Michael Hinman

New commercial space planned for fitness center, animal hospital

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Wesley Chapel continues to grow along the State Road 56 corridor between Interstate 75 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, with members of the Pasco County Development Review Committee set to give its blessing next week on a 22,600-square-foot shopping center.

Tentatively known as the Dr. Reddy Commerce Center, the center will be located at 27029 State Road 56, east of Mansfield Boulevard. The center is slated to become home to an animal hospital, a martial arts center, and the new home for CrossFit 14, which right now is located just down the road at 27233 State Road 56.

The commerce center will be two buildings located on just under 3 acres of land that was purchased by Sree Reddy DVM PA last June for $795,000. Dr. Sree Reddy runs Seven Oaks Pet Hospital, also located just blocks away. Reddy’s animal hospital is only expected to take up 4,500 square feet, while CrossFit 14 will need more than 12,000, according to documents filed with Pasco County.

Under county rules, that would mean CrossFit 14 would have to dedicate more than 120 parking spaces to the facility. However, the development review committee will consider a proposal to cut that requirement in half, since the company says it doesn’t operate like a standard gym where people can come and go as they please.

“We limit the amount of people in each class as well as the amount of total people in our facility at one time,” CrossFit 14 owner Sara Esidore said in a February letter to the county.

Esidore added that while her company will need 12,000 square feet, the actual usable gym space will be closer to 8,000 square feet, with the rest used for locker rooms, coaches offices and storage.

“Our current location is 4,700 square feet, and we only have about 30 parking spaces designated for our clients, which has worked out just fine for us and hasn’t caused any parking issues,” Esidore wrote.

The development review committee is set to make a final decision on the preliminary site plan when it meets April 10. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. in Dade City.

Pasco considering ban on hiring smokers for county jobs

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

It’s hard to argue the numbers against smoking: It’s caused 20.8 million deaths since 1965, it’s been linked to 12 kinds of cancer and 17 chronic diseases, and can create similar problems to anyone else exposed to the smoke, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.

Life is becoming more and more difficult for tobacco users. Not only is space to light up becoming scarce, but jobs might be more difficult to find as well. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo) — Life is becoming more and more difficult for tobacco users. Not only is space to light up becoming scarce, but jobs might be more difficult to find as well.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

So for Pasco County, banning cigarette smoking is a no-brainer. However, preventing smokers from being hired by the county? That might be a little more problematic.

Yet Pasco is starting that push, although county performance development director Marc Bellas admits that he’s still not sure exactly how the new program will shake out.

“Everyone in this organization knows this is coming, but what we don’t know is what it will look like, when will it happen, and how it will impact each one of them,” Bellas said.

Governments have found some success — and failures — when it comes to implementing policies that would ban hiring smokers. Temple Terrace made national news more than a decade ago when it tried to control smoking in its workforce, and the negative backlash caused them to change gears.

But that was a different time, when Florida’s ban on indoor smoking in most public places was still in its infancy. In 2003, the argument was to help lower health insurance costs. Today, however, the carrot being dangled is healthier living.

“What they’re looking for is kind of a more environmentally friendly and positive work place,” said county public information officer Doug Tobin. “That includes a smoke-free campus, as well as a policy where new employees would be prohibited from smoking.”

And the idea is not new in Pasco County. Both the fire department and sheriff’s office already restrict smoking among employees, Tobin said, and the county itself has flirted with the idea for several years now.

A smoking policy for the county government is far from complete, Bellas said. However, he brought up some initial ideas to the Pasco County Commission last week to get some of their feedback.

In its current form, employees hired after Oct. 1 would be required to sign an affidavit affirming they have not used tobacco products for one year, and agree to submit to a nicotine test if they’re every suspected of smoking. Those who were hired before Oct. 1 would no longer be allowed to use tobacco products while they are on the clock.

New hires would not be allowed to smoke or use tobacco products at all, not even at home, or on the weekends. If they are discovered to have violated the policy, they could be disciplined and even fired.

Yet, even Bellas admits that sometimes a plan looks far better on paper than it does in the field. And his goal is to not make it more difficult to compete for good employees with other counties and private industry by having too restrictive of a policy.

“We have a few challenges that we can’t ignore,” he said. “Between 24 and 25 percent of our employees right now use tobacco, and a lot of them are in the entry-level positions in roads and bridges, and in utilities. The folks in those departments already have a hard enough time keeping those positions filled. If we take one more thing away, and they believe it’s going to be a problem, then that is not a good choice for us.”

That means there’s still a lot of work to do on the policy before it’s completed, Bellas said, and there’s a good chance that what is finally approved to begin next October could be quite different from what’s on the table today.

And the talk alone of implementing the policy seems to have had some positive effect already. Commissioner Henry Wilson, who serves on a committee addressing this issue, told commissioners at the recent meeting participation in smoking cessation programs has drastically increased over the past two months.

“They know the conversation has started,” Wilson said. “This is nothing else but to create a healthy work environment, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Published April 2, 2014

Experience vs. New Blood

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Three elections, six candidates, and three incumbents — all with more than a half-century of government experience.

Voters head to the polls April 8 in Dade City, St. Leo and Zephyrhills, where they will decide, among other things, whether they want to keep longevity in their city government, or find a fresh perspective.

Each of these municipalities faced controversy in recent months. Dade City abruptly turned one high-level government job into two, pushing out a longtime employee. St. Leo could see its government shaken up later this year if parts of Lake Jovita successfully de-annex itself, possibly eliminating two commission seats. And, Zephyrhills is facing a tough decision on what to do with its top executive, where one race could easily seal the fate of City Manager Jim Drumm.

Three communities have their future in the balance, and every single vote has the potential to be the ultimate decider.

Dade City: Scott Black vs. Angelica Herrera
St. Leo: Raphael Davis vs. Donna DeWitt
Zephyrhills: Alan Knight vs. Jodi Wilkeson

City manager merry-go-round returning Spina to job?

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

If Jim Drumm believes some of the rumors he’s heard, then former Zephyrhills city manager Steve Spina might become the Jay Leno of local government.

Zephyrhills city manager Jim Drumm is facing a very uncertain future in his government job, something he said could be because of unsubstantiated rumors that his predecessor, Steve Spina, wants to return. (File Photo) — Zephyrhills city manager Jim Drumm is facing a very uncertain future in his government job, something he said could be because of unsubstantiated rumors that his predecessor, Steve Spina, wants to return.
(File Photo)

The late-night comedian stepped aside from “The Tonight Show” in 2009, but returned to the job a short time later after replacement host Conan O’Brien fell out of favor.

The same might be happening in Zephyrhills, Drumm told the city council last week. Hearing reports that Spina might be looking to return to city management after some time teaching, Drumm said some council members might be hoping they can get Spina to take his old job back.

In fact, it’s one of the few things Drumm says makes sense on why the council would suddenly be talking about letting him go as city manager after three years.

“I have great respect for Dr. Spina,” Drumm said in a prepared letter to the council March 24. “I have not had his long tenure to compete with his knowledge and his many contacts. If it is not the intent of the city council to hire Dr. Spina, then I remain perplexed by the issues that warrant me to not continue working together to improve Zephyrhills.”

Spina, who retired as city manager in 2011, told The Laker after last week’s meeting that he wasn’t commenting on such rumors, except to say that they are not accurate.

Three city council members have expressed a desire to part ways with Drumm, and feel now is the best time since his contract runs out in May. To renew that contract would require a supermajority on the council — four votes — they say, and those votes just aren’t there.

Drumm disagrees with that interpretation of the city’s charter. His contract might have a set beginning and end date, but the charter is clear that it takes four votes to appoint a city manager, and four votes to remove him. And whether Drumm has a contract or not, without those four votes, the council can’t force him out.

“My take is that I would remain a city manager without a contract,” Drumm said, adding that there were times in Spina’s 15-year tenure where he worked without a contract, too, protected by the four-votes clause of the city charter.

Both City Attorney Joe Poblick and outside labor attorney Brian Koji agreed that Drumm has a finite contract with the city. If four council members don’t vote to renew it, then Drumm is out of a job.

Councilman Kenneth Compton, however, doesn’t have a lot of confidence in the track record of the city attorney and lawyers he may consult when it comes to labor issues. Compton, who has pushed for more discussion on Drumm’s employment situation, said the city took heavy financial losses from two recent labor disputes. He fears that forcing Drumm out could result in another legal dispute, one that could be yet another loss for Zephyrhills in front of a judge.

“The contract has a term limit, but the charter doesn’t,” Compton said, adding that the charter would supersede any contract the council writes, since the charter is essentially Zephyrhills’ constitution. “I don’t like ending this, but if we’re going to do it, I want to make sure we are as accurate as possible.”

The battle lines over Drumm have been drawn, it seems, as far as the council is concerned. Lance Smith and Ken Burgess originally recommended cutting Drumm loose, and last week, had Charles Proctor join their side. That leaves just Compton and Jodi Wilkeson in support of Drumm, or at the very least, gathering more information on making sure the city is protected legally.

Wilkeson suggested a third legal opinion be sought, something Mayor Danny Burgess was against.

“How much weight are we going to give this third opinion?” Burgess asked. “We had two attorneys that we paid for opinions who are very qualified and very good at what they do. And here we’re just going with a firm (for a third opinion) based on name recognition.”

Compton and Wilkeson picked out the Tampa firm Fowler White as one they recognized from a list of potential firms Poblick shared at the council meeting, and chose that firm for the third opinion.

Seeking that additional legal counsel does buy Drumm more time as it delayed a decision to the April 14 council meeting. However, that pushes the meeting until after the upcoming municipal election where Wilkeson is defending her seat against former high school football coach Alan Knight.

If Knight wins the election and decides against retaining Drumm, he would be the fourth vote and would likely make any legal questions moot.

Published April 2, 2014

Zephyrhills tests whether everybody knows your name

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Finding success in politics most definitely is a game of “who you know,” or at the very least when a voter is looking at a long list of names, “who has heard of you.”

If familiarity is key to winning a seat on the Zephyrhills city council, former Pasco County educator Alan Knight may have this one in the bag.

The moment people drive into Zephyrhills, they know there’s an election brewing between Alan Knight and incumbent Jodi Wilkeson. Who will win is decided April 8. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“Being in education, I would honestly think I have touched the lives of at least 75 percent of the people of this town — either as students, athletes, church members, etc.,” Knight said. “I know the people of Zephyrhills, and I know their feelings.”

However, while Knight may have worked as an administrator and even a head football coach for Zephyrhills High School in the mid-1970s, he hasn’t been working on the city council during the past six years like Jodi Wilkeson. As a councilwoman and a business owner — as well as someone who likes to stay active — there is rarely a Zephyrhills event that she’s not a part of.

“On the campaign trail, no one ever says to me, ‘Where have you been?’” Wilkeson said. “They know I’m always just a phone call away. When they have a problem, I know who to call and how to get it solved.”

Knight fears spending too much time on the council can create a stale look at the problems. To him, a fresh face brings fresh ideas and proposals, and gets away from “we have always done it that way.”

Wilkeson, however, says she’s never stuck to the status quo.

“’Fresh perspective’ shouldn’t be synonymous with ‘little relevant experience’ when competing for a position as an elected municipal official,” Wilkeson said. “There’s a steep learning curve when taking office. I prefer to see folks run for office only after they’ve invested a year or more in service as a volunteer city board member.”

And Knight, she says, has done just that, getting a “good start” with his work on the Parks & Recreation Board dealing with what to do with the closed Hercules Park on County Road 54.

One thing both seem to agree on, however, is that neither wants to rush to judgment on embattled city manager Jim Drumm. Wilkeson has publicly sought to hold off any decisions while more information is gathered, and Knight feels the same way.

“I have often been asked about the Drumm issue, and my response is that until elected, I can make no judgment,” he said. “Once there, I will totally scrutinize the situation, seek advice from the citizens, (and) talk to Mr. Drumm and all involved. In other words, I do not take this lightly, but as a situation that not only has to be addressed, but one that must be addressed with close, well-defined facts.”

Knight’s primary platform focuses on communication inside the government and with residents, something he says has fallen to “a new low.” Wilkeson, on the other hand, wants more attention paid to the Zephyrhills Police Department, where low wages can’t compete with neighboring communities.

“Our citizens want a strong, well-trained police force, but we continue to lose talent to bigger communities offering better wages and benefits,” Wilkeson said. She may have voted against a tax increase that would’ve funded a new detective position with the police department, but that hasn’t stopped her from voting for pay increases to entry-level patrol officers.

Knight said he agrees, and expands that a step further.

“I feel that support of all our city workers is a must,” he said, “from the chiefs of fire and police, to the man riding on the garbage truck.”

For other parts in our Experience vs. New Blood story package, click here.

Published April 2, 2014

St. Leo election is all about one thing: Lake Jovita

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

A bill sits in a committee in Tallahassee that would remove part of the Lake Jovita community from St. Leo. Yet, that hasn’t stopped Raphael Davis from challenging longtime commissioner Donna DeWitt for her seat in the St. Leo government.

St. Leo is such a small town that a community that’s complained about taxes, nearby Saint Leo University and other issues, is literally right on the town hall’s doorstep. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

While Davis talks almost exclusively about the plight of Lake Jovita residents in the town, he has nothing to say about the de-annexation itself, saying he doesn’t “comment on pending legislation or speculation.”

“Since the beginning of the Lake Jovita community, a small portion has allegiance to the Town of St. Leo,” Davis said. “These Lake Jovita residents have, up to this point, quietly gone along about their lives and paid town taxes knowing they were receiving little or no services in return.”

Town taxes, Davis said, are out of line with what Pasco County charges to live in an unincorporated area, and have accumulated more than $1.2 million in cash and reserves because of it.

“I believe a more business-type approach would benefit all of the residents, reduce the current tax burden on all of our residents, and still maintain the town on a sound financial basis,” Davis said.

DeWitt, however, calls Davis’ candidacy just a continuation of the battle the town has had with some Lake Jovita residents since 2006. While she has heard complaints about taxes, she feels the bigger reasons have to do with Saint Leo University itself, a school that predates Lake Jovita by a century or so.

“When we make decisions, we try to be a voice for everybody in the town, not just for Lake Jovita,” said DeWitt, a nun with nearby Holy Name Monastery, who was first elected to the commission in 1997. “They get upset when the university puts up a tree or a light. They knew what was there when they built the community.”

Losing part of Lake Jovita won’t hurt St. Leo at all, DeWitt said, except create some changes on the commission itself when two members will be forced to resign.

“St. Leo will be fine,” she said. “We did it 100 years without them, we’ll continue to do it without them.”

For other parts in our Experience vs. New Blood story package, click here.

Published April 2, 2014

Herrera claims Black has ‘lost touch’ with Dade City

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

When Scott Black first took his seat on the Dade City Commission, Iraq had not yet invaded Kuwait to ignite the first Gulf War, George Bush (the first one) was still president, and spending more than a dollar for a gallon of gas probably meant it was premium.

Signs supporting both Angelica Herrera and longtime commissioner Scott Black have populated yards and streets around Dade City ahead of next week’s election. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

A lot has changed in 24 years, and Angelica Herrera feels Black has not kept up. And that’s why she’s facing off against him next week.

“Mr. Black has had his chance,” she said. “But after (more than) 20 years, he has lost touch with the voters.”

That was most evident, Herrera said, when Black approved physically expanding a sewage plant into a neighboring athletic field in the Mickens-Harper neighborhood.

“This was most insensitive and not necessary, since the city had other options,” she said.

However, if Herrera wants any chance to beat Black, she not only faces a commissioner that has strong name recognition in Dade City, but she may need to overcome some of her eyebrow-raising actions, including walking out of a candidate debate last week.

This, Black said, has hurt Herrera’s position, because she has not “presented anything of consideration relating to either experience or fresh perspective.”

“She has not attended any city commission meetings or public events to make any effort to educate herself on the current issues,” Black said of Herrera. Quoting the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, Black said elected officials can either “grow” or “swell” in their positions, and he chooses to grow.

“It is very important to me that I enjoy and embrace the many challenges that come with the position, and continue to grow with it,” Black said. “As well, someone purporting to be only a fresh infusion of energy is usually not the best option, while a knowledgeable proven force is always better, and should be preferred.”

Dade City’s commission earned some unwanted publicity late last year when Commissioner Jim Shive surprised his colleagues in the middle of a workshop last October, pushing to separate the position of city clerk and city finance — which was then held by longtime city employee Jim Class.

Black spoke out against the move, saying a workshop was not the right forum to bring up such an issue unannounced. But his protests fell on deaf ears, and the move later prompted Class to resign.

“The process of dividing the position of city clerk and finance director was flawed and misguided from the start,” Black said. “It was deceptively billed as ‘progress’ when there was no present need to make the personnel change in a smoothly running department — especially in the first month of the new tightly constrained budget year.”

Herrera, however, remembers all of it differently, and says Black has misrepresented what happened.

“The fact is that numerous city commission meetings document that this matter was discussed publicly,” she said. “It did not just come up at the workshop for the first time as my opponent would like us to believe. It (really) has been overblown.”

Black said his primary regret was not speaking out more loudly, and drawing residents into the conversation.

“I wish that the community could have been more aware and alarmed, and willing to stand up and question this continued gradual abuse of power, and demand better of us,” Black said.

Both Herrera and Black have combined to raise $6,500 in this race, more than any other municipal election in Pasco County this cycle. And it seems both may need every penny.

For other parts in our Experience vs. New Blood story package, click here.

Published April 2, 2014

Political Agenda 04-02-14

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Deadline here for mail ballots
Any voter wishing to avoid having to head to a precinct on election day April 8 has until April 2 to request a vote-by-mail ballot in Pasco County.

After that, beginning April 3, voters who wish to vote a paper ballot prior to election day can pick up their ballot at any of the three supervisor of elections offices in the county, or at their respective city halls.

Local elections are taking place in three municipalities: Dade City, St. Leo and Zephyrhills.

Those picking up ballots on behalf of someone else will need a written request from the voter, designating them as the person authorized to carry out that ballot, the Pasco County elections office said in a release. The designee will be asked to provide photo ID, and to complete an affidavit before the ballot can be released.

Designees are limited to picking up two ballots in addition to their own, unless the additional ballots are for immediate family members.

Elections office locations locally are at 14236 Sixth St., Suite 200, in Dade City, as well as 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Room 105, in Land O’ Lakes.

For information, visit PascoVotes.com.

Burgess, Diaz to speak at Republican club
Republican Florida House candidates Danny Burgess and Minnie Diaz are set to speak at the Wesley Chapel Republican Club April 10 beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Hyundai, 27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

For information, email Mike Moore at .

East Pasco Democrats meet
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet April 21 at 7 p.m. at The Commons, 38130 Pretty Pond Road in Zephyrhills.

The speaker will be Lynn Providence of Legal Shield talking about identity theft.

For information, call (813) 838-0767.

Poll workers needed for August, November elections
Energetic? Service-oriented? Then the Pasco County supervisor of elections may be looking for you.

Poll workers are needed for both the primary election Aug. 26 and the general election Nov. 4. Positions are paid, but potential candidates will need to be able to stand, bend, stoop, lift approximately 30 pounds, and have normal vision and manual and physical dexterity.

Applicants also need to write and read English, have an email address, and be able to work the entire day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All positions receive mandatory paid training the month preceding both the primary and general elections.

For information, call (800) 851-8754, or visit PascoVotes.com.

Bill would make gas pumping easier for some
State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa has joined forces with state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, to ensure those with disabilities can get the appropriate help they need at the gas pump.

H.B. 185 and S.B. 1184 are modeled after a Hillsborough County ordinance that requires decals on pumps that provide information on how to “call for assistance.” Hillsborough passed its bill in 2012, and other counties have followed suit.

“This is a cost-effective option that will assist countless persons with disabilities across the state who struggle to refuel their gas,” Danish said in a release.

The bill has received support from several organizations, including the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, Paralyzed Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans and AARP, according to a release.

Last week, H.B. 185 cleared its last committee hurdle before heading to the floor.

Danish is seeking re-election in District 63 against former state Rep. Shawn Harrison, who has outraised Danish just under $72,000 to $61,000 through February, according to state election records.

Burgess leads February fundraising
Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess is $9,000 closer to winning the state House seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, after leading fundraising efforts in February.

The latest influx of cash brings Burgess to $35,135 for his campaign so far. That’s well ahead of his Republican primary opponent Minerva Diaz, who has a campaign chest of just under $2,500 after pulling in $160 in February.

Although she’s nowhere near the level Burgess is, the lone Democrat who has filed to run for the seat so far — Beverly Anne Ledbetter — raised just over $1,600 in February, bringing her total to $4,081.

For Burgess, $2,500 of his February haul came from outside his district, including $1,000 from OD-EyePAC, a political action committee representing optometrists. Contributing $500 each were the Committee for an Innovative Florida founded by former Republican State Rep. Shawn Harrison, government relations firm Robert M. Levy & Associates out of Miami, and the Rebuild Florida political action committee, also out of Miami.

Burgess also has apparently received an endorsement from the Zephyrhills News, that newspaper taking the unusual step of writing a $500 check to the candidate. Media companies typically avoid financially supporting political candidates.

Ledbetter’s largest donation came from out of her district as well. Kim McLaughlin, described in campaign finance filings as a union representative from Burbank, Calif., donated $200 to the Democrat.

Ross releases campaign video
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, released his first Web video for the 2014 re-election campaign, featuring footage from his announcement tour Jan. 21. It also highlights the work he has done in Congress over the last three years, as well as his future legislative priorities.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to represent my friends and neighbors in Washington these past three years,” Ross said. “I first ran for Congress because Washington was broken. While we have made some progress, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. I’m asking the people of Hillsborough and Polk counties to send me back to Congress for another term so we can continue working to get our country back on track.”

The video also highlights Ross’ work to help cut the federal budget, simplify the tax code, and reduce the size of government to stimulate the economy.

So far, Ross is facing Democrat Alan Cohn in the general election, and neither has yet to draw a primary challenger.

Browning throws support behind Burgess
Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning endorsed outgoing Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess in his run for the Florida House seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.

“Danny grew up in East Pasco like I did, and is a product of the Pasco County School system,” Browning said in a release. “He has an energetic and humble demeanor about him that doesn’t come around too often.”

Burgess faces Minerva Diaz in the Republican primary in August, the winner set to run against Democrat Beverly Ledbetter in November.

Business Digest 04-02-14

April 3, 2014 By Michael Hinman

A ribbon cutting that computes
The training division of Computers Etc. at the Dade City Business Center recently had a ribbon cutting and grand opening, sponsored by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. Partners Ken Buzzie, Kristin Pelletier and staffer Michael Tauber cut the ribbon for the new center. The new center will help customers with Microsoft Office Suite, Windows 7, Window 8 and Windows 8.1, as well as accounting software.
(Courtesy of Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce)

Open house at SmartStart
SmartStart Dade City will host an open house April 4 from noon to 3 p.m. to learn about Pasco County’s first business incubator, and get a tour of the facility.

SmartStart is located at 15000 Citrus Country Drive in Dade City.

Managed by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., SmartStart encourages companies to work in a collaborative environment with other small businesses. Tenants have round-the-clock access to office space, as well as co-working space with free Wi-Fi, a mailbox, conference room space, seminars and one-on-one mentoring.

Swiftmud will keep Babb
Michael Babb will get another shot at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board after earning a reappointment by Gov. Rick Scott.

Babb of Tampa is the president of Two Rivers Ranch. If confirmed by the Florida Senate, he will serve until the beginning of March 2018.

Governing board members are unpaid volunteers who set policy for the district, manage the water and related resources of west central Florida, and protect the environment.
Social for Women-n-Charge

Women-n-Charge will host a social and open house April 17 beginning at 5 p.m., at City Grill, 5429 Village Market in Wesley Chapel.

No RSVP or meeting fees are required.

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

Bellafield collection opens at Seven Oaks
Standard Pacific Homes recently hosted the grand opening of its Bellafield collection of single-family homes in Wesley Chapel’s Seven Oaks community.

Two model homes of the collection are now open, which includes “great rooms,” gourmet kitchens and spa-like master bathrooms.

House sizes range from 1,945 square feet to 3,866 square feet, and is in both single- and two-story designs. Prices start a little under $300,000.

The Bellafield sales center is located at 4527 Scarlet Loop in Wesley Chapel. For information, visit StandardPacificHomes.com.

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several speakers for the coming months. The group meets every other week at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Here’s the group’s slate of upcoming speakers:

• April 8: Danny Burgess, Zephyrhills mayor, candidate for State House District 38

• May 27: Mike Moore, candidate for Pasco County Commission, owner of VR Business Sales

NetFest on April 3
Pasco County Economic Development will host NetFest April 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Starkey Ranch, 12959 State Road 54 in Odessa.

The 12th annual event is for business and community leaders around Tampa Bay, and includes music and barbecue.

Tickets are $45 each, or $35 for Pasco EDC investors and their guests.

For information, call (888) 607-2726.

Gassaway joins PEDC board
B. Patrick Gassaway, president of Heidt Design LLC, has joined the Pasco Economic Development Council’s board of directors.

Heidt Design is a local consulting firm providing community planning, land planning, landscape architecture, ecological services, land development engineering, and construction inspection services in the Tampa Bay region. Heidt Design first became an investor of the Pasco EDC in 2012, and has since increased its involvement to the $10,000 corporate council level.

“Since 1999, our engineering practice has been solely focused on Pasco County,” Gassaway said, in a release. “We’ve watched the area explode with growth, and we look forward to helping contribute to the planning, development and creation of jobs in this community.”

The Pasco EDC board is responsible for governing the organization and providing leadership in the execution of its strategies.

Meadow Pointe townhomes begin
Construction has started on Lennar’s Central Florida Division’s newest project at Meadow Pointe.

The company is building 62 townhomes just north of New Tampa in southern Pasco County. The townhomes will have three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, ranging in square feet from 1,636 to 1,853. Prices will begin at around $150,000.

Meadow Pointe is a 1,800-acre project with nature preserves and other amenities including swimming pools, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, nature trails and bicycle paths.

For information, visit LennarTampaFl.com.

LGBT bill gets corporate support
More Florida businesses are throwing their support to a bipartisan bill that would ban anti-gay and gender-based discrimination.

Joining Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce are Raymond James Financial, Winn-Dixie Stores, On Top of the World Communities in Ocala, and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Other businesses already a part of the coalition include C1 Bank, Carlton Fields, CSX Corp., Darden Restaurants, Florida Blue, Wells Fargo and Home Shopping Network.

While it’s illegal to discriminate in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap or marital status, the LGBT community is left out of statewide non-discrimination protections, according to a release. The group instead has supported S.B. 348 and H.B. 239, collectively known as the Florida Competitive Workforce Act.

Patrick Geraghty, chief executive of Florida Blue, leads the coalition.

Latino networking event
Gaceta Latina is hosting a business networking event April 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Residence Inn Marriott, 2101 Northpoint Parkway in Lutz.

Cost is free, but RSVP is required by April 18.

For information, email , or call (813) 936-4024.

Zephyrhills’ first public company gets solid start on market

April 2, 2014 By Michael Hinman

It’s hard to find a company on the eastern side of Pasco County publicly trading shares on a stock exchange, but the newest public company is off to a fast start.

Those who bought shares in CES Synergies at $1 each have already watched their value more than double since shares hit the open market in late January. Tuesday’s close on the Crystal Springs-based full-service environmental, demolition and mold remediation company, was $2.50, coming off a Tuesday high of $2.71 soon after the company released its first yearly financial results.

With that high, someone who invested the minimum $15,000 in the initial offering last year now has paper worth more than $40,650. But the stock market is a tricky place where prices might be high one day and drop the next.

CES released its 2013 financials on Monday, announcing a loss of $161,000 last year, compared to a profit of $389,000 in 2012. That caused shares to dip from its previous high of $2.50 on Friday to $2.35 by the end of the day Monday. Yet, by Tuesday, values were on the rise once again into record territory — likely fueled by a solid fourth quarter for CES, where revenue soared 91 percent compared to the year before.

Clyde Biston, the chairman and chief executive for CES, told investors that growth will likely continue this year, especially with new contracts with the New Orleans Housing Authority, the Florida Department of Transportation and Eglin Air Force Base on the Florida Panhandle.

CES, which trades over-the-counter as CESX, primarily attracts customers that are typically government bodies or large corporations, helping them with various environmental and demolition projects. Last year, its largest clients were FDOT and Sarasota County Schools, according to its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company has 46.5 million shares, which gives CES a paper value of $126.1 million based on Tuesday’s stock close. Yet, right now, CES shares are considered “penny stock,” meaning they are not part of a major stock exchange (like the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq), and are valued at less than $5 per share.

Because of that, a penny stock is not as easy to sell as a stock on a major exchange would be. However, CES has planned from the beginning to make its way to a major exchange as quickly as possible.

Jeff Chartier, president of Strategic Capital Markets of North Miami Beach — who also serves on the CES board of directors — said before a presentation in Zephyrhills last November that the company’s initial offering gave potential investors “a chance to own part of the company, and join us as we’re poised to go on the bigger market,” like Nasdaq.

While the company remains based in Crystal Springs, Biston last year announced plans to move into the upper floors of the former Wachovia Bank building on Fifth Avenue in Zephyrhills, a building he purchased in 2009 for $550,000. Biston at one time offered the building as a potential library site for the city before council members there opted to build a new library near its current site.