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Former Dade City commissioner honored

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The City of Dade City recently paused to pay honor to Eunice Penix, one of its longest-tenured public servants, educators and community activists in the East Pasco town’s history.

Family, friends and community leaders gathered outside the City Hall building on Nov. 6 to recognize the many accomplishments of Penix, a longtime city commissioner.

Former longtime Dade City Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Eunice Penix, left, receives a proclamation from Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez. Penix’s 27 years of public service, her volunteerism and her career as a school teacher were highlighted during a Nov. 6 ceremony. (Courtesy of Leslie Porter)

The proclamation ceremony provided an opportunity to formally thank the 79-year-old Penix “for her dedication to improve Dade City for its residents and future generations to enjoy a prosperous, sustainable community.”

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter welcomed the large gathering, and Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez read the proclamation, presented the plaque and gave closing remarks.

Guest speakers of the event included Florida State Senate President Wilton Simpson and Rev. Clyde Carter, president of the NAACP-Pasco County chapter.

Penix’s lengthy record of public service, included serving as a city commissioner from 1993 to 2020.

In August 1993, she was appointed to the commission to fill a vacancy. She then was unopposed in her bid for election in April 1994, to fill out the remainder of a two-year term. She went on to win reelection seven times, including six contests that were unopposed. She held the title of mayor pro tem from 2009 onward.

During Penix’s time in office, the city hired five city managers, three city attorneys, two clerks and a finance director.

She also played an instrumental role in numerous enhancements to the municipality over the years, including:

  • Annexed lands for commercial and residential development
  • Paved and resurfaced streets and sidewalks
  • The acquisition and restoration of the Atlantic Coast Line Depot, now used as the Dade City Heritage Museum
  • The creation of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency
  • The initiation of plans to move the city’s wastewater treatment plant
  • The reduction of flooding issues downtown with the construction of Beauchamp Pond
  • Progress on numerous park improvements, including the land purchase to build a downtown splash park/bicycle hub

Penix was a mentor for the Dade City Youth Council, and served in public office during the time of the development of a Hampton Inn and a Publix Supermarket within the city limits.

She advocated for the Morningside Drive extension project and construction of the new City Hall/Police Department facility.

As a government representative, she was involved in the Florida League of Cities, Women in Municipal Government, Florida Black Caucus of Elected Officials, and Suncoast League of Cities.

Aside from her civic duties, the now retired Penix spent four decades as a schoolteacher — the bulk of her time at the now-closed Floyd Academy in Lacoochee and Pasco Elementary in Dade City, where she earned “Teacher of the Year” during the 2001-2002 school year.

Penix herself graduated from Mickens High School in 1958 and Bethune-Cookman University in 1962, earning a degree in elementary education. She went on to obtain a master’s degree from the University of Tampa in administration and supervision in elementary education.

Her other volunteerism and community engagement is notable, too.

Penix has served on the Martin Luther King Scholarship and Moore-Mickens Scholarship committees, including 10 years as president.

She’s been a member of the Dade City Community Alliance-Charter, Dade City Rotary, and Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County. She also has served as vice president of Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Pi Chi Sorority.

Penix is an active member of her church choir at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, in Dade City.

She chose not to seek reelection to the commission this year.

Her Group 5 seat is now held by Normita Woodard, a first-time elected commissioner and secretary at Lacoochee Elementary School.

Penix’s final commission meeting was on June 23, held in a virtual format amid the coronavirus pandemic.

During her final meeting as an elected official, Penix took time to deliver some parting words to thank the Dade City community. She said: “I’m grateful for the citizens of Dade City for allowing me to serve them for 27 years. I am so honored. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love all of you.”

Penix remains involved with citywide affairs, regularly attending commission and other pertinent meetings as a concerned and vocal citizen.

Published November 25, 2020

Golf may be back in play at Plantation Palms

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Plantation Palms Golf Course could reopen within coming months, according to posts on a Facebook page and an online blog created by a residents’ group, Project Bring Back Our Course.

A potential buyer, Rocky Morgan of GSP Business Alliance, is nearing a deadline to buy the closed golf course, located within Plantation Palms subdivision, off Collier Parkway.

In a telephone interview, Rob Rochlin of Dennis Realty told The Laker/Lutz News that Morgan has until the end of September to complete “due diligence” on the purchase.

A potential buyer for the Plantation Palms Golf Course plans to refurbish the clubhouse and golf course, which have been closed since 2014. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
A potential buyer for the Plantation Palms Golf Course plans to refurbish the clubhouse and golf course, which have been closed since 2014.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

According to the online blog in a posting on Sept. 13, a closing could happen no later than Nov. 3, and possibly sooner.

The driving range, clubhouse, restaurant and bar could reopen by the end of the year, with the course opening in early-to-mid-2016. Full and social club memberships would be offered to people living in the subdivision, as well as to people outside of Plantation Palms, according to the blog.

The goal of the Bring Back Our Course group, the blog states, “is to protect Plantation Palms’ property values.”

According to a Sept. 19 blog posting, Morgan has enlisted professional golfer Jimmy Wright to join his team as president and chief executive officer of “Golf Operations.”

No sales price is available, but the real estate firm in the past has listed the property as a short sale for $1.2 million.

Native American Bank in Denver backed the mortgage for the 156-acre property, when MJS Golf Group bought the golf course in 2011 for about $2.2 million. Mitchell Osceola, Jayson Ray and Steven McDonald own the company.

No one with the company could be reached for comment.

Financial challenges in recent years have plagued the course’s operations. It was shut down for one week in 2013, then, re-opened before shutting down again in May 2014.

In recent weeks, landscapers have mowed the grass and cleared undergrowth on the Plantation Palms Golf Course
In recent weeks, landscapers have mowed the grass and cleared undergrowth on the Plantation Palms Golf Course

Court records show debts have been a problem as at least two companies, John Deere Landscaping and Lake Master Aquatic Weed Control, filed lawsuits for nonpayment of services. Courts awarded judgments against MSJ.

There also was at least one lien from the Florida Department of Revenue, since paid off.

In prior interviews with The Laker/Lutz News, Ray told a reporter that the recession and bad weather limited the rounds of golf and hurt efforts to make the course a success.

County records show TLGFY, LLC- Capital One filed a tax deed for one of two parcels for the golf course on June 30. The application covers tax years 2012 through 2014. However, the tax deed likely won’t be sent to the Pasco County Clerk’s office until early 2016.

A second golf course parcel has delinquent taxes, also for 2012 through 2014. Tax certificates were issued, but county officials say if the 2012 taxes are paid, that would delay a potential filing of a tax deed on that parcel.

Those issues would be cleared away with the sale. “A new buyer can’t have clear title without that,” Rochlin said.

Surveys are posted on the website showing about 90 percent approval from residents who favor the sale. A meet-and-greet with Plantation Palms’ residents took place at Hampton Inn on Sept. 2. The Bring Back Our Course members met separately with residents of The Reserve, which has its own homeowners’ association.

Media reports highlight past unsuccessful efforts by Morgan to buy Waterville Golf Course in Cleveland, Tennessee, and Turkey Greek Golf Course in Gainesville. But according to the blog, Morgan addressed questions related to those ventures at the residents’ meeting.

In recent weeks, Morgan has hired landscapers to spruce up the course, mowing grass and clearing undergrowth.

Part of his management program for the course is to provide lawn services that would generate revenues to help with golf course operations.

Residents would choose a landscaper from a “preferred provider” list of companies that would work for Morgan, according to the blog.

“The primary focus is on selling landscaping services bundled with club memberships both inside and outside of Plantation Palms,” the blog states.

Published September 23, 2015

County tourist leaders want to double Savage Race sponsorship dollars

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The Pasco County Tourist Development Council may feel a little generous next week, especially if the group follows a recommendation to give an event company double the sponsorship money it would’ve normally received from the county.

The intended recipient is Mad Cap Events LLC, an Orlando-based company that is planning to bring the Savage Race back to Little Everglades Park in Dade City for two days. The race, which will be held just before Halloween, is described as “an intense 5- to 7-mile obstacle run with 25 world class obstacles, mud, fire and barbed wire,” according to the event’s website. The race is “challenging fun that will give you and your friends an adrenaline buzz that lasts for days.”

Mad Cap charges participants between $54 and $89 per day of the event, depending on how early they register. That does not include a $15 surcharge added to those prices to cover insurance.

Spectators pay $15 in advance or $25 at the gate, on top of a $10 charge for parking.

The spring race held in Pasco County generated 1,051 hotel room nights, Pasco County’s Office of Tourism Development reported. Because of that, each day could qualify for a county sponsorship of $10,000. Mad Cap, however, wants $20,000, and the Tourism Development Council is being asked to give the company a total of $40,000 — higher than the $15,000 per night starting point usually recommended for events that draw double the hotel room nights.

But there is a good reason to spend the extra money, county tourism manager Ed Caum said in a memo to the council.

“The marketing exposure we receive online with this event has been excellent,” he wrote. “Mad Cap Events LLC markets Pasco County’s Little Everglades Ranch at each of their events around the nation. Further, they have made the commitment for Pasco to be their ‘premier’ race site. (Their) events have become so popular that events in Pasco are held on both Saturday and Sunday.”

Mad Cap does not release revenue publicly, however a September 2012 story in the SportsBusiness Journal reported Mad Cap earned $500,000 on two races the company staged in its first year of operation. Two years later, it had expanded to six states, including Maryland and Pennsylvania, while continuing its presence in Florida.

The Tourism Development Council includes three elected officials — Pasco County commissioner Jack Mariano, New Port Richey councilman Chopper Davis, and Dade City mayor Camille Hernandez. It also includes leaders from Pasco’s tourism market, including Gail Cushman from Days Inn & Suites, Piyush Mulji from Hampton Inn, Kyle VonKohorn of Fairfield Inn & Suites, Toby Caroline of Paradise Lakes Resort, Gregory Riehle of Saddlebrook Resort, and Jack Phethean of Little Everglades Ranch — the venue that will host the Savage Run.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is June 18 at 10 a.m., at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey.