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LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Panel says no to charter in Pasco By Kathy Steele
had presented their case for pursuing a charter form of government. The charter could have included term limits, single With a one-vote margin, opponents of a member districts and a recall procedure to charter-style government in Pasco County oust elected officials. killed a proposal that had the backing of the About 30 people attended the Aug. 24 county’s legislative delegation. committee meeting in New Port Richey. In an 8-7 vote, a 15-member appointed After the vote, Corcoran expressed disappanel opted not to write a charter that pointment. He said he would prefer that could have significantly changed the way voters had the final say on a charter. Pasco County’s government operates. Still, he said, “I’m glad we had the converThe vote came after the county’s five- sation.We had a good vetting. I’m happy.” member legislative delegation – State Rep. The seven votes favoring a charter came Richard Corcoran, State Rep. Amanda from panel members appointed by the deleMurphy, State Rep. Danny Burgess, State Sen. gation and two members appointed by Wilton Simpson, and State Sen. John Legg - Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Corcoran had urged the Pasco County Commission to create a charter commission earlier this year that would have been required, under state law, to produce a charter. Under that scenario, commissioners would not have been able to amend the charter document and voters would have the final say. Commissioners resisted that approach, instead opting for a nonbinding panel which had the option of recommending a charter or not. If the panel had approved a charter with a super-majority vote, commissioners had See CHARTER, page7A
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David Angulo of Tampa, foreground, and Javier Perez of Land O’ Lakes look over paperwork before applying for a position with one of the new stores opening at Tampa Premium Outlets. Angulo is hoping to obtain a position at the Express Factory or Puma.
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Tampa Premium Outlets Job Fair draws thousands By Kathy Steele
— mall representatives estimated more than 3,000 people had dropped off resumes and met with recruiters from the nearly 70 At 6:15 a.m., the first applicant showed shops that participated in the job fair. up at USF Embassy Suites in Tampa, ready to More than 800 jobs were on the line for hand out resumes and secure a job at the what is the most anticipated mall opening Tampa Premium Outlets. in Pasco County in years. The sight brought a smile to Stacey The outdoor mall, with 110 brand name Nance. outlet stores, is expected to be a shopping “I think this is a true testament of what mecca that will be a regional attraction on the entire day is going to be,” said Nance, the what was once pasture land, off State Road outlet mall’s general manager. 56, near an Interstate 75 interchange. As the hours passed, the crowd swelled The grand opening is a weekend celebraby hundreds as job seekers waited outside tion from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. Details on the hotel’s ballroom for the doors to open special events and celebrity appearances are at 10 a.m., for the Tampa Premium Outlets pending. Job Fair. But on Aug. 27, the focus was on employBy the time the doors closed — at 7 p.m. ment opportunities.
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Bell Lake and Collier to get turn lanes By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Road crews will start work within the next month to construct new turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway. County officials say the redesign will ease traffic congestion. But, area residents are more than a little skeptical that anything short of a traffic light will solve congestion problems. About 50 people brought their concerns to an Aug. 25 public meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center. New turn lanes will help, but don’t go far enough, residents said. “They need a light to go with it,” said Brenda Theisen. “It should be a package deal, not something five years down the road.” A traffic signal is expected with the widening of Collier, which is part of Pasco
The job fair day brought out an eager pool of applicants, freshly dressed to step right into their hoped-for new jobs. Land O’ Lakes resident Javier Perez said he wants to pursue an art degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design. A fulltime mall job could make that dream happen. “I’m going to apply to as many stores as I can,” he said, noting he sought advice on his resume from his mother, who works as a counselor. Wesley Chapel resident Cherish Suddith is a pharmacy supervisor for a health care company. She hopes to work nights and weekends at her favorite store — Vera See MALL, page7A
design’s effect on traffic once work is done. “Every time you put in something new, you monitor it,” Smith said. Residents at the meeting recounted daily headaches of getting out of their subdivisions as traffic stacks up in both directions on Collier, and on Bell Lake and Whittner Drive. The worst is during morning rush hour, as motorists navigate left turns onto or off of Collier. According to county traffic KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTO counts, the annual average daily trafPhil Chang, branch manager of Johnson Engineering fic along Collier, near Bell Lake, is about 10,000 vehicles a day. Inc., in white shirt, explains the county’s project to “At certain times of the day, you add turn lanes at Bell Lake Road and Collier Parkway. can’t get out of your house,” said Howard Rubin. Cars stack up in County’s five-year transportation plan. both directions on Collier, and others wait The approximately $534,000 project to to turn left from Whittner Drive — which is adjust the Bell Lake and Collier intersection the only way in and out of Rubin’s subdiviis set to start in late September or early sion. October, and to be completed by January. Some give up, take a right turn down to The work will add new left-turn lanes on Richardson Lane and make a U-turn. Or like Collier at Bell Lake, and a right-turn lane on Rubin, they wait for a gap and zip across Bell Lake at Collier. Sidewalk and drainage Collier onto Bell Lake. That can be a dangerimprovements also are planned. ous choice, Rubin said. “This will improve traffic operations in In the mornings and afternoons, a dozen this neighborhood,” said Margaret Smith, or more Pasco County school buses travel Pasco County’s engineering services direc- Collier. tor. See OFFICE, page7A County engineers will review the re-