Kathy Steele

Pasco bans cannabis growth and sale

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Pasco Commission has placed a one-year moratorium on the production and distribution of cannabis.

The plant is the basis for “Charlotte’s web,” a low-strain of medical marijuana.

In a roll-call vote, commissioners approved the ban unanimously, without discussion.

The Florida Legislature approved the non-euphoric form of medical marijuana in 2014, but the state has yet to get the program operating.

Within the next three months, the Florida Health Department anticipates awarding five permits to businesses that will grow and distribute medical marijuana.

Several municipalities throughout the state have adopted moratoriums of varying lengths, similar to the one adopted by Pasco County commissioners.

During public comment, Chase Daniels, representing Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, told commissioners that the sheriff supports the moratorium.

The ordinance in part states that growing and dispensing medical marijuana “represents new land uses not previously studied in drafting the county’s current regulations.”

By the end of September, Pasco planning officials will ask commissioners to prioritize a list of zoning issues that need to be addressed, including those related to cannabis.

According to the ordinance, commissioners could consider prohibiting production and distribution of cannabis, or enacting additional standards to regulate cultivating and dispensing cannabis.

During public comment, Palm Harbor resident John Chase cited several recent studies looking at the effects of legalizing medical marijuana, including ones from the Tulane School of Public Health, Lancet Psychiatry, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“They all say there is nothing to fear from medical marijuana,” Chase said.

The studies’ findings, he said, found no increase in violent crime or property crime, and no increase in marijuana use by adolescents.

“Marijuana dispensary, I know that’s a loaded word,” Chase said. “I also know our decisions are made better when based on evidence, not based on opinion or belief.”

Medical marijuana is a matter that could reappear as a referendum on the 2016 ballot.

United for Care, a group backed by attorney John Morgan, announced on Sept. 1 that Supervisors of Elections had validated 74,000 signatures on its petition. That means the next step is a review by the Florida Supreme Court.

The constitutional amendment’s language is similar to one in 2014 that received more than 57 percent of the vote, but fell short of the 60 percent needed to change the state’s constitution.

Supporters still must provide more than 609,000 additional, validated signatures to get medical marijuana back on the ballot.

Published September 9, 2015

Pasco wants a say in path of recreational trail

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Florida Department of Transportation is studying the proposed path for the South Sumter Connector Trail, a segment needed to close a gap in the planned 275-mile Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Connector Trail.

Two routes are being considered for the connector, but just one passes through Pasco County. Most of both possible routes is in Sumter County, but the stakes are high for communities in Pasco, Sumter and Hernando counties that envision opportunities for recreation, tourism and economic development.

The completed trail will pass through nine counties and link nearly 20 trails across the state from Pinellas County to Brevard County.

The issue is slated for discussion on Sept. 10, at the 10 a.m. meeting of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s monthly board meeting. The session will be at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The agenda will focus on gathering public input for a southern route that begins along abandoned rail beds in northeast Pasco, parallels State Road 50, and crosses through the Withlacoochee State Forest. It ends in eastern Sumter.

“The trail is going to be marketed internationally to a very active group of travelers,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“I think it’s going to be a really good tourism draw for our county,” added Starkey, who also serves on the MPO board.

At one time, the expectation was for the trail route to come through Pasco, but since then, a second northern option was added, Starkey said.

The proposed northern route begins in western Hernando County, and then moves southeast to Sumter along former railroad right-of-way. It would link the towns of Webster and Center Hill, and connect with the Withlacoochee State Trail.

At the Sept. 2 meeting of the MPO’s Citizens Advisory Committee, James Edwards, transportation manager for the Pasco MPO, said, “Let’s move to the next stage. How do we have an impact on the decision?”

The state roads department has no announced public meetings in Pasco on the trail routes and study.

The kick-off meeting for the 18-month feasibility study was on May 7 in the town of Webster. The study is slated to conclude in June 2016.

According to FDOT records of the meeting, nearly 125 people attended, but fewer than 3 percent were from Pasco.

While there was support for the route into Pasco, FDOT records show some hunters objected to the southern route, which they said would disrupt or halt hunting season in the area.

“This (Sept. 10 MPO meeting) is effectively going to wind up being our public meeting,” Edwards said. “The study is still ongoing. Information is coming forward on both these alignments.”

Starkey has sent a letter in support of Pasco’s selection, and has spoken with FDOT officials.

If the route through Pasco isn’t selected, the commissioner said she would continue to pursue completion of a trail that would go through Dade City.

The northeastern area of the county, which is noted for its hilly landscapes, is a popular bicycle destination for many bicycle clubs, said Allen Howell, a bicycle and pedestrian planner with the MPO.

“Pasco County and its citizens are making a big effort to become the bicycle capital of the state,” Starkey said. “It’s important for economic prosperity.”

Published September 9, 2015

Business Digest 09-09-15

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Asturia community center
Construction is under way on a community center in Asturia, the mixed-use, master-planned community on State Road 54, west of Suncoast Parkway, according to a news release from Hines Inc. The Texas-based real estate firm is developing Asturia on more than 500 acres of the former Behnke Ranch, located between two other master-planned communities — Starkey Ranch to the west and Bexley Ranch to the east.

In early 2016, the real estate firm Hines Inc., will open a community center in the master-planned community of Asturia, off State Road 54, west of Suncoast Parkway (Courtesy of Hines Inc.) — In early 2016, the real estate firm Hines Inc., will open a community center in the master-planned community of Asturia, off State Road 54, west of Suncoast Parkway
(Courtesy of Hines Inc.)

The 5,800-square-foot facility will include a clubhouse, state-of-the-art fitness center, covered outdoor living rooms, a resort-style swimming pool, and an expansive lawn for recreation. Centrally located within Asturia, the community center will feature a modern architectural design with a shed-style roof, open floor plans and floor-to-ceiling facades and wood accents.

The fitness center will offer a range of aerobic and strength-training equipment. The zero-entry pool will provide areas for swimming laps and passive swimming, and a resort-style pool deck for lounging.

The community center is expected to open in early 2016.

The Asturia community will feature parks, green spaces, trails and interactive children’s play structures. Ashton Woods and David Weekley Homes are building homes, and each will provide a model home for inspection by prospective homebuyers.

Hines is a private, global real estate investment firm founded in 1957, with locations in 185 cities in 19 countries.

For information, visit AsturiaFlorida.com, or call (813) 227-4148.

Wesley Chapel chamber’s new executive board
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new executive board.

Incoming chairman of the board is Tracy Clouser, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. Assisting Clouser are three vice chairs: Steve Domonkos, The Shops at Wiregrass, Economic Development; Jennifer Cofini, Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel, Community Development; and Mercedes Gonzalez Hale, Esq., Law Offices of Mercedes Gonzalez Hale, P.A., Membership Development.

Three chamber members were recognized during the meeting:

Board Member of the Year — Jennifer Cofini, Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel
Ambassador of the Year —Valarie Rudmin, Everlasting Beauty
Outgoing Board Member — Rob Kellog, Thread Art

The group also welcomed as a new board member Zacharias J Kalarickal, DDS, Wesley Chapel Dentistry.

Organic baby food
Beech-Nut and Target are teaming up to give parents a new shopping item – organic food for babies, according to a news release from FleishmanHillard for Beech-Nut. Two area stores are among 300 select Target locations that now offer 12 blends of organic fruits and vegetables for babies from Beech-Nut Organics.

The locations are 1040 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz and 16400 State Road 54 in Odessa.

According to the news release, Beech-Nut is inspired by parents making homemade baby food with unique food combinations and high quality ingredients.

And, perhaps Diane Keaton should get a shout out, too, for her 1987 romantic comedy, Baby Boom.

In that film, Keaton is a stressed out corporate executive who inherits a baby, moves into a repair-challenged Vermont farmhouse and starts a homemade baby food line. Oh, and she romances local veterinarian, Sam Shepard. (You may want to check it out. There’s a young James Spader there, too.)

The Organics line from Beech-Nut comes in transparent honeypot glass jars and features the USDA-certified seal. On its menu are single blends “just sweet potatoes” and “just pears.” There also are combinations such as “just apple, raspberry and avocado.”

For information, visit Facebook.com/BeechNut, or @BeechNutFoods (Twitter and Instagram).

Free workshop
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Pasco Hernando will host a free workshop on Sept. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills. The workshop called In Search of WOW will help people and businesses that want to take customer service to the next level.

For information, visit PascoHernando.Score.org.

Hispanic market
SMARTstart Dade City Incubator will have a seminar on the 10 Myths to Reach Hispanic Marketing on Sept. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103, Dade City. The Hispanic population in the United States has doubled in the last decade, but the community often is underrepresented in the media. Business owner Rosie Paulsen will provide insight into understanding how to effectively reach the Hispanic market.

Paulsen will also host this seminar on Sept. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the SMARTsmart New Port Richey Incubator, at 6345 Grand Blvd., in New Port Richey.

For information, call (813) 345-4331.

Adventure park opens
TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park will open Sept. 15, at 27839 Saint Joe Road in Dade City. Come climb and zip line through eight different color-coded courses designed for beginners through advance adventurers. The courses offer 100 unique elements for ages 5 through adult. No reservations are required. Group rates are available. The park will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For information, call (813) 381-5400, or visit TreeHoppers.com.

Open house
Retina Specialists of Tampa will host an open house and ribbon cutting on Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 26851 Tanic Drive, Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel.

Come meet ophthalmologist, Ahmad Bakir Tarabishy, and his staff members.

For information, call (813) 973-3333, or visit RetinaCareTampa.com.

Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair draws thousands

September 2, 2015 By Kathy Steele

At 6:15 a.m., the first applicant showed up at USF Embassy Suites in Tampa, ready to hand out resumes and secure a job at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

The sight brought a smile to Stacey Nance.

“I think this is a true testament of what the entire day is going to be,” said Nance, the outlet mall’s general manager.

David Angulo of Tampa, foreground, and Javier Perez of Land O' Lakes look over paperwork before applying for a position with one of the new stores opening at Tampa Premium Outlets. Angulo is hoping to obtain a position at the Express Factory or Puma. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — David Angulo of Tampa, foreground, and Javier Perez of Land O’ Lakes look over paperwork before applying for a position with one of the new stores opening at Tampa Premium Outlets. Angulo is hoping to obtain a position at the Express Factory or Puma.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

As the hours passed, the crowd swelled by hundreds as job seekers waited outside the hotel’s ballroom for the doors to open at 10 a.m., for the Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair.

By the time the doors closed — at 7 p.m. — mall representatives estimated more than 3,000 people had dropped off resumes and met with recruiters from the nearly 70 shops that participated in the job fair.

More than 800 jobs were on the line for what is the most anticipated mall opening in Pasco County in years.

The outdoor mall, with 110 brand name outlet stores, is expected to be a shopping mecca that will be a regional attraction on what was once pasture land, off State Road 56, near an Interstate 75 interchange.

The grand opening is a weekend celebration from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. Details on special events and celebrity appearances are pending.

But on Aug. 27, the focus was on employment opportunities.

The job fair day brought out an eager pool of applicants, freshly dressed to step right into their hoped-for new jobs.

Wesley Chapel resident Giovanni Velasquez hopes to find a job at a sports store at the soon-to-open Tampa Premium Outlets mall. He is a junior at the University of South Florida.

Land O’ Lakes resident Javier Perez said he wants to pursue an art degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. A full-time mall job could make that dream happen.

“I’m going to apply to as many stores as I can,” he said, noting he sought advice on his resume from his mother, who works as a counselor.

Wesley Chapel resident Cherish Suddith is a pharmacy supervisor for a health care company. She hopes to work nights and weekends at her favorite store — Vera Bradley.

“I’m a fan,” said Suddith, who is a University of Phoenix graduate. And she added, “I’m used to working lots of hours.”

She is excited to see the mall move into the area, and looking to her future.

“I think it’s a good thing. It will drive the market,” she said. “I’m looking to purchase a home soon. I think it (the mall) was needed.”

It was a battle at times to find a place to fill out an application.

People sat in rows of chairs and hunched over countertops. Some elbowed their way to get wall space.

Matthew Holleran plopped to the floor by the registration tables. The recent Wesley High School graduate works seasonally as a referee in youth lacrosse.

But, his mother thought it was a good idea for him to look for full-time work, as he plans for college.

Most of his applications were for jobs at sports stores.

Gerardo Gonzalez, of Wesley Chapel, registers at the Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair where he hopes to land a management position at one of the new outlet mall’s 110 shops.

“I don’t want to do something I’m not interested in,” Holleran said.

Wesley Chapel resident Giovanni Velasquez was looking for part-time work, also preferably at a sports store.

“I’m big into sports,” said Velasquez, who is a junior at the University of South Florida.

Gerardo Gonzalez moved from Chicago to Wesley Chapel about a year ago. His work experience is in management, but he had a non-compete clause at his last job. Now, he said, “I need to go back to work.”

Gonzalez was looking over the list of outlet shops and mall positions, deciding on his selections as he walked toward the ballroom.

He expected the process to be competitive.

Brandon resident Winona Beates registered at the sign-up table as a recruiter. She declined to say which shop she represented. But said the store will need a broad range of positions, including sales and management.

“You always have to interview more people than you need,” she said. “If you want 50, you need to interview a 100.”

Some people already had interview appointments, because they had signed up ahead of time on an online virtual job fair site. Joseph Eyster got a call for an interview with Auntie Anne’s store’s manager, Steven Gray.

Eyster lives in Land O’ Lakes and is a recent graduate of the University of South Florida, with a degree in public health. But he said, “I’m eager to manage.”

Gray said he expected to hire more than 30 people, including assistant managers, shift leaders and crewmembers. “I want to get my people trained,” said Gray, who moved two weeks ago from Ohio. “It’s going to be fast paced. We’ll sell about 1,000 pretzels a day.”

He has been with the company more than five years and jumped at the chance to work at a new mall. “There’s more opportunity for me,” he said.

With limited desk space to fill out Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair applications, Krystal Allegretto of Zephyrhills, left, fills out an application that she hopes will land her a part-time retail position.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and the Career Center at Pasco-Hernando State College coordinated the event. The chamber hosted a breakfast for recruiters and store representatives, and staffed a hospitality room, too.

Nearly a dozen volunteers wore bright orange T-shirts bearing the message: “Let’s put our cities on the map.”

“It’s happening. It’s on,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s executive director. “We had a packed room. It’s very exciting to be here.”

Jobs are out there, said Kenneth Russ, vice president of business services at PHSC. “The economy is growing by leaps and bounds,” he said, noting applicants have to apply with the right skills at the right time.

The college assisted with job postings on the virtual job fair site, fielded phone calls from prospective applicants, and offered help with resumes. “We got a surge this morning,” he said. “People are going to the website.”

The job fair hours at Embassy Suites were set to end at 7 p.m., to accommodate people who have jobs. “There will be people who want a better job,” Russ said. “Everyone is always looking for a better job and higher wages.”

Most applicants were expected to come from Hillsborough, Hernando and Pasco counties.

Jenny Badger lives in Bay City and works for a Dade City company that cleans government buildings at night. But she’d like extra income, and has more time to work now that her son is in school.

She hoped to get at job at the Nike Factory Outlet. “I just shop there a lot,” she said.

That kind of passion can be a plus, according to a check-off sheet on the Ralph Lauren table. Recruiters looked for applicants that smiled, made eye contact and had a passion for the brand.

Nikia Stewart had her sights set on Michael Kors. She had the passion.

“I just love this brand,” she said. “It’s classic but comfortable. It’s not over the top, like a lot of brands.”

Stewart and her family moved from New York to Land O’ Lakes about eight years ago. She is a graduate of PHSC, with a degree in health care management.

She noted that Land O’ Lakes and the Wesley Chapel area have changed a lot.

“I like it (Land O’ Lakes), because when I first moved there I felt in the middle of nowhere. Now I’m somewhere,” Stewart said.

Published September 2, 2015

Bell Lake and Collier to get turn lanes

September 2, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Road crews will start work within the next month to construct new turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway.

County officials say the redesign will ease traffic congestion.

But, area residents are more than a little skeptical that anything short of a traffic light will solve congestion problems.

About 50 people brought their concerns to an Aug. 25 public meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center.

Phil Chang, branch manager of Johnson Engineering Inc., in white shirt, explains the county’s project to add turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Phil Chang, branch manager of Johnson Engineering Inc., in white shirt, explains the county’s project to add turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

New turn lanes will help, but don’t go far enough, residents said.

“They need a light to go with it,” said Brenda Theisen. “It should be a package deal, not something five years down the road.”

A traffic signal is expected with the widening of Collier, which is part of Pasco County’s five-year transportation plan.

The approximately $534,000 project to adjust the Bell Lake and Collier intersection is set to start in late September or early October, and to be completed by January.

The work will add new left-turn lanes on Collier at Bell Lake, and a right-turn lane on Bell Lake at Collier. Sidewalk and drainage improvements also are planned.

“This will improve traffic operations in this neighborhood,” said Margaret Smith, Pasco County’s engineering services director.

County engineers will review the redesign’s effect on traffic once work is done.

“Every time you put in something new, you monitor it,” Smith said.

Pasco County officials brought a map to a public meeting at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center to give residents a preview of where turn lanes would be added to Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway.

Residents at the meeting recounted daily headaches of getting out of their subdivisions as traffic stacks up in both directions on Collier, and on Bell Lake and Whittner Drive.

The worst is during morning rush hour, as motorists navigate left turns onto or off of Collier.

According to county traffic counts, the annual average daily traffic along Collier, near Bell Lake, is about 10,000 vehicles a day.

“At certain times of the day, you can’t get out of your house,” said Howard Rubin. Cars stack up in both directions on Collier, and others wait to turn left from Whittner Drive — which is the only way in and out of Rubin’s subdivision.

Some give up, take a right turn down to Richardson Lane and make a U-turn. Or like Rubin, they wait for a gap and zip across Collier onto Bell Lake. That can be a dangerous choice, Rubin said.

In the mornings and afternoons, a dozen or more Pasco County school buses travel Collier.

There is a school bus stop at Whittner and Collier.

For Bob Castellano, his grandson’s safety is paramount.

“I’m always scared of when he crosses Collier,” he said.

Flashing lights alert motorists to slow down, but Castellano said he sees vehicles speeding through all the time.

A traffic light is what’s needed, residents said.

“This is the dumbest thing they could ever do,” Rubin said, of the plan to install turn lanes without a traffic light.

The intersection work is only the first phase of a Bell Lake makeover.

In early 2016, work will begin to upgrade Bell Lake from U.S. 41 to Alpine Road.

County records peg the cost at about $3.9 million to widen travel lanes and add sidewalks, curbing and drainage.

A second public meeting will be held prior to this second phase to give area residents a preview.

Bell Lake began as a winding two-lane road that dead-ended at Alpine Road to the east, and Banjo Lake Road to the west. The developers of Sable Ridge subdivision built the western segment.

Nearly a decade ago, the county connected the two halves, opening up one of two east-west connections between U.S. 41 and Collier. Hale Road is the other one.

East-west links are often what are missing in Pasco’s traffic pattern, county officials say.

Upgrading Bell Lake offers one more option that could ease some traffic off more major corridors, including State Road 54.

“We’re trying to get the east-west connections,” said Smith. “You try to create grids.”

Published September 2, 2015

Panel says no to charter in Pasco County

September 2, 2015 By Kathy Steele

With a one-vote margin, opponents of a charter-style government in Pasco County killed a proposal that had the backing of the county’s legislative delegation.

In an 8-7 vote, a 15-member appointed panel opted not to write a charter that could have significantly changed the way Pasco County’s government operates.

The vote came after the county’s five-member legislative delegation – State Rep. Richard Corcoran, State Rep. Amanda Murphy, State Rep. Danny Burgess, State Sen. Wilton Simpson, and State Sen. John Legg – had presented their case for pursuing a charter form of government. The charter could have included term limits, single member districts and a recall procedure to oust elected officials.

About 30 people attended the Aug. 24 committee meeting in New Port Richey.

After the vote, Corcoran expressed disappointment. He said he would prefer that voters had the final say on a charter.

Still, he said, “I’m glad we had the conversation. We had a good vetting. I’m happy.”

The seven votes favoring a charter came from panel members appointed by the delegation and two members appointed by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Corcoran had urged the Pasco County Commission to create a charter commission earlier this year that would have been required, under state law, to produce a charter.

Under that scenario, commissioners would not have been able to amend the charter document and voters would have the final say.

Commissioners resisted that approach, instead opting for a nonbinding panel which had the option of recommending a charter or not.

If the panel had approved a charter with a super-majority vote, commissioners had said they would present the matter to voters, without change, in a 2016 referendum.

But for a majority on the panel, the case for a charter didn’t pass muster despite assertions that other counties with charters were better off than Pasco.

“Where is this fantasy, premier, preeminent county?” asked panel member Chuck Grey. “What are we aspiring to be? Tell me a county we’re aspiring to be like.”

Delegation members repeatedly hit on the theme of voter accountability and empowering voters.

“There’s nothing bad when we talk about accountability,” Burgess said. “I believe a lot in autonomy.”
However, as a former Zephyrhills’ mayor, Burgess had one caveat, if a charter were adopted.

“I would prefer that we preserve local governments’ ability to determine their own destiny,” he said.

Simpson dismissed the notion of an elected county mayor, an idea initially raised by Corcoran when he presented the charter idea to Pasco County commissioners.

“My personal opinion is that would be a dreadful idea,” he said.

He did, however, find single member districts “not a bad idea.”

Corcoran urged the committee to include ideas they liked and let others alone. “If the county mayor is controversial, chuck it out the window,” he said.

Committee members Randy Maggard and Mike Ryan felt the committee’s vote was premature, and wanted to explore individual items, such as term limits and single member districts.

“We have not looked at all the issues in any depth to know right now,” said Ryan.

During public comment, only one speaker supported a charter.

“We have seen many county commissioners who have stayed on an enormously long time,” said New Port Richey resident Hugh Townsend. “I think turnover would be a good idea.”

Former Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri said many unanswered questions remained about why Corcoran and others were pursuing a charter.

“You don’t want turmoil in Pasco County,” she said. “These changes could cause turmoil with government, when this is a time for stability with our economic growth.”

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano wondered why all the focus was on accountability at the local level.

“It concerns me that those who just left Tallahassee and didn’t do what they needed to are concerned about accountability,” he said.

Legislators recently ended a special session to redraw the state’s district maps under order from the Florida Supreme Court. They recessed without agreeing on a map, making it likely that the court will redraw the map.

At least for now, the charter issue in Pasco seems moot.

A grassroots group, the Pasco County Citizens Charter Coalition, has expressed interest in a petition drive to collect 45,000 signatures required by state law to establish the charter commission that Corcoran wanted. Coalition members had anticipated that Corcoran would partner with them.

However, the lawmaker said he had no plans to join in their efforts.

“We’ll see. I’ll keep working for ways to make all levels of government accountable,” Corcoran said.

Published September 2, 2015

Business Digest 09-02-15

September 2, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Ribbon cutting
Thurow Financial Services will have a ribbon cutting and fifth anniversary celebration on Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Refreshments will be provided.

For information, call Chris Thurow at (813) 406-4436.

Annual banquet
The 29th Annual Pasco Economic Development Council Banquet will be Sept. 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. More than 700 local and Tampa Bay business and community leaders attend each year.

The event includes an awards ceremony, an industry trade show and a brief report on economic development progress. Channel 10 reporter and news anchor Tammie Fields is the emcee.

Job fair
Leggett & Platt will be hosting a job fair on Sept. 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with expectations of immediately hiring 60 people immediately. The company recently announced plans to open a plant in Spring Hill to assemble adjustable beds for use in the home.

Employees can expect a competitive wage, and a benefits package including health and dental insurance; holiday and vacation pay; and short term disability.

Positions include: line assemblers, material handlers, maintenance Tech/PLC, material planner, IT technician, production supervisors and tag (inventory control).

Job descriptions are available for all positions at EmployFlorida.com. Log on and search for Leggett & Platt in Spring Hill.

Walk-ins are welcome. The event will be at Leggett & Platt Adjustable Bed Group, 15800 Hudson Ave., Spring Hill.

For employment information, call Nathan Stevens of CareerSource Pasco Hernando State College at (352) 585-5117.

Women-n-Charge luncheon
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on Sept. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek County Club, at 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The meeting includes lunch and time to network. This meeting will feature tea trivia and games, as well as a hat contest. All guests are encouraged to wear their western or tea attire in the spirit of our upcoming mystery tea fundraiser.

The cost is $18 for those who have not pre-paid. To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email to .

Networking women
WOW, Women of Wesley Chapel, will meet on Sept. 4 from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., in the second floor conference room at the Health and Wellness Center, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The breakfast sponsor is Valerie Rudmin, owner of Everlasting Beauty.

For information, contact the chamber at (813) 994-8534, or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

Adventure park opens
TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park will open Sept. 15, at 27839 Saint Joe Road in Dade City. Come climb and zipline through eight different color-coded courses designed for beginners through advance adventurers. The courses offer 100 unique elements for ages 5 through adult. No reservations are required. Group rates are available. The park will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For information, call (813) 381-5400, or visit TreeHoppers.com.

Networking breakfast
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet Sept. 8 at Rose’s Café at 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

The guest speaker will be Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells, Jr.

For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at .

Membership meeting
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will have its 2015 Membership Meeting Lunch on Sept. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Stage Left, 24400 State Road 54 in Lutz. The guest speaker will be State Sen. John Legg.

The cost is $20 for RSVP by Sept. 4, and $25 after.

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

Business Link breakfast
Business Link will have its monthly networking breakfast on Sept. 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Wesley Chapel Toyota, at 5300 Eagleston Blvd., second floor, in Wesley Chapel.

Come for tips and networking to strengthen your business. San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union is committed to the financial success of your business. This monthly gathering, held at various locations, provides networking and an information-sharing platform for our small business community. A complimentary breakfast will be provided.

Please RSVP to Rebecca Gaddis at (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237, or email .

Open house
Retina Specialists of Tampa will host an open house and ribbon cutting on Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 26851 Tanic Drive, Suite 102, in Wesley Chapel.

Come meet ophthalmologist, Ahmad Bakir Tarabishy, and his staff members.

For information, call (813) 973-3333, or visit RetinaCareTampa.com.

Bayfront ribbon cutting
Bayfront Health and Medical Group will host an open house and ribbon cutting on Sept. 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at 6340 Fort King Road in Zephyrhills. Come welcome new physicians, Elizabeth and Tommy John, who specialize in internal medicine and gastroenterology.

Please RSVP to (813) 782-6116.

Businesses fight ‘cotton-pickin government’

August 26, 2015 By Kathy Steele

When he was running for office, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore heard a recurring theme: Do something about the blight.

The county, like many other Tampa Bay communities, suffered from the recession, and voters told Moore they wanted something done about neglected buildings.

But a proposed ordinance that would set minimum standards for maintaining commercial buildings is stirring controversy in at least one community – Land O’ Lakes.

About 50 Land O’ Lakes’ business owners and residents met on Aug. 19 with Moore and Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims to air out their concerns about what they see as government overreach.

“This just feels like more cotton-pickin government, and I’m tired of that,” said Russell Adams, owner of Russell Adams Realty Inc.

The ordinance came up during a recent workshop where Pasco County commissioners met publicly to discuss the 2016 fiscal year budget. A public hearing and a vote by commissioners on the ordinance will be scheduled in the future.

The ordinance is similar to one adopted in Hillsborough County nearly six years ago, and mirrors codes currently applied to residences. It also reflects the best-practice standards recommended by the International Property Maintenance Code.

County code currently defines a blighted structure and criteria for ordering an owner to tear it down unless repairs are done. Or, the county can tear down structures and place liens on properties.

What’s new about the proposed ordinance is that it introduces citations and fines for failure to maintain commercial structures to public safety standards. Examples include weather-tight windows and exterior doors, properly anchored awnings, and peeling or flaking paint. After 30 days, buildings with boarded up windows or doors must be repaired, or fines will be levied.

“Ninety percent of the proposed ordinance is safety-related,” said Sims. “Ten percent is aesthetics-related.”

Current code allows a maximum of $500 per violation plus costs. Jail time, not to exceed 60 days, also can be imposed, or both a fine and jail can be levied.

The process can be lengthy and includes warning notices prior to issuing citations. There also is an appeals process.

According to Moore, the ordinance is intended to fill in gaps in the county’s code enforcement toolbox.

Moore is pushing for additional money in the 2016 budget to hire more code enforcement officers. An initial suggestion of four new hires is now down to two, but an expanded staff would begin to address code enforcement issues along major corridors such as U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and possibly U.S. 301.

Fines imposed on property owners on these state-maintained roadways, however, would go to the state, not the county.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, who came to the meeting to give a crime update, said the ordinance could be an additional tool for his deputies in clearing abandoned buildings, which attract criminal activity. He cited U.S. 19 as an example.

“We’re constantly going back,” he said. “You arrest them, and somebody takes their spot. We need this tool to get the blighted areas in U.S. 19. It’s not a (U.S.) 41 issue. It’s a county ordinance.”

Moore also reassured those at the meeting that the measure would be countywide and not solely focused on Land O’ Lakes.

“Everybody’s business looks great to me,” he said.

Moore said area Realtors were among those who asked for assistance in ridding blight on the county’s major corridors including U.S. 41.

“I have people in the real estate business who have trouble selling their properties,” he said. “They think this (ordinance) will help.”

He also cited a petition maintained by the Land O’ Lakes Beautification Effort, which on Facebook gathered nearly 600 signatures. The petition, addressed to Moore and Pasco County Code Enforcement, seeks tree plantings and a cleanup of blight from the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 up to the community of Connerton.

The list on the group’s Facebook page includes Land O’ Lakes’ residents as well as a few from Lutz. Some on the list are “anonymous.”

The petition rankled many at the meeting. They said it was not representative of Land O’ Lakes residents or business owners. When asked, no one at the meeting raised a hand to show they had signed the petition.

People at the meeting were local residents and many were long-time business owners, said Casie Holloway of the family-owned Holloway’s Farm Supply. She organized the meeting.

“We are a tight community,” she said. “Many of us have been here forever. This road is steeped in history.”

Preserving history, and also holding on to their businesses, was a major concern. Many expressed fear that if a fire or hurricane destroyed their businesses, the county would hinder rebuilding, and impose current building codes.

That would either be too costly or impossible to meet, they said.

Maryann Bishop of Bishop Construction said she dealt with rebuilding issues after a fire “and went through this with the county for three years.”

Others also expressed dismay with similar county experiences.

Sims and Moore explained that those were building code issues unrelated to the proposed new code enforcement rules. But no one seemed swayed.

Some said they saw signs of rebirth along U.S. 41, citing the recent purchase of Land O’ Lakes Plaza by Circle K. The fuel and convenience store chain plans to build a new store.

“Land O’ Lakes Boulevard is coming back,” said Harry Wright, owner of Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que. The meeting took place under a tent on his property.

He said other developers in coming months could begin buying up vacant properties for redevelopment.

“Ya’ll (should) maybe look at taking it a little slower…I think we could naturally work out of it,” Wright said.

Published August 26, 2015

Audit finds deficiencies in Pasco’s water billing

August 26, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Louise Gritmon still is in disbelief over a one-month water bill for more than $3,300.

Pasco County charged Gritmon for using more than 614,000 gallons of water over 18 days in the July 2014 billing period when her house was vacant.

That never happened, Gritmon said.

And she has two plumbers, an engineer and a manufacturer who can back up her assertion that the amount of water measured by the county couldn’t physically go through her pipes in the time they say.

The county has disputed her claims.

“I just want my bill zeroed out to what it should be,” Gritmon said.

She will have to wait a bit longer to find out if the county will do that, but on Aug. 18, Gritmon had reason to hope.

An eight-month audit ordered by Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’Neil, and completed by her inspector general’s office, found deficiencies in the county’s meter reading and billing procedures. Software glitches in the county’s automated system, inaccessible meters, inconsistent readings and alerts that were ignored got most of the blame.

When the meters were tested, however, they were found to be functioning properly.

Gritmon took her complaint to the media last summer, and soon after, the county was deluged by other customers who had similar complaints about overbilling.

The audit began in October 2014 and looked at water bills issued between June 1, 2014, and April 15, 2015.

An audit has found deficiencies in billing at Pasco County’s water department. (Photos courtesy of Paula O'Neil) — An audit has found deficiencies in billing at Pasco County’s water department.
(Photos courtesy of Paula O’Neil)

As a result, the county will give closer scrutiny to 317 of 337 customer complaints among its more than 93,000 accounts. The audit found those accounts, including Gritmon’s, had from one to six bills that exceeded 120 percent of the annual average.

Some residents could receive credits or have outstanding charges removed from their bills. Or, the county could determine that the fees are correct.

In some cases, customers already have received credits, said Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.

In a press release issued Aug. 21, county officials said the goal is to apply credits, if needed, by mid-September.

The county will hire a consultant to assist in correcting overall problems. Temporary staff members will be hired as well. Baker has given the department until March 25 to implement the audit’s recommendations.

“We’re recommending that they (accounts) be reviewed individually to determine if constant flow is the problem, or what the problem is,” said O’Neil.

Some recommended changes in operations at the water department have been implemented, and more are on the way.

One recommendation is to flag accounts with exceptionally high charges for reviews before bills are mailed to customers.

The issues raised in the audit are “glaring and concerning,” said Pasco County Chairman Ted Schrader. “We can do better, and we’re going to make every attempt to do better for our utility customers.”

Published August 26, 2015

Pasco commissioners scrutinize medical marijuana

August 26, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but the issue continues to stir controversy.

The first sales of medical marijuana likely will begin in the next months, when the Florida Department of Health sets up its program for delivering the cannabis-based product.

While 28 businesses have applied for one of five permits that will be issued statewide, no Pasco County business is on the list.

And now, the Pasco County Commission is joining other jurisdictions around the state that have either adopted or have drafted moratoriums on growing and dispensing cannabis.

The county had its first public hearing on Aug. 18 on a proposed ordinance calling for a one-year moratorium.

County officials and Pasco County commissioners made no comment on the on the ordinance.

Commissioners are s
cheduled to have a second public hearing and a vote on Sept. 2.

The first public hearing drew only one speaker during public comment. He came from Pinellas County with some advice for commissioners.

“I would speak to the patients,” said John Chase. “I’m not a marijuana user myself, but I know people whose lives depend on this. I don’t want to see a moratorium.”

Chase said he knows families in Pasco County who need medical marijuana. He expects more people will show up for the final hearing.

Medical marijuana appeared on the 2014 ballot as a constitutional amendment. Supporters fell just short of the necessary 60 percent vote to approve the amendment. Petitioners are seeking signatures to put it on the state’s ballot again in 2016.

And, an appeals judge recently cleared away legal challenges to the state law that allows for dispensing what is known as “Charlotte’s web,” a low-strain of medical marijuana for patients with epilepsy or advanced cancer.

The next step is for the state health department to review the 28 applications filed by the July deadline. Permits are expected in the next three months. The locations will be in five geographic regions around the state.

To date, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana in some form while 17 states have rejected such measures. Four states – Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Alaska – have legalized marijuana for recreational use. And Ohio could become the fifth state, and the first in the Midwest, to permit recreational use, if voters approve a constitutional amendment in November.

As Florida’s medical marijuana program gears up, a number of local jurisdictions, like Pasco County, are adopting or drafting their versions of moratoriums. Some are banning dispensaries and treatment centers, at least temporarily, while others are changing zoning laws to restrict their locations.

One requirement of applicants is that they are properly zoned to cultivate, process and dispense cannabis, and also demonstrate an ability to produce high quality product quickly, according to an email from Mara Burger, press secretary for the state’s health department.

The focus is on delivering “safe and effective treatment options,” she writes.

State health officials are taking note of actions such as moratoriums and are “closely monitoring municipal activity across the state to determine any potential impact on patient accessibility or applicant performance.”

Published August 26, 2015