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Super Bowl LV creates big memories
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9 By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans were delirious with joy, after the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV. Besides emerging victorious, the Bucs made history by becoming the first team in NFL history to play — and win — a Super Bowl game in its home stadium. Both the season and the Super Bowl were altered considerably by the COVID-19
pandemic — which created a scene where 30,000 cardboard cutouts outnumbered the 20,000-plus fans at Raymond James Stadium. The smaller crowd size didn’t diminish the experience in any way for Heather Stegmeier, of Wesley Chapel, one of the 7,500 vaccinated health care workers who received a free ticket to the game. In a pregame interview on CBS with interviewer James Brown, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell explained why the professional football league provided the free tickets to health care workers. “They’re our heroes,” Goodell said. “Today, the heroes are going to be sitting in
the stands.Those heroes have been working day and night for all of us, and taking risks and showing us courage, and obviously being the incredible professionals they are, to keep us all safe.” Goodell added:“We wanted to give them an opportunity to get away from all that for a day and just celebrate,” he added. Stegmeier’s happy Super Bowl experiences began on Jan. 29 — when she received a surprise videotaped message from Rob Gronkowski, known as Gronk to football fans, personally inviting her to the game. See SUPER BOWL, page 9A
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COURTESY OF HEATHER STEGMEIER/ADVENTHEALTH
Heather Stegmeier had an awesome time at Super Bowl LV, enjoying the electric atmosphere and feeling special, to have her work as a health care professional honored and appreciated. She was one of 7,500 health care workers who received a free ticket to the game from the NFL.
Survey results show gains, Offices may go but ample room to improve up near Cypress Creek Town Center Did you know?
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Pasco County received higher marks this year than it did last year in numerous categories in the annual National Community Survey. Even so, substantial improvements are needed, if the county wants to achieve its stated goal of being a premier county. An average of 350 communities participate annually in the National Community Survey, which is a collaborative effort between National Research Center Inc., and the International City/County Management Association. Pasco participated in the survey in 2009 and then again from 2012 through 2020. Last year, the county had an 18% response rate, for a total of 1,600 respondents. The validated survey results show how the county compares to other survey participants, in numerous categories. The rankings can be lower, similar or higher. The county also does a separate online community survey, using the same questions — with the goal of collecting additional data to help inform county decisions.That survey received 2,007 responses in 2020. Marc Bellas, the county’s performance management director, presented the survey results at the Pasco County Commission’s meeting on Jan. 12. The really good news is that “everything, almost across the board, is up from last year. Overall quality of life in Pasco County is up 12% from last year; that’s wonderful,” Bellas said. He added: “If our vision was to be Florida’s good county, we could stop right now, because we’re really doing good work.” But, the county isn’t satisfied with that designation, Bellas said. “The county wants to take what it has now that is good and take it to the next
The Pasco County government: • Has 2,900 employees • Manages 57 lines of business • Serves 550,000 customers • Covers 740 square miles Source: Marc Bellas, Pasco County performance management director
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
level, which is great. We need to be better than the average,” he said. This year’s results show substantial gains, in numerous categories, which demonstrates the county’s efforts are having an effect, he said. “We have been at work for quite some time in order to create a better community, and it’s showing up and the citizens are seeing that,” Bellas said. Bellas also reminded commissioners there often is lag time between improvements the county has made and improved survey results. He stepped through results in numerous categories. Overall confidence in Pasco County government has improved by 8%, Bellas said. In the area of governance, which he described as the county’s board’s report card, survey respondents gave higher marks for value of services for taxes paid (up 8%), government working in the best interest of the community (up 8%) and honesty (up 13%). “In this survey, double-digit movement is unheard of. That is huge. That is huge,” Bellas said. The county also saw a significant improvement in the category relating to fair treatment of residents.That jumped up by 13%. County Commissioner Mike Moore weighed in on that finding. “People recognize that this county does
The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a change to the county’s comprehensive plan that would allow consideration for office use on a site with 9.1 developable acres, west of Wesley Chapel Boulevard and south of Hyde Park Boulevard. The site currently is designated for residential and conservation uses on the county’s long-range plan. County planners recommended approval of the change, and no one spoke against the request at the Planning Commission’s Feb. 4 meeting. The new designation would allow consideration for an office development of approximately 67,000 square feet. A rezoning also would be needed, and is being pursued. In agenda background materials, county planners say the request is consistent with policies in the county’s long-range plan because the development would be located along State Road 54, which is an arterial roadway. Planners also note the proposed office would serve as effective transitional use. “Due to the existing topography and wetland features, the development will efficiently buffer the office development from surrounding residential land uses and will not impact any wetlands on the property,” the agenda materials note. “The proposed development abuts existing residential and commercial uses within Cypress Creek Town Center MPUD (masterplanned unit development) and will be constructed as one-story office buildings. The proposed amendment will provide the surrounding community with additional em-
See SURVEY, page 9A
See OFFICES, page 9A