Commissioner updates and announcements
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The county’s agenda for Board of County Commissioners, Jan 26, 2021
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What was said
Machine transcription of 47m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 86% of 241 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
We've already covered all the other i or items I guess because we've skimped around on 'em. Should be good. Yes. If
it's a miscellaneous business.
So we go on to whole business, I guess.
All right. Thank you Mr. Chairman Mariano.
Three minutes or less. Go ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um first of all want to congratulate obviously the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the big win going to the Super Bowl. So Cheers for them. Yes? Right. I had a nice call from uh Brian Ford which is the uh Buck CEO. He runs the day to day operations for the T O Bay Buccaneers gave me a call, I was in the week before last and wanted to thank Pasco County for all their support and the citizens of Pasco County for all their support. So it was nice to receive that call from him. Um so again, let's go get 'em
at BKC, right? How how cool is it that it's here at home as well? I wish we could all be there and but you know, it is what it is, right?
Uh this morning we uh I want to thank the commissioners for passing C2. It was a resolution um recognizing uh Mr. D Dennis Um Fodee's retirement from Pasco County. He spent thirty-six years working for the citizens of Pasco County, did some great things like modernizing our radio technology and working with our regional partners and much more that is covered in that resolution. Again, thank you to Mr. Dennis Fodee for spending. We all wish you the best, sir, in your retirement. Last one, thank you to our uh Pasco
County Legislative Delegation. They met last week. We all know in a COVID world meeting does not happen at the drop of the hat. So Ralph and uh Mike and everybody that got together and and and got the team to the legislative delegation to meet. Thank you. Thank you to um Senator Hooper and his staff for helping to make that meeting happen. And um I do wanna congratulate um the incoming um chair for the legislative delegation, uh Representative Randy Maggard and uh Senator Danny Burgess for being elected vice chair
of the delegation. We look forward to continuing continuing to work with them. Um and I think that is it for the for me for the day.
Thank you. A little over three months, but you're okay. All right, Mr. Darkey.
Yeah, um I received an email and it's not the first time and I've had people talk to me about this about the condition. of the restroom facilities at the trailhead at Sun Coast and fifty four. And um it is deplorable. And uh I did forward it on to Keith and he said they're gonna look at it, but to have one Outhouse, porta potty. That is not taken Care of Is really getting a lot of our
cyclists that come from all over. You know, they're not they're not happy about it. They asked, could they at least have two? Uh so if they can w can't walk into one, there's an alternative. So Hoping we can get something better there until we redesign that trailhead, but it's it's like Um these women were describing it and there's no way there's no way it's usable. So that's really not from here at uh at a very um popular trailhead. That's fifty
four on the Sun Coast. Um I was glad today to see after eight years that we did approve the the uh toilet facility that's coming in at Starkey and the Sun Coast Trail. Before if you parked in the park in the day use area and rode your bike Out to the Sun Coast and north or south. The the first restroom turning north is in Hernando County at Anderson Park. So um we really needed a restroom there and
maybe to be thinking of well hopefully the next one will be at Ridge Road. So um and also there will be uh a bike repair station and a place to get out of the bad weather if something comes up. So I'm so glad to see that that's that's finally happening. Um So I thought Commissioner Moore was gonna bring up vaccines, but you didn't. So I was prepared to discuss it, but
Well you go ahead and there's maybe one little thing I but I'm not gonna I wouldn't
I did um shoot uh let me see here uh a question to let me see if they answered. But um I just want the public to know That um
You know, we we're cost the of course it's not the county's program, it's the health department's program. First you need to know that. But you know, we do care that our citizens are having Um challenges getting the vaccines when they want them and we uh We we want all our seniors to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Um but when you have twenty thousand people logging on to a system all at the same time. Um not everyone's gonna get through. Um I did receive an
email from um John Hagen who used to be our head of our EDC. saying that he thought that um there was a blocker um for co like that if you had enabled your cookies block You know, your pop-up block, you could not get through and you went into the spinning world. I have asked Salesforce to see if this is true so that if if that is true that we can recommend that you do not have the pop-up blocker when you are trying to um access
the site and they
can't be I think Tell them that Salesforce is the parent company that oversees the
uh Salesforce is a platform that C D R Maguire uses. Yeah, there you go. Okay. So um So they're looking into um That question about the cookie so we can give um s again some more um information. But uh until we get more vaccine, not everyone's gonna to fit through. Uh I understand Miami Dade has has decided that only Miami Dade County residents can apply for vaccines in their county?
I'm not sure that we're allowed to set those kind of rules and I guess they're taking the the uh view of Sue Me and then we'll find out. Um but I am glad to s that's what I heard. Um I am glad to see that at least our governor is saying you have to be a Florida resident. to get the vaccine because I just keep hearing of people flying in and driving into Florida and getting the vaccines and You know, I fine for doing that after our residents get vaccinated, but I'd really like like to see if we can't get
our our people are trying so hard to get vaccinated to get that done. I will say um I was able to get my mom um her first vaccine, although she still ended up going into the hospital. Uh but kudos to the health department, the way they were running it, because it was so smooth and so well done. I just thought the operation was running great. So
Then it's it's smooth sailing. But I know I've like you guys, I'm getting tons and tons of email complaining about not being able to get there. But the issue isn't that we have a bad program, the issue is there's just not enough vaccines. We have a plan here in Pasco. that as soon as we if we can get more we can take it out to neighborhoods. to churches. Um And as you see we're at St. Leo, we can get it out into the community fast. Just please give us some more vaccine and let us show
you what we can do. Um A while ago um I might have talked to you about the problem with the vouchers and sec and uh and in uh Pasco County residents. joining a line with people from all over the country to get our Section eight vouchers, also called Housing Choice. I'm glad to say um to tell you that That is being fixed. And um we will be able to be um serving Pasco County residents first as well with those housing choice vouchers. Um
uh I wanted to share with you that Doctor Gills has uh given a grant to AmpsGills, uh a donation. He has uh graciously donated uh two hundred thousand dollars towards the purchase of the building and um a minimum of three hundred fifty one from matching towards renovation, three hundred fifty one thousand towards the renovations of the building. So we are actively um out there looking for uh donations to match Dr. Gill's very
generous offer um to build, you know, a world-class training center in the holiday area for for manufacturing. So um Uh also Amskills was uh part of a grant that um the Dallas Community College, I think it's a community college, put in for a federal grant um to bring the boot camp model there and so They were successful. We got notification on Friday. So this is part of the long-term sustainability
of that program, of franchising out to different communities and bringing our proven workforce training model. out to the country, which I think is great. With with this COVID With COVID you saw how much manufacturing of of very vital resources are being done overseas and we we we gotta stop that and bring that back. So Um Congratulations on that. Um Uh and talking um today about the uh um citizen survey Uh
we talked about landscaping. And I just wanted you to know what's going on in my office. Um we are researching um properties whose landscaping has um gone away or is in really poor condition and I would I would say to you as you're driving around your districts Take a look because a business may come in. And then three or four years later all of a sudden the trees are gone, the hedge is missing and it looks really seedy and
and it looks reflects poorly on the county. So every Friday we're notifying ten um businesses that um They're required to keep their landscaping up as part of their um their CO or their development approvals and we're working with them to bring that landscaping back in. Lastly, um T. Barda. Uh So As
you know, T Barta has a plan to to put in a rapid bus um line from the Groves, starting at the Groves and going all the way down to Saint Pete. Our challenge there is um well one of course funding. We have to determine where the funding is going to come from for this. And remember we're the largest MSA without a transit solution and the one that we've we've settled upon is the most uh inexpensive way to get
this started and there's federal money Once we figure out where the local match comes from. But our big blocker is Hillsborough County. The commissioner representing Hillsborough County. Um when asked to define what regional meant, Said regional is the different parts within Hillsborough County. So um with that kind of mentality it's difficult to put in a regional transit system. because everything goes through Hillsboro
County and if they're not playing on the team, there is no team. So I have asked T Barta if they would um If we could consider convening A meeting. Of the the three? Counties that really disinvolves. Pasco, Hillsbrough, Penellus, The MPOs and what other you know different transit organizations um P STA, Hart, and of course ours is part of the county. to have
a discussion amongst all the commissioners about how we arrive at a solution for transit in Tampa Bay. Because Uh We're at an imp we're kind of at an impasse with the views being represented by certain uh commission at T Barta.
Interesting.
Wow. And we don't know if that's everyone's view.
Mm.
We can't there's no reason to have a Tibarda if we don't have um all the counties together on the same page. So that's my suggestion too.
Yeah, Commissioner Mr Mr Chairman M you know, it's that's unfortunate and I saw some of that happening when I sat on T Barta as well. And uh You made a good point. If if it's a regional
Yeah.
group, obviously it's meeting and unfortunately some people aren't thinking regional. And that's and that's the same thing we were going through, you know, when we talk about you know, bus rapid transit in in in the in the managed lanes and all those types of things. Unfortunately. an individual that sits on T barta. is it really concerned about what affects Pasco County. Only if concerned about what affects a small section of Hillsborough County, which is actually a small section
of Tampa, if I'm not correct, is what their big concern is. So the rest of us pay the price for their Um Unfortunate um
small mindedness.
Unfortunate um views on how transit works and what regionalism means. So I I do not disagree with you whatsoever.
Okay.
Yeah,
so I think the only solution is to have everyone at the table together.
I would love to be there.
Yeah.
That it?
And just to touch on that too, with the TMA we found that same issue.
Yeah.
So yeah.
Ms. Fitzpatrick.
Thank you, Chairman. Um first I would like to nominate Doctor William Killinger?
For the Pasco Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. Move
to approve.
Seconds. And a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passed five zero.
Thank you. Um I would also like to Address I know I have had the Moon Lake community ask about when our next neighborhood cleanup is. I will be doing the neighborhood cleanup in the Moon Lake area roughly um approximately in April. There will be two dumpsters, one located at Win Dixie parking lot and another one in their neighborhood. So if they wanna start getting their community together and involved, start trying to prepare
and get people to come on in. Remember anyone can bring in their trash and throw their trash away. If we need an extra dumpster then we can bring in another dumpster. Um also I mentioned earlier today about Walmart and different parking lots. Please if someone Drops or trash, make sure we just pick it up. So I am asking community. I know everyone works together on that. Thank you. Um, just to help keep Pasco clean. Um I was also honored to be able to present the resolutions
to the Human Trafficking Commission last Wednesday and they were very appreciative. Also please remember they are having their light up the night this Saturday. um January thirtieth from six to eight. They will also be having a five K race in the morning. And of course, please remember to be safe during The Super Bowl Sunday. And pass remember, Pasco doesn't buy it, so make sure everyone stays safe. And lastly.
I wanted to mention if someone was still trying to get vaccines for COVID, they can go to the patient portalfl.com or they can call the phone number that's online at 850-848-5287 to schedule their appointment. And lastly, again in Moon Lake, I just want them to know I have been listening and I have reached out to Republic and I'm also working with staff as well to try to
help them resolve their waste management ma waste management concerns. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Mariano.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um On the Gulf Coast consortium, I sit as Secretary Treasurer, have been for the past few years, and we're coming up for um Support again for the local board. So If Commissioner Oakley, if I get you the l letter later on, if you could if the board would allow me to serve as Secretary of Treasury again. again. Um
that and motion. Second. Motion and second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. Motion passed. Five zero.
All right. And again, I want to throw
my items.
All right, thank you. Um and I want to thank uh Mike Carbeller and his team for the stormwater. Um between Brantford, Joe Moa. Uh Don Kerry.
That whole area there is is gonna it's something again we've been working on for many, many years. We got a solution in front of us, so I'm very excited that uh the team working together and and creatively trying to make s make the county better as uh as going forward. It's got some great things going on at Sun West with the volleyball guy guys coming in. So a lot of good things coming up and I think it's gonna help elevate the coast and as we saw that citizen survey. Uh the west side. does need more in this board I think is making all the right moves for it. So thank you.
Okay, that it? Mr. Biles?
Yes sir, I have a few things. Um First, uh I think based on what we saw uh the Senate president talked about yesterday in Tallahassee, we probably oughta go and just cancel Pasco Day 'cause we will not be able to meet in in the facilities there. So Yeah, that's our recommendation. So if you have reservations that are out there, just go ahead and counsel them and we will work other means to connect with our legislators.
So that's that's the first and the second one is um Just let you know that over the last few weeks uh a couple different departments have received national awards. We a couple People in animal services have won national awards from national associations, and then the community development also won a national award with partnership with Vincent House. over the last couple of weeks. So more more great work happening. And then we were notified I guess a little more than a week ago that uh We got awarded a planning grant uh to look at resiliency
uh along the coast and vulnerability assessment on the coast from uh DEO. So That should be coming to you. As the process gets about $750,000 to look into that and do some do some more planning on that effort.
Only for planning, non for capital?
That's planning. That's a plain vulnerabil vulnerability assessment.
Okay.
And uh the last one is um so
So we did get or Department of Health got ninety seven hundred vaccines this week for distribution. Thirty five hundred of the ninety seven hundred are for second shot. So about a third of those went to second shots. They're still doing Saint Leo.
Uh as well as you know, through the normal uh registration process. We are working with the state, uh in fact we talked to him yesterday about trying to set up some means to have a central county location. Um More to follow on that, but we're trying to get something in the central of the county too, working through the state on that and hopefully we'll have something to announce within the next Hopefully no more in a week. Uh but that's what we're working on.
All right, that's it. Yeah. Mr. Standard Star?
Mr. Chairman Mariano the the work that several of my lawyers did that uh resulted in the res part of the resolution that was brought to you this morning. Um, notably Jordan Wolfgram assisting the public services branch. uh with legal documents that didn't exist prior to COVID. uh with legislation that nobody had reviewed prior to COVID, um, spent long nights um
trying to get the documents put together so that um the administrators team could get those get that money out to to various individuals. Um
Uh I've in I've been in contact with the Chairman M as the board is aware section one oh two point one one four with regard to the canvassing board indicates that if the chair is uh unable to serve um
uh on the canvassing board uh due to disqualification, um uh the supporting supporting a candidate, that sort of thing. um that another member of the Board of County Commissioners uh is to be support um Appointed as a substitute member who is not a candidate. In this case, these are municipal elections, so no one would be a candidate. Um and who is not an active participant
in a in a campaign or candidacy of any c candidate within those municipal uh elections. Um Uh the supervisor has reached out to me again and asked who the Board of County Commissioners representative will be for the munici municipal elections in leading up to March.
Is that for one one person? It you
it's one person um uh one board member needs to needs to be in that in that role.
Anyone?
It's best if it's someone who lives near where they meet than having to have someone over here drive all the way over there. Lest they want to move the meetings over here.
You're going over to heaven.
What what'd you say?
I said you're going to heaven over when you go to the east side. So
It's so far. I mean, that's why what do you all what do you do?
Well you ought to be on the other side coming this
way. Spring break. Well no, you're things you're municipal in March. You're not up for election for municipals.
Oh is it? Yeah. I thought you meant for next time around.
I won't be here.
Already bought.
Is that when it's happened?
It's in March, but I don't know the date.
Yeah, part of it'll entail that week. I'm gone.
Spring break's uh first week in April.
I mean gone the eleventh.
It's like the
week of the fifth.
Well yeah. Saturday the twelfth thirteenth.
Oh, March eleventh?
That's a Thursday.
No, I I'm talking about I'll be gone, I'm leaving Thursday. I'll be gone for a week and a half.
And I can't. The public test is on April seventh. The next one is April thirteenth. April fifteenth. April twenty third is the schedule that they have put out. I'm I'm supporting candidates.
But do they?
Yeah. I'm in supporting of a candidate.
Let me see um if this one person is on Is this Newport Ritchie as well? You said April thirteenth, fifteenth, and the twenty third? Yeah I'm helping a fundraiser for one of the candidates.
Seventh, thirteenth, fifteenth, twenty
third. I'm out 'cause yeah, Mike Peters. I'm helping Mike Peters. Sorry. You're it, Oakley.
I can't be at I'm supporting the right-of-way. The only reason I'm bringing this up is that he's got a d he's got a conflict.
There you go.
Um good experience
for her.
The seventh it's at three PM I I can e it The
thirteenth is at three PM uh three three PM into the evening. Uh the fifteenth is the fifth. I is five PM Twenty thirty is five PM. Those are the start times. It's the Municipals and Lake Page Independent Special District.
M Mr. Chairman Mariano Didn't um I'm just curious because I heard it went pretty well. Didn't um before Lee's office appoint some uh citizens last year last time? I thought it went pretty well. I heard about it.
Statutorily the board is required to field a candidate. We gotta fix that. And the supervisor has asked me to ask you.
Uh what time does it go? I'm already endorsing somebody.
Mm.
What time do they go till? Think fast.
Most of them go fairly quickly. The thirteenth would be A longer day. 'Cause that's the actual election and they have to wait for for election results to come in.
Can we split this between two commissioners?
Yeah, hey Commissioner Fitch Hatcher, you tr give it a shot. You enjoy it?
Um it's during the right-of-way. I believe Mr. Julian is still willing to become a i is willing to be an alternate if she
can't do the county
commissioner.
Yeah, no,
that's why I said
do the municipality.
Yeah, you wouldn't be able to stay on it after the municipal. You'd have to come off. Yeah.
Manila baseball season, I'm trying.
Learning experience.
Well you you can you don't have to make a you don't have to make a decision today. You don't
have to make a decision today, just just let me know shortly or Yeah, Mr. Steinsteiner, no. As soon as possible.
And
Okay.
That's all I had. Thank you.
Well wh while it was still kind of your time, why don't you is it anybody or everybody gotten the letter That we answered to Mr. Steinsteiner answer to the tax collector. Yes
sir.
Is there any questions to Mr. Uh Steinsteiner? About that.
Well the senator Mr. Chairman Mariano sent us an email back Um
Senator Who? The Sen the Senator Tax Collector Senator he sent email back. Um He stated the issue is we have companies of Pasco with a BTR but charging the Hillsborough sales tax of 8.5% and not the Pasco 7%. And again, he's he's right, because I worked on some of this with them last year, unfortunately. Um they've done everything possible and has the Florida Department of Revenue to get them to correct their practice, but uh some are totally ignoring the request. So in essence, you know, and he's not sure
what to do on his side, and I don't disagree, in essence, you know, if people aren't responding and they've been notified by not only the tax collector as well as some Probably some of us in the county and the state and they're ignoring that Um They are not in r and if they've been noticed and on the Mr. Stein started jump in, if they've been noticed and they are literally ignoring and paying their tax to another county and not paying their fair share here Um Wait,
what's I guess I would ask what's the difference between a citizen not paying their property taxes properly which in s essence puts a lien on their home in a business not paying their penny for Pasco tax. That they're required to do To the county.
So That's a matter for state revenue. And the the problem is that BTRs Were Based on the legislation. are a revenue generating device. They are not regulatory. And the only the sole ground that is in your ordinance to revoke a BTR is fraudulent practices. if they're remitting everything to the state that they collect And the state's not is
giving it back to Hillsborough County and not us. But that's a state issue. They don't remit directly to the tax collector.
But um how that works. but if they've been notified on numerous occasions that they are submitting I'm not worried about as much as the six percent now, but they're remitting their The basically remaining there one. Sent for Pasco. To the wrong cabinet. And that's I mean that's basically what they're doing. Knowingly doing that now. Knowingly doing that.
But they're remitting it all to the state, correct?
Well, I would assume that's how they're I don't s I c you know it can be. So the state
needs to send it to us.
So
they're paying they're paying a penny they're paying one and a half cent more. We're actually they're charging their see they're charging the citizens of Pasco County another one and a half cents, is what they're doing. And they're not going to be able to do that. And they're submitting it to the wrong county and they're not giving Pasco County the one cent That pays for things like our environmental land protection, pays for economic development, pays for more schools, and for our sheriff's office and transportation. But there no the problem is, and and I sor the I guess my issue lies too,
because we had these conversations it's been over a year ago when we had some of the folks that were doing it. Some at uh no fault of their own, but some that still ignored it, but they continued to ignore I in my mind it there no I mean you you have to use your talk when it comes, you know, attorney talk here, but knowingly continuing to do something Which in essence, to me, is I'll use my words wisely
here. Um
I defrauding the taxpayers?
I don't understand why they wouldn't want their prices to be lower. Wouldn't
right. Wouldn't her uh business license File where they pay the tax. So if they've got a business in Pasco wouldn't even though it's a zip code that goes both counties. Wouldn't they still be paying that twice?
Well it's it's puzzling to me why somebody would ignore No. That's not what I was gonna say. What I was gonna say was uh it's puzzling to me why someone would get a business tax receipt from Mr. Fasano's office. and then think they were in Hillsborough County.
Don't invest in that business.
If they pay taxes to the Florida Department of Revenue then doesn't the Florida Department of Revenue turn around and give back Pasco the one cent?
They should be. And
how do we know they're not? What's the confusion? Are they paying well if the f they're paying in the Florida Department of Revenue, they're not paying Pasco or
So then is it Florida Department of Revenue that we have to talk to?
Um can it can I can I make a suggestion that we I just asked Senator Forsada to come in and explain on the next meeting. Instead of us making the assumptions on what we're doing.
I
I'd be happy to talk to the Senator about it. I I mean the the what I got was the chairman forwarding me the letter that he sent you and asking for a legal opinion which I've given you all. Right. Um and so i I mean I I'll be happy to to see if I can help get this straightened out, but it's it it I just don't think you can use the tool of a BTR to do it. And if you do, you're gonna
have hearings with these businesses in front of you.
Cool. Cool.
What was my question? Um what is is there a legal recourse that we have as a county?
Against the Department of Revenue? No, it's
Against someone
touching our
too much money. I mean I mean what what do we even have anything other than say please you're you're being dumb. What else can we do? Legally. Can we require people to put a sticker on their window that says Pasco sales tax is seven, you know, point seven or whatever, point or seven?
So is it the fact that they're collecting the wrong sales tax amount or or
obviously they pay floor D O R so is it D O R but then okay so what What is the Florida statute that allows us to put liens on the homes if they're not P the taxes aren't paid.
You're dealing with the co Florida Constitution with property taxes versus sales tax, which is a general law pre creature general law.
So if they've been told multiple times where to pay the taxes to and they continuously pay them to the wrong place Then they were asking to revoke their license.
Um
I don't think you have the authority to revoke their business tax receipt. unless they are engaged in fraudulent activity. And I and At this point, there's nothing that indicates that you can make that claim against these businesses. That there may be a claim. But I don't have enough uh uh enough Facts to Right. To go down that road.
Is is it possible to get a list if if uh Senator Fasano knows who they are? I don't mind why uh apparently Mike's telling me that some of them may be in my district. I don't mind going and knocking on their doors personally and talking to them about it. I'd hate the thought of our citizens getting charged more than they need to be. Um So if if I I'd like Senator I'd like him to come in, but I'd also like to see if we can get a list and then and I will go talk to people in my district.
Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah, he can bring the list to us and we can announce it on the
Yeah, let's announce it.
And let's talk to
him. Well less than a I'll do some research on it also. For next time. So when we meet again I'll try to have you s a little better answer and I'll reach out to the state on that same issue. Yeah.
That advice from the state. Yeah, the problem lies.
to um Pasco and what initially happened with some of these new businesses that came to Pasco County. you know, how their corporate offices were setting
up
the remittance. Um it was showing county, right? But the problem is what he's saying is that they've been told some of these have been told over and over and over again, they're continuing after notice numerous times they're not corrected.
We'll look farther into it.
Madam Clerk.
Yes, I do. I have uh a couple of announcements. I received notification late yesterday that Pasco County was awarded the um Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Governors uh or sorry, Government Financial Officers Association, and that was provided to us for the thirty-seventh consecutive year. So um hats off to Pasco County. Um it is part of the con um
the comprehensive annual financial report that my office works with our outside financial auditing firm. We also work very closely with uh many county departments. And specifically um Office of L and B. And we also work with the constitutionals. So hats off to Pasco County and the Constitutionals for the 37th consecutive year in receiving the award. Yeah. Angela, wasn't that exciting?
That's good.
It is. Something to celebrate. Um just a quick reminder, we have our big shred event this Saturday in Newport Ritchie from ten till noon. If you want to um shred any of your sensitive or personal documents, we will have a shred uh truck there from uh shape uh shred 360 so thank you to um cam caldell to partner with us on that and also um a big shout out to Pasco
Recycling and education uh I think it's is it Rachel Dobbs um she has helped us put that effort together so thank you to her please And uh we have our event for Dade City is on February the sixth, same time. Both are at the Judicial Center parking lots. We look forward to seeing our community there. We have in February our Valentine's Day wedding ceremony coming up. We are excited about that. We married 24
couples last year. We will limit the couples this year, make sure that they are properly social distanced, but we will still do that ceremony outside of the historic courthouse. Um and that is the updates that I have today.
Okay. Thank
you.
Thank you. Okay, I've got a few items. Um I did take this past week, I took a tour of Ridge Road, the construction. Pretty amazing, uh, to go out there on that road. I think I heard that Jack might have been out on that road some. But uh when you go out there and look at what they're doing and I drove the whole distance from the east to the west and back Um Just pretty amazing to see that work that's going on and and how uh
cumbersome that that work is to get that road through there and all. So
do we have a date, a completion date?
I w I will tell you what I've heard and so Somebody might tell me. different if it's not true. But the fact of it is I heard they're working on on two lanes first. and that possibly those two lanes uh would be available for an emergency use only. if we come into next season's storm. or issues to move people off the coast. And it'd carry 'em just to the Sun Coast, if I remember that right. So
It's supposed to be open to traffic this summer.
Yeah, sometime the
summer. During a hurricane. It's supposed to be open to traffic this summer.
Oh okay. And the
building supposed
to be spring.
The trail is the other side. The trail's on the side that will be be then done
with done to that with everything else. Yeah.
No, don't even know.
I No,
don't give us started. Don't get
us
started. I
thought
you heard
that. I thought you heard
all that. I'd like to uh I think I did that on on um Thursday afternoons when I toured that, but prior to that I'd like to thank board members for their uh speaking out about uh the connection with the Sun Coast and I'm sure and it sounds like it uh we were hurt. So Yeah, that's great. That's a great deal. But you gotta be thankful for um Secretary Quinn's staff and all that they've done for us
as long as I've been on the board. When I started four years ago They've spent upwards I think of a four hundred million dollars so toward road projects throughout this county. So you you think about what's going on. They've had improvements to seventy-five, improvements to two seventy-five. Improvements to I four. fifty-six coming across the southern border of our county. Ridge Road now coming coming to where it's coming. Um
fifty four construction, four laning from From Wesley Chapel into Zephyrhills. Fifty two reroute happening. And forty one and Sun Coast, all that's happening all at the same time and summer forty one's happening. But if you take that and lay those roads on top of The county map. That's pretty amazing. And a sh and when you think about it four years. in the next two or three years those will come to fruition and
those roads will be operating and you'll be really moving some traffic. So It's we got a lot to be thankful for for F D O T working with us like they have and and they've They Um, they've done a lot of good things here in this county. So the future for our county looks looks very good for that and and the fact that along with uh doing ridge roads you're gonna have a new road called Sun Lake going One from Pitts two down toward uh fifty four, which is another road across
there. Pretty amazing when you look at that area out there, and I was out there looking at the construction right now. How beautiful that territory is kind of a Sweet and sad. time because Our country is very beautiful, but we've we're preparing for the future with Mafia coming on and it's Right in that area where all this is coming. And it's a great future for our our county and our citizens. Um I toured um Thursday uh I went
out about eleven o'clock to Saint Leo. to to tour the Um uh COVID testing or not testing, but the vaccine being applied to people coming through the lines and it's very, very well organized. Um Ms uh Mr. Napiern His team did a great job. From about I think ten to twelve while I was around there. They did over three hundred Vaccines. in
that system. And they were supposed to do I think f a total of five hundred then. And they like you were told by Mr. Miles earlier that They got ninety seven hundred vaccines that came in for this week. 3,500 of those were uh second shots. And then um They're upping from five hundred to moving to a thousand at these drive through sites. And and the limit to what we can do and vaccinate of our citizens. is nothing but
the vaccine. Cause we have the people, we have people that that are able and capable
uh vaccinating our citizens. Yeah.
Commissioner Starkey say earlier, we still hear those stories. People can't get online. And Vaccines are taken up very quickly. So I mean it's It's a shame it has to be that way. I wish we could have it ever f family put in a name and they get appointments and you just work 'em out. But We don't have an unlimited supply of the vaccine right now. And the more we get and I think We keep reaching out to our legislators and our senators here in the state level and of course the governor. Um We're gonna
start getting more when it when it's available. So Um it's already gotten a little more here within the last week. Um You gotta feel good about Mark Bellow's report that he gave us today and all the positive things about uh our government, our citizenry how how well things are going. And um
Having good citizens, having good staff and employees and leadership here. in our part of Pasco County and and the leadership on this board. that are curing a lot of things for it and and the results you see in those double digit percentages going up. is because we've been a very strong board in doing the right thing for our citizens. And don't forget, our citizens stepped up. And did the right things by voting those ordinances in that uh
you know, provided for our libraries and our parks and and uh fire fire stations and just on about those five items that they approved. And the citizens did that. We we're very lucky to be and fortunate to be here in Pasco County. So let's see.
And from that all I can tell you is uh I'm I don't think we're quite there yet, but uh All the departments have been working on customer service and Our line day is Just think about customer service, customer service and and it we'll get there. It takes time. The real problem is with this customer service is you got So many people want to come here and so many permits that are stacked up on a disc. that our personnel
are just pushed to the limit. But It's all good things and I know they'll continue to do so and hopefully we'll continue to get improvements in those areas. So It'll be a good thing for our county. With that, um