The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

New Port Richey

Pay hikes needed to retain staff, Nocco says

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Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco says he needs a $5.4 million increase in his annual budget to provide better pay and benefits — both to recruit new employees and to keep veterans from leaving for higher paying jobs.

“It’s a morale issue,” Nocco told Pasco County commissioners at a June 2 workshop in New Port Richey.

The sheriff’s office is on pace to set a record for 50 resignations this year, largely due to low compensation, Nocco said.

His 2016 budget request is about $104 million in total, about 6.7 percent higher than the budget approved by commissioners last year.

Other increases in Nocco’s budget include $475,000 for body cameras and $254,000 for aircraft maintenance.

The argument that Pasco is losing officers tired of low pay isn’t new. Nocco has issued the warning in past years.

He came to this year’s budget workshop armed with fresh data and a salary survey to back up his claims.

“We didn’t just cry wolf,” said Nocco. “The problem is growing.”

The salary of a Tampa police officer is more than $48,000 a year, and in Pinellas it is more than $45,000, based on information gleaned from agency websites as part of a salary survey done by Tallahassee-based Evergreen Solutions. Pasco deputies make just under $40,000 a year.

Some counties, including Pinellas, also use the incentive of a signing bonus to attract staff.

Evergreen Solutions reviewed salaries paid by 13 of 16 peer law enforcement agencies in the state. Pasco was at the bottom in salary compensation, and gives no signing bonuses.

At Nocco’s request, the survey focused on the local market area of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa.

Evergreen Solutions is recommending a three-year phased in step pay plan to provide incremental increases linked to an employee’s job description. The requested $5.4 million would cover the first year’s cost of salaries and benefits.

Commissioners are in the midst of reviewing budget proposals from all county departments.

Data on revenues will be provided by the tax collector’s office on July 1. A final budget won’t be approved until September, with two budget hearings in the interim.

“We know we have challenges ahead of us,” said Chairman Ted Schrader.

Pasco doesn’t have the tax base to pay for everything it needs, he said.

While everyone supports public safety, Schrader was skeptical of the proposed pay plan and its impact on future budget requests. “Where does it stop?” he said.

The economic downturn in the economy that began in 2008 has strained Pasco’s coffers. Many departments, including libraries and parks, took hits in recent years.

Since 2013, the county has boosted the budget for the sheriff’s office by 12 percent, including an additional $7.2 million for fiscal 2015, according to county budget records. Those records also reveal that the sheriff’s office’s budget represents more than 40 percent of total ad valorem expenditures from the county’s general fund.

Nocco acknowledged the commission’s support for past requests. “We know if there was more money in the pot, our numbers would go up,” he said. “ I think a lot of people are seeing the need. The Tampa Bay market in law enforcement is very competitive. But, you have been supportive. There is no doubt about it.”

Commissioner Mike Moore appeared generally favorable toward Nocco’s request. Based on the sheriff’s data, he calculated that the county has spent close to $5 million in training costs for officers who later left for better paying jobs.

Better retention of employees would be cost efficient, he added.

“We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” Moore said. “It’s not just about big versus small (counties) anymore. It’s who’s growing the fastest.”

Preliminary numbers from the tax collector are looking good, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “We’ll have an even better next year.”

But she said challenges remain.

“We are filling up with people who don’t have a lot of money to pay for everything we want to do,” Starkey said.

Published June 10, 2015

Pasco opens new Utilities Administration Building

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Pasco County is on the move.

With the slice of ceremonial scissors, county officials cut the ribbon on the new 50,000-square-foot Utilities Administration Building, located at 19420 Central Boulevard, off U.S. 41.

On June 19, more than 200 employees in the utilities department will move from New Port Richey to Land O’ Lakes. And, the facility is scheduled to open to the public on June 23. The hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chairman Ted Schrader, holding scissors, slices through the ribbon, as he and other dignitaries celebrated the opening of the Utilities Administration Building. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Chairman Ted Schrader, holding scissors, slices through the ribbon, as he and other dignitaries celebrated the opening of the Utilities Administration Building.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The cross-county move recognizes the accelerating growth in the northern and eastern areas of Pasco, with State Road 54 and State Road 56 prime targets for residential and commercial development.

New housing construction is also heating up on U.S. 41, in the vicinity of the new utilities building.

“We’re trying to get closer to the new customers,” said County Administrator Michele Baker. “We have got to move more of our services. This building is the beginning of trying to provide more services closer to where people are.”

The county utility department provides water and sewer services and reclaimed water as well as solid waste, recycling and hazardous waste disposal.

About 30 people attended the ribbon cutting including Baker, Chairman Ted Schrader, Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Mike Moore and former County Administrator John Gallagher. Representatives of the architectural firm FleischmanGarcia and contractors Construction Technology Group also attended.

The two-story building has a soaring atrium in the lobby, a customer service center on the first floor, a drive-thru window, conference rooms, a training room and offices for the utilities service staff members.

The facility will be a backup location for the county’s emergency operations center.

A national review panel also certified that the building meets Silver LEED standards based on its energy efficiency and environmental design.

Schrader described the grand opening as a historic occasion.

“Pasco is typically a thrifty county,” he said.

But more than a decade ago, it was clear to some in Pasco government that change was on the way.

“They knew Pasco was going to be exploding,” he said. “It’s an outwardly beautiful building that will stand the test of time and be here for a long time.”

Business owners and residents in Land O’ Lakes see long-range benefits to the area.

“We’re obviously very proud of our community,” said Mary Lynn Gorsline, incoming president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It will help spur growth we’re looking for, positive growth.”

New restaurants or gift shops are potential new businesses that could come to the northern end of State Road 54.

“It will start to change the northern area of Land O’ Lakes,” she said.

There also are other business-related benefits as well.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Terri Dusek, the honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes. “As a Realtor, it’s going to make it more convenient for buyers and sellers to change over utilities. The centralized part of it is exceptional.”

The vision for the facility emerged in 2003 and was ready to go five years later. But, by then, construction costs were off the chart, said Bruce Kennedy, assistant county administrator for the Utilities Service Branch.

That coincided with a flattened economy and a slow recovery.

It wasn’t until 2012, when the Pasco County Commission could set aside about $9 million for construction.

A groundbreaking happened in 2014.

While most employees will transfer to the Land O’ Lakes office, Kennedy said a small number of customer service representatives will remain in New Port Richey. They will serve mainly walk-in customers, he said.

An office also is maintained in Dade City.

It’s not clear how many walk-in customers will frequent the new facility.

“It’s going to be interesting what that demand is,” said Kennedy.

The county is encouraging more customers to conduct business online. Kennedy said that would include signing up for new service or disconnecting existing service. “We’re trying to automate these things.”

For about 20 to 30 employees who live in and around New Port Richey, the longer distance to work is an issue. But Kennedy said the county is exploring options to provide some kind of carpooling or ride share.

And, he said some employees transferred to job openings in other departments closer to home.

The department essentially ran out of room nearly a decade ago due to staff growth, Kennedy said. Some employees were deployed to different locations, but he said, “This allows us to get our group of people back together to work on a day-to-day basis. This gives us a central location. It’s a big benefit.”

Published June 10, 2015

 

Ayres aims for the Lutz Guv’na sash

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Cheryl Lynn Ayres decided to pursue the ceremonial title of Lutz Guv’na in a very modern way.

She was on Facebook.

She is friends with previous Lutz Guv’nas on the social media website, and a few of them were discussing their efforts to recruit candidates for this year’s campaign. Ayres posted that it might be time for her to give it a shot.

And that was about all it took.

Cheryl Lynn Ayres isn't afraid of donning a costume, as she proved at a western-themed client appreciation picnic earlier this year with her husband, Kris. And if she wins the race for Lutz Guv'na, she'll have a sash to wear as well. (Courtesy of Cheryl Lynn Ayres)
Cheryl Lynn Ayres isn’t afraid of donning a costume, as she proved at a western-themed client appreciation picnic earlier this year with her husband, Kris. And if she wins the race for Lutz Guv’na, she’ll have a sash to wear as well.
(Courtesy of Cheryl Lynn Ayres)

“Within 30 minutes, I had a couple of phone calls saying yes, you should do that,” Ayres recalled. “If things happened this fast in real politics, stuff would get done.”

The Guv’na race isn’t real politics, of course. It’s a lighthearted fundraiser for local organizations. The person who raises the most money during the campaign, which runs until the Fourth of July weekend, is declared the winner and receives the coveted Guv’na sash.

And after nearly 30 years in Lutz, Ayres is finally throwing her hat in the ring.

A native of Minnesota, Ayres moved to Florida in the early ’80s, and settled in Lutz in 1987.

It didn’t take long for her to feel comfortable here.

At the community’s annual Fourth of July celebration, Ayres found herself near the library with the Boy Scouts. A few minutes later, she felt like she was home.

“As a community, we said the Pledge of Allegiance together, and then we sang the Star Spangled Banner. And at that moment, I said I am part of this community. And whatever it needs, I will do what I can to help.”

Ayres has kept her word, participating in several groups and associations, including serving on the board of directors for the Wilson Lakes Neighborhood Association. She doesn’t want to be the neighbor who sits back and waits for other people to get things done, Ayres said. She wants to be involved.

And with the Guv’na’s race, she has plenty of opportunities to be involved in raising money for Lutz.

She kicked things off at the debate at the Old Lutz School by singing– what else– the Star Spangled Banner. And she’s got a slate of fundraisers scheduled to bring in the cash.

On June 11, starting at 5 p.m., she’ll receive a portion of the sales from those who mention her name at BrewTown Burgers, 19255 N. Dale Mabry Highway. On June 18, she’ll benefit from a trivia night at Jan’s Wine & Boos II at 19233 N. Dale Mabry Highway. And on June 24, from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., she’ll get a portion of the sales for those who declare their support for her campaign at Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant, 18450 U.S. 41.

If those (and other) fundraising efforts get her the Guv’na title, she’s earmarked a portion of the money to two local groups: The Friends of the Lutz Branch Library and the local Boy Scouts. The latter is in honor of her grandson, Shannon Sobtzak, who is pursuing his Eagle Scout designation.

When she’s not starting a conga line with a toilet seat around her head — another highlight of the Guv’na debate — Ayres might be busy in her role providing support for a team of financial planners at Full Circle Financial in New Port Richey. Or, she might have her nose in a good book.

She started a book club a few years back.

The next book on the club’s list is “To Kill A Mockingbird,” a classic story of integrity and the fight for justice. It seems an appropriate tale for a Guv’na hopeful.

Win or lose, the important thing is that monies raised are going back to the community, Ayres said. But she wants to win, attend the ceremonial events befitting a Lutz Guv’na and don the symbol of the office.

“I absolutely want to wear that tacky little sash,” Ayres said.

For information about her events, search for Cheryl Lynn Schmolke Ayres at Facebook.com.

Published June 10, 2015

 

Art quilts show off Tampa Bay history

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Joanne Rodriguez knew immediately which historical Tampa landmark she wanted to create on her appliqued quilt – the image of the iconic minarets at the University of Tampa.

“When I came down to Florida in the 1980s, I just thought they were so beautiful,” said the Wisconsin native. “It’s very Tampa.”

Betty Jo Weber of Land O' Lakes makes her way down the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library hallway, where art quilts are on display. In the foreground, Sandi Snow's art quilt depicts a memory of the Hotel Floridan. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Betty Jo Weber of Land O’ Lakes makes her way down the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library hallway, where art quilts are on display. In the foreground, Sandi Snow’s art quilt depicts a memory of the Hotel Floridan.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Her quilt is one of several on display through June at an art exhibit – “Memories of Tampa Bay” – at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave.

Other quilts feature landmarks such as the St. Petersburg Pier, the Hotel Floridan in downtown Tampa, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Dade City Historic Courthouse.

The idea for the show came from a challenge made by Terry Montaldo, long-time member of the Feather Princesses. She created a quilt featuring the Hacienda Hotel, a historic landmark near her home in New Port Richey.

“They are currently redoing it as a boutique hotel,” Montaldo said. “I’m quite anxious to see it done. It’s been a dream of people that live here.”

More than 150 members from around Tampa Bay belong to Feather Princesses. A general meeting takes place on the second Wednesday of each month at the Carrollwood Cultural Center. About a dozen smaller groups meet at various times and locations such as the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Carrollwood, Salvation Army in New Port Richey, and quilting shops in Dade City, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

Rodriquez joined about four years ago.

She grew up sewing clothes. “I just always loved to sew,” she said. “I even do it on vacation. This is the only group that does strictly appliques. It’s very unique.”

The guild began with a conversation between two friends, Dorothy Johnson and Laura Brooker.

“Before we knew, we were starting a guild,” said Johnson, who is the current president. “It just happened.”

In August, the Feather Princesses will celebrate their 10th anniversary.

“It’s very hot right now,” said Johnson of appliques and art quilts. “Unlike patchwork, with appliques it allows more creative expression. You’re not limited to specific shapes.”

Members work for months on some of their creations. It took a year to pull together the current library exhibit.

With so much time spent together, education and fellowship are a huge part of the appeal, Johnson said.

“We just love getting together and being with one another,” she said.

Some quilters have nearly 50 years of experience.

“Others are just learning to thread a needle,” Johnson said. “But everyone is willing to share. We’re just a fun group of ladies who like to get together and make beautiful appliques.”

For information, contact the Feather Princesses at (813) 253-9227, or visit FeatherPrincesses.org.

Published June 3, 2015

 

Wildlife corridors are on agenda

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A mandated but long-delayed ordinance to create wildlife corridors is again winding its way through public meetings, hearings and possible adoption by the Pasco County Commission.

Two public meetings were held in New Port Richey and Land O’ Lakes in May.

There will be a final meeting June 4 at 6 p.m., at the Dade City Courthouse.

The next steps will include two public hearings, and by late summer, a scheduled vote by commissioners.

About 10 people attended the May 28 meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library for an “informational” presentation that outlined the goals and routes for seven proposed corridors.

The county has been slow to act on this issue.

A proposed 2008 ordinance was postponed.

A second deadline of 2010, included in the county’s land use plan, came and went without county action.

It is important to the county’s conservation efforts to adopt an ordinance, said Keith Wiley, program manager for the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program, also known as ELAMP.

“Development is coming. We know it happens,” he said. “If we don’t do it (preserve wildlife corridors) now, we’re going to miss the opportunity.”

Conservation brings a host of benefits, including clean air and water, flood control and carbon storage, Wiley said.

But it also has economic benefits from increased property values and revenues from eco-tourism, he added.

“It’s not about moving bugs and bunnies from one area to another,” said Wiley.

To date, the county has acquired more than 3,000 acres through ELAMP. Some of those acres are part of the proposed wildlife corridor that county officials say would eventually need more than 7,000 acres to complete.

The corridors in central Pasco would link current and proposed development projects at Starkey Ranch, Crossbar, Connerton and Cypress Creek.

About $36 million from the Penny for Pasco revenues were targeted for land purchases with about $17 million invested to date. Another $46 million from the same source has been approved, and the ELAMP program extended for 10 years.

Much of the needed land easements for the corridors pass through private land.

Most of the people at the May 28 meeting were landowners with concerns about property rights.

Land use attorney David Smolker had a generally favorable opinion of the proposed ordinance. But he also was critical of some provisions dealing with how landowners would be compensated for land acquired by the county.

“Remedies available to property owners are not workable or are really a burden,” he said. “Compensation needs to be streamlined.”

The landowner and the county would each provide a property appraisal and reach agreement on a price through negotiation, said Rebecca Stonefield, a county planner.

The ordinance allows appeals before the Development Review Committee and finally before the commission.

Smolker and others expressed concerns about the length of time the process would take. They also wanted to know if property owners would get land returned to them if a proposed development didn’t happen.

Pasco landowner George Southworth said local governments aren’t being honest when such ordinances are adopted. The end result, he said, is that private landowners lose land without fair compensation.

“Let’s just say we’re going to jump in and take this property,” he said.

Southworth described himself as an “agricultural” man with an interest in conservation. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department named Southworth a 2012 Landowner of the Year for a grazing plan adopted on his JY Ranch. The awards are given in recognition of wildlife management and habitat improvements on private land.

The initiative to create the wildlife corridors – also known as critical linkages – emerged from a lawsuit filed in the late 1990s as a challenge to the county’s land use plan and specifically objecting to the then-proposed development of the Oakstead subdivision, off State Road 54.

A settlement cleared the way for Oakstead’s development but required the county to adopt conservation measures, such as the wildlife corridors. The appointment of a task force that in turn led to ELAMP also was part of the settlement.

According to county officials, residents are on record in support of the kind of conservation measures addressed in the ordinance.

In 2012, about 72 percent of Pasco’s voters approved a second round of Penny for Pasco with money for ELAMP. And in 2014 about 76 percent of Pasco voters approved a water and conservation amendment to fund the state’s land acquisition fund.

“So, I think there is a mandate,” said Jennifer Seney, the county’s recycling coordinator.

For information on the proposed ordinance, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Published June 3, 2015

Funds approved to pursue Ridge Road extension

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The Pasco Commission approved additional funds to pay a Washington D.C., consulting firm that is helping shepherd the Ridge Road extension project through the federal bureaucracy.

Commissioners agreed on May 19 to a reduced monthly fee of $28,500 for six months to Dawson & Associates. The contract could be extended three additional months if needed. Previously, the county had been paying $38,500 a month for the firm’s services.

Even with the reduced rates, the contract had two commissioners grumbling about the long process and costs of obtaining a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“They need to get this done in this time frame,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “It’s going to be very difficult for me to approve additional funds. They need to be very aware that they need to get it done. We’re not going to keep these people in business for the next 20 years.”

The 8-mile extension of Ridge Road is a high priority for the county to provide an evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies. It also would be a new link connecting east and west Pasco.

The road currently dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act. The county has been pursuing the permit for nearly 15 years.

In April, Dawson & Associates aided the county in crafting a second application to obtain a permit for the project. An earlier application was rejected because the county didn’t provide sufficient data. The new submittal package provided an analysis of 17 potential alternatives for the road’s design and cost estimates.

The least damaging road, and also the most expensive road – at about $102 million – would be four lanes and partially elevated.

At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate wetlands lost during construction of the parkway. The road extension must do the least damage to the environment in order to qualify for a permit.

The county’s budget, for several years, has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project.

That is money the county isn’t using, said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“We’ve got other pressing needs,” she said.

The next step in the permitting process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required.

Many of the principals at Dawson & Associates formerly worked for the Corps of Engineers or other federal agencies, said Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker.

They can interpret issues of concern and take the application to the next phase, she said.

While the federal agency is not under a deadline to make a final decision, Baker said, “We have asked that they expedite this.”

Published May 27, 2015

Construction crews give shape to Pasco’s first magnet

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Construction crews are fully engaged in the project to give Pasco County its first magnet school, which is set to open this fall in Land O’ Lakes.

Jason Petry, principal of Sanders Memorial Elementary School, has been immersed, too, in the task of hiring teachers for the school, which will focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Interest in the district’s first magnet is evident.

Principal Jason Petry, left, has been working to get staffing lined up for the inaugural year of Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school, which will be housed at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. Jeff Wright, of Ajax Building Corp., is the project manager who is overseeing construction work on the project. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Principal Jason Petry, left, has been working to get staffing lined up for the inaugural year of Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school, which will be housed at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. Jeff Wright, of Ajax Building Corp., is the project manager who is overseeing construction work on the project.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There were more than 1,689 applicants for its 762 student seats.

Most of those seats have been filled, but some of those initially chosen have opted out, leaving some available for students lower on the list, Petry said.

Students aren’t the only ones expressing a desire to be at Sanders.

The school drew 180 to 200 applicants for its teaching staff.

The vast majority came from Pasco County Schools, but there were also applicants from Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Arizona, Petry said. He was surprised by the out-of-state applications, since the openings were only posted on the district’s website.

Hiring was nearly completed, as of last week.

“We’ve hired our 40 teachers. We’re working on P.E. (physical education), music and art this week,” Petry said on April 24.

While work is wrapping up on selecting the school’s staff, construction crews are still hard at work to complete the building.

Sanders’ roots in Land O’ Lakes date back to 1948.

The school district funded the redesign of Sanders in 2008, but the project was put on hold because the housing market crashed. The initial plans had to be updated because of changes in codes and to address the school’s curriculum needs.

When completed, Sanders — located at 5126 School Road — will be almost entirely new. Just three of the former school’s buildings remain on site. The rest were demolished.

Besides being the district’s first magnet, Sanders also will benefit from an agreement between the school board and Pasco County. The arrangement aims at providing more recreational opportunities for school children and the community at large, while also broadening learning opportunities and providing a venue to accommodate community gatherings.

In keeping with the school’s educational mission, classrooms will have wireless technology and large-screen televisions. There’s also a space designed to foster collaboration between students and between classrooms. And, there is storage space for student projects and sinks in classrooms, to accommodate experiments.

The school also will equip each student with technology. Kindergarteners and first-graders will have iPads, and second-graders through fifth-graders will have laptops.

While the district moves forward with its academic preparations for the school, considerable construction progress has been made.

Still, much work remains.

Jeff Wright, project manager for Ajax Building Corp., is confident the project will be finished on time.

“The stuff that makes it look done — that’s the easiest part,” Wright said. “There’s a lot that happens very quickly in the finishing steps.”

Initially, Sanders’ lottery system gave preference to students living in the Connerton and Oakstead elementary schools to help relieve overcrowding at those schools.

In the coming year, the school will be serving primarily Central Pasco, but there will be students coming from as far away as Zephyrhills and New Port Richey, Petry said.

“I’m real excited about this school,” Petry said.

“This school is like a pillar in the community. Everybody that I come across is like, ‘I used to go to Sanders’ or ‘My grandmother used to go to Sanders’ or ‘My dad went to Sanders.’ ”

Petry said he’s looking forward to leading a school that will emphasize the four Cs: collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking.

Students need to learn how to work in teams, share ideas, take chances, and when they fail at something, to persevere, Petry said.

Being willing to take chances and to fail is part of how the world works, he said. The important thing is to learn from failure and be persistent.

“People who create ideas at Google and Apple, they get shot down a lot. They just keep on having to move forward. Even though their ideas aren’t making it, they’re still persevering,” Petry said.

Seeking expert help

Sanders Memorial Elementary School is gearing up to become Pasco County’s first magnet school. The school, which will open this fall in Land O’ Lakes, will have a curriculum focusing on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

It is seeking experts in those subject areas to help enrich the learning experience for its students.

At the moment, the school is specifically looking for experts in computer coding, robotics, drones, and the arts, said Principal Jason Petry. But he expects to continue adding to that list.

Anyone who wishes to share their expertise would need to register with Pasco County Schools, Petry added. If you’d like to help out, contact Petry at .

Published April 29, 2015

Efforts are on again for Ridge Road extension

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Pasco County is trying again to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build an 8-mile extension of Ridge Road.

The project is a high priority for the county to provide an additional evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies.

Consultants with Washington D.C.-based Dawson & Associates briefed the Pasco Commission on April 14 on its analysis of road designs requested by the Corps of Engineers, including the county’s initial proposal and 17 alternatives. The federal agency rejected a prior application based on insufficient data.

County officials expressed frustration over the agency’s lack of information regarding its requirements prior to sending in its application.

“We would do what you want, if you’d just tell us what you want,” said Georgianne Ratliff, an urban planning consultant serving as project manager on the Ridge Road extension.

The rejected application eliminated without analysis 10 alternatives that the county considered not practical to build largely due to cost. Corps officials said detailed analysis of all options had to be provided.

“They wanted a full analysis, and we have done that,” said David Barrows, senior counselor with Dawson & Associates.

At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate the loss of wetlands during construction of the parkway.

County officials must come up with an option that will do the least damage to the environment. Efforts to secure the permit have been ongoing for nearly 15 years.

Critics of the extension have said the project will open up the area to more development.

The county has determined that four of the 17 alternatives are practical options.

Costs range from about $77 million to nearly $102 million. The most expensive road project would be four lanes and would be partially elevated. Barrows said that alternative would be the least damaging to the environment.

It would impact about 23 acres of wetlands and 86 acres of upland habitat.

For several years the county’s budget has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project.

Currently the road dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey.

The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act.

Before the matter is all settled, other agencies also will weigh in. Among them are Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Environmental Protection Agency

The next step in the process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required, Barrows said. He hopes a meeting will be scheduled within two months.

While a final decision is still months away, Barrows said there is a better understanding of what has to be done.

“I congratulate you on securing the goal posts,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano. “I’m very impressed.”

Published April 22, 2015

Citizens Academy connects the dots

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The class kicked off with a “show-and-tell” display of Pasco County’s firefighting and rescue vehicles in the parking lot outside of the county’s Emergency Operations Center. It ended with an up-close look inside the command center of the county’s 911 operations.

“It was fascinating,” said Nancy Menendez. The Land O’ Lakes resident expressed surprise that the 911 center wasn’t larger. Blinking red lights mounted at each cubicle signaled a call in progress.

Pasco firefighter Michael Tomlinson, right, explains the uses of fire suppression equipment to Port Richey resident Jeromy Harding and Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves. Harding and Graves are students of the county’s Citizens Academy. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Pasco firefighter Michael Tomlinson, right, explains the uses of fire suppression equipment to Port Richey resident Jeromy Harding and Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves. Harding and Graves are students of the county’s Citizens Academy.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Menendez noticed the even-keeled, calm tones of call operators and dispatchers as they answered nearly nonstop calls in rapid-fire succession.

She is one of about 20 students chosen from about 50 applicants to attend the county’s third Citizens Academy. The first academy was in 2014.

There are two semesters a year, in spring and fall. Anyone who lives or works in Pasco, and is 18 years of age or older, can qualify. Students in each semester come from all five of the county’s election districts.

The goal is to inform residents about local government as well as their roles as participants. The hope also is that students who come to the academy will want to be ambassadors, sign up for advisory boards or find other ways to volunteer.

“Most of the folks learn something,” said Randy TeBeest, assistant county administrator for public safety. “I’m betting they learn a lot. This really gives them an idea of where tax dollars go to and why and how we decide to spend those precious dollars.”

Menendez found herself in the academy after discovering the program on a random search through the government website.

“It really sounded interesting,” said Menendez who at age 59 is beginning to think about retirement.

“I’m not going to sit home and watch TV,” she said. “I’m going to get involved. I want to see what I want to do in my future life. I’ve been enjoying this. It’s an experience I’ve not expected.”

Each class focuses on a specific area of government such as constitutional officers or planning and development. Last week’s class was about public safety and included briefings on the departments of misdemeanor and probation, and emergency management. The Office of Tourism Development was on the agenda, too.

Organizers try to include an interactive element in each class, such as the 911center tour.

In March, the academy convened at the Dade City courthouse for a mock public hearing with students playing the roles of county commissioners and the residents who took sides on a proposed housing project.

New Port Richey resident Marilyn Shaw played a resident who opposed the development. “It’s so fun,” she said.

Though she has done public speaking before, the retired registered nurse said, “You find out what your skills are. I felt very honored (to be selected for the academy). I wanted to be more active in government and understand what department does what.”

Some students want to hone existing skills and knowledge.

Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves is on the board member for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. Her chamber connection was partly her motivation for signing up for the academy.

But she also said, “I think it’s important we all learn to work together. Local government is where it affects you most.”

She has a new awareness of the many levels of government.

“I didn’t know it was that complicated,” Graves said. “Bureaucracy tends to do that. There are so many times you don’t know who it is to call or what they do.”

Trilby resident Richard Riley is a retiree and an activist in the Dade City area.

“I feel it’s necessary to know what’s happening and how it’s happening in the county. This (program) is on-site, hands-on.”

The academy is meeting his expectations. “I’m learning who to contact, and who to thank,” he said. “We pay taxes for these people. It’s necessary to see how well things are running.”

Jeromy Harding, 24, owns an insurance business in Port Richey. He ran in the Republican primary for State House Representative, District 36, the seat vacated by Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano.

“I’d do it again,” Harding said. “I’m very active politically in west Pasco.”

The academy is a chance to learn more about the county commission, voting issues and the budget process, Harding said.

At an upcoming class, students will learn about how budgets are put together and participate in an exercise similar to the mock hearing in Dade City.

Learning the nuts and bolts of county government is the motivation for Julian Ford. The 39-year-old is an entrepreneur, spiritual leader and owner of a business in Dade City. He grew up in Pasco and lives in Lacoochee.

“I want to put myself in a position to make a more valuable contribution not just to me, but to my (community),” said Ford.

When the academy is over, Ford said he wants to be in a position to explain to other people how government works.

“It’s doing exactly what I want it to do. It’s connecting the dots, answering the why,” he said. Later on, he said, “I can be the why.”

Published April 8, 2015

Local computer whiz spins success

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Friends and family knew about his geeky side long before he took the leap into computers and web design as a full-time job.

As a teenager, Thomas Giella Jr., built his own computer.

“I always helped out people on the side with their computer issues,” he said.

Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Thomas Giella Jr., is building his businesses, Gear Spinners, i-gent, and Techsoft Academy, at SMARTstart’s incubator site in the Dade City Business Center.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

He launched his web design and marketing business, Gear Spinners, more than a year ago. Now he has two offshoot companies, Techsoft Academy and i-gent, and a $1,000 check pinned to a calendar in his office with a paper clip.

“I plan to get a frame for it,” Giella said.

The check is his prize for winning third place in the inaugural SMARTstart Business Challenge on Jan. 29. The Pasco Economic Development Council, the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the New Port Richey Economic Development Department and SCORE sponsored the contest to celebrate Business Development Week.

The SMARTstart incubator program is an initiative of the Pasco EDC, with locations in Dade City and New Port Richey.

About 20 businesses, both on and off site, are members of SMARTstart. They include technology companies, sales and marketing, and new attorneys. One company completes personal assessments to reduce company turnover.

“We have a pretty diverse membership,” said Krista Covey, the managing program director at Pasco EDC and director of SMARTstart.

Giella competed against about 20 companies to earn one of five spots in the finals that were held at the SMARTstart incubator site in New Port Richey. Judges included representatives from Pasco’s business and academic community.

First place winners were Brian Anderson and Janel Norton of Veterans Alternative Therapy Center in Holiday. Second place went to Greg Smith of Savealator in New Port Richey.

The competition was modeled after Shark Tank, the television show where contestants make a pitch to a panel of investors.

The pitch can be a nerve jangling trial, but Giella kept it simple.

He had 10 minutes to “sell” Techsoft Academy to a panel of judges including representatives from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative and Pasco-Hernando State College. Judges then had 10 minutes to quiz Giella.

“I tried to think like a customer,” he said. “I thought about all the stories I’ve heard from my clients. It was an awesome learning experience.”

Giella earned office space at SMARTstart’s incubator site in Dade City about five months ago. He works out of a small office at the Dade City Business Center, at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 103.

His services with Gear Spinners include web design, development and web hosting. Techsoft Academy can help bloggers and businesses go a step further by offering classes that teach more advanced skills. And i-gent caters to Realtors who need website management.

“Some people are go, go, go,” said Giella, and they likely don’t have time to spend on a website. But others, he said, want to do more of the work themselves.

Giella also helps organize Tampa Bay Word Camp, a group that offers conferences to teach skills in Word Press for blogging, business and social media.

Recent clients include the owners of the Yeoman’s Cask & Lion, a British-style pub that will open soon on Morgan Street in downtown Tampa. The pub is a new location and a rebranding for the former Yeoman’s Road Pub on Davis Islands, south of downtown Tampa.

His contest prize money will help buy new equipment to enhance his business, including a DSLR camera and microphone.

Giella started working on a business plan in 2013 to turn his hobby into a brick-and-mortar reality. A few months ago SMARTstart approved his application, and he moved into the business center.

Membership fees for on-site businesses start at $100 a month with tiered increases based on profitability. In return, fledgling entrepreneurs get office space, mentors, seminars and classes.

“They want to see what you’re up to, how much you’re making, is it going to create jobs,” Giella said. “It’s great the amount of stuff we talk about. It’s not common that you can talk about business in front of others and actually get good advice back.”

Giella graduated from Saint Leo University with a degree in business management. He launched a profitable business selling LED lighting for motorcycles, but sold the company two years ago.

“Everyone kept wanting me to build websites,” he said.

Gear Spinners and Techsoft Academy are gaining traction. Giella has a handful of proposals that could increase his client portfolio. If business picks up, he could be hiring his first employees in the next months.

“I can’t wait until I can hire people,” he said. “But I’m taking it one step at a time.”

He credits SMARTstart with giving him a chance to prove his new business has potential.

“My confidence level is boosted,” Giella said. “That’s key. People can see that.”

For information on Gear Spinners, contact Giella at (813) 235-0554, or visit GearSpinners.com. For information on SMARTstart, contact Covey at (727) 478-0670, (352) 437-4861, or visit SmartStartPasco.com.

Published April 1, 2015