The Laker-East Pasco-August 24, 2016

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AUGUST 24, 2016

Zephyrhills names new fire chief Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

The Zephyrhills City Council appointed a new fire chief during a special meeting on Aug. 16. It was the fourth new fire chief within four years. Brian Swartout has more than 32 years of fire service experience, and most recently served as Division Fire Chief for the Seminole Tribe Fire/Rescue in Broward County. As division fire chief with the Seminole Tribe, Swartout supervised a staff of 104. He was also responsible for fleet management, capital projects, new purchases, and rehabilitation of apparatus and equipment maintenance. Swartout previously worked for the Lee County Port Authority, City of Deland Fire/Rescue, Flagler County Fire/Rescue, St.

KEVIN WEISS/STAFF PHOTO

New Fire Chief Brian Swartout addresses the Zephyrhills City Council on Aug. 16. He is the city’s fourth fire chief over a four-year period.

Johns County Fire/Rescue, City of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Broward County Crash Fire Rescue. City Manager Steve Spina said Swartout "definitely stood out” among the three candidates that were interviewed for the post. With continual turnover at the fire department’s leadership position, city council members indicated they’d like to see a “multiple year” commitment from the new fire chief. In May, Daniel Spillman resigned from the position after being appointed in Oct. 2014; he replaced Verne Riggall, who also resigned after being under fire for how he had managed the agency from 2012-2014. In a 2014 memo to the council, Spina addressed budding concerns about the direction of the department under Riggall’s leadership, saying there was a “clear lack of See CHIEF, page 19A

7209 Green Slope Drive, Zephyrhills

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KEVIN WEISS/STAFF PHOTO

Several Zephyrhills community leaders were on hand for the Aug. 15 groundbreaking ceremony for the new community event venue at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. From left: Tim Linville, president of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce; Danny Burgess, state representative; Randy Surber, CEO of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills; Melonie Monson, executive director of the Zephyrhills chamber; Steve Spina, city manager for the City of Zephyrhills; and, Gene Whitfield, mayor of Zephyrhills.

New venue being built for Zephyrhills events Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

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The popular Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival, along with several nonprofit organizations, will finally have a permanent event venue at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. A groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 15 marked the beginning of construction for a 14-acre community venue site, at 5040 Airport Road. Once complete, the site will include a 20by-40 stage and 50 vendor spaces equipped with water and electricity, along with additional space for free-standing vendors, business expos and children’s activities. The venue is situated north of the Zephyrhills’ City Yard, stretching to Airport Road and backing up the southern boundary of the Lincoln Heights subdivision. Its location will be able to accommodate up to 15,000 guests at a time, and will provide easy access and parking along South Avenue. The $60,000 venue, owned and operated by the city of Zephyrhills, is expected to be complete in time for the seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ and Blues Festival set for Jan. 21. Nearly a year ago,The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce proposed the con-

FILE PHOTO

The annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival typically draws around 9,000 people. Ground was broken last week on a new permanent venue that will be able to accommodate up to 15,000 guests at a time, and will provide easy access and parking along South Avenue.

cept for a local festival grounds after the organization determined a larger site was needed to house Pigz in Z’Hills. The tract of land the chamber had been using for the festival was about 2.5 acres. “We kind of got to a point where we

grew so much, that it was really impossible to every year set up a whole venue,” Melonie Monson, chamber director, said at the groundbreaking ceremony.“This is going to See VENUE, page 19A

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Twin goals: Safe roads and increased tourism By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

San Antonio is a destination for many bicycle enthusiasts who want scenic vistas and the rolling hills they can find in rural northeast Pasco County. On weekends, bicyclists en masse pedal their way across the landscape. For four years in a row, San Antonio has hosted Gran Fondo Florida, one of eight events nationwide in the Gran Fondo National Championship series. County officials are taking notice of cycling’s growing popularity, and the potential for San Antonio as a tourist hub surrounded by a trail system and destinations that promote the arts, entertainment, food and nature’s beauty. But, if the foundation is there, a lot of work is still to be done to build a unified vision for everyone who shares the roads – bicyclists, residents and motorists.

FILE PHOTO

The scenic landscape in and around San Antonio is popular with bicyclists. The area served as a backdrop in March for Gran Fondo Florida.

The obstacle that most often pops up is where to find the money to make things happen. Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey hopes she has started the dialogue. She told 30 or so people who attended an Aug. 11 public meeting in Dade City that money shouldn’t be the focus – at least, for now. “We’ll never get there if we don’t plan,” she said.“What I’m hoping is we start having a vision and a plan.Then, we’ll get the money.This is just a first step.” Topics at the meeting ranged from the

practical – who to notify about potholes – to the visionary – how to craft a grand plan to promote tourism and safe roads for everyone. Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization has a consulting firm – AECOM - that soon will conduct a factgathering study to identify potential projects. Input from the meeting on popular routes and trails, as well as safety concerns, will aid the county in defining the “scope of work” needed from AECOM. Consultants also will scout out funding sources, and recommend how to start the process, said James Edwards, transportation planning manager for Pasco MPO. While some recommendations would focus on long-range plans, Edwards said, “We want to look at the low-hanging fruit. What can we do in the short term?” The narrowness of many of the rural two-lane roads is a major safety issue.They barely allow two vehicles to pass, and bicyclists have no sidewalks or shoulders to get out of the way of motorists. Janet Geiger isn’t a bicyclist. But, she said,“I drive (agricultural) trailers where the wheels are outside the lanes.The right of way is there, but the pavement isn’t.” Josh Thornton, a former professional cyclist, leads community bicycle rides on See GOALS, page 19A


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