The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kathy Steele

An underpass for U.S. 41/State Road 54?

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Talk of solving traffic jams at U.S. 41 and State Road 54 often centers on building elevated lanes to ease massive numbers of vehicles through the intersection.

But now, Pasco County’s Metro Planning Organization wants to toss in a new solution – an underpass that would tunnel under the intersection.

Pasco County will consider an underpass as a solution to traffic gridlock at U.S. 41 and State Road 54. (File)

Consultants with Tindale-Oliver will complete a $15,000 study to determine if the underpass would work, and what the potential costs would be. The study, which will also consider an underpass at Little Road and State Road 54, is expected to take 60 days to 90 days.

“We should be able to see every possible option that is available,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agreed.

“I think we should see if it’s an option or not,” she said.

The study’s answers will determine whether to add the underpass to a list of recommendations already produced by a volunteer task force. The task force for “Vision 54/56” has spent about two years on the matter.

They whittled 18 recommendations to four recommendations. Their choices included a system of parallel frontage roads at-grade level and elevated express lanes at major intersections. No build also is an option, but underpasses weren’t in the mix.

Task force member Sandy Graves said digging underground raises concerns about sinkholes. “How would that work?” she asked.

The MPO board, which reviews transportation matters, is composed of Pasco County commissioners, and elected officials of the county’s cities. David Gwynn, secretary of District 7 for the Florida Department of Transportation, is a nonvoting advisor.

The board unanimously approved funds for the study at the Jan. 11 meeting in Dade City. Board members tabled a review and vote on the recommendations from the task force.

If the underpass is deemed feasible, the county could ask the task force to reconvene. The cost of the study initially was $35,000, which included the consultants facilitating a task force meeting with documentation and additional analysis.

MPO board members balked at the additional $20,000 of cost, choosing instead to explore holding a future task force meeting with county staff members.

Trinity resident and commercial real estate agent Charles Puccini spoke during public comment and urged the board to carefully consider their final recommendations. He said the roadwork on U.S. 19 has made area businesses less visible and accessible.

“Make sure the solutions do not effectively block and damage the economy of Pasco County,” he said.

Regarding the task force, Puccini said: “It’s a great idea what you’re doing here.”

Published January 24, 2018

County seeks business park for future development

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Pasco County wants to encourage more business parks and diversify the county’s job base.

The county’s Office of Economic Growth is spearheading that effort by scouting for vacant land that can be made site-ready to attract developers on speculation.

In keeping with that goal, county staff members introduced a proposal for the Vibrant Sun Business Park at a Jan. 11 meeting of the Development Review Committee.

The park, on a large triangular swath of county land, would be bordered on the east by Old Pasco Road and on the west by Interstate 75. It also is near State Road 54 and Overpass Road.

If approved, the site would be available for 2.2 million square feet of corporate offices, manufacturing and distribution, industrial, and mixed office uses.

The county especially wants to encourage corporate business parks with campuses of multiple buildings.

A site-ready property could clear the way for quicker development, county officials said.

Committee members voted to recommend approval of a comprehensive land use change, as well as a rezoning of the site.

The Pasco County Commission will make the final decision.

“We have enough residential approved in the county,” said Chris Williams, a committee member and director of planning for Pasco County Schools. “We need some business and light industrial that can attract companies and bring some jobs.”

It’s unknown what development offers might be made to the county, however.

“We’re looking to prepare the site as a ready site. We don’t have a plan in place for disposition of the parcel,” said Peter Lent, program administrator for the county’s Office of Economic Growth. “We don’t have a use in mind right now.”

That bothered some area residents, who live off Old Pasco Road. They said they worried about the lack of information on what businesses might operate on the site. They also had questions about traffic impacts, loss of property values and whether a business park fit well next to residential.

Dennis and Ethel Seaton live on Bay Pines Drive, across from the proposed park. They have a 14-year-old son who has cerebral palsy and is sensitive to “bright lights and sudden noises,” his father said.

“There would be big lights up there,” he said. “This would cause major concern for us. It’s going to cause overwhelming congestion and my son to go into seizures.”

Residents also asked if the county had a plan to deal with the increasing traffic congestion in the area.

The speed limit on Old Pasco Road is 35 mph, but resident Jean Jakes said, “No one, including school buses, obeys it. You’re going to have to put a (traffic) light every three steps.”

Jakes didn’t see how industrial next to residential could be a good fit.

“There is no compatibility,” she said. “It doesn’t match the neighborhood. It doesn’t match the area. It doesn’t match the use of the land.”

County officials said differently zoned areas often sit next to each other, but that buffering requirements would provide separation between the business park and nearby homes.

The 91-acre site is close by an area in northeastern Pasco already targeted for new residential and commercial development.

The Connected City corridor encompasses about 7,800 acres of property designated as a state-approved development district. It is bordered by Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

The initiative is focused on creating communities that are the wave of the future, with new jobs based on cutting edge technology. The first master-planned community under construction is Epperson, at Overpass and Curley.

Major road projects are underway to widen State Road 52 and build a new interchange at Overpass and I-75.

Old Pasco Road intersects State Road 52, which is being widened from two lanes to six lanes, from west of Old Pasco to east of Corporate Boulevard.

But, in response to residents’ queries, county officials said there are no plans or funds for widening Old Pasco. Any project likely would be in the long-range plan stretching to 2040.

Right of way is being obtained for the Overpass interchange, but construction isn’t scheduled until 2022.

Published January 24, 2018

Pasco could ease ban on digital signs for tourist venues

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Pasco County is getting ready to ease a ban on digital signs, but will retain strict limits.

The Pasco County Commission reviewed a proposal on Jan. 9 that would allow digital signs for “regional attractors” that hold a minimum of 50 tourist-related events a year.

The venues must be located on at least 200 acres or have buildings totaling a minimum of 35,000 square feet to qualify.

This digital sign at Pasco-Hernando State College is one of the few permitted digital signs in Pasco County. An amended ordinance could soon permit regional tourist venues the same privilege. (File)

The venues also must have 450 parking spaces or a minimum seating capacity for 2,000 people, and must have frontage on an arterial road or Interstate 75.

No digital signs would be permitted within Pasco’s designated northeast rural district. Currently, some area schools are permitted for digital signs, including Pasco-Hernando State College.

According to the proposed ordinance, the signs for regional tourist attractions could display “multiple differing messages in a short amount of time to the traveling public without creating the clutter of temporary signage and advertising devices.”

The two immediate beneficiaries of the new sign rules could be Pasco County Fairgrounds and Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Pasco County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the matter at two public hearings. The first was on Jan. 23 in New Port Richey; the second on Feb. 6 in Dade City.

“We’ve been trying to do this for quite some time,” said Dicky Brown, president of the Pasco County Fair Association.

The Pasco County Fair is held there annually but, Brown said, the venue hosts many more events throughout the year.

Some of those events include mud runs, gun shows and circuses.

“The digital sign would definitely give us some more attention,” Brown said.

Brown also noted that the county also could use the sign to get messages to residents during emergencies.

In recent months, the county has been addressing the matter of digital advertising in the age of LED lights, and rotating displays.

In February, commissioners agreed to lift a 17-year ban on digital billboards in a deal with outdoor advertising companies to eliminate older, static billboards.

The goal is to end clutter and blight on county roads.

Digital signs generally would remain banned.

The new rules under consideration would be the exception.

Restrictions on permitted digital signs would include:

  • A height limit of 11 feet, as part of a monument sign
  • A maximum of 60 seconds each for rotating messages
  • No special effects, such as flashes, scrolls or animation

Published January 24, 2018

Crystal Lagoon toasted with champagne at ribbon cutting

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The ribbon cutting for the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson — the first waterbody of its type in the United States — received warm applause from the crowd on an untypically chilly Florida morning.

The weather is expected to be warmer on April 28, when Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Michael Phelps is scheduled to kick off festivities at the lagoon and the master-planned community of Epperson.

Representatives from Crystal Lagoon, Metro Development Group and members of the Pasco County Commission cut the ribbon to celebrate a ‘topping off’ of water flowing into the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson. (Kathy Steele)

About 75 people gathered on Jan. 18 at the beachfront at the lagoon to toast champagne to celebrate the final drops of 16 million gallons of water topping off the lagoon.

With temperatures dipping into the 30s, people bundled up and sipped coffee or hot chocolate to stay warm.

The frigid air, however, did not chill the guests’ enthusiasm.

“This is just a great day,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley. “It’s just amazing what you’ve done here. The only word that describes it is ‘awesome’.”

Other dignitaries at the event included Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr.; Pasco County commissioners Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey; Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group; and Christopher Souza, regional manager for Crystal Lagoon.

“The blues and the different hues of the water really pop out here,” Singleton said, during his opening remarks.

The ceremony was held on a small sandy beach that will be known as “Gasparilla Island,” built around a “tidal basin.”

“We envision it as a family area,” Singleton said.

The lagoon also will have Caribbean-style beaches and cabanas, a waterslide, entertainment plaza and water activities, including swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said the lagoon will put a national spotlight on Pasco.

“Anytime we get national attention, it’s a good thing,” Moore said.

Metro Development is building Epperson, which is expected to have 2,000 homes. There also will be commercial development, and a town center.

“It’s going to bring jobs to the area,” said Singleton. “This is the gateway to Connected City in the area. It’s going to bring positive things to the county.”

Next to Epperson, the master-planned community of Mirada also will be built. It will have its own, larger Crystal Lagoon.

Mirada and Epperson are within, what is designated as, the Connected City corridor. About 7,800 acres is set aside as a state-approved development district meant to foster residential communities and employment centers that are the wave of the future. The borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

Cutting-edge technology, including gigabit Internet speeds and self-driving vehicles, will be featured throughout Connected City.

Pasco County is a partner in the development of Connected City.

The project seemed almost too ambitious when Metro Development initially brought the project to Wells, prior to his election to the county commission about four years ago.

“I said, ‘You’re nuts. There’s no way,’” Wells said. But, he added, “This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership.”

Other developers are expected to offer their own projects for Connected City, which has an estimated build-out of 50 years. Metro Development is the beginning phase.

“They were pioneers in bringing it (Crystal Lagoon) to the United States,” said Souza, who described Crystal Lagoon as a water technology company. “It was a good starting point for us.”

The company now has an American headquarters in Miami.

Metro Development is building another Crystal Lagoon in south Hillsborough County for the Southshore Bay community. A lagoon also is planned in Fort Myers.

Published January 24, 2018

Mystic Pointe to open luxury apartments soon

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Residential construction is rapidly changing the landscape along State Road 54, west of its intersection with U.S. 41. Much of the construction is for single-family homes.

But, a new project on State Road 54, at Meadowbrook Drive, is adding 252 apartments to the mix.

Mystic Pointe will begin preleasing soon on 252 upscale apartments within a gated community that will offer amenities such as a heated saltwater swimming pool, dog park and children’s playground. (Courtesy of Mystic Pointe)

Mystic Pointe is under construction at 2770 Mystic Pointe Parkway. The upscale, gated community will sit between Bexley by Newland Communities to the west and Ballantrae to the east.

Preleasing on one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments could begin within the next month or so.

“Pasco County is booming all along State Road 54 corridor, by leaps and bounds,” said Jeneece Chaplin, property manager at Mystic Pointe for Rane Property Management LLC. “We’re lucky to be part of that. It’s a great spot, a great location.”

The design theme for the complex is tropical.

“It will have that Key West style,” said Chaplin.

Residents will be able to choose from a variety of floor plans. Features include wood flooring throughout (with the exception of carpeted bedrooms), granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

Each of the complex’s apartment buildings will have elevators.

Residents also will have access to a clubhouse, heated saltwater swimming pool, a dog park, a bocce court, bicycle storage, a state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, and an outdoor kitchen area with a fire pit and barbecue.

The pet-friendly apartment complex will consider larger dogs, which Chaplin said many complexes don’t allow.

Rents will start at about $1,180 for a one-bedroom/one-bathroom apartment, but Chaplin said the fee will include valet trash, Internet connection, a cable package from Direct TV and pest control.

Mystic Pointe touts its proximity to many area destinations. It has easy access to the Suncoast Parkway and Interstate 275 for trips to downtown Tampa, Brooksville, New Port Richey, area shopping malls, such as The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets, and west coast beaches.

For information, call Mystic Pointe at (813) 702-2876.

Published January 24, 2018

Business Digest 01/24/2018

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2018 Economic Summit
The Central Pasco Association of Realtors will host the 2018 Economic Summit on Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Conference Center of the Pasco-Hernando State College, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The keynote speaker will be Brad O’ Connor, chief economist for Florida REALTORS. Other participants are David Gwynn, District 7 secretary at the Florida Department of Transportation; Bill Cronin, president and chief executive officer of the Pasco EDC; Camille Hernandez, mayor of Dade City; Kathryn Starkey, Pasco County commissioner; Mary Yeargan, director of district management at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and Bob Thompson, program moderator at Thompson Event Partners.

The summit will provide residential and commercial REALTORs, and businesses, with insight into the “2018 Market and Economic Trends.”

The cost, which includes a continental breakfast, is $20 for CPAR members; and $25 for everyone else.

For information, call (813) 948-6966, or visit CentralPascoRealtors.org.

Central Pasco partners with NFIB
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce agreed to a partnership with the National Federation of Independent Business, or NFIB.

Board members said the partnership will provide the chamber with a stronger voice on policy issues in Tallahassee and Washington D.C., according to an email from Central Pasco chamber.

NFIB is the largest business group in the United States, with more than 300,000 members nationally, and more than 9,400 members in Florida.

The chamber will be able to track legislative matters through NFIB. The partnership also gives the chamber access to NFIB’s policy directors, who work with state and federal executive, legislative and judicial bodies on issues important to business owners.

The NFIB offers small and independent business owners opportunities to become involved with the state’s Leadership Council, Small Business Legal Center and the NFIB Political Action Committee.

The NFIB is offering a special membership rate of $199 a year for new members, with the promotional passcode of PASCO199. Members will be eligible to vote on NFIB member ballots, access NFIB benefits, participate in teleforums, and receive updates on state and federal legislative and regulatory matters.

For information, call Central Pasco chamber at (813) 909-2722, or visit NFIB.com/signup.

Florida Hospital ER ribbon cutting
The Florida Hospital ER Central Pasco will have a family block party and ribbon cutting Jan. 28 from noon to 3 p.m., at 16625 State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

The free event will have behind-the-scenes tours, fun activities, demonstrations, music, food and more.

For information and to RSVP, visit http://tinyurl.com/FHCentralPascoER.

Jaime’s Adult Day Center anniversary
Jaime’s Adult Day Center will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting on Jan. 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 18590 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

The event is free. Champagne and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

For information, email .

Economic forecast luncheon
The Pasco Economic Development Council has scheduled its 2018 Economic Forecast Luncheon for Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway, at 2155 NorthPointe Parkway in Lutz.

The luncheon will feature Kyle Baltuch, director of development and economist at Florida TaxWatch. He will discuss his views on the regional economy, with an analysis and forecast for 2018.

TaxWatch is a nonprofit watchdog organization that analyzes tourism, economic development, job creation, manufacturing, health care and municipal pensions.

Advance registration is required no later than Jan. 31.

The cost per person is $35. The cost for Pasco County staff only is $25.

For information, call the Pasco EDC at (888) 607-1726, or visit PascoEDC.com.

Women-n-Charge
Join Women-n-Charge Feb. 2 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Pebble Creek Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive, in New Tampa.

The women share talents and resources, and build relationships with other women in business.

Guest speaker will be Liza Marie Garcia, of NOW SC PRESS, who will talk about “Perfecting Your Pitch.”

Please note the new costs are $15 for members and $18 for guests who RSVP by Tuesday prior to the meeting. Afterward, the cost is $20 for members and $23 for guests.

Register at Women-n-charge.com/meetings/.

For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Networking breakfast
The Wednesday Morning Network Group will meet Feb. 7 at 7:30 a.m., at Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, at 3116 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Each attendee will be able to present a 30-second pitch. The cost is $7 for members, if preregistered by Feb. 1; or $10 for members and non-members at the door.

Register online at CentralPascoChamber.com.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

BNI breakfast
Business Network International, or BNI, will have a kick-off breakfast for the new Land O’ Lakes chapter Feb. 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

BNI is a networking organization with more than 8,000 chapters worldwide.

The kick-off breakfast is an opportunity for the area business community to find out about BNI.

Seating is limited.

For information and to RSVP, call Joey Zani at (813) 948-3584.

North Tampa luncheon
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have its February 2018 Momentum Thursday on Feb. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Joseph’s John Knox Village, at 4100 E. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.

Guest speaker will be Clinton W. Babcock of Sandler Training.

For early bird registration, RSVP online with credit card or to the chamber office at by 5 p.m., Feb. 7, at the discounted rate of $15 (whether you eat or not).

After that date, the cost is $20 (whether you eat or not), payable at the door by cash, check or credit card.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180, or visit NorthTampaChamber.com.

Meadow Pointe residents rally against 7-Eleven

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A proposal to build a 7-Eleven at the intersection of Mansfield Boulevard and County Line Road is on hold while developers decide their next step.

Pasco County commissioners on Jan. 9, and members of the county’s Development Review Committee, on Jan. 11, both voted to continue public hearings on the matter until “a time uncertain.”

Area residents of Meadow Pointe II hope the project won’t proceed, according to Chris Dillinger, who has spearheaded the opposition effort with Meadow Pointe residents.

“If developers do pursue this, we’re not going to stop and let this happen. We’re going to fight it tooth and nail,” Dillinger said.

The site is next to Kids R Kids Learning Academy of Meadow Pointe. Dillinger has one child, 8 months old, at Kids R Kids, and another who attended prekindergarten.

Residents who oppose the gas station and convenience store worry about children’s safety, and an increase in traffic generally at the intersection.

More than 900 people have signed an online petition Dillinger created at Change.org opposing the 7-Eleven. He also created a Facebook group, “MP711.”

No one spoke at the county commission or development review committee meetings on behalf of the applicant and Meadow Pointe developer, Trout Creek Properties.

County officials said the property’s current neighborhood commercial zoning doesn’t permit underground fuel storage and gas pumps. They suggested Trout Creek seek a modification to the zoning.

Trout Creek in its initial rezoning application asked for general commercial. County officials were uncomfortable with that category.

That designation would allow some “ugly stuff,” including junkyards, said Corelynne Howell, a county senior planner.

7-Eleven filed a separate pre-application in fall 2016 prior to preliminary discussions with county planners, and before the rezoning application.

The proposed convenience store would be more than 3,000 square feet and would have 16 gas pumps.

Opponents say a gas station next to a children’s day care and school is unsafe. They also worry about traffic in and out of Kids R Kids, and at the intersection.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore agrees with the opponents.

“I don’t think this is the most suitable location for them,” Moore said. “I’m 100 percent against it.”

Dillinger said an added worry would be if a road connection were built to link Mansfield Boulevard in Pasco and Kinnan Street in Hillsborough County. That would cause a significant increase in traffic on Mansfield Boulevard, he said.

Dillinger believes the expectation of that linkage is what made the Meadow Pointe location attractive for 7-Eleven.

“It’s all related,” Dillinger said.

Connecting the two roadways, which currently dead-end at the county line, has been debated for years. The issue currently is under review, with Pasco awaiting the results of a study to evaluate the pros and cons of more county-to-county road connections.

If a public hearing is rescheduled on 7-Eleven, Trout Creek must again post signs on the site, and send new notifications to  affected property owners regarding the hearing date.

Published January 17, 2018

Chambers on the move

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The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce each now have new homes.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce moved into Suite A at the Highland Oaks Medical Center, at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd. (Kathy Steele)

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is settling into its new location at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd., Suite A. The office is in the Highland Oaks Medical Center, off State Road 54, in Lutz.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has a new address in Harbour Village, at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 16, in Lutz. Chamber officials expected that move to be accomplished over the weekend of Jan. 13.

In addition to setting up shop in a new space, the Central Pasco Chamber also has promoted Suzanne Beauchaine to become its new executive director.

Beauchaine previously served as the chamber’s marketing and membership director.

David Gainer, the chamber’s president, praised Beauchaine for adding 90 new businesses to the chamber’s roster in the past year.

Hope Allen is the president and CEO of The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. (File)

“It is a pleasure to recognize Suzanne for her diligence, commitment to excellence and her professionalism, by naming her our new executive director,” Gainer said, in a written statement.

The Wesley Chapel chamber opened its new office on Jan. 2, after vacating its former office at The Grove at Wesley Chapel.

The lease at the mall expired, and it was obvious a roomier site was needed.

“We had been looking. We had grown out of our space,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s president and CEO. “We couldn’t even hold our board meetings at the (former) chamber.”

The Wesley Chapel chamber merged last year with The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce — creating the largest chamber in Pasco County.

In recent months, chamber officials have been working on merger details, including a new name for the chamber.

A task force is working on recommendations, but the membership will make the final decision, Allen said.

Allen said she had some trepidation about the move, and how visible the office would be.

But, the compliments rolled in, as members stopped by for visits, she said.

“Traffic grew. It tripled and quadrupled from the other location,” Allen said. “The whole place is beautiful.”

Suzanne Beauchaine is the new executive director of The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. (File)

The approximately 3,500 square foot office space is large enough that the chamber plans to sublet space to four businesses. There will be a certified public accountant, an architect, two financial planners and a Realtor, said Allen.

The names of the companies will be announced soon.

A ribbon cutting for the chamber is being planned for March.

“We’re excited to have a place where we can grow and be centrally located for our businesses,” Allen said.

As the Central Pasco Chamber’s new president, Beauchaine expressed enthusiasm for her role at the chamber.

“It’s very rewarding to help bring business owners together, and see their relationships grow and prosper,” Beauchaine said, in a written release.

Before joining The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Beauchaine was an account manager at The Laker/Lutz News for about three years.

She also owned a business in Lutz for five years, and has worked in retail and office management.

Her husband, Gary Beauchaine, is a small business owner and a member of the Central Pasco chamber.

The couple has two adult daughters who are area residents.

For more information about The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, call the chamber at (813) 994-8534, or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

For more information about The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, call (813) 909-2722, or visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Revised January 17, 2018

Business Digest 01/17/2018

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CORRECTION:
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce has relocated to 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd., Suite A. An item in Business Digest published on Jan. 10 said a different chamber had made the move.

Pasco EDC hits $1 million microloan mark
The Pasco Economic Development Council reached a $1 million milestone for its microloan program when it awarded a $35,000 loan to Superior Precast, according to a news release from the Pasco EDC.

Since the program’s launch five years ago, the Pasco EDC has provided 38 microloans, which resulted in the creation or retention of 270 jobs in Pasco County.

To fund the program, Pasco EDC collected $724,000 from private donations and the business community. The Pasco County Commission allocated $400,000 from the Penny for Pasco Jobs and Economic Opportunities Fund.

To qualify for a microloan, small business owners must demonstrate experience, resources, a solid business plan, and also be unable to obtain a traditional loan.

“When I see a success story and milestone like this come around, it makes me feel proud of the investments we are making in our community to help our small businesses,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells, in a written statement.

Superior Precast is a new project supplier to the Florida Department of Transportation. It manufactures precast concrete products for the Reinforced Earth Company (REC), for use in major Florida road projects. The company is located in nearly 63,000 square feet of industrial space in Dade City.

The $35,000 loan is the largest amount that can be loaned. The money will be applied to the company’s working capital budget to support increased product demand.

Applications for the microloan program are accepted from small business owners who run a for-profit company in Pasco. Proceeds from the loan may be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment. The funds can’t be used to buy real estate or to refinance existing debt.

For information, visit PascoEDC.com.

FASTSIGNS opens
FASTSIGNS of New Tampa/Wesley Chapel will have a ribbon cutting Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The sign, graphics and visual communications company offers visual marketing solutions to customers of all sizes, and across all industries, according to a company news release.

FASTSIGNS’ owner, Brian Levinson, is a Florida native who recently relocated to the Tampa area to launch his company. He formerly worked for a defense contractor, where he managed teams that developed cyber security solutions for fighter jets, naval combat systems and missile defense systems.

Adam Duty is graphics designer; Corinn Pope is outside sales professional; Alyiah Merlo is customer service specialist; and Christina Krenek is with corporate communications.

For information, call Levinson at (813) 575-3888, or email ; or, call Krenek at (813) 214-346-5663 or email .

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking group will meet Jan. 23 at 7:30 a.m., at the IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.

Guest speaker will be Cliff Martin, general manager of Jarrett Ford.

For information, contact Chairman Nils Lenz at or (813) 782-9491; or Vice Chairwoman Vicky Jones at or (813) 431-1149.

Economic development briefing
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its monthly economic briefing for Jan. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club, 18101 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa.

Guest speaker will be Loren Rhodes, of the Rhodes Group. He will talk about the Hyatt Place Hotel and Convention Center.

The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

For information, email the chamber at ., or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

 

Region has frigid wake-up call

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The new year brought the first blast of winter to Pasco County, and to the Tampa Bay region.

Freeze warnings and wind chill advisories rained down daily from the National Weather Service, as frigid air dipped into north and central Florida, and stayed for days.

For the first time in decades, Tallahassee had measurable snowfall.

The Greenery of Tampa Bay, a nursery on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, covered some of its cold-sensitive plants, as arctic air arrived in Pasco County. (Kathy Steele)

Here in Tampa Bay, snow was a no-show, but temperatures plunged into the low 30s and upper 20s.

The unexpected weather meant many area residents turned on the heat in their homes for the first time, and pulled out those rarely used sweaters and coats.

Construction workers went to work wearing coats; nurseries were forced to cover cold-sensitive plants.

The hard freezes also put Pasco County, social service agencies, farmers, and wildlife officials on alert.

The county opened cold-weather emergency shelters for five nights in west and east Pasco, from Jan. 2 through Jan. 6.

In east Pasco, Restored Hope in Dade City, Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills, and Helping Rock, also in Zephyrhills, helped families and individuals to find shelters and resources for food and warm clothing.

In West Pasco, the United Way helped families who needed shelter, and Joining Hands Mission, in Holiday, helped individuals.

They are part of Pasco’s “Cold Weather Shelter Program” that provides outreach to the county’s neediest residents.

The program is a coalition of area churches; nonprofit agencies, such as the United Way, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross; the Homeless Coalition of Pasco County; and social service organizations.

Manatees are affected by extreme cold weather, often swimming into warm-water habitats, including discharge canals of power plants and natural springs. Wildlife officials asked that boaters watch out for manatees in shallow waters near the coast, both inland and coastal. Boaters also should obey posted manatee speed zone signs. (Courtesy of Southwest Florida Management District)

Pasco’s Office of Emergency Management, the sheriff’s office and public transportation department also provide support.

Shelters generally are opened when temperatures drop below 36 degrees, with or without wind chill, for four hours or more, according to the county’s website, PascoCountyFl.net.

The shelters, which normally open by 6 p.m., are operated by nonprofits and religious organizations. Churches and area motels often help out.

Depending on fund and donation availability, shelters can provide food, drinks and blankets, according to the county’s website.

Not all shelters are able to take families, but the program will find ways of providing shelter for families in need.

Kathy Hunt is the outreach director for Restored Hope, an organization she started about four years ago in Dade City.

She works with a local motel to secure rooms for homeless individuals and families. In one instance, a year ago, she helped a mother find warm shelter for three nights. She had been living in a shed, with her four children, Hunt said.

Over the past week, she monitored the phone line for her organization during the five nights of predicted freeze. A local motel provided a couple of rooms. And, she also checked on a homeless camp in the area.

“I’ve never seen cold that latest this long, this early,” Hunt said.

The Samaritan Project, in Zephyrhills, also monitored for phone calls, helping a couple of families find shelter.

“We want people to reach out to us,” said volunteer Paul Bathrick.

Eddy Reyes, founder of Helping Rock, said in total the three nonprofits in east Pasco, probably aided about 40 people who needed shelter from the cold. Helping Rock took in about eight people, he said.

Helping Rock is the only transitional housing program in east Pasco that can provide shelter services and other resources to the homeless population on a daily basis, Reyes said.

“There is a huge need,” he said.

Construction workers at a future apartment complex off State Road 54 are bundled up against the cold weather. (Kathy Steele)

The Pasco County Health Department offered tips on staying warm during the freeze.

Officials said to stay indoors as much as possible. When venturing outside, people should dress warmly in layers of clothing.

Also, as temperatures dip below freezing, home water taps should be kept slightly open so that they drip continuously. And, pets should be brought indoors and provided warm shelter.

Fire officials worried about the potential for house fires as residents sought to stay warm.

A major risk is the improper use of space heaters, said Karl Thompson, Pasco’s fire marshal and fire prevention division chief.

Residents in older homes, without central heat and air, are more likely to rely on those than people in newer homes, he said.

“I am worried as temperatures get into the 20s especially in some older, smaller homes that don’t have insulation,” he said. “These were built for Florida and not for the cold.”

People should avoid placing space heaters “too close to curtains. They can tip over and some don’t have automatic cutoff (systems),” Thompson said.

Christmas trees can also pose a hazard and should be disposed of, he added.

The cold weather also put farmers and wildlife officials on alert.

It’s early to know how crops, such as peaches and blueberries, will fare in the cold, but farmers are experienced in what to do, said Whitney C. Elmore, director of Pasco County Extension.

Pasco is unique in having “micro-climates” in different areas of the county, said Elmore.

For example, Dade City generally gets colder than Wesley Chapel.

“One or two degrees can make a difference,” Elmore said.

In addition to farm crops, landscaping also can take a hit from the cold.

Elmore said this was the first time in about seven to eight years that the area had a cold snap this early in the year, she said.

“A lot of people have taken that as a mandate to plant more tropicals,” she said. “I am concerned about that.”

People should take precautions and cover sensitive plants.

But, there is a right way and a wrong way to do that.

Elmore said the coverings – often bed sheets – should never touch the plants. It’s best to build a small scaffold that can hold up the coverings.

They should be removed when the sun comes up the next day, she added.

And, she cautions against using heaters to protect landscaping, including fruit trees. “This is certainly a fire hazard.”

Irrigation also can be an issue.

If possible, Elmore said irrigation systems should be turned off on the coldest nights.

“If they need to irrigate, it is best early in the morning when the temperatures are warming up,” she said.

But, residents should check with the county or extension agency regarding restrictions on when watering is allowed, she added.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitored populations of sea turtles and manatees, according to a news release from the state agency.

Sea turtles can be stunned by cold water temperatures, and float listlessly in the water or near the shore. While they might appear dead, wildlife officials said they often are still alive.

Residents can report such sightings to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922.

Manatees also are affected by extreme cold weather, often swimming into warm-water habitats, including discharge canals of power plants and natural springs.

Wildlife officials asked that boaters watch out for manatees in shallow waters near the coast, both inland and coastal. They also should obey posted manatee speed zone signs.

For information from Restored Hope, call (352) 437-4815; for the Samaritan Project, call (813) 810-8670.

For information on the county’s cold weather shelter program, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Heating safety tips

  • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heating equipment
  • Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters
  • Never use your oven to heat your home
  • Have a qualified professional install stationary space heaters, water heaters or central heating equipment, according to local codes and manufacturer’s instructions
  • Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional
  • Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed
  • Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters
  • Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Published January 10, 2018