2025 legislative priorities and appropriations requests

1:40:41Good afternoon, Ralph Lair, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer. You have the items we're about to discuss before you

1:40:49and not and no lobbyists here to give us a guidance.

1:40:52Unfortunately they are not. They were here earlier today, but unfortunately uh two of our lobbyists had to uh go to other delegation meetings. So they have left us.

1:41:08So where are we in the legislative process? So November thirteenth we had our legislative workshop. We went through our policies. We got through those. Uh added a few. Um couldn't get through our appropriations though. Uh so that's what we're gonna be discussing today. Uh Next Monday, December 16th, we have a workshop with our Pasco County Legislative Delegation. So we need to really be prepared what we have for that meeting with them on Monday. Uh January

1:41:38seventh, the Pasco County uh of 2025, Pasco County Legislative Delegation Meeting will be occurring this. Part of our workshop so we don't have to be there. The only reason we'll actually have to uh be at the delegation meeting is to do our local bill, which is under one of our policies, and then the regular session starts March fourth.

1:42:07What was that?

1:42:10Oh I got it.

1:42:12Okay.

1:42:18So as I mentioned at our workshop, we did go through and we uh we moved forward with our policy proposals, the county inmate medical costs, the 911 fees, the fuel taxing index, the pedestrian safety driver requirements, uh LIVE LOCOLE, and then we uh added code enforcement anonymous complaints and the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve.

1:42:50No pizza.

1:42:55So currently we have twenty-three funding initiatives and two new initiatives. We need to pare this down. uh and prioritize our projects in preparation for our discussion with our delegation members on Monday. So what uh we did was after that workshop Uh the county administrator went back with leadership. We sat down and we looked at these pro uh projects and uh he said let's prioritize them, let's let's uh kind of rank

1:43:25these projects and focus on A being hurricane recovery and resiliency projects. And then B, these are normally funded projects that you'll see uh every year. And then C, projects that we can hold off on uh and and and do possibly next next session, uh, but really don't need to be moved forward this year. So so we did that. And we gave them again an A, a B and a

1:43:56C category.

1:44:00So we have our priority A projects. Public Safety Operations Center. Which was four million dollars. High water uh rescue vehicle, three hundred and seventy five thousand dollars. Fire station four for seven million dollars. the East Pasco Emergency Shelter Recreation Complex and Community Center Uh twenty million. Emergency portable generation uh generators for wastewater storm recovery and resiliency, two million six hundred thousand. Then

1:44:32we have our priority B projects. D contract, six hundred thousand. Double hammock. Eleven million five hundred and three thousand five hundred and twenty-five. Sun Lake Boulevard, New Road section, by Bexley Parkway to south of Wilton Way. The full amount of the project is thirteen million eight hundred thousand, but we could go in and ask for planning and design for this year on that one. Then we have priority B and C right on the fence. And I can uh tell

1:45:03you the number one Shelter Expansion Veterinary Clinic. I can tell you today they want to do that next year. So we don't have to worry about that one today. Uh and then a pedestrian overpass at State Road 54 and the Sun Coast Parkway. Two million eight hundred and eighty three thousand.

1:45:22Ralph, quick question on

1:45:23that

1:45:23one?

1:45:23Yes. Well I I'm gonna pull that because

1:45:25she is gonna pull that one.

1:45:27Because

1:45:27com

1:45:27Senator

1:45:27Hooper

1:45:28is a very good idea. Senator Hooper has asked for training Boulevard and it's not even on here.

1:45:33Yeah, it it's on there when we get down there. I'll get to it's the additional project.

1:45:37All right, but I I think we should keep it on there. Which one? The well both of 'em, but you know, add the other one as well. But that overpass, is that the amount of money that we've got to come up with a difference?

1:45:48No, we have to come up with six million dollars. So

1:45:50I

1:45:50think

1:45:50we should go ask for six.

1:45:52Okay, I I've had discussions with Nick. Um is this the time to discuss this quickly? I mean, let's go through

1:45:59them quickly and have and then if there's certain ones you want us to go back to and and we want to move them forward, yes. But my goal today is I think we need to get down to I know you all discussed is maybe one in each of your all districts. That would be five. And then maybe we add an additional five projects up to up to an additional five projects on top of that.

1:46:19y all to remember that I didn't have a mask last year and so we said I would be District three. We get a prioritization this year because there we didn't even submit one for me last year.

1:46:31And and so when we go on Monday, our goal is to get sponsors for these projects we asked for. That's gonna be the determining factor. Do we get sponsors? So uh if if you if you don't mind, let me go through or we can just say if you don't wanna do priority C projects this year, we uh we can skip those, but I I I can go through the how they were ranked. Uh so we rank the air van truck.

1:46:58Uh the Newport Corners Recreation Center and Mitchell Park Renovation uh was Rank C. Beacon Square. Um

1:47:09Seapines, because of the uh how large it is and how many it's it's various sections. Trilby Road, which we had applied for before and it got vetoed. Bellamy Brothers road improvements and then Overpass Road Improvements. Lakuchi wastewater treatment facility. Sea pines, Gulf Harbor communities, submersible um motor control cabinets. Wastewater treatment facility relocation feasibility study Wastewater

1:47:39lift station generator receptacles. And complete generator backup for utilities building.

1:47:48The two additional projects.

1:47:50Can can while you're talking, can you plot these on a map, please?

1:47:54We do have the map that you have.

1:47:55Thank you.

1:47:56In front of you. Some of these projects if you and if you have a specific one would be considered county wide like The high water vehicles. Where's the where's the map? Should be right in front of you. Spawn up and put it up on the Elmo white.

1:48:16Is that

1:48:25And then the two additional projects were Um Commissioner Weightman uh um spoke with staff. The next one on the list for the school sidewalks is Sidewalk Curley Road from State Road 54 to Wells Road, 1,725,000. And then this one, Commissioner Starkey, the road improvements on Trinity Boulevard. Um that you got with with Nick and then I think you said you spoke with Senator Hooper on for two million eight hundred and ten thousand six hundred and thirty dollars. So

1:48:56now we can go back And if there's a project I never got with uh we did talk. Uh you were gonna wait uh after you got back from the organizational session, kinda get the feel of what was going on in Tallahassee. You might wanna share that. I think we we've already seen memos from the House Speaker. It's He is gonna have a tight budget. He he has said that. Um gonna be uh tight on the um on on the wallet and the spinning of the Floridians money and we

1:49:26appreciate that. But we also know that they are gonna do Hurricane recovery and resiliency. Uh we'll probably see definitely money go toward water projects. Uh and then it's that other that comes out of general revenue and the trust funds uh that we will have. But at the end of the day, I uh it's imperative that we do whittle this down. So we have the smaller list when we go with our meeting with our our delegation and then see what they will sponsor.

1:49:57Um I I know that I already have commitment on the uh shelter for the east side with uh uh a senator and a uh house member. They've already uh spoke with that. That's one that Commissioner Oakley wanted to move forward on. So I do know that.

1:50:17So is there any of the

1:50:18categories?

1:50:21And I've got everybody basically in line to move that project. So But it's it's good for Pasco County, it's going good for the whole area for a storm and we've just come through the worst storms that'll ever come through. I

1:50:35hope. So. And um and number three, the Trinity Boulevard one is at the request of Senator Hooper. So

1:50:44that's the new one that we just added on. So so that would be the Trinity uh road improvements uh for two million eight hundred and ten thousand six hundred

1:50:52thirty.

1:50:59In talking with Nick, and I don't know if he wants to come up to explain this, but um so that's a turnpike project, not a District 7 project. Um And my understanding is so I I believe

1:51:18How Nick, would you mind coming up? We gave him the money. How long ago? to pay for it. We had the money to pay for it. But they sat on that money for years and now what? We have a six million dollar shortage? What's what's the number for our b the one that we pay and we're paying for it ourselves. So

1:51:37We're referring uh good afternoon commissioners. The overpass

1:51:40at fifty four. We're referring

1:51:42to referring to the overpass at fifty four. Funko. Yes. Yeah. Um we entered into an agreement, I want to say it was in twenty twenty two, but that Maybe older than that. Maybe 2018. That's penny money from the first

1:51:54penny.

1:51:55So uh twenty eighteen. Um we gave DOT District Seven ten million dollars and said please design and construct a pedestrian overpass for the Sun Coast Trail at the State Road 54 interchange. That was um The intent was for them to do that project for us and have it built and operational. In the interim, the turnpike came along and said, oh by the way, we're widening the corridor and we're going to be adding lanes to the off-ramps. Please don't put your overpass bridge in a place where we'll have to tear it down

1:52:25when we build that stuff. And so that that caused a little bit of delay. Um that

1:52:30I'm I'm gonna say I think it cost an unnecessary delay because when you had the two entities at the table, they said You can go ahead and build your overpass, just don't do it in our over here, you have to put it over there, and then it cleared the way for us to move on. So I'm not sure we needed to have that delay. after having that meeting. So that was kind of eye opening.

1:52:55Sure. Well I I can't speak to all of the delays that they

1:52:59gave us the go ahead

1:53:00prior to my

1:53:01still haven't designed that interchange, right? But they said we could go ahead and build the overpass.

1:53:07And what the MPO board was informed of this morning for the commissioners that were a part of that discussion was that the construction of the overpass at 54 has been delayed to fiscal year 26 because we're working out final issues with the design. And then the MPO board was also informed this morning by turnpike staff that the turnpike is adding, this was the one that caught Commissioner Oriona's attention, the turnpike is adding design of the widening of the Sun Coast Parkway from Hillsborough County to north of Stave Road 54. to I believe

1:53:38fiscal year twenty six. as part of their just design funding as part of their draft work program for the update coming up to be adopted in July.

1:53:48But that has nothing to do with our overpass,

1:53:50according to them. It it doesn't at this point in time, because we have an existing agreement with District Seven, with DOT District Seven, to design and construct the overpass, that existing agreement obligates us to pay the shortfall. That's another thing there, Jack. Which is why this item was even on on the um potential legislative appropriations request in the first place, where we said, hey, maybe we should go to the legislature and ask them to help us pay this additional cost. All that to

1:54:20say, one of the options that the board could consider is asking the turnpike as part of the design of their widening and additional um construction of turn lanes at the ramps to include the overpass as part of their project In lieu of constructing it with the agreement we have with District Seven. That would be a substantial shakeup, and we don't have agreement from the turnpike to do that, but that that would be a possible avenue that we could potentially investigate and bring back an alternative

1:54:50analysis to the board at a future point in time.

1:54:52And I didn't want to bring it this up with this guy this morning, because this is not his level. This is a much higher level thing. So I'm like, why shake the pot this morning?

1:55:03So I don't really know uh you know, let's let's talk about it because I don't think it's fair we're paying for it. Um, I think we should see if we have a shot. I don't know if we bring our lobbyist, pick one of the three and take 'em with us. Um but it would be a delay in the construction of that overpass. But We could take the money that they have and build the one over Starkey Boulevard. um which the developer is holding the land for us. So Commissioner Mariano. if you're

1:55:33not sure.

1:55:36We had had an agreement that D O T uh the Trump Pack Authority was gonna pay for the interchanges. They came back and pushed back on us

1:55:43for

1:55:43what, another ten million dollars. Yeah. We fought back and guess what we won.

1:55:46Yeah.

1:55:47I think we should go for the whole six million and put it right on them. Um and whether it be a combination with DOT helping out or turnpike authority, let them both go. But I I think

1:56:01With the appropriations share his district. If anybody's gonna try to find a way to get something done, so be it. If he gets it done, This money this three million dollars or six million dollars total? That's money that we can keep back in the penny to go build some other roads we may need to schools, trails, et cetera, and put the money back in where we want to go put it. So I think it's critical we go fight for it. And I don't care frankly because we get didn't get any money neck la last year. I mean let's let's forget about what happened last year. It's gone, it's

1:56:32gone. But right now, I think we could put all the ass out there. And if we get a legislature that sees something just like they see the the project over in Dade City for the hurricane shelter Let him latch onto it, let him latch onto it. Whatever we get is gonna help the the overall You know, County. Let let it be. Let's let's go find out w where the hot buttons are, who's gonna grab what.

1:56:52So is that a legislative appropriation or is that a District 7 re and pike refunding. That's my question.

1:57:05That would would be a discussion though we could engage our delegation in when we say here's what we need help on. And and explain that but it would not be a delegate and I think there would probably be a better shot of doing that in the and and Holding that off for a discussion where we we try to get them to help us to get that and they don't have to take it out of GR or the existing uh DOT work plan.

1:57:32Okay. I like that. And and uh and I have another question for us. And I think maybe we have to stop doing this. Why did we give them ten million dollars when it wasn't ready to go? W who got the interest on that? Is i is it sitting in our bank account but and uh uh but with their name on it or is it sitting in their bank account for all these years?

1:57:53Usually when we do that they're subject to some kind of agreement. We'd have to check and see.

1:57:57I don't ever want to do that again. I don't want to give them the money until they're shovel ready.

1:58:02Agreed.

1:58:04We could have put that money to use and paid for something. You know, we could've we could have stretched our money and now we now we're getting whacked with it.

1:58:16That's my okay. So I I would agree then We will go fight for that. We'll take our new lobby team with us and but we'll bring it up at the legislative delegate to the legislative delegation. We need a history on that.

1:58:35They can guide us. We know what we want. Let them let's see where the chips fall, where the hot buttons are, what can go. Maybe there's a part of money for some fire station. Maybe there's a part of money for a vehicle or you saying keep it as an appropriation? I I I think well I think we ask for it all. However we gotta structure it,

1:58:52let it go. But I would like to t you know, say that but we had a discussion with our our legislative uh uh our Our lobbyist team earlier. And they said you definitely need to pare this down. This is too big of a request. Uh this is too much and this is you know, you y you can't go in asking like that for that mu for that much if for all these projects. And you really do need to pare them down. So we listened to 'em. They would have stood up here today and they would have said the exact

1:59:23same thing. You this is too many too many ask. Well let's let's

1:59:26I I I think we need to go in this one in a back door.

1:59:31And I agree, and that's what I think we can move forward with, and then talk to the delegation and say, here's what we're planning on doing on this project and and see if we can get that project done. But moving forward, so we've got

1:59:41I'll stop. You want to say so?

1:59:43Yeah, no, I I just uh yeah, we have about $140 plus million dollars with this entire list. And the lobbyists were very clear on, hey, we've got to pare this down. The House is looking to be fiscally consistent. conservative. It's very it's been made very clear to us that emergency hurricane resilient type projects are going to be probably given the priority.

2:00:06What ones do we have that are

2:00:07So if you could put the slide with priority A back up there, Tony and Gina? Um Those would be the ones that we thought fell into that category. And I guess I would I would say a couple of things on those. Real quick. Obviously, we've already spoken about the East Pasco emergency shelter recreation. The public safety operations center is an interesting one because we have federal money and sometimes being able to stack and leverage dollars is is something that is Could be a good thing. So we've we're we're working on the design for the EOC.

2:00:37The board just recently approved, I think today as a matter of fact, uh design funds to do conceptual design for a public safety operations campus. So getting some additional money in to design those components. Pushes us that much closer towards a shovel ready project, which is where, quite honestly, I'd like to really engage, uh leverage the federal side of things to get money for that. You heard um Director Guthrie even say, we've got the oldest EOC um probably in the state, especially for a county of our size. It's it's it's it's time, but but

2:01:08it's also a good opportunity to look at a public safety operations campus similar to what you see. Down in Penellas and Hillsborough. And that can solve solve some issues there. Um generators, maybe. Um fire station number four, I think. Um You know, um they they traditionally have not really funded those, but you know, those are things we could probably be be guided on and and talked to about. And I can definitely tell you a high-rescue water vehicle uh or two would be would definitely be a good thing. So I mean

2:01:33I understood that fire stations were funded for fiscally restrained. No, not necessarily.

2:01:38And and uh there were there was a list of uh fire station projects uh that were in the budget. They didn't have a lot of different things. have a m uh you know a fifty fifty match in which we have the have that well d as well. We'll probably have to bond our portion. That may come into question if you don't have the actual dollar on the on the table. Um but there were several of those fire uh stations that were vetoed. Um so um But they are funded.

2:02:03And I would just want to add that we are seeing different type of leadership from the House, right? That's correct. we're not used to. So it it it they are gonna be running a tight ship. They are, like you said, gonna be watching every dollar. So um this is not a year that we shoot for the moon because we won't do it. So

2:02:27So I think I think moving forward with these priority A's, at least to our delegation meeting, would be would be a good thing. Now, again, we talk about Trinity, we talk about I've seen sidewalks that have been added, I've seen some of these pedestrian improvements. You know, there's conversations that we can have. Right. But a lot of those ones that kind of fall into the C bucket are still pretty they're they're important projects, they're big projects. Um, you know, we we do have other funding mechanisms in which we we're we're approaching them. Um to Commissioner Yeager's point, it may not be the right year for that. But I think

2:02:57if we start positioning ourselves on some of these, especially the large one, I think we can really take advantage of some potential federal dollars. Correct. Um Given how things have turned out. So

2:03:10I would just like to add Trinity onto this and then That's what I'm saying. So if we did

2:03:14priority A and then those two additional projects? That would be enough for our discussion then on Monday.

2:03:24Which would be the sidewalk uh and the road improvements at Trinity Boulevard, which you've already had that discussion. Uh also know that when we go in there H Hooper will not be able to sponsor any uh appropriations requests. Um So that will then fall. to uh Burgess and Angolia and the Senate, uh t or whoever Hooper chooses. If he he gives it the blessing, he can also pick someone to do it that may not live in our delegation or live in our county.

2:03:53Um can the TED Appropriations Chair also sponsor or does he have to delegate? Mr. Sigley.

2:04:01So he can, uh we don't have it the Teds in our in our area. Um

2:04:07He's He's he well he's a Penelsk company. But some of us know him.

2:04:10Yeah, yeah. And he could he could do that. Uh he uh more than likely will not fund it. The appropriations chairs normally do not put in a project, but they do find members that may do those for them and put them in knowing that it's for their district or A project they want.

2:04:29So would you be good with that then going with priority A and then that slide moving forward for a meeting on Monday?

2:04:36So I I got two things.

2:04:37Okay.

2:04:38Uh priority B you got double hammock. That's a stormwater project. Little you heard me talk about this a little while ago. You got stormwater that comes down from the north, worked its way down. It passes like pineapple line where the FA plant is. It then works its down all the way to Another intersection. It stops there, doesn't even get to Lake Chrissy, and then it actually flows back up. It's silted and all the way around. Then it swings out by the scenic drive which is by the Gulfview Mall. It is like a quagmire of waterways

2:05:08that need to get cleaned out and and and fixed up. That's a resiliency plan. When I look at sea uh Jason, I'm glad you're here. So Seapines a project we've got all this funding in place already, I think we've got already twelve million of the eighteen million I'm seeing, unless you've got other things in there. So I don't know what's in the C Pines thing exactly, but With a project you've got two thirds of the funding in place. We've got one last leg. And if not for the Army Corps holding us up for a permit right now. We

2:05:39just started that project already. So

2:05:42they're all great projects. I just don't think we can ask you to do that.

2:05:50That's like an on off market appropriation. So I think

2:05:53with the commissioner, yeah, basically the the different funding buckets, Ralph. Um, you know, is there you know, you had mentioned, you know, specifically you'd also mentioned water projects. I don't know if that falls into that bucket or

2:06:03that. And and and let me also throw in this. and it makes it on the um Excel spreadsheet. This is something that Jason would have to explain or uh talk to us about Right now we need, you know, close to two million dollars for design and um and permitting. That could be this year's ask and then we go back in and do more. Then there's uh uh or he or he's got the for the to include for design and permitting one million dollars and then nine um M the the construction's nine million seven hundred and seventy seven thousand dollars. What

2:06:34my uh question to Jason would be, how long is it gonna take to do the design and permitting? Could that would that take like a year or longer than a year? Where we could then ask for the construction next year.

2:06:47Good afternoon, Madam Chairman of the Board, and Jason Mickle, Public Works Director. Um Yeah, uh Commissioner Mariano, you know this is a um an area that that is um in need of a of a project like this. Um and you also know that we are facing some um permitting challenges on our west side of our um county due to the 404 issue that we have. So we're trying to we're trying to break that. free so it's a little unpredictable to um exactly say how long permitting will take right now um

2:07:17only because we're up against a little bit of um a wall that we're trying to overcome. Um so on double hammock You know, typically design of that type of project takes up to about a year. Um the permitting would follow pretty quickly after that in a normal situation, and then we can go to construction about a year and a half, two years. Um okay so we can ask for

2:07:37part of it then.

2:07:38The ask is we do have the design and permitting costs broken out, so we could ask for that. Um and then on if you'd like me to address C Pines, I could do that as well. Please. Um so the C Pines ask that we have in there is for all three projects: the C Pines, Lafitte Drive, and C Pines Local. Uh the two of those, C Pines and C Pines Lafitte, those are both designed. Already. The Seapines local is not designed. There's conceptual plans done for all of them, so we we do have a good idea how we can move forward with those and that they will work.

2:08:08Um and I'll just say that in our out years in our CIP. We do have money for construction, about about thirteen of that eighteen. We're also leveraging Swift Mud dollars. We have about th about three point five million dollars in Swift Mud dollars that we would be able to utilize for this project as well.

2:08:24For

2:08:24sea pines

2:08:24or double hammocking?

2:08:26Um two sea pines. Seapines and Lafitte both have about a million and a half, million seven for um

2:08:31Well if we only could ask for one and we only could ask for part of it, which one?

2:08:35Well I guess I was just trying to think uh typically the water management district if you get additional funds they cut back their contribution. So really when you gain if you gain fifty percent you actually lose.

2:08:49I'll I'll address Mike's point, which is an excellent point. Um I have my staff look at um you have to match Swift Mud dollars with county dollars only. Okay? That's right. You can't match Swift Mud dollars with state or any other grant money.

2:09:04Yeah.

2:09:06So to be clear from what you just said, I think we got about Thirteen million already funded.

2:09:12Yeah, in our in our C in our five year CRP right we have about thirteen million. Okay. And then if I have that thirteen million plus my plus my Swift Mod dollars, I'm I'm about about five million short. But we did but if we ask for five,

2:09:23Swift Butt's gonna take it. It's not it's not a wonderful.

2:09:27Remember the Swift Mund money that we have for this is only about three point five million of the full twenty-two million that we need to fund this project.

2:09:33Yeah, but but we'd lose the what, half of that then?

2:09:35We would mash the Swift Mund money with our money. Right, so I would I wouldn't plan on using any any Swift button.

2:09:40But here's the th's the thing, if you're that close

2:09:42to

2:09:42getting a

2:09:43which part are they gonna want to match with? The state match or our match? Do we have that choice?

2:09:50Yeah, I think it's probably worth a conversation with the water management dist with the water management district and to see what our agreements state. Because I think our agreements stipulate that if we get additional funding, it it equally defers on another project.

2:10:07Off the top. Yeah, off off usually it's off the top.

2:10:10But so here's the thing. I mean, we have done so many great projects, right?

2:10:18Now I gotta go to the four five four spots and I'm done. I mean, what we've done has been phenomenal. And now they're changing this foo their funding to go do water source, et cetera. I think there's a good argument for the state here anyway. And I think if we can get extra money from Swift Mud, let's try for that. Let them go put the money up. Maybe we maybe we can get it that way so we don't lose money. And even if we did get five million and we lose two and a half, you're still two and a half m million better trying to get a project then that's desperately.

2:10:49I I think if you did anything to keep it smaller, let's get the design done for double hammock because at least we can say we're gonna get the design done and go from there. But sea pines is it's in it's in permitting right now with the with the four with the armory core holding up. And I think with frankly with Trump and the administration in office, I think we're gonna get Get that through. I think it's gonna turn. So I think we should be going for the money to But we're going to have

2:11:10a random point. So on LaFite Drive, there may be an option that we don't even need to get a 404. We're still trying to work through the details on that. Seapines, the regular project, we need a 404. LaFite Drive, we may be able to avoid it. And then with this additional dollars from the state, we could accelerate the project schedule as long as we can get our permits.

2:11:33out of the flood zone. That's how good this project is. And that's going to allow us to then go septic sewer to justify that better, as well as doing the roads in there, which I desperately need too. But we need to make this first step.

2:11:43Is that anywhere near that Springs area of northwest Pasco County?

2:11:51Because we need to be making sure I think Commissioner Oakley was on that board. I went there once for you. Now Commissioner Weightman's on that board. That board has money. They they they have money for septic to sewer and I'm not sure we've ever gotten any I know Hernando County's using it. So I don't know why we're not asking for any of it. That's your district, Jack. Um it's in the upper upper corner.

2:12:13Spring shed is is the um is the Arapica, I believe, portion of the spring shed. Um and there may be a and I don't I don't want to speak to this because I don't necessarily know for sure, but there may be some septic to sewer um asks for that area.

2:12:26That's what that's what they gave. They gave a whole bunch of money into that area for septic to sewer conversion.

2:12:35No, we're so are we south of that? Yeah, we're south of that

2:12:38well what you're talking about is south of it, but I'm just saying there's money for Pasco County in that springs. That's why That's why we have a representative on that board, and it right now it's Commissioner Weightman.

2:12:48We we did get some money, I think, over in Shady Hills al allocated for it, but I I don't think this project touches that.

2:12:54No, I no I agree. Um, I just telling you guys that you you had a lot of discussion, and I got a little time thing here. I gotta go down to Tampa. So pick one. And what is the amount?

2:13:06I think C Pine is the best amount in all the years. But you

2:13:08can't go for eighteen million, Jack.

2:13:10No, no, I that's why I'm that's what I'm saying. That number is too high. We didn't need that money.

2:13:13What's the design money design number?

2:13:15No, I need to well you The design is done on C Pines.

2:13:22So we don't need eighteen million is my what was why I wanted to bring it forward. Didn't you say we need like five?

2:13:28Five million would be my shortfall. So

2:13:30you

2:13:30got

2:13:30five million shortfall, you ask for that and here's the thing. You can now say you got an eighteen million dollar project, you just need five million for it. I think it sells pretty well.

2:13:38Well we got

2:13:39let's go ask for five and say it's an eighteen

2:13:41million dollar project. Representative from Hernando County.

2:13:45Bit.

2:13:46Would have to be your sponsor.

2:13:47So then it goes back to If we're asking for five, do we have the other five?

2:13:55Or do we go in for two point

2:13:57five? No, in our CIP, our five-year CIP, we have I'm just using round numbers, okay? We have th we have 13 million. Okay. We would we have a three point five million dollar grant from the water managers district and we would need about another five to complete the project. So that's those are the those are how the that's how the money break out. I could take it up with the water manager district to make sure that all that works out fine, make sure that our our agreements are written that way. And then again,

2:14:23if we go in and we get money from the state and we already have a large portion of money from uh the water management district, they're gonna take half of that.

2:14:36I think the best way to handle it is look, we've got ten million of our own money. We've got about three and a half or so from the water management district. We're short five. Jason, why don't you go back, look at the agreements, and let's just make an educated guess on what what, if any, the state or the water management district would take back if we were to get an appropriation, and then we can kind of tailor that into into an Okay.

2:14:58And and you know, I I I know those are all important and but you you heard today that people talking about Thousand Oaks and Trinity. And y you know, there was there was one at one time this kind of for you, Commissioner Yeager. And maybe Commissioner Weightman before your time. There was a plan that Army Corps was looking at to hold back the Anklet River. Um so that it wouldn't uh in a heavy rain event it would not flood the Trinity residents. And and those those residents in that area where they spoke about this

2:15:28morning, they are built fifteen inches below where they should be. So they are in a bowl. It's not a closed basin. because we we have an outlet that we spent millions and millions of dollars on. um to get it out to the river. However, I will tell you and I have the video of it, Little Road was a river. We had to shut down Little Road, which is an eva part of the evacuation route for Penellas County. during the hurricane, it literally was a river going over the road. And um so we are gonna have to

2:15:58talk about some kind of solution. for that area I don't know what it is. Um but you can't have Little Road going underwater. Mr.

2:16:08Starkey? So then for the purpose of our hang on. Go ahead.

2:16:13So you and I sat in a committee for what, three years, four years, five years. We had the Army Corps in the room, we had Sweetman in the room, Congress Burr Roccas had representatives. It's all about there is conveyance. Before Trinity Heritage Springs I don't flood. You come down the road, Thousand Oaks does the flooding. You go across the road after the BMP at CVS, you go into Oak Ridge, they got drains running through there.

2:16:35Yeah.

2:16:36You know, gr that they keep open. The water flows, the water is conveyed out to the Gulf. The reserve used to be backed up after that. And we made them clean the Swift Mud made them clean it out. They don't even flood anymore either. If we can get right now some help with the Army Corps and get a push going through to study it, get something done, we can get that water conveyed out.

2:17:00I think we we we lean on him to go help lead the way. I mean we gotta take advantage of that.

2:17:06Okay.

2:17:07So then for our discussion then with our delegation on Monday, are we all good with uh the list on priority A? You are

2:17:18with

2:17:19the addition of the uh two additional projects. Um

2:17:22and sea pines, but not to that project. We're not gonna

2:17:26do uh double hammock.

2:17:27But we need Jason to do his homework.

2:17:31And then we will also have that discussion if time is, you know, uh available to talk about the overpass. And I think that's a discussion we have though, maybe offline with uh um the Senator uh when we have that. So then come Monday we'll be talking

2:17:48them all that.

2:17:48We can do that. Uh and then come Monday we'll uh we'll be talking about our our policies. Uh one we will be seeking a lo uh a sponsor for our local bill that only requires the house. I plan to ask Representative Yeager on that. I just haven't had that discussion with him yet. And then we will have the Priority A projects, the two additional projects. We're working on the C Pines for our discussion and see what we can get sponsors for.

2:18:19Okay. Um i in the future um I I do want to have a discussion about another subject that one of our residents brought up this morning. And and and I'm having this problem in holiday and that is People living on other people's property. And what are we gonna do about it? You know, m our our hands are tied there on nineteen. The guy's got a trespass agreement, but we can't go in and clean it up. And we can't force him to clean it up. He's in Texas. So

2:18:49we c uh he didn't show up in court. There's a warrant out for a r his arrest, but Texas isn't gonna arrest him and send him to us. So I really want it I d it's not fair to those people on Green Key. It's not fair to the residents in holiday. And our hands are somewhat tied, so I I don't know if it's a workshop, but I think it's gonna take the legislative change. Okay. But I do want to talk about that.

2:19:11And uh before I leave I will have our um lobby team there as well on Monday for this game. And remember it's year But don't turn all weekend.

2:19:21It's here? It's serious. Yeah. Oh I thought it was on the other side of the county, thank God.

2:19:27It's my annual cookie party. Are we good? You're lucky I'm showing up. Actually I had to move it to the dinner for the first time in thirty two years.

2:19:36Why don't you bring us samples?

2:19:37I'll bring you some after because I'm not eating all those cookies.

2:19:43Uh where are we?