Resolution 043-1981
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RESOLUTION NO. 43
OF
MONROE COUNTyCOMMISSIONERS
WHEREAS: THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS DESIGNED
AND MICiTATLSCONSTRUCTION CO. OF FLORIDA, INC. IS IN THE
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING A NEW BRIDGE IN TWO PHASES OVER HARRIS
GAP CHANNEL AT THE 17 MILE MARKER ON U,S. HIGHWAY #1 IN THE
LOWER KEYS AND)
WHEREAS HARRIS GAP CHANNEL IS THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE
OCEAN AND GULF FOR BOAT NAVIGATION FROM BOTH SIDES OF U.S.
HIGHWAY 1 FOR ALL PROPERTY OWNERS ON LOWER SUGARLOAF KEY IN
MONROE COUNTY AND,
WHEREAS THE DESIGN OF SAID NEW BRIDGE PROVIDES FOR THREE
VERTICAL THREE FOOT WIDE CONCRETE PILINGS TO BE PLACED IN THE
CENTER OF AND DEEPEST PART OF THIS NAVIGABLE WATER COURSE AND,
WHEREAS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAID BRIDGE)
NAVIGATION IN THIS PART OF THE LOWER KEYS WILL BE SERIOUSLY
AND UNNECESSARILY HAMPERED AND,
WHEREAS AFTER FINAL CONSTRUCTION THE PASSABLE HORIZONTAL
CLEARANcr-FOR-BOATS WILL BE DECREASED FROM 24 FEET TO 20 FEET,
THE VERTICAL CLEARANCE WILL BE INCREASED FROM 7 1/2 FEET MLT
TO 8 1/2 FEET MLT BUT THE TRAVERSABLE DISTANCE UNDER SAID
BRIDGE WILL BE 56' RATHER THAN THE EXISTING 24 FEET AND THE
WATER DEPTH WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASED TO 4 FOOT MEAN TIDE
FROM 10 FOOT MEAN LOW TIDE AND)
WHEREAS THE NEW BRIDGE AS DESIGNED AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION
WILL BE A CLEAR, OBVIOUS AND UNNECESSARY rANGER TO BOAT
NAVIGATION IN THE LOWER KEYS WHICH WILL CONSTITUTE AN UNNECESSARY
DETRIMENT TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF
AND TOURISTS VISITING THE LOWER KEYS AND~
WHEREAS THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS ADVISED AND THEREFORE
BELIEVES THAT IT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY FOR SAID CONCRETE
PILINGS TO BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WATER COURSE AND
THAT SAID BRIDGE COULD WITHOUT GREAT EXPENSE BE MOVED EAST OR
~EST 20' SO THAT SAID CONCRETE PILINGS WOULD NOT BE IN THE
NAVIGAB'LE PART OF THE WATER COURSE AND,
WHJ~EAS THE COUNTY COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT THE COST OF
FUTURE DAMAGE AND HARM TO THE CITIZENS OF AND TOURISTS IN THE
LOWER KEYS WILL GREATLY EXCEED THE PRESENT COST OF MOVING SAID
BRIDGE.
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WHEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED ON THIS 24th DAY OF FEBRUARY
1981 AT ITS GENERAL MEETING HELD AT 10 am IN MARATHON, FLORIDA
AS FOLLOWS
1. THE PRESENT PLANS TO CONSTRUCT SAID NEW BRIDGE
WITH THE PILINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HARRIS GAP WATER COURSE
WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS AND UNNECESSARY OBSTRUCTION TO
NAVIGATION THROUGHOUT THE LOWER KEYS UNACCEPTABLE TO THIS
COUNTY COMMISSION AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE LOWER KEYS.
2. THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION HEREBY IMPLORES THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION TO IMMEDIATELY INTERVENE IN THIS MATTER AND
CHANGE THE PLACEMENT OF SAID PILINGS SO AS NOT TO DANGEROUSLY
OBSTRUCT NAVIGATION UNDER THIS NATURAL WATER COURSE.
3. THAT COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION BE IMMEDIATELY
SENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE
DADE AND MONROE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
DONE AND PASSED THIS 24th DAY OF FEBRUARY IN PUBLIC
HEARING AT MARATHON, FLORIDA BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT AND VOTING
I Ralph W. White CLERK OF THE
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE
ABOVE RESOLUTION'IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COpy OF THE RESOLUTION
PASSED BY THE MONROE COUNTY COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 24th 1981
AT PUBLIC HEARING. ~'~. ?/..~/17/
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?,-- ~PUTY CLERK