The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

First Dade City Art Walk a success

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Artist Jayde Archbold at Lighthouse Books, at 14046 Fifth St., in Dade City. (Courtesy of Jasmine Wright)

The weeklong, first-ever Dade City Art Walk, featuring 22 local artists, was well-received by those checking out the displays, and by shop owners in the area.

The Dade City Center for the Arts and the Dade City Merchants Association featured artistic displays in shops along historic downtown streets, including Meridian Avenue and Seventh Street.

The event kicked off on Sept. 17, at the Florida National Guard Armory, and ended on Sept. 24, at Dade City Brew House. The final event featured live music, the Pre-Casso Kid craft area, and the release of a special beer made to “pair” with an art piece by Mark Hannah.

“It was just a nice way to tie a tidy bow on the end of the art walk,” said Jasmine Wright, who is an Arts Center board member, Art Walk organizer and the owner of Treehouse Mercantile.

Published October 05, 2022

Artist Katie Sutton at Treehouse Mercantile, 37834 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.
Artist Keith Martin Johns at Lowman Law Firm, at 14206 Fifth St., in Dade City.
Artist Kaitlyn Muldez at Arts Eclectic, at 14115 Seventh St., in Dade City.

Keeping an eye out for healthy food options, at school and events

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If you’re like most adults, you likely remember school lunches.

Maybe it was an encounter with ‘mystery meat.’ Or, perhaps, a serving of nachos and cheese.

I remember in school, during the ’90s, the lunch line would have Snickers ice cream bars.

Those days are gone, much to the dismay of many kids.

Foods served in today’s schools must comply with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) “Smart Snacks” standards.

Those changes were adopted in the 2014-2015 school year. The standards include:

  • A grain product with 50% or more whole grains by weight, with whole grain listed as the first ingredient
  • Foods that have a fruit, vegetable, dairy food or protein food, listed as the first ingredient
  • Combination foods with at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable
  • Total 200 calories or less for a snack; 350 calories or less for an entrée
  • Have 200 mg or less of sodium for a snack; 480 mg or less for an entree
  • Contain 35% of calories or less for total fat, in snacks and entrees; nuts are exempt from this rule
  • Contain 10% or less of saturated fat for snacks and entrees
  • Have 0 grams of trans fat for snacks and entrees
  • Contain total sugars for snacks and entrees of 35% or less, by weight
  • Milk must be unflavored or flavored fat-free milk; flavored low-fat milk; unflavored low-fat milk, and milk alternatives
  • Juice must be 100% fruit or vegetable juice

Outside of school hours, however, the rules are different.

The Pasco School Wellness Policy suggests 50% of concession food follow the Smart Snacks standards, but that is not mandatory.

So, what should spectators choose to eat when they’re out watching their favorite athlete?

Concession sold at many events is similar to what is found at a county fair or festival. Those foods tend to be high in calories and low in nutritional value.

So, foods sold at school concession stands — and concession stands, in general — often run counter to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

There’s one initiative that soon will be arriving at select Pasco County parks.

This initiative, called Fun Bites, will create healthier options at sporting events.

The Pasco Department of Health is working to bring this to Pasco parks, following a similar initiative pursued by the Pinellas Department of Health a few years ago.

It isn’t about removing current choices from concession menus; rather, it’s about adding healthier options to give consumers more options.

The initiative also aims to ensure that the healthier options are not more expensive.

The standards for Fun Bites products are based on the USDA Smart Snacks guidelines, listed above.

It was quite well-received in Pinellas.

In fact, at one aquatic center in Largo, after implementing the healthier concessions food options, revenues rose 40%.  A Little League park in Clearwater reported a 20% boost in revenue, after adding some of the “Fun Bites” approved foods.

Before the Fun Bites program was implemented, surveys were conducted in six Pinellas locations.

A total of 119 people responded to a question asking them how much they value healthy eating. Of those, 88 reported they value it highly.

Survey respondents reported the three main barriers to eating healthy at concession stands are: a lack of selections, cost of the items and dissatisfaction with the options.

The Fun Bites project addressed these issues and made nutritious food more accessible at parks and recreation events.

So, if you like the idea of having healthier options available, keep an eye out because some Pasco parks soon will be offering good nutritional choices to their concession menus.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Published October 05, 2022

A ‘salute’ to service

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Gulfside Healthcare Services staff members and volunteers were recognized for their contributions as a veteran or first responder. From left: Clint Boyd, Brett Kessel, Malcolm Byrd, Julie Buck, Jonathan Cashman, Marilyn Essert, David Deenihan, Brenda Freeman and Darlene Boyd. (Courtesy of Gulfside Healthcare Services)

To celebrate the launch of Gulfside Healthcare Services’ We Salute Veterans & Applaud First Responders program, nine staff members and volunteers from Gulfside were recognized, during a pinning ceremony.

The new program serves to honor and thank patients, families and community members for their service as a veteran or a first responder.

Recipients were: Clint Boyd, Brett Kessel, Malcolm Byrd, Julie Buck, Jonathan Cashman, Marilyn Essert, David Deenihan, Brenda Freeman and Darlene Boyd. Each received a pin, certificate, and custom padfolio, as a keepsake.

“We get to honor you for your commitment and your service to the community and our country,” said Linda Ward, president and CEO of Gulfside, in a news release.

“It’s just wonderful that we have our employees to recognize, their family members, and our volunteers. Thank you for your service and thank you for all you do. Today is for you,” Ward said.

Gulfside representatives are available to host a community pinning at special events and for other organizations.

For information about the We Salute program, visit Gulfside.org, or call 800-561-4883.

Published October 05, 2022

Hale Road rezoning gets ‘no’ vote from divided planning board

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In the end, a majority of the Pasco County Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of  a rezoning requested for a 109-home subdivision in Land O’ Lakes.

The proposed site for the development is on the southwest and northwest corner of the Hale Road and Collier Parkway intersection, straddling Hale Road. It is approximately 5,700 feet east of U.S. 41, according to documents contained in the planning board’s Sept. 22 agenda packet.

The planning board voted 3-2 to recommend denial.

Opponents to a proposed rezoning on Hale Road want the request to be rejected. The sign also indicates a backlash against elected leaders, springing from dissatisfaction regarding Pasco County’s continued growth. (Mike Camunas)

That vote followed about four hours of testimony, with representatives for the applicant claiming the proposed single-family development is compatible with the sea of single-family developments surrounding it.

Opponents questioned the claim of compatibility, raised issues about Hale Road’s ability to handle the additional traffic, voiced concerns about potential environmental damage that could arise and cautioned against setting a precedent for increased development on similar properties on Hale Road.

In calling for denial, the planning board cited Hale Road’s substandard road conditions, incompatibility with surrounding development, and other issues.

County planners, however, had recommended approval of the request.

Next, the Pasco County Commission will consider the request. It has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Cyndi Tarapani, of Tarapani Planning Strategies, represented KB Home, at the planning board’s meeting.

She told the planning board:  “We believe we made every reasonable effort to be a good neighbor.”

The future land use designation for the property allows up to six homes per acre, Tarapani noted. This proposal calls for 2.5 homes per acre.

The future land use designation would allow up to 214 homes. The applicant’s initial request was for 150, but that has since been reduced to 109, Tarapani said.

The developer also plans to use 50-foot lots on areas adjacent to neighboring subdivisions and plans to provide buffering, even though none is required, the professional planner added.

Plus, the developer will pay $281,600 to mitigate traffic impacts and will provide a left-turn lane into the property, she said.

But none of the developer’s changes appeased the opposition.

Opponents came ready for battle
An army of objectors — many wearing green shirts and some carrying signs — turned out to the public hearing.

The contingent included students from Land O’ Lakes High School who argued against the rezoning, based on research showing potential environmental threats.

Opponents repeatedly raised concerns about safety hazards on Hale Road, which the county deems a substandard road.

Mike Della-Penna, who lives nearby, said: “There haven’t been many improvements on Hale Road in the 32 years I’ve lived there and I don’t expect many to be happening.”

Others said the proposed density is contrary to existing lot sizes in nearby developments.

“You have an established pattern of development on Hale Road, and these lots don’t meet that standard,” said Lisa Moretti, who opposes the rezoning.

This sign urges rejection of a proposed rezoning on Hale Road, which would allow a subdivision of 109 houses on Hale Road. A portion of the proposed site is next to the Rosebud Continuum, at 22843 Hale Road. (Mike Camunas)

Moretti cited eight approved developments on Hale Road, which have larger lot sizes.

“The proposed development is 109 lots, over 2 ½ times as many as the largest approved development already there and over five times greater than the average approved development,” Moretti said.

“This (proposed) development is totally an aberration of compatibility,” Moretti said.

Dr. T.H. Culhane, another opponent, stepped up to the podium wearing a Patel College of Global Sustainability T-shirt.

“I request, respectfully, that you recommend denial for this land-grab application for this last tiny refuge of wildlife, this last sanctuary of sanity, in an increasingly sprawl-filled neighborhood,” said Culhane, a University of South Florida professor.

Culhane talked about working for six years at the Rosebud Continuum, at 22843 Hale Road. It’s a place that focuses on promoting sustainable living practices.

“I and my professional colleagues — graduate students — have conducted landscape research, habitat restoration and wildlife surveys.

“We’ve worked hard on invasive species removal and repatriation of Florida native plants and wildlife,” Culhane said.

“I scuba-dived Lake Rosebud to observe the alligators and fish, therein, and watched and delighted with the sandhill crane families and gopher tortoises that are all over making their nests, now that we’ve re-wilded the property.”

The Rosebud Continuum relies on the area’s existing character, he said.

“On the world stage, we know we can be far more innovative than the current Hale proposal,” said Culhane, who told the planning board he holds a master’s degree and PhD in urban planning from the University of California Los Angeles.

Michelle Dillard, a nearby resident, raised concerns about the potential runoff causing pollution of nearby lakes. Residents near King Lake already have spent thousands to improve the water quality in that lake, she said.

“We have to keep our lakes safe. We have to keep them alive,” Dillard said.

Speakers asked the planning board to protect the interest of current residents, rather than accommodating developers.

Brian Bishop — whose mother, Maryann Bishop, owns the property occupied by the Rosebud Continuum — said he’s concerned about adding traffic to Hale Road.

“I think we’ve already established that the situation on Hale Road is not a desirable one,” he said. “To me, this is a no-brainer.”

He asked the planning board to not allow KB Home “to make a bad situation worse.”

One resident invited the planning board members to come out to the area to watch traffic when school lets out. She said there’s one particular bicyclist, who has a large backpack on — that she’s seen nearly get hit on more than one occasion.

Russell Watrous, another rezoning opponent, voiced concerns about a potential precedent being set by approval of this request.

“There are four pieces of property on Hale Road, very similar to the one KB Home wants to develop right now,” he said. “We’re at a turning point in Land O’ Lakes, and you can see it. Almost every one of these feeder roads and back, secondary roads are being developed,” Watrous said.

Published September 28, 2022

Rezoning request prompts concerns about flooding

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A request for a new master-planned development in Wesley Chapel has prompted questions about drainage issues in the general area.

Applicant Sandhill Flats LLC is seeking approval for Remington, a master-planned unit development on the south side of Tyndall Road, about 3,950 feet west of Curley Road. The request is seeking a maximum of 127 single-family detached units on approximately 44.2 acres.

County planners recommended approval of the request, which also received a recommendation of approval from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission for a final decision.

Only one person spoke during the public comment portion of the public hearing on Sept. 22.

Michael Pultorak, who  lives on Kenton Road, said he doesn’t oppose growth, in general.

“I don’t have an issue with houses; I don’t have issue with development; putting houses on lakes is a little bit of an issue, but I’m not going to go there,” Pultorak said.

The request is in the area of King Lake.

“It’s a beautiful lake. Pasco has two King Lakes. This is the one in Wesley Chapel, out toward Dade City,” Pultorak said.

He raised issues about potential flooding in the area, which he said could be triggered by new development, unless steps are taken to address drainage issues.

He raised the same issue during a previous appearance at a planning board meeting, involving another rezoning request in the general area.

Regarding that project, Pultorak said, “I tried to shed light that 106,000 square feet of commercial and 527 homes was going to shed about 1.7 million square feet of water during the storm season.

“We got with SWFMD (the Southwest Florida Water Management District). The north outflow and the south outflow apparently is just fine. They have no issues with it.

“That leaves us one outflow for the entire lake.

He showed the planning board photographs of flooded roads and flooded fields to illustrate his concerns.

“This is right on Kenton Road. This is one of four places where we had water over the roads and washing out the road from this single lake because the stormwater issue hasn’t been resolved,” he said, referring to a photo.

“There’s no place for the water to go.

“This was a river. It took four-wheel drive vehicles to get through here. Every place I’m showing you brought in truckloads of limestone because the water has to go somewhere.

“This is Kenton Road, right in front of the prior project we spoke about.

“This was a river for about 10 days straight.

“This water could be redirected and reused. It could be sent right back. We could use it for irrigation. The problem is, right now there is no stormwater management plan and that water is not being diverted anywhere.

“I have 8 acres behind my home and the actual Kenton Road, proper. Two-thirds of that has been holding water underwater for the past three weeks.

“That’s not fair. I have cows out there. I have a herd of black Angus out there. The water level is 6 ½ feet too high.

“It sounds like in most of the county the development is causing stormwater issues. Let’s not become like South Tampa here.”

Planning board member Jon Moody asked Pultorak if he objected to the Remington rezoning.

Pultorak responded: “I object to this project only because it’s going to add to the stormwater issue. If we could create a solution for the stormwater, put houses all of the way around it. I’m not opposed to the houses, but you can’t flood out the existing residents because we’re going to continue all the way around this lake.”

Attorney Clarke Hobby told the planning board “the subject site that we have is on the north side of King Lake. He’s talking about the west side of King Lake and he’s probably focusing on an area that’s between .75 and a mile and a half away from our site.

“We actually discharge to the west.

“This is 120 units on 40 acres. We do not even abut the lake,” Hobby said.

Ultimately, the planning board recommended approval of the request, but also called for there to be communication between the applicant and Pultorak during the stage when drainage plans are drawn up at the development stage.

Published September 28, 2022

Higher park impact fees are expected in Pasco County

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Pasco County is expected to raise its park impact fee to help provide new facilities to address recreational demands caused by new growth.

The county hasn’t increased its park impact fees for 20 years.

The Pasco County Commission voted 4-1 at its Sept. 20 meeting to direct staff to take the necessary steps to pursue raising the fee to $3,450.15, per residential unit, whether that dwelling is single-family, or multi-family.

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, provides a chance to sit on a bench and relax for a while, watch a ball game, go ride for a ride on a swing and do all sorts of other activities. Pasco County is looking to increase its park impact fees to expand recreational options to address needs created by the county’s burgeoning growth. (Mike Camunas)

The current park impact fee is $891.82 per single-family unit and $627 per multi-family unit.

Impact fees are aimed at paying for impacts caused by growth. They cannot be used for maintenance expenses.

The main reason the county is pursuing using a per-unit approach, regardless of whether it’s single-family or multi-family, is because data did not reveal much difference regarding the number of people living in both types of units, said Keith Wiley, the county’s director of parks, recreation, and natural resources.

Wiley said that county staff has been working on updating the impact fee since 2015, when the board adopted the master parks plan.

He also noted that voters approved a General Obligation bond in 2018 to raise revenues to address deferred maintenance.

The capital plan addresses the county’s parks needs through 2045, Wiley said.

It’s a plan-based approach, which means it specifically focuses on projects.

The benefit of using that type of approach is that people can see what they’re going to get for the fees they’re paying, he said.

“We received a lot of positive input on that,” Wiley said, noting the plan’s transparency has helped propel it forward to the board for its consideration.

“I just wanted the public to know that this is not something we’ve thrown together. It’s been a long, a very long journey to get here,” he said.

The proposed impact fee is an effort to “true up” a fee that’s been unchanged for 20 years, Wiley said.

In order to raise an existing impact fee by more than 50%, the county must “demonstrate extraordinary circumstances,” he said.

“It’s an easy demonstration. We’ve had unprecedented growth, we’ve all seen it,” Wiley said.

The county is inundated with requests for field use, he added.

“Pretty much all of our facilities are at capacity. This proposal to increase the impact fee is an effort to update all of those costs so that we can actually do what we need to do,” Wiley said.

“Costs of materials have increased. Land values have increased,” he said.

“Basically, to date, over the last 15 years, we’ve pretty much negotiated around six district parks — the land for those facilities. We’re seeking the money to get those facilities built,” Wiley said.

“So, originally, when we went out to the consultant, we said, ‘We’re kind of behind, so we really want to get this done in the next 15 years. So, we set a horizon of 2035,” Wiley said.

The total cost is around $266 million for several projects.

To complete the work by 2035 would require an impact fee of $4,820.19, Wiley said, acknowledging that would be “a  pretty substantial increase.

“After talking to stakeholders, we stretched the term out to 2045,” he said, which lowered the proposed fee to $3,450.15 per unit.

At the Sept. 20 meeting, county staff asked the county board to trigger the process to change the comprehensive plan to clean up the level of service per the impact fee study, and then to follow that up with land development code change that would ultimately result in the impact fee increase.

Staff recommended the county follow a recommendation by stakeholders to phase in the increase over two years.

But Commissioner Jack Mariano instead made a motion to go straight to a $3,450.15 fee, without phasing it in, once the board adopts it.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said the county needs another source of revenue to help pay for park improvements.

She suggested a Municipal Services Taxes Unit, which would mean taxpayers across the county would help pay for park improvements.

“This is how other counties pay for their parks,” Starkey said. “I don’t think it should be a high number. I think it should be a number that’s $10 to $20. It’s bondable and we can start building stuff right away,” Starkey said.

Her suggestion, however, failed to gain any traction with her colleagues.

When the board voted on Mariano’s motion, Starkey dissented.

“I’m more inclined to do my idea. I support an (impact fee) increase, but my preference is a blend (with a MSTU), so we can get working right away,” Starkey said.

Published September 28, 2022

Library system outlines its priorities, plans

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(MIKE CAMUNAS)

The Pasco County Library Cooperative has identified priority areas in its 2021 through 2024 Strategic Plan, and has developed a list of activities it plans to take to address them.

The library system outlined those goals in an agenda item that came before the Pasco County Commission during its Sept. 20 meeting.

The board approved the item, without discussion, as part of its consent agenda. Items on that agenda are generally considered to be non-controversial and are voted on in a single action.

The three priority areas identified in the library system’s strategic plan are community, education and culture.

Goals identified by Pasco County Libraries include:

  • Expanding service offerings and increasing awareness to attract new users
  • Expanding outreach opportunities for community members and organizations to encourage more involvement
  • Providing access to a collection of print, non-print, and electronic resources that support the diverse needs and interests of the Pasco County citizens
  • Providing resources and programming to support lifelong learning and skill and knowledge development across multiple literacies
  • Providing programming and activities that support self-expression, innovation, and community-based well-being
  • Fostering culture within Pasco County by offering a wide range of cultural programs at the branch libraries and outreach locations

The 2021 through 2024 plan identifies these strategies to achieve priority goals:

  • Establishing pop-up library services to expand access to resources and services
  • Providing 20 hours of service per month
  • Promoting the library’s resources at a minimum of 20 meetings per year for community groups, civic organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies
  • Coordinating with the Friends of the Library on an annual campaign to help increase membership and raise funds
  • Partnering with the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties to provide four programs per year
  • Developing an Adult Literacy/ESL training program and training 15 volunteers per year to teach basic literacy and ESL to Pasco County citizens
  • Offer two digital literacy activities per quarter to increase skill development in finding, evaluating, creating, and communicating information on digital platforms
  • Creating a Library of Things to circulate nontraditional materials with a focus on items that support makerspace activities. Adding three new items per year to the Library of Things.
  • Selecting 15 new items per year to be added to the Adaptive Toy Collection
  • Providing at least one staff training session per quarter focused on skill development related to content creation
  • Offering two programs per quarter that educate the public on how to produce professional content for various media platforms
  • Deploying the Mobile Makerspace three times per quarter to provide hands-on learning experiences
  • Collaborating with local performers, artists and experts to expand cultural experiences and learning opportunities
  • Offering 20 cultural programs or events per year at any location in the county
  • Offering two programs per quarter that showcase cultural content created in association with the Pasco County Library Cooperative
  • Supporting the development of a cultural affairs advisory council in Pasco County by hosting at least four meetings per year and serving as a liaison/coordinator for the council

In other action, the county board:

  • Approved a task order with EnviroBuild LLC, for ongoing construction services required for the renovations of the civil department of the Clerk’s Office at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City, for the amount of $189,050, in fiscal year 2022
  • Approved a change order with Fleischman and Garcia Architects and Planners, AIA, PA (FGA) to perform gopher tortoise relocation and related services for the design and construction of Fire Station No. 18, on Chancey Road in Zephyrhills. The change order is in the amount not-to-exceed $18,590, for a new cumulative not-to-exceed amount of $279,820.00. There are potentially 20 active burrows on the site.
  • Approved an agreement between the county and the Sixth District Medical Examiner relating to reimbursement of service fees. The agreement takes effect on Oct. 1 and continues until terminated or at the option of providing a 90-day notice from either party. The compensation to the Medical Examiner for services will be based upon the fees outlined in the agreement. Since the Medical Examiner’s compensation depends on the demand for services, the county’s Office of Management and Budget estimates that $1.8 million in funding will be needed for fiscal year 2023.

Published September 28, 2022

Setting Pasco County’s historic record straight

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There’s a sign outside the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City, which shares facts about the county’s creation.

The historic marker, erected this spring, says Pasco County was formed on June 2, 1887.

This sign stood outside of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse for 60 years, sharing a slice of the county’s history. The problem is — May 12, 1887 — is not the day Pasco County officially formed. Bill Dayton, former president of the Dade City Historic Preservation Advisory Board, once told a Tampa Tribune reporter that whoever did the sign, ‘just did a sloppy job.’ (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

It replaces a sign — that stood for 60-odd years  — that was inaccurate.

That one said that Pasco was created by splitting off a portion of Hernando County, on May 12, 1887.

The incorrect sign was erected in 1961 by the Florida Board of Parks and Memorials, on the west lawn of the county’s red brick courthouse.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley requested this new sign, which sets the record straight. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

No one knows where the inaccurate date came from.

This column is a follow-up from my previous column published in The Laker/Lutz News on Dec. 1, 2021.

The previous column, which traced the origins of the county’s creation, was suggested by Jeff Miller, a longtime Pasco historian, who passed away this summer.

Jeff and I were trying to figure out how an incorrect date ended up on a historic marker in such a prominent place.

In my Dec. 1 column, I reported that J.A. Hendley, a prominent attorney from Blanton, had written about Pasco County’s early history in a 1943 account.

Hendley was the last surviving member of the Florida Constitutional Convention of 1885.

In recounting the history of Pasco‘s formation, he described residents of southern Hernando County meeting together for the purposes of forming a new county in May of 1887.

“We agreed in convention assembled to make an effort to get away from Brooksville,” Hendley writes.

There was “unanimous sentiment” that was later recalled by Dr. Richard C. Bankston in a letter dated Nov. 25, 1927: “We all were weary of traveling the sand trails of Brooksville, the county seat, to attend court, or transact other business of varied nature.”

Bankston and Hendley were appointed to lobby for the new county in Tallahassee.

Jeff Miller, a longtime member of the West Pasco Historical Society, suggested a column be written about the sign’s mistaken date. The long-time historian passed away this summer and did not see the new sign. (Courtesy of Gulf High School)

They were successful only after seeking the support of Florida’s newest senator, Judge Samuel Pasco.

At the height of his popularity, Pasco agreed to have the new county named after him.

What followed next took only four hours on June 2, 1887, when Gov. Edward A. Perry signed into law “A Bill to Divide the County of Hernando and make therefrom the Counties of Citrus and Pasco.”

My column wasn’t the first to notice the discrepancy between the posted sign at the courthouse and the actual date of the county’s formation.

The erroneous information also came to light during the Pasco County centennial celebration held in 1987.

Eddie Herrmann, a member of the Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee, traveled to Tallahassee to specifically learn more about why the historic marker cited May 12, 1887 as the date of the county’s formation.

At the time, Herrmann told Carol Jeffares, a reporter for The Tampa Tribune, “I researched the dates and there’s nothing there as why that date ties in.”

At least two sources also reported the May 12, 1887 founding date.

One is a book that listed all of the historical markers provided by the Secretary of State at the time, and another is a 1920s brochure promoting Pasco County.

Another incorrect founding date — July 18, 1887 — was published in 1962 by Ralph Bellwood’s “Tales of West Pasco.”

Commission Record No. 1 (1887-1903) shows that appointments were made for the county clerk, county treasurer, county tax assessor, county sheriff, county judge, county school superintendent and the county surveyor on July 18, 1887. (Courtesy of Florida Pioneer Museum & Village)

Bellwood wrote a newspaper column on local history and was the executive secretary of the New Port Richey Chamber of Commerce.

It turns out the July 18, 1887 he cited is actually the date of the county board’s first meeting, when county officers were appointed. That’s according to minutes on file at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village.

The incorrect date of the county’s creation also appears in The Florida Almanac. It turns out that mistake was due to a typographical error, an almanac editor said.

More confusion arose in 1973, as proponents of a Split Pasco movement wanted the eastern portion of the county to be called Burnside County, in honor of Stanley C. Burnside and his father, Archie J. Burnside.

Between them, the Burnside men served 68 years as the clerk of the circuit court in Pasco.

Burnside County never came to be.

And now, when people visit courthouse square in Dade City, they can check out the new historic marker.

After learning about the error on the old sign, Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley suggested pursuing the acquisition of a new sign and his colleagues agreed.

Oakley, who represents East Pasco, brought the issue to the attention of Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, who lives in Trilby.

Then Simpson got involved.

Others who played a role in getting the new sign erected were Michael Hart, with Florida’s Division of Historical Resources, and Ryan Hughes, with Pasco County’s media relations office.

Now, when visitors read the historic sign, posted outside what’s arguably Pasco County’s most iconic building — they’ll read about the actual day when Pasco took on an identity of its own.

Plus, now, everyone involved in the effort to accurately preserve history can keep a clipping of this column, as a keepsake.

Published September 28, 2022

Pasco approves commercial land use change over planners’ objections

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a land use change that will clear the way for consideration of a wide variety of commercial uses on two lots totaling 3.47 acres at Galen Wilson Boulevard and Ridge Road.

The board approved the request at its Sept. 20 meeting, despite its planning staff’s recommendation for denial. Planners based their recommendation on an effort to preserve the land for future industrial uses, rather than strip commercial development.

In rejecting the planning staff’s rationale, the county board followed the lead of the Pasco County Planning Commission’s recommendation, which also disregarded the planners’ recommendation and voted to approve the request.

Planning staff cited a number of county land use policies in recommending denial.

They argued that the current light industrial designation should be preserved because it has the prospect of producing more and higher-paying jobs than commercial uses would generate.

But Steve Booth, an attorney representing the applicant, noted that as it stands now, the land already can be used for support commercial uses, as part of the industrial development.

The problem is that the current list of potential uses in the support commercial category doesn’t mesh with market demand, Booth said.

By changing the future land use category to commercial, the list of potential uses would be broader, he said.

Booth also argued that since commercial already would be permitted under the current designation, the planning staff’s argument about preserving the land for industrial uses doesn’t hold up.

Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, said: “There are uses in C3 (support commercial) and in I-1 (light industrial) that can locate on the two parcels that are before the board today.

“The developments that are happening to the south in the same industrial park are the same size buildings that you might expect on the two parcels that are the subject of this proposal.

“The key thing to remember is that while the corridor itself is overwhelmingly commercial, there is limited industrial in the West Market Area, in general, and in this particular area.

“The Harbors Redevelopment Plan calls for the need to prevent further retail strip development along major corridors and to provide a healthy mix of uses and create a community destination,” Pittos said.

“The conversion from IL to COM would reduce the mixture of uses along the corridor, and Ridge Road has to be thought of as a corridor because it does connect now to the strategic intermodal system, which is the Suncoast Parkway and beyond to U.S. 41, eventually.

“This area is sort of key now to the West Market Area and the preservation of industrial land,” Pittos said.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said, “I understand that this board gave staff a direction for these kind of properties — and not to lose anymore industrial.

“This board actually gave them direction that we didn’t lose employment,” Oakley said, which is why the staff is opposed to the proposed change.

Booth told the board there currently are deed restrictions on the land that prohibit it from being developed as apartments, a service station or for storage uses.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said, “The one thing that gives me a little heartache is the school district next door and the amount of traffic that some uses might generate.”

But she added: “The chances of you getting industrial up front there, I don’t know. And, they’re allowed to do commercial anyway, so my thought might be to make sure … I would be in favor of making sure it’s not the commercial uses that take a lot of traffic.”

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder asked Booth if his client would be willing to restrict commercial uses, but Booth made no commitment to do so.

Steinsnyder told the board: “Once this site is granted commercial, it’s granted commercial. When you change the future land use from IL to COM, it’s COM.”

Commissioner Mike Moore weighed in: “I like the deed restrictions that are already there. You can’t put a service station there, anyway. You can’t put residential. If you want to put a McDonald’s in there, go for it. It’s right next to Home Depot. Go for it, giddyup.”

No one from the public commented on the request.

The land use change clears the way for the applicant to seek a rezoning to accommodate whatever type of commercial use that is permitted under the county’s commercial category of its long-range plan.

Published September 28, 2022

Guv’na gives out the goods

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The new Guv’na of Lutz has taken his first official action.

Newly “elected” Lutz Guv’na Atlas Cortecero kicked off his term on Sept. 13 by distributing funds raised by himself and his two opponents — Stacee Campbell and David Penzer — in the race for the honorary title.

In a well-attended gathering at the pavilion in the back of the Old Lutz School House, Cortecero donned his Guv’na sash and doled out checks to local charities, clubs and organizations — totaling $25,079.07.

Newly ‘elected’ Lutz Guv’na Atlas Cortecero kicked off his term by distributing the $25,079.07 raised in donations during this year’s campaign season at a well-attended gathering at the pavilion in the back of the Old Lutz School House on Sept. 13. (Mike Camunas)

“It’s amazing to know how many people worked to the benefit of this city and to, even now, learn (more) about the work that people put into their community, either as people or businesses,” Cortecero, who hails from São Paulo/Brazil, said. “And it’s all for Lutz — but now that I’m Guv’na and I know about (other charities and organizations), I can help make more money for them.

“So it’s just incredible, and I’m looking forward to working for this community for my whole year,” he said.

Cortecero is the first new Lutz Guv’na since Amy Lancaster claimed the title in 2019.

She held the title longer than the traditional one-year reign because a worldwide pandemic interfered with the Lutz Fourth of July festivities.

Announcing the winner of the Guv’na’s race traditionally has been a regular feature of the community’s Independence Day celebration.

That’s when the final counting is done and organizers announce who brought in the most money in a race where the victor is determined solely on the basis of who raised the most cash to help community causes.

Typically, the total amount of contributions adds up to thousands of dollars, which are then distributed to help about 20 nonprofit Lutz groups.

This year, Cortecero led in fundraising with $11,919.11.

Candidates then earmark 10% of what they brought in for a charity of their choice.

Stacee Campbell, center, was presented with a plaque after raising $2,135.96 during her campaign. She is seen here with First Baptist Church of Lutz Administrative Pastor Paul Vahue and 2015 Lutz Guv’na Jennifer Rankin.

Fittingly, this year’s Guv’na had his first assembly at the Old Lutz School House, which also is where he sent his 10% — identifying the Citizens For The Old Lutz Building 501(c)(3) nonprofit as his charitable cause.

The money will be used for renovations to the building.

The schoolhouse, built in 1927, is considered a community icon. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 15, 1996.

“I want to get a big thermometer (sign) to put it out in front of the building (facing U.S. 41) and just work to get it filled red,” Cortecero said. “For now, I have to discuss with the people at the Lutz School House how much it will cost, but as soon as I know, I will let Lutz know.

“I just want to make the place beautiful again, so as people, when they pass here and see this school, see just how beautiful it can be.”

Cortecero also took time to pass out checks to the benefactors of all the money raised.

Penzer, who raised $11,024, gave his 10% to the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. Campbell, who raised $2,135.96, gave her 10% to the Lutz Leaguerettes.

Here’s a list of recipients from this year’s Guv’na race proceeds:

  • GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club
  • Hillsborough Fire & EMS Museum
  • Old Lutz School House
  • Lutz Train Depot Decorations Fund
  • Learning Gate Community School
  • Boy Scout Troop 339
  • Lutz K-8 PTA
  • GFWC Little Women of Lutz
  • Boy Scout Troop 212
  • Boy Scout Troop 12
  • Steinbrenner Future Farmers of America
  • Cub Scout Pack 12
  • Maniscalco K-8 PTA
  • First Baptist Church of Lutz
  • Lutz Leaguerettes
  • Lutz Chiefs
  • Tighten The Drag Foundation
  • Civil Air Patrol – North Tampa Lutz-Cadet Squadron.

Cortecero, who is married to 2007 Guv’na Michele Northrup, says he wants to host more events at the Old School House.

Some events already are scheduled, including Autumn Day on Oct. 19, Pioneer Day on Oct. 8 and Christmas at the School House in December — but he would like to do even more.

“I want to do something like a winter festival, with vendors and live music — a big festival,” said Cortecero, who generated the third-highest amount of contributions in the history of the Guv’na race. “I want to do something else (beside the trees and lights), so maybe in January or February. People can come here and hang out with the lights — like a block party, with food trucks,” he said.

“It can be to help raise money we’ll need for the renovations and then the brand new Guv’na can meet everyone from Lutz!”

Published September 28, 2022