The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Proposed project includes hospital, hotel, offices, apartments

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a zoning change that would clear the way for a hospital, hotel, retail, offices and multifamily development at the northeast corner of McKendree and Overpass roads.

The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a zoning change that would clear the way for a hospital, hotel, retail, offices and multifamily development at the northeast corner of McKendree and Overpass roads. (Mike Camunas)

Attorney Clarke Hobby, representing the applicants, said the request calls for a 365,000-square-foot specialty hospital, noting there’s only one other hospital like it in Central Florida. Hospital plans call for a helipad, but Hobby said it will not be heavily used.

The requested change also would allow:

  • 1,275 multifamily units, which can include apartments, townhomes and other multi-family arrangements
  • 155,000 square feet of retail
  • 250,000 square feet of medical office
  • 150,000 square feet of office
  • 250 hotel rooms

The proposed development is within Connected City. 

In addition to recommending approval of the rezoning request, the planning board also recommended approval of a proposed development agreement that requires the developer to design, permit and construct certain roadway improvements, including floodplain compensation, wetland mitigation, drainage and retention associated with a segment of McKendree/Boyette Road. In exchange, the developer will receive transportation development fee credits.

Hobby provided background on the 176-acre site, which is in the Connected City area.

“Pasco County was directed by the state of Florida to create this Connected City area in 2015,” Hobby said.

“The county subsequently adopted policies in 2017 that created this series of regulations,” he said. “The state felt it was important and wanted the county to shorten the approval process to bring this kind of a product to the market.”

Connected City has a financial plan and a master plan, Hobby said.

That plan includes 26,000 multifamily units, which includes apartments, townhouses and duplexes, he said.

The idea is to allow employees to live close to work, Hobby added.

Area residents, however, raised concerns about whether the proposed development will be compatible with nearby properties.

They also expressed worries about the additional traffic, crowded schools and potential negative impacts on area lakes.

The planning board recommended approval of the master-planned unit development zoning request, but changed a condition relating to the height of a buffer wall for the closest neighbor.

The conditions now require an 8-foot wall, rather than a 6-foot wall.

Planning board members also responded to concerns by neighbors about the possible degradation of area lakes.

To address that issue, the board added a condition that prohibits motorized boats being operated on the lakes by occupants of the MPUD.

Richard Tonello, an alternate on the planning board representing Pasco County Schools, said the district has evaluated the additional students that would be generated by the development. He said the district will be opening the Kirkland K-8 magnet school in the fall, and also has capacity at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, another magnet school.

He also noted that the district owns sites, or is pursuing acquisition for others, to meet future demands.

Planning board member Jamie Girardi said he understands that residents in the area have been living in a rural setting, and have been for years.

But Girardi noted: “This is now part of Connected City. It is not going to be rural.”

The requests for the MPUD zoning and the development agreement now go to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on zoning and land use issues.

Published October 11, 2023

This program reminds you, ‘You are not alone’

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Sue Shea, the office administrator at the First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes, understands the challenges of having a child with a substance addiction.

There are feelings of fear, anger and hopelessness that can lead to a host of problems for all concerned, she said.

It was her firsthand experiences that have played a role in the formation of a new group at the church called “You Are Not Alone,” or YANA, for short.

Sue Shea, office administrator at the Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church, spearheaded the formation of You Are Not Alone (YANA), a group that aims to provide support for people whose loved ones are experiencing substance abuse disorders. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church)

Pastor Kevin Grills said the ministry is one that addresses a widespread need.

“I believe that things that need to happen within the church are naturally born.

“We walk through the doors that God opens,” Grills said.

Right now, the program is very small.

But Grills said, the need is very big.

The problem, Grills said, is there’s a high likelihood that the people who need YANA the most, won’t respond.

Parents of children with addictions often feel conflicted, Shea said.

“They’re adults now, but we gave birth to these babies. We’ve loved them from the very, very beginning and we still love them. But they’re not only hurting and destroying themselves, but they’re eroding relationships around them,” she said.

Parents of children with addictions often feel like they’ve failed their children, Shea said.

They also get caught up in a cycle of shame and guilt that prevents them from seeking help for themselves, Grills said.

But YANA hopes to help people lower their guard and seek the support they need.

Pastor Kevin Grills, who leads the Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church, estimates there are thousands of people who need the help that You Are Not Alone can provide, but he’s not confident that a single person will step forward to take advantage of the program.

The program provides a confidential setting, where people facing similar circumstances can gather.

“There’s a great level of comfort when we get together on Tuesday evenings. We bring comfort to each other, even though we’re not solving the problems that our children – our adult children, in this case, have,” Shea said.

She added: “It sometimes lightens the load, lightens the stress level, so we can actually look at our addictive loved one through different eyes.”

“We do not do a lot of cross-talking, and we certainly don’t say, ‘Well, what you need to do is this. And, what you need to do is that,’” Shea said.

The church wants to spread the word about the program, and asked The Laker/Lutz News to help raise awareness.

“I would not be shocked if there were not 10,000 people (living within the newspaper’s circulation area) who have this exact same struggle. I also would not be shocked if we don’t hear a peep from this,” Grills said.

The group doesn’t promise magic solutions.

“This is not a, ‘Hey, how do we solve the problem of our addict?” Grills said.

It’s more of an “I’m baring my burdens and I’m recognizing that I’m not alone,” the pastor added.

Shea said has come to realize that: “My loved one’s addiction doesn’t define me.”

And, she added: “For me, this helps keep the guilt at bay.”

The church’s prayer is that people who most need YANA will respond.

YANA is the acronym for a program at the Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church whose members aim to support each other, as they care for themselves and their loved ones who are experiencing substance abuse disorders.

Grills said he wants to encourage people to overcome that voice in their heads that is discouraging them from doing what they need to do.

He hopes they will walk through the door, to have these conversations.

The first step, the pastor said, is taking that first step.

For more information about YANA, call the church at 813-996-3533, or email Shea at .

You Are Not Alone (YANA)
A program at the Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church aims to allow its members to support one another as they care for themselves and help — but avoid enabling — loved ones who are experiencing substance use disorders.
The group, called You Are Not Alone, is based on biblical principles coupled with 12-Step guidance. It is working to build a community of people who want to be there for their loved ones, but also take care of themselves along the way.
The free group, which abides by confidentiality, meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Tuesdays, in Room 103, at Land O’ Lakes United Methodist Church, 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Published October 11, 2023

 

Digital history collection aims to keep memories of Lutz alive

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Much of the history of the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes communities might have been lost to the ages, if it weren’t for the dogged pursuits of Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, who spent much of her life gathering photographs and documents, and recording interviews with old-timers from the area.

The families of Dr. Susan A. MacManus, right, and Dr. Lou MacManus, shown here, and their brother, Cameron, who died in a plane crash a few years ago, contributed to make possible a new digital history collection focusing on Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and nearby areas. Their mother, Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, played a pivotal role in helping to preserve the area’s history. (Mike Camunas)

During her lifetime, she amassed an enormous amount of material, leading her and her daughter, Susan A. MacManus, to collaborate on two local history books, “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers: Life in Early Lutz and Central Pasco County” and the other “Going, Going … Almost Gone: Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Pioneers Share Their Precious Memories,” published after Elizabeth’s death.

Now, the new The Elizabeth Riegler MacManus Digital Collection of Lutz Pioneer History will preserve that local history for generations to come.

A special event was held on Sept. 20 at the Lutz Branch Library to celebrate the collection’s unveiling.

“For those of you who know the rich history of Lutz, you’ll appreciate the plethora of historic materials that tell the memorable story of this pioneer town and the area surrounding it, as seen through the eyes and experiences of the Riegler and MacManus families,” Jeffrey Huggins, master of ceremonies at the Sept. 20 unveiling, told the crowd.

“Thousands of photographs have been digitally scanned and are available at our library website, which is HCPLC.org, and you’ll be able to view those and generations to come will be able to view those beautiful photographs that we have of the area,” he said.

Speakers at the event were Dr. Susan A. MacManus and Dr. Gary Mormino.

Susan is a retired distinguished professor of political science from the University of South Florida (USF), and Mormino is a retired history professor.

Dr. Susan MacManus autographs one of the books she co-authored with her mother, during the digital collection dedication at Lutz Branch Library on Sept. 20.Dr. Susan MacManus autographs one of the books she co-authored with her mother, during the digital collection dedication at Lutz Branch Library on Sept. 20.

Susan began her remarks by cheerfully greeting the crowd with “good morning, crackers,” — eliciting laughter from a crowd who recognized the moniker assigned to native Floridians.

She thanked the audience for being there and noted that so many in the room had played a role in helping to preserve community history.

“The truth of the matter is that this collection would not have been anything without the contributions of you and your families over time,” Susan said, in a video that was recorded by students and a teacher from Academy at the Lakes. They recorded it, so those who were unable to attend the event could watch it.

“So many of you gave interviews, photos,” Susan told the crowd.

“I remember my mother telling me she would go to some of your homes and people would just give her a one-of-a-kind photo and trust her to take it out and get it back, at a time when those kinds of things were so rare.

“My mom’s love of history came from her parents’ histories,” Susan said.

Lutz residents Marsha Gibson, left, and Darryln Caudill smile as they look over a book co-authored by Susan A. MacManus and her mother, Eliizabeth Riegler MacManus.

“My grandfather, as many of you know, Mike Riegler, was the first permanent settler of what was called North Tampa. It was a settlement that ultimately became Lutz.

“I think what all of this did was generate in my mom an interest in talking to people and finding out where their families came from.”

That interest in people, and in history, led Elizabeth to record personal stories and collect artifacts.

Susan discovered the treasure trove that Elizabeth had amassed when she returned to Land O’ Lakes, to teach at USF.

Dr. Gary Mormino, left, a retired history professor at the University of South Florida, was one of the key speakers at the unveiling of a new digital library collection focused on the history of Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and nearby areas. Jeffrey Huggins, next to Mormino, was the event’s master of ceremonies.

While at her parents’ home she noticed a box overflowing with cassette tapes.

She asked: “Momma, what is that?”

“She said: ‘Oh, they’re just tapes. I’ve been taping the histories and experiences of old-timers.’”

“I said: ‘What are you going to do with those things?”

She said: “I think maybe someday, I’ll write something.”

That’s when Susan and her mother went to work on “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers.” Then they did the sequel.

The digital collection includes old documents, photographs, maps and other materials.

“Some of my most precious memories were really through sorting through the thousands and thousands of photos Mama had piled up on the living room table,” Susan told the audience at the collection’s unveiling.

Dozens of Lutz residents, including Liana Fernandez-Fox, center, came out to hear Dr. Susan MacManus speak about a new digital collection focused on the history of Lutz and nearby areas.

She said her mother was interested in gathering materials, regardless of what it took to get them. In one case, a woman invited her to come to take a look at items that had been stored in a chicken coop.

Elizabeth went and found a gold mine of information that otherwise would have been lost, Susan said.

Mormino’s talk offered a perspective on how Lutz fits into the big picture of Florida.

“It’s absolutely in the center. You may think you’re on the fringes, but you’re not.

“The Florida dream used to be a really big deal.

“The idea was that there’s something special about a place where it’s 70 degrees in February.

“More importantly, it’s the possibility of a better life,” he said.

“If I could return in a time machine, the place I would go would be the Lutz Depot.

“Fresh fish coming over from Tarpon Springs, and vegetables and fruit being shipped out.

“That would have been a fascinating window on the time.

“Even the peeping of baby chicks,” he said.

A Lutz resident peruses one of the books co-authored by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus

Lutz offered a dream setting to pioneers — with its natural resources, setting and the availability of fresh water, Mormino said.

Then he talked specifically about Elizabeth and Susan.

“Consider the role of Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and her daughter — without these two people, we wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t be reading histories.

“Individuals matter, today, more than ever, I think.

“We tend to discount the possibility of what one family, one person, can do.”

These artifacts reflect a miniscule fraction of the materials amassed by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, which help preserve the history of the Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and nearby communities.

“Historians, in the future, first of all, will be very grateful to the MacManus family and their contributions,” Mormino said.

Huggins expressed the library’s appreciation for the contributions of the families of Susan MacManus, Lou MacManus and Cameron MacManus — who made the digital collection possible.

Susan expressed her gratitude to everyone who attended the event and to all of those who had a role in bringing the digital collection to life.

“I just wanted to say that on behalf of the three families, the three children, my sister Lou, my brother who passed away in a plane crash a few years ago, and me, we just want to tell you all, thank you for everything.”

She also paid tribute to Elizabeth.

“My mother’s life reflects the words she lived by. They’re familiar to many in this room who share the same philosophy of life: Faith, family and friends, and a motto to live with, which is treat your neighbor as yourself.”

Published October 04, 2023

Appreciating the work of lifesavers, professional eaters and county staffers

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The Pasco County Commission’s Sept. 19 agenda was packed with resolutions to celebrate the accomplishments of people from all walks of life.

It passed a resolution to celebrate the life-saving actions of teenagers Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins and Regan Barron.

Commissioners praised the accomplishments of Miki Sudo and Nick Wehry — two world-class professional eaters, who happen to live in Pasco County.

Teenage lifeguards Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins and Regan Barron, center, were honored by the Pasco County Commission for their life-saving actions. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

And, the board passed resolutions to honor the work accomplished by retiring staffers — Fire Chief Scott Cassin and Budget Director Robert Goehig.

Mia Watkins, Finley Watkins and Regan Barron positively glowed as Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles read the resolution into the record.

For her part, the clerk got a little choked up, while reading it.

“Mia and Finley were lifeguarding at Anclote River Park (on July 19) when a moment of crisis emerged in the designated swim area when a visitor swimming experienced an epileptic attack,” Sowles-Alvarez read. “Mia and Finley swiftly initiated safety protocol and rescued the patron from the water.”

Then, on Aug. 5, “Mia, Finley and Regan were on duty as lifeguards at Anclote River Park when a 2-year-old child approached the deeper portion of the designated swim area, became submerged, and lost consciousness.

“The lifeguards responded and found the 2-year-old child unresponsive and not breathing” and then “worked together to perform life-saving measures, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and rescue breathing,” the clerk read from the resolution, getting a little choked up, as she detailed what happened.

Their swift response is credited with saving the young child’s life.

They have a need for speed
Another resolution, brought forward by Commissioner Seth Weightman, heaped praise on Sudo and Wehry, professional competitive eaters who live in Pasco.

Sudo’s competitive eating career began in Las Vegas when she was a student and she entered a 12-pound bowl of pho eating challenge.

Wehry’s career began when he was talked into entering a doughnut-eating contest.

They compete in about 20 contests a year and are the highest-ranked couple in history according to Major League Eating, the official league that oversees professional eating contests worldwide.

Sudo is ranked No. 3 overall, and No. 1 for women. She is a nine-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Champion, including seven consecutive titles; she is a four-time Buffalo Wing Eating Champion; and a former tamale, turkey, rib, and a doughnut-eating champion, the resolution says.

Wehry is ranked No. 4  in the world and is a Wonderful Pistachios Eating Champion, Wings for Wishes Wing Eating Champion, and a Hard-Boiled Egg Eating Champion.

Sudo also holds world records for eating 14.5 pounds of Minnesota hot dish in 8 minutes, 48.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, 5.5 pounds of kimchi in 8 minutes, and 16.5 pints of ice cream in 6 minutes, the resolution says.

Wehry, meanwhile, holds world records for eating 188 pistachios in 8 minutes, 50 hard-boiled eggs in 3 minutes and 4 seconds, as well as 2 gallons of pureed baby food.

Both work to raise money through various charitable events and organizations.

Nick Wehry, left, and Miki Sudo are world-class professional competitive eaters. Their unusual skills have taken them to competitions across the world, and have resulted in raising money for various charities.

They worked with Wings for Wishes, as part of a wing-eating and charity event that has raised over $850,000 for Make a Wish in South Florida and with Friends of We Care to raise over $150,000 for kids to attend summer camp programs.

They also work with Nathan’s at the hot dog-eating contest every year, where 100,000 hot dogs are donated to the food banks in New York, according to the resolution.

They are the proud parents of Max, and Miki is a loving stepmom to Nick’s other children William and Sylvie.

Weightman was thrilled the competitive eaters could fit the commission meeting into their schedule.

Sudo told board members that the resolution is an honor.

“You have a lot of serious business to tend to,” she said, adding that she hoped that she and her husband could bring a little bit of levity and laughter to the boardroom.

Wehry added: “The insanity of what we do isn’t lost on us. But to be able to represent the community, raise copious amounts of money with our absurd skill, and bring happiness to people, that’s really cool.

“I never thought I’d get to travel the world and represent a great community and raise money for those in need, by eating pistachios in a short period of time.

“I found the love of my life, and a job and a great community, through an absurd talent. It’s a strange job, but it’s a job,” he said.

Weightman said he’s been watching Sudo compete at least since 2015.

“Leading into our Fourth of July festivities, we’ve watched the Nathan’s hot-dog eating contest, as part of our Fourth of July,” he said.

When he learned the couple lived in Pasco, he wanted to bring them in.

He told them that he was “super-excited and honored, and a bit star-struck” by their appearance in the boardroom.

Before moving onto the honors involving Goehig and Cassin, Alvarez-Sowles commented: 

“The resolutions have been great. I’ve cried. I’ve laughed. This has been great.”

Pasco County Administrator Mike Carballa, seated, expressed his gratitude to Budget Director Robert Goehig, during the Pasco County Commission’s Sept. 19 meeting. Carballa’s remarks came after the county board honored Goehig’s work by adopting a resolution of appreciation.

“Full range of emotions,” agreed County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano.

And now, more traditional honors
Next up, the board honored Goehig for his accomplishments as a leader and a mentor.

The resolution noted that beyond the budget director’s outstanding work ethic and fiscal guidance for the county, he “worked tirelessly during storm events and could be found in the Emergency Operations Center on the night shift as the Finance Section chief during catastrophes and disasters.

The resolution says that Goehig is leaving behind “a legacy of transparency, trust, and collaboration in budgeting.”

It also noted that Goehig is known for his work with the Florida Sterling Council in his roles as Master Examiner, Chair of the Sterling Exam Committee, Results Lead, Team Lead, and Trainer. He also received recognition with the Examiner Excellence Award in 2014.

Cassin, the retiring fire chief, was honored for his many accomplishments during his 13-year career with the county, where he rose to the rank of fire chief in 2012.

His achievements included work that improved public safety communications, enhanced safety for personnel, improved emergency services, strengthened relationships with other jurisdictions and improved fire station design.

The department added shift commanders during his tenure, new fire stations have come online, and he led the department during COVID 19, the resolution says.

Published October 04, 2023

Pasco Waste-To-Energy Facility expansion contract approved

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The Pasco County Commission has entered an agreement with Covanta Pasco Inc., for a $260-million design-build project to expand the county’s Waste-To-Energy (WTE) Facility.

The facility, at 14220 Hays Road, is used to convert solid waste into energy.

Justin Roessler, the county’s solid waste director and the board’s agenda packet provided background about the WTE facility and expansion before the board voted to approve the design-build agreement and to extend its service agreement with Covanta.

The Pasco County Commission has entered an agreement with Covanta Pasco Inc., for a $260-million design-build project to expand the county’s Waste-To-Energy (WTE) Facility, at 14220 Hays Road, Hudson, which is used to convert solid waste into energy. (Mike Camunas)

The WTE facility was built by Covanta as a result of a 1988 agreement between the county and Covanta.

The board restated its service agreement with Covanta in March of 1989, to operate and maintain the WTE facility for 20 years. That agreement has since been extended twice, with the latest agreement approved in 2013. That is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.

In the meantime, the county’s Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Department has been planning for the future. It presented a solid waste master plan to the county board in April 2019, outlining a long-term solid waste strategy for the county.

The key component of the plan is the expansion of the WTE facility to allow all of the county’s garbage to be converted into renewable energy.

That will reduce the volume of the waste that goes to the landfill and provide a source of energy.

The county board authorized county staff on Feb. 18, 2020, to begin negotiations with Covanta for a 10-year service agreement, which will extend to 2034, and to work out a design-build agreement with Covanta for the WTE expansion.

The board then voted on Dec. 7, 2021 to award Covanta a Stage 1 design and pre-procurement services contract to develop the expansion up to a 30% design level of effort and to secure more firm commitments from large equipment suppliers. Then, on Aug. 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law.

That law provides financial incentives and tax credits for renewable energy projects.

The WTE expansion qualifies under IRA, provided it meets certain labor and domestic material requirements.

Roessler told the board that the fourth boiler will come online at the WTE facility, enabling it to convert more garbage to energy and avoid using landfill space.

When the boiler comes online in 2026, the county will get a 6.6% reduction in the overall per pound cost, he said.

Here’s an overview of the county’s agreements:

Design-build agreement:

  • This includes a $260 million agreement for the design-build of the WTE facility. This includes a $30 million contingency fund, in case of supply chain, construction or other cost increases. If the contingency fund isn’t depleted, the parties will split the difference.
  • The project will have a 36-month time frame, which breaks down this way: Design and off-site fabrication, will be finished in fall 2024; Construction, finished in summer 2026; First firing and commissioning, finished in summer 2026; commercial operation: September 2026.

Agreement terms also include $29,500 per day for liquidated damages in the event that Covanta fails to reach full commercial operation by the 36-month contract end date.

The parties also have agreed to a drawdown schedule to ensure the county’s maximum monthly obligation relating to payments for the WTE expansion construction. That schedule will enable the county to effectively manage its cash reserves and borrowing.

Pasco County Chairman Jack Mariano praised Roessler for his work connected to achieving the agreement.

“Justin, this is a phenomenal contract that you negotiated. It’s been a long-term plan for us to expand this for many, many years, for all of the great reasons you cited,” Mariano said.

County Administrator Mike Carballa also congratulated Roessler, his team and the county attorney’s office for successfully bringing the contract forward for the board’s approval.

“This is a complex deal,” Carballa said. “They come in and they make it look easy, but this has been four years of negotiations — many ups and downs. There were some parts and times when we didn’t think we were going to get there. But hat’s off, too, to our partner at Covanta, as well. This is truly a team effort. But my compliments to you, Justin, and the infrastructure team for getting it here.”

Published October 04, 2023

Pasco’s budget is lean on new initiatives

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While the tax increase for fire services dominated the discussion at Pasco County’s final budget hearing on Sept. 19, the overall spending plan covers everything from pay raises to increased code enforcement to athletic field maintenance.

Pasco County Administrator Mike Carballa told the Pasco County Commission that the county’s budget was thoroughly scrubbed, to keep it as lean as possible before he presented it to the board. (File)

During its discussion of increasing the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) millage rate from 1.8 mills to 2.1225 mills, county board members agreed to reduce the operating millage from 7.6076 mills to 7.57 mills.

One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value.

In reducing the operating millage, the board directed County Administrator Mike Carballa to make across-the-board cuts, including the budgets of the county’s constitutional officers, where that’s legally possible.

At both public hearings on the $2.1 billion budget, Budget Director Robert Goehig offered an overview and covered some of the spending plan’s highlights.

“Last year, we were here talking about the record height of new construction in Pasco County,” Goehig told the board.

But it turns out this year’s new construction surpassed last year’s mark by about $500 million.

“We’re almost at $2.5 billion in new construction values in Pasco County,” Goehig said.

However, at the same time, he said: “Inflation is taking its toll on our ability to meet customer demands. We have growth in demand for services.”

Here are some of the highlights for this year’s budget:

  • Health insurance costs are going up because of inflation.
  • The county also must increase its contributions to employee retirement costs because of a state mandate.
  • The county has assumed operations of the detention center from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and is facing renewal on contracts that are expected to cost more. A 15% increase has been budgeted for those renewals.
  • The county has earmarked $1 million Pasco Hope, to address homelessness.
  • Additional staff is being hired, including an animal services officer, five code enforcement officers and detention center crew leaders.
  • Additional funding is being provided to the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) to cover the cost of 10 additional deputies.
  • A 5% wage increase is planned for county employees.
  • Operations of Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, now being run by the county, $300,000

Highlights in the capital budget include:

  • Building renovations and upkeep: $5.8 million
  • IT hardware and software: $1.4 million
  • Parks and recreation athletic fields: $300,000
  • Parks maintenance: $1 million
  • Pinehill Park improvements: $1.4 million
  • Detention Center expansion: $2.9 million
  • Magnolia Valley Park, phase one: $5 million
  • Seven Oaks Library: $5 million

Funding to outside sources, includes: 

  • $19,500 in additional funding for Pasco Kids, which provides examinations for children who are thought to be victims of abuse
  • $85,000 in additional funds to United Way, which has not received an increase since 2015

About 40% of the increase in property tax revenues will go to the PSO, as part of an agreement between the county and the sheriff. The split previously was 50-50, but the county decreased it to 40%, after taking over jail operations.

Most of the increases in the budgets for the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, the Property Appraiser’s Office, the Supervisor of Elections Office and the Tax Collector’s Office are  related to wage hikes and higher costs for retirement and health care.

The Supervisor of Elections Office also will have additional expenses because of the Presidential Preference Primary and local elections in August, and some funding has been earmarked for the clerk’s office to pay for updates to the criminal justice system software, Goehig said.

Published October 04, 2023

Pasco residents will pay a new tax to cover costs for residential road improvements

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Pasco County is proceeding with a new tax assessment to cover the costs for residential road projects.

The new tax is expected to be on tax bills sent out in November 2024.

The Residential Road Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) will replace the county’s Paving Assessment (PVAS) system, that’s been used for decades.

Pasco County plans to institute a Municipal Services Taxing Unit tax to pay for local road improvement projects. The system will replace the decades-old Paving Assessment (PVAS) program. Plans call for sending out tax bills with the new assessment beginning in November 2024. (File)

The PVAS system required the owners of a majority of property along a street that would benefit from the program to agree to proceed with the paving.

Once agreement was reached, the Pasco County Commission would consider the PVAS application, and if approved, all of the property owners on the street would be assessed for the improvement, whether they wanted the improvement or not.

The program pitted neighbors against neighbors.

In some cases, owners of the majority of the land would not agree to the improvement.

In other cases, property owners along a street pleaded to the county board for relief, citing an inability to pay.

Additionally, the PVAS system had no funding for maintenance or repairs of dangerous sidewalks.

Those issues are expected to be addressed through the new Residential Local Road Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU).

The county board voted on Sept. 19 to continue the county’s pursuit of the MSTU to replace PVAS.

The new MSTU will show up on tax bills, creating a source of revenue to pay for local road projects, maintenance, and in limited cases, sidewalk projects.

The boundaries of the new Residential Local Road MSTU includes all unincorporated areas of Pasco County, except for parcels that currently — or in the future — are subject to or within the boundaries of an Active PVAS; and, parcels within a Homeowners’ Association or Community Development District that maintains its private roads.

The county board also has granted property owners who have paid or are paying their PVAS assessments a two-year reprieve from the new assessment. They said some sort of reprieve is only fair, but they don’t want to make the tax break too long because they don’t want to cripple the system.

Justin Grant, public infrastructure fiscal and business administration director, said the goal is to proceed with the new system in time to include the MSTU assessments on the tax bills that will be sent out in November 2024.

Meanwhile, a determination will be made regarding who is listed on the final tax roll for the MSTU, and the county board will deliberate what the millage rate should be.

Grant said the new system will provide a source of funds to pay for incremental maintenance, which ultimately allows roads to last longer and to avoid the need for high-cost repairs.

The new system also will allow the county to complete some sidewalk work, but only in cases where the sidewalk is affiliated with a local road project, and when it is deemed to pose safety issues.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the county must use due care, when it comes to sidewalks.

Once the county does any sort of maintenance on a sidewalk, it becomes the county’s responsibility, Steinsnyder said.

Published October 04, 2023. This story was revised on Oct. 04, 2023.

The pros, cons of requiring road connections

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On the one hand, motorists benefit when there’s more than one way to get through an area.

On the other, creating roadway connections between new developments and existing neighborhoods can cause disruptions to the peace and quiet of residential life.

That’s the gist of a discussion that came up during the Sept. 21 Pasco County Planning Commission meeting when an applicant was seeking a waiver from a county requirement that calls for creating connection from new developments, on all four sides of the property.

The discussion came up during the review of an application from Mary Burke and Thomas Schrader to allow up to 625 multi-family units and 106,686 square feet of commercial uses on 57.49 acres, north of County Road 52 and east of Interstate 75.

Pasco County Planning Commission requiring roadway connections between new developments and existing neighborhoods could cause cut-through issues for the residential areas on Oak Street and Florida Avenue, in San Antonio, for example. (Mike Camunas)

The land is part of Connected City, a sizable area that was designated years ago for a greater intensity of development, job creation, high speed internet and good connections within the area, either through golf cart paths, roads or both.

The applicants sought permission to eliminate required connections on the west and on the east.

County staff agreed to the waiver on the west side of the property because there’s a Category 3 wetland and a self-story business that would impede connecting there.

But county planners rejected the request for the waiver to the east.

They determined that an interconnection to the east is feasible at Oak Street and Florida Avenue.

Christie Barreiro, of Heidt Design, represented the applicants during the public hearing.

She told the planning board that her client is proposing three access points into the project, two from County Road 52 and another one at a new vision road being built through Connected City.

“We feel that we have those three access roads, one to the east isn’t necessary for development,” she said.

She also noted that providing the connection suggested by county staff could create a cut-through issue for the residential areas on Oak Street and Florida Avenue, in San Antonio.

“Oak Street is the north-south street and Florida Avenue is the east-west,” she said, noting both streets are maintained by the City of San Antonio.

“There are eight single-family homes on Oak Street.

“There are eight additional parcels on the north side of Florida Avenue, not all of them have homes on them. The south side of Florida Avenue has two property owners, multiple parcels but only two property owners,” she said.

She said her clients believe that full access on Oak Street would not be welcomed by the nearby residents in San Antonio.

She also noted that the roads are not currently up to county standards and requiring her clients to bring one of those roads up to county standards would be an undue burden.

County Attorney David Goldstein asked Barreiro: “Why not connect to the northeast?”

She responded that could be a possibility.

Goldstein said if that occurs, no waiver would be needed.

Brad Tippin, the county’s development manager, said county staff was attempting to create a way to create access to Curley Street.

But Goldstein replied: “It seems to me that it would be more important to be able to connect to property within Connected City. Connected City was given that name for many reasons. Part of it was interconnectivity. I’m not sure why we’re not connecting to other property in Connected City.”

Planning board member Jon Moody said he understands that establishing connections between developments is a high priority with at least one Pasco County commissioner, and possibly others, as well.

But Moody noted forcing such connections can have negative consequences in established neighborhoods.

He said he understands the general need for requiring interconnectivity, but he added, individual situations must be considered.

“I’ll point to a couple of examples where an interconnect has destroyed a neighborhood,” Moody said.

“Fox Hollow Drive, between U.S. 19 and Little Road. You took a wonderful, quiet street and have turned it into a cut-through that’s a de facto highway. I would never walk on one of the sidewalks along Fox Hollow Drive. That would be taking your life into your hands. And, if I had children, I could never live along Fox Hollow Drive.

“Jasmine (road), same thing. We took a street, we cut it from U.S. 19 to Little Road. We have interconnection and now we made it miserable for residents who live along that road.

“Connections can be good, but we can’t do them at the expense of a neighborhood.”

Moody added that he appreciates the applicant’s respect for existing residents.

“Sometimes we have to apply some common sense to some of this.

“All interconnects are not the same. They’re not one size-fits-all. And, we can’t destroy a neighborhood for the sake of providing an interconnection. We have to look to make sure it’s a responsible interconnection,” Moody said.

Planning board member Jaime Girardi made the motion for approval, which the planning board supported. The approved motion does not require the connection to the east to the residential streets in San Antonio that had been suggested by county staff.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission for final action.

Published October 04, 2023

Business Digest 10/04/2023

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Pasco Disaster Recovery Center opens
The State of Florida and FEMA are operating a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Pasco County to provide one-on-one help to people affected by Hurricane Idalia. The center is at the Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter, 11611 Denton Ave., in Hudson. The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily.

No appointment is necessary to visit a Disaster Recovery Center. Residents are welcome to visit any open DRC — you don’t have to reside in that county.

Disaster Recovery Centers provide disaster survivors with information from Florida state agencies, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates on applications.

In addition to visiting a center, people can apply by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, or calling 800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., ET every day. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. The deadline to apply with FEMA is Oct. 30, 2023.

Disaster Recovery Centers are accessible to people with disabilities. They have assistive technology equipment that allows disaster survivors to interact with staff. Video Remote Interpreting is available and in-person sign language is available by request. The centers also have accessible parking, ramps and restrooms.

FEMA Individual Assistance can help with temporary lodging expenses, basic home repairs and other essential disaster-related needs.

New leader of development services
The Pasco County Commission has confirmed the appointment of Roy Mazur to serve as the county’s assistant county administrator for development services. Mazur previously worked in that department but left the county.

County Administrator Mike Carballa recommended Mazur for the post, saying he has a good mixture of private and government experience, as well as solid technical skills.

Commissioner Ron Oakley raised objections to the selection and furnished the clerk with a copy of Mazur’s previous resignation letter, which he asked Nikki Alvarez-Sowsls, the county’s clerk and comptroller, to read into the record.

Other county board members either offered support for Mazur’s selection, or supported Carballa’s right to choose his own administrative team.

Mazur said he believes he can be a catalyst to help county developments to create collaborative relationships to lead the county to the next level.

Mazur’s start date is Oct. 9 and his annual salary is $189,000.

Warby Parker Shops opens
Warby Parker, a vision care company, opened its 15th location in Florida at The Shops at Wiregrass on Sept. 30. Warby Parker Shops at Wiregrass expands the company’s access for customers with vision care needs. It offers eye exams, eyeglasses and contacts.

It is located at 28249 Paseo Drive, Suite No. 100, at The Shops at Wiregrass, which is at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 56, in Wesley Chapel.

ISI Elite Training to set up
ISI Elite Training will be opening in downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, according to news announced by Avalon Group/sitEX. The fitness center, expected to open in early 2024, is owned by Mark and Tamara Henderson, their daughters Kyrah and Kaylah and their son-in-law EJ McCallum.

The fitness center is committed to providing personalized training in a group setting, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment like the InBody Scanner to help clients achieve their fitness goals. Nutritional guidance, group/team accountability, and fostering a strong sense of community are integral parts of its offerings.

For more information about ISI Elite Training and its services, visit ISIEliteTraining.com.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com.

Business banking
Learn about banking essentials — accounts, financing, risk management — for entrepreneurial success. The free session is on Oct. 11 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the SMARTstart Grove Entrepreneur Center, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 202, in Wesley Chapel. The speaker is Michael Anselmo of 5/3 Bank. To register go to SmartstartPasco.com, and click on the events tab.

Free SCORE webinar
Pasco/Hernando SCORE member Bill Gelbach will share pointers on “How to really start your own business” during a free Oct. 10 webinar, from noon to 1 p.m. The webinar will review the basics of starting a business including such topics as business structure, establishing a business name, cash flow, and financing. Visit SCORE.org to find the Pasco/Hernando chapter to register for the webinar.

Pasco County approves higher taxes for fire services

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a tax hike intended to reduce the county’s response time to fires and to improve the county’s ability to keep its firefighters from leaving for jobs with better pay in nearby counties.

Nobody got exactly what they wanted in the vote.

The current Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) is 1.8 mills. The new rate will be 2.1225 mills.

Pasco County property owners will be paying higher taxes to improve pay for firefighters and to reduce response times for emergencies. (Mike Camunas)

One mill is equal to $1 of every $1,000 of taxable value.

At the first public hearing on the budget, County Administrator Mike Carballa recommended the Fire MSTU rate be increased from 1.8 mills to 2.3 mills.

He said the half-mill increase was based on a 10-year plan to keep the department solvent, improve pay for firefighters, provide manpower for new stations and cover costs for some additional initiatives.

Carballa’s initial recommendation encountered pushback from Commissioner Seth Weightman and resistance from the public.

At the first public hearing, Commission Chairman Jack Mariano recommended Carballa come back with an increase tied to a five-year plan for the department.

Carballa presented that plan at the second public hearing on Sept. 19, recommending a new millage rate of 2.159 mills for the Fire MSTU.

Weightman and the public again pushed back.

Weightman said he would not support a rate of more than 2.0 mills and made a motion to that effect. That motion died for a lack of a second.

Members of the public applauded Weightman for his efforts to hold the line on taxes and for being empathetic to their plight.

Speakers urged the board to raise impact fees — to force new growth to pay for its impacts.

They said the county needs to get help from other revenue sources.

They said the county — like its residents — should respond to inflation by tightening its belt.

While expressing support for firefighters, some residents reminded the county board that people are hurting and inflation is making it hard for them to pay their own bills.

They predicted rising costs will force longtime residents to move elsewhere.

While Weightman wanted to take what he called “a measured approach,” his colleagues on the board said that failing to achieve an adequate increase would merely push the problem down the road.

“By not facing this now, don’t think it’s going to be cheaper next year,” Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told Weightman. “It’s going to cost more next year.”

Mariano told Weightman: “We’re trying to cut down response times.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley also supported a larger increase.

Starkey attempted a compromise by calling for a reduction in the millage rate, from the current rate of 7.6076 mills to 7.57 mills.

The board approved that cut, on a 4-1 vote, with Weightman dissenting.

The board also directed Carballa to address the reduced revenues from the millage rate reduction through across-the-board cuts to the budget, including budgets of the constitutional officers, when legally possible. The constitutional officers are the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office, the Supervisor of Elections and the Tax Collector’s Office.

Initially, Weightman would not budge from a maximum millage of 2.0 for the Fire MSTU.

He told his colleagues: “I truly believe we need to hold the line for folks.”

He told fellow board members they had the power to help citizens now and should.

But after being unable to bring other board members around to his way of thinking, and after a number of failed votes, Weightman relented and joined his colleagues in approving Starkey’s motion for a 2.1225 millage rate for the Fire MSTU.

Carballa said the new rate is estimated to generate $13.9 million, and is expected to keep the fire department solvent for a solid four years.

Published September 27, 2023