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The LAKER EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
OCTOBER 25, 2017
Food relief at Pasco fairgrounds By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Signs of a heart attack can be different in women.
A federal emergency food relief program found a new location, and set new dates, to aid qualifying residents who lost food during Hurricane Irma. Applications will be taken Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. Similar events have been staged in coun-
ties in the Tampa Bay area that have drawn tens of thousands of applicants. The events have been plagued with reports of larger-than-expected crowds, hours-long waits, and traffic gridlock. Previously, Pasco County commissioners had approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services to allow an emergency food relief program at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, off Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. That department, in partnership with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, is administering the Food for Florida relief program. Before the Pasco County Commission initially approved the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, they raised concerns about the location because it’s on a busy corridor and at a recreation complex with youth athletic activities.After approving it, they quickly regretted the decision, and on Oct. 16 sent a letter to DCF officials withdrawing from the agreeSee RELIEF, page 17A
For some women, common signs can include jaw pain, nausea, dizziness and sweating. And some women may experience a heart attack without feeling chest pain. If you experience the signs of a heart attack, get to an emergency room — fast. Call 911 and know that you can count on Bayfront Health Dade City for emergency heart care. We are the only hospital in Pasco County nationally accredited as a Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI and Resuscitation.
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Face painting for the young at heart Sister Miriam Cosgrove, from The Holy Name Monastery in St. Leo, came to display her hydroponic projects. She perhaps was the oldest person to get her face painted at the 51st annual Rattlesnake Festival in San Antonio, which took place on Oct. 21 and 22. More photos, page 2A.
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B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
County exploring adding a new tax By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County commissioners often talk about making Pasco a premier county. But, even with a rebounding economy, they are facing a financial hurdle in funding the necessities for parks, libraries and emergency management. Looming ahead is a third $25,000 homestead exemption, which is expected to pass in a 2018 voter referendum. If it does pass, Pasco County could lose $8 million in general fund revenues, and $2 million in fire fund revenues. One solution commissioners are exploring is municipal taxing units that would collect revenues based on property tax valuations. Commissioners discussed the idea at an Oct. 17 workshop in Dade City. No decision was reached, but county staff members will provide more details in the future. And, it’s possible that voters could weigh in, if the matter goes to a referendum. Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey wants to move forward, without a referendum. Other commissioners want a referendum before considering any increase of taxes. Representatives of each of the three departments presented a list of backlogged equipment and repairs or enhanced services that are needed, if Pasco is to become a premier county. Parks has about $14 million in deferred maintenance at its 35 parks, recreation centers, trails and swimming pools. Its current annual budget is about $9 million. A taxing unit would collect about $28 million annually. However, not all of those funds would be spent at once. The annual parks’ budget would increase to between $10 million and $13 million. And, funds would be spent on maintenance of existing facilities and long-term replacement, said Keith Wiley, the county’s natural resources manager. “It’s not about having more facilities and prettier facilities,” he said. Libraries and emergency management also face shrinking resources. Based on state library standards, Pasco spends about $13 per person, or about half the state average of about $26 per person. The same standards show Pasco needs about 170,000 square feet of additional
space. Yet, the next library, probably in Starkey Ranch, isn’t slated for construction until 2022. Library staffing also is well below state average standards. “We need to update our facilities to the 21st century,” said Sean McGarvey, a library administrator. Emergency management and fire rescue face challenges in response times and providing protection for area residents. Fire rescue needs eight additional fire stations to cover the entire county, and the growing population, said Michael Cassano, the county’s deputy fire chief of operations. Additional personnel and equipment also are needed, he said. Taxing units for emergency management and for fire rescue would collect about $10 million each. The county’s 911 communications center won’t have sufficient room to operate in two to three years, a situation that Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrator for public safety, called “catastrophic.” The county also needs generators for the schools that provide emergency shelters during hurricanes. Currently, the county can provide only three schools with generators, Guthrie said. Starkey pushed to move forward and create taxing units with a future vote by county commissioners. Prior public outreach has shown that residents are willing to support more funding, said Starkey. She had raised the issue for parks during budget discussions for 2018, but the county could not have met a deadline to establish such a taxing district. “We can’t have slides that are falling apart, swings falling apart,” she said.“We’ve just let our citizens down by letting all these parks fall apart. I think it’s 10 years past due to fund our parks and our libraries.” The authority to create the taxing units belongs to the county commissioners. So, the referendum, unless voters were asked to approve a bond issue, would be a straw poll. “I personally think we’re jumping the gun by even having any discussion,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. He cited an earlier directive from the county commission to first have outreach to the public on parks before considering a
Derek Brewer’s official promotion to Zephyrhills Police Chief was just weeks ago — yet he’s no stranger to the uniform, or to the community he’s tasked to serve. The 45-year-old Brewer was appointed the city’s permanent, full-time police chief on Sept. 25. He was sworn-in two weeks later, on Oct. 9. Brewer, however, already had months of familiarity with the position. He served as interim chief since June, filling in the post formerly held by Police Chief David Shears, who retired after 25 years with the agency. Brewer is a 15-year veteran of the Zephyrhills Police Department, who gradually worked up the ranks from patrol officer, to field training officer and lieutenant, to
See TAX, page 17A
See CHIEF, page 17A
FILE
Derek Brewer was sworn in as Zephyrhills Police Chief on Oct. 9. He replaces David Shears, who had been chief since 2008.
New police chief has a familiar face By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com