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Ice center names academy director
By Kathy Steele Special to The Laker/Lutz News
Hockey in Florida is hotter than hot following back-to-back championships by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, AdventHealth Center Ice has strengthened its connection to the Bolts, through a new hire. Glen Metropolit, a former Tampa Bay Lightning forward, has been selected as the new director of AdventHealth Center Ice’s Global Prospects Academy.
The academy provides a tailor-made educational approach — giving students a chance to combine intensive hockey training, along with scholastic pursuits. Gordie Zimmermann, chief executive officer for AdventHealth Center Ice, announced Metropolit’s selection during a news conference last week at the five-rink facility, off Cypress Ridge Drive at the Interstate 75 interchange, in Pasco County. The academy is part of ice center’s mission to build a “developmental pipeline” for future hockey players – both boys and girls
– who want to play on college, professional or Olympic hockey teams. About 30 students are expected to enroll in the program, which will more than double the previous year’s enrollment of 14, Zimmermann said. North Tampa Christian Academy will provide the academic curriculum, with Global Prospect Academy students attending classes at North Tampa Christian, which is about three miles from the ice rink. See DIRECTOR, page 9A
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Brian Bradley represented the Tampa Bay Lightning organization at the news conference. The former Tampa Bay Lightning player is an inductee into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame.
DON’T MIISS Fo o d i e Fr i d ay with ka at tie & kel lli Gordie Zimmermann is the owner and chief executive officer of AdventHealth Center Ice, the largest ice sports training facility in the Southeast.
FRED BELLET
Glen Metropolit, former Tampa Bay Lightning player, is the new director of AdventHealth Center Ice’s Global Prospect Academy.
State roads department offers Dade City proposes update on halted Pasco projects big hike in public safety impact fees
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
www.lakerlutznews.c com
Wire Road pavement work is underway The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report
The Wire Road pavement rehabilitation program began this week in Zephyrhills, and is expected to be completed around Sept. 17, according to a Pasco County news release. During the project, crews will focus on road base rehabilitation, milling, resurfacing and new pavement markings, the release says. The project includes work along the entire three-mile stretch of Wire Road, from County Road 54 to U.S. 301, which also is known as Gall Boulevard. Northbound and southbound lanes will be under construction with single lane closures, the news release says. The project work hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Message boards will be used to direct traffic. The project is expected to take 32 days to complete, depending on the weather. Asphalt Paving Systems is the contractor for this project, being done for the county’s public works department.
B THE HISTORY OF CUMMER SONS CYPRESS COMPANY
INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Florida Department of Transportation District Seven Secretary David Gwynn last week gave an update on the status of state road projects that recently halted operations. Gwynn gave the update during the Aug. 12 board meeting of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Pasco MPO — made up of representatives of Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Port Richey and New Port Richey — is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County. Gwynn told the MPO board members:“We had seven projects in our district, three of them in Pasco County, that DAB Contractors either were defaulted on — which was the DDI (Diverging Diamond Interchange) — or self-defaulted, which included State Road 52 and State Road 54. “After that occurred, we met with our surety company — more or less the bondholder. “I can tell you the surety has been very responsive so far,” he said. He expressed confidence that once the surety company awards a bid on the (DDI) contract, the contractor will “try to get this project not only going, but accelerating as quickly as possible.” Gwynn also noted: “We’re also working with our maintenance contractor to ensure that the project sites are secured. I’ve noticed recentFILE ly that some of the vegetation in Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project some of the areas is starting to grow that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is pretty high, so we’re out there with expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and our forces, mowing them. In fact, Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated we’re doing (State Road) 54, I think, completion date on the project has not been detertoday. mined. “The surety has let me know the direction they’ve given their people is that they need to get these contracts construction projects we have around in going as soon as possible because they’re Pasco County and around the district, a lot also held to the same penalties as DAB of the contractors are ahead of schedule. would have been held to for being late. In The State Road 52 realignment project is alother words, the end date of the contract most a year ahead of schedule, with doesn’t change. They’ll get penalized for Superior Construction. every day they don’t meet, based on that “The Overpass Road Interchange is original contract. ahead of construction, so I think there’s ca“I’m very optimistic that very soon we’ll pacity out there to get other good have contractors on board working on contractors and get these jobs moving forthose projects. See PROJECTS, page 9A “When you look at some of the other
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The Dade City Commission has unanimously given first-round approval to an ordinance that includes sizable increases of the city’s public safety impact fees. The higher impact fees would apply to new residential, commercial and industrial construction valued at $5,000 or more. The proposed public safety impact fee on new single-family homes would be $449.30 — a whopping increase over the current fee of $94.49. That’s an increase of 376%, according to the summary of a report from Stantec Consulting Services Inc., the consulting firm that prepared the fee study. The proposed rate for retail units would be $462.78 per EDU, a 52% increase from the current rate of $304. An EDU is a unit based on the impact of a typical single-family detached dwelling. Different types of uses are assigned EDU multipliers. For instance a single-family dwelling equals 1.0 EDU, while a mobile home is assigned 0.75 EDU and a retail use is assigned 1,030 EDUs. Commissioners gave the proposed fee schedule preliminary approval during their Aug. 10 meeting. No one offered public comment during the introduction and first reading of the proposed ordinance. The second reading and adoption of the proposed ordinance are scheduled during the 5:30 p.m., meeting on Aug. 24, at City Hall, 38020 Meridian Ave. Proceeds of the fees are intended to provide additional funding for the Dade City Police Department, at a time of surging growth and development in the East Pasco municipality. The proposed impact fees are based on a recent study completed by Stantec Consulting Services Inc. A city agenda memo explains that Stantec “determined that capital costs for the expansion of the police department caused by new growth should be borne by the developers of the new projects and the residents and businesses that will occupy the new structures.” Stantec “has recommended the municipality’s public safety impact fee schedule be increased from a flat fee schedule to a fee schedule based on $449.30 per EDU in accordance with the schedule set forth in the study,” the memo continues. The city’s public safety impact fees haven’t increased since 2004. See IMPACT FEES, page 9A