Monroe County approves Twin Lakes maintenance assessment despite neighbor objections

The Monroe County Commission on Wednesday adopted a final assessment resolution creating the Twin Lakes Municipal Service Benefit Unit and setting an annual assessment to pay operations and maintenance for the Twin Lakes Road Adaptation Project.

The vote followed a public hearing in Key Largo in which multiple property owners said their parcels have not historically flooded and argued they would receive little or no benefit from the proposed project. Commissioner Lincoln moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Raschein seconded; the motion carried.

The resolution on the agenda was described as setting an assessment of $2,131 per dwelling unit or unimproved parcel to pay O&M costs for the Twin Lakes Road Adaptation Project. During the meeting staff and other speakers gave inconsistent figures: one staff presenter summarized the assessment as $21.31 per dwelling unit going into effect in November. Several residents and commissioners remarked on that discrepancy during the hearing; the commission voted to approve the resolution as presented on the agenda.

Why it matters: the assessment will be a recurring, property-level levy to fund ongoing operation and maintenance of infrastructure the county says will reduce tidal flooding and maintain access in sections of Twin Lakes. Residents who said their lots are not affected by seasonal high tides argued the levy concentrates costs on a small neighborhood rather than on broader county taxpayers.

Discussion and dissent: Property owner Mark Fernandez told the commission, “Property was not affected by the seasonal high water, and no improvement was necessary.” Neighbor Lee Tucker, who said his lot averages about 4–4½ feet elevation, told commissioners he has not needed to drive through saltwater to access U.S. 1 and said the planned pump system would be overwhelmed in a hurricane. Public commenter Alicia Gonzales Mondrabad summarized neighborhood sentiment, saying the assessment felt like a “surprise” and a “bait and switch,” and noting that $2,100 would be a significant share of annual taxes for some retirees.

Staff response and board rationale: County staff and the mayor repeatedly said the project was developed after public meetings and engineering analysis and argued that the improvements — including stormwater infrastructure and elevated road segments — will benefit the neighborhood now and in the future as sea levels rise. Commissioners emphasized the process had included multiple public meetings and engineering review, and the board majority concluded the assessed properties would receive a measurable benefit and therefore voted to adopt the final assessment resolution.

What comes next: Staff said the assessment will go into effect as specified in the resolution and that operations and maintenance costs will be reviewed in future budgeting cycles; the commission noted assessment amounts and the MSBU roll can be revisited if conditions or costs change.