The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

New space aims to ‘empower’ those seeking court’s help

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Having the courage to seek a protective order to keep an abuser away can be difficult enough, but it can be even worse when the conversation being held about the issue has to be done in a public place.

Giving people a private and safe space to pursue ways to reclaim their lives is the whole reason behind the “Empowerment Room,” which had its grand opening on Sept. 12 at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, at  38053 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City.

The ‘Empowerment Room,’ which had its grand opening on Sept. 12 at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, at 38053 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City, will provide a private and safe space for those pursuing ways to reclaim their lives. (Mike Camunas)

The opening of the room was celebrated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which welcomed judges, dignitaries and Dana Rutherford, a domestic violence survivor.

Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, clerk and comptroller for Pasco County, briefed the Pasco County Commission about the Empowerment Room and the event during the county board’s Sept. 19 meeting.

Alvarez-Sowles noted that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Then she told the board: “My office serves individuals who come in seeking an injunction against violence.

“We also serve customers coming in with other sensitive items, such as substance abuse, mental health, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.

“I’ve always felt concerned for customers coming in and having to talk about those kinds of items in our lobbies, where others can hear.

Linda Babb, Dana Rutherford, Kelly Sinn, Nikki Alvarez-Sowles and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco joined in to cut the ribbon at the Empowerment Room, now open at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center, in Dade City. (Courtesy of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office)

“And, in situations with domestic violence, the individual coming into our office — the survivor is looking over their shoulder to see if someone is following them in.

“So, I wanted to have a safe place in the office for them to come, so in Dade City, we had a grand opening of the Empowerment Room, and I want to thank this board because you all supported that room being built.

“It will allow an individual to come into a secured room, where we will have a domestic violence advocate there, with Sunrise of Pasco.”

There’s also a little kids’ zone, where children can play, “while their parent can talk about some serious business and fill out the tremendous paperwork that needs to be done, in order for them to get to a better day.”

Alvarez-Sowles’ team also will be in there to help people who are dealing with issues involving mental health, substance abuse and vulnerable adults.

Nikki Alvarez-Sowles

“We have a lot of security wrapped around that room so that those in the room don’t have to worry,” she said.

The clerk and comptroller also gave a shout-out to county employees George Scheitlin, T.J. Pyche and Bob Amburgey, whom, she said, “did a fantastic job on that room.”

The room is part of a multi-year improvement project funded by Pasco County.

The design service cost roughly $5,000, prints for permitting cost $90 and the construction cost $189,050, according to the clerk’s office.

It appears many individuals could benefit from the Empowerment Room, based on records from the clerk’s civil department.

Those records show that between 2020 and 2023, there were:

Domestic Relations cases
Dating: 377
Domestic: 5,506
Repeat: 565
Sexual: 196
Stalking: 3,941

Mental health
Baker Act: 1,693
Marchman: 1,077
Treatment: 211

Guardianship
Exploitation against vulnerable adults: 34

Published September 27, 2023

Pasco County School Board wants to alter district’s dress code

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How long should a student’s blouse be?

That question created considerable debate at the Pasco County School Board’s Sept. 11 meeting.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin urged her colleagues to remove language from the district’s dress code that requires a blouse “extend to the waist.”

She explained: “I, like my peers, would like to see students dress professionally and appropriately for school, but I don’t think it is a big enough problem in our schools that this be mandated in policy.”

The Pasco School District aims to revise its dress code policy regarding the length of a student’s blouse. (Mike Camunas)

She continued: “This is a parental right and responsibility, and the new policy is an intrusion on the parents’ decision-making.

“There are community norms in which we function, and not all tops come to the waist. In our community, at restaurants, at stores, and libraries, this clothing is socially acceptable.

“Parents have the right to choose and monitor what their students wear,” she added.

Additionally, she noted: “There are bigger and more important issues to focus on, and dress code is not a barrier to education. I think we should be focusing on things that truly impact instruction, and I know of no research that shows that what a student wears to school negatively impacts academic performance.

“We want kids in class and engaged in learning, and not being removed from class because of an arbitrary dress code.”

She also delineated more reasons for her stance, including:

  • “Enforcing it is problematic. We’ve seen that. Teachers do not feel comfortable, especially male teachers, addressing this issue.
  • “It pulls our administrators — who are so overworked already from the important work that they need to be doing, like improving student achievement; returning parent phone calls and emails; coaching teachers; doing walk-throughs; and addressing the serious behavior disruptions that occur.
  • “We have not been able to define ‘to the waist.’ We couldn’t even all agree on what that meant, or whether their ‘arms are up or down,’ or, ‘What happens when a student has a shoulder bag, or a backpack, and it pulls at their shirt.’

School board member Al Hernandez said he’s conflicted by the policy.

“When I talked to some of the administrators and some of the teachers, I tend to agree with you,” he told Beaudoin.

He said he’s conflicted because schools are an environment where “we need to, at a minimum, be respectful.”

But he added: “Having a policy in place that creates more controversy, probably should not be in place.”

He also agreed with Beaudoin’s point that the issue really should be a family matter.

“Dress code starts at home. That is a parent decision. The more I think about it, the more I believe that it is a parent’s responsibility to dictate the dress code,” Hernandez said.

School board member Alison Crumbley said she agrees with Hernandez’s point that “policy shouldn’t create problems, it should solve them.”

She told Beaudoin “Your point about some of the male teachers are uncomfortable (enforcing the current code) — that’s a good one. I hadn’t thought about that.”

Crumbley said she’s also bothered by the fact that the policy affects girls, but not boys.

“To me, we have bigger fish that we should be frying. We should be talking about raising our third grade reading scores, and our math scores. These are, to me, the things that we should be focused on right now,” Crumbley added.

But school board member Cynthia Armstrong and board chairwoman Megan Harding both support the policy the way it is.

Armstrong put it this way: “We have a dress code. We have items on the dress code, with the idea that they’re going to come looking professional, looking ready to learn, and how a student dresses might not affect their learning but could possibly affect the learning of the students around them because they’re distracted.

“We say that we’re preparing them for college, career and life. Career? You don’t get to come wearing just whatever you want. There’s an expected dress code for your job. To me, dressing professionally or a way that shows that you’re ready to come and learn, and present yourself in the best foot forward, falls right in line with preparing them for careers and for life.

“So, I do think we need to set a standard.”

Armstrong said she received positive feedback for her position on the issue.

“I talked to some principals, also. I talked to some community people. Quite a few community people came up and said, ‘I totally agree with what you are advocating. I talked to some principals that said, ‘Amazing, the students’ shirts have gotten longer. They managed to find blouses that fall below the waist. So, there’s no problem on that.”

She told her colleagues if they want to remove the verbiage relating to the length of blouses, “we might as well wipe out the rest of the dress code.”

Hernandez asked, “At the end of the day, what are we trying to solve for?

“We’re adding expenses. Whether we like it or not, what we’re asking really, is for some of those parents to buy new clothes. It’s costly.”

He also disagreed with Armstrong’s assertion: “I’m not sure that by removing that line really creates removing the entire policy,” he said.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said he has maintained all along that the board sets policy and that his staff will enforce it. However, he noted, he doesn’t believe this issue goes to the heart of academics. He also told the board a public hearing will be needed on the change because it is a substantive change to board policy.

A public hearing on the issue is set for Oct. 3, with a final vote scheduled for Oct. 17.

Published September 27, 2023

Pasco-Hernando State Colleges selects its fifth president

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The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) District Board of Trustees has selected Jesse Pisors, Ed.D., as the college’s fifth president.

He is succeeding Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., whose tenure at the college spanned 17 years and who has been PHSC president since 2015, according to a news release from the college.

The board of trustees chose Pisors at its Sept. 6 meeting, at the college’s Spring Hill campus, after the board conducted interviews with the four finalists for the post.

Jesse Pisors

Pisors is expected to take office in early January, and Beard will remain during a transition period before he retires on Jan. 31, according to the release.

“We have full confidence that Dr. Pisors will continue to uphold the college’s core values and will lead PHSC to further success in all future endeavors,” said Lee Maggard, chairman of the college’s board.

Pisors’ career spans over 25 years. He has served as vice president at two public universities: Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMUSA) and University of Houston-Victoria (UHV).

Pisors was selected after an intensive, national search for a successor with the assistance of Myers McRae, an executive and consulting firm.

Information released by the college during the search described Pisors as a seasoned leader in the field of higher education. It said his leadership at TAMUSA showcases his dedication to inclusivity, where more than 75% of the student body is Hispanic and 60% are first-generation students. 

During his tenure at UHV, initiatives included restructuring the Office of University Advancement and executing a $13 million campaign, surpassing its goal by 12%.

His work in the University of Houston system’s $1 billion campaign indicates his involvement on a larger scale.

Pisors holds a Doctor of Education from Texas Tech University, where his dissertation focused on fundraising challenges and expectations facing university presidents.

Fluent in Spanish, he spent three years leading a private K-12 school in Mexico earlier in his career.

He has provided conference presentations and articles to the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), presenting at conferences, sharing his insights on various aspects of educational advancement and serving on conference committees.

Pisors has served on the board for a number of organizations, including Rotary, United Way, the American Heart Association and the YMCA.

The 18-member Presidential Search Committee was chaired by board member John Mitten and made up of business leaders, community representatives, and PHSC faculty and staff.

The position attracted hundreds of applications, resulting in 13 candidates being interviewed for the job.

Mitten expressed gratitude for the efforts of the search committee and to the finalists for taking part in the process, which includes interviews at a Town Hall meeting and receptions hosted at PHSC’s six locations.

To find out more about the search process and the candidates, visit PHSC.edu/about/leadership/presidential-search.

Published September 27, 2023

Business Digest 09/27/2023

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Pat Duncheon stands near the entrance of the new location for Duncheon Nursery, at 10420 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The nursery has been operating for 33 years in Land O’ Lakes and recently moved down the road. (Courtesy of Duncheon’s Nursery)

Duncheon’s Nursery relocates
After 33 years of operating in Land O’ Lakes, Duncheon’s Nursery has moved — but just 8 miles down the road from its original location, on the east side of U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

The nursery’s new address is 10420 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Moving to the new location allows the company to offer more choices to its customers and creates the opportunity for potential classes, according to a news release from Duncheon’s.

The business was started by Patrick and Donna Duncheon in 1990 with just a few plants on the side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

Over the years, it became a bustling garden center with a wide array of plants and garden décor.

For more information, drop by for a visit, check the website at Duncheons.com, or call 813-948-1890.

Commercial permit applications
Pasco County Central Permitting will shift to online applications for commercial permits, effective Oct. 2.

The new process allows permits to be obtained electronically through the county’s PascoGateway portal.

Customers can use the portal to apply for commercial permits, upload digital documents for review, schedule inspections and pay fees online.

Commercial permits include permits for multifamily construction, commercial additions, commercial alterations, commercial plans revisions, commercial phasing and fire.

Applicants must register for an account. For registration instructions, visit our PascoGateway training page. To access PascoGateway, visit MyPas.co/Gateway.

To learn more about Pasco’s Building Construction Services, visit MyPas.co/BuildingConstruction.

Pasco EDC microloan program
The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) has a microloan program that’s intended to help entrepreneurs secure loans for their businesses when they have been unable to secure traditional bank financing. To find out more, visit PascoEDC.com.

Florida’s semiconductor industry
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a $50 million workforce development initiative dedicated to supporting Florida’s semiconductor industry. This initiative dedicates funds through FloridaCommerce and the Florida Department of Education to projects and workforce education opportunities that support semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, and research and development within the military, defense, and space industries.

FloridaCommerce will dedicate $25 million of the money to the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund and the Florida Department of Education will dedicate $25 million through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program.

Job figures remain healthy
FloridaCommerce has announced that Florida’s unemployment rate remained steady in August, at 2.7%, while the national average climbed three-tenths of a percent to 3.8%. The state’s August figure marks the 34th consecutive month that Florida’s unemployment rate was lower than the national rate, according to a state news release. Florida also extended its trend, which has lasted more than two years, for outpacing the national rate for private sector job growth and labor force growth.

NTBC seeking nominations
The North Tampa Bay Chamber is seeking nominations for its 2023 Celebrating Excellence in Business Awards, which will be presented on Nov. 16. Award categories are: Excellence in Innovation; Excellence in Collaboration; Excellence in Integrity; Excellence in Inclusivity; and Community Hero.

The chamber invites nominations for businesses that have demonstrated excellence in areas such as innovation, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and community involvement, according to a chamber news release. Self-nominations are encouraged.

Applications are due by Oct. 6. They will be judged by a five-member independent panel between Oct. 9 and Oct. 13. The finalists will be announced on Oct. 27 and the awards will be presented at an event on Nov. 16.

For details, visit the chamber’s website at NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group has announced speakers for the organization’s upcoming breakfast meetings. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month, except for December, at 7:30 a.m., at the IHOP at 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. Upcoming speakers are:

  • Oct. 10: Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller
  • Nov. 14: Madonna Wise, local author and retired educator

Contact Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491 or , for more information.

Commerce & Coffee
The North Tampa Bay Chamber hosts Commerce & Coffee on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., at Raining Berries, 25595 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. It’s a chance for chamber members to network, without an agenda, in a relaxed setting.

SCORE mentors
Businesses needing help can get it from a SCORE mentor, and people with knowledge to share can volunteer to mentor others. SCORE welcomes those needing assistance, as well as those who are able to provide it. Find out more by visiting SCORE.org/pascohernando.

Business Celebrations
These business celebrations were recently held or will be held soon, based on news releases sent to The Laker/Lutz News, or postings on various organization websites:

  • Euphoric Ink Studio, 2107 Mariner Blvd., in Spring Hill, will host a grand opening on Sept. 29 at 6 p.m., with food, games, raffles and giveaways, and music by DJ Kue. For more information, visit the tattoo studio on Facebook. 
  • Esthetics813 had its grand opening celebrations on Sept. 15, Sept. 16 and Sept. 17 at its second location, at 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.
  • Subaru of Wesley Chapel had its grand opening on Sept. 7, at 26570 Silver Maple Parkway in Wesley Chapel.
  • Disruptive Marketing Headquarters hosted its grand opening on Aug. 24, at 9502 N. Florida Ave., Suite B, in Tampa.
  • Brightway Insurance had a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 21, at 2470 State Road 54 in Lutz.
  • Precious Paws Animal Hospital had a grand opening on Aug. 16, at 326 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa.

Pasco EDC welcomes Don Anderson
Don Anderson has joined the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart team and will manage the new West Pasco Entrepreneur Center in Holiday.

Health officer’s contributions praised by Pasco County Commission

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When the COVID-19 pandemic was shutting everything down, Mike Napier and his team were ramping up.

The recently retired health officer for the Florida Department of Health-Pasco County led efforts during the pandemic, building on partnerships the health department had already established within the community, to help prevent the spread of COVID and to respond to those sickened in the pandemic.

Napier collaborated closely with Pasco County, Pasco County Schools and a network of local health providers and community organizations.

Mike Napier, the recently retired health officer for the Florida Department of Health-Pasco County, played a pivotal role in helping Pasco County government, businesses and residents navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. He was honored for his work recently by the Pasco County County Commission. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

He was immersed in the work of keeping the public informed and creating strategies for making vaccinations available and responding to ever-changing conditions.

Napier’s efforts were acknowledged by the Pasco County Commission during its Aug. 22 meeting, when it adopted a resolution honoring Napier.

The resolution noted that Napier focused on organizational performance and fostered community collaboration.

He worked to provide the first Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services on a school campus in Pasco, according to the resolution.

The resolution also cited Napier’s selection as the “Pasco County Public Servant of the Year” by the West Pasco Board of Realtors, in 2022, “bestowed upon him for his exemplary service during the COVID-19 pandemic by working closely with the BOCC (Pasco County Commission) and Pasco County School District to provide testing and vaccines.”

Also, the resolution adds that Napier “demonstrated his leadership outside of Pasco County, having been the President of the Florida Association of County Health Officers, President of the Florida Public Health Association, and President of the Florida Association of County Health Department Business Administrators, and accepting the added responsibility of interim Health Officer for Osceola County in 2018 while still maintaining his duties as Health Officer in Pasco County.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey brought forth the resolution for the board’s action.

“What an inspirational leader you were for this county,” Starkey said, mentioning that Napier was so highly regarded, he was temporarily on loan to the state, in Tallahassee, because of his expertise.

“You were such a leader during COVID. I don’t think any of us will forget, or will ever want to go through again, what we did for that year, or year and a half.

“I’m just grateful that you were here during that time,” Starkey said.

“I just want to congratulate you on such a successful career,” she added.

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed: “Mike, you’ve done a great job. You’ve done so much for us.”

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano heaped on praise.

“The things you’ve done — not only COVID, but hepatitis, when we had outbreaks,” Mariano said.

Napier’s public awareness campaign led to a significant reduction of hepatitis cases, the county board chairman said.

“You’ve had a great career. You’ve worked hard all of your life. You’ve been very successful. Now, it’s time to enjoy it all,” Mariano told Napier.

Napier responded by sharing the credit for his success with the 160 employees at the health department.

“A leader is only as good as those who follow,” Napier said.

He reminded commissioners that the health department continues to need the county’s support.

“COVID was the latest (major health concern). There is going to be something else,” Napier said.

He told commissioners that much of what goes on at the health department never reaches public view because it works with hospitals, day cares and other places on disease interventions and to prevent outbreaks from getting worse.

He thanked the county board for its support and also voiced appreciation for the help his department has received from the Pasco community.

“We have a great county in Pasco County, and they’re willing to partner, whether it’s the sheriff’s office, or whether it’s the tax collector, the property appraiser. Everyone’s been very supportive of what we do here,” he said.

County board members told Napier they’re confident that his successor, Trang L. Chitakone, who was his assistant county health administrator, will perform well in the role.

Published September 20, 2023

Lutz Church of God gains approval for Land O’ Lakes location

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The Lutz Church of God has been granted a special exception from the Pasco County Planning Commission, allowing it to locate a church on 8.50 acres, on the west side of School Road, at the northernmost intersection of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and School Road.

The planning board approved the request, with conditions. Planning board Peter Hanzel voted no, saying he doesn’t think the proposed church is compatible with the surrounding development.

Lutz Church of God has been granted a special exception from the Pasco County Planning Commission, allowing it to locate a church on 8.50 acres, on the west side of School Road, at the northernmost intersection of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. (Mike Camunas)

In granting the request, the planning board stipulated that the future church be prohibited from allowing access to the lake by motorized boats.

The church’s pastor said that won’t be a problem.

It may have an observation deck at some point, so people can view the lake, but has no plans for a boat launch, he said.

Three neighbors spoke against the request.

They said they were worried that the church could create an access to the lake, which already suffers from water quality issues, posing an ecological threat to the lake.

They said if that access was granted, there’s no way of knowing how many members of the congregation would use that access.

They also said the church’s traffic and other impacts would just be another thing they’d have to live with, in an area that already has traffic from nearby Sanders Memorial Elementary School, a church and Christian school on School Road, and Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

Planning board members told opponents of the project that the church would not be able to add a boat dock without environmental clearances, which would be unlikely to occur.

The site is flanked on the north by Edmonson Electric; on the east by School Road, vacant property and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard; on the south by wetlands and vacant land; and on the west by Lake Thomas and wetlands.

The site currently has a single residential dwelling, which will remain on the property to be used for church purposes, according to the church’s pastor.

Published September 20, 2023

Pasco County School Board adopts nearly $2 billion budget

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Pasco County Schools’ budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year is just slightly under $2 billion.

The Pasco County School Board adopted the budget during its second public hearing, held Sept. 11.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning provided an overview of the budget for the board and public.

The actual 2023-2024 budget amount is $1,996,021,940, which is an increase of $189,409,710 — representing a 10.5% increase, Browning said.

That budget includes all funding types, not just locally generated revenue, the superintendent noted.

“The total tax millage for the 23-24 fiscal year is 6.449 mills. That’s an increase of .933 mills,” Browning said.

Without the 1 mill voter-approved tax to improve salaries for teachers and non-administrative personnel, the district’s tax rate would have been lower by .67 mills, the superintendent added.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value.

Browning said a homeowner of a $350,000 home, taking into account a $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $2,096 in taxes. That represents an increase of $303 over last year.

The superintendent offered this rundown on the budget. It includes:

  • A general operating budget of nearly $997.1 million, of which $53 million is from the voter-approved 1 mill increase.
  • A capital budget of $520 million
Operating costs for Angeline Academy of Innovation, plus construction costs for that school’s athletic complex, are part of Pasco County Schools’ 2023-2024 budget. (File)

The operating budget is increasing from $850 million to $997 million, and the capital budget is decreasing by $14 million, Browning said.

He noted the district received $59 million more in state funding, to accommodate a projected growth of 3,479 students and recurring expenses.

He then detailed how some of that $59 million will be spent.

Approximately $11 million will be set aside for charter schools, which are public schools, he said.

About $8 million is set aside for Family Empowerment Scholarships, which the state uses to provide scholarships to private schools.

Other expenses being paid with the additional state funding include $7 million for Florida Retirement System increases, $3 million for health insurance increases, and $3 million for software licenses, utilities and School Resource Officer contract increases.

The 2023-24 budget also includes an increase of 158 school allocations, for an increase of $12 million, Browning said.

He also noted: “There were no increased allocations at the district office, at the district level.”

Additionally, there’s an increase of $1.4 million for allocations and operating costs for the opening of Angeline Academy of Innovation, which opened in August, and for Kirkland Ranch K-8 school, which will open in August 2024.

Browning attributed the decrease in the district’s capital budget to a spending down of bond proceeds on construction projects.

He listed these major capital projects:

  • Completion of the construction of Gulf High School
  • Completion of construction of Kirkland Ranch K-8 school
  • Completion of the Starkey Ranch K-8 wing
  • Completion of the Angeline Academy athletic complex
  • Major renovations of West Zephyrhills Elementary School and Pasco High School

Other capital projects include: Marchman Technical College structural and roofing construction, infrastructure upgrades at various schools and HVAC system replacements.

Speakers at the public hearing urged the board to cut back on spending. They said they and other property owners simply can’t afford the increases.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong noted that the voter-approved tax increase is intended to help the district deal with a persistent problem.

“The whole reason for the salary referendum — the reason it was voted (approved) by over 60% of the voting population was because they saw the need for us to improve the salaries of our non-administrative people, because we were not competitive with the surrounding counties.”

Browning noted: “I’ll be the first to admit and maybe I shouldn’t be saying this, but I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t like the (tax) increase I saw on my house. I did not like it.

“But I will tell you that I know that the increase for the teacher salaries was certainly needed. I voted for it. It was certainly needed in order for us to stay competitive and to continue to have great teachers in our classroom. And, we are getting teachers from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hernando counties,” he said.

Published September 20, 2023

Pasco Schools helps in response to Hurricane Idalia

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Pasco County Schools has provided a helping hand in response to Hurricane Idalia.

Locally, the district set up and operated five hurricane shelters, to enable Pasco residents who were potentially in harm’s way to leave their homes and to safely wait out the storm.

“I cannot begin to thank our team, our staff, enough for staffing those shelters,” Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said, noting personnel from every district department pitched in to respond.

Pasco County Schools has provided a helping hand in response to Hurricane Idalia, with district employees heading down to Suwannee County to help the school district get ready to reopen. (Mike Camunas)

District crews also responded to give a helping hand to the Suwannee County Schools.

“I got a call on Labor Day wanting to know if we could send a crew to Suwannee District Schools. They have eight schools, total. They were having a hard time getting those schools ready for students, without help.

District employees Mike Witfoth, Richard Witfoth, Harold Wolf and Fred Smith headed to Suwannee County to help the school district get ready to reopen.

They arrived there on Sept. 5 and worked there through Sept. 7, Browning said.

On the first day they arrived, they removed eight dump trucks of materials. The next day, they removed over 30, Browning said.

“These guys slept on hard floors in dark schools, with no electricity. They literally sacrificed … and worked like dogs, ensuring that Suwannee County Schools opened.

“They removed all what they call ‘widow-maker trees’ that were stuck overhead and other trees. They cleaned up all of the downed trees and hauled off tons of debris off their eight school sites.

“So, they were able to open when the rest of the districts opened up,” Browning said.

Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn also thanked district staff for all that they did to open shelters, to feed people in shelters, to transport them there and take care of other duties.

“I saw people acting as waiters and waitresses to some of our elderly residents, to make sure they were taken care of. It really is an experience that makes you feel good to be part of this system, not that we don’t every day, but to see that in action is a really powerful thing,” Kuhn said.

In addition to the shelter staff and management, she thanked the district’s security team, the food and nutrition team, the transportation team and the maintenance team for their work relating to the storm.

In another action, the school board approved Browning’s recommendation to donate 14 buses the district had intended to sell as surplus, but instead are being donated to districts affected by Hurricane Idalia who need them.

In other action, during its Sept. 11 meeting, the board:

  • Approved seeking proposals from firms to conduct an impact fee study that includes “an appropriate and legally defensible impact fee methodology and fee schedules for growth-related capital facilities.” Impact fees for schools are charged against new residential construction and are intended to address the costs associated with additional student enrollment resulting from that new development.
  • Approved a proclamation relating to the importance of school attendance and how that relates to student achievement. Pasco County Schools is placing particular emphasis on student attendance this year, noting that when students  are absent, they lose valuable instructional time, which can cause significant consequences.
  • Approved a proclamation recognizing the month of September as suicide prevention awareness month and supporting education and efforts aimed at helping students, teachers and staff to identify and act upon warning signs and risk facts to prevent the loss of life from suicide.
  • Approved engaging Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP and its co-counsel Alfonso Hersch, P.A.; Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, LLC; Beasley Allen Cros, Methvin Portis & Miles, P.C.; and Goza & Honnold, LLC, to provide legal services in connection with the pursuit of claims for damages associated with social media in litigation.

Published September 20, 2023

More actions needed for traffic safety, Watergrass residents say

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Watergrass residents are continuing to push Pasco County to make more road improvements to reduce safety concerns in their area.

Some residents appeared before the Pasco County Commission, during the public comment section of the Sept. 5 board meeting, urging the board to take action.

The Watergrass area has been dealing with increased traffic since a new interchange opened at Overpass Road and Interstate 75.

Residents have called for road improvements to provide more options for motorists entering into their community.

Watergrass community residents in Wesley Chapel appeared before the Pasco County Commission on Sept. 5 to voice their concerns about road improvements and increased traffic in their area ever since a new interchange opened at Overpass Road and Interstate 75 earlier this year. (Mike Camunas)

One Watergrass resident, who lives on Summerglade Drive, told the county board she expects additional issues to result from the construction of a new development called Vida’s Way.

Pulte Homes has announced plans that it will be building a development on more than 332 acres of land in Wesley Chapel, which is less than five miles away from State Road 54 and State Road 56, and is close to Interstate 75.

It plans to build 700 homes in the first phase of its development, according to information previously provided to The Laker/Lutz News.

The Watergrass resident addressing the board said she’s concerned about impacts from construction trucks traveling into the area while the project is being built.

She said conditions already are hazardous.

“On a daily basis, it’s taking your life into your hands, coming out of this neighborhood,” she said.

“How do we slow down the traffic on Overpass (Road) so people start thinking about the people that live in this community?” she asked.

She added that accidents occur, as motorists try to get ahead of each other, and that fire trucks aren’t able to get through when traffic is backed up.

“There’s nowhere for people to pull off,” she said.

She said the county needs to do more to address infrastructure needs, as growth continues.

“We need to get serious at looking at all of this development.

“How can we do this so it’s thoughtful and it’s not just to generate new tax revenue from new houses being built?”

Another resident expressed similar concerns.

She predicted that thousands of construction trucks will be headed to Vida Way, as that project is being built.

“Right now, the only way in, is going down Overpass (Road) and down Watergrass Parkway,” she said.

The community is “begging and pleading” that the county fast-track projects that are already planned in the area.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, whose district includes this area, asked county staff to bring back “some answers that are more concrete (regarding traffic problems in Watergrass) than have been given, so we all know how the traffic is going to flow.”

He added: “We need to do everything we can to get a resolution in there that will satisfy those citizens along that way.”

County Administrator Mike Carballa told the board: “We are probably looking for a developer-in-kind project going on out there. We’ll talk with the team, figure out what the challenges are and we’ll see how we tackle them.”

Commissioner Seth Weightman told Carballa: “Whatever relief we can get there would be fantastic.”

Published September 20, 2023

Billy Brown’s positive impacts in Pasco lauded by county board

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During a career that spanned 67 years, Billy E. Brown left his mark on the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative where he worked, and on countless lives in Pasco County.

His achievements were honored on Sept. 5 by the Pasco County Commission, which passed a resolution detailing his many accomplishments.

Brown is a lifelong resident of Pasco County and attended Pasco High School before he served in the U.S. Coast Guard and in the Korean War, the resolution says.

The resolution also provides additional details of Brown’s life.

Pasco County Commission passes resolution recognizing Billy Brown (center).

He went to work for the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) on Oct. 16, 1956.

At that time, WREC served 2,996 members and employed 40 people, the resolution says.

Today, the electric cooperative is the third-largest in the nation and has more than 250,000 members.

In 1985, Brown “formed a for-profit entity named ‘URADCO’ that brought thousands of jobs to the Cooperative’s service area and built two industrial parks: One Pasco Center and One Hernando Center,” the resolution adds.

“The Cooperative also formed the WRECares/Operation Round-Up program that provides financial assistance to families who have suffered a catastrophic event,” it adds.

Brown “founded the WREC Educational Foundation, which awards 110 college scholarships valued at $12,000 each to high school seniors on an annual basis,” the resolution adds.

“To date, the Foundation has awarded 2,414 scholarships valued over $18.5 million.”

Brown “is not only a well-respected leader at the local, state, and federal levels, but also a vocal advocate for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).”

Brown has received recognition for his work through the years, including the NRECA Regional Award for Outstanding Service, NRECA Paul Revere Award, NRECA President’s Award, NRECA Cooperative Purpose Award, NRECA William F. Matson Democracy Award, NRECA National Community Investment Service Award, Dade City Chamber of Commerce Richard Tombrink Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2022 Pasco County Economic Development Council Leadership Award, the resolution adds.

He also served on the Seminole Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees for more than 48 years and on the Florida Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and served with various nonprofit organizations, such as the Rotary and United Way.

He retired from WREC in April.

In accepting the board’s honor, Brown said: “It has been a joyous and rewarding experience to work for the co-op, the board of trustees, its members – a highly loyal and dedicated group of employees of unusual talents for 67 years.

“Early on, as manager of the cooperative, there was an extreme downturn in the economy in Florida. Construction was our only industry then and when it came to a halt, we saw many people losing their jobs, their incomes and ability to provide for their families.

“We decided then that we wanted to be more than just another utility supplying quality electric service.

“We wanted to do some things to improve the quality of life for the people in our service area. I thought that we probably were one of the few that had the wherewithal to do those kinds of things.

“We presented the proposal to our board of trustees. They unanimously approved it. The net result is all of the great things the cooperative has done.

“It’s also been my pleasure to work with this board of commissioners and those before you, to be helpful in projects presented by the county that were in the benefit of the people of Pasco County, my home county, and I thank you very much.”

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley told Brown: “Mr. Brown you have been an icon in our community, and I can say for a fact that you’ve been a true friend to me and my family for many, many years.”

He said Brown “has worked so tirelessly to make this community better, and I appreciate everything you have done toward making it a better community for all of us to live in.”

Oakley added: “When I graduated from high school, same as when you graduated from high school, if you weren’t involved in citrus here in this community, you didn’t have a job here to come back to. You had to go find a job somewhere else.

“Well, that’s changing, and part of that is due to what you have done with WREC.”

Commissioner Seth Weightman told Brown: “Mr. Brown, I sit here as a proud co-op kid. My dad just retired after 45 years and three months of service with the co-op.

“Because of you and this co-op, it provided life and provided a way for my dad and other families to have a family and live a life here in Pasco County that otherwise might not have been. So, I owe a great deal of my success because of what the co-op provided my family through the years and the jobs it created.

“I honestly don’t believe that my brother, my sister or I would be where we are today if it weren’t for the foundation of the co-op and what it brought to our county, what it brought to Dade City and to so many folks here.”

Published September 20, 2023