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Union seeks ‘online-only’ school option
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County Schools is continuing its plans to offer face-to-face instruction as one of its options when school resumes on Aug. 24 — but, the union representing teachers and other school district employees is continuing its efforts to block that. In a posting on the United School Employees of Pasco’s website, union officials inform their members that they are continuing efforts to seek an injunction that would prevent a return to brick-and-mortar
classrooms when school begins. The union is waiting until this week for formal actions to avoid interfering with efforts by the Florida Education Association, which is pursuing legal action on behalf of educators across the state, the posting says. This latest USEP announcement follows a rally by teachers and parents at school district headquarters on Aug. 4, seeking to persuade the Pasco County School Board to adopt an online-only opening of schools, until the number of positive COVID-19 cases declines. Don Peace, president of USEP, appeared
at the school board’s meeting that day, again urging the board to only open schools online. “We are not saying we don’t want a return to brick-and-mortar. We are saying we don’t want to return to brick-and-mortar now,” Peace said. “Pediatricians and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) are saying that we should not be heading back to schools at this time. “When the positivity rate shows a downSee UNION, page 7A
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Soule Company, based in Compark 75, plans to add a new 100,000-square-foot building.
“The project will generate $4.69 million annually in gross county product, so the return on investment is very substantial,” Engel said, in recommending approval of the agreement. Jennie Sammurr, who oversees business retention and expansion for the Pasco EDC, told commissioners “the Soule Company is a perfect example of why we have the BRE (business retention and expansion) program and why we do what we do. “The Soule Company was incorporated in the state of Florida in 1956.This company has been very resilient, has overcome many economic climates that have been challenging — and have continued to grow and expand. Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, our local economy and they are the backbone of our business community.” When the Pasco EDC staff met with Jerry Flatt, the company’s CEO, they learned that the company has been considering an expansion for several years, Sammurr said. “Their company manufactures packaging and shipping supplies and now they’ve added a medical division that allows them to service many of our health care facilities in the area, but also in the Southeastern United States,” she said. The company has been located in Pasco County since 2001. Flatt addressed commissioners, via a remote video feed, during the board’s hybrid remote-live meeting. He told board members:“We’ve grown to the point that we need to add an additional facility. “We do a lot of packaging with different companies, different manufacturers, both in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough county.We
As the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) preps its budget for fiscal year 2020-21, city leaders are calling for more attention to Hercules Park, a 9-acre city-owned park land property off Gall Boulevard. Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton on July 27 probed the CRA Board of Commissioners —chaired by Zephyrhills City Council members — on which types of projects they want to have highest priority in the upcoming year, noting the agency appears in good shape with funding this coming year. The answer was unanimous: Hercules Park improvements are well overdue. CRA board member Lance Smith was quick to declare it’s time to gather community input and organize an action plan for the vacant park land that once had a buzzing aquatic center and swimming pool. He observed Hercules Park, adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools, is visibly nestled in “a very high traffic” intersection that includes a Wawa gas station and Culver’s fast-food restaurant. “I think we should really work on Hercules some, because it’s been sitting there,” Smith said.“I don’t think we have to spend a tremendous amount of money on it, but I do think we have to put together a plan for it.” Fellow board member Charles Proctor agreed Hercules Park fixes are “a longtime in the coming,” since ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018. Even minor improvements would make it a desirable passive park for residents, he said. His general idea:“Make it simple, but usable,” so that upkeep isn’t an ongoing burden for the city’s public works department. “I don’t necessarily want to go crazy with it,” Proctor said, “but I would like to make it usable, so if somebody wanted to
See SOULE, page 7A
See HERCULES, page 7A
Soule Company plans expansion By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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An economic incentive from Pasco County is supporting the expansion of a manufacturing business in Compark 75, off Wesley Chapel Boulevard. Soule Company plans to construct a 100,000-square-foot building on a 7.7-acre parcel, at 26543 Wild Fern Circle.The new facility represents an $8 million investment, according to Pasco County figures. The structure will be built next to the company’s existing 62,000-square-foot building, in the industrial business park. Soule Company has two divisions: One fabricates packaging products made to customer specifications; the other fabricates disposable foam positioning products for the medical community. The professional packaging division distributes a full line of packaging and shipping supplies, including corrugated boxes, poly bags, strapping, stretch films, tapes, among others. The medical division works closely with medical entities to design, develop, manufacture, and distribute products that assist in patient care, recovery, and healing. The Pasco County Commission approved an economic incentive package worth $177,172 at its Aug. 4 meeting, to support the company’s plans. The new manufacturing building will generate 25 full-time jobs, according to David Engel, the county’s manager of the office of economic growth. The incentive package includes $50,000 for creating the 25 new jobs; a five-year reimbursement of tangible taxes, which totals $107,171; and, an employee training grant of $20,000 for Pasco-based employees, Engel said.
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com