Two freshman legislators are currently serving Monroe County in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. The 2021 legislative session began in March and is roughly halfway done as of this week.
State Rep. Jim Mooney, R-Islamorada, has introduced a number of bills and appropriations to the House that he believes would be beneficial to District 120, which includes all of Monroe County and a small part of Miami-Dade.
One appropriation that Mooney is keeping a particular eye on would assist in stopping saltwater intrusion into the Biscayne Aquifer, which is the regionâs main source of drinking water.
As Mooney explained, on the east side of Card Sound Road, several ditches were dug years ago for a planned land development. That development never took place and the ditches have allowed saltwater intrusion. The bill is currently asking for $175,000 in funding and Mooney hopes to pick up more funding on the Senate side. It is currently in the appropriations committee.