Village Council approves fines for buildings that are late on recertification inspections; addresses seaweed composting, and septic situation | Key Biscayne

At the council meeting of the Village of Key Biscayne last Tuesday (October 12), several village departments reported critical infrastructure problems with the members.

– Key Biscayne will soon be part of a large-scale $ 1 million pilot program that includes multiple composting attempts to help curb the annual algae problem.

“Right now we’re trying to get it to scale … when things come back up in May we can take over more,” said Dr. Roland Samimy, the village’s head of resilience. “It was slow and arduous, but we are making progress.”

– Starting November 15, fines will be $ 500 on property owners whose buildings on Key Biscayne do not meet the county’s recertification process, although a lack of available civil engineers in the area could be an issue.

According to Building Official Rene Velazco, 13 properties are three or more years after their recertification deadline and 22 properties are three or less years after the deadline. After 30 days of the fine and no response, the village will start reporting it to the district officials.

According to Velazco, new rules will include two-year warnings and then a one-year warning before the final 90-day warning for the properties facing a 10-year recertification, now starting after 30 years instead of 40-year at least.

– There are 63 households on Key Biscayne that are still connected to sewage treatment – only three more have been connected to the sewer system since the last report.

Fines may have to be imposed, although the city will work closely with property owners. “I don’t think it’s defiance, just discomfort in building,” said Jake Ozyman, Director of Public Works.