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LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
AUGUST 26, 2015
Saying no to ‘cotton-pickin government’ By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
When he was running for office, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore heard a recurring theme: Do something about the blight. The county, like many other Tampa Bay communities, suffered from the recession, and voters told Moore they wanted something done about neglected buildings. But a proposed ordinance that would set minimum standards for maintaining commercial buildings is stirring controversy in at least one community – Land O’ Lakes. About 50 Land O’ Lakes’ business owners and residents met on Aug. 19 with Moore and Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims to air out their concerns about what they see as government overreach.
“This just feels like more cotton-pickin government, and I’m tired of that,” said Russell Adams, owner of Russell Adams Realty Inc. The ordinance came up during a recent workshop where Pasco County commissioners met publicly to discuss the 2016 fiscal year budget. A public hearing and a vote by commissioners on Mike Moore the ordinance will be scheduled in the future. The ordinance is similar to one adopted in Hillsborough County nearly six years ago, and mirrors codes currently applied to residences. It also reflects the best-practice
standards recommended by the International Property Maintenance Code. County code currently defines a blighted structure and criteria for ordering an owner to tear it down unless repairs are done. Or, the county can tear down structures and place liens on properties. What’s new about the proposed ordinance is that it introduces citations and fines for failure to maintain commercial structures to public safety standards. Examples include weather-tight windows and exterior doors, properly anchored awnings, and peeling or flaking paint. After 30 days, buildings with boarded up windows or doors must be repaired, or fines will be levied. “Ninety percent of the proposed ordiSee GOVERNMENT, page 11A
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOSHIBA
Colby Tomasello (back row, second from right) joins other participants at the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leade rship Academy in Tokyo.
Trip to Tokyo offers new perspectives By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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Colby Tomasello recently returned from Tokyo, Japan, where he took part in the TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy. The Land O’ Lakes High student was among a group of eight students and four teachers from the United States who were selected to make the trip. He spent a week working in collaborative teams with Japanese students, to tackle challenges that required thinking outside of the box. He also did some sightseeing and had a Colby Tomasello, right, receives a congratulatory handshake from Toshiba America Inc. See TOKYO, page11A
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Audit finds deficiencies in Pasco’s water billing By Kathy Steele
Some residents could receive credits or have outstanding charges removed Louise Gritmon still is in disbelief over a from their bills. Or, the counone-month water bill for more than $3,300. ty could determine that the Pasco County charged Gritmon for using fees are correct. more than 614,000 gallons of water over 18 In some cases, customers days in the July 2014 billing period when already have received credits, her house was vacant. said Pasco County That never happened, Gritmon said. Administrator Michele Baker. And she has two plumbers, an engineer In a press release issued and a manufacturer who can back up her asAug. 21, county officials said sertion that the amount of water measured the goal is to apply credits, if by the county couldn’t physically go needed, by mid-September. through her pipes in the time they say. The county will hire a PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAULA O’NEIL The county has disputed her claims. consultant to assist in correctAn audit has found deficiencies in billing at Pasco County’s “I just want my bill zeroed out to what it water department. ing overall problems. should be,” Gritmon said. Temporary staff members She will have to wait a bit longer to find will be hired as well. Baker out if the county will do that, but on Aug. When the meters were tested, however, has given the department until March 25 to 18, Gritmon had reason to hope. they were found to be functioning proper- implement the audit’s recommendations. An eight-month ly. “We’re recommending that they (acaudit ordered by Gritmon took her complaint to the counts) be reviewed individually to Pasco County Clerk & media last summer, and soon after, the determine if constant flow is the problem, county was deluged by other customers or what the problem is,” said O’Neil. Comptroller Paula who had similar complaints about overO’Neil, and completSome recommended changes in operabilling. ed by her inspector tions at the water department have been The audit began in October 2014 and implemented, and more are on the way. general’s office, found looked at water bills issued between June 1, deficiencies in the One recommendation is to flag accounts 2014, and April 15, 2015. county’s meter readwith exceptionally high charges for reviews As a result, the county will give closer before bills are mailed to customers. ing and billing Paula O’Neil scrutiny to 317 of 337 customer complaints procedures. Software The issues raised in the audit are “glaring glitches in the county’s automated system, among its more than 93,000 accounts. The and concerning,” said Pasco County inaccessible meters, inconsistent readings audit found those accounts, including Chairman Ted Schrader. “We can do better, and alerts that were ignored got most of the Gritmon’s, had from one to six bills that ex- and we’re going to make every attempt to ceeded 120 percent of the annual average. blame. do better for our utility customers.”
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executive R. Steven Tungate for his participation in the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy in Tokyo.