Porter family Wiregrass Ranch resolution

1:06:33All right, we have an eleven o'clock time certain. Commissioner Moore.

1:06:36Thank you, ma'am.

1:06:36And the clerk will

1:06:37read

1:06:37the uh resolution.

1:06:38Yeah, so if we could go ahead and um the Porter family, if you could you guys could all come up, if you don't mind.

1:06:50W welcome to West Pasco County.

1:06:56And uh Matt the the clerk is gonna go ahead and read the resolution now.

1:07:00Resolution number 22-224, resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, recognizing and thanking the Porter family for their contributions to Pasco County. Whereas the Porter family first came to Pasco County in 1937 and purchased the land that would eventually become Wiregrass Ranch in 1942. And whereas in 1946, James H. and Martin Martha M. Porter moved to a ho to moved a moved to a home in Wiregrass Ranch where they would raise their

1:07:31sons Don, Tom, and Bill. Together they would raise cattle and farm citrus to grow their ranch. And whereas the Wiregrass Ranch name came in nineteen fifty from a postcard sent by Ed Madill. a fan um a friend of the Porter family who addressed it to Wiregrass Porter, Gatorville, Florida, USA. And it still arrived at the correct address. That's great. And Raz in the early nineteen seventies the first substantial land

1:08:01sale was made to what would become Saddleburg Golf and Tennis Tennis Center. Later developments involving the Porter family and Wiregrass ranch land would include a major shopping center, hospital and medical facilities, schools, hotels, entertainment, venues, and sports facilities. Even with these major developments Much more is still planned for the future in Pasco County. And whereas in May of 2013, the Porter family donated land to Pasco County that would later become the Wiregrass Ranch

1:08:31Sports Campus of Pasco County. The campus is now the centerpiece of tourism efforts by the county's destination management organization, Experienced Florida Sports Coach. And Raz the Porter family also gives back to the community through the non not-for-profit Wiregrass Ranch Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing opportunities in our community through philanthrop Philanthropic Stewardship and innovation. And res Wiregrass Ranch still has active agriculture and ranching

1:09:02operations with over five thousand one hundred forty two acres of land and represents over one billion dollars of tax base within the county and is still growing strong. And Ras Bill Porter, the president of Wiregrass Ranch and the next generation of Porters includes JD Quinn. Colby, Haley, Hatcher, Alexis, Rachel, Linda, and Debbie are continuing the family tradition of commitment to Pasco County started by James and Martha Porter. Now, therefore, be it resolved

1:09:32by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby recognizes and thanks the Porter family for their contributions to the Pasco County community, done and resolved in regular session with the Form present and voting this 20th day of September 2022.

1:09:46Move for approval.

1:09:47Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Is

1:09:50anyone opposed?

1:09:51No.

1:09:52Motion. I thought they

1:09:53were in district. I thought they actually were in District One, but I know

1:09:58could be mixed up a little bit.

1:10:03Exactly. Well, my time is limited.

1:10:06And

1:10:07then the other ones were full. So um but we wanted to obviously this board wanted uh in the and the entire team here in Pasco County would have to obviously recognize The contributions that the Florida, the Porter families not only had on Pasco County, but actually the region and the entire state. So some of the things I think about when I think about the the Porter name and and and the and Wiregrass Ranch, these kind of these come to mind. Philanthropists, innovators. giving community and last but not least but trailblazers

1:10:37because that's what you've been, your entire family's been to Pasco County Trailblazers. A lot of people forget that Where Sodobeok lies, that was your land. That was your first big sale, if I'm not correct, back in the day, right? I say back in the day. I was alive, but uh Um but Sodobrook was your first big uh sale and we know what obvious that did for the community. But I moved back I moved to Pasco County in two thousand seven. And when I moved to Pasco County in the neighborhood I lived in There was JC Penny, right? There was

1:11:07there was the J C Penny. And I heard all these rumors about oh there's gonna be this awesome, you know, outdoor mall. I go, please, please. Because back then, even in two thousand and seven, my family and I, we were driving to Hillsborough County. all the time to do our shopping except to go to Publix, 'cause the Publix was across the street. Or to go to J C Penny. But we were literally having to go into New Tampa. Not that I don't like our friends in Tampa, but I'd rather keep the money here in Pasco County. So that was just incredible

1:11:37when the mall got built and I got to know the Porter family before thankfully before I became accounting commissioner and we became very close and and obviously been good friends with uh JD for a number of years as well as Colby and Bill and Gwen. So it it's great seeing you all here. But again, we wanted to recognize each and every one of you for all your contributions and your continued contributions. And wanna and I'll leave you with this. Yeah. One of the most amazing things in in sitting with Bill and Gwynn and J D and Colby throughout the years having these conversations and Scott that's back there is

1:12:09And I think the public needs to know this. They could have sold this land off. Years and years and years ago. And I hate to use this word. They could have had more money than God. because of this. But they've been very methodical in the way they've done things because they want to do things right and they want to continue to do things right. So not saying it's negative for people to wanna you know, obviously get sell what they have, but

1:12:40they really have this sense of community. And that's why things are going the way they do there and will continue to. So with that, uh we thank you and I I think J D you're gonna be speak on behalf of the of the family right now.

1:12:52Absolutely. Well appreciate all the kind words. Thank you very much. Appreciate all the commissioners. Um it has been a long path to get here, but we still have a long, long path to go. We've got a long runway that we're still working with. But on behalf of my entire family, thank you guys for making it an environment that we can succeed in and for continuing to grow. Pasco's changed a whole lot. Since we first sat up here and went through the DRI process and stuff like that. Thankfully it's changed a whole lot. But working with you all and working with staff

1:13:22has become a lot easier and we look forward to a lot more great years and we've got plenty of good stuff to come. So thank all of you very much. Matter of fact.

1:13:31Commissioner Mariano.

1:13:32Thank you. Um you know J D sitting with your dad, your uncles, and uh going through that DRI process or something else. It was it was amazing to the boy you may not recall, but it was two three-to-two votes. And there was actually a motion of a second to actually turn it down and I saw your saw your dad at that time just like almost fall out of the chair. I got we gotta turn this thing around. We we got the votes to go in the right way. But uh I tell you your your your family's commitment from the get go. was always to do this first class. You took your time, you made sure you had it right, you waited for the right people to come in, and

1:14:02the way you've done it methodically, every step of the way has been fantastic. And Pasco is so much better off because of the Porter family. Thank you.

1:14:09Thank you guys.

1:14:09Madam

1:14:09Chair.

1:14:10Yes, Mr. Oakley.

1:14:12Um I go back a little further than the rest of 'em. So I used to help you and Well, with Dom and Don and Tom and Bill and the whole group and watch these some of these grow up, even bought somebody's steer I think at the fair because and Don was upset 'cause I wouldn't let him buy it, so But I kept his uncle for dumb. But I did business with him Holland. Hollin', picking their fruit and Actually it had a few lynches I used in the packing house when I

1:14:42was at I seventy five and four and fifty four. But it seems like Well, wire wire grass was wire grass, but the mall itself, which is beautiful and and been really uh you know, one of the best models that happened in in our county and really set up to the growth of all of uh uh Wesley Chapel area. So But uh y'all have done a great job in in what you've doing out everywhere you land. and you've been very good uh community

1:15:12service people at the same time. So we appreciate all that y'all's done. I mean We really appreciate it and and we look forward to doing more business with you in the future. So

1:15:22Thank you. Thank

1:15:23you

1:15:24very much.

1:15:24Well we think we want to come down and um present you with a resolution and we also have individual ones as well as a framework. So I think we can all

1:15:33right, I won't I won't say anything. Oh okay. We're glad that you're here. Say something. They know I love them, so it's okay.

1:16:11Alright, so when we're done,

1:16:13I'm gonna give you guys multiple individuals.

1:16:17Can you share some of those restaurants on our side?

1:16:21Okay, the chair gets to get in here somewhere.

1:16:23Yeah. Well let's let's let the family, if everybody can scoot the hands, let Colby squeeze in there, Commissioner. That way the family can get the bell and I gotta squeeze this way a little bit so I can do the shoulder

1:16:32thing.

1:16:34Move down just a little bit more. One more down so we can do the resolution here if you're gonna talk. There we go. Now we can.

1:16:41But I don't know how much. Okay.

1:16:42I guess.

1:16:45Right here.

1:16:47One, two, three. Couple more? And hold right there on that. Thank you. All right. Everybody hold the hang right at me.

1:17:01Got it. Thank you. I know

1:17:03I've tested you many times, but I it's not a list

1:17:07of some people.

1:17:10Thank you. And then um

1:17:14Thank you. Appreciate it. And

1:17:19Yeah. I just

1:17:20text it to the difference.

1:17:22J.

1:17:27I'm gonna walk out again real quick before we come back in. Oh right.

1:17:33You know we have eleven fifteen capital.

1:17:35Yes.