Local News

Mall leader enjoys building relationships

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Relationships are what Stacey Nance cares about the most.

It explains why she grew up and then settled on a career in her native Indiana.

And it is also why, after nearly two decades with Simon Property Group, she is taking the next big step in her life and her career.

Nance took the reins as general manager of Tampa Premium Outlets in May.

Stacey Nance is the general manager of Tampa Premium Outlets. The regional mall, off State Road 54 near the Interstate 75 interchange, is scheduled to open on Oct. 29. (Fred Bellet/Photo) — Stacey Nance is the general manager of Tampa Premium Outlets. The regional mall, off State Road 54 near the Interstate 75 interchange, is scheduled to open on Oct. 29.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

The regional outlet mall is the first major retail development in Pasco County since The Shops at Wiregrass opened in October 2008.

For Nance, the job opportunity is her first move away from Indiana, and her first time to take the lead in opening a Simon mall.

She graduated from Ball State College in Muncie, Indiana.

For 18 years, Nance has carved out a fast-paced career in marketing and later in mall management with Simon Property Group, again in Muncie.

She stayed in Muncie, despite working for a company that is the largest mall owner in the nation and also owns real estate properties all over the world.

“For the longest time I didn’t want to leave, because I wanted to raise my son in one community and in one school (district),” Nance said.

But, with her son’s graduation from college, the time felt right for a change. So, Nance jumped at the challenge to be in charge at Tampa Premium Outlets.

She knew after one quick visit that she wanted to set down roots in a new community.

“From the moment I was in the Wesley Chapel area, it made me feel so welcome,” Nance said. “My personality is that I love to form relationships and partnerships. That’s exactly what I want to continue here.”

The 441,000-square-foot outlet mall is set to open the weekend of Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.

The “Key West” style outlet center will feature 110 shops with widely known brands, such as Ralph Lauren, Saks Off Fifth, Michael Kors, Donna Karan and Vera Bradley.

The mall is in the spotlight as a driver of the local economy, a job generator and a regional draw for shopaholics.

Since arriving in May, Nance has put together a management team and immersed herself in the daily details and long-range planning for opening the mall.

Now, with the mall’s opening less than two months away, the anticipation is growing.

“We can’t imagine the amount of pride we’re going to have cutting the ribbon (for the mall),” Nance said.

At a recent job fair, Nance and her team oversaw logistics for an event that attracted more than 3,000 applicants in the hunt for more than 800 jobs the mall offers.

It was the first time Nance had the chance for face-to-face meetings with some of the mall’s tenants.

That personal connection was right up her alley.

“It gives them the opportunity to meet with me and start direct relationships,” she said. “I’m very much a people person.”

At Ball State, Nance earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and management, with a specialization in sales and promotion. Her first job was as marketing director for a financial institution.

But, she said, “I needed additional challenges and professional growth.”

She started with Simon Property Group as marketing director at Muncie Mall. She worked there for nine years and then shifted into mall management. She was put in charge of overall operations at Muncie Mall, Muncie Plaza and Northwood Plaza in Indiana.

Management is her niche now.

“It’s so diverse,” Nance said. “I’ll work with a team, but on any given day I’ll do marketing, public relations or community relations.”

In the past, she has been part of a team that has pitched in to pull off opening day at a mall. This is her first time being in charge.

“When somebody really thinks about that, from below ground to the top of the roof, is our responsibility,” she said. “It’s an entire team that can pull off the opening of the entire center.”

The goal is to create a mall that feels as if it’s a gathering place.

“We want them (people) to come, and meet friends and family, just congregate,” Nance said. “Have a nice day out, and hang out in the mall.”

As she settles into her job, Nance also is planting roots in her new Florida community.

She recently closed on a new house, and expects to stay here for a long time.

“Now, this is my home,” she said. “I’m not a mover.”

Published September 9, 2015

Pasco sees big jump in single-family home sales

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The housing market in Tampa Bay is hot, hot, hot — and Pasco County is helping to turn up the heat.

In July, there were 963 closed sales of single-family homes in Pasco County, a whopping 38.4 percent increase over July 2014.

The median price of those homes was $157,000, up 4.8 percent over last year, according to the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS Inc. (GTAR).

The association is the largest professional Tampa Bay-based group of licensed real estate brokers and sales associates. The monthly housing report compiles data from the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area.

Even as Pasco’s housing prices climb, single-family homes in the county remain something of a bargain compared to the region as a whole, and to pricier counties to the south, including Hillsborough County.

The Tampa Bay region had more than 4,500 closed sales of single-family homes in July 2015, up 30 percent over July 2014. The median price of a single-family home was $176,000, up 4.7 percent over last year.

In Hillsborough, the median price of single-family homes increased more than 10 percent to $205,000 in July 2015, up from $186,000 in July 2014, the housing report showed.

During the past months, the trend has been toward a resurgent seller’s market with houses selling at or near asking prices.

Tampa Bay buyers, on average, matched or bettered the seller’s price more than 94 percent of the time, an increase of more than 1 percent over July 2014. In Pasco, that happened about 93 percent of the time, a 2 percent increase over July 2014.

With sales on a fast pace, month-to-month inventory is decreasing.

“It is certainly a seller’s market,” said Thomas O’ Bryant Jr., chief executive officer of GTAR. “When we get to 5.8 months of inventory, it’s kind of the tipping point.”

As of July, in the four-county Tampa Bay region, there was a 3.8 months supply of houses. That’s down more than 21 percent from July 2014. In Pasco, the supply was 3.9 months, down nearly 29 percent from July 2014.

With demand up and inventory down, O’ Bryant said, “It drives up median sales prices.”

Houses also are being sold more quickly in every price range.

The median days on the market for single-family homes less than $50,000 was 36 days, a 50 percent decrease from July 2014. Houses in the $250,000 to under $300,000 range hung around the longest at 54 median days, a 20 percent decrease since last year.

The largest increases in closed sales was seen in the pricier homes with a 300 percent jump in the sales of single-family homes ranging from $600,000 to just under $1 million.

Closed sales of homes selling from between $300,000 to just under $400,000 went up by nearly 83 percent from July 2014 to July 2015.

Closed sales of single-family homes of less than $50,000 dropped nearly 1 percent. That was the only category experiencing a decline in closed sales.

Published September 9, 2015

Charter school on Sunlake scrapped

September 9, 2015 By B.C. Manion

When a proposed charter school at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard was announced, opponents rallied against the proposal.

They said the proposed school was too big for the location.

They predicted it would ruin the quiet enjoyment of their residential properties.

They complained about the traffic the school would generate and the ensuing hazards, and they also objected to the noise and fumes the school would bring.

Potential flooding was another big issue.

Joe and Pat Serio, would-be next-door neighbors to a proposed charter school in Lutz, are delighted that plans for building the school have been dropped. (File Photo) — Joe and Pat Serio, would-be next-door neighbors to a proposed charter school in Lutz, are delighted that plans for building the school have been dropped.
(File Photo)

But county planners gave the proposal a recommendation for approval, provided the school complied with a lengthy list of conditions.

A county hearing officer agreed with county staff and gave the project his stamp of approval.

Opponents felt dejected.

But now, the charter school plans at that location are being scrapped.

The applicant for the special use permit was Charter Schools Inc., of Boca Raton, and the school operator would have been Charter Schools Association of Coral Gables.

The school would have been for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and would have been built in two phases.

But, those plans have been dropped.

It turns out that the applicants decided to drop the plan for a number of reasons, including the fact that it costs too much to meet the requirements, their representative, Michael Horner, said in a letter to the Lutz Citizens Coalition.

The coalition joined area residents to fight the proposed school.

The coalition doesn’t oppose schools — but it objects to attempts to squeeze schools onto sites that are two small, or that would pose traffic hazards or other concerns, said Mike White, who is the founder and president of the citizens’ group.

White learned that the school would be scrapped through Horner’s letter.

White shared Horner’s letter in an email to coalition members and other interested parties.

In part, Horner wrote: “Mike (White), I was informed by a county staff member this morning that there are still discussions and meetings ongoing regarding this prior approved charter school and I thought I should respond.

“Our clients have decided to drop this charter school for a number of reasons, not the least of which is land cost and significant costs for the required roadway improvements which were extremely high.

“This parcel will now most likely be pursued for residential use and the current owners are exploring those opportunities given the unreasonable low-density classification on site compared to surrounding parcels.

“While a charter school may be pursued in this general area on another parcel, it will not be on this corner.”

In passing along Horner’s letter, White also noted, “I think I would call this a victory for the Sunlake community.”

White believes the work the community did to push for conditions to address the school’s impacts resulted in the applicants pulling out.

“We knew that it was going to be very costly,” White said.

Pat Serio and her husband, Joe, who live next to the proposed school site, agreed with that assessment.

They are grateful to the people who collected petitions, attended public meetings and voiced their concerns about the project.

“We’re ecstatic,” Joe Serio said.

“Needless to say, we’re very pleased that it’s not happening,” Pat Serio added.

“There are a lot of other things that would be more suitable (on that property),” she said.

Published September 9, 2015

Pasco bans cannabis growth and sale

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Pasco Commission has placed a one-year moratorium on the production and distribution of cannabis.

The plant is the basis for “Charlotte’s web,” a low-strain of medical marijuana.

In a roll-call vote, commissioners approved the ban unanimously, without discussion.

The Florida Legislature approved the non-euphoric form of medical marijuana in 2014, but the state has yet to get the program operating.

Within the next three months, the Florida Health Department anticipates awarding five permits to businesses that will grow and distribute medical marijuana.

Several municipalities throughout the state have adopted moratoriums of varying lengths, similar to the one adopted by Pasco County commissioners.

During public comment, Chase Daniels, representing Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, told commissioners that the sheriff supports the moratorium.

The ordinance in part states that growing and dispensing medical marijuana “represents new land uses not previously studied in drafting the county’s current regulations.”

By the end of September, Pasco planning officials will ask commissioners to prioritize a list of zoning issues that need to be addressed, including those related to cannabis.

According to the ordinance, commissioners could consider prohibiting production and distribution of cannabis, or enacting additional standards to regulate cultivating and dispensing cannabis.

During public comment, Palm Harbor resident John Chase cited several recent studies looking at the effects of legalizing medical marijuana, including ones from the Tulane School of Public Health, Lancet Psychiatry, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“They all say there is nothing to fear from medical marijuana,” Chase said.

The studies’ findings, he said, found no increase in violent crime or property crime, and no increase in marijuana use by adolescents.

“Marijuana dispensary, I know that’s a loaded word,” Chase said. “I also know our decisions are made better when based on evidence, not based on opinion or belief.”

Medical marijuana is a matter that could reappear as a referendum on the 2016 ballot.

United for Care, a group backed by attorney John Morgan, announced on Sept. 1 that Supervisors of Elections had validated 74,000 signatures on its petition. That means the next step is a review by the Florida Supreme Court.

The constitutional amendment’s language is similar to one in 2014 that received more than 57 percent of the vote, but fell short of the 60 percent needed to change the state’s constitution.

Supporters still must provide more than 609,000 additional, validated signatures to get medical marijuana back on the ballot.

Published September 9, 2015

Pasco wants a say in path of recreational trail

September 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Florida Department of Transportation is studying the proposed path for the South Sumter Connector Trail, a segment needed to close a gap in the planned 275-mile Coast-to-Coast (C2C) Connector Trail.

Two routes are being considered for the connector, but just one passes through Pasco County. Most of both possible routes is in Sumter County, but the stakes are high for communities in Pasco, Sumter and Hernando counties that envision opportunities for recreation, tourism and economic development.

The completed trail will pass through nine counties and link nearly 20 trails across the state from Pinellas County to Brevard County.

The issue is slated for discussion on Sept. 10, at the 10 a.m. meeting of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s monthly board meeting. The session will be at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The agenda will focus on gathering public input for a southern route that begins along abandoned rail beds in northeast Pasco, parallels State Road 50, and crosses through the Withlacoochee State Forest. It ends in eastern Sumter.

“The trail is going to be marketed internationally to a very active group of travelers,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“I think it’s going to be a really good tourism draw for our county,” added Starkey, who also serves on the MPO board.

At one time, the expectation was for the trail route to come through Pasco, but since then, a second northern option was added, Starkey said.

The proposed northern route begins in western Hernando County, and then moves southeast to Sumter along former railroad right-of-way. It would link the towns of Webster and Center Hill, and connect with the Withlacoochee State Trail.

At the Sept. 2 meeting of the MPO’s Citizens Advisory Committee, James Edwards, transportation manager for the Pasco MPO, said, “Let’s move to the next stage. How do we have an impact on the decision?”

The state roads department has no announced public meetings in Pasco on the trail routes and study.

The kick-off meeting for the 18-month feasibility study was on May 7 in the town of Webster. The study is slated to conclude in June 2016.

According to FDOT records of the meeting, nearly 125 people attended, but fewer than 3 percent were from Pasco.

While there was support for the route into Pasco, FDOT records show some hunters objected to the southern route, which they said would disrupt or halt hunting season in the area.

“This (Sept. 10 MPO meeting) is effectively going to wind up being our public meeting,” Edwards said. “The study is still ongoing. Information is coming forward on both these alignments.”

Starkey has sent a letter in support of Pasco’s selection, and has spoken with FDOT officials.

If the route through Pasco isn’t selected, the commissioner said she would continue to pursue completion of a trail that would go through Dade City.

The northeastern area of the county, which is noted for its hilly landscapes, is a popular bicycle destination for many bicycle clubs, said Allen Howell, a bicycle and pedestrian planner with the MPO.

“Pasco County and its citizens are making a big effort to become the bicycle capital of the state,” Starkey said. “It’s important for economic prosperity.”

Published September 9, 2015

Industry of the year winners announced

September 4, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The Laker/Lutz News is among those honored

More than 600 people gathered at Wesley Chapel’s Saddlebrook Resort at the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards.

The Sept. 3 event attracted a who’s who in Pasco County, including movers and shakers in government and industry, as well as leaders of community organizations.

Awards were presented to eight companies making their mark in Pasco County, and the winners were:

The Laker/Lutz News: Service/Distribution, category 1 (1-25 employees)
Applicant Insight: Service/Distribution, category 2 (26+ employees)
SAHM Co.: New Business Award
Big Storm Brewing Co.: Manufacturer of the Year, category 1 (1-25 employees)
Preferred Materials: Manufacturer of the Year, category 2 (26+ employees)
Easy Business Software: Technology Award
Veterans Alternative Therapy: Special Recognition Award
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills: Special Contribution Award

The companies honored during the banquet were nominated in late spring and then interviewed by members of a Pasco EDC awards committee.

The committee considered a total of 23 nominees. Winners are selected based on exemplary growth in job creation, capital investment, technology, innovation and community service.

The awards committee used a specific grading scale to select the winners.

The Laker/Lutz News was honored during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards. Shown here, from left, are John Hagen, CEO and president of Pasco EDC; Diane Kortus, publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News; Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager; Mary Eberhard, accounting; B.C. Manion, editor; Terri Williamson, senior account manager; and Lex Smith, outgoing chairman of the board for Pasco EDC. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council) — The Laker/Lutz News was honored during the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 29th annual Banquet and Industry of the Year Awards. Shown here, from left, are John Hagen, CEO and president of Pasco EDC; Diane Kortus, publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News; Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager; Mary Eberhard, accounting; B.C. Manion, editor; Terri Williamson, senior account manager; and Lex Smith, outgoing chairman of the board for Pasco EDC.
(Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

“It is tremendously gratifying to be recognized by Pasco’s business leaders for our commitment to give readers a top-notch newspaper every week,” said Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News. “This past year, my team embraced the vision to take our papers to its larger format, and their talent, determination and hard work is reflected in this honor.”

Other finalists this year were: Aviation Instrument Technologies Inc.; Can Can Concealment LLC; Covanta Pasco; Electro Tape Specialties; Fifth Third Bank/New Port Richey Branch; Freedom Scooter & Supply LLC; Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco; Manufacturers Distributor Inc.; Morton Plant North Bay Hospital; Oasis Pregnancy Center; and Retail Process Engineering LLC.

Pasco EDC is a nonprofit organization that promotes economic development in Pasco County.

Besides those receiving Industry of the Year awards, John Hagen, the outgoing CEO and president of Pasco EDC, also was honored for his years of service. He expects to retire within the next few months.

The banquet program also featured an update on Pasco County’s economy from Lex Smith, the outgoing chairman of the Pasco EDC.

Smith noted that the council completed 14 new job creation projects since October 2014.

Those job creators include the attraction of three Fortune 500 companies: Leggett & Platt, Ortho Technologies (which is part of Henry Schein Inc.), and Tru Simulation and Training (part of Textron). Those 14 projects are expected to yield more than 900 jobs and $118 million of investment.

Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair draws thousands

September 2, 2015 By Kathy Steele

At 6:15 a.m., the first applicant showed up at USF Embassy Suites in Tampa, ready to hand out resumes and secure a job at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

The sight brought a smile to Stacey Nance.

“I think this is a true testament of what the entire day is going to be,” said Nance, the outlet mall’s general manager.

David Angulo of Tampa, foreground, and Javier Perez of Land O' Lakes look over paperwork before applying for a position with one of the new stores opening at Tampa Premium Outlets. Angulo is hoping to obtain a position at the Express Factory or Puma. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — David Angulo of Tampa, foreground, and Javier Perez of Land O’ Lakes look over paperwork before applying for a position with one of the new stores opening at Tampa Premium Outlets. Angulo is hoping to obtain a position at the Express Factory or Puma.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

As the hours passed, the crowd swelled by hundreds as job seekers waited outside the hotel’s ballroom for the doors to open at 10 a.m., for the Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair.

By the time the doors closed — at 7 p.m. — mall representatives estimated more than 3,000 people had dropped off resumes and met with recruiters from the nearly 70 shops that participated in the job fair.

More than 800 jobs were on the line for what is the most anticipated mall opening in Pasco County in years.

The outdoor mall, with 110 brand name outlet stores, is expected to be a shopping mecca that will be a regional attraction on what was once pasture land, off State Road 56, near an Interstate 75 interchange.

The grand opening is a weekend celebration from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. Details on special events and celebrity appearances are pending.

But on Aug. 27, the focus was on employment opportunities.

The job fair day brought out an eager pool of applicants, freshly dressed to step right into their hoped-for new jobs.

Wesley Chapel resident Giovanni Velasquez hopes to find a job at a sports store at the soon-to-open Tampa Premium Outlets mall. He is a junior at the University of South Florida.

Land O’ Lakes resident Javier Perez said he wants to pursue an art degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. A full-time mall job could make that dream happen.

“I’m going to apply to as many stores as I can,” he said, noting he sought advice on his resume from his mother, who works as a counselor.

Wesley Chapel resident Cherish Suddith is a pharmacy supervisor for a health care company. She hopes to work nights and weekends at her favorite store — Vera Bradley.

“I’m a fan,” said Suddith, who is a University of Phoenix graduate. And she added, “I’m used to working lots of hours.”

She is excited to see the mall move into the area, and looking to her future.

“I think it’s a good thing. It will drive the market,” she said. “I’m looking to purchase a home soon. I think it (the mall) was needed.”

It was a battle at times to find a place to fill out an application.

People sat in rows of chairs and hunched over countertops. Some elbowed their way to get wall space.

Matthew Holleran plopped to the floor by the registration tables. The recent Wesley High School graduate works seasonally as a referee in youth lacrosse.

But, his mother thought it was a good idea for him to look for full-time work, as he plans for college.

Most of his applications were for jobs at sports stores.

Gerardo Gonzalez, of Wesley Chapel, registers at the Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair where he hopes to land a management position at one of the new outlet mall’s 110 shops.

“I don’t want to do something I’m not interested in,” Holleran said.

Wesley Chapel resident Giovanni Velasquez was looking for part-time work, also preferably at a sports store.

“I’m big into sports,” said Velasquez, who is a junior at the University of South Florida.

Gerardo Gonzalez moved from Chicago to Wesley Chapel about a year ago. His work experience is in management, but he had a non-compete clause at his last job. Now, he said, “I need to go back to work.”

Gonzalez was looking over the list of outlet shops and mall positions, deciding on his selections as he walked toward the ballroom.

He expected the process to be competitive.

Brandon resident Winona Beates registered at the sign-up table as a recruiter. She declined to say which shop she represented. But said the store will need a broad range of positions, including sales and management.

“You always have to interview more people than you need,” she said. “If you want 50, you need to interview a 100.”

Some people already had interview appointments, because they had signed up ahead of time on an online virtual job fair site. Joseph Eyster got a call for an interview with Auntie Anne’s store’s manager, Steven Gray.

Eyster lives in Land O’ Lakes and is a recent graduate of the University of South Florida, with a degree in public health. But he said, “I’m eager to manage.”

Gray said he expected to hire more than 30 people, including assistant managers, shift leaders and crewmembers. “I want to get my people trained,” said Gray, who moved two weeks ago from Ohio. “It’s going to be fast paced. We’ll sell about 1,000 pretzels a day.”

He has been with the company more than five years and jumped at the chance to work at a new mall. “There’s more opportunity for me,” he said.

With limited desk space to fill out Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair applications, Krystal Allegretto of Zephyrhills, left, fills out an application that she hopes will land her a part-time retail position.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and the Career Center at Pasco-Hernando State College coordinated the event. The chamber hosted a breakfast for recruiters and store representatives, and staffed a hospitality room, too.

Nearly a dozen volunteers wore bright orange T-shirts bearing the message: “Let’s put our cities on the map.”

“It’s happening. It’s on,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s executive director. “We had a packed room. It’s very exciting to be here.”

Jobs are out there, said Kenneth Russ, vice president of business services at PHSC. “The economy is growing by leaps and bounds,” he said, noting applicants have to apply with the right skills at the right time.

The college assisted with job postings on the virtual job fair site, fielded phone calls from prospective applicants, and offered help with resumes. “We got a surge this morning,” he said. “People are going to the website.”

The job fair hours at Embassy Suites were set to end at 7 p.m., to accommodate people who have jobs. “There will be people who want a better job,” Russ said. “Everyone is always looking for a better job and higher wages.”

Most applicants were expected to come from Hillsborough, Hernando and Pasco counties.

Jenny Badger lives in Bay City and works for a Dade City company that cleans government buildings at night. But she’d like extra income, and has more time to work now that her son is in school.

She hoped to get at job at the Nike Factory Outlet. “I just shop there a lot,” she said.

That kind of passion can be a plus, according to a check-off sheet on the Ralph Lauren table. Recruiters looked for applicants that smiled, made eye contact and had a passion for the brand.

Nikia Stewart had her sights set on Michael Kors. She had the passion.

“I just love this brand,” she said. “It’s classic but comfortable. It’s not over the top, like a lot of brands.”

Stewart and her family moved from New York to Land O’ Lakes about eight years ago. She is a graduate of PHSC, with a degree in health care management.

She noted that Land O’ Lakes and the Wesley Chapel area have changed a lot.

“I like it (Land O’ Lakes), because when I first moved there I felt in the middle of nowhere. Now I’m somewhere,” Stewart said.

Published September 2, 2015

Bell Lake and Collier to get turn lanes

September 2, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Road crews will start work within the next month to construct new turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway.

County officials say the redesign will ease traffic congestion.

But, area residents are more than a little skeptical that anything short of a traffic light will solve congestion problems.

About 50 people brought their concerns to an Aug. 25 public meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center.

Phil Chang, branch manager of Johnson Engineering Inc., in white shirt, explains the county’s project to add turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Phil Chang, branch manager of Johnson Engineering Inc., in white shirt, explains the county’s project to add turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

New turn lanes will help, but don’t go far enough, residents said.

“They need a light to go with it,” said Brenda Theisen. “It should be a package deal, not something five years down the road.”

A traffic signal is expected with the widening of Collier, which is part of Pasco County’s five-year transportation plan.

The approximately $534,000 project to adjust the Bell Lake and Collier intersection is set to start in late September or early October, and to be completed by January.

The work will add new left-turn lanes on Collier at Bell Lake, and a right-turn lane on Bell Lake at Collier. Sidewalk and drainage improvements also are planned.

“This will improve traffic operations in this neighborhood,” said Margaret Smith, Pasco County’s engineering services director.

County engineers will review the redesign’s effect on traffic once work is done.

“Every time you put in something new, you monitor it,” Smith said.

Pasco County officials brought a map to a public meeting at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center to give residents a preview of where turn lanes would be added to Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway.

Residents at the meeting recounted daily headaches of getting out of their subdivisions as traffic stacks up in both directions on Collier, and on Bell Lake and Whittner Drive.

The worst is during morning rush hour, as motorists navigate left turns onto or off of Collier.

According to county traffic counts, the annual average daily traffic along Collier, near Bell Lake, is about 10,000 vehicles a day.

“At certain times of the day, you can’t get out of your house,” said Howard Rubin. Cars stack up in both directions on Collier, and others wait to turn left from Whittner Drive — which is the only way in and out of Rubin’s subdivision.

Some give up, take a right turn down to Richardson Lane and make a U-turn. Or like Rubin, they wait for a gap and zip across Collier onto Bell Lake. That can be a dangerous choice, Rubin said.

In the mornings and afternoons, a dozen or more Pasco County school buses travel Collier.

There is a school bus stop at Whittner and Collier.

For Bob Castellano, his grandson’s safety is paramount.

“I’m always scared of when he crosses Collier,” he said.

Flashing lights alert motorists to slow down, but Castellano said he sees vehicles speeding through all the time.

A traffic light is what’s needed, residents said.

“This is the dumbest thing they could ever do,” Rubin said, of the plan to install turn lanes without a traffic light.

The intersection work is only the first phase of a Bell Lake makeover.

In early 2016, work will begin to upgrade Bell Lake from U.S. 41 to Alpine Road.

County records peg the cost at about $3.9 million to widen travel lanes and add sidewalks, curbing and drainage.

A second public meeting will be held prior to this second phase to give area residents a preview.

Bell Lake began as a winding two-lane road that dead-ended at Alpine Road to the east, and Banjo Lake Road to the west. The developers of Sable Ridge subdivision built the western segment.

Nearly a decade ago, the county connected the two halves, opening up one of two east-west connections between U.S. 41 and Collier. Hale Road is the other one.

East-west links are often what are missing in Pasco’s traffic pattern, county officials say.

Upgrading Bell Lake offers one more option that could ease some traffic off more major corridors, including State Road 54.

“We’re trying to get the east-west connections,” said Smith. “You try to create grids.”

Published September 2, 2015

Town hall touches on wide range of issues

September 2, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Residents turned out in droves to a town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, State Sen. Wilton Simpson and State Rep. Danny Burgess.

People filled every seat of the Pasco County Commission’s chambers at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City.

The chambers at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City were packed, as people turned out to share their concerns with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, State Sen. Wilton Simpson and State Rep. Danny Burgess. (Richard Riley/Photos) — The chambers at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City were packed, as people turned out to share their concerns with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, State Sen. Wilton Simpson and State Rep. Danny Burgess.
(Richard Riley/Photos)

They sat on extra chairs set up along the aisles. Some stood in the back. And, there were even people sitting in chairs on the dais that are normally reserved for county officials and Pasco County Commission members.

The speakers at the Aug. 25 session had plenty to say at the meeting, which lasted more than three hours.

In the education arena, lawmakers heard complaints about unfunded state mandates, excessive testing in schools and onerous requirements for operators of voluntary pre-kindergarten programs.

One speaker urged elected leaders to find a way to reopen Moore Mickens Educational Center, a school closed by Pasco County Schools.

Simpson said he is willing to work with the community, once it comes forward with a plan regarding the school.

Other speakers complained about the lack of services for veterans.

Bilirakis told the crowd that improving services for veterans is one of his top priorities.

He touched on the idea of creating a Veterans Village, similar to the Veterans Village of San Diego.

It would be have to be some sort of public-private partnership, Bilirakis said, and it would deliver a wide range of services to veterans.

The Veterans Village of San Diego provides services including housing, counseling, employment training and other services.

State Sen. Wilton Simpson, State Rep. Danny Burgess and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis interact before a town hall session begins in Dade City. The meeting lasted more than three hours, and those turning out talked out myriad issues.

The issue of cyber security was on another speaker’s mind.

He urged Congress to address the gaping holes that put the nation at great risk.

Bilirakis said he has sat in on briefings and understands the gravity of the situation.

“This is a very, very serious issue,” Bilirakis said.

One speaker asked Bilirakis to respond to the nation’s soaring debt.

“An $18 trillion debt is inexcusable,” Bilirakis said. “We need to set priorities. We need a balanced budget amendment.”

Simpson noted that when he was elected three years ago, Florida had a debt of $3 billion. Now, the state has $3 billion in reserves, and that’s after cutting a billion dollars in taxes, he said.

Florida also is poised to grow at a faster rate than other places around the country, Simpson said, noting that it has invested in infrastructure.

The state’s ports, for instance, are preparing to help Florida become a major import-export hub, he said.

In the arena of education, Simpson said he favors spending more money on educating prekindergarten through fifth-grade students. He also wants to strengthen vocational training.

On some issues, Burgess, Simpson and Bilirakis invited speakers to get in touch with their office so they can delve more deeply into particular concerns.

Burgess told the crowd that his background as a city council member and mayor in Zephyrhills makes him fully aware of the issues facing local governments. In his new role, he attempted to secure funding for a storm water project in Dade City. The budget included the project, but Gov. Rick Scott vetoed it.

Burgess told the crowd that he, Simpson and Bilirakis want to be accessible and are willing to make inquiries with government agencies regarding issues of concern.

Along those lines, Bilirakis told those gathered that efforts are under way to obtain federal help for people whose properties have been damaged by recent flooding.

The governor has requested that President Barack Obama issue a federal disaster declaration for multiple counties in Florida, including Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough, Bilirakis said.

If approved, this measure will enable the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide financial assistance to the individuals whose homes have sustained serious flood damage, Bilirakis said.

Published September 2, 2015

Enrollment growth in Pasco highest since recession

September 2, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Drive through Pasco County and it’s easy to see the signs of growth.

New houses are popping up in subdivisions. New apartment complexes are being built, and land is being cleared for more development.

And now that school is back in session, some of that growth is beginning to show up in classrooms, too.

These children are among the 718 students who arrived at Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet Elementary School on the first day of classes in the 2015-2016 school year. This is the Pasco County school district’s first magnet school. (Courtesy of Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School) — These children are among the 718 students who arrived at Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet Elementary School on the first day of classes in the 2015-2016 school year. This is the Pasco County school district’s first magnet school.
(Courtesy of Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School)

For the first time since 2007, the enrollment figures for the first day of school in Pasco County Schools increased by more than 1,000 students compared to the first day of school during the previous year.

Countywide, the district’s enrollment was 66,059, on the first day of classes, not counting four schools that had not yet submitted enrollment figures.

District schools gained a total of 1,138 students, while charter schools operating in the county picked up 441 — bringing the total to 1,579.

The increased enrollment exceeded the district’s expectations. Officials had projected an increase of 1,490.

Elementary schools experienced the biggest gain, picking up 672 more than last year. Middle schools experienced a slight decline, tallying seven fewer students than the previous year, and high schools gained 526.

The district’s education centers also saw a slight decrease, dropping by 53 students.

Some schools experienced increases, while others saw declines across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The opening of Sanders Memorial STEAM Magnet School, with 718 students, in Land O’ Lakes had an impact on enrollments at several area schools.

Connerton Elementary School’s first day enrollment was 770, down from last year’s first-day count of 890.

Oakstead Elementary also experienced a decline from its enrollment of 1,123 on the first day of school last year, compared with 1,000 this year.

Pine View Elementary, also in Land O’ Lakes, reported an opening day enrollment of 530, down 100 students from the prior year.

Lake Myrtle Elementary, also located in Land O’ Lakes, had a decline of 73 students, going from 639 last year to 566 this year.

Denham Oaks Elementary, in Lutz, saw its enrollment drop by 56 students, going from 669 last year to 613 this year.

Other schools experienced enrollment declines as Quail Hollow Elementary reopened in Wesley Chapel, with 380 students on its first day.

Watergrass Elementary School’s first-day enrollment of 592 reflects a decrease of 114 students from its first-day figure last year.

Wesley Chapel Elementary’s first-day enrollment dropped by 191 students, as compared to last year.

Two elementary schools reported enrollment gains of 50 students or more. Sand Pine Elementary, in Wesley Chapel, increased by 51 students and Woodland Elementary, in Zephyrhills, experienced an uptick of 83 students.

Most of the middle schools in the central and east portions of Pasco County saw changes that were within 25 students of last year, plus or minus.

Pine View Middle School was the only school that experiencing a bigger change. Its first-day enrollment decreased by 65 students, compared to last year.

Among high schools in central and east Pasco, those charting the largest gains were Land O’ Lakes High, with an increase of 155 students, Zephyrhills High, with a boost of 119 students, and Sunlake High, with an uptick of 78 students.

Charter schools in the newspaper’s coverage area also reported gains. Academy at the Farm picked up 119 students, Imagine School in Land O’ Lakes reported 50 additional students, and Countryside Montessori, also in Land O’ Lakes, increased its first-day enrollment by 29.

The largest elementary schools in the newspaper’s coverage area are Oakstead, with an enrollment of 1,000; Seven Oaks, with an enrollment of 1,065; and Woodland, with an enrollment of 929.

The largest middle schools in central and east Pasco are John Long, with an enrollment of 1,665; Rushe, with an enrollment of 1,299; and Weightman, with an enrollment of 1,102.

All of the high schools in east and central portions of the county having enrollments exceeding 1,450, with Wiregrass Ranch High topping the list, with an opening day count of 2,272.

Published September 2, 2015