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Cleanup to begin on massive sinkhole By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Barring unforeseen developments, cleanup is expected to begin this week on the massive sinkhole that recently swallowed two homes in the Lake Padgett community of Land O’ Lakes. As of July 20, Pasco County was entering the final stages of securing bids from contractors for debris removal at the sinkhole site, which now measures 235 feet wide and approximately 50 feet deep — believed to be the largest in the county’s history. Before cleanup and repair work can begin, however, engineers must perform additional testing to ensure the ground around the sinkhole is stable enough for heavy equipment. One of the county’s contracted engineers, Intertek-PSI, is currently using ground penetrating radar and core sampling to measure the structural integrity of Ocean Pines Drive and county easements leading up to the sinkhole. Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety, said recovery work could take months, with
Test your water Due to the positive bacterial results, Pasco County announced it is waiving the fees for well water for testing more than 400 homes along Lake Padgett and Lake Saxon through July 28. All residents living on the following streets qualify for free well water testing: Bronze Leaf Place, Canal Place, Clover Leaf Lane, Flat Rock Place, Grove Place, Heatherwood Lane, Lake Padgett Drive, Lake Saxon Drive, Ocean Pines Drive, Panther Way, Peninsular Drive, Pine Shadow Drive, Rain Forest Place, Snook Circle, Swans Landing Drive and Wilsky Road.
costs ranging from $750,000 to more than $2 million. “It’s going to be a very slow and methodical process,” Guthrie said. The county already has spent about $100,000 responding to the sinkhole, through contractual and departmental costs. The county’s goal is to have a debris removal company in place in case homeowner’s insurance companies don’t
Residents who would like their well water tested should do the following: • Go to the Pasco County Environmental Laboratory located at 8864 Government Drive in New Port Richey and request a test kit for Total Coliform. • Present proof of address and receive lab instructions to collect water. • Take a sample of their tap water according to lab protocols, and bring the sample and associated paperwork back to the laboratory. • Results will be available in two days.
accept responsibility to clean up the sinkhole. The fastest, most economical cleanup tactic being considered is what’s called a dragline — a cable-operated system that would extend out and collect debris from the surface of the sinkhole. Other possible options include using a See SINKHOLE, page 15A
Neighborhood Notebook seeks suggestions By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Give a community a piece of chalk and chalkboard, and wait — people will write what’s on their minds. That’s the idea behind the Neighborhood Notebook, a chalkboard that’s intended to invite those passing by to share their ideas about how they want their community to grow. The chalkboard is being placed at various locations in central Pasco County to seek community input. At the moment, the focus area is the Gateway Crossing Market Area bordered by State Road 56 and State Road 54, Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 41 and Interstate 75.That includes the communities of Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel. County officials are hoping to spark a dialogue about the area’s future growth. What do residents want? Do they want more trails? Safer streets? Better bus service? More restaurants? Residents were introduced to the Neighborhood Notebook at The Shops at Wiregrass, from July 11 to July 17. On opposite panels of a hinged chalkboard, two unfinished sentences invite “fill-in-the-blank” moments. Pasco County employees built the notebook and set it up outside the customer service station at Wiregrass. The unfinished sentences are: ‘I would like to see’ and ‘I can make it happen.’ “It’s a new, different kind of thing designed to get attention,” said Kris Hughes, the county’s planning and development administrator. County officials are giving residents opportunities to express ideas about future planning issues in central Pasco County, including land use, design and transit.
KATHY STEELE
Land O’ Lakes resident Sean Serrano reads the Neighborhood Notebook at The Shops at Wiregrass, before adding his own ideas to the chalkboard.
Officials got some of those ideas, and, on occasion, naughty graffiti. That wasn’t unexpected with a display open to the public, said Hughes. “We all have to deal with what would be juvenile behavior as it arises.We don’t let it stay up there,” Hughes said. At future notebook exhibits, Hughes said the county might provide maps so that residents can better understand the area being studied. As of July 17, residents had left ideas that covered a range of topics. One person wanted to see people “not being idiots.”Another wanted to see someone’s Mom smile. Others advocated for
legalizing marijuana, veganism or wanted “no capitalism.” Expressions of love, punctuated with heart symbols, were plentiful. One person offered this sweet thought – “Just reminber (reminber scratched out) you’re beautiful.” The message was accompanied by this admission:“I can’t spell.” Land O’ Lakes resident Sean Serrano paused to read messages on the notebook. “It’s like a little glimpse into the community around here,” he said. One goal with the outdoor notebook is See NOTEBOOK, page 15A
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Japanese investment focus of roundtable By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
On a map of Florida, more than 18 Japanese-owned companies are pinpointed across the state. South Florida has the most, with only a handful scattered in central and northeastern cities, including the port city of Jacksonville. Noticeably blank is Florida’s central west coast, including Pasco County. “I think there has not been much of a connection,” said Japan’s Consul General Ken Okaniwa.“Maybe there is a need to promote yourselves more.” Pasco business leaders and county officials will get that chance at the 40th annual Southeast U.S./Japan Joint Meeting from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24, in Greenville, South Carolina. Representatives from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee will participate. “We want to bring it (trade meeting) to Pasco County in a couple of years,” said Okaniwa.“It’s a wonderful opportunity to create more jobs.” Encouraging dialogue about more
STEPHEN JOHN PHOTOGRAPHY
Japan’s Consul General Ken Okaniwa, left, spoke at a business roundtable at Saddlebrook Golf Resort & Spa. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.
Japanese trade, investment and tourism in Florida is one of the functions of the Japanese consulate, located in Miami. On July 17, Okaniwa met with more than 20 Pasco County business and community leaders for a business roundtable at Saddlebrook Golf Resort & Spa. U.S. Rep.
Gus Bilirakis and The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event. Okaniwa outlined Japan’s economic ties with Florida in a PowerPoint presentation. • Japan is the state’s largest investor, with more than $4 billion invested in plants and equipment • Japan is Florida’s fourth largest trade partner (combined export and imports) • Japan is the largest importer of Florida grapefruit in the world • About 278,000 Japanese tourists visit Florida annually, with Disney World the top destination And, Okaniwa said more than 190 Japanese-owned companies provided about 24,000 jobs in the state, as of 2014. “The number has been growing,” he added. Japanese economic and business focus is on six areas, including driverless vehicles, renewable energy, robotics and medical services, especially regenerative medicine. Okaniwa said Japan investors were involved in “smart city” projects in Orlando and Miami.
See ROUNDTABLE, page 15A