The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco experiencing recent spike of overdoses

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has reported a record-setting spike in drug overdoses.

A lethal dose of the painkilling opioid Fentanyl is 2 milligrams, almost imperceptible, but the PCSO Narcotics Unit removed 435,000 lethal doses of the drug from the county’s streets during a six-week period.

The story doesn’t stop there.

Even a 2-milligram dose of the painkilling opioid Fentanyl, although almost imperceptible, can be fatal. After a recent uptick in overdoses, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has emphasized rehabilitation solutions. (Courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)

Aided by a federal grant, the PCSO has established a Behavioral Health Intervention Team, which helps citizens with mental-health issues or substance-abuse problems. Members of the 16-person team contact overdose survivors within 48 hours of the incident, then connect them with community rehabilitation partners such as BayCare.

According to Sheriff’s Office records, Pasco County overdoses reached an all-time monthly high of 167 (37 fatal) in May, then maintained a steady pace in June (146, 18 fatal); July (140, nine fatal); and August (147, 24 fatal).

From 2017-2019, the largest overdose total in any month was 89.

In 2020, there were startling overdose upticks in May (297% increase), June (239% increase), July (204% increase) and August (234% increase), compared to the average of those month’s totals in the previous three years.

But, to Pasco County Sheriff’s Capt. Toni Roach, the key number is 49. Those are the people who have been placed under the care of a substance-abuse program because of the intervention team’s work.

“I know that doesn’t seem like a large number, but we’re running at about a 25% commitment into a program (after intervention),’’ Roach said. “That’s (49) people I know who aren’t going to potentially overdose and die in our community. That’s because the detective has been able to engage them and help them get appointments with behavioral health providers.

“We’ve created a path, giving these overdose subjects a golden ticket, getting them to the head of the line for services. These overdose subjects, they overdose, they almost die and they want help. “The overall effects of withdrawal and addiction manifest themselves within the first 24 hours. That’s why it’s crucial to get to them before they use again. If we get them into services quickly and reduce the withdrawal effects, they’re going to be more successful in staying,” she said.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to follow through, though.

Roach said the intervention team has worked with approximately 1,000 overdose follow-up assignments in the last year. About one-third of the subjects couldn’t be located, potentially because they were homeless, transient or intentionally avoiding authorities.

For subjects who are located, about half of them are interested in services. Most of the time, Roach said, they don’t know where to start.

“We have that hard conversation and tell them, ‘This is your rock bottom, and we’re here to help you,’” Roach said. “We help take away all the excuses. We do all the legwork and take people to their first appointment. If the process is intimidating or they don’t have transportation, we get them that help.’’

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, that help has been needed more than ever.

“We definitely saw an increase in the overdose numbers and there were multiple potential reasons,’’ Roach said. “Some of it was stimulus related. When the stimulus checks came out, some people partied like it was 1999. The substance abuse community relies heavily on peer support and interaction. So when we stopped meeting in person, churches closed and things went online, it wasn’t the same as having that human interaction.

“The whole aspect of social isolation has been a huge part of the pandemic and overall mental health. No doubt, isolation has played into it in a very big way,” she said.

Fentanyl also plays into it in a very big way. It’s the drug of concern for local officials.

“It’s extremely cheap and it’s extremely addictive because of its potency level,’’ Roach said. “It creates a bigger problem for us. The things that seemed more benign by comparison, such as marijuana, can now overdose and kill you because it’s now laced with something that is very fatal and highly toxic. It throws our entire community into a new playing field.’’

But, the intervention team continues to make headway.

“We’ve had a lot of great wins during this process,’’ Roach said. “As time goes on and we learn more and more, I think it will be even more effective.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published October 07, 2020

Mom and Pops may get help with landscaping costs

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Pasco County commissioners recently directed the county’s staff to find a way to ease the burden of landscaping costs for small businesses, when they redevelop.

Commissioner Ron Oakley raised the issue, noting that a small Dade City restaurant wants to add a porch, but found itself facing expensive county landscaping requirements.

“They have no place for people to wait. It’s a small restaurant. If the restaurant is at full capacity, there’s no place for people to wait, so that’s part of why they were going to do like a porch, or something, out in front of it, so people would have a place to sit and wait to have breakfast or lunch,” Oakley said.

The commissioner added:  “It seems like the cost of upgrading their landscape is just very, very expensive, and makes it prohibitive.”

Oakley said he’s not advocating that the restaurant do nothing, but that the requirements be less extensive and thus less expensive.

“When you take into consideration — a Mom and Pop restaurant — if that landscaping is going to cost them $40,000 or $50,000, they’re forever trying to earn that money, just to stay open.

“So many of them are having a hard time, now, so we need to look at that,” Oakley said.  “Some of these businesses, right now, are closing down. They just can’t make it. It’s a shame.”

Commissioners Jack Mariano and Mike Wells said they’ve also noticed the problem.

“I agree with Commissioner Oakley,” Mariano said. “That (landscaping requirement) is causing a problem. I think it has really hurt redevelopment along (U.S.) 19.”

Mariano suggested using funds from the county’s tree mitigation fund to provide an incentive for landscape improvements.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey concurred: “I like Commissioner Mariano’s idea of maybe helping them more. We don’t know the facts, here. I want to make sure that they know that right off the bat, there’s $10,000 that we can help them with their landscaping, Commissioner Oakley.

“But, let’s look to see if there’s some way we can help them more. We don’t want it to be a disincentive and not let these businesses expand,” Starkey said.

On the other hand, Starkey said she doesn’t want things to go back to the way they were when an entire site was covered with a building and parking, without landscaping.

County Administrator Dan Biles said “landscaping reimbursement out of the tree fund is capped at $10,000. We could look at increasing the cap. I think that cap has been there for a while. Inflation happens to landscaping, like everything else.”

Biles said he believes the fund now has more than $1 million.

“We could look at maybe bumping that cap up, to cover some more of these costs. Let’s take a look at that,” Biles said.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said he’d like a more detailed discussion of what triggers the landscaping improvements and more information about landscaping reimbursements from the tree mitigation fund, when Biles bring the issue back to the board.

Wells said he can think of two projects in his district where exceptions were made and they received reimbursements exceeding the cap, with the board’s approval.

“I think if you’re not adding to the square footage, it shouldn’t necessarily trigger it. That’s why we matched these folks with the funding,” Wells said.

“It’s tough for these businesses, not only now, but for the last several years. We need to help them to expand, move, hire more people and so forth.”

Mariano also would like to see if the process could be set up for the landscaping companies to be paid directly by the county, instead of having the business owner pay the landscaper and then be reimbursed for their payment.

“A lot of them can’t float that,” he said.

“I think most of your landscaping companies would probably be comfortable to work that way,” Mariano added. “We’ve just got to be flexible.”

Biles said he will take a look at increasing the cap for reimbursements, and at streamlining the process to get approvals more quickly — and then will bring it back to the board.

Published October 07, 2020

The Dade City Banner chronicled local news

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By the time Katharine Graham became publisher of the Washington Post in 1963, Margaret Bazzell had already been the publisher for The Dade City Banner for 20 years.

Both women became owners of their family owned newspapers upon the deaths of their husbands.

Succeeding in a male-dominated industry, Graham was the first female publisher of a major American newspaper. Her paper’s coverage of the Watergate scandal eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974.

The National Guard was brought in to protect dozens of homes and businesses damaged by a tornado, as reported by The Dade City Banner on April 2, 1959. (Courtesy of the University of Florida Digital Collections)

Bazzell became the first female publisher in Pasco County during World War II. Her husband died when he was just 42.

The newspaper reported the death under the headline — “H. S. Bazzell died suddenly Sunday p.m.,” spelled out in all capital letters.

An account, published Jan. 22, 1943, said in part: “When an employee is called upon to chronicle the passing of his employer and intimate friend it borders on the impossible.”

Prior to the Banner’s first publication on July 25, 1913, it chose a name that was briefly considered for Pasco County in 1887.

Volume 1, number 1 of the Banner was a “well-edited and well-appearing paper,” observed its first editor John Tippen.

Published on the Banner’s front page was a picture of “the beautiful Edwinola Hotel.” It was completed the previous year at a cost of about $50,000.

The structure was described this way in the Banner: “It is a fire-proof concrete building of three stories, containing 32 guest rooms, all of which are located on the second and third floors, the first floor being used for office, parlor and a dining room.”

In a notice to its readers and advertisers in 1915, the Banner promised “to conduct a clean, wholesome newspaper, which will give in every instance a fair deal to all.”

For much of the Banner’s history, that public pledge was followed by Margaret Bazzell.

During her time as owner and publisher until 1968, Margaret Bazzell would see her son, Harley S. Bazzell Jr., become editor.

She also hired her daughter-in-law Roszlyn “Ro” Bazzell (who died earlier this year); Harold Taylor, as typesetter; and William R. Branas, as advertising manager.

Calling itself “Pasco County’s Leading Newspaper,” the Banner became a daily and would eventually cover all of East and Central Pasco County, including the towns of Blanton, Dade City, Land O’ Lakes, Richland, Ridge Manor, San Antonio, Trilby, Gator (Wesley Chapel) and Zephyrhills.

“We lived within walking distance of our jobs,” former reporter Nell Moody Woodcock recalls on the Pasco County history website Fivay.org.

This old post card shows the offices of The Dade City Banner sometime in the early 1920s. The newspaper’s staff is pictured on the front steps, while a company car is shown on the right. (Courtesy of David Ward)

Keeping a finger on the pulse on Pasco
“The Banner was the newspaper of record for legal advertisements. Hard news was generated at the Pasco County Courthouse or city hall,” Woodcock recalls.

It was convenient that the Coleman and Ferguson Funeral Home was located on the opposite side of Seventh Street from the Banner.

“Their ambulances were called to emergencies, and a check with the front office would reveal the location and severity of the incident,” explains Woodcock, who grew up in Lacoochee and later retired as a staff reporter with The Tampa Tribune.

Readers especially enjoyed the Society Page by editor Catherine H. McIntosh. This section of the Banner was filled with articles about children’s birthday parties, families entertaining out-of-town guests, and weddings that were not complete without full descriptions of the dresses worn by the brides.

Typical was the following published on June 30, 1952: “Given in marriage by her father, the bride (Miss Vivian Bailey) wore a gown of candlelight satin with the full skirt terminating in a cathedral train. An overskirt of princess lace was a feature of the gown, which was fashioned with a basque bodice, with jewel neckline and long fitted sleeves with points over the hands. Her fingertip veil of illusion fell from a Queen of Scots cap, caught with orange blossoms, and appliqued with princess lace. She carried a shower bouquet of lilies of the valley and stephanotis, centered with a white orchid.”

With no door-to-door delivery, “subscribers got the paper in the mail (and) those who were in the military could learn all about what was happening back home by having the paper mailed to them,” according to the Fivay.org website.

That included local sports coverage by Gerald Newton, who was hired by the Banner in 1965 while still a 23-year-old student at Southeastern Bible College in Lakeland.

“I was once warned about being too wordy with some of my articles,” Newton posted on his Facebook page for Feb. 23, 2020.

This undated photograph shows the new Edwinola Hotel near downtown Dade City. Opening on March 8, 1912, it made front page news published in the first edition of The Dade City Banner on July 25, 1913. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)

The 1979 Dade City Little League state championship and the 1992 Pasco Pirate state title were covered during his 47-year career that spanned three newspapers following the Banner, as well as sports director for radio station WDCF in Dade City, and as a coach and teacher for Pasco County Schools.

Nearly 3,000 issues of The Dade City Banner are part of the digital collections on file at the University of Florida.

Preserving the newspaper began with efforts by the Pasco County Genealogy Society in 2000.

“They thought it would be a good idea to start indexing the births, deaths and marriages in The Dade City Banner,” explains Glen Thompson, a member of the Friends of the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City.

Following seven years of work on issues printed from 1913 to 1923, these copies were sent to the University of Florida. Also shipped out were Banners found in a dumpster, and others stored in archival boxes at city hall.

According to Angelo Liranzo, the library’s manager, copies of The Dade City Banner were digitized from 1914 to 1971 at a cost of approximately $15,000.

While the digital files are all PDF, the original papers still survive.

They chronicle news including construction of the new Evans bulk orange juice concentrate facilities south of Dade City in 1957, and the closing of the Cummer & Sons Cypress Company in 1959.

But, the stories of generations of families are the primary history that is preserved, in part, on the pages of The Dade City Banner.

The records are not clear, but sometime between 1973 and 1974, The Dade City Banner changed its name to The Pasco News under new management.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published October 07, 2020

Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company expands

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Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company in Pasco County, which opened in Pasco County in 2014, is constructing two new facilities at One Pasco Center, near Interstate 75 and State Road 52.

The company is investing $2 million to construct a 20,000-square-foot building and a 12,000-square-foot building at One Pasco Center business park, according to an announcement from Pasco Economic Council Inc.

The expansion also includes new manufacturing capabilities for conveyor parts and systems.

“Our company continues to grow, and we are expanding to meet the demand of our clients. Adding to our capabilities to include manufacturing is very exciting,” Ron Fernandes, president of Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company, said in a release.

“I really appreciate the Pasco EDC and Pasco County staff helping us keep the momentum going by expediting permitting and offering us mobility fee waivers. They are committed to helping businesses grow in Pasco,” he said.

Fernandes looked at numerous locations; however, he found One Pasco Center to have the direct access to major highways he needed to quickly and efficiently distribute to his clients, and provide easy access for business-to-business sales, the release adds.

“I want to congratulate Ron Fernandes and his team on their expansion. The I-75 and SR 52 interchange is rapidly developing, and I think he will find it the perfect fit,” Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said, in the release.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC also weighed in: “The Pasco EDC is always excited to help our current businesses expand and find ways to grow in Pasco County.

“Our road network in Pasco provides a unique transportation network across the county and region. Conveyor Consulting and Rubber Company chose their location because it provides them with quick access for distribution. I am thrilled they were able to remain here and continue to grow with us.”

Published October 07, 2020

Chambers in East Pasco considering merger

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Chambers of commerce representing the business communities in Zephyrhills and Dade City are beginning to explore the possibility of merging into a single chamber.

The boards for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce have approved the formation of a task force to look into the logistics and possible benefits of merging the two organizations.

Melonie Monson, the CEO of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, and John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, recently told The Laker/Lutz News that it is unclear how long it will be before a merger, if one occurs, will happen.

“All we’re looking at is the opportunity to be able to put options on the table,” Moors said.

The idea of a merger is not new.

He explained why combining forces is being considered.

“(The) No. 1 reason is that we feel that a larger chamber — in my perspective, in any case — would better represent businesses in the eastern Pasco area,” Moors said.

“With the influx of residential, we know that commercial is following that, that this area continues to grow and grow and spread, as we’ve seen in Wesley Chapel. We’re not suggesting that’s a great thing. We’re not suggesting it’s not,” he said.

However, Moors added: “We would be better prepared as a chamber, to service our business members, if we were somewhat prepared for that growth.”

Monson noted: “We’ve seen successful mergers of other chambers in Pasco County and the strength that that can bring in numbers. So, we felt that this was the opportune time, to look at this more closely right now.”

She also noted that impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the timing of the discussion.

“With all that everyone is going through, due to the pandemic, we felt that it was time to revisit it,” Monson said.

The task force will be made up of people from both communities, including businesses and larger organizations.

The task force will look at such things as: “What are the benefits of this? Will it strengthen each community? Will it strengthen each chamber? Will it expand advocacy?” Monson said.

The task force also will consider potential obstacles, as well as how to preserve the identities of each community, if a merger occurs, she added.

It also will explore: “Is this something we need to do?” she added.

Zephyrhills is among the largest municipalities in the county, if not the largest municipality, and Dade City is the county seat, Monson said.

Does it make sense to join forces to come together with one voice for advocacy and economic development, she asked.

Once the task force completes its due diligence, it will bring a recommendation to the boards.

Input from members will be sought, too, she said.

Moors said he has no speculation of the future structure of the chamber because that would come out of the task force.

“There’s really nothing for sure. All we’re really doing is forming a task force and looking at the combination, and at what best practices there might be, in a joint chamber,” he said.

One question that will be asked is: “What should the focus of the organization be?” Moors said.

The effort is being made to make sure the chambers are doing the best they can to remain sustainable and continue serving their members, he said.

Besides creating a more powerful voice, by merging memberships, there also might be a reduction in overhead, both chamber leaders said.

“There’s an economy of scale,” Moors said. “If there’s an opportunity to be able to maximize their economies of scale, then in most cases, businesses will do that. It’s only good fiduciary responsibility,” Moors said.

“Primarily, people join a chamber of commerce because they want to network and they want to interact with people of like minds, from a business perspective. And, they want to have a voice in initiatives that are moving forward in their area both from a political point of view and from business associations, and that sort of thing,” Moors said.

Work is expected to get started on naming a task force and studying the issues, Monson said.

It’s hard to say how quickly that work will be done, the recommendations will be made and whether the chambers will decide to move forward with a merger — or drop the idea.

A merger between the Zephyrhills and Dade City chambers would be the third merger of its type among Pasco County chambers.

The North Tampa Bay Chamber is made up of chambers that previously represented Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Trinity and Odessa.

The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce resulted from a merger between the West Pasco  and Central Pasco chambers.

Published October 07, 2020

Pasco plans to hire two lobbyists

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The Pasco County Commission has directed County Administrator Dan Biles to take steps necessary to prepare to hire two lobbyists to represent the county’s interests.

One lobbyist would pursue federal dollars, while the other would focus on funding opportunities at the state level.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey raised the issue at the board’s Sept. 21 meeting.

She had mentioned the need for it in the past and brought it back again.

“Frankly, I think we’re shooting ourselves in the foot by not having an outside lobbyist,” Starkey said. “I’ve talked to commissioners in other counties and we might be the only county this size, I think we would be the only county this size, that doesn’t have at least one outside lobbyist. The other ones have multiple.”

She said it’s especially important “at a time when money is going to be even tighter in Tallahassee,” and added, “we need to be looking out for the best interest of our citizens.”

Hiring a lobbyist, she said, “is going to bring back dividends to the county.”

She thinks the county can do better than it did last year, in terms of obtaining state funding for local projects.

“I think Ralph (Lair, the county’s lobbyist) does a great job, but there is a difference between an internal lobbyist and an external lobbyist, and we are better served, if we have both,” Starkey said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed. He thinks the county is in a good position to attract funding for projects in the coming year, but said the county needs to have a strong advocate in Tallahassee.

He recommended bringing Shawn Foster, from Sunrise Consulting Group, back to represent the county.

“I think we should bring him back on. If he only gets one thing for us, we’re way ahead of the game,” Mariano said.

It’s important to have someone working on the county’s behalf up in Tallahassee.

“You’ve got to be up there. You’ve got to be in their face. You’ve got to be pushing to get these things through,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Mike Wells agreed. “The school board has their internal person and their external person. They work great together as a team. And, in the past, Shawn (Foster) has worked great for us as a team.”

Starkey also noted that both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties received “$10s of millions” from Washington D.C., this year.

Starkey made a motion to hire a lobbyist.

Wells asked if the motion includes hiring a federal lobbyist, as well as a state lobbyist.

Starkey replied: “I would love that. We are really missing out. We never would have got that Ridge Road project without that (lobbyist) help. I agree that we should have a federal lobbyist help us with this whole coastal effort.”

But, Commission Chairman Mike Moore asked: “On the federal side, what was our return on investment. How many bills were passed on our behalf? How much funding did we receive from the group we had previously hired on, as federal lobbyists?”

Starkey countered: “We have to be smart about what we ask for, and we haven’t used our lobbyists right. ‘Cuz we haven’t had a project, besides our Ridge Road one, that we went up there and asked them for. Although I did ask for help in changing some of the labor laws, and we did get that.

“Even Martin County, the little Martin County over there, they have two lobbying firms in Washington. They bring back millions and millions of dollars. We have to be more savvy about what we’re asking for. I think there’s transportation money. I think there’s possibly this dredge money. We should look at what other counties have done and mimic that,” Starkey said.

“We have to have a plan. We have to have an ask and then we have to go work it. And, we can’t expect it in a year or two, but you have to build those relationships,” Starkey added.

Wells asked if Starkey wanted to use a solicitation procedure to fill the positions.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said that the county didn’t have the option to bypass that process.

Mariano asked if the board could extend Foster’s former contract.

“You can’t just go with Mr. Foster. It has to go out for bid,” Steinsnyder said, adding that Foster’s contract had long since expired and could not be resuscitated.

Commissioner Ron Oakley asked where the funding would come from, for the two positions.

County Administrator Dan Biles said: “I don’t know. This discussion is new to me.

“There’s not funding for either one in the budget. If the board wants to do that, we obviously will amend the budget to add money into the budget to do that, and then we will do the solicitation process for both contracts,” Biles said.

Moore said he thinks there is money available for the positions this year from funding that was returned to the county, that would cover the positions for this year — without dipping into reserves. But that would be for this year only.

Zephyrhills adopts $60 million budget

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The Zephyrhills City Council has approved a budget of nearly $60.5 million for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The annual spending plan is based on a millage rate of 6.35 million, which is the same rate as the city has had for the last several years.

The tax rate will generate $5,054,921 in ad valorem taxes, based on a citywide property valuation of $837,847,970. The city’s valuation was $774,173,659 last year and generated $4,695,056 in ad valorem revenues.

No one offered public comment during the budget’s second and final public hearing.

Councilman Charles Proctor commended city staffers for organizing a balanced budget — without raising taxes — amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He characterized that accomplishment as “a big deal.”

The councilman went on: “That’s why I’m so proud to live in Florida. We live in a state where it’s in our constitution that we have to have a balanced budget. I believe that should be nationwide, personally, but it’s not.

“We live within our means, and that’s the whole idea of having this balanced budget,” Proctor said.

In another city matter, staffers are reviewing an amended financial agreement from Pasco County on the multimillion County Road 54 enhancement project, which calls for a signalized intersection, turn lanes and a multi-use path along a 1.31 mile stretch, from east of U.S. 301 to 23rd Street. The proposed agreement will be brought in front of city council “very soon,” City Manager Billy Poe said.

Construction on the $2.3 million U.S 301/Pretty Pond Road signalized intersection project is slated to begin Oct. 12 and has an eight month completion timeline. The project calls for the relocation of an existing signalized intersection from the shopping plaza entrance to Pretty Pond Road, a signalized intersection at Medical Arts Court, and all other required roadway improvements. “We’ll see some dirt being churned very soon,” Poe said.

Published October 07, 2020

Zephyrhills bids farewell to local fire department

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The Zephyrhills Fire Department — as it has been known for some 100 years — has made its last service call.

The department officially became part of Pasco County Fire Rescue on Sept. 27, through an interlocal agreement that was approved in May.

Zephyrhills Fire Department Station 2 on Sixth Avenue now becomes Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 29. The other station, Zephyrhills Fire Department Station 1 on Dean Dairy Road, is now Pasco County Fire Station 25. (Courtesy of Pasco County Fire Rescue)

The hometown fire department’s 24 full-time employees, two stations and apparatus are now part of the county’s fire and rescue operations.

The fire stations’ computer and audio systems become unified within the county’s 911 operations center.

Along with the change, the city’s two stations have been renamed from Zephyrhills Fire Department Station 1 and Zephyrhills Fire Department Station 2, to Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 25 and Pasco Country Fire Rescue Station 29, respectively.

The merger had been coming for some time.

Besides a ballooning annual budget, Zephyrhills Fire Department over the years battled personnel turnover, staffing shortages and outdated equipment.

The city hasn’t had a fire chief for over 18 months, instead dividing those duties among  three battalion chiefs.

The merger is a “win-win” for all parties involved, said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, who made an appearance at a Sept. 28 Zephyrhills City Council meeting.

Oakley, himself a Zephyrhills resident, explained that the community will benefit from increased staffing at both fire stations and two operable ambulances, quickening response times inside city limits and surrounding unincorporated areas.

“You’re going to see much better service than you’ve ever seen before,” said Oakley, noting the transition was “very seamless.”

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley (File)

Oakley also underscored the importance of the county economy of scale to takeover and fully fund the two fire stations, located on Sixth Avenue and Dairy Road, respectively.

The commissioner also relayed a message from a local firefighter who praised the county’s resources, which, for instance, has allowed for a third firefighter/paramedic on a ladder truck to respond to scenes, as opposed to two staffers previously.

“If they’re going out there to save somebody’s life and they need that extra hand, it’s there. That’s going to be a great thing,” Oakley said.

Meantime, the consolidation saves Zephyrhills from having to implement what would have amounted to a pricey fire assessment fee on residents and business owners to keep the local agency afloat.

Its fire department budget the last two years was $3.3 million in fiscal year 2019 and $2.8 million in fiscal year 2020 — nearly totaling the amount the city will pay the county to take fire rescue operations off its hands in perpetuity.

The interlocal agreement (as well as extended employee benefits) costs Zephyrhills roughly $5.5 million total, generally spread out over a period of seven years. After fiscal year 2026-2027, the city won’t have to pay the county for fire rescue services — as it will be solely propped up by a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) assessed to city residents and commercial entities, similar to how Dade City receives such services. An MSTU for fire services is expected to have less financial impact on city residents and commercial entities than a fire assessment fee, officials say.

Zephyrhills City Council President Charles Proctor acknowledged the merger was quite trying emotionally and sentimentally, but said it was something that had to be done for the viability of the city.

“Nobody wants to get rid of an institution,” he said, “but, I think we’re going to save the citizens in the long run, financially, and they’re going to get a lot better service, and that’s what’s important. We have to look at the big picture.”

Fellow council members, including Lance Smith, echoed such feelings.

“We were never really ever able to give the firemen what they needed, and that was a full staff at this station, which is the way to be safe, so I think that we ultimately came to this decision for the good of our fire department,” Smith said.

Though gear and uniforms may now read, “Pasco County Fire Rescue,” many fire rescue personnel at Station 25 and Station 29 are familiar to city residents — having either worked for the former city fire department or new hires with deep ties to the area.

For instance,  a pair of fairly recent Zephyrhills High School graduates are now paramedics running ambulances out of Station 25.

“We’re not completely losing that hometown feel that we thought we might be,” said Councilman Ken Burgess. “We still have it.”

Added Smith, “It’s still the Zephyrhills Fire Department in all of our minds.”

The history of the city’s fire department is believed to date back to 1915, when it started as a volunteer organization. Since the 1970s, it had a paid professional staff.

On a related note, Oakley mentioned as many as five new fire stations could be built throughout the entire county, within the next three or four years.

Published October 07, 2020

Jail expansion contract awarded

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Moss Construction has announced that it has been awarded the contract for the expansion of the Pasco County Detention Center, at 20101 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

“We understand that this is an essential project for the county, and we are honored that they trust us to deliver a facility that will meet their current and future needs,” Moss’ Mid-Florida President Mike Mazza said, in a news release from the company.

The new inmate housing in Pasco County, budgeted at $109 million, is targeted to provide additional housing beds comprised of single-, double- and multiple-occupancy secure cells for general population inmates of different arrest classifications. The project also includes a centralized intake and booking center that can accommodate 150 daily arrests and releases.

In addition, the expansion will make significant upgrades to the jail’s medical center with enhancements to treatment areas, adding negative-pressure isolation rooms and impact resistant cells. Central support facilities also will be renovated, including warehousing, food service, laundry and maintenance.

Construction is scheduled to begin the fourth quarter of 2021, with an anticipated completion in the second quarter of 2024.

The project is being designed by the firm HOK.

Published October 07, 2020

Political Agenda 10/07/2020

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Republican women’s group endorses Trump
The Florida Federation of Republican Women has announced its support for the reelection of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the 2020 Presidential Election. The women’s political group also endorsed that ticket during the 2016 presidential election, according to a news release from the organization.

Randy Maggard endorsements
Randy Maggard is running for reelection in District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives. His campaign has announced the following endorsements:

  • The West Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Police Benevolent Association
  • Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning
  • Richard Corcoran, former speaker of the Florida House and current state education commissioner

East Pasco Democrat Club
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet remotely, via Zoom, at Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will feature supporting the Democratic candidates locally and nationally. All members and friends of the Democratic Party are invited to attend. Email , or call (813) 383-8315 for details. Socializing begins at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting.

Democrat Club meeting set
The Central Pasco Democratic Club will meet Oct. 21 at 6:45 p.m., remotely on Zoom. The meeting will feature supporting the Democratic candidates locally and nationally. All members and friends of the Democratic Party are invited to attend. Email , or call (813) 383-8315 for details. Socializing begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the meeting.

Kathy Lewis endorsements
Kathy Lewis is running for the District 20 seat in the State Senate. She has received these endorsements, according to her campaign:

  • Tracey Kagan, Democratic candidate for the Florida House
  • Florida State Sen. Victor “Vic” M. Torres, Jr.

Polling place changes in Pasco
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley announced the following polling place changes for precincts 15 and 55, for the 2020 General Election.

New locations
• Precinct 15: Cornerstone Community Church, 5708 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, 34652
• Precinct 55: Zephyr Shores Estates POA Clubhouse, 35143 State Road 54 W., Zephyrhills, Florida 33541

Former locations
• Precinct 15: Ashbury United Methodist Church, 4204 Thys Road, New Port Richey
• Precinct 55: Crystal Lakes Clubhouse, Zephyrhills, Florida 33541

Sample ballots
Pasco County will mail sample ballots to voters on Oct. 9. Voters who have requested vote-by-mail do not receive sample ballots.

Some vote-by-mail reminders
The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections’ Office provides these Vote By Mail reminders, on its website:

  • Don’t forget to sign your Vote By Mail envelope before returning it.
  • Make sure you have a current signature on file with your Supervisor of Elections Office. You can update your signature by completing a printed or online voter registration application. (An online application will add your most recent Florida Driver License or Florida State ID signature to your voter record.)
  • Be consistent when signing your mail ballot return envelope. Signatures are compared to those on file with the elections office.
  • You may mail your ballot back or drop it off at your local elections offices or Early Voting sites (during Early Voting).
  • Check with your local elections office for more information on drop-off locations.
  • If you mail the ballot back, make sure to allow plenty of time for it to be received. It’s a good idea that you allow at least a week for your mailed ballot to reach your elections office. If your ballot isn’t in your county’s elections office by 7 p.m., Election Day, it will not be counted.