Resolution 062-1997
RESOLUTION NO. 062 -1997
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY. FLORIDA. CLARIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MONROE COUNTY
AND THE CONCH REPUBLIC AND DISAVOWING MONROE COUNTY'S INVOLVEMENT
IN. OR APPROVAL OF. ANY POLITICAL ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS IN THE NAME OF THE CONCH REPUBLIC
WHEREAS. in the early 1980s. in a spirit of good humor, certain individual citizens of the Florida
Keys established "The Conch Republic" after declaring a mock secession from the United States; and
WHEREAS. The Conch Republic captured the adventurous, self-governing spirit of many
Florida Keys citizens; and
WHEREAS. the City of Key West and Monroe County soon became popularly known as The
Conch Republic. a name which long ago entered the public domain and is now widely associated
with Key West and the Florida Keys; and
WHEREAS. citizenship in The Conch Republic is an inalienable right enjoyed by all citizens of
the Florida Keys. so that no individual has the exclusive right to speak for or to appropriate the name
of The Conch Republic; and
WHEREAS. the name, symbols, history and lore of The Conch Republic are public property.
not to be usurped for private gain; and
WHEREAS, many years after the birth of The Conch Republic, ~e" or r I ~e in&viduals
f-r'J
~;,' -~
associated with the mock secession filed with the State of Florida papers p'erfi6f1ing m est~ish The
,,' c:o '
N-'
(Xl
Conch Republic as his or their own business concern; and
.:-.:~
:z - :::
WHEREAS. since then, certain persons operating under the name="cl. The ~ch ~public
... -....
< ki-
0'\
have participated in both community activities and business activities; and>
WHEREAS. on occasion, and more frequently in recent months. persons identifying themselves
with the Conch Republic have engaged in political activism. creating the mistaken impression that
there is a governmental aspect to. or general public support of. those political activities; and
WHEREAS. the Board of County Commissioners desires to clarify for the public that it has
granted no authority. by contract or otherwise, entitling any person or private entity to be, or to
speak for, The Conch Republic; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners desires to clarify for the public that political
activities undertaken in the name of The Conch Republic are done without the authorization or the
blessing of Monroe County; and
WHEREAS. the Board of County Commissioners desires to clarify for the public that positions
taken in the name of The Conch Republic do not necessarily represent the views of the BOCC; and
WHEREAS. the Board of County Commissioners desires to clarify for the public that all
positions, political or otherwise, of the Monroe County government are represented exclusively by
Resolution or Ordinance duly enacted by the Board of County Commissioners; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY.
FLORIDA. as follows:
Section 1.
That the foregoing recitations are approved and adopted as findings of fact
by the Board of County Commissioners;
Section 2.
That activities undertaken in the name of The Conch Republic are done
without the authorization of Monroe County except as expressly set forth in Resolution(s) duly
adopted by the Board of County Commissioners;
Section 3.
That Monroe County disavows any association with recent political activities
undertaken in the name of The Conch Republic;
Section 4.
That the County Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the
Governor and the Cabinet of the State of Florida;
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at
a regular meeting of said Board held on the 19th day of February ,1997.
Mayor Douglass
Commissioner Freeman
Commissioner Harvey
Commissioner London
Commissioner Reich
~
~
~
~
aosent
.~ :
i
NY L. KOLHAGE. CLERK
By
BY'?~~~~
Depu Cler CS
jresconch
l
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
THE CAPITOL
ROBERT A. BUTTERWORTH
Attorney General
State of Florida
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399.1050
March 10J 1997
Mr. Danny L Kolhage
Clerk of the Circuit Court
500 Whitehead Street
Key WestJ Florida 33040
Dear Mr. Kolhage
Thank you for providing Attorney General Bob ButtelWorth with a copy of Resolution
Number 062-1997 clarifying the relationship between the City of Key West and the
Conch Republic.
Please rest assured that this Resolution will be given full consideration should any applicable
issues come before the Governor and Cabinet in the future.
-----1
--'-"
Ke . Perez
Senior Assistant~ttorney General
-., \C3
e
z. ; -..J
,-,...
-, -- z
~ -- -.... ::J: C
~"r :z::,
;'-:' ::0 --,".
- - - ,..'.
-~
'- -..J ,,-'
;.r: -,
-, :32
N ' ,
N -.........,
. 0
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER