The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

‘Stuffing the bus’ for a good cause

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Florida Penguin Productions, the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Tampa Premium Outlets teamed up for a ‘Stuff the Bus’ event on Aug. 8, at Tampa Premium Outlets. The idea was to gather supplies for Pasco County Schools. A number of vendors also were there, in the courtyard of the outlet mall, and some lucky kids walked away with backpacks and other freebies.

An event to collect school supplies to help others was organized by Drew Cecere, of Florida Penguin Productions, along with the Tampa Premium Outlets and the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club. (Fred Bellet)
It wasn’t all about backpacks as Tim Crandall, a member of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, prepares to ‘stuff the bus’ with pens, colored pencils and various other classroom items that teachers need.
The Florida Kid Care booth bustled as the organization distributed backpacks filled with school supplies, to those attending the Stuff the Bus event.
With the Pasco County Schools’ bus reflecting in her sunglasses, Charane Groeller, president of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, waits with other members for walk-ups delivering school supplies to the ‘Stuff the Bus’ event.
Charane Groeller, president of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, sits near the cash donation jar on the table of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club’s tent in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets.
Making his way down the narrow aisle in a school bus made for children, Drew Cecere, owner of Florida Penguin Productions, carries donated items into a Pasco County school bus.
Nine-year old Anthony Clemente emerges from the crowd carrying a free backpack he received from the Florida Kid Care booth, one of 30 vendors and businesses in the courtyard of the outlet mall. He was at the event with his parents, David and Araceli Clemente, of Clearwater.

 

 

Planning board recommends rezoning approval for Two Rivers

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Two Rivers, a proposed new community off State Road 56, is approaching its final regulatory hurdle before work can begin to bring the plans on paper to life.

The Pasco County Planning Commission and the county’s planners have recommended approval of a rezoning for the sizable community.

Two Rivers is envisioned as a place that features a mixture of housing types, work opportunities, shopping, recreation and schools, according to county documents and testimony during previous public hearings involving the development.

The proposal, according to county records, calls for creating the new master-planned community on the southern edge of Pasco County. Two Rivers would tie into a community that’s under the same ownership, just south of the Pasco-Hillsborough line.

This land, along State Road 56, east of Morris Bridge Road, is now occupied by trees, ponds and open fields. It is proposed to become the future community of Two Rivers — a place that will feature homes, businesses, recreational options and schools, under proposals going through Pasco County’s regulatory process. (File)

Two Rivers’ master plan, county documents show, includes:

  • 6,400 residential dwelling units, including single-family, multifamily and age-restricted homes
  • 1,335,000 square feet of office/target industry
  • 1,355,000 of industrial
  • 630,000 square feet of retail uses
  • 246 acres of conservation area

The project has been in planning stages — off and on — for more than 10 years, and there have been a number of ownership changes.

The Pasco County Commission signaled support for Two Rivers, when it voted to transmit a proposed comprehensive plan amendment request to state officials for review.

The proposed rezoning for the master-planned community is a companion to that previously review comprehensive plan land use request.

The land use change and rezoning both are needed before Two Rivers can proceed with development.

At the Planning Commission’s Aug. 5 meeting, attorney Clarke Hobby represented Hickory Hills Land Company, the applicant for the Two Rivers master plan rezoning.

The planning board also heard from a handful of residents who raised concerns about potential flooding, increased traffic, possible loss in property value, and the likely noise that would arise from large machinery working on the proposed development.

Hobby told the planning board: “I think we’re all generally aware of Two Rivers and it’s a project that the county really has been planning for, and wants.”

Two Rivers is the largest of three parcels that the county worked with when it created a surcharge to build two additional lanes for the State Road 56 extension, Hobby said. Initially, just a two-lane extension was planned, but the county took out a loan from the Florida Department of Transportation’s infrastructure bank.

There’s $14.8 million in mobility fee surcharges from Two Rivers alone, to help pay back the county’s loan from the FDOT infrastructure bank, Hobby said.

The attorney addressed the concerns raised about potential flooding.

“As you all know, there are SWFMD (Southwest Florida Water Management District) rules and county rules to make sure we don’t flood our neighbors.

“The legal test that we must meet is that we can’t increase the rate of discharge, or the volume of discharge, from the pre-development condition, which we’re in now,” Hobby added.

“We have some of the smartest engineers in the (Tampa) Bay area working on this site, and I’m confident we won’t flood anybody,” he said.

Hobby also noted that the master plan calls for the creation of an 80-acre district park and a 77-acre school site.

While one neighbor expressed concerns about a potential decrease in property values, Hobby predicted just the opposite will occur.

He expects Two Rivers to “be a big benefit to this area.

“I actually believe it will raise property values considerably,” Hobby said.

The rezoning request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

Published August 11, 2021

Serving up healthy back-to-school breakfasts

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So, schools are back in session.

What are mornings like at your house?

Chaotic? Stressful? A mad dash out the door so the kids don’t miss the bus?

While school mornings tend to be frantic, be sure to squeeze in some time for a healthy breakfast — whether it’s at a table at home, or in a container to go.

Dedicating this little bit of time will go a long way in helping your child have a good school day.

All meals are important, but breakfast plays a unique role in our diet.

This omelet in a mug includes three food groups: protein, veggies and dairy. (Courtesy of MyPlate Kitchen)

When we wake up, we are in a fasted and dehydrated state — and, it’s important to start the day on the right foot.

A healthy breakfast offers a chance to get the much-needed vitamins, minerals, and fiber that we need daily.

Skipping breakfast means one less opportunity to get these important nutrients.

Numerous studies show that a healthy breakfast plays a role in school performance, and increases concentration and energy, and certain vitamins boost immunity, so an overall healthy diet can decrease sick days.

Fiber and protein are key to warding off hunger for longer periods.

Fiber delays gastric emptying of the stomach, so you continue to feel full, and protein creates the sensation of fullness.

Elementary schools often have a snack time in the morning, but middle and high school students don’t usually have a designated time of day to eat until lunch.

Algebra at 9 a.m. is hard enough, let alone on an empty stomach.

It’s normal not to feel hungry first thing in the morning.

Aim to eat breakfast within two hours of waking up if the kids aren’t hungry right away.

Cereal, frequently marketed as a good breakfast choice, isn’t a good selection if It is sugary and refined.

Look for a whole grain, and remember to look for high fiber and protein on the nutrition facts label.

Also, avoid “dessert-type” breakfasts such as doughnuts and breakfast pastries. Those contain too much sugar and not enough nutrition.

Here are some healthy and quick breakfast options that your kids may enjoy:

  • Plain oatmeal with milk, banana, raisins, walnuts, dried fruit, peanut butter, or other toppings
  • Cereal with banana or blueberries
  • Smoothies: Made with various fresh or frozen fruits, with milk or yogurt
  • Hard-boiled eggs sliced and topped with salsa (You can make these in advance and keep them refrigerated for 2 days to 3 days)
  • Whole wheat toast or bagel with peanut butter or hummus
  • Parfait: With a layer of yogurt, fruit, and granola or whole grain cereal
  • English muffin sandwich: Made from a toasted whole wheat English muffin, some deli meat and a slice of cheese, then heated up in a microwave. Add some spinach and sliced tomato, if you like those, too.
  • Bagel and fruit: Whole wheat bagel topped with a choice of spread (yogurt, jam, peanut butter or light cream cheese) and various fruit such as sliced banana, strawberries, pineapple or grapes
  • An omelet in a mug (see recipe below)

Don’t forget, the free breakfast program at school may be an option for your child as well. (Check your school district’s website to find out more.)

Just like reading is fundamental for education, good nutrition is essential for good health.

I wince when I think of the lack of nutritional quality in the breakfasts I ate as a kid.

My breakfasts typically included a packet of flavored instant oatmeal, containing about 12 grams of added sugar, or a sugary cereal.

On weekends, I would dunk Oreos in milk, or make a sandwich out of two waffles with vanilla ice cream, in the middle.

At the time, I suppose there wasn’t much awareness on childhood obesity and nutrition, but luckily, we know better now.

When you’re in a rush, this veggie omelet in a mug (recipe below) can be a quick and nutritious meal. You can prep the veggies the night before, to save time in the morning.

The recipe is courtesy of MyPlate Kitchen’s MyPlate.gov, from Oregon State University Extension.

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.

Recipe: Veggie omelet in a mug 

Ingredients
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons 1% low-fat milk (or nonfat/skim milk)
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped mushrooms (or your favorite vegetables)
2 Tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)

Instructions
Wash hands with soap and water.
Lightly grease the inside of a 12-ounce microwave-safe mug.
Use a fork to combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper in the mug, and stir well.
Mix in the vegetables and cheese.
Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds.
Stir.
Return to the microwave and cook on HIGH until the mixture has puffed and set, 60 to 90 seconds.
The omelet may look wet on the top, but it will dry as it cools.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Published August 11, 2021

Rezoning request for a gas station in Lutz is up for a hearing

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A rezoning request that would clear the way for a gas station, car wash and convenience store in Lutz is set for a public hearing next week.

The request — which has been scheduled and rescheduled — now is expected to be heard at 6 p.m. on Aug. 16, in the Robert W. Saunders Sr. Public Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Ave., in Tampa.

The applicant, RKM Development Corp., is seeking to rezone the 2.6-acre parcel at 18601 U.S. 41, to allow a 4,650-square-foot convenience store and 16 gas pumps, as well as a car wash.

The parcel is adjacent to an existing Walgreens store.

The land, owned by Lutz Realty and Investment LLC, currently is zoned for agricultural and single-family conventional use. The request calls for rezoning the site to become a planned development zoning.

Opponents have voiced objections, which are part of the application case file. They claim the request is contrary to the Lutz Community Plan.

Opponents also cite concerns about increasing traffic at the intersection of Sunset Lane and U.S. 41, which they said already poses dangers for motorists.

Concerns also were expressed about potential water contamination, noise, and negative impacts on property values and the environment.

Those objecting also say another gas station isn’t needed, and some said they won’t patronage the business, if it is built.

After the last hearing was delayed, representatives for the applicant held a community meeting on July 27, which was attended by both supporters and opponents to the request, according to Sam Calco, of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who was present.

Planners for the Hillsborough County’s Planning Commission have found the request to be consistent with the county’s long-range plan.

“Overall, Planning Commission staff finds this proposed use and intensity to be compatible with the surrounding area,” according to a report by Planning Commission planner David Hey.

“The proposed development also fulfills the intent of the Lutz Community Plan,” Hey added to the report that’s included in the application case file.

Those interested in expressing support or opposition can weigh in at the rezoning hearing — either in person or virtually. Those participating virtually must sign up to do so by the county’s deadline. Check the county’s website for more information.

Once the zoning master makes a recommendation, the request will go to the Hillsborough County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over land use and zoning issues.

Published August 11, 2021

Calendar contest showcases Pasco County

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It’s time once again to get out your cameras and capture Pasco County’s beauty, as Gulfside Healthcare Services hosts its annual contest, to find photos to feature in its 2022 printed calendar.

‘Taking It In’ by Doreen Damm, June 2021 winner

Once printed, the calendars will be sold at all Gulfside Hospice thrift shops, to help raise money for hospice care and other patient programs.

Past calendars have featured iconic sights of the county, wildlife, sunsets, and more.

‘Epperson Ranch Lagoon’ by Brenda Sexton, August 2021 winner

Each photographer can submit up to five photos, but a maximum of two winning entries per person will be used in the final calendar.

All photos must be taken in Pasco County and be sizeable for horizontal printing at 12-inches wide by 9-inches high.

Entries will be reviewed by a committee of Gulfside staff and volunteers, and winners will be notified by Oct. 1.

Each winner will receive five printed calendars, and a coupon redeemable at any Gulfside Hospice thrift shop.

To view the full list of guidelines and submit photos, visit www.Gulfside.org/calendar-contest. Entry deadline is at 5 p.m., on Sept. 15.

For more information, contact Tanika Tucker, community outreach and design assistant, at 727-845-5707, or email .

Published August 11, 2021

Pasco County offers help to Olympus pool customers

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Pasco County is stepping up to help customers of Olympus Pools, according to a county news release.

Olympus Pools has pulled hundreds of permits for pool projects in Pasco County during the past two years, and most remain unfinished, the release said.
The pool company has ceased operations.

Pasco County now is offering a new tool to help customers whose projects are in limbo, due to open permits, and the county also is waiving fees associated with Olympus Pools permits through Dec. 31, 2021.

The county has launched a dedicated webpage to help customers navigate the permitting process and to answer questions they may have.

“We hope this action will help ease the financial burden on our customers who choose to seek other permitting options,” Assistant County Administrator Sally Sherman, said in the release.

Olympus Pools customers have three options for open pool permits:

• Oversee the project yourself
• Hire a new, licensed pool contractor
• Cancel your pool permit

For more information on options, visit bit.ly/OlympusPermits.

Published August 04, 2021

Schools reopen, amid COVID concerns

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The debate over whether masks will be required in Pasco County Schools is over, in Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning’s mind.

“That issue has been settled. The governor (Gov. Ron DeSantis) has taken that issue on, as his issue. The governor has made that decision. There is no local decision-making regarding masks. And, he has said there will not be a mask mandate. We understand that,” Browning said.

The issue of quarantining people who have been exposed to COVID-19, however, is another matter.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the debate is over, regarding making masks mandatory in Pasco County Schools and offices. Masks will be optional. (File)

“I know there’s been a lot of questions about quarantining,” Browning said at the July 27 Pasco County School Board meeting.

He told board members that he and members of his staff met with Mike Napier, administrator for the Florida Department of Health-Pasco County, and members of Napier’s team.

They discussed issues relating to COVID and the coming school year.

“As far as quarantining goes, that was the main issue that staff wanted to talk about yesterday (during that meeting),” Browning said.

“We know that is probably one of the more problematic issues, the more challenging issues, pressing issues — as you see COVID numbers dramatically increasing,” Browning said.

The superintendent noted that the COVID situation is at “about the same place as we were in December, which is frightening, if you will, particularly as we approach the start of a school year.”

That being said, Browning added: “The quarantine rules will remain the same. The quarantining rules are not made by this superintendent, this board or the superintendent’s staff. The quarantining rules are set by the state. They’re the health experts.”

Browning said until he’s directed by the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee, the quarantining rules will remain the same.

“All symptomatic cases will be sent home for 10 days. If you’re not vaccinated and you have come in contact with a positive case and the health department has made the determination that you’ll quarantine, then you’ll quarantine.

“If you are vaccinated and come in contact with a positive case and you are asymptomatic — not showing any signs — then you can remain in school, either as a student or as a teacher.

“We take the direction from the state department of health. They’re the ones who set these rules. We do not set these rules,” Browning said.

The superintendent also told board members that a Florida Department of Health grant will provide funding for the school district to hire, on a contract basis, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses, to perform contact tracing.

The district will have little to no involvement in that effort, he said.

“I want to make sure that our school nurses are in fact back in schools, doing their jobs, as school nurses — providing health services to our kids,” Browning said.

Browning also told board members that he and his staff had spent considerable time going over the COVID protocols for the coming year, in terms of athletics, fine arts, social distancing, cleaning protocols and so on.

When the district was gearing up for a new school year, Browning said, “I did not think we would have the positivity rate that we have today, two weeks ago, but we do.”

Board members told Browning that parents and staff must be kept informed.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said she thinks the health department should be taking the lead in providing information about how quarantines will be handled.

“I feel like we’re being put in a position of having to be a spokesman for the health department. Really, that’s not our job,” Beaudoin said.

School board member Alison Crumbley said, “I think it’s important that we get the picture to the parents as soon as possible about what the quarantine is going to look like for their kids.”

“Parents want to know how kids will be able to continue with their education, if they’re quarantined,” she said.

School board member Megan Harding wants the district to do what it can, to keep healthy kids in school.

“I’m worried about their academic success and their mental health,” Harding said.

Harding added: “I’m getting a lot of questions from teachers now, that if they have to quarantine, what that is going to look like for their classrooms.

Teachers are worried that if they’re forced to quarantine that it will take away from their sick time. She asked if the district is making provisions for that.

Kevin Shibley, assistant superintendent for administration, said discussions must be held with the union before any specific actions can be taken.

Harding said she’s also receiving inquiries about how the district will handle sports, the arts and other activities.

Browning said the district will be sending out procedures to schools soon, outlining how it will address various COVID issues.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd put it like this: “The procedures you’re going to see are going to be considerably looser, as opposed to tighter than they were last year.

“So, as it relates to use of facilities, athletics, various events, they’re going to be looser.

“It’s only looking back, we’ll know if that’s a mistake. But going forward, we’re going to loosen up a little bit, so folks can attend ball games and dances, and things like that,” he said.

Published August 04, 2021

The harder choice is usually the best choice

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A few weeks back, The Laker/Lutz News was named the best weekly newspaper in its class by the Florida Press Association. This obviously is a huge honor for our staff, and we greatly appreciate this recognition of our work.

I also believe it is an acknowledgment of how doing the harder thing is usually the right thing.

I have tried to live my life and manage my company by making decisions with a long-term perspective, while listening to my moral compass. I’ve learned that instant gratification often backfires, so the decisions I make are often the harder choice, and ones that take longer to see positive results.

I held true to this when COVID-19 hit last year, when many of our advertisers asked to pull out of the newspaper because they were forced to close their business. Since advertising accounts for 100% of our revenue, my staff and I needed to make decisions quickly to keep our newspaper going in a time when readers needed our news more than ever.

One of the first decisions we made was to increase our local news coverage, instead of cutting back. Editor B.C. Manion and her staff did an exceptional job explaining how COVID affected our local schools, government, businesses and just about everything else. Her team gave readers information they needed to be safe and prepared, and they shared heart-felt stories about people and community groups, and how they adapted to the COVID way of life.

It was this stewardship of local news that explored the impacts of COVID on the daily lives of our readers, along with continued excellence in coverage of the people and communities we serve, that led to the 27 awards we received from the Florida Press Association, for our work in Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

“It’s safe to say that all of our work was affected by COVID, as we shifted gears to cover just about everything differently than we did in the past,” Manion said.

As I’m sure it was for you, this past year has been very challenging, and I have never seen my employees work harder. In addition to Manion’s contributions, staff writer Kevin Weiss expanded our coverage in East Pasco through aggressive reporting on Dade City and Zephyrhills city government. At the same time, he continued providing outstanding stories about community sports and recreation.

When COVID shut down just about everything, Mary Rathman, our editorial assistant, responded by searching out ways for our readers to take advantage of myriad virtual activities, published in our What’s Happening section. She also alerted readers on ways to keep healthy, through the virtual lectures and activities we shared in Health & Wellness.

As our production days shifted, artists Matt Mistretta and Stefanie Burlingame responded by working many weekend hours to put together the paper’s layout with outstanding, award-winning design — making our stories inviting and easy to read.

Photographers also helped us to continue to tell the story of community life, despite the pandemic. That’s where readers played an important role. Their images showcased our local wildlife, community events and big moments.

In fact, contributions by photographers Lillian Cucuzza and Steve Vinik were so outstanding, they received Florida Press awards.

When restaurants began to reopen, our marketing team of Kelli Carmack and Katie Fernandez highlighted them through Foodie Friday, a weekly video series about area restaurants. We share those videos on Facebook and Instagram, so be sure to look for Season 2 of Foodie Friday, which kicks off on Aug. 6.

Besides retaining robust news coverage, other decisions we made using the “harder choice” philosophy included preserving our circulation, offering flexible sales programs to businesses and hiring employees to expand our social media programs — giving readers the choice to receive our news in print, on our website and on our social media platforms.

I never faltered in the belief that readers want and need The Laker/Lutz News.

I am so pleased that the temptation to save money by reducing news coverage or cutting circulation did not carry the day.

By making those hard choices then, our company is stronger now than it has ever been.

Being named the best weekly newspaper in Florida is a gratifying honor — one that we happily share with our readers.

Published August 04, 2021

Pasco clerk fights for budget hike

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Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles has been in the news in recent weeks, as she pushes for a massive budget increase for her office.

She raised the issue again, during a July 13 talk with members of the East Pasco Networking Group at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center in Zephyrhills.

Alvarez-Sowles is requesting about $13.3 million in her fiscal 2021-2022 budget, which represents nearly $9 million more than the constitutional officer’s budget this year.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles was the featured guest speaker during a July 13 East Pasco Networking Group meeting at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, in Zephyrhills. (File)

She claims the budget hike is needed for her office to fulfill statutory responsibilities for the coming year.

Alvarez-Sowles also mentioned a timely concern.

She noted she anticipates an increased workload for her office with an influx of court trials and eviction notices, amid the easing of pandemic-related restrictions and moratoriums.

“I am concerned that when the court starts ramping up, being able to support the customers when that happens. I want to make sure that we’re there for them, and I don’t want to kill my staff at the same time, in providing those services,” Alvarez-Sowles said.

The clerk initially presented her budget increase request in an April 30 letter to Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley and his county board colleagues.

But, the county’s administration has pushed back against the request, particularly Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles and Pasco County Budget Director Robert Goehig.

The clerk said the additional funding is needed to satisfy Florida Statute 29.008, which addresses county funding of court-related functions.

Generally, the statute details “the county’s obligation to pay on certain things, for technology and for the court-related items that I’m not allowed by law to use my fee-funded budget from courts to pay for,” Alvarez-Sowles said.

Because of this finding, she reasoned, “I submitted a budget to the board that was a lot higher than it had ever been in prior years, ever.”

The breakdown of Alvarez-Sowles’ budgetary increase is as follows:

  • County funding of court-related local requirements computes to about $7.4 million
  • County funding of board and court-related technology costs (hardware, software, programming) totaling nearly $1.25 milllion
  • Increases for retirement costs and group health insurance, as well as a pay adjustment of 3%, totaling about $366,000

During the speaking engagement, Alvarez-Sowles told The Laker/Lutz News “the rub” or main disconnect between her office and county leadership “is agreeing on what is and what is not a local requirement,” particularly the $7.4 million request.

She contends the county is obligated to fund full-service expenses for the West Pasco Judicial Center courthouse annex in New Port Richey — as opposed to using the clerk’s fee-funded budget for civil and criminal jury trials, and so on.

Part of the disagreement, Alvarez-Sowles said, centers around state law only requiring one courthouse in the county seat, which is the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

With that, county officials have stated they’re not responsible for funding the West Pasco courthouse annex, Alvarez-Sowles explained.

She disagrees with their stance: “(They say) like, ‘There’s no way we’re responsible to pay for the (West Pasco) courthouse,’ and I’m saying, ‘Well, you could have one (courthouse in Dade City) and I wouldn’t have this many expenses,’ but we don’t, and you duplicated services, and I am doing double the work in some situations.”

Of lesser note, county administration has since agreed to fund 40% of the clerk’s information technology (IT) costs, or just under $500,000 of the roughly $1.2 million mark.

Alvarez-Sowles said that’s inadequate.

She claimed the county is obligated to fund technology for the multi-agency criminal justice system (which includes state attorney’s, public defender, courts and clerk).

The Pasco Clerk & Comptroller Office is seeking a $13.3 million budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 — an increase of nearly $9 million this year — in order to fulfill statutory responsibilities and provide adequate services countywide, the clerk says. (Courtesy of the Office of the Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller)

Said Alvarez-Sowles, “All of these services requires IT funding to be able to bring about, so I’m going to continue discussions with the county, because I really need that money for the technologies and things we have planned to serve our community.”

Alvarez-Sowles emphasized that she wants to ensure her office is “properly funded” in order to “provide a higher level of service, better services to our community, and I also want to provide the tools to the team.”

The constitutional officer, too, underscored the need to be able to offer higher salaries, from entry-level to supervisorial roles within the clerk structure.

The entry-level wage at the clerk’s office is $13.28 per hour.

This reality makes it tough to compete with area businesses and organizations offering around $15 an hour and, in some cases, paying potential employees to interview for vacancies, she said.

“I need to have competitive salaries,” said Alvarez-Sowles. “Our office is paid very low in our community, and even in comparison to other local government agencies in the community, so there is a big discrepancy.”

The situation has caused turnover and has made it difficult to fill vacancies.

Employees stay for a year or two and then transfer to another county role or up through the court or state attorney’s office, Alvarez-Sowles said.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the clerk’s office had about 320 employees, she said.

It’s since dropped down to 283 employees, she said.

That hampers her operations, she said.

“I feel like we are training ground (for other agencies), so I need to have longevity, and I need to be able to plan for succession, and be able to have a stellar team, so I need the funding to pay for the proper salaries,” she said.

During the breakfast talk, the clerk also touched on some ongoing initiatives in her office.

Those include:

  • Implementation of a multi-year strategic plan in regards to services and other projects
  • Partnership with Amscot, authorizing them to accept payments on behalf of the clerk’s office
  • Online payment expansion to include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and debit card capabilities (expected by November)
  • Development of a customer queue management system allowing residents to check wait times and make service appointments online
  • Provide affordable legal help and attorney consultations for self-represented individuals in civil matters related to divorce, residential landlord/tenant, small claims and so on
  • E-certification document capabilities for deeds, liens, closings and so on

In most jurisdictions, the clerk & comptroller is vested with a large number of administrative duties.

This includes clerk of the circuit court, as well as county auditor, ex-officio, clerk of the county commission, finance officer, recorder and treasurer.

Residents often use the clerk’s office to pay traffic and criminal fines, initiate or contest a civil case, pursue probate issues and make child support payments. The office also handles domestic violence injunctions, Baker Act and Marchman Act petitions, passport applications, marriage licenses and more.

Published August 04, 2021

Apartment project proposed on State Road 52

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An apartment development of up to 350 units is being proposed at the southwest corner of State Road 52 and Old Pasco Road.

The 23.1-acre site currently is occupied by pastureland, some residences and some outbuildings, Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator, said at the planning board’s July 22 meeting.

“The Mango Hills master-planned unit development district abuts the subject property on the west and south,” Hernandez said. “It received approval for a maximum of 415 single-family detached and single-family attached townhome units.”

Properties to the north and the northeast, adjacent to State Road 52, are zoned for general commercial, light industrial and retail, office and residential land uses, Hernandez added.

“Apartments are a logical transition, step-down from general commercial, industrial uses — to residential uses,” the zoning administrator said.

She also noted that the applicant has requested a variance from the county’s land development code to reduce the number of parking spaces required, from 2.25 spaces per unit to 1.9 spaces per unit, which Hernandez said, is consistent with similar project approvals.

Hernandez also noted: “The Orange Belt Trail is planned to be constructed by the county within the property abutting the subject property to the north, and once the Orange Belt Trail is constructed, the subject property shall construct a bike/pedestrian access to the Orange Belt Trail, as noted in the MPUD (master-planned unit development) master plan.”

County staff has found the request to be consistent with the county’s land development code and comprehensive plan, and recommends approval, subject to conditions, Hernandez told the planning board.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, who represented the applicant, said the maximum allowable density, under the county’s comprehensive plan, would be 24 units per acre.

“We’re looking at a 15 units per acre, maximum,” she said.

The attorney also noted that the site is in an area where “there is quite a bit of employment-generating uses.”

Nancy Russell, who lives on Jenkins Court, raised concerns about proposed traffic from the development.

Russell lives in the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club development, which she said has 1,564 homes and about 3,300 residents.

“The community is parallel to this potential build of 350 multifamily apartments,” she said.

She said Old Pasco Road is already congested, and she mentioned safety issues that could arise from additional traffic.

Wilhite said the proposed apartments would have access to a portion of Old Pasco Road that has four lanes.

Additionally, Wilhite said, the proposed apartments are close to the State Road 52/Interstate 75 interchange, and nearby properties are planned for industrial development.

The attorney said there are no other apartments in the area.

“I hope you will support this project. It’s exactly what we need for the area,” Wilhite told the planning board.

“It’s exciting to see the employment starting to take off, so now we have the demand for housing and different types of housing, in this area, following the plans for this county,” Wilhite said.

The planning board voted unanimously, with Roberto Saez absent, to recommend approval of the request.

The issue now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over zoning and land use matters.

Published August 04, 2021