The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

County board wants to know more about constitutional officers’ needs

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As the Pasco County Commission considers its budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, it wants to hear more about the needs of its constitutional officers, who are Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Pasco Property Appraiser Mike Wells.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey asked county staff to invite the constitutional officers to share their needs during the county’s budget talks.

“I just want to be sure our constitutional partners are involved,” Starkey told County Administrator Mike Carballa and Amielee Farrell, the county’s new budget director, during a board workshop on Jan. 16.

Carballa said county staff typically brings the constitutional officers’ budget to board members.

Starkey: “Can we not engage with them before they bring us their budgets?”

Farrell responded: “Can you, yes. My office will encourage it and recommend it, but we will need support from you all.

“Do you want that to be at a workshop? Do you want that to be a regular item?” she asked.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said the county board needs more information. ”Last year, we didn’t hear anything,” he said.

Starkey added: “I want to hear their vision for what they need, so we have a short-term goal. We have a long-term goal.”

Starkey said she regularly meets with the sheriff and he told her that no one has sat down with them to find out what they need, in terms of buildings.

She said she’s aware that the tax collector is planning a building.

She wants to know the big picture.

“I’d like to hear what their capital needs are, long-term, so we can plan them into ours. It’s our responsibility to fulfill their capital needs,” she said.

Board members left it up to Carballa and his team to arrange for an opportunity for the board to have a discussion with constitutional officers during the budget process.

Published January 31, 2024

Pasco’s collaboration with AmSkills receives national recognition

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Pasco County has been awarded the 2024 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for its work relating to the AmSkills Workforce Innovation Center project.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the county’s Community Development Department has secured the national honor.

“Another year, another award for our team,” Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said, in a news release from the county.  “Our work with AmSkills is amazing and makes a huge difference in our community.  I’m certainly not surprised we’re receiving such a prestigious award — yet again!”

AmSkills Workforce Innovation Center helps individuals explore new careers and workforce training.

It serves youth, adults, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those affected by COVID-19 job reduction and loss, according to the release.

Focus areas include careers in the manufacturing, public works, utilities and construction trades.  Introduction into this program can begin with the mobile Career Discovery Boot Camp, designed with direct input from local manufacturers looking for more vetted entry-level candidates.

The county’s community development team helped AmSkills to acquire its new center and plan future renovations through the assistance of Community Development Block Grant funds.

The county’s team will attend a conference on Feb. 2, in Washington D.C, to receive the honor.

The department also received the national distinction in  2021, 2022 and 2023 for its collaboration on the Vincent House, Rosalie Rendu Residences Project and Family Services Center, respectively.

 The Audrey Nelson Award recognizes exemplary local projects and programs funded through the HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and other HUD Office of Community Planning and Development funding.

For more information, visit NCDAonline.org.

Published January 24, 2024

Share your thoughts in Pasco’s annual survey

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Pasco County is conducting its annual community survey and it’s asking the public to share their thoughts on all sorts of topics, including utilities, parks and libraries, safety and emergency services, transportation, growth, and the importance and quality of services.

You can take the survey on Pasco County’s homepage at MyPasco.net by clicking on the survey link, or on the MyPasco App by clicking on the Community Survey button.

You also can take it on Pasco County’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor pages.

The deadline for taking the survey is Jan. 31.

Published  January 24, 2024

 

Garden club celebrates Joy-Lan Drive In

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Vicki Johnson and Sally Redden of the Hollyhock Circle of the Dade City Garden Club are shown here with Chip Sawyer. Sawyer received two ornaments from the garden club depicting the Joy-Lan Drive In. The Hollyhock Circle nominated Joy-Lan for the honor of being the garden club’s 2023 historic ornament. (Courtesy of Dade City Garden Club)

Members of the Dade City Garden Club recently presented Chip Sawyer with a gift of two ornaments to celebrate the selection of the Joy-Lan Drive In as the subject of the garden club’s 2023 historic ornament.

Sawyer is president of Sun South Theatres, which operates the Joy-Lan in Dade City and Silver Moon in Lakeland.

He recently visited the Dade City Garden Club to receive his gift of two of the club’s 2023 historic ornaments, according to a news release.

Since 1994, the Dade City Garden Club has designed and sold an annual ornament depicting landmarks, institutions, and activities of Dade City, to preserve its rich history and strengthen community pride, the release says.

The Joy-Lan Drive In was featured in the 2023 ornament and proved to be a community favorite, selling out within two months of its issue.

Published January 24, 2024

Tania Gorman appointed MPO’s executive director

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Tania Gorman has been named the new executive director of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Gorman replaces Carl Mikyska, who resigned from the post in October.

The Pasco MPO board confirmed Gorman’s appointment at its meeting on Jan. 11.

Roy Mazur, the county’s assistant county administrator for development services, presented the recommendation to the MPO board.

The recruitment process had been completed when Mazur assumed his position, but he said he had met with the top two applicants and also observed Gorman in her day-to-day activities.

“I came to the conclusion that she would be absolutely the top pick to represent the MPO as their executive director. I absolutely, with zero hesitation and total confidence, submit her name for your confirmation,” Mazur told MPO board members.

The board unanimously approved Gorman’s confirmation.

The Pasco MPO board is made up of elected officials from Pasco County, Zephyrhills, Dade City, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

The Pasco County MPO is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County, which serves the following municipalities in Pasco: Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

Under federal and state laws, the Pasco County MPO is responsible for establishing a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process for Pasco County.

Its key responsibilities are the creation of the 20-year Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the five-year Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the five-year Transportation Improvement program.

Published January 24, 2024

Quilters stitch together projects to help others

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The Cypress Creek Quilters Guild put their collective talents together this year. Members joined forces to make a block each month, with those blocks being assembled to create more than 80 quilts that were donated to local charities.

The quilts were donated to Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic and Sexual Violence Center, the Redeeming Love Foster Closet and the Oasis Pregnancy Care Center. 

The local guild meets the second Monday of the month at the Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa, and each Thursday that school is in session at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway.

The guild’s mission is to foster the art of quilting, according to Jennifer Ackart, the group’s president.

More information about the guild can be found at CypressCreekQuilters.net.

The quilters also made 391 pillowcases for Ryan’s Cases for Smiles — an organization that distributes cheerful handmade pillowcases to hospitalized children.

Published January 24, 2024

Members of the Cypress Creek Quilters Guild donated their time and talent to make 80 quilts for local charities. (Courtesy of Jennifer Ackart)
These are some of the quilts lovingly stitched together by members of the Cypress Creek Quilters Guild to benefit local charities.
These women sewed together fabric to make pillowcases to help bring smiles to the faces of hospitalized children.

Applicants needed for new veteran’s advisory board

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The Hillsborough County Commission is seeking applicants for its newly created Hillsborough County Veteran’s Advisory Board.

Those interested in applying must live in Hillsborough County and must be a registered voter, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The board will advise the Hillsborough County Commission, the Hillsborough County Consumer & Veteran’s Services Department, and the Conservation & Environmental Lands Management Department regarding the development of additional phases of the Veterans Resource Center. It also will weigh in on issues involving the memorials and grounds of Hillsborough County Veteran’s Memorial Park, and revitalization of the museum.

The advisory board also will convene community groups that are interested in providing resources to veterans and their families, the news release says.

Plus, it will deliver an annual report to the Hillsborough County Commission detailing priorities, goals, and issues pertaining to veterans and their families.

The board will serve on an ad hoc basis until December 2027 when it will be determined if it should continue, the release adds.

Terms on the seven-member board are for two years. At least one board member will be selected from each county commission district.

Applicants should meet this criteria:

1) Served in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge with a minimum of six years’ service (preference given to those who have retired by years of service or medically retired from active service);

2) Provide a resume of veteran-related community service;

3) Indicate educational background and work experience that would significantly contribute to the board when serving as a member; and

4) Identify all memberships in professional organizations.

There is no compensation to serve on the board, and the board is subject to the Florida Sunshine Law.

The meeting schedule has not yet been determined.

All applicants must submit a completed Questionnaire for County Appointments and a Standards of Conduct form.  

All forms must be signed and dated, and all questions must be answered in entirety to be eligible. 

Forms are available on the county’s website at HCFLGov.net. To download a form, click on the following tabs/links: “Government,” “Boards and Committees Forms.”

Forms can be mailed to: P. O. Box 1110, Tampa, FL 33601; faxed to 812-239-3916; emailed to ; or delivered to 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., second floor, in Tampa.

Applications are due by the close of business on Feb. 8. Appointments will be scheduled for a Hillsborough County Commission meeting in March or April.

Published January 24, 2024

Help conserve water – skip a week of irrigation this winter

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents to “skip a week” or more of irrigation this winter.

District officials note that overwatering during winter can encourage pests and disease. 

Lawns need less water during cool winter months. It’s also important to avoid overwatering to help discourage pests and disease. (File)

They also cite research by the University of Florida that indicates that grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during winter months because the weather is cooler.

Based on that research, one-half inch to three-quarters inch of water is sufficient every 10 days to 14 days, according to a news release from the Water Management District.

“In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and operate it manually as needed,” the news release says.

If you’re not sure when to water your grass, look for these signs:

Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard

Grass blades appear blue-gray

Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

The Water Management District’s request is in keeping with its efforts to conserve water use.

Its governing board in November declared a Modified Phase 1 Water Shortage, which prohibits “wasteful and unnecessary” water use and limits irrigation to one day per week in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

For additional information about water conservation, visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/SkipAWeek.

Published January 24, 2024

Fires planned to reduce wildlife risk

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District conducts planned fires on about 30,000 acres each year to reduce overgrown plans and decrease the risk of wildfires. Other benefits include promoting the growth of new, diverse plans and maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat. It is planning to conduct fires in the Green Swamp from January through March. (Courtesy of Southwest Florida Water Management District)

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is planning to conduct prescribed fires from January through March at the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.

The preserve includes the Green Swamp East Tract in Polk, Sumter and Lake counties; the Hampton Tract in Polk County; and the Green District aims to reduce risk of wildlifes by scheduling prescribed fires in the Green Swamp Tract in Pasco County.

The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve is located north of U.S. Highway 98 along Highway 471 and Rockridge Road, between Lakeland and Dade City. Approximately 15,000 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Major benefits of prescribed fire include:

  1. Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires
  2. Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants
  3. Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat
  4. Maintaining access for public recreation

The Water Management District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year.

Published January 17, 2024