Kathy Steele

Inmate labor proves cost-effective, will expand

May 4, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A program that assigns inmate labor to county departments worked so well in the past year, it is being tripled in size.

Pasco County commissioners have agreed to increase the program from one crew, up to three crews, effective April 25.

Animal services, public works, parks and recreation, and facilities management are the beneficiaries.

The funds for the expansion weren’t initially in the fiscal year 2016 budget. But, county staff members say the program saves the county from contracting for services or hiring additional employees.

“Staff believes we get a lot of bang for the buck,” said Heather Grimes, Pasco’s assistant county administrator.

Commissioners approved about $161,000 to cover the remaining months for fiscal year 2016, and about $215,000 as an ongoing annual amount for the program.

Inmates serving time for nonviolent crimes, and who have been screened by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, can be considered for the program.

Previously, several departments shared a single crew of five inmates who might work at one location in the morning, eat lunch and then be driven to another work site to finish the day.

Now, a five-member crew will work Monday-Friday at animal services; another five-member crew, also Monday-Friday, will divide time between parks and recreation, and facilities management. And, a four-member crew will work a four-day week with the public works department.

Duties will include cleaning cages and dog runs at the animal shelter, as well as roadside ditch cleaning, weed control, landscaping and maintenance, graffiti removal, roadside litter collection, street sweeping, and painting at various locations.

Inmate labor has been a success at animal services, said Mike Shumate, the county’s animal services director.

Previously, the animal shelter could stay open until 6:30 p.m., on Thursday only. Now, he said the shelter extends its hours to 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday through Saturday, with the goal of increasing adoptions and making it easier for residents to pick up their impounded pets.

The program’s expansion is another opportunity to improve services and adoptions, Shumate said.

For instance, he said, an animal behaviorist will show inmates how to train the dogs, so the animals interact better with people looking to adopt.

“We can socialize them a little better,” said Shumate. “We’ll get them ready to adopt out.”

Published May 4, 2016

Business Digest 05/04/2016

May 4, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Open house
DigitalBrainz will have an open house on May 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 2648 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel. The company is located in the Medallion Professional Park. “May the 4th Be with You” kicks off a few hours of fun and networking. Come and join us, and determine if you are part of the light of the dark side of the force! There will be Star Wars prize drawings, including the newest Star Wars movie.
For information, email , or visit OpenHouseMayThe4thBeWithYou.splashthat.com.

Breakfast network
The Wednesday Morning Networking Group will meet May 4 at 7:30 a.m., at The Lake House at Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-BQ, at 3116 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Each attendee will be able to present a 30-second pitch. The $7 cost includes breakfast. The sponsor for this meeting is the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club Land O’ Lakes Satellite.
Sponsorships for future meetings are available.
For information, call the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Ribbon cutting
Thompson Brand Images will host a ribbon cutting and open house on May 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 1710 Newberger Road in Lutz. Light appetizers and beverages will be served.
For information, call The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at (813) 994-8534, or email .

Women’s luncheon
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on May 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, at 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The meeting includes lunch and time to network. The guest speaker will be Gayle Hanna of UpHill Marketing Group, who will talk about “The Buyers Journey – Understanding Your Content.”
The cost is $15 for members, and $18 for all guests. Register online at Women-n-Charge.com.
For more information, contact Judy at (813) 600-9848 or .

Jack Mariano to speak
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet on May 10 at 8 a.m., at Fresh Country Café, 5518 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.
For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491.

Membership meeting
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have a general membership meeting on May 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Harbor Terrace Restaurant, at 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway, in Lutz.
Members and guests are welcome.
Guest speaker will be Ed Caum, Pasco County’s tourism manager.
The cost is $20 if paid by May 6, and $25 after and at the door.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Job fair
Pasco-Hernando State College career and testing services and CareerSource Pasco Hernando will host a manufacturing job fair on May 11 from 9 a.m. to noon, at the West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road, in Building R151.
Bring plenty of resumes. Participants will be able to visit with representatives of local manufacturing companies, who will offer on-the-spot interviews.
Job seekers must register at PHSC2016Manufacturing.eventbrite.com.
Local manufacturing employers seeking to hire qualified candidates are invited to participate at no cost.
For event information, call Jackie Eden at (727) 816-3381, or visit PHSC.edu.

Breakfast network
Business Link will have its monthly networking breakfast on May 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the Ramada Inn at 6815 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Come for tips and networking to strengthen your business. This monthly gathering, held at various locations, provides networking and an information-sharing platform for the small business community. A complimentary breakfast will be provided.
RSVP to Rebecca Gaddis at (352) 588-2732 or .

Crystal Lagoon start date coming soon

April 27, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Developers at Epperson Ranch anticipate a construction start in May on the “Crystal Lagoon” that will be a showpiece for their master-planned community, and the first of its kind in North America.

Model homes at Epperson could be under construction by summer.

Home prices will start in the mid-$200,000 range.

Metro Development Group is finalizing the permit process before digging dirt on a 7-acre manmade lagoon.

In this artist’s rendering, a sunbather enjoys the crystal lagoon at Cabo San Lucas. (Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.) — In this artist’s rendering, a sunbather enjoys the crystal lagoon at Cabo San Lucas.
(Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.)

The water body is designed with patented technology by Crystal Lagoons Inc., and the lagoon will be filled with about 16 million gallons of crystal blue water.

Construction could take a year.

The Epperson Ranch project is also the site for another first for Pasco with plans for creating a “Connected City” corridor with ultrafast Internet connections.

The project is a state-approved, 10-year pilot program that envisions state-of-the-art technology embedded in the design of residential and commercial development in a 7,800-acre special district. The district’s borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley and Overpass roads in east central Pasco.

Metro Development Group and Crystal Lagoons are partnering on the creation of several Crystal Lagoons’ communities, including a second location in Pasco, and in Fort Myers.

Pasco’s growth boom and the availability of such a large swath of vacant land were motivators for the companies’ partnership, according to an email from Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development.

“Our hope is that we are one part of a collective group of planners, thinkers, educators and others who see Pasco County as a destination for more jobs, top schools, premier shopping, dining and entertainment,” the email states.

Biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann created and built the first Crystal Lagoon at San Alfonso del Mar in Chile in 2006.

The lounge area at Cabo San Lucas overlooks the crystal lagoon in this artist’s rendering.

According to the company’s website, the lagoons are eco-friendly and need to be filled with water only once. They use 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and more than 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course, the website states.

Lagoons typically are deep enough to allow for a variety of water sports and recreational activities, including swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.

In his email, Singleton said the lagoon will be in a gated community where the lagoon’s upkeep would be included in fees paid to a homeowner’s association.

There is potential for packages, day rates or memberships to the lagoon for nonresidents. However, Singleton in his email said, “Nothing has been outlined or finalized yet.”

Published April 27, 2016

Commuters could get a faster ride

April 27, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commuters understand the frustration of gridlock, as they head to and from work every day.

Florida Department of Transportation officials believe the proposed construction of a project known as the Tampa Bay Express could make life easier for motorists traveling from St. Petersburg in Pinellas County to Wesley Chapel in Pasco County.

Nearly 50 miles of new toll lanes would be built adjacent to existing non-toll lanes along Interstate 275 and Interstate 4, in a project that state highway officials have pegged at initial costs of $3 billion, but said it could get as high as $6 billion.

If the project is approved, construction would be five or more years away.

The toll fees would vary depending on traffic volume — with more expensive tolls applying at rush hour. SunPass would be the only accepted method of payment. The system will not allow billing by license plate.

The potential is there, too, for a rapid bus transit service that would operate within the toll lane system, but not pay tolls. A 44-foot “multimodal envelope” is included in the design. Park and ride stations would be built. including one in Wesley Chapel.

The project is stirring an intense struggle between those who support the TBX as a regional approach to easing traffic congestion and those who characterize the TBX as a boondoggle that will destroy historic Tampa neighborhoods, and do little for mass transit.

TBX-FDOT_system_map — The proposed Tampa Bay Express would add toll lanes to existing non-toll lanes along Interstate 275 and Interstate 4, creating a managed toll system linking Wesley Chapel in Pasco County to St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

A coalition, including the Tampa Bay Partnership, now has The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce as a partner. The chamber’s board of directors approved a resolution on April 21 in support of TBX “as an essential foundation to pursue a variety of forward-thinking transit options” in the Tampa Bay area.

The day before the chamber’s vote, state transportation officials made a presentation to about 20 people who attended a public meeting on the TBX, sponsored by the chamber.

Kirk Bogen, the transportation department’s environmental manager engineer, said the Wesley Chapel presentation was the first one in the “outskirts” of the TBX project area.

“We’re putting out feelers, accepting invitations,” he said.

Hope Allen, president of the Wesley Chapel chamber, said the coalition’s goal is to inform people of what’s going on and “to make sure it’s the right fit for our commuters.”

The TBX and gridlock relief are key to the area’s future development, she said. Without the project, she added, “Wesley Chapel doesn’t look quite as appealing. We’re here to help you get this moving along.”

The toll express lanes also have strong support from Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

But, the project faces resistance within Tampa’s historic neighborhoods, including Tampa Heights, Ybor City and Seminole Heights. Community activists and a newly formed Sunshine Citizens coalition are working hard to block the TBX.

They have held a series of protest marches through neighborhoods that could lose about 100 businesses and homes to the road project. Among area businesses that could be torn down are Café Hey, the Oceanic Market and La Segunda Central Bakery, which has operated in Ybor City for more than 100 years. A public housing complex, Mobley Park apartments, also could be torn down.

Many in the neighborhoods remember past urban renewal projects that divided and devastated communities.

A crucial vote on the matter will take place on June 22 at 6 p.m., at the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization in the Hillsborough County Commission Chamber, at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in Tampa.

Members of that board approved the project in 2015 as part of their Transportation Improvement Plan, but opponents are hoping to sway some members to vote against it now.

There is critical need for the project and for toll revenues that can “help maintain the roads into the future,” Bogen said. Otherwise, he said, “Your system basically will continue to fail.”

On any day during rush hour, Pasco residents chug south on I-275 at speeds well under highway limits.

“I spend so much time stuck on freeways or Bearss Avenue or downtown, I don’t know where the time goes,” said Tom Ryan.

Ryan is economic development manager for the Pasco Economic Development Council, but said he was speaking as a private citizen.

Greg Vinas, B2B sales manager in Wesley Chapel, said he also would like to see light rail as an option, but the TBX is needed to reduce congestion and create connections.

“It will make the community that much smaller,” he said.

With improved transportation, one trend he hopes to see is reverse commuting with Tampa area residents coming to Pasco for jobs, as the area attracts new businesses.

“I know people now (from Tampa) who won’t come up here,” Vinas said.

To find out more about the proposed TBX project, visit TampaBayExpress.com. To learn more about the opposition, visit StopTBX.com.

Published April 27, 2016

Timing on traffic signals tweaked

April 27, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Motorists cruising through the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 might have noticed some differences in the timing of the traffic signals.

The intervals between green lights and red lights have changed there and also in front of Lowe’s home improvement store off State Road 54.

Not everyone is happy with the change, especially motorists who say they sit through more than one light interval to make a left turn heading south on U.S. 41 to go east on State Road 54.

On the plus side, though, motorists crossing the railroad tracks at the apex where North Dale Mabry Highway and U.S. 41 intersect may be experiencing a clearer path for merging, as they approach State Road 54.

Those observations are correct, according to Florida Department of Transportation officials who explained the changes, via email.

The road officials tweaked traffic signals in an effort to enhance traffic flows and improve safety for motorists navigating through or near State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

About 100,000 vehicles a day go through the intersection.

(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) Motorists turn left from southbound U.S. 41 onto eastbound State Road 54. State highway officials tweaked the timing of traffic signals to improve traffic flow, but some motorists say they don’t like having to wait through more than light interval to turn left. — Motorists turn left from southbound U.S. 41 onto eastbound State Road 54. State highway officials tweaked the timing of traffic signals to improve traffic flow, but some motorists say they don’t like having to wait through more than light interval to turn left. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

State traffic engineers noted a higher than average number of fender-benders, side swipes and rear-end crashes in recent years as motorists leave North Dale Mabry Highway to merge onto northbound U.S. 41.

Since 2010, a total of 98 accidents occurred in the area where the two roads converge. The most accidents were recorded in 2013, when there were 37 crashes. That was 14 crashes more than the previous year. The number dropped in 2015, but state road officials still recorded 20 wrecks.

With a traffic signal adjustment, vehicles from North Dale Mabry Highway now are less likely to merge at the juncture at the same time as motorists who stop at the light on U.S. 41, outside the Walmart, but otherwise have a long stretch of roadway with no stops.

State engineers also focused on improving traffic flows through State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

They studied signal timings for peak traffic in the morning and afternoon, and at midday. Changes were based in part on higher traffic volumes for westbound traffic versus left turns from U.S. 41.

Complete cycle periods at the intersection generally range from 140 seconds to 190 seconds, depending on peak and off-peak hours. Signals also have sensors that can tweak timing a few seconds based on current traffic conditions.

While some motorists now might wait longer to make a left turn onto State Road 54, they likely will have smooth sailing past the signal at Lowe’s. And, with tweaks, motorists exiting Lowe’s heading west are more likely to get the green light at U.S. 41 where previously they would have been forced to stop.

Looking at midday data, state transportation officials found eastbound traffic could slow because vehicles arrived at Lowe’s just prior to the signal turning green. Now, both eastbound and southbound left turns flow more quickly through the light at Lowe’s.

Published April 27, 2016

Business Digest 04/27/2016

April 27, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Award nominations
The deadline for nominations for the 2016 Pasco Economic Development Council Industry of the Year Awards is April 29.
Winners will be announced at the 30th annual Appreciation Banquet in September.
The awards recognize top companies in Pasco County that excel in technology, innovation, job creation, growth, capital investment and community involvement.
Nominees should be service, manufacturing or technology companies operating in Pasco County. Award categories are manufacturing, service/distribution, technology and nonprofits/others.
The awards will be separated into divisions based on number of employees. Evaluations are based on job creation, increased capital investment, and contributions to the community through civic involvement between January 2015 and June 2016.
Each year, more than 600 business and community leaders in Tampa Bay and Pasco County, attend the awards banquet, including state legislators, county commissioners and city officials.
Awards were presented to eight companies in 2015, and the winners were The Laker/Lutz News; Applicant Insight; SAHM Co.; Big Storm Brewing Co.; Preferred Materials; Easy Business Software; Veterans Alternative Therapy; and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.
For information, contact Economic Development Manager Devon Barnett at (813) 926-0827, ext. 227, or Office Manager Suzanne Renczkowski at (813) 926-0827 or .

Grand opening
The Central Pasco Association of Realtors will host an open house and grand opening at its new location on April 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 248123 State Road 54 in Lutz.
Hors d’oeuvres, beverages and prizes will be offered.
For information, email Pete Rundel at , or visit CPARfl.com.

Breakfast mania
East and Central Pasco Marketing Mania will take place on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at American House, at 38130 Pretty Ponds Road in Zephyrhills. A continental breakfast will be provided. To RSVP, call (813) 400-2263.
The event takes place every last Thursday of the month. Locations may change periodically.
For information, call (813) 779-4501.

Sleep lab ribbon cutting
Bayfront Health Dade City Sleep Lab is relocating and will celebrate with a ribbon cutting and grand opening on April 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 13100 Fort King Road, in Dade City.
For information, call (877) 232-2717, or visit BayFrontDadeCity.com.

Hair Cuttery helping others
Hair Cuttery and the National Network to End Domestic Violence are teaming up to raise awareness regarding domestic violence and to empower survivors of it. For every haircut purchased at a neighborhood salon on May 2 and May 3, a free haircut certificate will be donated to someone who have suffered from domestic violence locally. To find a location, visit HairCuttery.com/locations.

Open house
DigitalBrainz will have an open house on May 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 2648 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel. The company is located in the Medallion Professional Park. “May the 4th Be With You” kicks off a few hours of fun and networking. Come and join us and determine if you are part of the light of the dark side of the force! There will be Star Wars prize drawings, including the newest Star Wars movie.
For information, email , or visit OpenHouseMayThe4thBeWithYou.splashthat.com.

Breakfast network
The Wednesday Morning Networking Group will meet May 4 at 7:30 a.m., at The Lake House at Hungry Harry’s Family B-BQ, at 3116 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Each attendee will be able to present a 30-second pitch. The $7 cost includes breakfast. The sponsor for this meeting is the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club Land O’ Lakes Satellite.
Sponsorships for future meetings are available.
For information, call the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Women in charge lunch
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on May 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, at 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The meeting includes lunch and time to network. The guest speaker will be Gayle Hanna of UpHill Marketing Group, who will talk about “The Buyers Journey – Understanding Your Content.”
The cost is $15 for members and $18 for all guests. Register online at Women-n-Charge.com. For more information, contact Judy at (813) 600-9848 or .

Predatory towing under fire

April 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners want to put the brakes on predatory towing of vehicles.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore brought the matter up in February after receiving complaints from residents who chose to call a taxi or a friend for a ride home after an evening of drinks and dinner.

“Someone is being responsible,” said Moore, who discussed the problem again at the April 12 Pasco County Commission meeting. “They take Uber, or they ride home with a friend. They are not putting our citizens at risk on the road.”

But, Moore said some towing companies sweep through parking lots in the wee hours of the morning, especially on weekends, and haul off any vehicles they find.

Residents wind up paying hefty sums to get their cars back, even though they did the right thing by not driving, Moore said.

On April 26 at 1:30 p.m., a public hearing will be held to consider an amendment to the county’s towing ordinance. The hearing will be in the boardroom of the West Pasco Government Center, at 8731 Citizens Drive, in New Port Richey.

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County have similar ordinances, and Pinellas County is considering one, county officials said.

The amendment would ban removal of a vehicle between 9 p.m. and noon when parked at an establishment licensed to sell beer, wine and alcohol for consumption on premises. The exception would be if the property owner signs an order permitting the removal of a particular vehicle.

A towing company would be required to have such an order prior to hauling off a vehicle.

“It sounds like a reasonable solution to predatory towing,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader.

Published April 20, 2016

Road renaming remains in limbo

April 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

No decision has been reached on whether to rename a portion of Wesley Chapel Boulevard in honor of its historical ties to the King family ranch.

At the April 12 Pasco County Commission meeting, county officials did not give a date for rescheduling a public hearing that had been postponed in February to “a date uncertain.”

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Sandy Graves, a member of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, asked that the commissioners settle on boundaries for Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes at their April 26 meeting. That decision is central to the dispute over the road’s naming.

“We will live with the decision you make,” she said.

The southern half of Wesley Chapel Boulevard is a short section of paved road that intersects with Grand Cypress Drive, an entry road into the Tampa Premium Outlets. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — The southern half of Wesley Chapel Boulevard is a short section of paved road that intersects with Grand Cypress Drive, an entry road into the Tampa Premium Outlets.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

After the meeting, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said it was unlikely that the issue would be considered, at least in 2016.

In December 2015, the Central Pasco Chamber proposed renaming the road to Circle O Ranch Parkway.

The renaming would apply only to the portion of the road that is south of State Road 56, running beside the Tampa Premium Outlets. Plans call for linking this segment of the road with County Line Road in the future.

On Feb. 17, commissioners voted to postpone the public hearing on renaming the road while county staff members met with people in the Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel communities. Representatives of Sierra Properties, which is developing a portion of the Cypress Creek Town Center on State Road 56, also were included in discussions.

According to the agenda item, the renaming would be put off until “after the community boundaries are established.”

Chamber members and others were asked to submit oral histories, videos, news articles or other documentation about the histories of Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

If anyone wants legal boundaries, Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said they would have to incorporate as a city. That procedure involves seeking state legislative approval.

“The board really can’t establish a boundary for these unincorporated areas,” Steinsnyder said.

Wesley Chapel Boulevard, south of State Road 56, dead-ends at a grove of trees. The roadway, in the future, will be linked to County Line Road. Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce wants to rename the boulevard as Circle O Ranch Parkway to honor the history of the former King ranch

“This board doesn’t have anything that it can do to settle a boundary dispute between two unincorporated areas, which are really chambers of commerce as to what’s in this area,” the county attorney added.

“The county isn’t interested in creating boundaries,” said Kristen Hughes, the county’s planning and development administrator. “We’re interested in helping everyone succeed.”

A staff member did research on the histories of both areas, and Hughes said, “There is no clearly defined boundary.”

The Circle O Ranch Parkway name, supported by the Central Pasco Chamber, would recognize the King family, whose former ranch is now the site for Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center.

Others have said changing the name would add to confusion at an intersection that has multiple roads linking up including State Road 54, State Road 56 and the northern half of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

Graves told commissioners she had heard the issue wouldn’t come up again because no one wants “to make anyone mad” during an election year.

Baker said Graves’ comment surprised her.

The county administrator said if commissioners wished to have a presentation to receive information on the issue that one could be scheduled.

Matt Armstrong, the county’s executive planner for long range planning, previously had told commissioners he anticipated providing a staff report in March or April.

Published April 20, 2016

Land O’ Lakes in line for bus service

April 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Land O’ Lakes is experiencing unprecedented growth as more residential and commercial ventures pop up, especially northward along U.S. 41. But, one item that isn’t seen in the area is public bus transit.

Pasco County commissioners are preparing to change that by adding a circulator bus route to its list of capital improvement projects for fiscal year 2017.

On April 12, commissioners directed staff members to craft a business plan for operating the route.

A circulator public bus route on U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes will be considered for funding in fiscal year 2017. (Courtesy of Pasco County) — A circulator public bus route on U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes will be considered for funding in fiscal year 2017.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)

Commissioners will review the proposal, along with other projects, when they begin discussions in summer for the 2017 budget.

Estimated costs for the route include an annual operating budget of about $300,000, plus a one-time purchase of a bus at a cost of about $110,000.

The circulator route currently is on the county’s unfunded capital improvement list. Funding for the circulator route could come from the county’s tax increment financing, which directs a portion of property tax revenues to community-based projects.

“We are getting a lot of requests from Land O’ Lakes,” said Philip Pumphrey, the county’s public transportation manager.

The proposed route would have stops on North Dale Mabry Highway at Target and Walmart.

Moving north along U.S. 41, bus stops would include the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Department of Health, Land O’ Lakes Community Center, the post office, Wilderness Commons Plaza, Land O’ Lakes High School, the Pasco County school district headquarters, and the detention center.

Buses also would follow a loop east on State Road 54 to Collier Commons and the Land O’ Lakes library.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore suggested adding as many stops as possible at government buildings.

“I think about how this is a major corridor, and we don’t have services there. The area is growing by leaps and bounds. Now we have a chance to correct that and make something happen,” he said.

Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader likes the concept, but he wants to see cost data on this and other proposed projects.

“Before I support this, I want to know exactly what is going to be impacted,” he said. “I just want to make it clear this commissioner has concerns about where the money is going to come from. I do have concerns when we start talking about cutting other capital concerns.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano looked ahead to the potential for the route to connect to bus service in Hernando County. “I think that’s a huge opportunity as well,” he said. “This line is so important to the future.”

Bus routes along State Road 54, and in the Moon Lake area of New Port Richey, will see more immediate improvements with the arrival of new buses.

Two-hour waits between buses will drop to one hour on State Road 54 on July 18. The Moon Lake area also will get expanded service on Dec. 5.

Published April 20, 2016

Pasco County resolves call center dispute

April 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners have reorganized the leadership chart at county’s emergency call center — settling an ongoing dispute between Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco and Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.

Commissioners approved a plan on April 12 to create a new emergency services department with a communications division and emergency management division.

Newly-appointed Emergency Services Director Kevin Guthrie talked with reporters after Pasco County commissioners approved a plan to improve operations at the 911 call center. (Courtesy of Pasco County) — Newly-appointed Emergency Services Director Kevin Guthrie talked with reporters after Pasco County commissioners approved a plan to improve operations at the 911 call center.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)

They promoted newly hired Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie to the new job of emergency services director. He will oversee both the 911 center’s operations and emergency management.

Lt. Dan Olds, of the sheriff’s office, will serve as assistant director of the communications division, a role he had before the reorganization.

The county will advertise for the new position of assistant director of emergency management.

Nocco favored the plan.

“Everyone seems to have hit the ground running. I look forward to seeing in the next 30 days what their evaluations are,” Nocco said. “I have full confidence in these two men.”

Nearly three weeks ago operations at the center came under renewed scrutiny due to a mishandled emergency call for a wrong-way driver and other dropped or unanswered calls.

It led to a testy commission meeting when Nocco recommended that Olds be appointed permanent director, and the county’s fire and rescue department name an assistant director.

Commissioners put off a decision for two weeks.

In the interim, Baker and Nocco sent letters to Pasco County Chairman Kathryn Starkey outlining their proposals to resolve the center’s leadership dilemma.

Baker also removed Jody Kenyon as acting director of the 911 center and placed Guthrie in that role. Guthrie previously served in Flagler County where he was in charge of both public safety communications and emergency management.

The county and sheriff’s office consolidated the center’s emergency operations in 2013.

Kenyon stepped in as acting director in 2014, when the director resigned. He remains as technical services manager.

Nocco has cited trust issues as reasons for not speaking with Baker, and leaving discussions to his staff members.

Baker has cited what she described as “half truths and inaccuracies” in Nocco’s statements.

Baker said Nocco still doesn’t speak to her.

But, there were no fireworks at the April 12 meeting.

Instead, there was a presentation and quick vote to approve the new leadership.

“I’m looking forward to seeing improvements,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Guthrie told commissioners in the past two weeks he already has seen faster response times on calls to the center. He plans to update commissioners on progress in 60 days.

“There’s nothing more important than having a quick response on a 911 call,” Starkey said.

The resolution was “a long time coming,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. But, he added, “I think we’re on the right path.”

Published April 20, 2016