The City of Marathon wants to resolve all of the expired permits in the City and perform inspections for safety issues. The City plans to accomplish this goal by February 1st, 2010. For a short time, the Building Department will be charging a $10 fee to clear a permit that expired prior to January 1, 2009 that did not have final inspections. After February 1, 2010, the fee will go back up to $65 to clear these expired permits.

Many residents are surprised to find that they have expired permits, due to them or their contractor not getting a final inspection on their permits. Some of these expired permits were issued prior to Marathon becoming a City. This becomes a problem for the homeowner when they go to sell their house, or in a worse case, there could be safety issues involved. It seems during the real estate boom, while there may have been expired permits attached to the real estate number, no one seemed to notice, but now the banks are looking closer than ever.

The City has options available to the homeowner to remedy the situation and revise the records: If you produce evidence that the final inspection was approved, the City of course will correct their records. For a short time as mentioned above, the administrative permit is available for $10 that will enable the City to perform a visual inspection of the completed project and document final inspection approval and record it to clear the expired permit. Ignoring your expired permit may interfere with future real estate title searches or transactions, and it may cost you more later. Please see the friendly City Building Department Staff; they are ready to assist you to expedite the clean up all of the expired permits.

The SAFF Advisory Board consists of seven community members. Five are appointed by the County Commissioners and the Sheriff selects two. Each year, the SAFF Advisory Board solicits and reviews grant applications and makes funding recommendations to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

For the 2010 grant cycle, $190,000.00 in grant money is available. The Advisory Board has determined to focus its efforts and issue award recommendations based on the following criteria:

1. No individual grant will exceed $10,000.00

2. Grant program purposes should be limited to:

Crime prevention
Drug abuse prevention
Mental and physical health care for minors
Cultural, artistic, and sports programs are not likely to receive favorable recommendation.

3. Grant proposals generating new matching funds will be given extra consideration.

4. Grant proposals for building improvements, real estate acquisition, or salaries for new positions will not be considered.

The Advisory Board will consider multiple year funding requests on a limited case by case basis if the applicant can demonstrate that a multiple year commitment will leverage significant additional funding or develop continuing financial self sufficiency within the period of the grant.

Applications are available beginning November 1,2009 and must be received by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, Administrative Headquarters, 5525 College Road, Stock Island, Florida 33040 no later than Noon, Friday, February 5, 2010.

The SAFF Advisory Board will conduct a public meeting to evaluate proposals and make its recommendations to the County Commission. It is anticipated that recommendations for funding will be made to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration at the April 2010 BOCC meeting.

Applications should be printed or typed, single spaced on 8 1/2 x 11 white paper, corner stapled. An original and ten copies are required. Limit 8 pages (9 if multiple year funding is requested.)

Thank you for you interest in the Monroe County Sheriff’s Shared Asset Forfeiture Fund. For additional information, contact Val Marinello, Sheriff’s Aide at (305) 292-7003, TDD (305) 292-7075 or email: vmarinello@keysso.net. We welcome your participation and comments at our public meetings.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications for the 2010 funding cycle must be delivered no later than Noon, FRIDAY, February 5, 2010. Applications received after this time will not be considered for funding. No extensions will be granted whatsoever. Faxed or e-mail submissions will not be accepted.

[Click here for application package...]

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