Michael Hinman

Moore tops $100,000, makes district race most expensive

August 22, 2014 By Michael Hinman

With just days before voters will choose just one of three candidates to represent the Republican ticket in the Pasco County Commission District 2 race, Mike Moore will clearly take the fundraising title after a final push this week put him over $100,000.

Mike Moore is a Wesley Chapel-based entrepreneur that says he can bring his business experience to the Pasco County Commission. He faces a primary against Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson in an effort to succeed the retiring Pat Mulieri on the commission. (Courtesy of Mike Moore) — Mike Moore

Combined with the efforts of fellow Republicans Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson, the three candidates have raised $134,348, already making it the most expensive District 2 race in the past decade. It tops the $121,111 raised in the 2006 election, and the $116,669 collected in 2010 — both won by Pat Mulieri. And those numbers included the general election.

Moore goes into the primary election day with just under $103,400, picking up $4,400 between Aug. 9 and Aug. 21. That includes $1,000 from the political action committee HCA West Florida Division, and $1,500 from Orsi Development and Springfield Homes in New Port Richey.

In all, Moore has spent just under $100,000 of that, with less than 45 percent of those funds — or $44,376 — staying inside Pasco County. Moore spent nearly $50,000 on advertising, all but nearly $3,000 of it, however, with a Ponte Vedra Beach company called Majority Strategies Inc. He also spent more than $15,000 — or about 15 percent of his money — with an Odessa company called Capital Consulting.

Robertson picked up a little more than $2,000 in his final two weeks of campaigning ahead of the primary, bringing his total to just under $15,600. That includes $500 each from Dobies Funeral Homes in Holiday, as well as listed Tampa property manager Lloyd Riales and also Eric Gilbertson, a volunteer director with the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills.

Bob Robertson has stayed closely involved in the community, and wants to continue being the public advocate Pat Mulieri was on the board. In fact, the Zephyrhills financial analyst earned an endorsement from Mulieri heading into the Aug. 26 primary. (Courtesy of Bob Robertson) — Bob Robertson

Robertson has spent $14,270 of those funds, half of it locally. However, business cards and signs, among other things, were purchased outside the county — and sometimes the state — including $921 to a Texas company called Signs on the Cheap, and just under $2,300 to Delivery Signs of Orlando. Robertson, however, did do social media and other work locally with the Wesley Chapel company The Busy Buddy to the tune of $1,155.

When it came to advertising, Robertson spent far less than Moore, just $233, or less than 2 percent of his total expenditures.

Despite Friday being the deadline for final primary campaign reports, Littlefield did not file his financials by 6 p.m. with the Pasco County supervisor of elections office. Before that, he had raised $10,450 — about half of what he did four years before in his primary against Mulieri. That includes about $7,600 Littlefield put in of his own money, and not including about $9,000 in a listed in-kind donation on his own behalf for what he said was printing and postage.

Ken Littlefield, during his years as a state lawmaker, giving a speech on the floor of the state House in Tallahassee. Littlefield wants to continue serving government at the Pasco County Commission. (Courtesy of Florida House) — Ken Littlefield

Littlefield spent $10,300, with 57 percent — or $4,967 — taking place locally. Most of his non-local spending was done through Gulf Coast Imprinting in Largo.

After being asked by The Laker/Lutz News about why there was a delay in filing, Littlefield said via email that he was just getting home from work, and planned to file “after dinner.”

Republican voters will have a chance to choose from among the three candidates Aug. 26. The winner will face Democrat Erika Remsberg in the general election.

Dade City train issues draw federal attention

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

A problem with CSX Corp. stopping trains in the middle of intersections in Dade City has drawn attention not just from local officials, like Dade City city manager William Poe and Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco, but from a Congressman as well.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis says he has initiated a Federal Railroad Administration investigation into CSX after the company twice stopped trains in the middle of roads, because of what they said were federally mandated stop times for workers.

“As Pasco County’s voice in the United States Congress, I echo the concerns raised by the police chief, sheriff and other community leaders regarding the recent CSX situation,” Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, said in a release. “These preventable delays posed not only considerable inconvenience to residents, but more importantly, they represented an irresponsible and flagrant disregard for the public safety needs of our community.”

It’s not exactly clear what the railroad administration will be able to do. However, Bilirakis said he was assured by officials within the agency that they will conduct a “thorough investigation into what occurred in both cases, and take proactive steps to ensure that similar incidents are avoided.”

The problem stemmed from two separate incidents in July and August where engineers stopped trains after meeting the maximum number of hours they could work. The engines, according to local officials, were left running and unattended, in one case blocking three of the four available intersections in and out of a neighborhood for more than five hours.

That resulted in an angry letter from Poe soon after, decrying CSX for creating potential safety issues, and forcing local law enforcement to help secure the train and direct traffic.

“This thoughtless action on the part of your crew created a tremendous strain on our ability to provide essential public safety services,” Poe said in a July 16 letter to CSX. “The area adjacent to the train tracks is a residential neighborhood, and the roadways that were blocked provide the main access to numerous other neighborhoods, schools, parks, (a) cemetery and other facilities. A high volume of pedestrians, as well as vehicular traffic, go through this neighborhood on a daily basis.”

CSX responded to the complaints by saying they would work to avoid blocking intersections for long periods of time in the future. And when they do, they will give local officials a heads up, and separate train cars so that intersections are clear for vehicular traffic.

A CSX spokeswoman told The Laker/Lutz News in a statement Wednesday that is “apologizes for the disruptions caused by trains blocking road crossings in Dade City. We understand the frustrations of residents and local officials, and are making operational adjustments. CSX will make every attempt to keep trains running through Dade City except under emergency circumstances.”

CSX also heard from Bilirakis’ office as well.

“I also called leaders within CSX to put them on notice that this type of behavior is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated,” Bilirakis said. “The people of Pasco do deserve better than this, and I will not rest until I receive assurances that those responsible will be held accountable and that proper plans are in place to prioritize the health, safety and well-being of our community.”

The Federal Railroad Administration is one of 10 agencies within the U.S. Department of Transportation that deals with intermodal transportation, according to the group’s website. It was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. It is led by fifth-generation railroader Joseph Szabo.

Water still the primary gold standard in Zephyrhills

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Long before there was a Zephyrhills, and even before there was a Pasco County, people would journey through the dense, dangerous Florida forests to find a small oasis near the headwaters of the Hillsborough River.

There they could find plenty of fresh, clean water bubbling up from the ground, always at a refreshing 72 degrees.

Kent Koptiuch is one of more than 11 natural resource managers Nestle Waters North America has hired to help maintain good water quality nationwide, while protecting natural resources like Crystal Springs just outside of Zephyrhills. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo) — Kent Koptiuch is one of more than 11 natural resource managers Nestle Waters North America has hired to help maintain good water quality nationwide, while protecting natural resources like Crystal Springs just outside of Zephyrhills.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The waters at Crystal Springs may not have had the healing and restorative powers some believed at the time, but it was certainly quite tasty. And by the time Zephyrhills itself was founded in 1910, the area already had a reputation for some of the best water in the state.

So it’s no wonder a businessman named Don Robinson saw the potential of turning that water into more than just a local commodity in the early 1960s, and Zephyrhills bottled water was born.

Today, hundreds of thousands of gallons of that commodity is shipped throughout the state. The plant, off 20th Street and Alston Avenue in Zephyrhills owned by Nestle Waters North America, employs 250 people making an annual average wage of $46,000. Another 900 more people or so have jobs related to the operation around Florida.

“It’s a great economic driver, but it’s also a great story for Zephyrhills to tell, and one it has told for decades,” said Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

This year, Zephyrhills bottled water celebrates its 50th anniversary, continuing to put this small city of nearly 14,000 people it borrowed its name from on the map. Local historian and retired educator Madonna Wise remembers the first time she saw Zephyrhills water after moving to the area in the early 1970s.

“The whole phenomenon of bottled water was developed more in the 1990s, but I do recall a lot of businesses before that having that big bottle and drinking station,” she said. “Even then, you would pull out a small paper cup to get a little bit to drink, and it was fresh water from a place just down the road.”

The spring water operation of Zephyrhills requires an average of about 650,000 gallons of water per day from Crystal Springs, said Kent Koptiuch, a natural resource manager with Zephyrhills parent company Nestle Waters. It’s shipped directly from the spring on a more than three-mile journey in an underground 10-inch diameter stainless steel pipe.

Once it arrives at the plant, it goes through a complex purification and packaging process — but it can be ready to ship in less than 15 minutes.

“I grew up in the country, and we would drink our water out of a hose as kids,” Koptiuch said. “But if you look at history — especially ancient European, Asian and African history — people have been bottling water for thousands of years.”

Of course, those methods would have been in goatskins or sheep stomachs … not exactly the most appetizing way to make water portable.

“They didn’t have plastic bottles, but they still had to travel, and they had to carry water somehow,” Koptiuch said.

The springs naturally push out an average of 35 million gallons of water per day, literally turning a small stream near the site into the Hillsborough River.

While people no longer visited the springs hoping to be cured of ailments, Crystal Springs was a popular local recreational attraction for decades. However, when landowner Robert Thomas closed the springs in 1996, some residents in the 150 homes near the springs were outraged. They fought for years to reopen the springs to the public, and even tried to block Nestle’s ability to extract water from the site.

Today, the only remnant of those recreational days is a set of cement steps leading into part of the pooled water. The rest of the springs have been restored to their natural state and deeded over to an organization known as the Crystal Springs Foundation that created the Crystal Springs Preserve.

More than 50,000 students ranging in age from elementary school to college visit the springs every year. An indoor classroom nearby teaches them all about the environment, and even water ecology. And small wooden bridges give visitors a chance to see where the springs and the Hillsborough River interconnect.

“The most students we get are fourth- and fifth-graders,” Koptiuch said. “Our focus is to educate the youth because they are going to be our future leaders.”

Zephyrhills has been the “City of Pure Water” long before the bottling plant existed, but the business has helped solidify that slogan and made it even easier to market the city as a whole, the chamber’s Mikkelsen said.

“It’s an international brand anchored right here in Zephyrhills,” she said. “It’s clean manufacturing, and very high-tech. It’s exactly the kind of company you want to have, and we’re very fortunate that we already have them.”

Published August 20, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Littlefield not ready to retire from public service just yet

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Ken Littlefield learned a lot from his brother, Carl, and even followed him into public service.

The two owned Littlefield’s Furniture in Dade City. However, the 1990 census created a new legislative district, and Carl won the seat, becoming a popular lawmaker representing parts of Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

In 1999, however, Carl earned a cabinet appointment by Gov. Jeb Bush, opening the door for Ken Littlefield to seek the seat. Capitalizing on his last name, and putting to use some skills he learned while visiting his brother in Tallahassee, the older Littlefield took over the seat in a special election, and stayed in office until Bush appointed him to the Florida Public Service Commission. There, Littlefield was expected to have a voice in how public utilities like electric companies charged consumers. But it was to be short lived.

Bush had wrapped up his final term as governor, and Charlie Crist — then a Republican — assumed office. Crist quickly rescinded the Bush appointment, removing Littlefield from the job.

Yet, Littlefield landed on his feet, taking over as executive director of the Statewide Advocacy Council, which helped protect people receiving services from state agencies in Florida. But funding for that program ran out in 2010, and Littlefield returned home.

He may have gotten a job at a Dade City funeral home, but Littlefield was not interested in leaving politics just yet. He unsuccessfully challenged Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri in a 2010 primary, and after she announced her retirement, decided to go after the open seat.

Why should voters choose him in the Aug. 26 primary? Because, according to an email interview, Littlefield knows how to make good policy.

“If you have good policy, then you will have good ordinances,” Littlefield wrote. “If you have good ordinances, you will have good rules and regulation. It all begins with policy.”

Details, however, might be a different story. When it comes to how to fund road construction, how to deal with growth-induced transportation issues, and public safety issues like funding the sheriff’s office, Littlefield chooses to skim the surface.

For example, the county commission is currently deciding on how to fund new road projects, focused primarily on either an increase in the local gas tax, a hike in property taxes, or a combination of the two.

“I would guess it will come down to a combination of the methods suggested,” Littlefield said. “I think that all options have to be on the table at the beginning of the negotiations. I support getting the job done with whatever can be agreed upon.”

Last month, Sheriff Chris Nocco told The Laker/Lutz News that his request for an additional $6 million to his budget was just the beginning, and he’ll need even more in coming years. Commissioners were able to just squeeze out enough cash to accommodate Nocco’s request, but the future is still a big question mark.

“This is why we craft a budget every year,” Littlefield said. “The process provides an annual assessment of requests and available revenue to fund those requests. It becomes the commission’s responsibility to determine whether we can afford the requests or not. They will have the chance to make that decision again next year.”

The commission may be focused more on maintaining existing roads, but the Democratic candidate for District 2, Erika Remsberg, has been working to turn attention to the more than 500 miles of unpaved roads in the county. The current system of charging thousands of dollars to neighborhood residents in a special pavement assessment is something she feels needs to be looked at.

Littlefield, however, believes it needs nothing more than a little tinkering.

“I think the present program using a revolving fund is equitable,” he said. “The term could be lengthened. Also, the interest rate could be negotiated to see if it could be lowered.”

Littlefield ran a tough campaign against Mulieri four years ago, but he says he still respects her two decades on the commission.

“I think her legacy will be that she has been a good advocate for those whose voice has gotten lost in the crowd,” Littlefield said. “The underprivileged, the homeless, veterans, and of course, her advocacy for shelter animals have all benefitted from her selfless service on the commission.”

KEN LITTLEFIELD:
Republican candidate for Pasco County Commission, District 2

OCCUPATION
Hodges Family Funeral Home

ELECTED OFFICE
Florida House of Representatives, 1999-2006

FAMILY
Carole Littlefield, wife
Two daughters

RESIDENCE
Pasco County, 33 years

FUNDRAISING
through Aug. 8
$10,450

Published August 20, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Moore brings big voice to Pasco, but is ready to listen too

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Money talks, especially in a political campaign. And with nearly $100,000 at his disposal throughout his primary campaign, Mike Moore has had a pretty loud voice.

An entrepreneur who first built and sold CareFirst Home Care before starting up his current mergers and acquisition company, VR Business Sales, Moore operates out of a modest office in Wesley Chapel not far from Saddlebrook Resort. He points to billboard-style political signs in his back office, a size that easily trumps his opponents in the Aug. 26 primary, and shares that outside of yard signs, that’s the smallest he’s gone.

Moore has found success in business, and feels that acumen is needed when it comes to running Pasco County. Especially since residents here are not recovering from the last economic tumble as strongly as they should.

“You look at what’s happened over the last few years, and it’s some of the worst economic disasters we’ve ever seen,” Moore said. “I just don’t think the standard of living in Pasco County is where it should be, and I want to help change it.”

That change, he says, is needed at the county level. There needs to be a stronger emphasis on attracting more businesses to the county, all of them with high-paying jobs. Without them, it would be impossible for Pasco to grow without asking residents to contribute more financially.

“That’s the strong foundation we need to build upon,” Moore said. “We have a lot of things that we need, and some things that we want. If we bring the companies here that we need to, then we don’t have to talk about raising taxes, because the tax base will be there.”

But even when more money does come in, the county has to be smart in spending it, Moore said. Otherwise, Pasco risks becoming a place like Detroit, where what he described as “tax and spend” policies drove the city to economic collapse.

Businesses could never operate the way governments do, Moore said. And while he knows there are some aspects of government that may always have to be subsidized — like mass transit and libraries — looking at the county as a corporation could help cut some of the wasteful spending he says is taking place.

“We are not looking to turn a profit, but you don’t want the county to lose money,” Moore said. “You need to spend on what’s needed, and cut anything that isn’t. You need to be able to look through the budget and see what needs to be changed.”

One change is how the county is looking at building new roads. Right now, the Pasco County Commission is considering raising either local gas taxes or property taxes — or both. But patience may need to win out on this one, Moore said.

“By increasing the tax base, you can accomplish far more in the long run,” he said. “Raising taxes is a quick fix temporarily. We need to do what we can to increase our property values, like by bringing in new companies, and that will bring in the extra money to fund our needs.”

Moore says he is not interested in either the gas or property tax increase. Instead, the county already has put aside money for other road projects that he says may never come to fruition. Those dollars, instead, should be earmarked to current projects.

“You have to look at immediate needs,” Moore said. “You have to go back to thinking of this as a company. If part of your corporation is faltering, you may need to shift funds over from another department to help out until things get better again.”

The biggest asset any commissioner has, Moore said, are the people that commissioner represents. And sometimes it’s important to lower that loud voice long enough to listen closely.

“What people are looking for is somebody who is going to have a presence in the district,” Moore said. “They want someone who is going to be available and willing to sit down and talk. And I am that person.”

MIKE MOORE:
Republican candidate for Pasco County Commission, District 2

OCCUPATION
Owner, VR Business Sales and Mergers and Acquisitions

FAMILY
Lauren Moore, wife
Aubrey Moore, daughter
Aiden Moore, son
Emily Moore, daughter

RESIDENCE
Wesley Chapel, eight years

FUNDRAISING
through Aug. 8
$98,946

Published August 20, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Community service morphs into government service for Robertson

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Bob Robertson is a man who has an uncanny ability to pop up almost everywhere. Community meetings, charity events, volunteer drives — if it’s something that can help others, Robertson is there.

That’s part of what called him to run for the Pasco County Commission — a chance to make a difference. And that, for him, starts with getting people excited about their local government once again.

“The bigger issue is that people are totally disengaged, even to the extent that this campaign we’re in, we have to try and explain to people the voting process. People feel that government isn’t working for them, and I want to change that.”

Robertson worked to do that during his years on Lake Bernadette’s community development district, becoming a steward for the funds residents there pay for the management of their community, especially when it comes to infrastructure. It’s not anything like helping to manage a county with nearly a half-million people — but it’s a tremendous learning experience.

Especially when it comes to sorting through all kinds of needs, and then trying to find the money to help pay for it.

“Tax revenue has gone down, and property values have gone down. Hard choices have been made, and are still going to be made,” Robertson said. “We have to decide between what we need and what we want, and we need to create a vision of that.”

There has been a lot of talk over whether to raise taxes at the gas pump by a nickel, or even to increase property taxes to help pay for new road construction. Robertson said he’s not too interested in raising taxes, but he’s also a realist.

“Property taxes have been going down pretty considerably since 2007,” he said. “Some are down by about 35 percent. And when you then talk about raising the gas tax a nickel, it kind of puts all of that into perspective.”

However, the county has to be cautious about how they approach any potential gas tax, Robertson said. While the impact to residents might be minimal, the effect it would have on businesses — especially those that purchase large amounts of fuel — could be devastating.

“The business community side is where you get the unintended consequences,” Robertson said. “If you making your living in an area like landscaping, for instance, they are running around and buying gasoline for their equipment. They are not necessarily using the roads.”

Overall, however, the county needs to focus more on mass transit, to help get people around, and get more cars off the roads. While some areas — like the southern tier of Pasco — is becoming more urbanized, the bus system is not keeping up in making sure transportation options are in place, Robertson said.

“We need to look at what our southern neighbors are doing,” Robertson said of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. “We need to work in concert with them to figure out what’s working and what’s not, and to make sure that we can connect everyone to all parts of the region.”

It also means making sure there are good-paying jobs. Robertson has cited statistics he says are from government research that has the average weekly wage in Pasco at $624. Hillsborough and Pinellas pay about $200 more.

“Our residents are not in the economic position to be able to afford many of the wonderful things that we want to be able to offer in the county,” Robertson said, referring to generating more tax revenue for services. “Yes, we need these additional residences to be built up around the county to help with the tax base, but we also need to have people moving in that are making enough to boost the value of our property here in Pasco.”

Robertson has hardly raised the most money among the three candidates seeking the Republican nomination for county commission’s District 2. However, he knew from the beginning he would be the underdog.

“I see myself, at least, as the quintessential grassroots candidate,” he said. “The other two guys are politicians, but I present a different look. And you need to be different if you want to stand out in the crowd.”

BOB ROBERTSON:
Republican candidate for Pasco County Commission, District 2

OCCUPATION
Owner, The Financial Center

ELECTED OFFICE
Lake Bernadette Community Development District, 2008-14

FAMILY
Cindy Robertson, wife
Cassie, daughter
Melissa, daughter

RESIDENCE
Zephyrhills, nine years

FUNDRAISING
through Aug. 8
$13,549

Published August 20, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Business Digest 08-20-14

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Mortgage company closes doors in Wesley Chapel
A corporate decision to leave the mortgage services business has put 10 people out of a job in Wesley Chapel.

Springleaf Financial has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, saying it plans to cut those jobs beginning in October.

The office, according to the notice, is located at 2533 Windguard Circle, Unit 101, in Wesley Chapel, just across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel off Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

“Springleaf has decided to sell its mortgage services business,” the Indiana-based company told The Laker/Lutz News, in a release. “In conjunction with the sale, the company plans to close its facility in Wesley Chapel. This was a difficult decision, and where possible, we are working to place affected staff in new positions within the company.”

The sale of the mortgage service division was part of nearly $7.2 billion worth of divisions Springleaf recently decided to part ways with.

The company provides loans and other credit-related products to more than a half million people in 26 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to the company’s website. It also provides bill consolidation loans, personal loans, home improvement loans, and loans for unexpected expenses and vacations.

The company went public in 2013.

New Seven Oaks community may have to rethink gates
A new townhouse community planned for Wesley Chapel’s Seven Oaks subdivision is struggling to keep the neighborhood gated.

Pasco County officials have recommended denying a request by The Ryland Group to allow for two gated access points as a planned 96-unit community near the intersection of Stockton Drive and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The problem, they say, is that there isn’t enough room to accommodate a line of cars.

County ordinance requires there be at least 75 feet of space from a sidewalk to a community’s gated entrance, enough to fit three cars. However, because of the unusual layout design of the property where Seven Oaks Ryland Townhomes is planned, it can only provide enough space to accommodate two cars. The rule, officials said, ensures there is enough room for a small line of cars, without blocking sidewalks and roads.

The plan would have provided for two entrances into the community, one from Stockton Drive, the other from Eagleston Boulevard. Only the entrance at Stockton would provide visitor access, but even a resident-only entrance at Eagleston created concerns from county officials. That’s because it would only have enough room to hold one vehicle, and any additional vehicles would block pedestrian pathways.

Developers will have a chance to plead their case in front of the Development Review Committee, which will meet in the county commission chambers at 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey on Aug. 21, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Upcoming PHHCC events
Some of the upcoming August events with the Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce include:

• Coffee & Conversation Aug. 22 beginning at 7:30 a.m., at Centennial Bank, 23000 State Road 54 in Lutz.

• Business & Career Expo, Oct. 17 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Toyota, 5300 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

For information, visit PHHChamber.com.

New painting franchise opens
Jason Metz has opened a new location for ProTect Painters, a professional painting company that specializes in exterior and interior residential and commercial painting projects, in Wesley Chapel.

It will be located at 1936 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 64.

ProTect Painters as a corporation was acquired by Service Brands International in 2009, the franchisor of household services companies like Molly Maid and Mr. Handyman. Under the SBI umbrella, ProTect Painters is expected to grow to 200 franchises over the next five years, according to a release.

For information, call (813) 279-5083.

Planned Zephyrhills restaurant gets some financial help
The Zephyrhills City Council, meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, approved nearly $20,000 to help a popular Tampa restaurant expand into Zephyrhills.

Michael and Laura Andrews want to open Smokehouse B-B-Q & Grill at 5740 Seventh St., a space formerly occupied by Pancho Villa’s Mexican Restaurant. However, nearly $40,000 in vandalism caused to electrical and air-conditioning made that nearly impossible.

The CRA, however, offered to help, which could pave the way to creating up to 30 new jobs in the city, according to city documents.

The Andrews bought the 36-year-old building for $95,000. It originally sold in 2003 for $250,000. The CRA will give the couple up to $19,688 — or half the cost to make electrical and air-conditioning repairs — according to City Manager Steve Spina.

Smokehouse B-B-Q was started in 2004 on U.S. 301, one mile north of Interstate 4 in Tampa, according to city documents. Although revenue has steadily increased at that location over the past few years, the Andrews felt they had reached their capacity at their current location, and wanted to add a second one.

Housing market up, condo sales down
Nearly 15,000 existing homes and condominiums changed hands in the greater Tampa Bay area during April, May and June, showing promising housing market trends despite a drop in overall condo sales.

The region — which includes Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties — sold 3,733 condos in the second quarter, down more than 5 percent from the year before. The median sales price, however, rose more than 12 percent to $110,000.

The volume was second only to the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, where nearly 13,000 condos were sold, according to a new report from Florida Realtors. Sales there, however, were down more than 6 percent.

The lower volume is actually good news for the market, Florida Realtors chief economist John Tuccillo said, because that means foreclosure-related short sales are on the decline.

“The second quarter numbers show that Florida’s real estate market is settling in,” Tuccillo said, in a release. “While prices throughout the state tend to be up, sales are mixed with single-family sales growing, and condos and townhouses declining.”

Some of the reasons for that include the reduced role of bulk investors — buyers who pick up multiple units at a time in hopes to rent or flip — and many families who are having trouble getting mortgage credit because of flat income.

Just a little more than 10,800 single-family homes were sold in the quarter, up 3 percent from a year ago. Median prices, however, were much more flat at $156,000, an increase of 1.3 percent.

Statewide, single-family sales were up more than 7 percent, while median sales prices rose just above 5 percent at $180,000.

Political Agenda 08-20-14

August 21, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Last-minute endorsements for primary candidates
The primary election set to decide who will face Erika Remsberg in the Pasco County Commission District 2 race to succeed Pat Mulieri takes place Aug. 26. And a couple of groups are trying to get some final endorsements in before that happens.

Mike Moore, who is in a Republican primary against Ken Littlefield and Bob Robertson, earned the endorsement of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, and is set to attend an open house at TBBA’s new offices on East Kennedy Boulevard in Tampa on Aug. 21.

Robertson, however, earned the nod from Pasco Fiasco, the activist group that successfully fought against an elevated toll road on the State Road 54/56 corridor earlier this year.

“Robertson displayed genuine concern on local issues, and a track record for getting involved and staying connected with the community,” the group said, in a release. “He was also the first District 2 candidate to leave no wiggle room in the matter of firmly standing against the proposed State Road 54/56 toll road that would’ve become an albatross for Pasco County taxpayers for decades to come.”

Also earning an endorsement from Pasco Fiasco was Commissioner Henry Wilson Jr., who is facing a re-election battle with Mike Wells Jr., in District 4.

“Wilson may be a first-term commissioner, however he displays the willingness to do what’s right by the people despite any criticism from his detractors,” Pasco Fiasco organizers said. “Now that he’s gotten his feet wet, he seems poised to hit his stride at tackling the serious issues facing growing Pasco County. For many months, Wilson was the lone voice of sanity on board of county commissioners meetings, opposing the State Road 54 toll road concept.”

Early voting in Hillsborough, Pasco
Pasco County early voting runs through Aug. 23 at eight locations throughout the county.

Polls are open between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., except for Aug. 23, when they will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election day for the primary election is Aug. 26.

Polling places include the East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., in Dade City; the Land O’ Lakes Library at 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes; the New River Library at 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills; and The Grove at Wesley Chapel, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Hillsborough County will have 15 early voting sites open through Aug. 24, including weekends, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for those who want to participate in the primary election.

Once voting begins, those who wish to cast their ballot early can visit VoteHillsborough.org, and find out both locations and wait times. Hillsborough voters can go to any of the 15 sites to vote.

Sheriff blasts CSX over train-related road blocks

August 20, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco is stepping into a dispute between a railroad company and Dade City residents over randomly stopped trains in the city.

Nocco sent the letter to CSX Corp., Tuesday after a train stopped inside the town, blocking roads. It was the second time a train had stopped in the past 40 days, creating traffic problems that lasted for hours.

“The statement CSX issued apologizing to motorists for the ‘inconvenience’ shows an appalling lack of concern regarding the situation,” Nocco wrote in his letter to Michael Ward, president and chief executive of CSX. “This problem could have been avoided if trains were stopped just north of the city. For CSX to act as if this was an unavoidable problem when it could have been avoided with just a few minutes of forethought or action demonstrates (willful) neglect of CSX’s responsibilities.”

In a statement from its spokeswoman late Wednesday, CSX said it “apologizes for the disruptions caused by trains blocking road crossings in Dade City. We understand the frustrations of residents and local officials, and are making operational adjustments. CSX will make every attempt to keep trains running through Dade City except under emergency circumstances.

“If a train is stopped, local officials will be notified and crews have been instructed to separate the train’s cars at rail crossings to allow motorists through.

“Again, we sincerely apologize for this disruption.”

In previous published reports, CSX said the stoppage was caused by federal laws that dictate how many hours engineers and other workers are allowed to put in at one time. In each case, the employees ran out of time, and had to stop immediately — even if that was in the middle of a town.

The problem is that it not only ties up traffic and people’s ability to get around Dade City, but also creates public safety hazards, Nocco said.

“Intentional leaving of a train that blocks access of public safety vehicles and personnel in case of an emergency could cost the life of one of our citizens,” Nocco said. “I would hope that this is the last time this needs to be addressed.”

William Poe Jr., the city manager of Dade City, tried his own approach when the first train stopped and blocked roadways in July. that train, he said in a letter to CSX transportation superintendent Sam Ferrara, blocked three of the four railroad crossings into a neighborhood on the east side of the city. That train ended up blocking those intersections for nearly five hours.

“This thoughtless action on the part of your crew created a tremendous strain on our ability to provide essential public safety services,” Poe said in his July 16 letter. “The area adjacent to the train tracks is a residential neighborhood, and the roadways that were blocked provide the main access to numerous other neighborhoods, schools, parks, (a) cemetery and other facilities. A high volume of pedestrians, as well as vehicular traffic, go through this neighborhood on a daily basis.”

Dade City positioned police offices on both sides of the track at each intersection to help move traffic around the blockages, and to provide security for the train itself, Poe said. The engine was left unattended, and was running.

“I would ask that you examine your processes to ensure that these episodes do not happen to us, or any other city, in the future,” Poe told Ferrara. “These careless actions severely limited the capabilities of even basic emergency services response, and could have been catastrophic to our citizens. Just as vital, your leadership demonstrated no urgency in bringing resources to us in a timely manner.

“This is inconceivable to me.”

Updated 8/20/2014, 11:26 p.m., to add statement from CSX Corp.

Zephyrhills threatening to sack fire station contractor

August 18, 2014 By Michael Hinman

The renovation of Zephyrhills Fire Station 2 already is hundreds of thousands of dollars over budget and months behind schedule. And it seems city officials have had enough.

The city council has set a special meeting for Tuesday where it’s possible Pillar Construction LLC as well as Canerday Belfsky Arroyo Architects are fired.

City attorney Joe Poblick informed the companies of the impending decision Aug. 14 in an email to Pillar project manager Kevin Boutros, as well as architects Leo Arroyo and Richard Belfsky. The move came after a series of emails between the city and Boutros where both sides disagreed not only on when the long-delayed project was projected to be completed, but how much it would cost as well.

Pillar and Canerday were awarded the big in 2013 for $1.03 million, and for work to be complete by July 3. In May, however, both came to the city council and shared complications in the renovation work, including some shoddy construction that had taken place at the fire station, which is located next to city hall in downtown Zephyrhills, over the years. They first asked for another 36 days to complete the work, but then adjusted that to double the original time, moving the completion date to Jan. 11, according to city documents.

Those changes include more than $263,000 in additional expenses, bringing the total project cost to $1.3 million — nearly 30 percent higher than originally planned.

City public works director Shane LeBlanc cut the cost of changes down to $207,000, rejecting requests for additional money for electrical work, bracing, and structural work. The city also demanded that most of the work be done ahead of Christmas, but Boutros made it clear in an email that it would be nearly three weeks later, by Jan. 11.

City officials are asking the council to demand Pillar accept the lower amount and the shorter construction time, or terminate the contact. The council will have to make that decision during the special meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. in Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.