Mission: Incorporation

By Nancy McCue

Nancy McCue, her husband Ed, and resident John Sykes led the way in the Town of Cutler Bay’s Incorporation as Chair, Co-Chair and Treasurer of the Cutler Ridge Steering Committee. Nancy recounts how the mission to incorporate was born and of the many residents that worked hard to achieve this goal.

Enough is Enough was the battle cry for several residents who were tired of their community being the dumping ground for the county’s undesirable projects. For my husband, Ed McCue, John Sykes, and me, it was the beginning of an eight-year odyssey culminating with the incorporation of the town of Cutler Bay.

Living in the shadows of Mt.Trashmore, surrounded by a Super Fund dump site and a waste water treatment plant which transforms liquid sewage into solids; having fought an electric power plant and overdevelopment; the commercial airport planned for Homestead Air Base whose planes would fly over their neighborhoods; the final straw was a juvenile detention facility for serious offenders being disguised as a school.

Still reeling from Hurricane Andrew which devastated the community, destroying homes and businesses, displacing residents years later, added to the difficulty for organizing protests. In order to object to county proposals, residents of these working class, family neighborhoods were forced to take off time from work, travel 27 miles for a hearing only to learn their item had been continued or mediated.

Parks were abysmal. Code enforcement non-existent. Policing done by a squad of eight officers covering 47 square miles. Local kids were bused to a high school out of the area. Traffic jammed on the major arteries. Historic Old Cutler Road was an eyesore without pedestrian access.

Beginning with a panel discussion in 1998 on the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation, we were soon joined by other concerned citizens who volunteered to research, inquire, and educate their communities on the possibilities of self-governance.

In 2001, encouraged by Katy Sorensen, our representative county commissioner, the process began with a feasibility study to determine if the costs would be equitable. Soon after, a Municipal Advisory Committee was formed which began a long journey fraught with challenges. Least of which were members of the community who were opposed to incorporation. Members of the MAC were Jaime Reyes, chair, Ed MacDougall, co-chair, Alfie Sergio, Paul Czekanski, Peggy Bell, Rosie Alvarez, and Tom Martin. Opponents feared their taxes would increase, didn’t want another level of government, and raised concerns over losing their neighborhood identity.

In 2002, aided by Grant and Michael Miller of Community Newspapers, the Old Cutler Bay News was developed. We wrote, photographed, and edited a monthly newspaper dedicated to providing local news, education about incorporation, and a vehicle to express community concerns.

At the same time, the volunteer group had expanded with representatives from every homeowner association and neighborhood. Volunteers met with anyone interested in the issues. Rolled and delivered newspapers throughout the area. Collected petition signatures. Traveled to County Hall for every hearing. They canvassed neighborhoods, did roadside honk-and-waves, and monitored election precincts. We met often at member homes and restaurants, picnics and schools to discuss issues. Most volunteers would have worked all day and attended meetings and functions at night or on weekends.

There were challenges. Funding was for mailings and production of information was always a problem. Conflict with neighboring Goulds over boundaries arose during the boundary approval. Originally included within the proposed town, Goulds activists did not want to be included as they hoped to create their own town with overlapping boundaries. Sessions with the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium led to a successful resolution.

In 2004, former state legislator John Cosgrove joined the group. His reputation added an extra impetus to the effort. The opposition was formidable, but the Cutler Ridge Area Steering Committee continued to expand as incorporation headed to a vote. Then disaster struck during early voting. Proponents were excited the issue would be on the Presidential ballot November 2, 2004, guaranteeing a large turnout. However, while campaigning at the various precincts, the CRASC volunteers discovered voters from areas as far away as Kendall received ballots which included the incorporation question.

Chagrined, county election officials admitted the error and were forced to cancel the vote. Once again, Commissioner Sorenson came to the community’s aid, insisting the incorporation question be placed on a ballot at the earliest date with the county paying the expense.

On January 11, 2005, residents again returned to their precincts. Incorporation won with 60 per cent of the votes cast.

In the months following, the local Charter Committee met numerous times to hammer out a town charter, customized to meet the desires of the residents. Simultaneously, naming the town was discussed and debated. Members of the Charter Committee included Ed MacDougall, chair, Alfie Sergio, co-chair, Sandra Reyes-Nanni, Eduardo Wolmers, and Delleperche Joseph. Ed Ludovici was the committee’s legal advisor. Their efforts included multiple trips by MacDougall to County Hall to resolve conflicts over language and financial considerations. On November 8, 2005, voters approved the charter and gave the town it’s official name – Cutler Bay.

Almost a year to the day after Cutler Bay voters decided incorporation, they voted for their first Mayor and Town Council, electing John Cosgrove mayor, Paul Vrooman vice-mayor, and Peggy Bell, Ernie Sochin, and Tim Meerbott, council members. Ironically, three members of the incorporation steering committee would later become town mayors and council members: Cosgrove, Ed McDougall, and Peggy Bell.

Today, the success of the town has answered the concerns of the opponents. The millage rate paid to the county when incorporation was first considered was 2.447.

Currently, Cutler Bay millage rate is 2.43, after 15 years. Cutler Bay now has its own police department of 55 sworn officers. Zoning and planning issues are decided locally, minutes from home. A state-of-the-art Cutler Bay High School is now partnered with a middle school. Old Cutler Road is a designer landscaped entry to the town with accessible pedestrian walkways and bus stations.

Throughout the process it was ordinary citizens who sacrificed time and effort to pursue a quality hometown. Those dedicated individuals have never been acknowledged and are listed below. In addition, there was significant support and advice from Evelyn Greer, Pinecrest; Ed Ludovici, Palmetto Bay; Beverly Gerald, Palmetto Bay; and Commissioner Katy Sorenson.

Cutler Ridge Area Steering Committee: Nancy McCue, chair. Ed McCue, co-chair, John Sykes, treasurer, Louise Lockwood, Alfie Sergio, Richard Rebuth, Peggy and Marty Bell, Mark and Beth Parets, Ed MacDougall, Rosie Alvarez, Priyanshu Adathakkar, John Cosgrove, Ralph Geronimo, Jim Shiver, Marlayne Behenna, Gary Rodzewicz, Rafael Ross, Fred Ambrose, Paul Czekanski, Wayne Collins, Edwina and Dan Hutton, Barbara McLeod, Bill Jessup, Ernie Martinez, Donna Lewis, Mark Hyde, Katy Keller, Dell Joseph, Hank and Elaine Starling, Barbara and Tom Condon, Art Nanni.

There are many others not listed who donated time for a meeting or honk-and-wave or other activity which contributed to the success and we are forever grateful.