2024 Member Letter

Dear Duck Key Property Owner,

DKPOA members have once again been generous with financial donations and volunteer work in 2023, and we sincerely thank each and every member. In fact, our 2023 membership reached an all-time high! There is an unprecedented number of new homes being built on Duck Key, as well as the turnover of existing homes and new neighbors joining our community. We look forward to welcoming each new family to Duck Key.

With your 2023 DKPOA member donations the following items were accomplished:

Breakwall Repairs: Based on input and lobbying from DKPOA, Monroe County has applied for and received a State grant of over $3 million for the repairs to our east and south shore seawall. The seawall was reinforced in 1999/2000, but was significantly damaged during the Irma hurricane in 2017. The project will include repairs to the boulder wall which were breached by waves, and also includes the planting of sea grasses and mangroves to provide a natural reinforcement and wildlife habitat. The County is currently asking for engineering/design bids. Following the design stage, there will be permitting and environmental reviews before the construction starts. At this point, there is no construction plan and thus no projected start or completion dates.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind property owners facing the seawall that the mangroves and buttonwoods that grow on it may not be cut to less than 6 feet in height. These bushes are a necessary component for protection against waves during storms.

Bridge Replacement Projects: While no one on Duck Key is happy with the very slow progress on the bridge reconstruction, the Bimini Bridge was finally completed this fall. We continue to challenge the County both in writing and at the public Board of County Commissioners meetings to push the contractor for more aggressive completion dates for the remaining Duck Key Bridges.

Bridge Approaches Landscaping: DKPOA has reserved funds for landscaping in the right-of-ways adjacent to the bridges. As the historic bridges have always been distinctive to Duck Key, our desire is to have additional landscaping frame the new and wider bridges to enhance them by planting in the right-of-ways the approved native trees and plants for the Florida Keys. We are now engaged with the homeowners with properties adjacent to the bridges as they are most affected. We plan to install the landscaping in the first quarter of 2024.

New Street Signs: 43 new unique Duck Key street signs were added and all existing street signs were repaired and painted. Tom’s Harbour Idle Speed/ No Wake Buoys: We replaced four of the thirteen Tom’s Harbour Buoys.

Monroe County code compliance enforcement monitors unsafe and unlawful code conditions on Duck Key. We have been vigilant in bringing issues to their attention as needed. A demolition permit was finally issued for the abandoned house on Yacht Club Island that was damaged by Irma. We believe it will be demolished by year end or shortly thereafter.

Our annual Duck Key Clean-up Day was held in late March with over 50 volunteer residents and Monroe County Sheriff’s officers working to enhance Duck Key. Over 50 large bags of debris were removed from our islands.

We are enclosing our 2024 DKPOA membership application and member survey and hope that we can count on your support. Our website will also accept donations from all Credit and Debit Cards. With your donation today we can continue to improve Duck Key for the benefit of all our residents. Remember your contributions are 100% federally tax deductible. This year the board has approved the first fee increase since 2016 to offset the rising cost we are all experiencing in the economy.

Please complete your application/survey and donate today.

We are planning to have an in-person DKPOA Annual General Meeting for members on February 4, 2024 at Club Duck Key. We will once again have Monroe County Officials available for your questions and concerns.

The annual meeting will be followed by a social event with food and drinks to provide everyone with the opportunity to meet new neighbors and discuss issues important to them. We hope to see you there and wish everyone a wonderful and healthy 2024.

Sincerely,

Your all-volunteer DKPOA Board
Ron Oestreicher, President
John Schwarz, VP
Karen White, Secretary
Jan Anderson, Treasurer
Directors: Dr. James Bicknell, Barbara McKinney, Josie Vidal, and John Wolfe