Local News

Sea turtle nesting season is here

May 1, 2019 By Mary Rathman

The month of May marks the beginning of sea turtle nesting season on many of Florida’s beaches.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking property owners and beach visitors to help nesting turtles and hatchlings by turning off or shielding lights that are visible from the beach at night.

Helping to keep the beaches dark at night is one of the most important things that can be done to help sea turtles.

Even small artificial house lights, a flashlight or cellphone camera can confuse female sea turtles and their hatchlings, causing them to wander off course.

According to the FWC, more loggerhead turtles nest in Florida than anywhere else in the continental United States, with 91,451 loggerhead nests counted statewide during the 2018 nesting season.

Leatherback and green sea turtles also nest in significant numbers in our state.

Follow these FWC basics to be sea turtle friendly:

• Turn off the light. After sundown, turn off any lights not necessary for human safety. Close shades or curtains, too.

Don’t take flash photos or use bright cellphones or flashlights on the beach at night.
Stay back and give sea turtles space if you see one on the beach at night. Do not touch a nesting turtle. It is illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests, eggs or hatchlings.
Clear the way by removing beach furniture, canopies, boats and toys left behind on the sand. These items can become obstacles that block nesting and hatchling turtles. Fill in any holes dug in the sand.
Keep your distance from nests and hatchlings. Do not handle hatchlings crawling toward the water. Any interference or disturbance by people increases the chances the hatchlings will get confused, go in the wrong direction and not reach the ocean quickly, which makes them vulnerable to dehydration, exhaustion and predators.

The FWC maintains a list of certified wildlife-friendly fixtures for property owners. The list can be found online at MyFWC.com/Conservation by clicking on the “How You Can Conserve,” “Wildlife Lighting,” and then “Certified.”

To report sick, injured, entangled or dead sea turtles, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922, #FWC, *FWC on a cellphone.

Learn more about Florida’s sea turtles at MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle.

Published May 01, 2019

Students learn the value of thankfulness

May 1, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Students of the Academy at the Lakes spent part of their school day on April 15 reflecting and sharing their thoughts on the value of gratitude.

The session was part of a daylong presentation known as “Day of Manners,” presented by Tia Young, president and CEO of her company, Tia Young Image and Etiquette LLC.

Young has been the presenter for the etiquette series hosted at the academy.

Tia Young, an etiquette instructor, explained the importance of gratitude to a room of students on April 15. It was part of a series entitled ‘Day of Manners,’ at Academy at the Lakes. (Brian Fernandes)

She asked a classroom of seventh-graders: “What are we really grateful for?

“Just learning and understanding the thing that you’re grateful for helps you to thank those people that have helped you be successful,” Young said.

She used the analogy of a bucket to represent the emotional heart.

Compliments and positive comments add not only to the receiver’s bucket, but the giver’s bucket as well, she said.

On the other hand, negative words take away from both buckets — because no one benefits from this, she added.

As a former flight attendant, Young is well-versed in the do’s and don’ts of decorum.

Traveling to various countries and meeting people from different walks of life, she said that not everyone holds themselves to the same standards of mannerisms.

As the mother of a newborn, and having witnessed the events of September 11, Young was prompted to take a new career path.

She wanted to educate people on standards that everyone could live by, regardless of class or culture.

After receiving an etiquette certification, she began teaching her own courses on proper manners in 2002.

Her students’ age range varies from kids to those more seasoned in life, but said that even adults in her courses see the need for character growth.

“They know the importance of it, but they just want to get better,” Young explained.

This day’s class helped the middle-schoolers think about what they really appreciate in their lives.

Young handed out papers and asked the students to write down a list of words beginning with each letter of the alphabet on what they’re grateful for.

From A to Z, students revealed in a single word what was of importance to them.

Olivia Wells mentioned her appreciation for her entire family.

“They do so much for us and they sacrifice so much,” the 13-year-old said.

Friends were said to be admired as entertainment, while pets were seen as a source of comfort when sad.

“I’m thankful for my neighbors,” chimed in Kevin Crowley, varsity golf coach at the academy. “We’re all great friends and we help each other out.”

One student expressed gratitude for a good quality of life, and another voiced appreciation for having rights as a citizen.

In another exercise, Young used a stack of counterfeit money.

Students began naming various needs they may take for granted that their parents have to pay for.

For each need called out, whether pet food, a home or clothing, the instructor placed the bills inside a container – with her stack of bills slowly dwindling in size.

Young explained that this lesson aims to help students understand what parents must contribute to provide a comfortable life for them.

While the kids contemplated their privileges, Young encouraged them to write ‘thank you’ letters to their parents.

“Don’t take them for granted,” she said, handing out cards and envelopes. “Every day is not promised, so make sure you thank them for every opportunity you get.”

Before the students began writing, Young shared something quite sentimental to her. She held up a card with a drawing of herself that her daughter had made as a special commemorative.

As part of the lesson, Young instructed the students where to place their greeting and signature. She also offered ideas as to what to write, and how to properly address the envelope.

Ian Curry, 13, said that he left the presentation feeling well-informed on what it means to show gratitude.

“It’s a great review on being a good person, overall,” the seventh-grader added .

That’s the kind of response Young hopes students will take away from the session.

She noted how well-behaved the students were, and added that the training begins at home with the parents.

“Most times people think I’m helping bad kids, but it’s quite the opposite,” Young said.

“There are people who already have it (good etiquette). They just want to brush up on it.”

She hopes that the lessons on respect and compassion that she teaches will spread from one person to another, well beyond the classroom’s walls.

For upcoming courses or additional information, contact Tia Young at (813) 629-2785, visit www.TampaEtiquette.com, on Facebook at Tia Young Image and Etiquette or email .

Published May 01, 2019

Dade City to finalize city manager contract

May 1, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

The City of Dade City is nearing a contract agreement with its newly named city manager and current finance director Leslie Porter.

Details of the latest drafted employment contract were shared and amended during an April 23 regular city commission meeting.

The latest draft calls for a base salary of $98,906.00 payable in monthly installments in the same manner as other city employees are paid.

The base salary would be automatically amended to include any salary adjustments that are provided or required by the city’s compensation policies to other city employees, such as cost of living adjustments.

Additionally, the agreement calls for the city manager to receive standard benefits provided to other city employees, including holiday leave, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, term life insurance, FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) leave, short- and long-term disability, and transfer of earned benefits to named beneficiaries in the event of death.

The contract also includes provisions for sick leave, retirement contributions and expenses provided for a cellphone and professional development services.

A final version of the employment agreement is expected to be approved at the next commission meeting on May 14.

Porter would be on a probationary period during her first 90 days of employment as city manager, per the contract.

Porter, who lives in Tampa, will not be required to maintain a residence in Dade City while serving as city manager. She also will be permitted to continue operating her tax service and real estate businesses.

In the event Porter is terminated without cause within the first 180 days of employment as city manager, the city would pay eight weeks’ salary and any accrued benefits. Severance pay maximizes out at 20 weeks’ salary and any accrued benefits if Porter is terminated after two years of employment, according to the draft contract.

In the event of voluntary resignation, Porter would be entitled to accrued vacation leave and sick leave (capped at 480 hours) if employed for longer than 10 years. She would also be paid through the last workday and is required to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to resignation.

Elsewhere, regular performance reviews and evaluations have been worked into the contract agreement.

City commissioners would conduct structured quarterly reviews with Porter during her first year as city manager, then proceed to annual evaluations every year after that; pay raises or salary increases may be tied to the results of those reviews and evaluations.

In early April, the commission voted to extend an offer and enter contract negotiations with Porter to become its next city manager.

Porter has been acting as the interim city manager since February, while also maintaining duties as the city’s finance director, a position she’s held since 2014.

Porter assumed the city manager vacancy created by Billy Poe, who left the post after nearly 12 years. Poe is now the deputy city manager in the City of Zephyrhills and is expected to move up to city manager once longtime city manager Steve Spina retires later on this year.

Before coming to Dade City, Porter spent nearly a decade working as town treasurer for the Town of Chesapeake Beach in Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree from George Washington University.

The decision to offer Porter the city manager job came during a special meeting on April 3, when commissioners reviewed and ranked top candidates for the city manager position; Porter was one of the nine applicants who applied by the March 15 deadline.

It marked the second call for applications after the city was unable to come to a contract agreement with Tallahassee-based real estate associate Christopher Edwards, its top candidate for the city manager position back in February.

Published May 01, 2019

Know your flood risk

May 1, 2019 By Mary Rathman

Pasco County is offering an interactive, online tool for property owners to see how the proposed flood hazard data contained in the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) could impact their property.

The digital FIRMs identify flood hazards throughout the county and help determine flood insurance rates.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma dumped quite a bit a rain, leaving behind flooded roads in Dade City. (File)

Residents and businesses can view the maps to better understand their potential flood risks to help identify steps that may be needed to protect against property damage and loss.

A FEMA appeal process is now open for anyone in Pasco County who is affected by the preliminary FIRMs.

Official appeals and/or comments must be submitted directly to FEMA by mail to Rick Sacbibit, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street, Washington D.C. 20472; or by email to . The deadline to submit an appeal or comment is May 28.

After the appeals process closes, FEMA will review all public input and make any necessary revisions to the preliminary FIRMs.

The final maps will then be presented to the Pasco County Commission.

To learn more about FEMA’s flood hazard data, visit bit.ly/FloodHazardData.

For more about the Pasco County Flood Plain Management, visit bit.ly/PascoFloodInfo.

Published May 01, 2019

Grant encourages careers in advanced manufacturing

May 1, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

CareerSource Pasco Hernando and AmSkills Manufacturing Training & Apprenticeships have been awarded a $100,000 grant to encourage students to explored a career in advanced manufacturing.

The grant will benefit 16 local students, according to a news release.

It will provide hands-on skills training, exploration of multiple career tracks, tours to local manufacturers, and the opportunity for job placement or paid apprenticeship with a local manufacturing company.

The AmSkills Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to replicate a real working environment, to prepare students for real-world careers.

Students clock-in and out, meet attendance goals, participate in team-building exercises and complete hands-on projects in various career tracks. They also have the opportunity to tour local manufacturing companies and experience manufacturing firsthand.

The program also includes soft skills training — including communication, presentations, setting goals and others, the release says.

AmSkills has a “dual-coaching” system, which identifies mentors within participating manufacturing companies and provides a program coach.

The program coach and company mentor work together to help students develop skills needed to launch their career. Students are matched with a manufacturer whose culture and environment is complementary for both participants.

Assessing technical and soft skills prior to placement allows for greater success between the manufacturer and pre-apprentice.

At the end of the 90-day program, the manufacturer, pre-apprentice and program coach map out each students training plan, and the student may officially become an apprentice working for the manufacturer.

The Apprenticeship Program provides students with paid hands-on experiences through on-the-job training with top local manufacturers and trade businesses, which helps students gain greater insight to determine their career goals.

For more information about the program or to register, contact AmSkills at (727) 301-1282, ext. 126, or visit their website at AmSkills.org.

Published May 01, 2019

Protection for freshwater springs makes progress

May 1, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Gov. Ron DeSantis proclaimed April as Springs Protection Awareness Month, recognizing springs as a natural resource unique to Florida.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) celebrated the month in recognition of the environmental, recreational and economic importance of Florida’s 900 iconic freshwater springs.

“Springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state,” said Brian Armstrong, executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, in a release.

“The District, in partnership with DEP, the governor and the Legislature, is committed to implementing projects to conserve and restore the ecological balance of our spring systems, supporting the regional economies and quality of life,” Armstrong added.

Brett Cyphers, executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, pointed out that under Gov. DeSantis and DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein, northwest Florida is making real transformative progress with springs restoration and water quality improvement.

And, Hugh Thomas, executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District, said “Florida is entering a remarkable era for environmental protection” under the leadership of DeSantis and Valenstein.

As per the proclamation, the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget recommends $50 million in funding to restore the state’s world-renowned springs, and safeguard these natural resources through nationally recognized water quality assessment and restoration programs.

In celebration of Springs Protection Awareness Month, DEP partnered with Florida’s water management districts to continue the statewide public education initiative, “My Home. My Springs.”

The initiative highlights the uniqueness and importance of the state’s springs, as well as the restoration efforts and the expertise behind them.

Residents can access informative resources, such as fact sheets, videos, educator resources, a springs locator tool and more by visiting MyHomeMySprings.org.

Published May 01, 2019

Pasco administrator emphasizes teamwork, service

April 24, 2019 By B.C. Manion

As Pasco County’s rapid growth continues, County Administrator Dan Biles said his team continues to focus on the county’s mission.

Stated simply, it’s this: “Serving our community to create a better future.”

Biles loves the clarity and simplicity of the statement.

“How many governments have a mission statement that is eight words?” the administrator asked, during a recent luncheon meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said if the county was a city, it would rank between Tucson, Arizona, and Fresno, California in terms of population. It ranks 12th in population, among Florida’s 67 counties, he said. (B.C. Manion)

The mission statement lacks the bureaucratic gobbledygook often found in mission statements.

It doesn’t even mention the word government.

But, Biles said that every member of his 2,500-member team knows that they play a role in pursuing that mission, and he noted that internal studies reveal that employee engagement continues to increase.

“I tell my team, ‘You come to work every day with the ability to go home, knowing you’ve improved somebody’s life. It doesn’t matter if you work in purchasing, and you happen to be purchasing the water valves for the water department — making sure we have clean water to go to our customers; or you work in community services and you’re working with the homeless to help the people in the county who have fallen on hard times.

“Everybody in the county has the ability to do (improve lives) that,” Biles said.

The county is a big operation, with a budget of more than $1 billion and 60 departments and divisions.

And, it’s easy to see — with new development popping up along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, that the county continues to grow, the administrator added.

Pasco issued 50,000 permits last year, according to county records. That included permits for simple things, like water heaters, he said. But, it also included 3,600 single-family home permits last year.

Biles expects the growth to continue, and he expects the county’s population to approach 560,000, when the population is counted in the U.S. Census in 2020.

“If you look at growth trends in Florida, just among the 67 counties, there’s about 18 counties driving all of the growth in Florida,” Biles said, including Pasco County.

“For comparison purposes, if we were a city, we would rank between Tucson, Arizona, and Fresno, California,” he said, adding that it’s Florida 12th most populous county.

In terms of land mass, the area west of Little Road to the coast is actually larger than the city of Seattle, Biles added.

As the population increases, county services must increase, too, Biles noted.

“We will probably, in the next couple of years, have the second-largest fire department in the region. We’re about 630 firefighters and administrative staff in 24 stations, and we’re adding five stations,” he said.

Those stations are being financed through a bond issue overwhelmingly approved by voters last November. Voters also agreed to general obligation bonds to upgrade libraries, expand the county’s jail and enhance county parks.

Biles said his job is to guide the county in the direction that the Pasco County Commission wants the county to go.

The county has worked hard to improve its delivery of services, and has made progress, Biles said.

“It’s the existing team that has made it happen, not me bringing in a new team of people,” said the administrator, who was selected to fill the post when former County Administrator Michele Baker retired.

Biles said that he works to create an atmosphere where employees can feel comfortable expressing their opinions and sharing their ideas.

“We want to be a great organization. What is a great organization? It has people who show up to work, who want to be there,” Biles said.

Two of his goals are for Pasco County to be named a Best to Place to work, among large companies; and for the county to win a Sterling Award, for the entire county, not just a department.

Biles said the county has made strides in many areas to increase transparency, and improve access to services.

The MyPascoApp recently has been redesigned, which gives residents and customers quick access to many types of information, he said.

For instance, App users have a direct link to storm updates, he said.

“You can actually see what our wait times are at Central Permitting, on the App,” he added.

“You can drive down the street and see a new construction pop up, and you go, ‘What is that?’ “Well, in the app, under permitting, you go to the project pipeline, you can actually find out what that project is,” he said.

There are some limits, though. “If it was permitted over 2 years ago, it is not in the database right now,” Biles said.

The county administrator also told the luncheon crowd that his job is to lead his team, not to know every detail, of every project.

If there’s a discussion over the price for a piece of right of way, for example, that’s something that experts on the county’s staff can and should handle, he said.

His job, he said, is to serve the people, who serve the people.

Published April 24, 2019

Incentives add jobs, boost economy

April 24, 2019 By B.C. Manion

When Pasco County spends money from its Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund, it’s getting a healthy return on investment, according to David Engel, manager of the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth.

Engel recently gave the Pasco County Commission an update on the county’s primary incentive programs.

Between 2015 and 2025, the county expects to collect $60 million for its Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund, through its Penny for Pasco tax revenues. Those projections are based on a 3.5 percent annual increase, Engel said.

So far, the county has spent $22 million of those funds — on a variety of programs aimed at boosting job opportunities and increasing the county’s economy.

Programs include job skills programs and incentives for targeted industries that are investing in Pasco County and expanding the number of jobs in Pasco.

Industries that have received incentives include Touchpoint, Welbilt, Mettler Toledo and others, Engel said.

Job skills programs include AmSkills, the Pasco-Hernando Work Force Board and various programs through Pasco EDC, Engel said.

“For every (incentive) dollar that the board awards, we’ve gotten $10 back in gains to the county,” Engel said.

With the jobs creation incentive, which has been around since 2011, the Pasco County Commission, awards incentives to industries that create high-paying jobs. High-paying jobs are defined as jobs paying at least 115 percent of the median pay in Pasco County,

“This is one of our most highly successful programs. We’ve created almost 1,300 jobs since 2011. For every job we create, it costs the county around $3,800. We’ve look at other JCI programs across the state,” Engel said.

By comparison, the incentives cost $5,000 to $9,000 a job in other counties they looked at, Engel said.

Pasco’s return on investment in this program “is extremely high,” Engel said, noting for every dollar the county has spent, it has received $30 in benefit.

He also noted that the future is looking bright, too.

“Our pipeline is robust and growing,” Engel said.

The master-planned unit developments approved by the board, particularly along the State Road 54 corridor, are beginning to focus on their employment centers, the economic growth manager said.

“So, we have a number of big projects coming in, consisting of hundreds of thousands of square feet of Class A office buildings. Right now, we have three to four Class A office buildings we are processing for incentive awards now. We’ll make recommendations to the board of County Commissioners in the next several months,” he said.

Projected revenue: $59.65 million in the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund, over the life of the Penny for Pasco (2015 to 2025), assuming a 3.5 percent annual increase.
Expenditures to date: $21.8 million, includes operating expenses
Encumbrances to date: $34.7 million: Board-approved awards, excludes operating expenses

Published April 24, 2019

MPO board meeting addresses current agendas

April 24, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization board addressed three key topics during its April 11 session.

Those items were:

The Tampa Bay Resiliency Study
Future transportation funding, through a proposed transportation surtax
A requested extension on a project related to the MPO’s long-range plan

John Villeneuve, director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), briefed the board on Pasco County’s efforts to prepare for severe weather conditions.

John Villeneuve, director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, briefed board members on a resiliency study to better protect infrastructure during natural disasters. (Brian Fernandes)

The county’s MPO has been collaborating with the MPO’s Hillsborough and Pinellas branches to comprise a variation of studies.

These studies are for the Resilient Tampa Bay: Transportation Pilot Project.

“What we’re trying to do is determine with the threat of potential sea level rises, if we have any kind of significant flooding due to rain or hurricanes,” Villeneuve said.

The study will help pinpoint locations where infrastructure could be strengthened to withstand natural disasters.

State Road 54 and U.S. 19 will be closely examined during this study.

Villeneuve’s presentation was informational in nature and no board action was required.

Under its 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan, the MPO also proposed several options in raising Pasco County’s transportation revenue.

It factors in the current Penny for Pasco initiative – a one-penny surtax from every dollar collected in sales.

The referendum initially passed in 2004 and will discontinue at the end of 2024.

Wally Blain, a senior project manager who works in conjunction with the MPO, detailed five possible scenarios:

Penny for Pasco continues through 2045, thus excluding a transportation surtax
Penny for Pasco ends in 2034, introducing a half-penny transportation surtax in 2035
Penny for Pasco ends in 2024, introducing a half-penny transportation surtax in 2025
Penny for Pasco ends in 2034, introducing a one-penny transportation surtax in 2035
Penny for Pasco ends in 2024, introducing a one-penny transportation surtax in 2025

Currently, Penny for Pasco allocates 45 percent of collected funds to the Pasco County Commission, another 45 percent to the Pasco County School System and 10 percent to municipalities within Pasco County.

Of the county’s 45 percent share, 18 percent goes toward transportation development.

The MPO is most interested in the fifth option, Blain said, because it draws in the most revenue in 20 years — topping $3.2 billion.

However, state legislatures in Tallahassee could change how taxes on the local level are implemented.

“There’s some new legislation that’s pending right now that would look at changing the requirements of passing any new local sales tax,” Blain explained.

Some board members expressed skepticism.

“Are we suggesting that the school district doesn’t need any money?” asked Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Starkey stated that modifying surtax distribution might be possible, but that devoting all surtax money to transportation does not seem feasible.

In response, Blain noted that under Option 5, a charter county surtax separate from Penny for Pasco, would be solely for transportation.

He also said that the current 18 percent put toward transportation could then, in the future, be used to fund other agendas.

Blain said he would return to the board with a more “prioritized list of needs” to get the proposal in motion.

Also on the agenda was the MPO’s request for a time extension on a New Vision model project related to its Long Range Transportation Plan.

The $25,000 project is designed to forecast Pasco County’s travel demand, address the need for right of way, and determine how many lanes may be needed for the Vision roadway network.

The MPO asked for a six-month extension leading into October 2019 and the board passed the proposal unanimously.

The board met at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse in Dade City.

Published April 24, 2019

Fun in the sun — plus exercise, too

April 24, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Some residents of Betmar Acres, in Zephyrhills, hit the pool three times a week to work out and have fun at the same time.

From left: Joan Connell, Michael Blackman, T.A. Huggins and Bill Rood laugh, while the ball is in play near the net. (Christine Holtzman)

Laughter, cheers and good-natured teasing fill the air at the heated pool, while the players hit large colorful balls around, in water volleyball games.

About two dozen players jump, dive, swing and swat — in friendly games that give participants a nice workout, too.

Ninety-five-year-old Goldie Klebowski is one of the best players in the pool.

Besides playing water volleyball, she also manages a full schedule — volunteering at the Hospice thrift store and her church.

She offers this advice for aging well: “You need exercise, the more the better. Keep doing something, and feel good by helping others.”

Residents of Betmar Acres enjoy a series of friendly water volleyball games three times a week.

Betmar Acres, in Zephyrhills, is a manufactured-home community for residents age 55 and older. In the 1960s, there were just four mobile home parks in Florida, and Betmar founder M.H. Meengs saw the need for one in Zephyrhills.

Meengs turned his vision into an opportunity for development, when he bought 200 acres of former farm land along State Road 54.

He and his partner honored their wives by combining their first names — Betty and Mary — to christen the community, Betmar.

Today, Betmar Acres consists of nearly 440 acres, 1,700 homes, three clubhouses, 27 holes of golf, tennis and pickleball courts, two swimming pools, and a world-class shuffleboard facility. Residents at Betmar always have lots of recreational opportunities, including Bingo, ballroom and line dancing, live music shows, bocce ball, water aerobics, card games, computer and creative writing classes, block parties and garden clubs.

Published April 24, 2019