Resolution 25-323 honoring Joseph Marina retirement
What the county recorded
This item is not from the published agenda
It is a stretch of the recording that this archive identified as a separate matter — a call to order, a recess, or something taken up that the agenda does not list. There is no official title, no staff recommendation and no disposition, because the county never recorded one. Everything below is inferred.
The source document
The county’s agenda for Board of County Commissioners, Sep 3, 2025
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
The county’s minutes for Board of County Commissioners, Sep 3, 2025
The published PDF, as served by the county. This item is one entry in it.
What was said
Machine transcription of 19m of recording, with speaker names inferred from voice matching. 68% of 77 lines carry a name. It shows what was said, not what was decided, and both the words and the names can be wrong.
Okay, um I do have a ten thirty time certain, but if y'all are okay, we're gonna push that a little bit. Okay, so um we've got a couple resolutions. Uh we're going to take those up quickly. Okay.
So I think R S three first, is that correct?
So this is a resolution for Joseph Marina. So Joseph, if
you can come on. It doesn't matter anymore. Sorry. Our schedule's a little messed up. Um but go ahead, go ahead and do
all three. Okay. So Mr. Marina, you wanna come up to the podium? I'll make sure everyone else is here for the others. And anyone else that you brought with you is welcome to join.
Okay, so this is resolution number 25-323, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, honoring Joseph Marina for his service to the citizens of Pasco County and congratulating him on his retirement. Whereas Joseph Marina began his career with the Witla Coochie River Electric Cooperative on January 16, 1978, as an engineering aide trainee in the Bayonet Point District. And
whereas Joseph advanced through a series of roles that showcased his technical expertise and leadership, including engineering aid apprentice, engineer aid one, engineering aid two, engineering technician at the general office, and district customer service supervisor. And whereas on February 5th, 2001, Joseph was promoted to District Engineering Services Supervisor, followed by his appointment as
District Manager at One Pasco Center in 2003. He returned to Bayonet Point in 2013 to serve as district manager, where he has continued to lead with distinction and will now close out his incredible career. And whereas throughout his career, Joseph has been a dedicated ambassador of community outreach and service. He conducted numerous electrical safety presentations for the Pasco
County Parks and Recreation Department and was formally recognized by Pasco County for his efforts to educate and protect residents. And whereas Joseph was one of the founding advocates for bringing the Vincent House to Pasco County. Helping to expand mental health services for adults with mental illnesses. And whereas Joseph served on the Lacucci Area Redevelopment Board, an organization committed to improving the
quality of life for residents in Lacuchi, Trilby, and Trilacuchee. Under his leadership, the organization contributed to major community developments, including the construction of the Lacuchi's Boys and Girls Club facility and the establishment of a new manufacturing plant, bringing critical jobs to the region. And whereas Joseph served as a board member of the Pasco Economic Development Council for many years, contributing his knowledge
and expertise to support strategic growth and economic initiatives across Pasco County. And whereas Joseph served on the United Way of Pasco County Board from 2000 to 2025, including as past chairman and as a member of the Governance, Allocations, and Finance Committees. His leadership helped guide the organization through economic challenges, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic, while supporting
vital programs that provided meals, resources, and emergency aid to families in need. And whereas Joseph's impressive contributions to the community through his many years of dedicated service were documented in an extension of remarks in the U.S. House of Representatives official congressional record, where he was honored by Congressman Bill Arrakis as the twelfth congressional district's twenty twenty-four hero among us. And
whereas Joseph has been actively involved in local traditions such as the Hudson Sea Fest, where he generously gave his time and support to foster community engagement and celebration. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby honors Joseph Marina for his service to the citizens of Pasco County and congratulates him on his retirement. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present in voting
this third day of September, 2025.
Move pro.
Second.
All in favor? Aye. Aye. Wow. Um, we're gonna start down here with Commissioner Oakley and we work this way and I'll I'll go last. Oh it's yours. Normally we start with Oakley's
Do you want to go first?
I really don't want to go at all, but uh you can go first.
Well first of all, congratulations. 47 years. Couldn't you hang in for three more and make it five decades? No, just kidding.
That'll be up to the boss.
Okay. So when I a I talked to a couple of your friends and they would just go on and on and on about all of your accomplishments. And What you've done for our county is just absolutely incredible. And when I was reflecting on that, like just your legacy that you've that you've left in Pasco County is absolutely incredible. The kids you've helped, the families you've helped, everything you've started. Um We
can never fill your shoes and I I think I can I can honestly say that. I I don't know if anybody can match what you've done to this county for this county. So I appreciate everything that you have done and I know everybody has. I could speak for everybody. Um when I was talking to some of your friends, I heard that you love to cook. And that you're a good cook, is that right? Exhibit A. Well we have a little gift for you girls. Can
you bring up his little we we got you a little gift basket because I mean forty seven years um we ha we have to celebrate your your retirement, so
I think that might be the longest that I
recall hearing
here.
So here you go. This is from this is from District Four.
Thank you. He might live in District Four. I said
it's from District Four.
But I think he lives in District Four, actually. Joe you live on the west side, right? You might live in her district. I do. Awesome. All right, Mr. Oakley.
Yep. Well Joe you've uh done a lot in your lifetime and so much for our community and I when I say our community, the WREC community which stretches over a few counties, so you've done a great deal through your lifetime to help that. We always enjoy seeing you bring us a check for Tampa Bay Water and a check for Pasco County on the rebate for for our money's going for our power. So it really helps out and keep power low for the citizens of Pasco. But
Just I don't know, you can't name just one thing, you just have your hands in everything. Uh I guess they want rid of you and let you retire. so bad that they wanna keep you at the same time, so I I heard you were staying for a while, so That's good. Stay active. Also enjoy some trips, even if there might be short trips, but enjoy them and especially being with family. That's very important to you. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir.
Yeah the Mr. Ren, it's the co-op is, you know, with Coochie River Electric, it's the name of the business. But it's people like yourself and the others that are in the room that what make up the organization and what make with the Coochie River Electric the the company and the culture that it is and to see generations and generations of of moms and dads that have worked there and their kids go to work there and it being you know a mainstay and a pillar of our community in Pasco County and the other communities that you serve is just incredible. So to be there for 47
years and to to go through the good, bad and the ugly as the business grows and what happens in our in our world. and to keep steady leadership at the helm and reaffirm the mission of the co-op. That's not to your employees, but to the customers that you serve. Job well done. Congratulations to you all and your family. and um happy part-time uh retirement. Thank you.
Joe, I want to tell you what a great career you've had. Worked for a great company, just great people. The leadership from Billy Brown, now with David Lambert and all. And the teamwork of your upper staff has been absolutely phenomenal. So it takes a team to make it all happen. But you've been just such a mainstay. We'll start with like United Waves. working there for twenty-five years. When the economy dropped back 06-07 and we talked about what we should do, et cetera, and there was a time we at the time we had probably about fifty or sixty grand into United Way to help out with some things. And
uh we stepped the board stepped it up that year. Even though libraries being cut thirty percent, parks, um All the other cuts we're going through, we knew that our people out there needed were gonna need some help through the those tough times. And I think was one of a great things we did and then for the years afterward, you guys always looked at where the money should go, how it was allocated, and you guys just did a phenomenal job. So your your civic association uh a group group with that is uh phenomenal. Um you know any time there's something going on the county with the customer.
She seems to be at the forefront of it. I know we're gonna be working up in Hudson trying to make it safer up there with mobile resiliency coming. Looking forward to make that happen. You know, we talked about the Hudson Sea Fest. I remember like washing down chairs every year, et cetera, uh, just to make that go. And then uh this this year with the Scholar Fest, reached out to you guys. I call them up because we had some storms coming in, and I said, then the hot sun's out there, I said. We need to get attended there. So between Joe and Dave and the whole team, I call 'em up at eleven o'clock by one o'clock.
The tense up. And it it came in s handy all the way through that whole event, which is just a I think it'll be one of great events coming up year after year. So again, that was huge. When you did the whenever it was down in the dumps with the hurricane, and I'll talk about the hurricane in a second, but Afterward we had one gentleman who had a place that had a couple of nice Christmas looking trees and he says, I'd like to put some lights up. He says, but I need I need a a big truck to get up there. I called Will Tacocci up within two hours they were putting the lights up. And what that did for
the community that day, that time, there was a big roundup with everybody there really appreciating all the all the work you did. So it's not just the the great service, but all the things that you didn't have to do that you you've done. uh Vincent House and all that was is phenomenal. It's a it's a great way to go. Um and you know from Hudson Likucci we've just seen so many great things that you've been a big part of. And I wanna say during the hurricanes when we had the electric issues going on, we always talk about like how do you shut it off, how do you turn it back on, etc.
I can't tell you how many times I'm on the phone with Joe and say, all right, we got need something over here, need something over here, need something over here. And every single time it was going. And so many times it would happen, like we're on the phone talking about it, and by the time we're done with the phone call, a truck's pulling in. I mean, it was just just amazing your whole team, what you've done, and your responsiveness to help. us commissioners serve our people better and just greatly appreciate it. So I wish you all the best in your retirement.
Thank you.
And la and lastly me, and yeah, what a what a I'm sure there's more, but we've just pulled out the some some of your highlights, but my gosh, um you've done a lot to make this county a better place. Um one of the things that piqued my interest when when um we were going through this is that you were an apprentice, an electrician, electrical apprentice. So um I'm gonna be calling you about M skills and seeing and maybe we can uh fill some of that time that you're gonna have. Now if you don't haven't got it already filled up with travelling
and all that. Well we love to have your help. Um You know, kudos to uh your company because they just hire quality people and quality people who care about our community. Um so many times our local businesses get swallowed up by bigger corporations and and they they lose that local identity and um caring for the the community but with Lakuchi is probably The
company I would think of the most that is more involved in making our community a better place. And um and they've hired obviously great quality people. They stay there a long time. I'm sure they're sad to see you go. And we're just we're just grateful that we could do this. For you here today. And um what what's in that basket that he's gonna be cooking all of us?
I I'm hoping something delicious.
All right, so um let's the oh well you go ahead and talk to us and the
I'll start crying so thank you. I appreciate thank you for your leadership without what you do every day. You have some tough decisions to make. I've been here for many, many, many meetings and uh steady leadership. Mr. Karbala, yours staff you have a great staff, County Commissioners, you have great staffs. And for what you do every day you need to be commended. Jeff, Nikki, you as well. Thank you for all your help over the years and uh Little bit we'd
done help w we tried.
I I you know you set an example for all the counties that work all the companies that work in our county and um I wish more companies would let their citizens um devote time and talent to making our community a better place like yours has.
I do need to thank my incredible friends here. They're there's uh you know, first of all this was a surprise. I wasn't supposed to know about it, but you know how those go, so I I did find out about it and I thought it was a mistake but 'cause I don't deserve any of this but uh These folks here certainly do, so I'd like to give them a round of applause because they're the ones that really make it happen.
And of course, our fearless leader, Mr. Lambert, right there. I want to thank him for his guidance and leadership and uh work with him for over three decades and it's it's just a pleasure and I'm so proud of of what he's accomplished.
And thanks for all my friends at United Way for being here and others. Uh thank you very much. I appreciate it. And uh that is a great organization you support and and I can guarantee being on the finance committee for many years that we look at every single penny. So you can be assured that any money you give to that organization is well spent and is a counterfor down to the last penny. So thank you for what you do there too.
That was very smart to hand all the time.
Yes it was. Good move.
All right, we're gonna come down and take a photo with you and your family and then we'll let you bring your friends up for a photo. Okay.
Okay, um I think you have friends and family that anyone that we would love to get up in the photo. Come on up, whoever's here, on our show.
We'll go up to the top and y'all
Let's just one.
But some people might have
to go up to the or do a
second row.
The tall
roll.
Yeah.
Kathy, you guys you guys double up back over there.
Oh getting
beaten.
Yeah you can
Let's start being a step storm.
Any other watch-ups?
The
celebrity comments.
Here, I'm gonna get out of now.
All right.
you again.
We're gonna quickly do two more resolutions and then we're gonna go to our ten thirty time serve.