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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Old Pasco Road widening contract approved

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The Pasco County Commission has awarded a contract for the long-awaited widening of Old Pasco Road. (Mike Camunas)

The contract for a long-awaited widening of Old Pasco Road has been awarded to B.R.W. Contracting Inc., for nearly $22 million.

The Pasco County Commission deemed B.R.W. to be the lowest, responsible and responsive bidder for the project, which involves improving Old Pasco Road, north of Deedra Drive to North Overpass Road.

The contract calls for the work to be completed within 600 days, according to background materials in the county board’s Oct. 10 agenda packet.

The county received five bids, including three from Pasco County. The company receiving the contract is from Land O’ Lakes.

Funding is available in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

Under terms of the agreement, B.R.W. will provide all labor, materials and equipment.

The contract spells out a timeline for the project and calls for liquidated damages for delays.

Published November 08, 2023

Pasco school board approves dress code change

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The Pasco County School Board has revised its student dress code to remove the phrase that requires a student’s blouse to “extend to the waist.”

But it’s unlikely that the vote will be the end of district discussion on the issue.

A specific committee will likely review the issue during an update of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year.

The school board voted 4-0 to approve the dress code for next school year during its Oct. 17 meeting. Board chairwoman Megan Harding was absent.

The Pasco County School Board has altered the district’s dress code to delete a phrase that required blouses to ‘extend to the waist.’ But discussions over appropriate student attire are expected to resume again next year, during the update of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year. (File)

The dress code change drew considerable debate during previous board discussions, with Harding and school board member Cynthia Armstrong wanting to keep the requirement and school board members Colleen Beaudoin, Alison Crumbley and Al Hernandez favoring the change.

At the Oct. 3 public hearing, two speakers raised objections to the proposed dress code.

Pat Rogers, who frequently appears at board meetings to question various policies, told the board: “This morning, on my way here, I saw a very young girl walking down the sidewalk going to her school with shorts with legs that were maybe this long on them,” she said, indicating a couple of inches.

“Granted, she was young, but that was still too short for school.

“That’s fine for when you are playing at home and out in the yard, but at school, I think there needs to be a length, like 2 inches above the knee or something. So that these short shorts are not being worn around in school because they’re just as distracting as everything else, especially when you get to the young teen boys, the pre-teens.

“Anyway, that needs to be taken care of. The dress code to me is still kind of vague,” she said.

She thinks the code needs more clarity so parents know precisely what the rules are, instead of trying to guess.

“I know you guys can do a better job than this,” she said.

In previous discussions regarding the dress code, Beaudoin urged her colleagues to remove the phrase “extend to the waist” regarding blouses.

Like her colleagues, Beaudoin said she’d like to see students dress professionally and appropriately, but she noted that she believes that ultimately that’s a parental right and responsibility.

Beaudoin also pointed to community norms and said the type of clothing being discussed is socially acceptable.

Plus, she said there are more important issues for the board’s focus, and the dress code is not a barrier to education.

But Nancy Christian, of Land O’ Lakes, told board members that she strongly disagreed with Beaudoin’s rationale.

Christian said she’s a mother and grandmother, a frequent school and community volunteer, a retired bus driver from another district, and a barber.

In those roles, she said she’s come into contact with young people of all ages for many years.

She told the board: “Clothing makes a difference. Certain clothing isn’t appropriate for school. Bare midriffs, bare backs and exposed cleavage isn’t appropriate for the classroom or walking around school.

“It can be distracting, and what is the purpose of such attire?

“A student’s clothing affects their attitude for the good or the bad. Maybe not so much from kindergarten to fourth grade, but after that it depends on the child, but it starts to make a difference.”

“Part of the parents’ responsibility is to teach their child the rules and how to follow them,” Christian said.

Board members said they received feedback on both sides of the issue.

During the Oct. 17 meeting, Armstrong said: “I just want to say that I really appreciate all of the emails I received, and the calls and the discussions about the dress code.

“As you know, I was the one who added on, ‘extend to the waist’ for the shirt.”

“I thought it was pretty clear what that meant, but apparently it was not.

“I do feel like we’ve opened up this discussion about ‘What is appropriate attire for a learning environment? How do we prepare our students to participate in the workforce after they leave school?’

“So, I’m hoping this discussion will continue when we have the committee meet for the next Code of Student Conduct next year and that they will consider some of the suggestions that we received in our emails about how maybe that could be better worded to avoid some of the controversy over it, and to make sure that it was clear and concise.”

Board member Crumbley agreed the discussion should continue next year.

She said she appreciated the comments she received on the issue.

“I see all of the sides. I think it was a good conversation.

“I believe our objective will be to maybe turn this over to a special task force within the Code of Conduct Committee,” Crumbley said, noting that the group can look at the suggestions and emails that came in, in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year.

Published November 08, 2023

These two Pasco students stand out from the crowd

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The Pasco County School Board recently celebrated two student standouts.

Leah Ifill, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, is the district’s U.S. Presidential Scholar nominee, and Miguel Rosario, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, is the district’s U.S. Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education.

The scholar program, established in 1964, recognizes and honors superior high school seniors.

Diamela Vergne, assistant principal at Wiregrass Ranch High, wrote the submission on behalf of Ifill.

Wiregrass Ranch High School student Leah Ifill is Pasco County’s Nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. From left: Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Leah Ifill and Pasco County Schools Vice Chairwoman Alison Crumbley. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

In part, this is what she said: “Leah is well-rounded, hardworking, kind and an extremely driven student. She successfully and with great ease balances her multiple responsibilities, inside and outside of school, all while ensuring she tends to physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well-being.

“Leah was out of school for two months during her freshman year. During that time, she had to re-learn how to do many things.

“Leah has been dancing since she was 2, learning how to dance before she could fully speak.

“Having to re-learn things, she was forced to stop dancing for an entire year. She was stripped of her only passion.

“It was during this time that she was introduced to musical theater, which became her new passion.

“She was forever changed, but it allowed her to become someone she thought she could never be.

“Eventually, she was able to land main roles in shows, through perseverance and hard work.

“The journey from dance to musical theater has been transformative. This could have been a setback, but it became a catalyst for her success. It taught her resilience, determination and the importance of pursuing her life’s passions.

“Leah currently has 111 approved community service hours. These hours have been completed in a variety of environments. 

“She has volunteered at Toys for Tots, distributing toys during the holidays. She also volunteers at the nursery from her church. She volunteers at the community theater, and at Wiregrass Ranch freshman orientation. She also sings the National Anthem at various events at her high school campus.

“She is an active member of the student council, as well.”

The assistant principal also noted that Ifill is enrolled in several Advanced Placement (AP) courses, as well as courses in the arts. She also is a member of concert chorus, social manager for the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Thespian president of Troupe 7142.

Rosario is the district’s Presidential Scholars nominee in Career and Technical Education.

Nathan Baker, the Career and Technical Education teacher at the Coyote Engineering Academy, wrote this about Miguel: “Miguel is the best student I’ve had within the last five years within the engineering academy at Cypress Creek High School.

Cypress Creek High School student Miguel Rosario was recognized as Pasco County Schools’ nominee for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education Program. From left: Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, Miguel Rosario and Pasco County Schools Vice Chairwoman Alison Crumbley.

“His intelligence and natural abilities are just phenomenal. He is currently taking AP calculus BC and AP computer science.

“Miguel has also spread his wings in other directions besides academia. He is very active in the student government association, a member of the Spirit Club, captain of the varsity soccer team and has a part-time job.

“I’ve watched Miguel demonstrate an atmosphere of mutual respect, hard work, good sportsmanship, prioritization and time management.

“Miguel is selfless and always willing to lend a hand. Miguel will make an amazing computer engineer one day. He has all of the characteristics necessary for success, including high intelligence, a strong work ethic, amazing problem-solving skills and the desire to succeed.

“He has excelled at every challenge given to him within the engineering program, including thermal dynamics, electricity, fluid dynamics, robotics, programming and team leadership.

“He has a gift for envisioning a solution to a problem and optimizing that solution. Whether it is a complicated mathematical problem, or a robotics program that needs to be written, I’ve never known Miguel not to succeed.

“Miguel was chosen as the outstanding student of engineering his freshman year and likely would have won it multiple times, except Cypress Creek High School limits ninth through 11th graders to winning it only once to spread the award around.

“He has earned numerous Student of the Week awards, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program, and recognized as being a member of multiple honor societies.

“Miguel has continued to add new tools to his technical toolbox. He spent a year in the Pasco Youth Leadership Program to learn about leadership, inspiring others and the projects taking place throughout the county.”

Baker noted that Rosario continues to add new programming languages to his arsenal.

“He is hands-on and can always be found tinkering with something in the lab.

“By spending time in the Pasco Youth Leadership Program and tutoring, it is evident that Miguel inspires others to be the best and instills in them a sense of duty to achieve more than they believe they can achieve.

“Miguel Rosario is the total package. He is highly intelligent, demonstrates common sense and possesses an amazing level of mechanical, hands-on ability and has limitless determination.

“He is truly the real deal.

“I could never ask for a better student,” Baker wrote.

Published November 08, 2023

Riding around at Swamp Fest

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The 14th annual Swamp Fest, the carnival of rides, games, food, entertainment and more at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. The four-day event is a community-wide fundraiser benefiting area schools, nonprofits and community groups as well as area businesses. It is hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club.

It was a wild, and swampy, weekend as Madison Froelich, left, and Amber Allen, both of Land O’ Lakes, are whipped around on a ride at the 14th annual Swamp Fest. (Mike Camunas)
Land O’ Lakes resident Aaron Hale and his daughter, Mika, laugh their way through bumping other bumper car riders at Swamp Fest, on Nov. 2 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.
Isabella Sanchez, left, of Wesley Chapel, hopes her ping pong ball drops so she wins a fishy prize at the 14th annual Swamp Fest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land O’ Lakes youngster dragon rider Clayton Scalise wants the carnival ride to go around again during the 14th annual Swamp Fest at Land O’ Lakes Heritage.
Wesley Chapel residents Chris Teodorsky, left, and Raina Teodorskey, enjoy a spin on the Ferris wheel.
Hundreds of Land O’ Lakes and Central Pasco County residents turned out for the 14th annual Swamp Fest, held Nov. 2 through Nov. 5, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

Museum seeks volunteers to promote art

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The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts has moved to historic Ybor City for a new, dynamic environment to showcase its extensive collection and to host exhibitions. (Courtesy of Farrell Communications)

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FmoPA), in Ybor City, believes in the power of photography to tell stories, evoke emotions and inspire change.

The museum is looking for dedicated and passionate volunteers to assist the museum as it continues its mission to preserve photography’s cultural heritage and promote photographic art, according to a news release.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of photography while contributing to the essential work of the institution.

Whether individuals are seasoned photography enthusiasts or just beginning to explore this art form, there is a place for them on the team, the release says.

Volunteers are sought for these roles:

  • Museum greeter: Attend the front desk and help bring a comforting and professional feel when visitors enter FMoPA.
  • Event volunteer: Join FMoPA for opening receptions, fundraising events and more. Help in distributing light refreshments, taking pictures, and whatever else is needed on the day of the event.

The museum is now located at 1630 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor, in Tampa.

Those interested should contact Simone Leal at , or call 813-221-2222.

Published November 08, 2023

Clocks changed, so irrigation timers should too

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With the end of daylight saving time (Nov. 5), the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) is encouraging residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers.

The time change (clocks fell back one hour) is a good reminder to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the system operates consistently with year-round water conservation measures.

All 16 counties throughout SWFMD’s boundaries are on year-round water conservation measures, with lawn watering limited to twice per week, unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours.  

Local governments maintaining once-per-week watering by local ordinance include Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties, and the cities of Dunedin and Venice.

Irrigation in Pasco County is day and time specific. For additional information regarding specific watering days, times and settings, visit bit.ly/PascoWatering.

Do not water your lawn just because it’s your day, but residents should know and follow local watering restrictions. The water management district suggests residents should irrigate their lawn when it shows these signs of stress:

  • Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard
  • Grass blades appear blue-gray in color
  • Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it

For more irrigation and water-saving tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.

Published November 08, 2023

Applications open for submissions from one-act playwrights

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The Carrollwood Cultural Center is accepting applications from local playwrights to stage and showcase their work for a live audience as part of The Studio Project, for the center’s 2023-2024 upcoming season, according to a news release.

(Courtesy of Carrollwood Cultural Center)

The Studio Project is a theatrical incubator with an alternative focus each year. It aims to foster the development of new theatrical and performative works in the Tampa Bay area, according to the release.

The center is seeking two previously unpublished/unproduced works that are 30 minutes or shorter, the release says.

As part of the project, the cultural center will offer rehearsal and performance space in The Studio, at 13345 Casey Road, behind the center’s main building.

The winning submission will receive a small stipend and some production support.

The center also will make available a professional director to help stage the piece if so desired. The winning work will be showcased for a live audience on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m., Jan. 20 at 8 p.m., and Jan. 21 at 2 p.m., at The Studio.

Applicants of all skill levels may apply through CarrollwoodCenter.org.

In the proposal, applicants must provide a brief synopsis, an excerpt of the piece, casting, and technical requirements, and state why the piece suits The Studio Project.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 27.

For additional information, email .

The Carrollwood Cultural Center is a partnership between Hillsborough County and the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center. The mission of the Friends of the Center is to create culture through community and community through culture. The Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, a 501(c)3 organization. For more information, visit the center’s website at CarrollwoodCenter.org.

Published November 08, 2023

Helping make an impact in the community

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Himani Patel just wants to help.

Help the community.

Help people.

Even help her classmates.

So, at the end of her sophomore year at Land O’ Lakes High, Patel founded Impact Service — a volunteering club, run by volunteers for volunteers. The club will help student volunteers connect with meaningful volunteering opportunities that are outside the school, making it easy for members to help the community.

Himani Patel, a senior at Land O’ Lakes High, founded the Impact Service club to serve as a conduit to connect high schoolers with meaningful volunteering opportunities. Since it was founded, it has grown to more than 80 members, who have completed more than 488 service hours. They have helped multiple charities, including Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding Tampa Bay, Akshaya Patra, Mental Health America and American Heart Association. (Mike Camunas)

In less than two years, the club has grown to more than 80 members, who have donated hundreds of service hours to local charity organizations. They have helped Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding Tampa Bay and others.

“We are the middle man. For the lack of a better term, we’re like customer service for our members, making it as easy as possible for them to volunteer or find a place to volunteer,” Patel said. “We have a lot of clubs at school that do volunteering inside the school, like IB (International Baccalaureate) events and prom and things like that, but not many organizations here that make an impact outside of school.

“We’ve strived to create an environment where everyone is genuinely passionate about helping in the community,” she added. “I didn’t create this group for volunteer hours. I created this club for those who are really passionate about helping others less fortunate.”

Patel, an avid volunteer herself, formed Impact Service, knowing there were many who wanted to give back to the community, not just in her high school.

The response was overwhelming.

At more than 80 members, it is one of the school’s largest clubs, plus more than 488 hours were completed by club members last school year.

The club also raised $635 (the most of any organization within the school for donations) within six months and donated to multiple charities, such as Feeding Tampa Bay, Akshaya Patra, Mental Health America and American Heart Association. The club was even invited by Big Brothers Big Sisters to assist in the Gasparilla Publix Run earlier this year.

“We connect them with the organization because I do want people to experience actually going to the Feeding Tampa Bay warehouse and volunteering,” Patel said. “Then, they are putting in the work, sweat and tears and can collaborate with the same passionate people who genuinely want to help the community.

“With some clubs, you always see numbers dwindle, but not us.”

While volunteer hours aren’t required to graduate from high school in Florida, those hours are required in order to be eligible for Bright Futures Scholarships. But Patel said that’s not really the point of the club, nor are members even using Impact Service to log volunteer hours.

In fact, most times, members already have the required hours to be eligible and are volunteering because they genuinely want to.

“Our club helps facilitate students getting volunteer hours because they know we’re getting them to places that are actually focused on making an impact,” she added. “My main thing was I wanted to help my community, so the hours are a side note. “Impact members genuinely want to be involved with these organizations and volunteering,” she said.

With that kind of dedication from Patel and the members, it makes being the club sponsor an easy job — just ask Dora Gallagher.

“Oh, yes, it is super easy because (Patel) is in charge,” said Gallagher, who teaches Spanish. “She does everything. She looks for the places to volunteer, does the contact, sets up the dates and times and informs all the participants. Honestly, I don’t do that much (laughs).

“She is on top of everything and making sure the club is doing exactly what the goal says it is setting out to do.”

Gallagher tells students Impact Service isn’t like other clubs, in that they actually put in the work and set out to help the community in meaningful ways.

“A lot of clubs are just that — a club or a name or don’t do much,” she added. “This one is actually participating in volunteering in several places that make an impact in the community.

“As a teenager, to see her do that, it’s impressive, and I’m impressed to see that they are actually volunteering. Other clubs I have sponsored, which were student-led, didn’t do much — not this one.”

As Patel heads toward graduation in May 2024, she plans to hand off leadership of the club to very capable hands that will continue it when she heads to college.

But that won’t stop Patel, as she plans to turn the club into a 501(c)3 (when she turns 18), so it can be an organization outside the school. She also plans to get Impact Service a website, all the while creating the same type of on-campus club at whichever college she ends up attending.

“I really just want to help people in the community, especially those who are underprivileged, and really, my ultimate goal is work for a nonprofit for underprivileged kids who can’t afford health care,” the IB student said. “The reason I created Impact Service was to help the community.

“Our whole purpose is to make the world a better place.”

Impact Service Club
Details: Founded by Land O’ Lakes High senior Himani Patel, Impact Service was created to connect high schoolers with meaningful volunteering opportunities. The club has donated time and resources to multiple charities, including Metropolitan Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and Feeding Tampa Bay. The club only includes  Land O’ Lakes High students now, but Patel wants the club to become a community-wide effort, and others are welcome to join.
Membership cost: $15 for entry and shirt
To learn more about Impact Service or to join, email .

Published November 01, 2023

Pasco budget hits get relief from tax collector’s surplus check to the county

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When the Pasco County Commission decided to reduce its property tax millage rate, the board said budget cuts should be across the board, including the county’s constitutional offices.

At the commission’s Oct. 24 meeting, though, Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano presented another idea to the board.

Every year, Fasano’s office estimates how much it will be able to save and give back to the county.

“We had proposed that we would give you back about $2.4 million. We’re giving you back today about $3.6 million,” Fasano said.

At that, there was applause and Commissioner Seth Weightman rang a bell, signaling approval of the good news.

“I got a bell,” Fasano said, surprised. “Normally, when people come into our office and put money into our charities, in the bucket, the bell goes off. It’s nice that we’re bringing you money and your bell is going off here.”

Fasano reminded the board that in the past 10 years his office has given back more than $24 million.

“But today, I come before you with an ask.”

He asked the board to “make whole” the Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office and the Supervisor of Elections Office, which all suffered budget cuts when the board voted to reduce the millage rate during its recent budget deliberations.

That move was made to reduce the sting of higher taxes due to the increase for the Fire Municipal Services Taxing Unit, and when the cut was made, the board decided the pain of the cuts should be shared.

In making his case for restoring the cuts to the sheriff, clerk and elections offices, Fasano noted: “Each of them, of course, had to put a budget together and rely on what they thought they were going to get, hoped they were going to get, based on what they need.

“We have a sheriff that’s trying to make certain that he protects our community, as it grows. Public safety should always be No. 1.

“We have a supervisor of elections that does provide the best, the best service when it comes time for elections. When the elections come in at night, where does everybody look? The first one, Pasco County, to see what direction Florida is going.

“We have a clerk of the court, like the tax collector, who sees thousands of people each month.”

As Fasano prepared to give the check to the county, he said: “So, I present this check to you with an ask, and hopefully, maybe with a motion, and a second, to use some of these dollars to make those constitutional officers whole, as you did yourselves.

“I will present the clerk with a check and also some documents, and hopefully, before I go back to the podium, I’ll hear a motion.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey: “I would make that motion to accept the check and to use this to make this as a payment to cover all of our losses, in the rollback.”

Weightman added: “I’ll happily second that, and thank you Senator (Fasano is a former state senator), for being a fiscal watchdog and bringing some good news to us today. I was proud to ring the bell in your honor.”

The board voted 4-0, with Commission Chairman Jack Mariano absent.

The action restored about $34,000 in funding for the clerk’s office, about $24,000 in funding for the election supervisor’s office and about $600,000 for the sheriff’s office, Fasano said, in an interview after the meeting.

He said he decided to make the request because he saw an opportunity to try to help his fellow constitutional officers and thought he should pursue it.

The tax collector also said he was pleased by the county board’s response.

Published November 01, 2023

Pasco County Commission approves cell tower in Angeline

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The approval of a cellphone tower on the campus of Angeline Academy of Innovation has again raised issues over the proper placement of such towers and whether more care should be taken when deciding where to locate them.

The Pasco County Commission approved the request for a conditional use request, clearing the way for a 154-foot above-ground monopole wireless communications tower on the northeast side of Angeline School Way, about one-half mile north of Ridge Road.

The site is owned by Pasco County Schools, and the applicant for the cell tower request is Vertex Development LLC.

The board’s 3-0 approval came despite a parent’s request to move the tower a greater distance away from the Angeline magnet school, which is at 8916 Angeline School Way, in Land O’ Lakes.

The Pasco County Commission has approved the request for a cellphone tower on the campus of Angeline Academy of Innovation. (Mike Camunas)

The magnet school ultimately will have sixth- through 12th-graders on the campus.

Robin Patel, who described herself as a parent, scientist and community member, said her primary concern is the health risk such towers can pose to people from prolonged exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation.

In this case, students will be exposed for six hours per school day, for up to seven years, she said.

“I have two children in the school district. One in elementary school and one currently at Angeline.

“I’m also interested because I’m a scientist. I have my PhD in biomedical sciences, and while my expertise is not in wireless communications, I have about 15 years doing research on human health, disease and biological systems.

“It should be noted that Angeline is a very tall, four-story building, with student classrooms on all levels. The upper floors are significantly closer to the antennas, compared to the ground level,” she said.

She also noted that “the strength and type of radiation that will be coming from this tower is not known. Proper cellphone tower placement is necessary to limit possible health effects and liability.”

“In the current research, cellphone towers would be cautiously placed 500 meters or about a third of a mile away from schools,” Patel said, but in the case of the Angeline tower, it is about 100 meters away from student classrooms.

Patel also pointed to a statement on the American Cancer Society’s website that says most expert organizations agree that more research is needed on the issue, especially for any long-term effects.

Patel did not request that the cell tower be eliminated, but simply relocated.

“Cellphone towers are a way of life and coverage is needed in the Angeline area, I agree.

“But we need to be thoughtful about where those cell towers are placed to achieve that coverage.

“Until we are sure there are no negative health effects on children’s growing bodies, we should not be placing cellphone towers near student areas,” she said. “Instead, place towers along roadways, fields or other unpopulated areas.”

Mary Solik, an attorney representing Vertex Development, told the county board: “I understand the sincerity of Miss Patel’s comments, but we meet all of the siting requirements that are set forth in your code and the (federal) Telecommunications Act has determined that local governments are preempted on the issue of the health effects of the towers. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulates that and you’re not allowed to approve or deny or regulate the placement of towers based on their health effects, no matter how sincere Miss Patel’s comments may be. The FCC has just taken that away from you and they regulate it.”

Solik also noted that the distance between the corner of the school building and the tower location is 389 feet.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey acknowledged that the board is preempted from considering health concerns. But she added: “I just want to say something to the school district. You know, we keep hearing this and I think it’s part of the 5G scare that’s out there, that people say they didn’t test enough.

“It would be better for us, if you would, when you start laying out your school sites, if you plan for your cell tower site. It could have been on the other side of that pond.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed with Starkey’s suggestion that the school district plan for cell towers on its campuses to be farther away from its school buildings.

Published November 01, 2023