association. "This helps keep local people employed. It's mainly going to be beneficial for the smaller contracts, as the bigger ones like the airport and other large jobs, the county will have to go to bigger contractors from outside of the county. This is going to help the little guy."

Even if a job is beyond the scope of local firms, they still may benefit. One provision of the proposal says that in such circumstances, an out-of-county firm can enhance its chance of winning a contract if it agrees to employ local workers or subcontract some of the work to local businesses.

"I think we should do everything we can to help our local business people, especially in these tough times," said County Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro, who has been pushing the issue for the past year. "We need to keep the money in the local economy."

The local preference ordinance could be waived for specific projects if the county administrator gives written recommendation and the County Commission approves it.

The city of Key West has had a local preference ordinance since 1986. The city of Marathon passed a similar ordinance earlier this year. Islamorada does not have such an ordinance.

Also on Wednesday's agenda, the commission is expected to:

• Hear a request from developer Ed Swift for an 18-month extension to complete Islander Village, a work-force housing complex on Stock Island. Of the 89 units, 43 are completed and 33 are occupied. All 89 units have access to power and water. The complex was supposed to be completed by the end of June, but that has been delayed due to the slow economy.

• Vote on a plan that would allow commercial power to be extended to No Name Key. County Mayor George Neugent is expected to ask the board whether it objects to allowing Keys Energy Services to run power lines across the No Name Key Bridge and county property.

The power debate has divided segments of No Name Key, as some residents want to the island within the National Key Deer Refuge to remain without commercial power.

• Vote again on whether or not to send a series of proposed changes to the county's land use plan to the state Department of Community Affairs, which oversees development in the Florida Keys and other areas of critical state concern.

The amendments are intended to preserve historic use of Keys waterfronts. The state rejected the county's previous proposals, submitted by a previous County Commission.

At a commission meeting earlier this month, the commission voted to scrap the amendments and start over. However, Commissioner Heather Carruthers has asked for a rehearing, saying she is concerned that the commission did not have time to digest a memo from the Department of Community Affairs, as it was introduced shortly before the vote.

The memo cites a need for coordination between the county and Navy on waterfront projects near Naval Air Station Key West. The Navy has objected to the amendments because they call for increased residential density in an area subjected to loud jet noise and increased risk of an air accident.

• Vote on issuing a request for proposals for developing a master plan for Higgs Beach.

tohara@keysnews.com