White Cane Awareness Day and Veterinary Technician Week
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The county’s agenda for Board of County Commissioners, Oct 7, 2025
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The county’s minutes for Board of County Commissioners, Oct 7, 2025
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Machine transcription of 23m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 80% of 92 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
Okay, do we have anyone present for the White Cane Awareness Day in Pasco County, if you'd like to step up to the podium please?
Good morning. Resolution number CA026-5103. A resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, declaring October 15th, 2025 as White Cain Awareness Day in Pasco County. Whereas the mission of the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind is to provide people who are visually impaired and blind with the skills needed to achieve their maximum independence. And whereas, Lighthouse works with people of all ages,
from children to seniors who experience vision impairment, blindness, and low vision, and live in Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties. And whereas White K Cane Awareness Day brings recognition and awareness to visually impaired and blind individuals who use white or long canes and dog guides. And whereas the white cane is the universal symbol for blindness or visual impairment, every day millions of Americans who are blind or visually impaired use a
white cane or dog guide to get to work, school, shop, and show, and show, and shop. And travel. And whereas every blind citizen in our county has the right to carry a white cane, the white cane demonstrates and symbolizes the ability to achieve a full and independent life by allowing individuals who are visually impaired and blind to move freely and safely from place to place. And whereas the white cane makes it possible for people who are visually impaired and blind, Blind to fully participate and
contribute to our society and provides the capacity to work productively in competitive employment. And whereas the work of Lighthouse includes the distribution of information about the White Cane Law, because every citizen should be aware of the law's requirements. The White Cane Law requires that motorists exercise appropriate caution. When approaching a person carrying an official white cane or a dog guide that identifies the individual as a person who is visually impaired and blind.
And whereas Florida law also calls upon employers, both public and private, to be aware of and to utilize the employment skills of our citizens who are visually impaired and blind by recognizing their worth as individuals. And whereas the state of Florida, through its public agencies and with the cooperative assistance of Lighthouse, can look forward to a continued expansion of of employment opportunities and greater acceptance of people who are visually impaired and blind in the labor market.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said Board hereby declares october the fifteenth, 2025 as White Cain Awareness Day in Pasco County and encourages our schools to offer full opportunities for training to people who are visually impaired and blind. Encourages employers and the public to utilize the valuable skills of competent people who are visually impaired and blind, and to open new opportunities for people who are visually
impaired and blind in our rapidly changing society, and calls upon all citizens to recognize the white cane as an instrument of orientation and mobility, self-efficacy and safety for pedestrians who are visually impaired. impaired and blind on our streets and highways, done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting this seventh day of October, 2025.
Awesome.
I
I'll take a motion.
Oh uh move to approve?
Second. All in favor? Aye. All right. Commissioner Yeager.
So today we recognize the White Cane Awareness Day, honoring the independence, mobility, and achievements of the individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The White Cane is a powerful symbol of freedom and access, enabling safe travel and full participation in community life. We also celebrate the vital work of Of the Lighthouse for the Visually Impared and Blind, whose mission is to educate, empower, equip individuals with vision loss to achieve independence and improve their quality of life through training, advocacy, and support. One
of the things I want to say is that I've enjoyed working with you, Becky. We are working on something together and we're very excited with our shelters for the hurricanes. We have been working together and we're in the process of buying iPads. that will have VIR so we'll be able to communicate with our our blind shelter guests and also the shelter staff has also been trained. And
with our deaf population, our school board has posted some ASL signs and also they've been trained. for the deaf community. So we are just very thankful for educating us as well on the challenges and barriers and we just want to be good, you know, community partners, help you in any way. I'd love for you to plug your event coming up. Bowling in the dark.
Yeah, absolutely. Well, I just want to thank you all for um your support and you know we've been serving the Pasco County. There's over fifteen thousand residents who are visually impaired and blind. And I've um actually only been with the Lighthouse as the CEO for six months now, this this month. However, I've been involved as a donor and um volunteer for many years and now being in the realms with with all of our instructors and seeing from the babies who are um having these amazing
milestones thanks to our help to the work readiness with the teens and and of course our seniors who are having to you know learn how to to live life without their vision it's been really amazing. But yes we have two events also for the White Kane awareness. First is next Tuesday. We're having bowling in the dark, so um our guests at Langlow South in New Port Richey will be blindfolded for frames three, six, and nine so they can have the the experience of
being blind and we'll have our visual learning experts that will be there to help to make sure nobody gets hurt. I understand some balls went in the other lane last year. Um and then the other thing I wanted to invite all of you as we're inviting all of our um dignitaries and community leaders is on Friday the 17th, and I have some flyers here if you want to, um we are having a blindfolded street crossing in front of the West Pasco um government center. And so we're gonna have some media there and um we invite all of you to to experience
that with us. Um it's at 1130. It'll be, you know, short, quick. Um we'll give you a cane, give you a blindfold, and give you some tips and tricks um on how to do it. But to it's really just to raise awareness about the the law and um ensuring that everyone is safe.
Mr.
Mariano. I say Becky, thanks for all the great work you do on the community. Congratulations on your your new position. Thank you. And I know you're gonna just add value to it tremendously. So look forward to working with you.
Thank you. Commissioner Oakley? Yeah.
I want to thank you for all that you do for our citizen in Pasco County. So the works needed to be done and I'm sure they're all appreciating what you do for 'em. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. Well Miss Bennett's not every day we get a governor in the house. So no, I I didn't know that the the canes were white. I never paid that close attention to learn learn something new. So um yeah, thanks thanks for coming in and and letting us recognize your organization in this event and keep up all the great work you do for us.
Thank you. Um last week I I flew out west and the um getting off one of the planes there was a young man with a white cane. Um And some some someone said, Do you need any help? I said, No, I'm fine, thank you and I mean he just got off the plane and went on his way, all by himself. It was m you know, it was amazing 'cause I have a sister who's going blind in Miami. She has glaucoma. She's lost sight in one eye and she's losing the other one and she's she's really
concerned so I'd love to know if there's an organization like that down in Miami. But um congratulations on your ascendancy to CEO. And I don't know if you guys know but while we were under construction for two years at Ampskills, we held numerous boot camps at the Lighthouse for the Blind. And we want to thank you for opening up your facility and and um and uh sharing the the Amskills message and and our work um with your your folks and Um I
think this is the first time you guys have been in Farm. Right? And if you have a flyer and we wanna take it in, I'll take a motion for Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Alright, so we'll get those flyers out and um let's come down for a picture. And like you said everything you wanted to say? Yeah, yeah, okay.
Yeah, yeah.
Make sure.
One more. Whoa, there we go.
Okay, um our next resolution.
Okay, our next resolution is the veterinarian technicians. If you'd like to come up to the podium, please.
Yeah, I don't see.
Hello.
Okay, awesome. Okay, I'm gonna read your resolution for you. Resolution number CA026-5102. A resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, recognizing the week of October 19th through the 25th, 2025 as National Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week in Pasco County. Whereas National Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week is celebrated each year to recognize the invaluable contributions veterinary technicians make to the health and welfare
of animals in our communities. And whereas National Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week was started in June of 1993 by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians to recognize the efforts of veterinary Veterinarian technicians. And whereas veterinarian technicians play a critical role in the medical care and daily well-being of animals through their expert handling, compassionate care, and skilled support of veterinarians. And whereas at Pasco County
Animal Services, veterinarian technicians serve as frontline heroes in the shelter's medical operations, caring for Over 10,000 animals annually and performing more than 100,000 treatments and over 5,000 surgeries. And whereas these technicians provide medical care, surgical support, emergency triage, radiology, lab testing, and preventative treatments, working diligently behind the scenes to keep the shelter running smoothly and safely. And
whereas veterinarian technicians throughout our community demonstrate extraordinary dedication, tireless work ethic, and professional excellence in the care of sick and injured animals, supporting life-saving outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for people and their pets. And whereas National Veterinarian Technician Appreciation Week provides an opportunity for the citizens of Pasco County. to recognize and thank these compassionate professionals for their deep commitment to animal welfare and their
lasting impact in the community, as well as spotlighting the need for more incredible, life-saving individuals in this profession. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said Board hereby proclaims the week of October 19th through the 25th, 2025, as National Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week in Pasco County and encourages residents to honor and celebrate the exemplary service and dedication of
the veterinary technicians at Pasco County. County Administrator and throughout our community. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present in voting the seventh day of October, 2025.
Move approval. Second.
All in favor? Aye.
Um Who's
this? Mike. Okay, Commissioner Weightman uh Mike Spencer and the team. I want to say uh congratulations on this resolution. I think it's a great uh move on our part to kind of recognize the great work you guys have done over the years. Uh we had from trouble years ago. We had some lot of vocal citizens coming forward about things we could do better and what you guys have done with those suggestions and this board I I salute all of you the to give you the support to bring in the right people, get the right services to make our uh clinic I think the best around. Uh I know you get national awards
which have been well earned. Uh pets are very important for many, many families. Um Seniors especially that you you know need that extra love that's that's there every single day for 'em. I know my wife used to love when she would get home and the fur the dog would just come right to the door and just made her day every day. It's just like d that warmness that goes. So uh pets are very, very important for life and uh greatly appreciate all the great work you guys are doing and thank you. Yeah.
Yeah. I'll call up here. Mike, uh I've been I'm in my ninth year now and you came shortly after I got elected the first time and um been doing a good job and gathering the right technicians, the right people and the right jobs to make Pasco County Administrator much, much better over the years. And it goes to a lot of each and every one of you that you do your job and and it pays off to do your job and we are very appreciative for
the citizens being able to being taken care of by uh very smart people and how to handle their animals and tell them what to do. Thank you.
For sure. Yeah, jumping on accolades. Um, you know, since I've been on the board coming up on three years, it's been amazing to see the growth and the engagement that your team has had and just all the factors that we have, whether hurricanes, weather you know, the population growth and more more people and just you know, just helping out and not just in terms of with animal services, but just generally helping out the people and and the creatures of Pasco County. Glad that y'all are here today and um Yeah.
Keep it up. Commissioner Yeager.
So I'm a I'm a big fur mama, so my husband doesn't like when I go visit the animal shelter because he's afraid that I'll come home with a pet and he teases me that every time a kid leaves for school we add a dog. So we just had a son leave and he's like Lisa, no. Um but no I appreciate you guys and like I have a little English bulldog and um the vet techs are amazing with him. He is shaking like a leaf in in the office and they are just so sweet. So I just want you to know like your patience and your kindness
to the to the animals and to the the parents just they they don't go unnoticed. So thank you guys for everything you do. You're very much appreciated.
And um I would echo all my my uh fellow commissioners' comments and I just want you to know I I keep trying to help you with your new building I'm trying really hard. I know it's been a long time. And I I enjoyed my tour that I recently had out there. Uh but uh I also um And the mother of a dog, an escape artist. Thank goodness for that app. I don't even know what it's called, Dogs.
your dog gets out, people post it on there. We went down the st we put in a new fence in our in our house in Go Parbers and went down the street for a block party and sure enough Within ten minutes, maybe half an hour, our dog is out. We don't know how she's getting out.
I have an air tag on mine and it alerts me.
Oh that's that's a good idea. But um our accountant happened to see it on the app. hadn't called us and my husband had to leave and go down and get her. But um we're just uh grateful for all you do and um I am hopeful one day you'll have your new building. But go ahead. Address us.
Well thank you commissioners. Appreciate uh your support in this resolution and Commissioner Mariano for sponsoring it for us. This is an amazing team that we have here at at Pasco Animal Services. Um the hard work they do, uh the compassion that they put into the work. Uh they save lives every day literally. You'd be surprised the condition of animals coming in off the streets. and they change their lives literally.
Yeah.
Uh they take 'em whether it's skin conditions Rotten teeth, uh you know, ailments, hit by car, you name it, uh, they perform just admirably when you think of what they do with those animals. And it's not just that moment they come in, it's the days they're in the shelter every day. they have hands on those animals. They're feeding them, they're medicating them, they're taking care of 'em. They're making sure they're getting everything they need. It's
rough sometimes. You know, compassion fatigue is is a real thing. It's very stressful. Uh they experience it quite often. Um we try to help them through it as much as we can, but uh at the end of the day they just do fantastic work and I'm very proud of. So Dr. Claremont,
what's your thing? No, I just want to echo what he says and I'm proud of this team. They work really hard. Um, they're amazing. It's because of them that we can help all the animals that we do and save the lives and help the citizens. And thank you for your support and thank you to Mike and Spencer. For everything, thanks.
Well Mr. We're certainly grateful for you guys. I
just want to add a quick
story.
I wasn't going to touch on it, Mike, but you just kinda opened the door a little bit for me, so I'm gonna I wanna go. Um there was a few years back when we had a um A dog that was found We have the condition where we have to s keep it for so many days and we adopt it after we treat it, did a great job. And um When the person that owned the dog didn't show the dog went off for adoption, someone adopted it. Well, Spencer and his team um were able to reach out to that person that was adopted the dog, get the dog back to the regular owner who was like
so distraught and so thrilled with that later on. And then the same people that adopted that dog, they found another dog and they were very happy with the stuff. That's the type of but that takes a teamwork for people to understand the great care they're getting and how much everybody cares to make it all happen. So that's a that's a full team effect and uh shows the passion and care that you guys did to make what could have been a bad situation into a tremendously better situation. So again, thank you for all the great work you do.
I'm I'm sure this was before all of your times, but Commissioner Mariano was here when Commissioner We Larry Were you here when she would do? Oh she when you said dogs with skin disease that immediately made me think of Commissioner Oakley um because she used to bring those dogs to the meeting and she'd put a blanket up on the counter as you know, especially at West Pasco and those dogs would be the dog would literally be up there on the counter. Hope she you know, she was hoping someone would adopt it and see it on TV or
something. I don't know. It was unusual. Uh Commissioner Oakley. I just I
just I just remembered one thing. Uh Mike, remember when I brought the uh commissioner out of uh Citrus County to tour the facilities and
all
I ran into her again uh not long ago and she said they were soon to finish their animal services for Citrus County. County and they came and looked at Pasco and went back and and built a something similar to what we have, I think. So it's real good. All right, so
we'll go down and uh Legislature. Huh? Legislative meeting. Okay. Commissioner Oakley will come down and we'll we'll stand back here.
Together.
Yes.
We gotta space out a little more.
Oh no.
Can I get a a couple more of you to shift this way?
Oh us?
Oh
I'm I'm not sure.
You guys are good. We're a little
bit
more.
Hey Eric, you're an acting county administrator. Come on, Speaker. No, you're up here.
Oh, look at Brighton Bob.
Ready?
And we'll
let that first.
All right.
Uh
Alright.