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County staff to continue talks on conveying Higgs Beach and West Martello Tower to Key West; Garden Club seeks better communication
Summary
County staff said they will keep working with the City of Key West on a potential conveyance of Higgs Beach and West Martello Tower; Key West Garden Club, which maintains the site, said it supports the conversation but asked to be kept informed.
Monroe County staff told commissioners Wednesday they have continued discussions with City of Key West officials about conveying ownership and management of Higgs Beach and West Martello Tower to the city and that staff should continue to negotiate details and complete a cost‑benefit analysis.
County staff said Key West staff met with their commission and gave a preliminary nod to continue negotiating terms; staff asked the county commission whether to proceed with the work. "We're working right now to evaluate all the different grants rebuild certain facilities in that park," the county speaker told the commission, noting a number of grants and interlocal pieces that would need to be reconciled before any final transfer.
Mary Olson, president of the Key West Garden Club, told the commission the club has been the volunteer caretaker of West Martello Tower for many years and that volunteers are "not against this conversation." Olson asked for better communications and to be included in future discussions; county staff responded that they would keep the Garden Club informed as negotiations proceed.
No formal vote or conveyance was taken Wednesday. Staff said the proposal will return to the commission for formal approval if and when a transfer agreement is completed.
