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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Towing companies must clear crash debris in Pasco

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Companies that remove vehicles from the scene of an accident in Pasco County must be sure to clear away the crash debris, too.

That’s the word from the Pasco County Commission, which adopted an ordinance to that effect during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting.

Commissioner Mike Wells had called for the local ordinance in the spring, to ensure that towing companies do a thorough job when clearing accident scenes.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the ordinance came to commissioners several months ago, but was delayed because of the pandemic.

“It basically mirrors state law, but gives us some teeth with towing companies that fail to clean up the scene of an accident,” Steinsnyder said.

Wells told the county attorney: “I’m glad it has finally made it back to us.”

The ordinance says that the board “recognizes that its streets and intersections are littered with debris from accidents and that this debris creates dangerous conditions for other persons using the roads.”

It also requires that: “Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a street, road, or highway shall remove and lawfully dispose of any glass, debris, or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.”

The ordinance aims to hold tow-truck drivers to the standards that state law requires.

In calling for the ordinance earlier this year, Wells said he didn’t think every hauler is guilty of leaving debris in the road, but he wanted to increase the level of accountability.

The ordinance was adopted without public comment, on a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kathryn Starkey absent.

Published November 04, 2020

Donations being sought for law officer memorial

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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices are accepting donations during the month of November to help build the Pasco Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

This rendering depicts what the permanent memorial for fallen law enforcement officers is expected to look like. (File)

The memorial is planned to be located on the grounds of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City, and will honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, according to a news release from Fasano’s office.

Pasco County is the only one of Florida’s 67 counties without a permanent law enforcement memorial, so efforts led by Attorney Craig LaPorte and other volunteers have been ongoing to raise enough money to build one. Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley also has been involved in the fundraising efforts.

An annual memorial service is held to honor the officers who have been lost, but the memorial will provide a place to visit year-round.

Cash donations can be made at any of the five tax collector locations in Pasco County. They also can be included in registration renewals mailed to the tax collector during the month of November, the release says.

For more information about the charitable giving program at the Pasco Tax Collector’s office, contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

For more information about the Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, call Craig LaPorte at (727) 863-1553.

Donations also may be mailed to the tax collector’s office at the following address: Tax Collector Mike Fasano, P.O. Box 276, Dade City, FL 33526.  Please note on the check’s memo line “Law Enforcement Memorial.”

Published November 04, 2020

Tax collectors returns more than $3 million to county

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When the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on the local economy, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano thought it would mean that he’d be able to return about half of the money that he typically returns to the county each year.

But, it turned out that the tax collector’s offices were able to continue operations — with adaptations, and last week, Fasano presented a check topping $3 million, more than double what he expected.

“God bless my staff; we were able to keep things going, even though we had to close our lobbies. We still continued to provide service,” Fasano said. “I will also tell you that we’re No. 1 in the state, and continue to be, in giving out concealed weapons permits.”

He praised the work of County Administrator Dan Biles.

“Dan Biles has been phenomenal in leading us through this serious crisis,” Fasano said, noting  his offices were able to stay open — using temperature gauging and other precautions to keep people safe.

“We’re able to give people tickets so they can wait in their cars, and they are texted when their numbers come up. And, Dan has been outstanding in making sure that happened, and we appreciate that,” Fasano said.

Fasano presented a check for $3,457,000 to the county, of which he requested $305,000 to renovate a building in San Antonio to house his office’s department that oversees printing and mailing of tax notices, registration renewals and other materials.

“With that said, we’re asking that from that $3,457,000 — $305,000 be put to the side,” Fasano said, to pay that contractor. “You can keep $3.1 million. I want $305,000,” Fasano said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore assured Fasano that the request was on the board’s consent agenda, which was subsequently approved by the board.

Published November 04, 2020

Cleanup a success, amid pandemic

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Small teams made for mighty results during this year’s socially distanced version of the annual International Coastal Cleanup, presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, according to a Pasco County news release.

Olivia O’Malley, of Land O’ Lakes, holds a trash bag open, as her father, Michael, throws away a decaying trash bag that was found on the side of Parkway Boulevard, during last year’s coastal cleanup. O’Malley and her dad also found a piece of a car bumper. (File)

Volunteers worked throughout Pasco County to pick up nearly 40,000 pounds of trash and litter along roadways, public spaces and waterways.

Here’s a breakdown from the cleanup:

  • 19.52 tons of trash and litter
  • 36 locations in Pasco County
  • 922 volunteers
  • 3,248 volunteer hours logged

“We always strive for a year-over-year increase, but not all success is measured in numbers,” said Kristen King, Keep Pasco Beautiful coordinator.

“Even during the pandemic, we had a volunteer turnout that we are extremely grateful for, and we’re consistently welcoming a younger generation who cares about the environment and will ultimately create lasting behavior change,” King said.

The Pasco County Department of Public Works assists with trash pickup from the cleanup, and it manages the Adopt-a-Road program for volunteers who are interested in additional efforts.

For information, visit KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

Published November 04, 2020

Tourist Development Council has board opening

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Pasco County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) has an opening on its volunteer board for a representative or operator of a hotel, motel, RV park, or other tourist accommodation, according to a county news release.

Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, which is Pasco’s Destination Management Organization, is recruiting volunteers to apply to serve on the board.

Applications are being accepted online through Nov. 30, at bit.ly/TDCApp2020.

The TDC is an advisory council to the Pasco County Commission.

It is made up of elected officials and tourism industry professionals who provide recommendations to the staff of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast on promotional/partnership proposals, marketing opportunities and oversight of tourism tax expenditures – also known as the “Bed Tax.”

Position Details:

  • Must be an owner or operator of a motel, hotel, RV park, or other tourist accommodation in the county subject to the tourist development tax
  • TDC members serve four-year terms; appointments are staggered.
  • The position is voluntary; there is no financial compensation.
  • The TDC typically meets monthly, alternating between New Port Richey and Dade City.
  • Applicants must live in Pasco County, and must be registered to vote.

To find out more, visit bit.ly/PascoTDC.

For additional information, email Kolby Kucyk Gayson at .

Published November 04, 2020

Treating others —  to a happy, haunting Halloween

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Every year, right after Labor Day, Sid Simandl starts sorting out his Halloween décor.

He begins early because it takes weeks for him and his wife, Kathy, to create a haunted attraction that will, well, raise people’s spirits.

“It started out small, just a little display. And, each year, it just got a little bit bigger and a little bit bigger. It’s taken on a life of its own,” said Simandl, who lives in the Stagecoach subdivision in Land O’ Lakes, just off Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

If spiders give you the creeps, you’ll likely want to steer clear of the massive one in front of this home, in the Stagecoach subdivision in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Sid Simandl)

“We change it every year. We do new props every year,” said Simandl, noting the display has 68 props, including many that light up and are animated.

The attraction has developed a reputation.

“Everyone knows that’s the Halloween House,” said John Higgins, who lives next door to the Simandls.

Hundreds of people typically drop by the house, at 3651 Mossy Oak Circle, on Halloween night — the only night the display is open, Simandl said.

For many, the annual visit has become a ritual.

Simandl has been setting up his display for 18 years.

It’s never quite the same, from year to year.

Typically, he has constructed a Haunted House, inside his garage, which people would tour through.

These skeletons like to lounge around in front of the house at 3651 Mossy Oaks Circle, in the Stagecoach subdivision in Land O’ Lakes.

But, this year, he’s changing that up because of a need for COVID-19 precautions and to provide social distancing.

Instead of traipsing through an enclosed Haunted House, visitors will be able to check out a haunted trail, outdoors.

This year, there’s also a bonus: “We’re actually sponsoring a movie in the park at 9 o’clock (p.m.) We’re right across the street from the rec center,” Simandl said.

There’s no admission charge to visit the Halloween display or to watch “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” but nonperishable foods and canned goods are being accepted for a local food pantry, Higgins said.

The annual Halloween display at the Simandls is fun for both children and adults, Simandl said. It has become a tradition in the neighborhood: “There’s a whole group of us that gets together and hangs out,” he said.

This sign provides an inkling of how excited the Simandls get about Halloween each year. Sid Simandl, who puts up a giant display, says Halloween is his favorite holiday.

Typically, trick-or-treaters start showing up around 6:30 p.m., on Halloween.

Besides getting a feast for the eyes, the kids get a fistful of candy, too.

That’s because a lot of his neighbors hang out in the driveway, and the trick-or-treaters each get six or seven pieces of candy.

Higgins praised his neighbor, for creating such a nice experience for families and kids.

“He just does it for the pure joy of it,” Higgins said, noting that the couple’s children are grown and live out of town.

Simandl who has nicknamed himself “Mr. Halloween,” puts on a pumpkin sports coat for the occasion.

“It’s my favorite holiday,” he said.

He and his wife have a solitary goal, in sharing their seasonal showcase: “We want them to love Halloween as much as we do,” he said.

Typically, the last trick-or-treaters trickle in around 9 p.m., or shortly after, but this year that could be later, because Halloween is on Saturday.

All are welcome, Simandl said.

“We’re there until the last ghost goes home,” he said.

Check out Halloween décor galore
What: Visit a haunted Halloween trail in the yard at Sid and Kathy Simandl’s home. Dozens of animated and lighted props will be on display.
Where: 3651 Mossy Oak Circle, Land O’ Lakes
When: Oct. 31, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; nonperishable foods and canned goods will be accepted to benefit a local food pantry.

Watch a spooky movie
What: Sid and Kathy Simandl are hosting a free outdoor Halloween movie at the Stagecoach park.
What: A screening of “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein”
Where: 3632 Mossy Oak Circle, Land O’ Lakes
When: Oct. 31 at 9 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; nonperishable foods and canned goods will be accepted to benefit a local food pantry.

Published October 28, 2020

Diverging Diamond is behind schedule

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A road project that’s expected to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is running behind schedule, and Pasco County commissioners aren’t happy.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore raised the issue during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting — citing the apparent lack of workers on the project.

“I drive it daily. My wife drives it daily. My oldest daughter probably drives it three to four times a week,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore is calling on state road officials to apply greater pressure to get the Diverging Diamond project back on track. (File)

“Yesterday, when I drove through there, I took a few photos. I saw one truck. I don’t know what he was doing, I’m not a contractor. And, I saw two guys standing on the side, down below.

“On a project of that magnitude, those are the only people I saw working on it Monday — a sunny Monday.

“That was about 1:15, 1:30 (in the afternoon), when I drove through there. Those were the only people working on that project when I drove by there.

“That’s insane.

“That’s ridiculous.

“That’s embarrassing,” Moore said.

“I know Commissioner (Kathryn) Starkey and I received a letter from a group of businesses over on the west side of the interchange, everywhere from the outlet mall to across the street to Sierra’s properties (Cypress Creek Town Center), too,” Moore said.

“It’s frustrating to all of our constituents here. It’s frustrating to the business owners,” he said.

It’s particularly irritating given the fact that the county worked with local state legislators to get the project moved, and now it’s behind schedule, Moore said.

“Now, we’re going into 2021. This was supposed to be done in the summer of ‘21, and be finished and completed. Unfortunately, they’re delayed.

“We have absolutely zero control, and when I say zero, we have zero control over these contractors for that project because that is a DOT project,” the commission chairman added.

Moore said he expressed the county’s displeasure to David Gwynn, secretary for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Gwynn responded with an email outlining what’s happened so far in the project, and the DOT’s actions.

The project was started in early 2019 with an original schedule of 800 days, which would result in a finish date of April 2021, Gwynne’s email notes.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county needs to keep the pressure on, to get the state road project finished closer to its original completion date.

That schedule did not account for rain and holiday allowances or other factors outside the contractors control, the email adds.

To date, the contractor has been granted:

  • 99 days for weather
  • 34 days of holiday time
  • 30 days for unforeseen conditions

As a result, 163 days will be added to the contract, bringing the new end date to Aug. 26, 2021, the email notes.

“The department has discussed its concern with the contractor, DAB Constructors, as a result the contractor has gone to a 6-day work week to mitigate the schedule, and has agreed to focus their resources on completing existing work,” the email says.

The DOT also is looking for opportunities to move the job forward, the email notes, including:

  • Approving the use of alternate fill materials less sensitive to water, to accelerate work in low lying areas
  • Examining ways to combine traffic phases to shorten the overall duration of the project
  • Utilizing alternate road base options to accelerate new roadway construction
  • Examining ways to reconfigure walls on the project to shorten construction duration

Gwynn’s email says that “should the contractor not meet the contract end date, liquidated damages, of $9,837 a day, will be assessed for every day that the contractor is late in completing the project.”

The email goes on to say that the department sent a letter of concern to the contractor on March 23, and continues to review the contractor’s progress.

Finally, Gwynn said, “Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to hold the contractor accountable and accelerate the schedule where possible.”

Starkey said “I think DOT is doing as much as it can, to push it along,” but, she would like to see changes in the way contracts are awarded, to put a higher value on a company’s performance.

Moore said he’s happy to see what the DOT is doing, but isn’t satisfied with the results.

“The pressure needs to stay on,” Moore said.

“Basically, what needs to happen, is they need to hold their feet to the fire,” Moore said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “Keep the pressure on.”

Published October 28, 2020

Send-off honors Pasco Commissioner Mike Wells

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Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr., concluded his last meeting with the county board, on Oct. 20 with a playful gesture.

He dropped the gavel.

The action — which essentially means, ‘My work is done here’ — provided a glimpse into the commissioner’s self-deprecating humor, and it came at the conclusion of a meeting where he received a standing ovation, and was lavished with praise for his six years of service on the county board.

Pasco County commissioners honored their colleague, Mike Wells, who is leaving the board to become Pasco County Property Appraiser. Shown here, from left: Commissioner Ron Oakley, Commission Chairman Mike Moore, Commissioner Mike Wells, Commissioner Jack Mariano and Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. Wells is holding a framed copy of a resolution honoring his service on the board. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Commissioners paused from their formal agenda to honor some of Wells’ accomplishments since he won the District 4 seat in 2014 and subsequently won re-election.

He’s leaving the board to become the Pasco County Property Appraiser.

Wells has a long association with politics and government.

After all, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Mike Wells Sr., who served on the Pasco County Commission and then was Pasco County Property Appraiser.

Besides growing up in a household where public service was valued, Wells got involved in political campaigns when he was just 12 years old.

During his tenure on the Pasco County Commission, Wells has voted on myriad issues important to Pasco County residents, businesses, organizations and communities.

He advocated for the extension of Ridge Road — a project the county had pursued for decades that finally began construction at the beginning of this year.

He and his colleagues selected County Administrator Dan Biles to lead the county’s staff.

Wells also took the leading role in reviving scalloping in Pasco County, after a hiatus that had lasted nearly 25 years.

During county meetings and through work with community organizations, he has championed efforts to help the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, the unemployed, veterans and small businesses.

Wells also has called for high expectations of the county staff, as it relates to customer service.

At the same time, he demonstrated support of county staff, too.

During this year’s budget talks, the county administrator recommended a 2% raise for county staff, in keeping with the inflation rate.

Wells balked.

He pushed for a 3% raise — to match the percentage approved for state employees and staff of the county’s constitutional officers.

Wells’ firm stand on the issue found support among his colleagues, and ultimately, it won the day.

During the commissioner’s final board meeting, board members surprised him with a resolution outlining Wells’ public service.

They also offered words of praise.

“We campaigned together for a long time,” said Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “We were sworn together Nov. 18 of 2014. The first meeting, it was  a doozy of a meeting. Remember that?”

During that session, the board turned down a concept for a sports park on the land that is now occupied by the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County.

That first “no vote” ultimately resulted in a superior outcome, Moore said.

The commission chairman also noted that through the years, Wells has taken “numerous, numerous votes that are going to change this community for the better, and this county for the better, for a long, long time.

“You will be missed,” Moore said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley weighed in, too.

“I think we were all put here at the right time to move Pasco forward. You played a big part in doing that, and doing it the right way,” Oakley said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added: “I appreciate your leadership here on the board. It’s been really fun working with you all of these years, and I look forward to working with you as property appraiser. I know you’re going to do a great job.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano put it this way: “Mike, I want to say, you’ve been a high-impact commissioner. I think when the two Mikes (Mike Wells and Mike Moore) came on board, they brought a great energy of getting things done.”

He said Wells has worked to help push stormwater projects forward. He also said Wells helped secure funding for Starkey Park and SunWest Park, and supported the county’s acquisition of private water systems, leading to lower rates for customers.

“It’s been a great pleasure working with you,” Mariano said. “I think people recognized that you would be a great property appraiser,” he added.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder and County Administrator Biles also expressed their appreciation for Wells’ service on the board.

Published October 28, 2020

New contract gives Dade City police a bump in pay

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Members of the Dade City Police Department are set to receive across-the-board salary increases, plus starting salary will be higher, too.

Those are just two of the provisions in a 56-page collective bargaining agreement between the City of Dade City and the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association (WCFPBA) on behalf of the local law enforcement agency.

The new three-year contract was approved unanimously at the Dade City Commission’s Oct. 13 meeting. The agreement runs through fiscal year 2022-2023.

The Dade City Police Department is set to receive across-the-board salary increases and other benefits as part of a new three-year collective bargaining agreement between the City of Dade City and the West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association (WCFPBA). The new base salary is $40,000, up from the previous base salary of $37,000. (File)

The respective negotiations team for the city and police union met three times during the summer, and reached tentative agreement on all articles in early September.

The collective bargaining unit notified the city that its members had ratified the proposed contract during a vote later that month.

The most noteworthy changes are the increased officer salaries, as well as established pay steps. The new starting salary for a Dade City police officer is $40,000 — up from the previous starting salary of $37,000.

Meanwhile, a pay step plan implemented for sworn officers will create a 2% increase for every year of service between years one to 15, a 5% increase at year 20, and a 5% increase at year 25. This pay step plan eliminates a separate Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase and eliminates a separate longevity incentive.

Under the plan, all current officers will receive some sort of immediate pay increase — with most receiving up to 5%.

Officers and detectives requiring a greater increase to fit respective pay step will have the balance adjusted in equal installments in year two and year three, according to the agreement.

As an example, a rookie officer who was making $37,377.60 will see pay jump to $40,000 this fiscal year. In 2022-2023, that salary will be $41,616.

An 11-year veteran of the force making $43,992 will see pay jump to $46,191,60 this year; the salary will be $51,744.27 by 2022-2023.

To further put in perspective, here’s how an officer would be compensated based on years of service, under the plan:

  • Rookie officer: $40,000
  • One year service: $40,800
  • Five years of service: $44,163.23
  • 10 years of service: $48,759.78
  • 15 years of service: $53,834.73
  • 20 years of service: $56,526.47
  • 25 years of service: $59,352.79

There also were other special payment provisions implemented in the contract, including a $100 footwear allowance for all officers each year.

Another clause of the contract compensates officers for a loss of personal items during a physical incident on duty, or due to the of hazardous materials.

Dade City Police Chief James Walters, right, with Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez commended both city staffers and the police union for arriving at a workable agreement.

“I want to thank both sides,” Hernandez said. “I’m impressed at the amount of time, thought and deliberation, and action that ultimately we came to.”

The mayor, however, did acknowledge more work needs to be done in the future — alluding to greater officer pay and benefits in the future, as the city grows, develops and expands.

Even with the raises, the upgraded starting salary for a Dade City police officer still lags behind other agencies in Pasco County, where starting pay for police officers and deputies hovers around the mid-40s.

The nearby City of Zephyrhills, for instance, is actively advertising a starting salary of $44,500.

Hernandez put it this way: “You know, we have lots to do better on, we know that. But, I’m happy of where we are and we know there’s more to go, but I do believe we are moving in the right direction…”

Dade City Police Chief James Walters echoed the mayor’s sentiments regarding the agreement, overall.

“We appreciate the hard work for getting this done,” said Walters, a 25-year veteran of the agency who’s served as chief since 2018. “It is a great accomplishment for the employees and staff and officers, to be able to understand where they’re going to be at, and how they’re going to get there.”

The city’s police department has about 40 employees, including 23 sworn officers, civilian personnel and part-time staff.

Better pay deemed essential for retaining officers
The finalized contract comes at a point when the city is expected to need additional officers, as it continues to experience residential growth.

Walters advised commissioners during a budget meeting in August that additional staffing will be required to match the additional demands. At that time, he said: “In order to provide the services this community has come to expect and deserve, the police department must grow as well.

“We are already seeing a tremendous increase in our calls for service, and the more calls for service that we have with the same number of officers, the less time there is to spend on direct speeding enforcement, and community outreach and community-oriented policing.”
At the same meeting, WCFPBA president Nick Marolda underscored the importance of competitive pay for the city’s police force, noting the challenge the lower pay presents in both attracting and retaining officers.

“You’re spending thousands and thousands of dollars training these officers. They get great training, and then in about two years or three years, they look around and they see they’re the lowest (paid) in Pasco County, and they bail on you, and you lose all that money in training, and they go to another agency and you’ve got to start over again,” he said.

Published October 28, 2020

Local officials continue mask mandates, urge social distancing

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Elected leaders in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are still requiring masks to be worn indoors in their counties, as rates of COVID-19 remain concerning.

Mike Napier, health officer for the Florida Department of Health – Pasco County, updated the Pasco County Commission on current local conditions during an Oct. 20 meeting.

“I wish I had better news. Our goal, when we talked last time was, ‘Let’s see what the data looks like and maybe we can make revisions,” Napier said.

Concerns about the rate of positivity cases in Pasco and Hillsborough counties have promoted local elected leaders to keep mask mandates in place. (Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

In his update, that came 30 days after his last appearance, Napier told board members:

“We have 10,294 positive cases, as of yesterday (Oct. 19). That’s a 3.5% increase over the last seven days. That’s 358 new cases, just this past week.

“The total population infected was just under 2%, and we have a less than 1% (.04) population that has died. That’s 229 cases.

“The other point that we talk about is the seven-day rolling average of cases. Last month, when I was here, we had increased from 29 cases per day, on average for seven days, up to 49. As of today, we’re looking at 53 cases per day. That represented an 8.1% increase from last month when I came and spoke with you.

“The other part that’s a little bit alarming is our 14-day rolling average. That’s the percent of positive cases that we get each day. It has climbed from 3.2% to 4.5%. That represents a 40% increase in the number of positive cases, percentage-wise.”

“As of today, we have 227 deaths.

The county is not seeing a huge increase, but it is trending in the wrong direction, Napier said.

The gold standard would be about 1 case per 100,000 — which means Pasco County would have 5.5 case per day, Napier said. “We’ve got a ways to get there.”

“We know that schools was one of the questions — what was going to be the impact of schools?

“I’ve got to give a shout-out to the school system. They’ve been great in working with the students and faculty and health department, in letting parents know as soon as we can about a positive case.

“I will tell you that the schools are not driving our case increases. They represent roughly 15% of our cases, which is what we had seen previously,” he said.

Students who have been exposed to someone positive must be isolated, which interrupts football practices and other things, as “life continues to go on,” he said.

“We understand that it’s disruptive, but we’re also trying to prevent the spread,” Napier said.

He said his staff is not finding spread within the schools themselves.

“Typically, what we’re finding is that a parent is sick and then the child is sick,” the health officer said.

“Our positivity rate is concerning. We were feeling pretty good when we were at 3%. We’re getting pretty close to 5% right now,” Napier said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley weighed in: “I think we should continue our masks,” he said, adding that he’d feel more comfortable doing away with the restriction when a vaccine becomes available.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey agreed with keeping the mask mandate: “I say, ‘Stay the course, still.”

She said she’d traveled to other parts of the country where restrictions were more extensive.

In some places, people are wearing a mask if they are outside their own homes, she said, noting she’d see people outside riding bicycles or on trails, wearing masks.

She doesn’t think Pasco’s ordinance is excessive.

Commission Mike Wells addressed Napier: “I’m assuming you’re telling us that you recommend us continue with the mask.”

Napier responded: “I don’t think anybody here is saying that masks are fun to use. Nobody enjoys using them. We understand that. It’s just a matter of the times that we’re in and the need to be able to do something to be able to prevent the spread of the disease.”

The mandate is being recommended throughout the region.

He said he spoke with his counterparts in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and the consensus was to keep the mask ordinance in each county in place.

“If I was standing here and the numbers had declined since my last presentation and we were starting to make good progress, then, all right, that might be a little bit different conversation. Right now, with what our numbers are demonstrating, I couldn’t suggest that the data says we should change course,” Napier said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county should “strongly recommend” rather than mandate masks, and he made a motion to that effect.

Wells told Mariano: “I do agree with you commissioner; I just don’t think there are three other votes.”

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said his colleagues should consult with local hospital CEOs, frontline medical workers and epidemiologists to help inform their decisions

Mariano’s motion failed, for lack of a second, keeping Pasco’s mandate in place.

Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, commissioners extended the requirement for face coverings inside of local business, with certain exceptions, until Oct. 29, according to a news release.

The board approves its emergency orders for a maximum of seven days at a time. (See HCFLGov.net/facecoverings, for more detail).

Commissioners also approved spending $4.5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for a project at Tampa General Hospital to repurpose an existing stand-alone structure into a dedicated COVID-19 unit.

The $8.2 million unit will contain 59 fully equipped ICU beds and up to 45 surge-readiness beds. Under a three-year contract with TGH, the unit also will serve as an alternate care site during declared states of emergency, the release said.

COVID19 statistics, as of noon on Oct. 26
Pasco County: Positive cases: 10,556 residents and 81 non-residents; deaths: 236
Pasco County Schools: Positive cases: students, 197; staff, 78
Hillsborough County: Positive cases: 46,813 residents and 267 non-residents; deaths: 759
Hillsborough County Schools: Positive cases: students, 465; staff, 372
Florida: Positive cases: 782,013 cumulative; deaths: 16,429 residents and 203 non-resident
United States: Positive cases: 8,553,827; deaths: 224,221
Worldwide: Positive cases: 42,745,212; deaths: 1,150,961

Sources: Florida Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; World Health Organization.

Published October 28, 2020