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Scott Black

Cemetery complaints addressed

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The Dade City Commission has approved a landscaping contract, after grievances aired in recent months about the upkeep of the Dade City Cemetery.

Commissioners have approved a contract with a landscaping company to maintain the grounds of the 17-acre cemetery, at 38151 Martin Luther King Blvd.

The agreement is with Gotha-based JDMF LLC, and it calls for landscape management services from April 1 through Oct. 31, at an annual cost of $37,200.

The Dade City Commission approved a contract with landscaping management firm JDMF LLC, to maintain the Dade City Cemetery during the rainy season from April through October. The cost of services is $37,300 annually for the seven months of work. (Kevin Weiss)

The seven months of work coincide with the area’s rainy season when grass grows more quickly at the site nestled in the Mickens-Harper community, on the northeast side of town, across U.S. 98.

Two other bids received for cemetery landscape management came in at $61,446 and $179,746, respectively.

The city originally budgeted $36,000 to hire an additional public works/park employee who would have shared duties between the cemetery and downtown grounds maintenance.

However, city administration felt it more prudent to outsource the cemetery workload instead.

As explained in a city memo dated Dec. 8: “Contracting out the cemetery landscape management will eliminate the current need to hire an additional employee and provide the current downtown and parks employees the help that is needed to maintain a park-like setting in our city’s downtown area. During the dry season, city employees will maintain the cemetery.”

Dade City Public Works Director Bryan Holmes also deemed the workload “too great for one employee to maintain during the rainy season.”

Funding for the contract services will come from the parks department’s operational budget. The cost for outsourcing the work will be offset by the cost of hiring an additional employee and the vehicle costs associated with maintaining the grounds, officials say.

Split decision
The decision to go with the landscaping firm was divided among commissioners, narrowly passing by a 3-2 vote at the Dec. 8 meeting.

Mayor Camille Hernandez, and Commissioners Scott Black and Knute Nathe voted for the contract. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive and Commissioner Normita Woodard voted against.

In dissenting, Woodard expressed concern about the number of tasks the municipality has been outsourcing — as opposed to finding solutions in-house with city workers.

“It seems like anytime we meet any type of adversity, the solution is contracting someone from the outside,” Woodard said. “I personally feel like our solution should not always be to contract out.”

She added: “It seems to be that we are consistently setting a precedent that when we can’t do the job, we are immediately going outside, and I don’t like it.”

Shive made similar points. He preferred adding another a full-time employee to handle the grounds and other areas for 12 months, instead of “turn over control of the cemetery with contracted people” for seven months of the year.

“I just want to remind everybody this is $37,000 for seven months. What is going to happen for the other five months when they’re not here to do the job?” Shive asked.

“I have a problem paying $37,000 for seven months when we can hire a full-time person that can work for the cemetery and the CRA (the Community Redevelopment Agency special district) — and we’re actually creating a job for somebody.”

The mayor pro tem, too, noted the city previously hired a contractor to maintain parking lots downtown, which led to unsatisfactory results.

The other commissioners, however, supported the city staff’s recommendation for various reasons.

Over the last handful of years, some 175 gravesites have been installed across the city’s 17-acre cemetery, sparking the need for more groundskeeping assistance. Some local residents have complained about the upkeep of the site in recent months.

“For smaller municipalities like Dade City is, sometimes you can’t do everything in-house,” Nathe reasoned. “Sometimes it is more cost-effective to hire out and go to a third party to maintain something that we don’t have the resources to do ourselves.”

He continued, “I don’t care whether it’s somebody directly employed by the city who does it or a third-party contractor.

“If staff’s telling us, ‘Listen, it’s more efficient to get a third-party contractor to do this, so that it frees up the cemetery groundskeeper to go help out in other parts of the city,’  — and I’m sure they need help during the rainy season — then I say let’s do that.”

Meanwhile, Black pointed out the firm JDMF had strong references from the cities of Lakeland and Bartow, as well as Pasco and Lake counties. Also, he surmised the contractor is set to bring in an experienced multi-person crew with their own equipment to spruce up the cemetery, likely to be more effective and efficient than any one person.

“The fact remains that we’ve got a problem that we need to take care of, and this does seem like a cost-effective way of doing it,” Black said. “You’re getting a team that comes in, that works and does this for other municipalities and a couple of counties, and I think we’re needing to do something different here, and if it doesn’t work out, then we can go back and find another way to do it, but this does sound like this could be a very good solution for us, and hopefully we can go back and break the cycle of the problems that we’ve been having of late.”

Hernandez — who was the favoring swing vote — acknowledged being “really torn” with the decision.

The mayor emphasized that the city’s public works supervisors must have regular follow-up with the landscape company. Moreover, the contractor better give ample attention to weed-eating around headstones and gravesites, she said.

“I just want to make sure that we’re doing our work, that this gets done,” Hernandez said. “As we get ready to do all this marketing of our town and not only the cemetery, but all of those things that we’re doing, that everything is looking in a way that people are proud of, especially when they’re going to pay tribute to their loved ones who’ve passed.

“We all realize this is important for people with gravesites. It’s in a lot of ways very emotional and very sentimental, as well as being something that we need to take care of.”

In recent months residents have levied ongoing complaints on the growth of weeds, and damaged graves and headstone decorations, making comments on social media and during commission meetings.

It came to a head during a September meeting when residents, including Mario Jenkins, spoke up about the conditions.

Jenkins told commissioners when he last visited his mother’s grave, he discovered some of the decorations—including a memorial cross — had been destroyed.

“Every time I go there, I seem to be disappointed,” Jenkins said. “The upkeep on the grounds is very poor.”

Cemetery duties increasing
For many years, the city was able to have a single groundskeeper maintain the entire cemetery parcel, officials say.

But, apparently that’s no longer the case.

One explanation may be the surging demand of marked graves and installed headstones over the last several years.

Dade City Clerk Angie Guy is responsible for selling cemetery spaces and when families want to have headstones installed for loved ones.

Guy explained that more than 175 graves have been added to the cemetery during the last six years.

The increasing number of gravesites has increased the workload for maintaining the cemetery, she explained, as more man hours are needed to mark the grave, install headstones, landscape surrounding areas and so on.

“The workload has increased substantially, so that’s another part of the issue,” Guy told commissioners at the meeting. “It’s not just marking the grave and that’s it. Now there’s a headstone that (residents) want installed, that (worker) is going to have stop mowing, stop weed-eating, and install the headstone, and make sure it’s installed correctly. If there’s any problems (with the headstone install), then they go back and forth…”

Published December 30, 2020

Dade City approves visitor’s center design

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Dade City Commissioners have narrowed in on a design for a new visitor’s information center building that’ll help round out Roy Hardy Trail trailhead — and serve as an important component for a future multi-use park near Church Avenue in the downtown area.

Commissioners on Aug. 25 unanimously selected a preferred design option that was favored by nearly 62% of residents in an online survey.

The visitor’s information center is being funded with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

The visitor’s information center will generally match the look of the surrounding Church Avenue neighborhood, which commonly features homes with wood siding, columns and brick embellishments. The 1,380-square-foot building will feature informational kiosks and mobile displays for all county tourism amenity partners, and showcase exhibits from local artists and museums. (Courtesy of the City of Dade City)

Plans call for a 1,380-square-foot open floor plan with two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The interior space will feature informational kiosks and mobile displays for all county tourism amenity partners. There also will be a third-party vendor space to provide maintenance, information sharing and security. The space also can be used to showcase exhibits from local artists and museums.

The center’s exterior will generally match the look of the surrounding Church Avenue neighborhood, which commonly features homes with wood siding, columns and brick embellishments; the building will be painted with a historic color palette of amber, copper red and black.

The building also will be accompanied by two porches and a bike rack — its location designed to offer easy access off the Hardy Trail for riders and exercisers to gather and rest.

The final building design, however, might take on a few more minor tweaks. Commissioner Scott Black expressed a desire to incorporate some elements of the former Seaboard Airline Depot, a Mediterranean-style structure that was once located northeast of the site. Any changes will likely apply to lighting fixtures, decorative elements and benches that can give the feel of a depot and railway platform, city officials say.

The project’s budget will next be finalized by staff and commissioners. Construction is expected to begin in January following the approval of submitted building permits.

Commissioners in May approved a design-build project bid with Dade-City based Borregard Construction Inc.

Mayor Camille Hernandez described the visitor’s center as “a major part” of a proposed downtown community park that’ll someday be “a destination in our town.” The center will be situated at the northeast corner of the 2.23-acre park property that could eventually feature a water splash pad, playground, event lawn and walking path, among other amenities.  “We certainly want it to become something that we’re all very proud of,” Hernandez said.

Published September 02, 2020

Dade City Commission welcomes new planning board

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The Dade City Planning Board has added a new face, plus a few familiar ones to its dais.

Dade City Commissioners on Aug. 11 reappointed three board members whose terms recently expired, and approved a new at-large member to the agency’s group of seven.

Matthew Munz was approved to the Dade City Planning Board, as an at-large member. The Dade City resident is a project manager at Mead & Hunt, an architecture and engineering firm. He takes over for Knute Nathe, who vacated the seat after being elected to the Dade City Commission last month. (Courtesy of Matthew Munz)

The three reappointments are James Cosentino, Bermice Thomas and Joe Kennard.

Dade City native and resident Matthew Munz is the new at-large appointment.

Terms of each of the four appointments will expire April 2024. The other planning board members are Jimmy Miller, Davis Henley and Juliann Hale.

Munz, the newest addition, is a project manager for Mead & Hunt, an architecture design, engineering, environmental and construction administration services company.

He takes over the at-large seat previously held by new Commissioner Knute Nathe, who vacated the seat after being elected last month to the Dade City Commission.

“I enjoyed a great deal my tenure on the planning board. It can be thankless service, but it is service that is necessary to the city,” Nathe said.

With that, Nathe recommended Munz for the at-large seat, citing his experience as an engineer leading various water, wastewater, and stormwater projects in multiple stages of development — matters that go hand-in-hand with planning board responsibilities.

Fellow commissioners concurred, unanimously approving the recommendation.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said Munz’s credentials “certainly are impressive” and his knowledge in development-related matters “should be an asset to the board.”

Hernandez noted that Munz sat through a four-plus hour commission meeting last month, underscoring his passion for community issues.

“If that ain’t dedication, then I don’t know what is,” Hernandez quipped.

Aside from professional experience, Munz also has deep-rooted ties to Dade City coming from a family of public servants.

His mother, Barbara Munz, was principal of Pasco Elementary School for 23 years.

His father, William Munz, was assistant county administrator for Pasco County throughout the 1990s.

Munz kept his comments brief following the appointment. “I look forward to being able to serve the city,” he said.

The city’s seven-member planning board also serves as the Local Planning Agency for quasi-judicial procedures, and also includes one member representative from Pasco County Schools.

The board meets monthly, or as needed.

Duties include transmitting recommendations to the commission regarding zoning district amendments, comprehensive plan amendments, variances, and conditional use permits.

On another matter, commissioners unanimously approved a final plat for Countryside, a 25-lot subdivision located on 5.72 acres east of U.S. 301 and adjacent to a busy block that includes a McDonald’s, O’ Reilly’s Auto Parts, Captain D’s and EZ Clean Car Wash, among other businesses.

The Countryside development has been in the works for some time.

Commissioner Scott Black noted the subdivision has been in entitlement ever since the city landed the McDonald’s location when he was a freshman in high school, roughly 40 years ago.

“It is rather interesting that the project is finally, after so many years, something is happening there,” he said.

The development has received some pushback due to potential negative traffic impacts in that area, including from former Dade City Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon.

Budget transparency headed to city’s website
Local residents soon will be able to get an inside look at Dade City government’s spending and departmental operations, in real-time online.

Newly appointed Dade City interim finance officer Andrew Laflin told commissioners he’s rolling out a cloud-based budgeting transparency software program onto the city’s website, within the next month or two.

The new program, will allow users to view and navigate the municipality’s multi-year capital projects and budget actual data, with links to the city’s annual budget document and ongoing budget preparations. It also will provide updates and messages from the city’s various departments, he said.

The new online feature will “show really a whole lot of stuff,” Laflin said.

Mayor Hernandez applauded the initiative, especially at a time when the city is experiencing a wave of commercial and residential development.

“I think that’s excellent,” Hernandez said. “I love the fact that it’s not only going to be available to the commission, but it’s going to be available in real-time, so I’m excited. That sounds like a good addition to providing information and transparency to our residents and those in Dade City.”

Laflin has hit the ground running on budget preparations for fiscal year 2020-21 since being hired to provide consulting financial services a month ago.

Other items worth noting:

  • The Dade City Police Department announced the hiring of two new police officers — Christopher Amatruda, 35, and Ronny Rivera, 48.
  • Dade City’s public restrooms have reopened, accessible from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily.
  • Work is underway on the design of a visitor’s information welcome center building at the Roy Hardy Trail trailhead.
  • Pasco County issued a notice to proceed with a route study for the extension of Morningside Drive — to connect U.S. 301 to Fort King Road in Dade City.

Published August 19, 2020

Columnist helps to keep Pasco’s history alive

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The name Doug Sanders will ring a bell with regular readers of The Laker/Lutz News.

Especially those who enjoy history.

Sanders dropped by the newspaper’s office a little over five years ago, offering to help us tell the story of the region’s history.

It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for history. He enjoys tracking down leads and sharing what he finds out, with others. He is shown here, after giving a talk at a Pasco County Historical Society meeting in February. (B.C. Manion)

Since then, Sanders’ columns have unearthed interesting facts about community landmarks, forgotten places, and people who have played a pivotal role in shaping the area’s history.

His columns resonate with people who are deeply rooted here, and with newcomers, too, who want to know more about the place where they now live.

And, we’re lucky enough to continue sharing Sanders’ work.

Sanders said his interest in history began in 1963, as part of a class visit to the home of Wilbur Wright, co-inventor of the airplane.

That visit to the farmhouse and museum near Millville, Indiana, left an indelible impression.

“It was just amazing to me: Here’s a man in history that changed the world, and he came from some humble beginnings. The homestead went back to 1865,” Sanders said.

“It’s something that filled my imagination that day,” he said.

It also sparked his interest in pursuing stories and preserving history.

When he arrived in Florida, in the early 1980s, he became enamored with learning more about Pasco County’s past. Over the years, he’s formed friendships and received help from other local historians, including Jeff Miller, Keith Bailey, Ted Johnson, Scott Black, Bill Dayton and Madonna Wise.

He’s done quite a bit of research over the years and has shared some of what he’s learned through periodic columns.

One of his favorites focused on a document possessed by Martha M. Fountain, of Zephyrhills.

The document, originally bestowed to Samuel Warren Fountain, was signed on Dec. 15, 1864. It bears the signature of President Abraham Lincoln, and has been passed down through generations of Fountain’s family.

President Abraham Lincoln’s signature, dated Dec. 15, 1864, remains legible.
It turns out the signature on the 156-year-old document was an engraved version of President Lincoln’s signature. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

Sanders wanted to know if it really was Lincoln’s signature on the document.

So, he set off to find out.

It took him two years, and ultimately a trip to Springfield, Illinois, where he discovered the document, now 156 years old, was marked with an engraving of Lincoln’s original signature.

While the signature wasn’t directly applied by Lincoln’s hand, Sanders still felt a sense of satisfaction, from tracking down the facts.

There were a couple other bonuses, too, he said.

For one thing, he made a new friend: Norm Schmidt. Schmidt, who lives in Akron, Ohio, had read Sanders’ column about the document, after receiving a copy of the column from Donna Swart, a former mayor of San Antonio.

Schmidt offered to take Sanders to Springfield, Illinois, where the men found out that the signature was an engraving of Lincoln’s signature.

The men also traveled to Lincoln College, where, as it turns out, the document is now housed, as part of the exhibits at Lincoln Heritage Museum.

Sanders also enjoyed the challenge of trying to determine whether President Calvin Coolidge ever stayed in Dade City, as local legend claimed for decades.

His painstaking research yielded a detailed timeline that Sanders believes makes it impossible for the local legend to be true.

Still, if someone can produce hard evidence of a Coolidge visit, Sanders would love to see it.

Other satisfying columns featured James Emmett Evans and William M. Larkin, Sanders said.

Evans was known as the citrus king and was a pivotal figure in the development of frozen juice concentrate. Larkin was a cattleman and lawyer, a member of the Pasco County School Board and chairman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Edward Bok and his wife, Mary Louise, are shown here with President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace, on Feb. 1, 1929, the day that Coolidge spoke at the dedication ceremony at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales. (Courtesy of Bok Tower Gardens)

Sanders’ columns often bring little-known facts to light.

One column featured the acting career of Roy Barnes Jones, a character actor who was born in Dade City.

Jones used the stage name Roy Roberts, and at the height of his career, his face was familiar to millions. He played recurring roles in such popular programs as “McHale’s Navy,” “Bewitched” and the “Dick Van Dyke Show.”

But, Sanders doesn’t just write about people. He also writes about the region’s places and events.

He called attention to the historic Cow Palace in Dade City, a venue that attracted some of the  biggest names in soul-blues and R&B music, including B.B. King.

The Cow Palace was part of what is known as the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” defined by National Public Radio as “a touring circuit that provided employment for hundreds of black musicians and brought about the birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

He also told the story of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, an iconic building in downtown Dade City, that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Readers of that column would learn the building, located at Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue, was erected in 1909. They also would find out that despite its impressive neoclassical dome and clock tower, the structure’s design was not exactly unique.

The architect — Edward Columbus (E.C.) Hosford — used a similar design for three courthouses in Georgia and two in Texas.

In other columns, Sanders has written about challenging times the region has weathered.

He wrote about the hurricane of 1921, which made landfall with sustained winds of 115 mph near Tarpon Springs, on Oct. 25, 1921. At the time, it was considered the most destructive storm to hit Florida since 1848.

Wilbur Wright was born here in Millville, Indiana, on April 16, 1867. His parents bought this home, along with 5 acres for $700. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

The hurricane caused considerable damage throughout the region.

The Sunnybrook Tobacco Company, in Dade City, for example, reported losing nine barns and  110 acres of shade-grown tobacco. The damage was estimated at $100,000.

The Dade City Banner was forced to abandon its offices, the Mt. Zion Methodist Church was demolished, and the storm damaged roofs, toppled trees, took down smokestacks and flattened water tanks, among other things.

The region has had its health scares, too.

While today’s news is dominated by COVID-19, headlines in the past have covered yellow fever and the Spanish influenza, among others.

Over the years, Sanders has written about life’s trials and triumphs, its death and despair.

He’s done much of his work the old-fashioned way: Through interviews, old documents, personal visits and newspaper archives.

“It takes a lot of effort to track this stuff down,” Sanders said.

Just about anything can be found on the Internet, but that’s not good enough, Sanders said.

“You’ve got to find out if it’s fact or not.

“Even though we have modern technology, there’s still nothing to replace shoe leather,” the history columnist said.

To read Doug Sanders’ Knowing Your History columns in their entirety, just visit LakerLutzNews.com, and search for Doug Sanders on our website.

Published August 12, 2020

Dade City commissioners set tentative tax rate

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The City of Dade City has set its tentative millage rate at 7.14 mills for fiscal year 2020-2021 — the same property tax rate established the past several years.

Dade City commissioners voted unanimously to set the rate at a July 28 virtual meeting.

At 7.14 mills, ad valorem tax revenues in the city’s general fund are anticipated to generate about $2.04 million — an increase of $106,710 from last year, due to new construction, higher values due to property improvements, and so on.

Under state law, once a tentative millage rate has been set, the city cannot raise it before the start of the fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. The commission does, however, have the option to reduce the rate before then.

Traditionally, the commission has voted to use the rollback rate as the proposed millage, while instructing city staff to later set a lower rate for a particular fiscal year; the rollback rate is the millage rate that would collect an equivalent level of ad valorem taxes in the next fiscal year as in the current fiscal year.

However, this year’s rolled-back rate  — 6.354 mills — is lower compared to prior years.

In effect, by setting the tentative millage rate at the higher 7.14, the city is able to help make up ground after a hospital property was taken off the tax rolls, which decreased the general fund upwards of $95,000 last year, explained Dade City Manager Leslie Porter.

Porter said the 7.14 millage rate “will help bring us back to where we were (revenue-wise) a couple of years ago.”

What usually is a rather laborious process to get commissioners to agree on a tentative property tax rate was a cut-and-dry scenario this time around, Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez pointed out.

“Traditionally, this has been a very long conversation because the numbers didn’t look like they do here this evening,” Hernandez said.

Meanwhile, commissioners have scheduled virtual workshops on Aug. 11, Aug. 18 and Aug. 25. Each meeting will begin at 4 p.m.

A tentative budget public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Milestones recognized
Commissioner Scott Black was informally recognized a few months ago for his 30th year serving on the Dade City Commission.

Dade City Police officer Pete Emerson was recognized for 25 years of service. (Courtesy of Dade City Police Department)

The Florida League of Cities (FLOC) have since acknowledged Black’s milestone, sending a formal letter to the municipality, as well as mailing him a resolution and a service pin.

Normally, a FLOC representative will make a presentation during a commission meeting, but not this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Black, who’s been on the commission since 1990, thanked his colleagues for the additional recognition. “It’s been a pleasure to serve,” he said, “and it seems like just yesterday I started.”

Another career milestone also was shared during the meeting — as Dade City Police officer Pete Emerson was recognized for 25 years of service with the city.

Emerson is currently in his second stint as a school resource officer (SRO) at Pasco High School. He was the school’s SRO from 1997 to 2002, then returned to the role last year after having served in other department roles, including detective.

Underscoring Emerson’s longevity — newly sworn-in Commissioner Knute Nathe noted he was a student at Pasco High when Emerson was SRO.

The mayor took time to congratulate both Black and Emerson on their respective accomplishments: “Those are huge numbers and something very special and to be proud of, so thank you for your service to your community, and in Emerson’s case, keeping our young people safe over there (at Pasco High).”

Published August 05, 2020

Dade City hires finance consultant to handle budget

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The City of Dade City has been scrambling to fill a key vacancy in its finance department — during a critical juncture where many budgetary details need to be ironed out for fiscal year 2020-2021.

To handle that chore, the municipality is turning to a financial consultant who’ll provide mostly remote services.

The finance department has been operating without a full-time finance officer. Its assistant finance officer resigned in June.

Dade City Commissioners approved the hiring of Andrew Laflin to serve as a financial consultant and interim finance officer, until the position is filled. The city’s finance department has been operating without a full-time finance officer. Its assistant finance officer resigned in late June. The municipality is now organizing its budget for fiscal year 2020-2021. (Courtesy of Andrew Laflin)

Dade City commissioners on July 14 unanimously approved an agreement with Andrew Laflin, CPA, to provide finance and budget services to the city, for an amount of $6,500 per month. The agreement is effective through Sept. 30, 2021; either party has the ability to terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice.

Laflin is expected to work from City Hall one or two days a week, and then be accessible remotely and virtually other days of the week.

He provides similar consulting services to the City of Madeira Beach and assists the Pinellas County Clerk’s finance division.

Laflin brings 17 years of public accounting experience, mainly leading an outsourcing, consulting and advisory practice devoted to serving Florida local governments, including counties, cities, transportation authorities and other special districts.

Laflin’s resume shows that he has provided consulting services to more than two dozen governmental agencies. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the fields of financial and cost accounting at the University of Tampa and Hillsborough Community College.

“I just look forward to the opportunity to serve this city and handle all the duties and responsibilities of this position, and I’m capable and eager to do so,” Laflin told the commission, during its virtual meeting.

Commissioners acknowledged the consulting arrangement — opposed to having a finance officer in-house — is far from ideal. But, they said there’s little other option at this point to get an initial budget drafted by Aug. 1.

The city originally anticipated elevating or placing additional responsibility to assistant finance officer Venus Irvine, but she resigned from her position June 24, leaving another gap in the finance department in a time where several budget workshops need to be planned, organized and executed.

“We’re really stuck in a vulnerable position,” said Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez. “We have a lot of work to get this budget done by Aug. 1, so there’s a huge void to be filled. I don’t think this is the best scenario, but it is a void that can be filled with a very capable person at this time.”

Commissioner Scott Black concurred: “We have to move ahead. We don’t have any choice in it. We may get into this (consulting arrangement) and realize this is a great option for us even to continue, so let’s go into it, see what we think. We have to do it now, so we need to proceed and we can cross all those bridges as we go along.”

The city has been unable to find a full-time finance officer since Leslie Porter was promoted from that role to city manager in February 2019. Since then, Porter’s been juggling both roles, something commissioners “never, never, never intended to be the case,” Hernandez emphasized.

“I am not happy with where we’re at a year-and-a-half later almost and having one individual assume both positions,” Hernandez said.

“The city manager has many things that we need to get done, especially in this time of all these other activities and plans and things that are happening in our city, so having that same person assuming all of those things is really not in the city’s best interest,” she added.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive agreed, adding, “This situation with trying to get a finance director on board has taken a long time and I think we need to get this position filled as soon as we can.”

Aside from the ongoing search for a permanent finance officer, the mayor also expressed displeasure with the amount of job turnover throughout City Hall, particularly with some leading departmental roles.

Hernandez observed: “We’ve had some major positions that have been vacant or get filled and then they’re empty again, and that is not helping us at all, especially during a very busy time in Dade City’s history and all we’re trying to accomplish.

“I don’t know what we need to do, and I know the pool is limited, but we’ve got to figure this out,” Hernandez said.

July 22, 2020

City manager receives performance review

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The Dade City Commission delivered its latest review for City Manager Leslie Porter, and they identified some key areas for improvement.

They rated Porter’s overall performance at a 4.1 out of 5.0 scale, and said focus areas for improvement are in building relationships and communications.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter (File)

The five commissioners graded Porter in these categories: management in administration, adhering to governance, relationship-building, leadership, and financial acumen.

She received the evaluation at the commission’s June 9 virtual meeting.

This was Porter’s fourth review since she was officially named city manager last May. Going forward, she will receive annual performance reviews like other city department heads and administrators.

In a summary of the latest evaluation, Mayor Camille Hernandez explained Porter “scored a little bit lower” when it came to cultivating relationships with legislators, residents, merchants, The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and so on.

The mayor also advised Porter — who resides in Tampa — that she needs to better familiarize herself with the municipality as a whole, along with the various city departments and employees.

Hernandez observed, “I think the communication, listening to the citizens, getting involved and responding, and serving as an effective spokesperson are really more of the primary areas (for improvement).”

In fairness, Hernandez pointed out the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down some of those objectives she previously had discussed at length with Porter. With that, the mayor did credit Porter for keeping the community informed through social media websites and online newsletters in the last few months.

Commissioner Jim Shive thanked Porter for “keeping the city at hand” through the pandemic, adding, “We all know that Leslie is a very hard worker, and she’s doing a great job in some areas.”

The city manager’s other evaluations this past year “have continued to come in satisfactory,” Commissioner Scott Black added.

Reflecting on her first year as city manager, Porter said: “I will just say it has been a whirlwind of a year, and I’m just thankful for the opportunity, (and) to continue the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Hernandez noted another matter to hash out is finalizing the reorganization of city administration.

Specifically, having Porter fully relinquish finance director duties — the original position she was hired for back in 2014. Porter has juggled both roles since February 2019, when she was then appointed interim city manager.

A possible candidate for the finance director post is Venus Irvine, who became the city’s assistant finance director in March.

The issue likely will be addressed further once budget conversations begin and new commissioners come aboard following the June 30 municipal election.

In any case, “a separation of duties” Hernandez said.

The mayor added: “The intent was never to have the city manager acting as the city finance director as well.”

Published June 24, 2020

30 years and counting for Dade City Commissioner

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Scott Black was only 25 years old when he was first elected to the Dade City Commission, in 1990.

Three decades later, he remains just as passionate about the post.

“I still get excited about the meetings, I still feel like I’m learning things, I still feel like I’m kind of young with it,” Black said in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Scott Black has been serving on the Dade City Commission for 30 years and counting. He was first elected in April 1990. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

The commissioner, now 55,  jokes he’s almost in denial about serving the municipality for so long.

“I keep redoing the math and it’s like, ‘Oh, my goodness, what happened here?’ I’m noticing more and more that I’m not the youngest one in the room anymore,” he said.

Black’s milestone was recognized during a recent commission meeting. He will also be formally recognized by the Florida League of Cities later on this year.

A passion for service
Growing up in Trilby, Black always had an interest in politics and community pride. He held various leadership roles in organizations such as the 4-H Club and Future Business Leaders of America while attending Pasco Middle School and Pasco High School. “I was always running for an office,” even during his youth, he recalled.

As a young adult in the late 1980s, Black and his family moved to “the big city” of Dade City 7 miles south of his original hometown. Almost instantly, he became interested in local affairs and attending commission meetings.

Once the next election cycle came around, Black figured he’d try his hand at becoming a city commissioner. “I thought, ‘You know, it would be kind of fun to run,’” he said.

Black won that April 1990 election by just four votes, unseating then incumbent William Dennis. He’s gone on to be re-elected six times over, running unopposed for five of those elections.

Black, a full-time insurance agent, has appreciated the decision-making role ever since — valuing the ability to help solve problems and concerns of local residents: “I’ve been very pleased with it, and I’ve been very challenged by it. It’s one of those things where you can actually go in and make a difference within a few minutes.”

Over the years, Black has simultaneously served as the city’s mayor on four separate occasions. He’s held countless roles in numerous other boards and committees, such as the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and Dade City Historic Preservation Advisory Board, among others. He was president of the Florida League of Cities, from 2001 to 2002.

Serving in city government for so long, Black teased he often feels “on assignment” when he visits or vacations other cities, taking notes on any interesting features and services and utilities: “My wife has joked that I notice things like fire hydrants and the wastewater treatment plants that most people don’t notice, just because I’ve gotten involved in things related to the city.”

Forever home
To Black, Dade City will always be home. He can’t imagine living anywhere else.

The commissioner takes pleasure in the small-town, tight-knit community, rather than a big city lifestyle others have pursued.

“I enjoy the neighborly aspect of it,” Black said of Dade City living. “Seeing people that you grew up with and seeing people that were your schoolteachers or people that go to church with, it’s just something special.”

Simply put, in Dade City, “People are very nice,” he said.

The commissioner doesn’t take for granted having a commute shorter than most. His home sits a mere five blocks from his Fifth Street office. Being within walking distance to the local post office, bank, City Hall and downtown restaurants is another bonus, too. “My biggest challenge is crossing Seventh Street every day,” he quipped.

Dade City’s growth has been at a slower pace compared to other parts of Pasco County and the greater Tampa Bay area, Black acknowledged. Yet, he remains bullish on the city’s future prospects.

One of the more positive changes has been the revitalization of the historic downtown area — with an emphasis on unique eateries and antique shopping opportunities to help draw tourists and day-trippers, he said.

“I think a lot of small towns our size would give their left eye to have a downtown like we have — just the opportunities here and the neat features,” he observed.

Upgrades and extensions to the Roy Hardy Trail, tied in with future plans for a multi-purpose downtown splash park, are other investments the commissioner feels will help raise the city’s profile in coming years.

Said Black, “People are always saying, ‘We need to do more things for our kids in Dade City,’ and that’s what we’re doing.”

He thinks future generations will appreciate those efforts.

Meanwhile, this year is setting up to be one of the more distinctive periods during Black’s tenure on the commission.

The commission has held virtual meetings since April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The municipal election — which has been rescheduled to June 30 — will see two, if not three, new faces on the five-member commission.

Commissioners Nicole Deese Newlon and Eunice Penix are not seeking re-election for Seats 4 and 5, respectively, while incumbent Commissioner Jim Shive is running against Matthew Wilson for Seat 3.

And, the changeover will come while the city gears up for a tighter budget, also due to COVID-19.

Black plans to use his extensive experience to help bring new commissioners up to speed and to help foster an atmosphere of collaboration.

Black put it like this: “Hopefully, I can help find common ground and consensus, and we can all move ahead. …We have a common goal and that’s keeping Dade City viable, successful, rebuilding.”

Black’s current term doesn’t expire until 2022, but he is already thinking ahead to a future run for re-election.

“I still have things I’d like to see us accomplish. I still feel useful,” Black said.

He went on: “But, the important thing to remember is it’s not about me, it’s not about (the commission), it’s about the City of Dade City.”

Published June 10, 2020

Pasco courthouse has colorful history

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If you visit downtown Dade City, it’s nearly impossible not to notice the stately Historic Pasco County Courthouse.

It sits in the middle of a town square, at Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue.

Originally constructed in 1909, and restored in a $2.3 million renovation in 1998, the courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 20, 2006.

Pictured in 1909, Pasco County’s historic courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic places on Sept. 20, 2006. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)

With its Classical Revival style of architecture, the building at 37918 Meridian Ave., has a colorful history of its own.

For instance, there was confusion for years over who designed the red brick building, according to various accounts published in The Tampa Tribune.

Altemus Roberts was credited in local history books for designing the courthouse, but that was put into question after Gregory Herrmann, originally from East Pasco, moved to Texas and spotted a courthouse in Mason, Texas, which looked very much like the one in Dade City, the Tribune reported.

The East Pasco man learned that an architect named Edward Columbus (E.C.) Hosford had designed the Texas courthouse. He sent that information, along with a photograph, to his brother, Eddie, who was deeply involved in local history circles.

Eddie dug into old Pasco County records to find out that, indeed, the building people had believed to be designed by Roberts, actually was designed by Hosford.

Hosford’s involvement was documented on April 17, 1909 in a story by the Tampa Morning Tribune.

Spearheaded by Pasco County Commissioner Sylvia Young, a four-year restoration totaling $2.3 million included the demolition of five additions to the historic courthouse. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)

In that account, the newspaper reported the Pasco County Commission had approved the architectural plans submitted by Hosford, and commissioners agreed to erect “a courthouse that will be a credit to any county.”

The board also adopted a resolution to build the new courthouse for less than $35,000. A contract was awarded that May to Mutual Construction Company of Louisville, Kentucky, in the amount of $34,860. Hosford also received $871.50 for his plans and specifications.

The confusion over Roberts’ role on the courthouse may be partially due to the fact that he did design other buildings in downtown Dade City, and was the construction superintendent on the courthouse project, Tribune reports said.

While the courthouse, with its neoclassical dome and clock tower, is impressive — the design was not exactly unique.

Hosford used a similar design for three courthouses in Georgia and two in Texas.

The courthouse in Mason, Texas, was built for $39,786. It featured front porticos and Doric columns, and was built the same year as the courthouse in Dade City.

Stanley Burnside checks the time inside the clock tower. His father, Archie Burnside, made the first payment for the new courthouse in the amount of $6,360 in 1910. Both father and son served as the Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court for a combined total of 17 terms. (Courtesy of Fivay.org)

Hosford designed seven courthouses in Florida and usually worked with the Mutual Construction Company to build them.

The courthouse in Polk County, which opened in 1909, also is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

With completion of the new courthouse in Dade City, the county board sold the former two-story wooden courthouse structure at public auction for $500.

Part of the deal called for removing the building from courthouse grounds within 60 days, said Scott Black, a local historian who also sits on the Dade City Commission.

A bandstand was built at the northeast corner of the courthouse yard in 1925, after famed composer and conductor John Philip Sousa visited Dade City.

Sousa never returned, and the bandstand was repurposed as a World War II Memorial. The dedication for that memorial was held on Flag Day, on June 14, 1948.

The courthouse in downtown Dade City played a central role in Pasco County government for 70 years. Five additions were added to accommodate the county’s growth.

When a new courthouse opened in 1979, activities shifted, and over time, the 1909 structure fell into disrepair.

But, Pasco County Commissioner Sylvia Young championed a $2.3 million renovation, which used $1.3 million in taxpayer money and $1 million in state grants, according to Tribune reports.

The project took four years to complete, and included knocking down the additions to restore the building to its original look.

Sidewalks leading to the county’s courthouse contain the names of pioneer families of Pasco County. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

The project was not without its controversy.

Some thought it was too extravagant, particularly when Young pushed for money to purchase period pieces to furnish the renovated building.

But, that idea prevailed. Commissioners approved a $50,000 budget, and Young searched far and wide, to accomplish the job.

The building, once again, has become a center for county activities.

Except for during this time of COVID-19, the full Pasco County Commission typically gathers twice a month on the second floor.

They meet in the same room where trials were once held and hearings conducted.

Now restored to its original grandeur, the building is a symbol of pride for the Dade City community.

Its image is part of the logo for The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, and it is used as a setting for community events.

The building was rededicated in 1998, when Young was chairwoman of the county board.

And, when she stepped away from her 20-year stint on the board in 2000, she described the courthouse restoration as her “crowning glory.”

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Remembering Pete ‘Hutch’ Brock II, a community servant

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Pete Hutchinson “Hutch” Brock II, a former Dade City mayor who was active in community life — passed away on Jan. 26, at age 54.

Brock served on the Dade City Commission from 2000 to 2004, then as Dade City’s mayor from 2004 to 2008, according to an obituary posted on the Hodges Family Funeral Home website.

“While he was mayor, we had an unprecedented period of annexations – undeveloped property coming into the city of Dade City,” current Commissioner Scott Black told The Laker/Lutz News. “He was looking out for the future sustainability of the city.”

Besides his work as an attorney, involvement in civic life and community service, Pete Hutchison ‘Hutch’ Brock II enjoyed outdoor activities and leisure time with family. (Courtesy of Hodges Family Funeral Home)

Brock also was involved in efforts to revitalize Dade City’s downtown and preserve its historic character, according to current Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez.

He “brought enthusiasm to the office of mayor” and his leadership left a distinct impression, she said.

“His focus on maintaining the historic charm of Dade City will not be forgotten,” Hernandez added.

Details of his public service were noted on the funeral home’s website and circulated by The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Brock was an advocate for youth.

He served on the board of the Pasco Education Foundation, and he supported the work of the Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee.

He gave of his time and talents for 20 years to Sunrise of Pasco County, an organization that provides shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence.

He maintained memberships with Rotary Clubs in Dade City and Wesley Chapel, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the administrative council at his church, too.

Other areas of involvement included advocating for the renewal of Penny for Pasco, a tax initiative that increases Pasco County revenue; and, supporting the efforts of East and Central Pasco Habitat for Humanity, which helps families and individuals obtain affordable housing.

He was a sports enthusiast.

He played baseball and football in his youth, and coached youth baseball, flag football and soccer. He enjoyed outdoor activities, such as boating and fishing.

As a graduate of the University of Florida, he was an unabashed Gator fan.

Born on April 5, 1965, Brock grew up in Dade City. He attended Pasco High School before transferring to Jesuit High School, in Tampa, where he graduated.

After high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, before transferring in 1984 to the University of Florida, where he met his wife, Natalie.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree in 1987, then a law degree in 1990.

He was hired by Fowler White, a legal firm in Tampa, where he remained four years before moving back to his hometown and becoming a legal partner at Dade City’s Johnson, Auvil, Brock & Pratico, P.A. He remained there for over 17 years.

He launched his own practice, Brock Law LLC, in Wesley Chapel, in 2012. His legal work focused on personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect and employment disputes.

He and his wife, Natalie, had three sons, Carson, Coleman and Connor Mack, and a daughter, Ashton. Besides his wife and children, he is survived by his father Pete, and two sisters, Nancy and Haley.

Tributes on the funeral home’s website describe Brock as a great man, whose death is a loss for the community.

Commissioner Black seems to share that opinion.

“He’s always going to be revered, that’s for sure. He’ll have that legacy,” Black said.

Published February 05, 2020