Item P6 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: December 11, 2013 Division: County Administrator
Bulk Item: Yes No X Department: County Administrator
Staff Contact Person/Phone#: Roman Gastesi/292-4441
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Discussion and direction for partnering with the Florida Department
of Transportation and the City of Marathon on the rehabilitation and on-going maintenance of the Old
Seven Mile Bridge.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The Florida Department of Transportation has expressed interest in
working with local governments to develop a plan to rehabilitate the Old Seven Mile Bridge.
Discussions have been on-going for several years. Various ideas have been discussed but, to date,none
have met the requirements of all parties.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
9/12/13 — BOCC adopted Five Year Capital Plan which included $2,700,000 allocated to the Old
Seven Mile Bridge project.
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES: N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Approval
TOTAL COST: N/A INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED: Yes No
COST TO COUNTY: N/A SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty_ OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM#
Revised 1/09
Subject: 7-Mile Bridge
Dear Danny:
Prior to the meeting on Wednesday I wanted to ask you to vote in favor of the plan for the Seven
Mile Bridge Restoration and ongoing preservation.
The Seven Mile Bridge is not only an iconic_one of a kind a historic landmark it has become,
since Flagler built it,truly the most recognizable symbol of the Florida Keys. I am always
pleased to see the image in print and on the internet in everything from car, tire
and cosmetics ads to being featured in movies and our own TDC promotional advertising
etc. In fact the aerial view of the twin bridges when shown to a thousand people across the USA
would most likely have a recognition of over 50% of those who travel. Henry Flagler's bold_._R
dream of an East Coast Railway system is embodied in this his most significant undertaking of
all,the"7 Mile Bridge."
Communities are often judged by what they save and what they deem important. Many years ago
Key West lost the most beautiful building in the State of Florida when it was decided it was too
expensive to repair and preserve. Certainly if the 7 Mile bridge were allowed to fall into the
water it would be a tragedy of great proportion and viewed 50 years from now with the same
level of regret that the loss of the Convent of Mary Immaculate is still spoken of with regret here
in Key West today.
Danny, as you know I grew up in the presence of the 7-mile bridge at the"7 Mile Bridge Trailer
Park"in Marathon. (Trailer Rama). In the winter I fished from the bridge, doing so in the care
of my Grandpa, 011ie Roth. The other tourists, who would sometimes fish with us, could not
stop talking to my Grandpa about what an incredible engineering miracle it was to build a bridge
over 7 miles of water. It remains a wonderment still.
Danny, I did not support he Rowells Marina purchase as I felt this county has enough park space
of this type to shoulder, however, I believe that the bridge is "unique in all the world" and its
importance to the entire Keys and Key West cannot be overestimated. Saved,promoted and
properly utilized it will return many times the investment in taxes from Marathon's enhanced
recognition, identity and appeal to visitors from around the world as a major and truly unique
tourist attraction and historic site.
Thank you for your consideration,
Ed Swift, III