Resolution 283-2011 RESOLUTION NO. 283 - 2011
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
RECOGNIZING FRIENDS OF OLD SEVEN, INC. AS A
LEADING PARTNER IN A JOINT VENTURE WHICH IS
EXPECTED TO INCLUDE MONROE COUNTY AND
VARIOUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO
SAVE, REHABILITATE AND MAINTAIN THE 2.2 MILE
SEGMENT OF THE OLD SEVEN MILE BRIDGE,
MARATHON, FLORIDA.
WHEREAS, the Old Seven Mile Bridge, one of the most significant structures in the
100 year Florida Keys Overseas Railway and Trail, 2.2 miles long, and traversing a section of
water between Knights Key and Pigeon Key, is recognized world -wide as an extremely valuable
and protected component of Florida history along with Pigeon Key, with both being named in the
National Registry of Historical Places and in the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection's Office of Greenways and Trails' Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail (FKOHT);
and
WHEREAS, the bridge has played a critical role in the economic life of Southeastern
Florida and of the Florida Keys in particular, and continues, to this day, to be a major magnet
with over 100,000 people currently using it annually as a recreational and exercise facility as
well as an access point to historical Pigeon Key; and
WHEREAS, the bridge is in poor repair and needs to be rebuilt or significantly
renovated; and
WHEREAS, because of the disrepair, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),
who is the owner of the bridge, has taken certain steps to limit use of the structure and it is
becoming increasingly obvious that the Old Seven Mile Bridge might soon be closed by FDOT
to all traffic, including pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, such closure will represent a significant reduction to access to Pigeon Key,
an island owned by Monroe County, which would leave the only remaining mode of accessing
Pigeon Key a ferry service which is also being threatened due to the expiration of financial
support for the service by Florida DOT; and
WHEREAS, in the recent past, FDOT formulated certain engineering designs and cost
estimates to restore the bridge; however, these plans predicated continuing normal vehicular
traffic despite the community's consensus that the Old Seven Mile Bridge be restored restricting
it to pedestrian, bicycle and very light occasional tram traffic, a design alternative which would
significantly reduce restoration and maintenance costs; and
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WHEREAS, FDOT has expressed willingness to provide funding for a one -time
restoration of the bridge and then hand over to other entities the ownership and maintenance to
the restored facility; however, FDOT requires proof of significant local participation to provide
this funding, in addition to community participation and commitment to assume responsibility
for said maintenance; and
WHEREAS, the restoration of the Old Seven Mile Bridge under fresh, innovative
architectural/ engineering design alternatives could provide a once -in -a- lifetime opportunity to
create a unique world -class attraction when integrated with the adjoining Pigeon Key, Sunset
Park and Knights Key, thus expanding the effort to create a family- friendly eco- tourism
destination for the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS, a number of rail -to- trails, rail -to -parks and road -to- parks, both national and
international, have proven highly successful in converting abandoned transportation facilities
into highly desirable urban and tourism - enhancing facilities including, among others, the
Highline in lower Manhattan and the Walkway over the Hudson in New York State. These
attractions have succeeded not only in saving valuable historical structures, but in attracting
private and public investment to nearby derelict communities, now reinvigorated; and
WHEREAS, certain governmental stakeholders including Monroe County, the City of
Marathon, Monroe County, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection have an implied interest in working together to save the
Old Seven Mile Bridge; and
WHEREAS, there is no recognized non - profit organization currently recognized by the
governmental stakeholders as a viable entity capable of leading a joint- venture of public and
private entities capable of designing and eventually implementing alternative strategies leading
to saving, restoring, enhancing and maintaining the Old Seven Mile Bridge; and
WHEREAS, there are significant advantages to be gained by recognizing and including
a viable non - profit organization as an official stakeholder in the joint effort to save the Old Seven
Mile Bridge, including private fundraising, marketing, citizen recruitment, a design competition,
and eventually, as a non - governmental partner capable of assisting with maintenance and upkeep
of a new structure replacing the Old Seven Mile Bridge; and
WHEREAS, the Friends of Old Seven, Inc. have applied for their official 501 (c) 3 status
with the Internal Revenue Service, stating that the organization's activities will include as:
a) Activity #1: Participation in planning and design meetings with various other project
stakeholders including, but not limited to, the Florida Department of Transportation, the City of
Marathon, the County of Monroe, various service clubs and other non - profit organizations, and
the general public; and
b) Activity #2: Fund raising through various tactics to contribute toward the
reconstruction and/or maintenance of a new Seven Mile Bridge upon approval by the Internal
Revenue Service who has communicated with the leaders of Friends of Old Seven, Inc. that the
organization's non -profit application has been received and is currently undergoing routine
review and approval;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS that:
1). Friends of Old Seven, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 corporation, is hereby recognized by
Monroe County as a leading organization in a joint venture which is expected to include Monroe
County and various public and private organizations to save, rehabilitate and maintain the 2.2
mile segment of the Old Seven Mile Bridge between Knights Key and Pigeon Key; and
2). Hereby acknowledges that Monroe County will work toward a formal relationship
with Friends of Old Seven, Inc. regarding potential strategies leading to the objectives set forth in
this resolution.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida at a regular meeting of said Board on the 21 day of September, A.D., 2011.
Mayor Heather Carruthers Yes
, Mayor Pro Tem David Rice Yes
Commissioner George Neugent Yes
;r Co mmissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes
/ Commissioner Kim Wigington Yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: Danny L. Kolhage, CLERK OF MONROE C , FLORIDA
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Deputy Clerk ayo ather Carruthers
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