B.C. Manion

Pasco breaks ground on jail expansion project

March 7, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County has broken ground on a 608-bed expansion on a 28.5-acre site at its Pasco County Corrections Center, 20101 Central Ave., in Land O’ Lakes.

Officials held a groundbreaking on Feb. 23 to celebrate the start of the project, which includes new inmate housing, a virtual visitation center, medical and mental health areas, inmate intake and release areas, kitchen and laundry facility improvements, and other features.

This sign is on the current campus at the Pasco County Detention Center, at 20101 Central Ave., in Land O’ Lakes, just off U.S. 41. A project is underway to add 608 beds, as well as other new and updated facilities, at the jail. (File)

Voters approved general obligation bonds for the $145 million expansion project in November 2018.

During the groundbreaking, officials offered remarks about the project in interviews that were videotaped and disseminated by the county’s communications team.

“We’re overcrowded in the facility,” County Administrator Mike Carballa said. “We can’t just go and put a ‘No Vacancy’ sign up, right? We have to house these folks.”

Stacey Jenkins, Pasco’s chief correctional officer said: “The expansion is going to allow us a better opportunity to classify our inmate population, so with that, it’s going to improve the safety of our staff.”

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman added: “This is a great win for our corrections officers. As we move in the modern policing, this facility will be a fantastic and modern workplace for our corrections officers, and hopefully it gives them a new, clean, safe environment to work in.”

Jack Mariano, chairman of the county board, talked about improvements the expansion will offer.

Elected county leaders, county staff and other dignitaries fling shovels of dirt on Feb. 23 to signify the official groundbreaking of the Pasco County Detention Center expansion. The project, which will add 608 new beds and other improvements, is expected to be completed by Summer of 2025. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“There’s going to be better visitation, where people can do it remotely, safely — taking a lot of stress and strain off the system, as well,” he said.

Mariano added: “The voters spoke very clearly in 2018 … They voted for it. They wanted to see it happen. It’s going to be a great benefit for Pasco County.”

Mike Tippy, a project executive, noted there will be challenges because the expansion is being added next to an operating jail. So, for example, “the kitchen still has to run, even though we’re putting a new kitchen in. The laundry still has to operate, even though we’re moving to new laundry facilities.”

Chief Correctional Officer Jenkins said the expansion will enable the county to provide more programs for current inmates.

It also will provide new opportunities for “inmates who have medical conditions and mental health conditions,” she said.

Moss & Associates is spearheading the construction work on the project, which is expected to be completed by the Summer of 2025.

John Bowden, of Moss construction, said: “This is a big project, very exciting, a large project. We’ve assembled an A-plus team. We’re very excited about what we’re going to deliver over the next couple of years. “

County Administrator Carballa expressed confidence in the county’s staff and the contractor.

“Our team is up to the challenge. I appreciate the hard work and the professionalism of the complete design/build team and our partners there,” the county’s chief executive said.

“This is truly a heavy lift for the organization, but in the end, the juice is worth the squeeze,” Carballa added.

Pasco County Detention Center expansion
New and updated facilities include:

608 additional beds
Kitchen and laundry updates
Medical and mental health areas
Inmate intake/release areas
Staff support and administrative offices
Pre-trial hearing area

This is a rendering of what the Pasco County Detention Center expansion will look like, at completion. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Access to inmate booking photos
Pasco County has announced that the county now offers access to basic inmate booking information, including photos, for inmates at Pasco Corrections Center in Land O’ Lakes.

Just visit the Pasco Corrections webpage, PascoCorrections.com, and click on either the In Custody or Past Arrests links to access the searchable databases.

Give the system a few moments to load booking photos, then simply click on the photo to download. To request a booking photo that doesn’t appear on the website, email Pasco County Customer Service at .

Requests for additional information about arrests must be directed to the arresting agency.

Published March 08, 2023

Business Digest 03/08/2023

March 7, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Tampa ranked among best places to live
Scholaroo, a finance website, has conducted an in-depth analysis of Best Cities to Live In, in 2023, and based on that research, Tampa ranked No. 9.

The analysis involved looking at 47 metrics, organized into eight key indicators of satisfaction and happiness, based on a news release from Scholaroo.

Those key indicators are: crime and safety; affordability; economy, quality of life; healthcare; education; employment and infrastructure.

Florida has two of the top best cities to live in, with Naples topping the list.

For the complete study and methodology, or additional details about 2023 Best Cities to Live In, visit https://scholaroo.com/report/best-cities-to-live/

USDA environmental incentives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications through its Natural Resources Conservation Service for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The funding is for fiscal year 2023 through March 2024, using funds provided through the Inflation Reduction Act.

The EQIP-IRA applications must include at least one core Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) conservation practice or activity that directly improves soil carbon, reduces nitrogen losses, or reduces, captures, avoids or sequesters carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous emissions associated with agricultural productions, according to a USDA news release.

Facilitating practices or activities that are needed to implement the core practice may also be included.

Applications for EQIP-IRA will be accepted until March 24, 2023 and are available at local USDA Service Centers and online.

Applicants must have farm records established with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Advance payment options are available for historically underserved producers.

Tax service ribbon-cutting
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon-cutting for American Financial Service and Tax at the chamber’s office, 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd., Suite A in Lutz. The celebration will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m.

Pulte expands Whispering Pines community
Pulte Homes has acquired an additional 80 acres to expand its Whispering Pines community in Land O’ Lakes, according to a news release.

The community is currently under construction, off Lake Patience Road.

About 100 homes will be built on the acreage acquired in early January, the news release says.

At completion, Whispering Pines will have 330 single-family homes. The first phase of the project includes 228 homes.

Pre-sales are ongoing and the community is scheduled to host its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 25, at 20876 Drake Elm Drive.

The sales center and three professionally decorated model homes will be open.

For more information, call 813-547-8725.

Pasco County job fair
Pasco County’s human resources department is holding an in-person job fair from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 16 at the Pasco County Extension Office in Dade City, 36702 State Road 52.

Managers will be on-site to conduct on-the-spot interviews and applicants are advised to dress for success and bring several copies of their resume.

There are current openings in these categories: correctional officer trainees; utility positions; public works equipment operators; 911 dispatchers; firefighters; engineers; GoPasco bus drives; and field inspectors.

To learn more, visit MyPasco.net.

Greater Pasco Chamber is making a trip Tallahassee
The Greater Pasco Chamber’s public policy committee has invited chamber members to accompany its public policy committee for “Pasco County Day” in Tallahassee. The trip will allow visits with local representatives to advocate for industries and businesses.

The chartered bus is set to depart from New Port Richey at 6:30 a.m. on March 15 and return at 10 p.m. the same day.

Chamber member pricing for the chartered bus ride is $50, with a $10 discount if registered by March 10. Attendees are responsible for their own meals and any other personal costs incurred during the trip.

For more details, call the Greater Pasco Chamber, at 727-842-7651 or visit GreaterPasco.com.

East Pasco Networking Group
Featured speakers at the 7:30 a.m. March 14 breakfast meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group will be Al Hernandez, a member of the Pasco School Board; Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.; and Melonie Monson, former CEO of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber and a candidate for mayor of Zephyrhills.

The meeting will be IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301, in Dade City.

For more information, call Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491.

Business planning help
If you need help with handling business issues, you may be able to find the support you need through SCORE.org, an organization that provides workshops, a library of resources and business mentors. Visit the organization’s website to find out more about the free help that is available.

Festive day marks open house for BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital

February 28, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Visitors had plenty of options at BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital’s community open house.

Outdoors, they could get free health screenings, apply for jobs, grab a bite from a food truck and enjoy live music.

Indoors, they could take self-guided tours, with stops in various parts of the hospital.

They could peek into the fully equipped private patient rooms. The rooms have ample space for visitors and they are Alexa-enabled, allowing patients to play music, turn lights off and on, raise and lower blinds, and, of course, call the nurse, among other things.

BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel is scheduled to open on March 7. It aims to help meet the health care needs in a growing region. (B.C. Manion)

Tour-takers also could see a surgical suite, check out different departments, learn about various services and enjoy the artwork adorning walls along some hospital corridors.

They also could get a glance at the hospital’s restaurant, Waves Café, and take a look at the gift shop.

Hospital employees were stationed at spots throughout the tour, to field questions. Signs were posted, too, providing additional details.

Staffers eagerly shared their enthusiasm for being part of the BayCare team.

Some employees at the Wesley Chapel location transferred from other BayCare hospitals. They said they’re happy to work closer to home.

Others are new to the health care organization.

Many — whether new to BayCare or not — said they were attracted by having the opportunity to be part of a brand-new hospital and to help set the tone for quality care.

Rebecca Schulkowski, president of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, is enthused, too.

Rebecca Schulkowski, president of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, is eager to lead a new hospital that aims to introduce the area to BayCare’s quality of care. Some patients who will use the hospital already are familiar with BayCare because they’ve received care at the health system’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz and at BayCare’s main campus in Tampa.

“I’m just so thrilled to be here. I’m so excited to be a part of bringing something new to the community, to be able to represent BayCare and the BayCare values,” she said.

She was pleased, too, by the event’s turnout.

“It’s been a phenomenal morning. It’s extremely humbling, to me, to see how gracious the community is to us,” the hospital executive said.

Thousands turned out.

The crowd was diverse. There were families with young children, retirees and people of all ages, in between.

The vast majority arrived in shuttle buses provided by the hospital, catching rides at stops at The Shops at Wiregrass or Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

Others strolled over, from the adjacent Seven Oaks neighborhood.

“It’s a testament of the healthiness of this neighborhood — how many people have just walked over,” Schulkowski said.

All of the patient rooms in the hospital are private. They are Alexa-enabled and there’s ample room for visitors, too. Visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Many of those she spoke with were curious about the hospital’s services.

Those services will include medical services and health care resources relating to: breast health; diabetes and endocrinology; diagnostic services including imaging and lab; ear, nose and throat; emergency room; gastroenterology; heart and vascular; intensive care unit with virtual-monitoring beds; interventional radiology; orthopedics; primary care; pulmonology and respiratory; surgery including robotic surgery; urology and wound care.

But the services will not include labor and delivery.

“One of the reasons we chose not to do it is when we looked at the demographics, most of the people moving to this area — they’re established families,” the hospital president said.

BayCare does offer those services at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz and St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa.

Beyond providing health care services, BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel is providing a significant number of jobs.

It currently has about 350 team members, including full-time, part-time and labor pool positions, with about 90% of the openings filled, Schulkowski said.

There also will be additional staffing needs, as the hospital grows.

“We built the foundation of this hospital, with expansion in mind. We want to grow with the community,” Schulkowski said.

She estimated the staff will grow to around 600 in the future.

Originally, expansion wasn’t expected for at least four or five years.

But the hospital president said: “According to the response of the community this morning, it might be faster than I thought.”

BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel
Where: 4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. (The location is on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, between State Road 56 and State Road 54, east of Interstate 75.)
When: Opening day is March 7. Visiting hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Why: The hospital will provide health care services in a growing region. It has 86 private rooms and 20 Emergency Room beds. It offers comprehensive medical services and health care resources, including an emergency department, an intensive care unit with virtual-monitoring beds, diagnostic services such as imaging and lab, and surgical services.
Cost: The 318,000-square-foot building is on a campus of more than 40 acres. The project’s estimated cost is $246 million.
Fun fact: Alexa stands ready to assist. Patients can ask Alexa to play music, turn on the TV, turn off the TV; raise the blinds, lower the blinds; change the temperature; and, of course, call the nurse.

Published March 01, 2023

Pasco’s tourism numbers approach 1.5 million visitors

February 28, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County attracted nearly 1.5 million visitors during fiscal year 2022, and impact from tourism on the economy was more than $916.5 million, according to a report shared with the Pasco County Commission last week.

In terms of direct spending, tourism generated more than $636.6 million. That’s up 24% over fiscal year 2021.

The tourism industry also generated 11,403 jobs, totaling $288.2 million in wages.

Scalloping is a popular activity, bringing a significant number of visitors to the area during Pasco’s summer scalloping season. (File)

For every 130 visitors to Pasco County, a job is created, said Adam Thomas, executive director for Florida’s Sports Coast, the county’s Destination Management Organization.

In terms of revenues, the county received slightly more than $5 million in Tourist Development Tax revenues collected for more than 1.5 million room nights generated in Pasco’s short-term rental accommodations.

Pasco restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shopping and entertainment venues benefit from the traffic tourism brings to the area, but Pasco residents benefit, too.

Thomas said that revenues generated by tourism saved an estimated $384 per Pasco County household in fiscal year 2022.

That figure is based on how much more revenue the county would have had to generate to provide the same amount of services as it provided — with the economic boost provided by tourism, Thomas explained.

Tourists said they would like to see additional dining options added in Pasco County. (Mike Camunas)

With the exception of 2020, when the pandemic hit, Pasco’s tourism trends have been up for the past five years, Thomas said.

“People are noticing us, they’re coming here, they’re experiencing our product from a visitor perspective and the market is rich, in terms of tourism,” Thomas added.

The county’s tourism marketing efforts also are paying off, according to Thomas.

Every dollar spent on marketing the destination results in $106 in visitor spending, he said.

The report also tracks how visitors arrive to Pasco, how long they’ve been planning their trip, where they are coming from and how long they stay.

Generating room nights is a big part of a successful tourism effort. Pasco County has set its sights on attracting more international visitors. (Mike Camunas)

It turns out that 90% of Pasco visitors drive into the market and 47% of them planned their trip within a month of traveling.

Of those staying in the area, 25% stayed at hotels or motels and 17% stayed with family or friends.

About 38% of the visitors traveled with one or more children, and about 25% traveled to the area to attend or participate in a sporting event.

Three in five visitors stayed one or more nights, and the average stay was four nights. Typical travel parties spent $227 per day, with an average of $982 over the course of their trip.

Thomas’ comments to the board were based on a report completed by Downs & St. Germain Research Inc.

Downs & St. German has been partnering with several events, tourism attractions, venues and short-term rental accommodations since 2018, in order to run face-to-face, phone, and online surveys with Pasco County visitors.

As a result of those efforts, the research company compiles profiles of visitors coming to Pasco County and quantifies the economic impact of tourism.

Florida’s Sports Coast, Pasco’s Destination Management Organization, uses the information to better target its marketing efforts to increase tourism in Pasco.

Pasco tourism by the numbers
These figures are from a report compiled by Downs & St. Germain Research, comparing fiscal year 2022 to fiscal year 2021:

Economic impacts:

Overall economic impact: $916.6 million, up 27%
Visitor spend: $636.6 million, up 24%
Room occupancy: 68.1%, up 1.5%
Average daily rate: $119, up 28.7%
Room nights: 1.5 million, up 7%
Local jobs created: 11,403, up 23%
Wages and salaries: $2.9 million, up 24%
Tourist Development Tax: $5 million, up 39%

Visitor profile

Average visitor: Is 49 years old, female, with income of $90,800
90% drive into the area; 10% fly through Tampa International Airport
The typical stay is 4.3 nights
Travel parties spend $227 per day; $982 over course of visit

Top visitor activities

Casual dining: 73%
Shopping: 54%
Seeing family and friends: 54%
Visiting parks and nature: 52%

Top desired additional activities

More restaurants: 26%
More family friendly activities: 23%
More outdoor activities: 23%
More sporting events: 22%

Published March 01, 2023

Pasco eyes possible Ridge Road extension to Overpass Road

February 28, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The final segment of the Ridge Road, which is scheduled to reach U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, could turn into just another stop along the road.

The board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) — the county’s lead transportation planning agency — has decided to let its staff explore the possibility of extending Ridge Road over to Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel.

The study came at the suggestion of Pasco County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano who noted that work has been approved to plan an extension of Overpass Road to U.S. 301.

If that extension occurs to the east of Overpass and if the proposed link is approved to U.S. 41, then Ridge Road potentially could become another east-west road corridor across Pasco.

The stars on this map indicate the end point of Ridge Road on U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes and a potential endpoint for an extension that would take it to Overpass Road. The potential extension is just an idea at this point. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Mariano discussed the idea with Carl Mikyska, executive director of the Pasco MPO, and brought the issue to the board at its Feb. 9 meeting, for discussion and direction.

“Currently, state roads 54 and 52 offer east-west movements, but there’s a distance between those two roads. The concept here is to look at a mid-county, east-west connection,” Mikyska said.

Mariano told his MPO board colleagues: “The traffic relief we’ve felt from the Ridge Road extension, running from let’s call it Moon Lake to Suncoast has been great,” Mariano said.

Ridge Road is slated to reach Sunlake Boulevard in the summer and then stretch over to U.S. 41 in 2025, he said.

He encouraged his colleagues to support a closer look at extending it to Overpass Road.

“Let’s investigate it, see if it works. I think if you put that other road going across this whole county, it’s going to really help us long-term with our transportation issues,” he said.

Mariano added: “This is not a brand-new idea. When I was first elected, this was one of the things we talked about. We had to decide whether we were going to keep fighting with (U.S.) Army Corps (of Engineers) to get the Ridge Road extension, we were looking to get all of the way to (Interstate) 75.”

The decision was made at that time to get Ridge Road to U.S. 41 and then look at an additional extension, Mariano said.

“I think it’s wise to take a look at it now. Let’s get started on it and see where it takes us.”

Starkey asked about potential environmental restrictions.

Mikyska noted: “There are some wellfields in there and it’s labeled the Cypress Creek Preserve.”

Starkey added: “I don’t know what kind of restrictions are on there. I just don’t know what we would be up against if we went through there.”

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman expressed words of caution.

“So, obviously this goes through the heart of my district,” he said.

“The property that is owned through here is kind of a conglomerate of Tampa Bay Water, SWFMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) owns parcels and there’s some private entities.

“As it gets further east, there’s conservation easement with one family. A little bit further south, Quail Hollow, then it connects into the Overpass area.

“That area is such a significant area for our water supply, our water quality,” he said.

“Studying it (the road extension), is one thing. I think we really, really need to understand the impacts, if we go disturbing that because that water supplies, obviously, you know the Greater Tampa Bay area, with an essential resource,” Weightman said.

“It’s a very environmentally sensitive place. It’s a very pristine piece of nature.

“I just want that on the record as we look at this,” Weightman said.

Mariano responded: “I respect what it is. I look at the Suncoast Parkway running right through the heart of Serenova. Keep in mind, too, when we did that, there were 6,500 homes that had been built, 250 acres of commercial development, 250 more acres of other retail that was going to be put in and all of that got extinguished going through.

“I don’t know what the limitations are. I don’t exactly know all of the effects. But I will say, I think that we’ve built that Ridge Road extension, environmentally very sensitive, protected everything down below it.”

Mariano added that the extension could be a two-lane road or a four-lane road.

“We don’t know until we study, the ramifications, etc., but it’s such a critical piece of us, going east-west. I think it’s worth a look. Especially now, since the Overpass interchange has been built. That’s a $55 million product that we’ve got for infrastructure, instead of going all of the way to (U.S.) 301. I think we need to look at both sides.

Weightman responded: “I don’t disagree with looking at a road concept. My concern is once the road is there and limits are pushed, for developments and what comes along with it. I think we just need to be very measured, as we go through this process and really understand the impacts of these properties and building on them.”

Mariano: “’I’m not looking at anything but the roadway to go through.

“If we don’t look at it, we’ll never know.”

Lance Smith, who sits on the Zephyrhills City Council, told his colleagues: “I’m like Commissioner Weightman, I’m very sensitive to the land there. We can study that and we could minimize any impact to it because we don’t need sprawling development along a road, but if we need to move traffic, that’s a different issue.”

The next step will be for the Pasco MPO staff to look at the idea, as it screens projects that would be conducted with the long-range transportation plan.

That list is due in December of 2024, Mikyska said.

“So the suggestion would be, that as we put in projects to the long-range plan, we take them to a higher-level screening,” Mikyska said.

That screening will provide “a better sense of what exactly we would be facing, in terms of any challenges, such as you’re identifying here.

“I think that would give you a clearer picture of what this facility may offer for challenges and opportunities, and it would allow you to have a more informed choice as we look at going forward or not going forward,” Mikyska said.

Published March 01, 2023

Saint Leo University announces program changes, budget cuts

February 28, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Saint Leo University has announced plans to close several programs and to eliminate 111 faculty and staff positions.

Of those positions, 80 were occupied, according to university officials, who announced the changes in a Feb. 16 news release.

Some positions were eliminated effective on Feb. 16 and others will remain active until the end of the academic year, according to university officials, who provided additional details at the request of The Laker/Lutz News.

Saint Leo University will discontinue three of its degree programs: the bachelor degree in international hospitality, which is offered at the university’s campus in St. Leo, and the bachelor and master degree programs in human services, which are only offered online and at some education centers.

Saint Leo University has announced program changes, budget cuts and layoffs, as it seeks to put itself in a stronger position for the future. (Mike Camunas)

Students enrolled in these programs will be assisted with a plan to achieve degree completion. Also, all degree programs in the College of Education and Social Services will become a part of other colleges, effective at the end of the academic year.

The university also has announced that it will discontinue six of its 23 NCAA Division II sports teams at the end of the Spring Semester. The programs that have been cut are: men’s and women’s track, men’s and women’s cross-country, and men’s and women’s swimming.

The cuts will affect 72 students competing on those six teams and four staff members who serve in supporting roles.

Athletic staff will be available to provide guidance and support for students on their next steps — whether they choose to stay or to leave Saint Leo, according to Saint Leo officials.

Plans also call for closing eight of the university’s 14 education centers, which are located in five states. None of those closures are in the Tampa Bay area.

Many of the eliminated positions are in the areas of education centers, athletics and academics, according to the university.

Employees whose positions were eliminated were given the opportunity to speak with Human

Resources about their options, including severance, health care, and out-placement assistance. They also have the opportunity to apply for any positions that may be open, university officials said.

Depending on the number of credits students have in their degree programs, an advisor will help them complete their degrees, even though the program is being discontinued, or help them find another similar program that can be completed within the same timeline.

Students will receive an individualized plan with a timeline for course offerings and course substitutions for their major. Students must be in continuous enrollment to complete the major. Those just beginning in their majors will be advised to transition to another major. Related programs of interest will be discussed with students to ensure a smooth transition to a new program with minimal interruption to their degree completion timeline, officials said.

The changes are a result of a thorough audit of the university’s enrollment trends that revealed an opportunity to improve efficiencies and enhance future offerings for students, officials said.

The university did not disclose the amount of savings that will be achieved through the cuts, but in a written statement, Dr. Edward Dadez, university president, said the university needed to right-size by cutting expenses.

“We are now in a much stronger financial situation. We will now strive to hit our campus and online enrollment numbers; add academic programs that will increase enrollments; develop new revenue streams; and increase our university donor program. These strategies will provide stability and opportunity for growth,” Dadez said.

The college’s on-campus enrollment in St. Leo has been holding steady, with more than 975 new students enrolled during the Fall of 2022, compared to the new students enrollment during the Fall of 2021 at slightly more than 1,000.

The budget cuts and program changes are not expected to affect community partnerships.

“The university already maintains strong partnerships with many school districts, law enforcement agencies, faith-based groups, and other organizations,” said Dr. Mark Gesner, vice president of Community Engagement & Communications, in a written statement.

“We look forward to growing our community partnerships and being a full-service education and training partner for many more businesses, nonprofits, and groups of all sizes,” he said.

Published March 01, 2023

County board rejects recommendation to sell property for $1

February 28, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has rejected a recommendation of its staff that would have allowed the sale of a property to Pinellas Habitat for Humanity for $1.

The item had been part of the board’s consent agenda — meaning it would have been approved with a group of items, without discussion — if no one pulled the item off that agenda.

But Commissioner Seth Weightman pulled the item. He told his colleagues that he was “philosophically opposed” to selling any surplus county property for a dollar.

He said he wouldn’t sell any of his personal property for a dollar and doesn’t think the county should do so either.

He said the county has a responsibility to taxpayers to protect their assets.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, however, said the county also is facing a significant problem regarding affordable housing.

In her view, this sale would give the county a chance to give a resident a chance to pursue homeownership through Habitat.

Weightman said his position wasn’t a reflection on Habitat or any other nonprofit. He just thinks the county should seek a better price for its property.

County Administrator Mike Carballa noted that the county received the property because it had not paid its taxes, so it was awarded to the county.

Weightman held firm.

Starkey again urged her colleagues to approve the sale to Habitat, but they took Weightman’s position, voting 4-1 to reject the sale.

On another issue, the board authorized additional purchasing authority in the total amount of $100,000 to Nabors, Giblin, Nickerson, P.A., for attorney’s fees, paralegal fees, travel expenses and costs, as may be incurred on behalf of the county, for a cumulative not-to-exceed $235,000.

The action was taken as part of the board’s consent agenda.

The law firm has been providing legal assistance to the county regarding the case of Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, clerk of the court v. Pasco County. To date, the law firm has spent more than 400 hours related to the defense, according to materials in the county board’s agenda packet.

“Given the nature of the litigation, it is the opinion of the county attorney that the time spent has been reasonable, given the amount of work involved,” the agenda backup says.

Alvarez-Sowles lost in the first round of the legal battle, but has notified the county that she plans to appeal that ruling.

In other action, the board:

Met in closed-door session with the county’s legal representatives to discuss the lawsuit filed by RADDSports, Pasco Wiregrass LLC against Pasco County
Approved a task order with Alfred Benesch & Company for $70,274.68 to provide planning services as necessary to amend the Pasco County Comprehensive Plan Conservation and Coastal Management Elements, to include Peril of Flood policy as required by Florida law.

This task order is made possible by a $75,000 Florida Resiliency Coastal Program grant, from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Approved the reappointment of Michael Davis, Michael Fittipaldi, Jay Michlin, Rocio “Rosie” Paulsen,and Joseph “Joe” Ward to a term of two years on the Jobs and Economic Opportunity Committee, which provides general oversight of the Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund (Penny for Pasco) projects and marketing efforts funded through the Penny for Pasco
Passed a resolution congratulating Jackson Davis for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout
Adopted a resolution commending Bill Roberts for his three-year term as chairman of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority. Roberts was Tampa International Airport’s representative on the committee

Published March 01, 2023

Business Digest 03/01/2023

February 28, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Pour-your-own candle shop
A new pour-you-own candle experience, offered by 3 Eleven Aroma, has opened at the KRATE at the Grove. The shop offers guests the opportunity to create candles from start to finish, using a combination of scents and choosing from a variety of candle sizes.

3 Eleven Aroma is open, but also plans to have a grand opening celebration on March 11.

KRATE at the Grove is an entertainment destination made from 94 repurposed shipping containers. It is located with the Grove at Wesley Chapel, at 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd.

Aroma Joe’s
Aroma Joe’s will celebrate its location at 3939 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, with a week of special events, Feb. 27 through March 3. The celebration will culminate with a community activation: 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Land O’ Lakes Christian School on March 3, according to a news release.

The 1,600-square-foot coffeehouse has drive-thru and walk-up options, and serves a variety of coffee and espresso drinks.

The location opened in August of 2022 and is owned and operated by one of the original founders of Aroma Joe’s, Marty McKenna and his wife, Marlene.

Business celebrations
These businesses recently held celebrations:

The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve, 18600 Highway Preserve Parkway, in Tampa,, held a grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting, live music and food on Feb. 21.
B&B Theatres, Wesley Chapel The Grove 16, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, had a ribbon cutting on Feb. 15 to celebrate its newly remodeled location. The theater now offers a variety of movie-going experiences. It also boasts two Premium Large Format Grand Screens, which are massive, wall-to-wall, curved screens — making the theater home to two of the largest movie screens in the nation.

NTBC Coffee Connection
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has its Coffee Connections networking session every third Friday of the month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Coffee Speaks n Tea Talks, 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa. Coffee Connection provides a chance to mingle with other chamber members and community leaders, and to make friends and exchange ideas.

For more information, call Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491.

SWFMD governing board appointments
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed three members to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) Governing Board, according to a SWFMD news release.

The governor appointed James Holton, Dustin Rowland and Robert Stern to the board.

Holton, of St. Petersburg, is the president and owner of JWH Properties Inc., MHH Enterprises Inc. and James W. Holton, P.A. He earned his bachelor degree from Stanford University and his master degree and juris doctor from Boston University. Holton represents Pinellas County.

Rowland, of Dade City, is the president and owner of Rowland Truck Lines. He graduated from Zephyrhills High School in 1994. Rowland represents Pasco County.

Stern, of Tampa, is a partner and attorney for Trenam Law. Stern earned his bachelor degree in business administration and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. Stern represents Hillsborough County.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Members on the governing board are volunteers. The board sets policy for SWFMD, which has the responsibility of managing water and related resources in West Central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users while protecting the environment.

Ramped-up activity expected soon on Moffitt’s Pasco campus

February 21, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The official groundbreaking for Speros FL — Moffitt Cancer Center’s Pasco campus — happened a few weeks ago and construction activities are expected to ramp up soon.

“We’re starting to put some shovels in the ground,” said John Allgeier, senior director of the Pasco real estate development for the Moffitt Cancer Center expansion project.

“It’s exciting to see it start going,” added Allgeier, during remarks at the Feb. 7 North Tampa Bay Chamber breakfast meeting.

The first phase of the 775-acre campus will begin in the northwest corner of its property, near the Suncoast Parkway and Ridge Road.

“That’s where we’ll start our buildings,” Allgeier said. “We’re only going to build on probably 480 (acres) to 500 acres of the land.”

This rendering provides a visual of what Moffitt Cancer’s Speros FL campus is expected to look like, as the development takes shape. (Courtesy of Moffitt Cancer Center)

“The wetlands, they’re amenities, really,” he added, noting the idea is to provide views of nature for patients who are getting infusions, for instance, rather than have them stare at blank walls.

The Moffitt site is entitled for up to 24 million square feet of development, but Moffitt’s current master plan calls for about 13.5 million square feet of mixed uses, Allgeier said.

At full build out, the campus is expected to have about 140 buildings, which will be constructed according to design guidelines. At this point, no buildings over six stories are planned.

The campus will be divided into what Allgeier describes as “six neighborhoods,” with different types of uses in each one.

The vision is to create a community that will become a hub for international research, education and cutting-edge treatment.

There’s already a partnership between Moffitt and Pasco County Schools, involving the new 6-12 Angeline Academy of Innovation magnet school, 1 mile east of the Suncoast Parkway. The school is set to open in August, beginning with students in grades six through 10.

Ultimately, the mission of Speros FL, which when translated means ‘hope,’ is to find a cure for cancer, Allgeier said.

“It’s really beyond research and clinical. It’s really about collaboration. It’s about what partners can we bring in? What entrepreneurs? What innovators can we bring in to partner with us, to hopefully cure cancer and do other things in health care,” he said.

John Allgeier, a senior director of real estate development for Moffitt Cancer Center, spoke recently at the North Tampa Bay Chamber breakfast meeting about the new Moffitt campus planned in Pasco County.

“We obviously have a lot of pharma partners. We do cell therapy, cell manufacturing,” he said. Data centers, manufacturing and warehousing are other expected uses.

“All of these things support us, and then can collaborate with us,” he said.

Construction has begun on the road into Speros FL, and construction is expected to begin on the buildings in the middle of this year. Crews will be building roads, between 600,000 square feet to 700,000 square feet of buildings and parking garages — all at the same time, he said.

Initial plans call for a research building of about 300,000 square feet, with a wet lab.

There’s also an outpatient center of about 80,000 square feet and a proton therapy center of about 20,000 square feet.

Proton therapy, he said, “is kind of like radiation on steroids. It’s the newest thing,” Allgeier said.

Moffitt plans to bring in an office developer at the north end of its property to create a “dry lab” for researchers. “Dry lab” refers to where researchers work using computers and crunching data.

Plans also call for bringing many of Moffitt’s administrative employees, who are now working at scattered leased spaces in Tampa, to the Pasco campus.

Allgeier estimated that about 35% of Moffitt’s current employees already live in Pasco.

For many others, the commute won’t be much different than the one they already make to Moffitt’s location at the University of South Florida, he said.

Of course, that won’t be true for everyone, he said. “Some live in Ruskin, they’re going to be a little bit upset.”

Planning for what happens on the Speros campus has been in the works for about two years, Allgeier said.

Finding the property took about a decade, he said.

Selecting this particular site began around 2016, when Moffitt was working with the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., he said.

In addition to working with Pasco EDC, Moffitt worked with Pasco County, the state of Florida and Metro Development, the developers of Angeline, a new city that’s rising around the Moffitt site.

Moffitt closed on its property in 2019.

“Now, here we are. We’re getting a lot of interest,” Allgeier said.

Besides playing a pivotal role in cancer research, Moffitt is expected to create a sizable economic impact, from its workforce and from the other companies that are attracted to the Pasco campus.

Allgeier said he expects there will be a couple of thousand people working on the Speros FL campus, when it opens, which is expected in late 2025 or early 2026.

He also expects Moffitt — which has several locations — to continue to grow.

Moffitt currently has 8,500 employees, Allgeier said. Its workforce is likely to double by 2030, based on its current growth estimates, he said.

Pasco approves conduit loan
The Pasco County Commission has approved a request by Moffitt Cancer Center for a conduit bond, which allows Moffitt to borrow funds at a tax-exempt rate.
Moffitt plans to use the conduit bond to borrow up to $400 million to develop its Pasco Campus.
The county is not responsible for the debt. Moffitt’s allocation of state cigarette tax will be used to pay the debt, according to Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director.
The IRS requires a public hearing to be conducted on the request and requires that the county board finds that the project is in the public’s best interests.
No one spoke during the public comment portion of the public hearing on Feb. 7 and the county board unanimously approved Moffitt’s request.

Published February 22, 2023

More code enforcement officers needed, official says

February 21, 2023 By B.C. Manion

He hasn’t been on the Pasco County Commission long, but there’s one thing that Commissioner Gary Bradford has already noticed.

Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford says the need for more code enforcement officers is high, as codes are being enforced. (Mike Camunas)

The county needs more code enforcement officers, at least in Bradford’s opinion.

“We have rules in place and we’re not enforcing them,” Bradford said.

When rules aren’t enforced, Bradford said, “they’re just words on a piece of paper, (words) on a computer screen.”

Bradford, who is in his early days in office, acknowledged that he isn’t an expert yet on the county’s budget process.

Still, he added: “I don’t know if there’s a way that we could start looking at adding additional code enforcement officers now, but I think if any area of the county government needs help, it’s code enforcement.”

“You just can’t go to somebody who comes to work and say, ‘Here’s 10 things to do today. And by the way, tomorrow here’s 15 and then 20.’ There’s a point where the balls will get dropped, not by our code enforcement officers — but just by the volume of more responsibilities.

“We need to do something about that, sooner rather than later,” Bradford said, during the county board’s Feb. 7 meeting.

During the same meeting, commissioners:

Approved a mixed-use master-planned project on a 17-acre site, south of Shettle Road and east of U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes. Development plans call for 40,000 square feet of office, 25,000 square feet of commercial/retail and 341 apartments.
Approved the second one-year renewal of the agreement for general state lobbying services with Shawn Foster, LLC d/b/a Sunrise Consulting Group (Sunrise Group), effective Dec. 30, 2022 through Dec. 29, 2023, and additional purchasing authority in the Not to Exceed (NTE) amount of $60,000 for the extension comprised of $45,000 for fiscal year 2023; and $15,000 for fiscal year 2024, resulting in a cumulative NTE amount of $180,000 for the term of the contract. The additional amount requested includes $15,000 for unauthorized expenditures from Oct.1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022.
Appointed Dr. Lori Romano to the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board, as recommended by the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board Executive Committee.
Approved a contract to allow the Senior Services Division to receive funds in the amount of $121,238 to provide meals to eligible elderly individuals. The state of Florida provides funding to expand long-term care alternatives, enabling elders to maintain an acceptable quality of life in their own homes and avoid or delay nursing home placement. Senior Services receives the funds, channeled through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas, Inc., to provide elders with congregate and home-delivered meals.

Published February 22, 2023