Public comment: campers, Rebuilding Together, data center concerns

1:40Here. Now is the time for public comment. Citizens are given an opportunity to comment on any current or future agenda item coming before the board and on other businesses under the board's purview. Today's public comment will be handled as follows. First we will take public comment for those who are here in person. Then we'll take public comment for those who are pre-registered for an online link and currently on queue. We request that when you address the board, comments are not directed personally against the commissioner or team member, but rather directed at the issues. This provides mutual respect between the board members and the public. After stating a name and address

2:10for the clerk, a three-minute timer will be activated. A green light will be shown in the podium. After two minutes, a yellow light will indicate you have one minute left. When your time is up, a red light will be displayed. Three beeps will sound. You should close your comments. Those online will be disconnected automatically when the timer is up. Madam Clerk, do we have anyone signed up for public comment?

2:29Yes, sir, we do. Um Monica Sepp is the first individual. You can come to the podium and your name and your address and you have three minutes.

2:39My name is Monica Sepp. I'm [address removed]. And then I have a concern, uh just a couple concerns of uh some things going on in our area. Um back in May I had watched the commissioners meeting um and there was some concerns brought up about um people who have been displaced and were living in campers on the canals and there was uh about brought up about permits or a sticker or something being put on the campers to know that those people have. Been

3:10displaced. And I do know that Code was over there and they did clean up a lot of the campers. However, most of those campers now have come to the east side of 19 into our area. We have a lot of campers that have been moved into the area. Most people who use their campers for technically camping do not have them leveled, do not have the slide-outs out, do not have electric to them. Most of them are ready to be able hooked up to a vehicle and pulled out. We have at least probably a dozen campers over there that have are leveled, blocked up, slide-outs

3:40out, lights on at night, you know people's living in them. And it's we are not a permitted campground over there. And I know that in May it was addressed as where are those people dumping their tanks? Could be in the canal water, most likely over there. It's just into the ground. And that's something that, you know, code needs to really address in our area back there. They also, I know code works on complaints, and that's fine. But when you are there for one complaint and you see another five violations and

4:10you do nothing about it, you ride by with blinders on. and code is paid by the county to enforce the ordinance set forth by you guys and they don't do it. We also have people on our in our area back there, it's called Terrace Gardens, that have purchased empty lots. I've got boat trailers, boats, RVs, campers parked on empty lots without a homestead. That's against a violation of the ordinance. Am

4:41I not correct? I think so. I thought it was one of the ones I looked up. There's no home, you can't use that for just storage. without a home. And if they are as a home, they have to be behind your home. Not out in front. There's also car ports being put up. on empty lots so they can store their RVs and campers underneath of it out of the sun. Most likely they were probably not permitted. because they don't have a home. So they did it In violation. And again code comes by,

5:11they work on complaints, which is absolutely fine. But if you're being paid to enforce the ordinance, you should Address those ones that you've that that code officer visually sees as well. I mean that's just it's one of my concerns that I had. Um

5:30Yeah, that's pretty much all I had is just the the campers living over there, people living in the campers. Um they're set up, you know, they're not just being used for camping. They're set up their leveled their camp you know, everything. And then again the the empty lots we have.

5:47Okay. And before you go, David Allen, there was David. Would you speak with David and have a conversation? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for making the drive.

5:55Okay, the next two signed up are Jose Garcia and Sharon Painter from Rebuilding Florida.

6:08And did you want to bring that um so a few years ago your poster board? A buff?

6:14Oh, okay.

6:16So the boy can see it.

6:19Jose, name and address for the record first.

6:21Sure. My name is Jose Garcia. I'm the CEO of Rebuilding Together Greater Florida, thirty-six oh nine, Seventh Avenue East, Tampa three three six oh five. Uh commissioners, Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. Um Rebuilding Together provides residential repairs and rehab services to low income Homeowners. We've been doing this for the last 25 years, and we have seven offices throughout the state of Florida. We serve

6:51approximately 500 homeowners and need to live in a safer and healthier home. One of the fundings that we are starting to work with is residential home resiliency and disaster recovery. We had the opportunity to work with Chairman Mariano to help one of our homeowners, one of your homeowners in the County of Pasco, which is Fred. He's 100 years, 102, 101.

7:20One oh one, yeah.

7:21One oh one year old veterans of World War Two. Um he was one of the many heroes the disembarking Normandy back in uh w in the Second World War and since then he's been Just living the life, I guess, and as you can see. Unfortunately, his house was damaged by Helene and Milton, as many of the homeowners that uh we uh have to help uh as a result of the disaster.

7:52And we were able to make sure that now he can walk freely, independently uh throughout his house. We um replaced and tie the flooring, his kitchen and make sure that his bathroom now has a shower and not a top, which make it easier for him. We want to thank um Chairman Mariano for his help, his support and making sure that we do our uh work and that we serve Fred as well as this is an invitation to help as many

8:22Pasco residents As possible in the next uh time that we have the money available, I guess, until we rain out of money. But uh hopefully we won't get any more storms that give us time to make sure that these houses are resilient and they're ready for a potential storm in the future. We are here to serve the residents, we're ready to help the residents. And if you need any help from us, please don't hesitate to contact us. Again, thank you very much.

8:50And Jose, thank you for taking care of our veteran. Um literally they came to us at the board here probably three or four months ago, said we're looking to help people out in Pasco County, and I had mentioned to you I had a resident right in mind and we met the next day. The next week you guys are out there, put the whole thing together. And the great thing about this program, it's a about a $25,000 uh bill for this whole thing, and it's done without any tie-ins where you don't have to have FEMA flood insurance later on. There's no government involved, there are any conditions

9:20to it. They just come in and it's it's it's funded through some great people like the Red Cross that put the money into it to help people just get back that didn't quite make it back all the way. So thanks for the great work you did. It was awesome and we look to help more people in Pasco County. Appreciate you coming up. Thank

9:35you. Just to make sure I clarify also uh we did everything by the book. Permits were pulled inspections with us, okay? And if there any construction individuals or companies here, feel free to contact us. We always have work uh available to for you guys. Thank you Thank you.

9:55Oh, yes. From the get-go. Just amazing.

10:03One time I was getting an ice cream down the street at Hudson, drove down just to see how things were looking 'cause you hadn't seen it. And we would get in there at nine fifteen at night. They're still working on a Sunday night. That's they were dedicated to get it done for that Thursday. So that they did a great job. It'll help anybody east east or west side um without easy. So great program.

10:24All right. And then the last person signed up is Robert Jacob.

10:34Mr. Jacob, name and address for the record once you get to the mic.

10:39Yes, my name is Robert Jacob, [address removed]. That's in the Quail Hollow Subdivision. And I want to say that we have been experiencing, those of us that have been out there as long as we have, uh a detrimental assault. on our lifestyles and with the unbridled amount of growth that's been happening out there um it's it has definitely

11:09impacted those of us that wanted to move out into the country. Now with regards to this particular facility that you people want to uh are are considering approving Um there are a lot of concerns and they come from all of the data centers that have been being put up around the country. Uh namely the amount of water they use, the amount of electricity they use. And uh the light pollution as well as the uh uh the noise pollution. When

11:39I first got out on my property, I could see the Milky Way the way I did when I was a kid, camping around natural Florida. I can't see that anymore just because the light pollution from all the construction that's happening. Now, with regards to the uh technology that is being implemented, it's already obsolete before it's even been put in. Um China has already tried a lot of this stuff and failed, and uh some of the stuff that I see coming out in the next year to three years

12:10is um going to make it so that uh you'll need one thousandth. Of the footprint that these facilities utilize. On the water end of things, um, they figured out how to fix this stuff thousands of years ago with something called an earth tube. And in Florida we can't use that. We have to use a uh different version of it. It's a it's a poor man's geothermal where you dig a trench that's eight feet deep in the ground and you put Centric coils of something

12:40like PEX tubing and run something like glycol, like you do in a radiator through there, and you can keep the building at a constant temperature with a just a mere pump and a radiator system. It's very inexpensive. On the electrical side of things, you could put in something like a full-blown geothermal. And you could have your own power plant there and not have to have all of the generators or disrupt uh people's homes by bringing in all the electrical things that I've uh the facilities necessary

13:11to bring in the power consumption that this thing is going to use. Uh and the the sheer footprint. Is unbelievable and it it uh also addresses not only uh the water consumption and the lifestyles of the people that are out there, but also Mother Nature. Mother Nature is gonna suffer because here we are paving over our best farmland and uh we're we're replacing the respiration for the um cycle of the

13:41rainy cycle with hot roofs and pavement. And not everything boils down to money. And I'd like you all to consider that. Thank you.

13:53Anyone else else like to address the board in public comment?

13:58No vote? Is there anyone else after this gentleman here? All right, so this will be the last gentleman for the public comment in person. Name and address for the record, sir?

14:09My name is Ted Waller. I live at [address removed]. Good morning, everybody. I'm reading off of the script, so I apologize for not making eye contact. My name's Ted Waller and I've been the privilege of serving as the president of Dade City Main Street. I want to take a few minutes to introduce myself and our organization. Dade City Main Street was recently reorganized and designated as an official Florida Main Street community. Our

14:40mission is to preserve and celebrate the unique historic character of downtown Dade City while supporting local businesses, encouraging economic investment. And creating a vibrant downtown that serves residents and visitors alike. Although we're relatively a new organization, we've already begun building strong partnerships with the city, the community redevelopment agency, downtown merchants, volunteers, and community organizations. Together, we're working to create meaningful events.

15:11support our small businesses, preserve our historic assets, and strengthen one of Pasco County's most recognizable downtowns. I wanted to introduce myself because I hope Dade City Main Street can become a valued partner with Pasco County as we continue this work. We appreciate everything the board does to support our community, and I look forward to building relationships with each of you in the months ahead. Commissioner Oakley. If I may, I also wanted to personally thank you for

15:41your longstanding support of Dade City. Dade City Main Street recently submitted an application to the Florida Division of Historical Resources for a small matching grant to complete a comprehensive historic resource survey of our downtown. We'd be honored to have your support. Through a letter of endorsement for our application. I've prepared a draft letter and it's been sent to your office. Hopefully, you'll have a chance.

16:05Thank you.

16:06Thank you all for your time, your service to Pasco County, and your continued support of our historic downtown. I look forward to working with everyone of you.

16:16Thank you. Okay. Thank you. And anyone online?

16:19No, sir.