County approves Key West interlocal for shore-side services at mooring field; private owner urges collaboration on disputed island

Monroe County commissioners voted Jan. 15 to approve an amendment to an interlocal agreement with the City of Key West to partner in operating shore-side services for the mooring field in Man-of-War Harbor.

The agreement change — described by county staff as necessary to provide coordinated shore-side facility services for the mooring field — passed after public comment from Bart Smith of FEB Corp., who represents private interests with longstanding litigation over ownership of nearby Wisteria Island (also referenced in the meeting as Wisteria/Wisteria Island). Smith told commissioners that FEB Corp. “wants to work with the county” and supports a mooring field in principle but objected to aspects of the proposed field and warned that administrative appeals have been used in the past. “We would hope to work collaboratively with the county on a mooring field that all can agree on,” Smith said.

County staff said the mooring-field agreement is needed “independent of” ongoing litigation and that approving the amendment would not preclude working to resolve outstanding disputes. Commissioner Rice moved approval; Commissioner Lincoln seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: The interlocal agreement formalizes cooperation between Monroe County and the City of Key West over shoreside services for the mooring field, a step toward managing marine access and boat-staging infrastructure. Comments from FEB Corp. highlight overlapping disputes about island ownership and underline that implementation may run in parallel with or be affected by separate federal litigation.

Staff will execute the amended interlocal agreement and proceed with the mooring-field coordination described in the contract.