9.16.25 Pasco Board of County Commissioners Meeting (Morning Session)

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Heat. Heat. [Music]

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could automatically do it.

Uh, we should be reimbured. Is it worth doing?

Where's my script?

At least for

There's a lot of stuff up here today.

Yeah, there is.

Thank you.

I'm moving that out your way.

Good morning.

Back.

Good morning.

I'm silencing my phone. Uh, good morning. And I'd like to call to order the Pasco County Board of County Commission 10 a.m. meeting of September 16, 2025. At this time, silence all electronic devices and mute your microphones. Please rise for the invocation and the pledge of allegiance.

Good morning.

Morning.

Let's pray. Father, we come into this room for another important meeting today. Lord, as we recognize various people and as we discuss various concerns and across our county, Lord, uh we thank you for the accreditation and recognition of our public's work public works department and others who will be recognized today. And yet, as we enter into today, we uh enter with sad hearts. As we think about the violence that just occurred a couple days ago against Mr. Kirk, we condemn such violence, Lord, against anyone. and we ask that you help us to find ways uh for us to agree to disagree in a peaceful manner in all aspects of our lives. So I ask that you surround his wife and his friends and his kids with your arms of love and peace. And at the same time, Lord, we lift up so many others that don't make the news that are victims of uh similar violence. And we just ask that you help peace to descend upon our land, Lord, so we can go forward united. So, uh be with us today as we come together. Give us wisdom to make decisions that need to be made and help us to accomplish the purpose of our time together today. And we lift us all up in your name. Amen.

Amen.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Okay, Madame Clerk, please call the role.

District one, Commissioner Oakley,

here.

District two, Commissioner Weightman,

present.

District four, Commissioner Joerger,

here.

District five, Commissioner Mariano,

here.

District three, Chairman Starky,

here.

All right. Uh, now is the time for public comment, and citizens are given an opportunity to comment on any current or future agenda item coming before the board and on other business under the board's purview. Today's public comment will be handled as follows. First, we will take public comment from those who are here in person. Then, we will take public comment from those who are pre-re who have pre-registered for a web X link and are currently on Q. We request that when you address the board, comments are not directed personally against a commissioner or team member, but rather directed at the issues, and this provides mutual respect between board members and the public. After starting stating your name and address for the clerk, a three-minute timer will be activated and a green light will be shown on the podium. After 2 minutes, a yellow light will indicate you have one minute left. And when your time is up, a red light will be displayed. Three beeps will sound and you should close your comments. Webex participants will be disconnected automatically when their time is up. And madam clerk, do we have anyone who signed up?

We do. We have a a few who have signed up. Um, if I pronounce your name incorrectly, you can correct me. I'm I'm okay with that. Uh, the first one up is Enaki Alvarez and then followed by Amanda McCall. Hello. Good morning. My name is Alvarez Inyaki Alvarez and I'm the uh 9218 Water Hazard Drive in Hudson and I'm the president of the Fairway Oaks Homeowners Association and with me is Annette. She is a board member and um good morning and thank you for for letting us speak here. The um the reason why we're here is because uh a year ago in this room uh we discussed a sale of uh property. Ryan Holmes was buying the closed golf course that exists in our community, Fairway Oaks. And uh in that in that discussion uh we believe was agreed that the developer as part of the sale the land to 20 acres that is in our side of the golf course was going to be given to the community free of charge and the developer was going to help clear the trees. trees, the pine trees uh that were especially in the retention ponds uh that were placed there as part of the closing of the golf course and that the county uh agreed to take the debris away at no charge to the community. So we are here just to confirm that that all is indeed the reason we're here also is that we've heard from what we think are reliable sources that the sale is actually going to take place now. It was postponed from last March and perhaps it's going to happen now in October. That's what we're hearing from reliable sources. So, we thought we'd come the month before address the the the county to please guide us and make sure that what was agreed to, what we believe was agreed to indeed happens. And um and that's that's it.

Some of you were in that meeting. I recognize some of that.

We don't typically engage during public comment, but someone will meet you in the back. And I think it's Mr. Engel over here. and um he will discuss everything with you.

Is that a yes or no or is that um

that Mr. Doc Mr.

Yeah, I understood what about that.

We we don't have the agreement in front of us.

All right.

Yeah.

All right. Well, that's the case. I appreciate it very much.

Have your commissioner up.

Yes, I know ahead of time, but

Yeah, David.

Yeah.

All right. Thank you. Next.

I'm going to take that as a positive. I hope. Although

I hope so, too.

All right. Thank you. Thank you,

Amanda McCall, followed by Christina Wood.

Uh, looks like we're going to receive something.

Take a motion.

Good morning.

Morning.

Uh, yes, I have document documents to submit.

All in favor? I

hand them over.

They're multiple copies, so I hope everyone gets one. Uh, good morning. Um, we are here myself and my neighbors.

Name and address, please.

Uh, Amanda McCall, 9648 Jerome Drive.

You may proceed.

Thank you. Um, we're here about a nuisance property as well as health and safety concerns. um across the road at 9645 Jerome Drive. Um the owner passed away back in 2020. Taxes have not been paid. The property is still not up for sale. Um squatters have moved in. They are living in two different campers as well as a garage. The house burnt down in 2007. They have electric and internet. Um, currently I believe they have 10 adult dogs that are allowed to run loose. We have called animal control. They were there Thursday and received, I believe, close to 2,000 incitations. They have not kept them put up. They're still running. They've started chasing people with a pack mentality. Um, we do know that there's drug use on the property. Um, I have contacted code. I also have transcripts from code, fire department, sheriff's department, and 911. 75 calls to 911 just this year alone. Uh 14 EMS calls, 23 code complaints. It's just a waste of tax money and we do fear for our safety and the children and people that live around us. Um, since the owner has passed, I was informed by code that there's nothing that they can do that we would need to go a step above to ask for a resolution to this issue.

As far as one of the popup campers, the Moon Lake area.

Yeah. Which is it? Because I'm Is it Newport Richie or Hudson?

Newport Richie.

Newport Richie. I just looked up. It's Moon Lake.

Yeah. I believe we're in district four, I think.

Not for certain. No, it's not Moon Lake. What's the What's the area?

Jerome Drive. We are

No, no, the the neighborhood.

Moon Lake. Oh, it is Moon Lake.

Oh, yeah. It is Moon Lake. Yes.

Okay. I'm going to pass these on so you can see. Um but yet um including in some of just there's trash, junk, debris, constant noise. Um I know that they have been cited for the permitted use of not being allowed to live in the structures that they're living in. um constant open burning which they're doing on the back of the property which borders Jerome Lake which I believe is county property. Um one of the trailers I know is pushed back far enough trying to hide what they're doing. I do believe it's actually sitting on county property. Um as far as 911, there's been warrants, overdoses, battery, assault, forgery, noise, animals. Um just goes on and on. And this is just this year alone. So what we're all here for is just requesting that something happen because since the owner's dead, there's no way for code to do anything.

Can somebody talk?

Um who here can speak with her and the others that are here for this issue? Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I hope it gets cleaned up.

Yeah, we're trying.

Yeah.

All right. U we have Christina Wood followed by Alan Rose.

Um if you're here for that issue, the head of our code enforcement is in the back there with the the sheriff's representative and they'll talk to you.

Okay.

Yeah. I'm going to piggyback off her. My name is Christina Wood. I'm at 9641 Jerome. I actually live directly next door to them. I have direct view of all the trash. I wake up in the morning to drink my coffee. That's what I see. I just bought this house 5 months ago. My husband and I worked very hard to move here and our goal was to find peace. We were living in a very bad apartment complex over off of Ridge Road. Winintry Apartments. I'm sure people know about it.

We moved out of there and got ourselves in what we thought would be a better situation. I have chickens which I absolutely adore who are getting attacked by these dogs. Code was like she said, Code was there Thursday. I was out with the chicken on my lap yesterday. These dogs came running up to me. My husband got up, yelled at the dogs to go away. The woman next door started yelling for her dogs and I yelled back, "You need to keep your dogs on your property." I don't want to have to take control of that situation on my property with the dogs, if you get my understanding with that. That's the last thing I want to do. I'm an animal lover first. But these dogs do have a mentality of a pack. They run around the neighborhood. I have videos even up to today of these dogs in rows of five or six going across my property, going through my yard. I have a dead rabbit now. My rabbit died yesterday because a dog was torturing it in its cage. I'm I'm done. I'm over it. I've called police. They'd be playing music at 2 o'clock in the morning. My son, who's 15, is in high school, first year high school, ROC, great student, does really well. Can't sleep at night because of the boom boxes in the middle of the night, 2:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the morning, and it's all day. I work from home. This music was starting at 5 in the morning and going until 8 at night. I was physically ill from the base being in my room hearing this all day. the drugs. We be out we'll be out there with our animals because we spend a lot of time outside with them. We're sitting out there and they're coming out of the camper literally tweaking and I hear people yelling in the camper about getting Narcan. I called 911. This this has got to come to an end. whether or not there's an owner involved, right?

They're they're causing a real big problem in our neighborhood and we're not getting any rest.

So,

I will tell you, we are working on it. It's it's it's a huge

lift, but we are on it. Yeah.

And I'm also having um my aid meet you in the back along with them,

right? And

I actually called a couple weeks ago on the phone and spoke with you guys about this meeting coming and dealing with this. So,

Okay. But we're going to try and help you as much as we can.

Perfect. Yeah.

Thank you,

Madam Chair. Yeah,

there's a lot passed by the legislature this past year about dangerous dogs. I think uh with Chase in the back of the room with David, maybe they should get together as well and just find out what can be done about what's going on there.

I I you know, these ch these problems are hard. Um it took me a year to get the people living in those tents on 19 out of there. Um, we should bring this up with our legislature that that we we need be able to help our citizens be able to live in their homes comfortably.

Yeah, it's not right.

Agreed.

All right.

Good morning, Alan Rose, one221 Hilltop Drive.

Presentation for board.

All in favor? I

I

So good morning and uh this morning I'm bringing to you before you storm water management, West Pasco County in the central basin areas concerned Golden Acres, Bass Lake, Cranes Roost, Oyola Heights, Griffin Park, Timber Oaks, Beacon Woods, Summer Tree, Shady Hills, Moon Lake, River Ridge, and Hayden Lake. All these communities are now prone to flooding due to a lack of waterways management at Bear Creek and the Cody River. They're also prone to flooding due to a lack of maintaining the storm water system already in place for years bringing the waters to Bear Creek to our north and the Cot River to our south. Just like Trinity to to our south, repetitive flooding every year. Theirs is the Ankllo River. All these all three of these waterways are over impaired water basins mainly due to lack of flow and repetitive flooding due to not maintaining storm water management stations in place. Our wetlands are being reszoned and built on throughout the area. most recently the building buildings from uh Lowe's south along Little to the New VA hardening the surface and now the water flow that would naturally drain that way now flows to Rocky Sink and uh Rocky Sink now fills up fast where that used to be a natural drain from where we live over in Golden Acres across to Rocky Sink and just naturally go that way. Well, now with all this development over here, it's pushing the water into Rocky Sink faster. And I just watched this last storm systems that we had. I watched Rocky Sing flow backwards. And I know Bass Lake, they were 4 feet high. Their w their docks were underwater. So, I went to uh well, anyway, more more to this. The Hidden Lake Preserve has been sold to a developer. 500 acres of wetlands. I can only imagine how that will affect storm water management and water quality throughout the ecosystem once it's reszoned and built on. There is new repetitive flooding throughout our basin. There hasn't been before. The basin is bordered to the north at State Road 52, to the south at Ridge Road. To the west, Little Road and to the east Moon Lake Road. Our wetlands throughout this basin in the northern section flow to Bear Creek. Wetlands in the southern section drain to the Coti River through through Rocky Sink and the Tanglewood Spillway and Hidden Lake through the Port Douglas Drive wetlands bypass to the Cody River as well. New flooding being experienced in Golden Acres on Casey Drive and Sunshine Boulevard to the wetlands normally flowing from Camps Camps Woods south through Casey Drive, Sunshine and Well Palm East to the Tangle Wood spillway. There is a blockage between Sunshine and Royal Palm on Hilltop by the old VA center. Uh look, lack of maintenance. Then to the north of Jasmine and Hilltop and Jasmine and Nina Court and filling Star Trail,

I thank you.

Anyway, there's a lot there.

Okay. I'm sure our storm water folks will will give this to them. They're here. We have Mike Garrett followed by Pastor Troy Peterson. [Music]

Good morning. Mike Durant, 4927 Ky Court, Port Richie, Florida.

Sorry, a little too close.

I'm sorry. What was your address?

4927 Ky Court, Port Richie, Florida.

All right. I'm a resident of Piplota. Cody River Delta has been a long-standing history. It was first inhibited by Native Americans from the Kousa tribe. Uh over on Ozer Mound, there's artifacts dating back as far as uh 1000 AD for its fertile fishing grounds, clean water with its thriving seaggrass meadows. Um, it holds uh uh homes to many protected species including the Florida manatee, bottl-nose dolphin, Florida alligator, green sea turtles, and ospreys to name a few. Sadly, our wershed has been overlooked and neglected for the past 70 years. With the development of industry and water runoffs that are impaired, waterways have killed our eel grass. Uh no maintenance to remove any sediment um has ever been done. Uh, as late as 1980, Miller's Bayou was thriving with seaggrass meadows, clear water, and now it's stagnant and often gets close to swimming due to the warm temperatures and high bacteria count. By renovating this wershed, will we have better infrastructure for storms uh that will provide uh discounts to residents um that call it home? uh better habitat for all native species and bring more eco-friendly tourism to our local communities. Uh recently uh this impaired waterway uh contributed to scalab season being closed for one month uh which is one of Pasco County's uh tourism fisheries. Uh most recently, uh a staff member, uh where I volunteer at the EMC, uh got staff infection, uh and had to miss work for a week. Um uh finally, with these elevated water temps, it attracts hurricanes, and we all know the devastation that that can cause in our community. Thank you.

Thank you very much. We have M Pastor Troy Peterson.

I do have some flyers for you guys.

Receive file.

Second.

All in favor? I

I

uh Troy Peterson uh 8114 Leo Kid Road, Port Richie, Florida. Uh that's Light of the World Tabernacle. I am also one of the pastors for uh Somebody Cares Pasco. And the flyers that I'm handing out here first uh would be the CareFest. Many of you guys are uh remember Carefest. We've been doing this about 20 years and I'm really excited. Um this year uh once again we've partnered with Elderly Nutrition uh through the Meals on Wheels program. So all these projects, I believe there's 27 of them where actually the county has been out there seeing that, you know, veterans wheelchair ramp has fallen apart and needs to be fixed or fence has fallen down. Um, you know, there's blight in the community, such to speak, of um that we can come together uh to work on these projects together uh the church and government and businesses in the area uh to help these that can't afford to take care of the problems themselves. I do know uh in the past uh this is uh one day a year, right? the last Saturday in September. This time it happens to be September 27th, but also this is a yearround thing uh where code enforcement, whether it be Pasco County or whether it be Port Richie uh particularly uh will give us a call and say, "Hey, you know, uh their their lawn is over mowed and we're going to have to find them or give them a code enforcement, you know, go give them a violation. they can't afford it, you know, would you guys go and and take care of it? And uh we're glad to do that through our men's maintenance program uh with Pastor Jerry there out of the Oasis coffee spot on Thursday nights. Also, um I give you a half page flyer of a night of inspiration looking at the past to inspire our future. Uh this is with Dr. Doug Stringer, uh, the Somebody Cares International. Just to kind of give you a heads up what this guy's all about, when Governor Rick Scott was governor and, you know, we had problems with hurricanes, right? Um, he called up Doug Stringer and said, you know, Doug, would you lead a national uh day of would you lead a day of prayer and fasting? Of course, Doug said yes. And United Somebody Cares to do that. um working with, you know, also with Governor Dantis, hurricane relief, you know, who who do they call when all that flooding happened in Texas. Well, Doug Stringer, uh, Somebody Cares International, and of course, you guys know Daniel Bernard, uh, Somebody Cares Tampa Bay. Uh, we're going to meet at the Oasis coffee spot there on little um, Saturday, October 4th, and we're going to have, uh, music and word of encouragement. And uh is that my time up or do I got a minute?

That is your time.

Okay. All right. I did want to pray for you guys. So I'll do that in private. I just come from a prayer meeting anyways. So we are praying for you and I do thank you guys for your service.

Thank you.

Thank you. Um so madam chair that that is um all that I have signed up. I also want to let you know I there's no one signed up for WebEx. So if you would like to make a

Okay. So if would anyone here like to address the board this morning? Come on up, sir.

Be before I start. My name is William Justiniano. I would like to read a script.

Address, please.

Huh?

Your address?

2774 Men Court, Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544. Uh Roman 13 from 1 through3. Every person is to be in subjection of the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God and those wish exists are established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed ordinance of God. And they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for God behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will receive prayers from go from the same. I I came before uh because I had a problem. But I think God brought me again over here. I've been coming here a lot of times. Uh and there's uh such thing honorable people from authority and management that needs to be addressed as as an attorney has responsibility. If he doesn't follow the rule of law, he it comes in condemnation. the same thing we follow uh God and the word of God because uh even though that many people don't don't know how to interpret it but as a building code does not follow his book there's a problem because then it brings condemnation to the people that they serve the same thing the law. If they don't if they don't abide by the their law, who they're going to be following? I follow the law of God because this is uh we're we're binded by God. So the problem is the building code is not followed and nobody else other than the people that follow the book. If you are follow the law of the book, the ordinance, then it brings condemnation to me and then then it brings condemnation to the rest of the people as a domino effect. [Music] Thank you.

Thank you. I think you were the gentleman that had the issue with the windows.

Yes, I am.

I don't know if you all right. And if it's not followed, I I I I don't expect nobody to tell me I'm sorry that that I if I if I when when I preach the God's word, I stay in God's word. When I was in the military, I followed the law, the legal law of being in the military. So, I expect everybody else to follow the code. I I I I hope I I put myself

Thank you.

Is there anyone else here that wishes to speak speak to us this morning? Okay, seeing no one, we will close a public comment and move on to the let's see I was getting wrong. So is it resolutions resolutions? All right, we have one, two, three, four resolutions this morning. We will start with Resworth. Okay. If you are here from public works department, please step up to the podium and I and I'll hand you this this paper.

You can get it after. I'll bring it down to

We got a few folks. Got the whole room.

All right, I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number 25-337, a resolution by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, recognizing the Pasco County Public Works Department for achieving accreditation from the American Public Works Association and commending its staff for their dedication and to excellence in service delivery. Whereas the American Public Works Association, APWA, accreditation is a prestigious recognition awarded to public work agencies demonstrating full compliance with rigorous management practices that promote excellence in operations programs and service to the community.

Get them all. And whereas the Pasco County Public Works Department underwent a comprehensive three-year process from June 21st, 2022 to July 23rd, 2025, which included a detailed evaluation of 15 chapters and 215 practice areas and required a minimum compliance rate of 95%. And whereas the Pasco County Public Works Department achieved an outstanding 99% compliance rate. Congratulations. Surpassing national standards and demonstrating its commitment to the best practices, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. And out of approximately 23,000 local government public works agencies in the United States, only 223 agencies have achieved APWA accreditation, placing the Pasco County Public Works Department in the top 1% nationwide. Andraz, Pasco County now joins this elite group of 223 accredited agencies across the United States, becoming just one of only 40 currently accredited public works departments in the state of Florida, further highlighting the significance and rarity of this accomplishment. and RAZ. The accreditation reflects the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of every team member within Pasco County public works departments to uphold the highest standards of public service for the residents of Pasco County. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby recognizes and congratulates the Pasco County Public Works Departments for achieving its accreditation from the American Public Works Association and commends the department's leadership and staff for their unwavering dedication and operational excellence and service to the community. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting the 16th day of September, 2025.

Move approval.

Second.

All in favor? Hi.

Hi.

This is Commissioner Waitman's.

Thank you.

Well, you gave me a script.

Hey, I didn't sign it. Did I sign it?

Did I sign those?

Yes, you did.

Oh,

yes.

Okay, you signed them.

So, I'm I'm obligated to to read this and then we'll speak from the heart afterwards.

Obligated.

All right. So today we recognize a significant achievement by our public works department earning accreditation from the American Public Works Association. This milestone milestone marks the culmination of a three-year journey grounded in commitment to excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. Three years ago, the department made the decision to pursue the the American Public Works Association accreditation as a way to strengthen its internal processes and business practices. What followed was a departmentwide effort. Employees at every level from frontline staff to senior leadership work diligently to review, refine, and document policies, procedures, and best practices. The APWA evaluation process is both rigorous and collaborative. Evaluators volunteer their time and come from a wide range of public works backgrounds. Many serving as directors or senior managers in their own agencies. They bring with them a wealth of experience and insight drawn not only from their own departments but also from many others they've assessed. At the conclusion of the evaluation, the team of the APWA evaluators selected one of our procedures as a model practice. an honor that an honor that not common an an honor that is not common commonly awarded. This particular procedure which focuses on facility security and safety was developed through a collaborative effort between public works facilities and the safety team. It will now be featured on APWA's membershiponly website serving as a benchmark for other agencies across the country. That's pretty cool. you know, it it's um to be critiqued in your role, right, can be a little bit stressful. Makes you feel like you're not doing your job or you're not feeling good enough. But uh in this case to have an outside third party come in and everybody be accepting of the process to learn and get better and take the critiques and learn what we're doing great, what we can do better, what we can improve on is a testament to your dedication and service to Pasco County and to your jobs to be able to accept the feedback and implement it into best practices. And um you know that's just a wonderful attribute of of all the public works team from from Brford and Jason all the way all the way down the line and it truly is in your world a team effort with the volume of projects you all have to tackle and face on a regular day let alone when fun weather comes to town. So it's an honor to have you all here today. Thank you for your fantastic work and to be in the in the top 1% of all public works departments and is receiving this accreditation is pretty cool. So congratulations to everybody here.

Commissioner Oakley

well we'll all have a se I'm sure and great achievement. So, I uh I appreciate each and every one of you for what you do each and every day because you have the biggest effect on on most of Pasco County on the ground level. Um you get praises not necessarily from uh these good works like now, but you get praises for that people recognize the but you don't hear it when you've got everything mowed and everything's clean and everything looks good all all around the county. but you missed mowing for a week and everybody's on on your case because that wasn't done. But there's a lot of uh work that has to be done and I know you you have a lot of work to do and sometimes not as many bodies on the ground doing that work that that you need. So, I do understand that it is a trying job, but uh Ramford and Jason have a an easier job by having some of the greatest people in the county working for them under them. So, the job gets done. So, I certainly appreciate each and every one of you for what you do. Um, I've heard from people that are mostly naysayers that tell me a lot of times how bad our roads look to the point of when we changed our PAS over to the paving system we have now to tell me it was the best thing that the countyy's ever done. So, you should be proud of that because you're the one that's laying that groundwork for the new paved roads and there's a lot of new paved roads out there. you see them and they're being done, but it's still those that are not getting their road paved are still fussing. But we'll get there in time, but it takes time and it takes money to do it. But I thank each and every one of you for all that you do. Thank you,

Jagger.

Two words, Pasco proud. You guys are amazing and we are just truly blessed to have like the best of the best working in our county. So, it's a huge accomplishment, but it does not surprise me that you guys are in the top 1%. You guys are awesome and thank you for everything you do.

Mr. Mariana,

thank you. Well, I gave a little All right. I don't know how that happened, Carbella, but we're going to talk later.

Uh, but literally what you guys have done since I started here back in 2004 for the Hurricanes. Uh, Brford, you're coming on board, bringing great great people all around you. Um, and and Jason for for you just kind of continuing to process everything through, work with Barrett, Elliot, uh, Tim, Jason, uh, Larry will even go in a ditch himself if need be. Uh, what you guys have done, and I just want you to think about this. Holidays used to flood out. The first pump we put out there, put one up above by the veteran center would circle back around. Found out later on that second pump we put went down to the creek. And guess what? Few years later, they haven't flooded since. Um, Timber Oakgs, Jasmine Lakes, uh, Arberdale, no most recent accomplishment there. Uh, Ashwood Drive, something. I'll give you credit card. You told me this was going to work and it's worked. Uh, great fix there. Leisure Lane, Grey Burch, and Gnome. I mean, that was a project working with, especially like Joe Mower and Fig. We're all sitting down talking, how's this going to work? How are you going to gravity feed that thing uphill? But you guys went deep enough and it's been working fantastic. Um, I know we're going to work on sea pines and green key. We've got funding in place for one. The other's going to work on the state and hopefully the state gives us the money to get this done because it's a project that those two projects so close to sea level. Tough to get it to convey to flow, but it can work. If what we've done is set up, it should go. Hopefully we'll we'll get the support. Um, Bear Creek is on the agenda today that we're putting the money in to start that part of the project, too. So, that's Griffin Park. Commissioner Oakley, remember way back when you were campaigning? You were over in Griffin Park. Commission Oakley.

Yo,

you were over in Griffin Park with me when you were like you were running for office and you were over in Griffin Park. We found out the flooding, the big

settlement with Bear Creek because you're being there. That project's now coming to fruition. Um, Double Himmick Basin, I know that's another one that's just talked about by Alan Rose, another big project coming up. So, I just want to say in in all the years, what you guys have done, you should be so proud of. You have taken us out of the spotlight all the time in the news, even our Labor Day weekends where what pops out, whatever. Now we got things in place that solves so many issues. You really should be proud of what you've done. The accreditation is great. Which course, by the way, I don't know why I didn't get to be interviewed for that either, but uh that's all right. I got a little chip. It's all right. But uh literally what you guys have done is absolutely phenomenal. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you and I know the citizens do. So, thank you.

Thank you.

Okay. Um and now it's my turn. And um I'm not going to name every single project. Um but just just know I know, you know, I don't think we've had water in anyone in Thousand Oaks for for quite a while. So um things have gotten much better. I I'm always happy when I see you guys out working. Um and um making sure that our conveyances are working right and I know we all get a little heightened when a storm is coming and um and you guys have to put in a lot of extra hours during those times. So, I'm very grateful for your service to Pasco. Um, congratulations on your your recognition and um and even Commissioner, even just today, I got an email thanking uh us for um some uh some roads that were paved. So, I think people are generally happy here in Pasco County. County Administrator.

Thank you, ma'am. Um I think first and foremost, I I want to thank Brford and I were in very different jobs when I think this originally uh came came forward. So, I want to thank Brford publicly for having the the vision and the wherewithal to see that this team could achieve that. That was many, many years ago. Mr. Mickel, I want to thank you, too, for your leadership and in in pushing this forward and getting it across the goal lines. And more importantly to the team, as Commissioner Jagger pointed out, we always knew this. It's great to have the affirmation of that and just very very proud of everything that that you have done. Honestly, it's it's it amazes me. I get goosebumps by it. uh particularly proud I didn't know about the safety benchmark and safety is very very important in this organization and as a people centric culture it's the number one thing that we can do to take care of our people is to provide them with a safe working environment so the fact that that is the standard that Pasco County has set makes me doubly proud so just thank you all for for everything that you've done and getting this where where we've gotten it today

I taped all of that on my on my phone accidentally

we we tape it too so that's Okay. All right. Um, go ahead. And

I'll I'll try to be mindful of your time. Um, I'll be I'll be quick. Um, Chairman, thank you very much. Um, Commissioner Weightman, thank you for sponsoring this. Thanks to all the board. You you you're truly partners um with us and everything we do. We really really appreciate your support because it's genuine. You really do support us out there and it shows. Um, Mike, thank you for the support that you've given us. You know, Brford's going to hate this. I know he's there. is he's hiding back there, but um he he was the vision behind this getting off the ground in the first place. Um he's had experience with this in other places and then thought that it was a perfect time for us here in Pasco County to do this. He put the train on the tracks for us, provided the leadership and you know, here we are today. So, I just want to um really thank him and point him out because we wouldn't be standing here today if he wasn't initially the one to get this going. Um I want to thank all the branches, too, cuz we everybody is part of this. This isn't just public works. Um we've worked with everybody from parks and facilities to fleet and you know across across all the branches we've had to work together. Um the ABWA, we have some folks here. Um want to thank them. The auditors who helped us and a couple of name checks real quick. I know we got we only have so much time, but we have a couple of really key people here that that were part of the process that are no longer with us here in public works. Um I don't know if anybody remembers Alice and Ryan. he's still with the county. Laura, um, you know, we have Joseph, I don't know if he's here. Um, but then, um, of course, I I can't forget about our own Justin here who kind of led the program for us. Uh, our safety team was instrumental. Um, but but the main people that I want to point out today, and that's why they're here, are our field teams. I you have a section of maintenance supervisors, labor supervisors here. Um, these are the guys who make all this work. this this this award of excellence that we have for our practices, it means nothing for us in the office really. I mean, it's these guys who make it all make it all happen. They're the ones that are fixing the roads, filling the potholes, um helping us when we're flooding, doing the the mowing of the ditches, everything. That was all the practice. All of that had to be brought to the table by the auditors to show that they're they're doing that um in a extremely high level um to the point of excellence. And as as Commissioner Waitton pointed out in his in his initial speech, 99% of our practices were initially accepted upfront. Um it's pretty pretty pretty awesome to be part of it. I can't really take much credit because they did they did everything. And I want to make a quick joke. Um we were we were talking just before um like really about developing a standard practice of excellence to deal with all the questions that we get on board meeting day. Um so so we're going to be working on that. We're going to be

putting that into practice here pretty soon. Um and and if I if I could if we have just a second, I wanted to bring up the chair and vice chair of APWA Florida. Um

wow.

Our West Coast uh chapter. They're both here. I think.

Hey, I wanted to make a joke, too. Not all heroes wear capes.

All right,

there you go.

Thank you.

You guys are amazing.

Hi. It's great to see everybody. Um, I'm the vice chair of the West Coast branch, and I also have uh I'm also the education training and credentiing chair at the state and uh certification commission uh at the national level. And I also want to introduce uh Christopher Alcott. He's the uh the chair of the West Coast branch. Need to say anything? I just really want to introduce ourselves and to really introduce uh the APWA. The American Public Works Association is active in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. And we're very involved with advocacy, with training, credentiing, with networking and things like that. And I just wanted to be here to memorialize and to recognize this wonder achievement that you all have made. So again, wonderful work. And uh if there's anything that we can do for you, please uh just don't hesitate to to holler at us. And just one last thing, I started off here about 25 years ago as an intern and it's so wonderful to see how how things have evolved. So, thank you for your great work.

It's a little different.

Um, uh, behind you, it's just interesting that you're here today. Um, we're we're it's also manufacturing month and we're going to be giving out a resolution and behind you is a gentleman named um, I'm talking to you. I'm talking to

Yeah. Um,

sorry. His name is Tom Madano and um we have a workforce training program here at the county and we're about to take on uh training programs for four departments here at the county and three of which I think are under you guys. One's under someone else and um Tampa Bay Water, if you know Tampa Bay Water,

of course.

Um they've been trying to find a training program around the state and even started one of their own that was unsuccessful. So we are going to be uh entering in a training program with them. So, I'd love for you to meet Tom. He's behind you somewhere when we're done with this. And um and you can uh hear hear what we do here in Pasco County.

Wonderful. And again, anything we can do for you, I'd love to to work with the county.

Yep. Okay. I think there's too many people for us to go down.

Come on down, Jack.

So, um

up boy.

Oh, I had a closing speech. No, I'm just kidding. Oh yeah. See, this is another reason.

Oh, wow.

I did want to ask what you're doing on Dubulus in Massachusetts. I got I got the

Newport Rich utilities actually waterline.

None of you guys that way. This might be our biggest.

We're the same height and we're like three feet high.

Beth, you're too tall.

Look at that.

He's not tall.

I don't think you can.

Sorry.

All right. Just make sure that everybody has a window and see me.

And then ready.

All right. Ready? Good. [Applause]

Tom is here some somewhere back there and he'll meet you in the back. Right, Tom? Yeah. So, I'm gonna second to

Well, let's skip to the um next one so we can talk to

do my second one.

Jacob Little.

Tom, if you want to exchange cards, we're going to do Jacob Little next. All right. So, if Jacob Little could um come to the podium, please.

Okay.

Hi, I'm Jacob Little.

We're going to read something for you.

I'll read your resolution first. Okay. Resolution number 25-339, a resolution by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, honoring Jacob Little for all his accompl accomplishments and for winning national and world championships. Whereas Jacob Little has reached new heights with this year with his karate training and on the competition mats. He began the year by earning his sandan or thirdderee black belt after 13 years of training. And whereas Jacob has been a member of the Ingrams, is that correct?

Ingrams.

Ingrams. Thank you. Ingrams karate competition team for 12 years and has had an outstanding 2025 competition season earning state, national, international, and world medals. And whereas in April 2025, Jacob completed competed at the North American Open International Tournament and brought home a gold, silver, and bronze medal and concluded the Florida competition season by earning a state title in his division. Jacob's outstanding performance over the past year earned him an invitation to represent his country as part of the AAOU National Karate Team for the fourth year. ANRA at the AAOU Karate National Championship. Jacob won gold in katada and two silver medals in weapons and fighting and earned the honor of representing Ishinu

Ishinrew.

Ishinu and his dojo on stage at finals in the competition for grand champion. Anra Jacob competed in the AAOU WUKF World Karate Championship in Malmo, Sweden, representing his country with pride and earned three total world medals, including two silver and one bronze. And Rraz Jacob competed in the Ishinrew.

There you go.

I'm learning. Ishin Hall of Fame tournament where he secured three place wins. In addition to sweeping his division, Jacob was honored with the IHOF award for young male karate ca of the year which is is presented in to recognize outstanding dedication to his dojo karate training and their community. And whereas Jacob competed in the AAOU Junior Olympic Games where he won four gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal. Jacob was honored with the Joel Farel Farel Memorial Award, which is presented to one male and one female athlete for best overall performance and sportsmanship in their respective sport. And whereas although Jacob's achievements during competitions were commendable, we are even more impressed knowing his accomplish his he knowing he accomplished all of this while remaining dedicated to graduating with honors and giving his and giving back to his dojo, his community, and the AAOU through hundreds hours of volunteering in 2025. Wow. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby honors Jacob Little for all his accomplishments and for winning national and world championships. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting the 16th day of September, 2025.

Congratulations.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

All in favor?

Yes. Hi.

If I could, I just want a moment to say thank you to everybody on the board for recognizing me. Uh, when I was young, I definitely didn't think I'd be doing this right now. I didn't think I'd be uh so successful with my career and um being recognized for something that I do like every day with my training. And yes, I just wanted to say thank you. And also I wanted to say thank you to my sensei. They know that I love them a lot and they mean a lot to me. But um a lot of the things that I have accomplished I wouldn't have done without them. The Lord only knows how many hours and how much hair I made them pull out when I was younger trying to get me to look good.

Well, this is quite an achievement. Um really really proud of you. But the the uh this excellence in athletics that comes out of this county is kind of a shock.

Yes.

Right. Does anyone else? Yeah. Go ahead.

Well, first of all, Jacob, congratulations. You are one heck of an athlete. And um I just question. My son used to do karate. So um how many hours a week did do you plan like do you train in the dojo? Um, that's hard to that's hard to say, but if I had to guess, it's probably somewhere between two and three hours cuz actually it might be more than that cuz I train at the dojo three times a week and each class is roughly an hour or so. So, it's it's somewhere between like two to three hours and then I do um a lot of extra training outside of the dojo and at home. So,

that's awesome.

I'm I'm I'm training a lot, but as far as in the dojo goes, it's somewhere between two to three hours every week.

Well, congratulations. That's an incredible accomplishment.

Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I um I've had the pleasure of being in Malmo. So, what that's a that's a long long trip.

Yes, it was a very long trip, but it was a trip worth traveling for, so to say. It was a very beautiful area in the country was very beautiful as well.

Awesome. And Ingrams has been around for a while. Is anyone else is are any of your dojo here?

Uh yes. my sensei. They're they're in the back there. But they have definitely been around for a very very long time and I'm just

I'm I'm one of their uh many students who appreciates them very much.

Well, congratulations. Well, uh well, Go ahead, Commissioner, please.

Yeah, I uh I don't know if they're going to pick teams later for karate, but you're on my team.

Oh, thank you. uh they can pick whoever they want.

Well, I plan on us winning. So,

yes. Yes.

I appreciate everything you've done. There's a lot of work goes in uh doing what you do, especially over 13 years. And

yes,

you live and thank it and and really do it. So, I certainly appreciate everything.

Thank you. Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Okay, let's all go down take a photo.

Bring your

Oh, poor Jack. Jack wanted to say something.

Oh,

you don't mind. I I was just congratulations. Uh, thank you.

I hope uh I saw Adam Thomas in this crowd earlier, but hopefully we can do a nice little sports review on you because that record is outstanding.

Thank you. Thank you.

Maybe bring all your friends up too.

Yeah, something else. [Laughter] We'll take one with everybody.

Step on back.

I'm rather intimidated. Anyone else wants to be in the

If you could split sides 50 years. I think it was a lot.

Good. [Applause]

We can take a photo with you right there.

No, that's okay.

Thank you. Congratulations.

Okay, now we'll do res.

All right. If you are here for manufacturing month, please step up to the podium. I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number 25- 336. A resolution by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, declaring the month of October as manufacturing month and Friday, October 3rd, 2025 as manufacturing day in Pasco County. Whereas October is nationally recognized as manufacturing month and national manufacturing day is observed on the first Friday of October. Throughout the month, manufacturers across the county host students, teachers, parents, job seekers, and other local community members to open houses, plant tour plant tours, and pre presentations designed to showcase today's advanced manufacturing technology and high wage career opportunities. And whereas during National Manufacturing Month and Manufacturing Day, we commit to strengthening and supporting the manufacturers and hardworking manufacturing employees of today as well as the manufacturers of the future. And whereas the priorities of manufacturing month are to change the perception of careers in manufacturing to reflect its true status as the most advanced high-tech industry in the country. Reestablish the US as the global leader of manufacturing education. advocate for education and job training policies that strengthen the US manufacturing workforce and inspire the next generation of manufacturers. And whereas Florida is taking steps to diversify its economy and strengthen its workforce by establishing a plan to invest in skills-based education to make Florida number one in workforce education by 2030 so that companies can continue to draw from an outstanding pool of talent. And whereas Pasco County is fortunate to be home to many great manufacturing businesses, some of which are world leaders in their respective fields along with the Bay Area Manufacturing Association and Amskills whose mission is transforming lives and strengthening communities through technical training and apprentices. And whereas by working with educational institution, the board of county commissioners and local manufacturers have and continue to work together to continue with future generations build the next generation of skilled labor skilled manufacturing employees taking charge in the public image of manufacturing and ensuring the ongo ongoing prosperity of whole industry. And whereas manufacturing month and manufacturing day serve as opportunities to recognize all professionals, agencies, and organizations who bring value to Pasco County's manufacturing industry and economy. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida. That said, board hereby declares the month of October as manufacturing month and declares Friday, October 3rd, 2025 as manufacturing day in Pasco County. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting the

16th day of September, 2025.

Move approval.

Second. All in favor?

I

um Commissioner Oakley, I'll start with you. You want to say anything?

Good afternoon.

Well, um hang on one second because first we say give all you you we give you all these congratulations and then you guys

Okay.

And if you don't if you don't want to, that's that's fine, too.

Um certainly appreciate everything you do. It's it's hard work and it's it's been a long haul. I know Tom's been through it over the years working hard hard and it's it's finally coming to a lot more fruition than we've we've seen in the past. So, a lot of good works and a lot of good things happening in in this area. And

um and who we have here um just so everyone knows, you know, maybe I'll have y'all introduce yourselves first and then we'll say we'll say something because we have Bama here. every every one of you if you don't mind introducing yourselves.

Morning commissioners. Turner arber from the Pasco EDC. Happy to support the month through our workforce connect program and show um all the additional opportunities in the county for jobs in manufacturing. We have over 400 in the county. Happy to support.

Yeah.

Good afternoon. I'm Beth Galla with the Bay Area Manufacturers Association. We're here to advance Tampa Bay manufacturers through workforce development, networking, education, advocacy, and technology. Happy to be here. Thank you so much for this recognition. Good morning. My name is Kelly Kitson and I'm the youth workforce coordinator for Career Source Pasco Hernando. We're very happy to come back. Um, it's been about 10 years now we've been supporting this initiative. So, we're always happy to support manufacturing in our in our counties. Good morning. Wendy via PHSC outreach director with workforce division. Thank you.

Good morning. Ryan Guestman, Pasco Economic Development Council. These programs are absolutely fantastic to leverage as we recruit new companies into Pasco County in these advanced manufacturing areas. So, thank you for all you do. And then um if if you want to just introduce yourself, but then you can address us after we address you because I know you have some words you want to say to us. And I

uh my name is Bobby Rston, uh CEO of RG Manufacturing.

So um so that's who's that's who we're thanking here today. So if anyone else has any words, then I'll say something.

You left Tom off.

Oh yeah, Tom. Well, y'all know Tom. Y'all know who Tom is. But go ahead, Tom. Introduce

Tom Manado, president, CEO of AM Skills.

Okay. Yeah, thank you chair. No, thank you all for showing up to work every day and teaching others how to show up and come to work every day. It's such a critical piece of our social infrastructure here, not just in Pasco County, but in Florida and around the the world. So, thank you for investing in the future and uh also investing by doing this, investing in yourselves so your doors can stay open. So, glad you all are here today,

Commissioner.

Well, first of all, congratulations. I am a super um super huge fan of I think I made up a new word. Anyway, super huge fan of uh the career in a year. Um I encourage students and adults, you know, to um seek out opportunities like manufacturing so they can go right into the workforce and even if they choose the college path, they can earn a higher wage as they're as they're going to school. So, I absolutely love everything you guys are about. So, um, good job and keep up keep up the recruiting and teaching our students. Thank you.

Right. Um, I just want to say Commissioner Stark, you could actually be up there as well.

What you've done over the years, um, you know, Tom, from you've taken this program, what you've done with has been actually amazing. The the progress is just incredible every step of the way. Mike, I hope you have your uh our policy, our our advertising people that are going to promote this and take this so we can get it to the state. Um, I know you guys are under a little bit of attack right now, but I'm going to tell you what you guys have done is phenomenal. Uh, Commissioner Stark and I have been working with our lobbyist later bailis on trying to make sure that we get the support. Um, it may not be exactly what the state anticipated co slowed things down, some things going, but your apprentice program that's coming along and what you've done for trainings. I hope you'll talk about all the trainings that you've done. You've provided so many opportunities and for a for a commission that has a slogan of bringing opportunities home. You guys embody that better than anybody. What you do for people to improve their quality of lives from from ladies that could be homeless. Uh just people that are just may not be able to find another job somewhere else. Creating these things, the opportunities. What you're doing is absolutely phenomenal. I know Congress support you 100% and we're going to keep fighting for you guys every step of the way because you're doing a phenomenal job. And um I I just want to say uh you know when I first got involved in the manufacturing world, well first of all my parents were manufacturers. My my mother, my grandmother, my aunts, they were clothing manufacturers and u my my stepfather was an armaments and um like like you are uh you know all those jobs went overseas. Miami was a huge manufacturer of clothing. Um, when I was growing up, I that was my first job working in my grandmother's factories and then my mom's um cleaning sewing machines and then sewing and packing and labeling and um and it was one one um factory after another working there and you I don't think you'd find one there now. So, uh, to see all these jobs go overseas and to see the what I think the precarious position the United States put themselves in by, um, letting all these jobs go overseas is not good. So, uh, that's one of the reasons why I got into workforce training for manufacturing because I just felt these jobs need to come back home and then we had COVID and then no one could get anything. So, um I think you know it's that ball is rolling faster and faster and harder and harder that we need to know how to make things. Last last week I was on a a ship called the Victory Ship. Um it's it's down in uh Tampa Harbor there. We built that ship in World War II in 54 days. A ship engine rooms, you know, it's one of the last few World War II ships that still function. But but we built that in 54 days because we needed them. Um and we just uh we just love our manufacturers here in Pasco County. I know when my husband was head of the PEDC and I was doing all this work in manufacturing, he

said, "Why do you care so much? It's only 4% of our jobs and now look at us. We we um we know these are great jobs. U we want to help our local manufacturers any way that we can and um we're just so happy. This is one of my favorite this in the trails when we do uh you know bike month and manufacturing month. Those are my favorite ones. So um glad to honor you here today and would you please come up and address us.

Good afternoon. On behalf of everyone at RJ Manufacturing, I want to express my sincere thanks to the Pasco County Board of Commissioners for the special proclamation recognition of October as manufacturing month. It is an honor to stand here today representing not only our company but also the thousands of dedicated men and women in Pasco County who work every day to make things literally things. From aerospace components to medical devices, from precision machining to cutting edge technology, manufacturing is alive and thriving right here in our community. At RJ Manufacturing, we are deeply committed to the future. That is why we continue to invest in advanced technology, workforce training, and partnerships with local schools and technical programs. We believe in growing not just our business, but in the growth of a of opportunity in across Pasco County. This proclamation award is more than recognition of what we do is a reminder of who we are. We as builders, we are the problem solvers. We are the neighbors and together we are creating something that is will last far beyond any one month. So again, thank you to the commissioners for your continued support of manufacturing industry and for your commitment to the economic strength of our of our region. Our proud We are proud to be a part of this community and we're excited about the future holds.

Um are can we announce any kind of contract signing or do we know yet?

We're about we have a large contract. Um it's probably going to go to at least seven years. Um it's weapons manufacturing. Um, we are about to close one of the 12 contracts for the next 35 to 45 days.

That's so awesome. That's a DoD contract. And um, you know, we had two other DoD related uh, businesses move into the county last month. So, um, we are we are, as I said on the phone to someone who's helping you pull all this together, anything that we can do at the county to help you stand up because I know you have to get a lot of machines stood up pretty quickly.

Yes. Yes, we do.

We are there. You can use the Amskills ones and we have lots of ideas to make sure that you stay in the county and that you're successful.

I'm not going. I'm happy here.

Yeah. Yeah, we are with you. Okay, let's go down and hand these out. I have two of these. Does this go to Bama? I could I can always get Tom one. I don't know who maybe

perfect. [Applause] Okay. Our four.

Yes. Um, if you are here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of um, Habitat for Humanity, please come to the podium.

Which guy's

All right, I will go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution number 25-338, a resolution by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, honoring and celebrating the 40th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity, Tampa Bay Gulfside. Whereas in 1976, Millard and Linda Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity International in the small Georgia in a in a small Georgia farm town of Americas. And whereas seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope through affordable home home ownership. And whereas Habitat for Humanity currently operates in more than 70 countries and in all 50 sta all 50 states, including the 47 affiliates associated in the state of Florida. ANRAZ Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Golf Side broke ground on their first home and was recognized as an official affiliate in in 1985 marketing the beginning of a new era in a inaffordable home ownership in the Tampa Bay region. ANRA Habitat for Humanity builds and sells homes at a 0% interest rate to income qualified households who are a who are unable to qualify for a traditional mortgage. And to ensure future success, homeowners are required to contribute at least 350 sweat equity hours and attend a minimum of 36 home buyer classes. ANRAZ ultimately leading to generational wealth. Habitat owners elevate their quality of life through affordable home ownership. ANRAZ. In the spring of 2024, Habitat of Humanity Tampa Bay Golfside was selected to expand their service area to include Hernando County, allowing them to serve more families in need. And RAZ based on new home construction. Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Golfside has been recognized as one of the top three producing Habitat affiliates nationwide for five consecutive years. ANRAZ with the help of volunteers and community partners alike, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Golf Side has served over 1,150 families and will be building their 1,000th home this year. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said, board hereby celebrates the 40th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity, Tampa Bay Gulfside, done and resolved in regular session with the quorum present and voting the 16th day of September, 2025.

Approval.

Second.

All in favor? I

um was this yours?

Yes, it's mine.

New board member.

I am just so What did you say?

I said you should be a new board member. I know. Oh my gosh, I love I love this so much. Um 40 years, 1,000 homes. I love everything about your organization. I love the sweat equity. Most of all, I love that in the foundation, the Bible, you know, and how you pray over every home and how these these recipients are just so thankful. Without you guys, they would not be able to have a home. They'd be stuck renting. And it's it's just you're just a huge blessing to our community and and you know it's all done by volunteers and I love that you can we can take empty lots and places and you're truly transforming communities and lives and these these parents have have something they can pass down to their children and they would never be able to have that. And I know lately, you know, it's a lot of teachers and police officers. I mean, that's that's some of your your target market and um for 0% interest is incredible. Like, it's truly a gift. Um I've I've looked at so many of your homes and I just go, "Wow." Like, I mean, I want to move into one of them. They are beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Um

the opportunities are endless with you guys. Um, I I really look forward to working with you guys to get more space in Pasco and um I look forward to a long partnership with you guys. So,

Commissioner Mariana,

I say congratulations on 40 years. Tremendous what you're doing for a lot of people. Thank you.

Yeah, please.

Yeah. Yeah. Congratulations on 40 years. A lot of work goes in 40 years to provide homes for people that are less fortunate and they actually work and spend time and hours on their home to be able to have that home. So, there's a lot of uh sweat and hard work going into that that and a lot of heartfelt feelings for a lot of things that make this their dream come true for having that home. Uh I've been a part of the East Pasco humanity uh group for a long long time and been to a lot of their house openings very similar to yours. So that's the same same work. So I certainly appreciate the organization what y'all done.

Commissioner Weightman.

Yes.

Well, so you started in 85 and talking about 40 years. I was born in ' 86. So now I realize I'm knocking on 40 years myself, but uh little sobering moment there, baby.

But uh no, congratulations. Congrats on 40 years.

So um comm the commissioner and I were both at your celebration the other night. Um the unveiling of a HGTV special. Um what is it? A home in 100 days. Oh,

secret. No more. Well,

well, it's going to be shown when?

Uh, September 30th.

Yeah, we won't we won't say what happened in it, but it is filmed locally. Um, but um great great event, great night. And um you know, I've long been a fan of of what you guys do. My brother-in-law is on your board. Um

when um our former county administrator was here, Michelle, we all the county went and did a house on the east side. It was on the east side, but I don't know if the county's done I know our our office has done some and with our with our uh legislators, but I don't know if the county's done one. So, be sure and rope them in. Um and um we're we're just very glad that you're here. You guys keep growing and growing. It's crazy. But uh we're all looking forward to the one across the street. Um I think you're going to be breaking ground on that one quickly. And um during my commission um moments, I will show the road that I'm hoping to uh get connected to help the residents that move in there so those those kids can easily get to school without having to go all the way around. So um come on up and address us and u congratulations on such a monumental feat over 10,000 homes.

Thank you uh Chairman Starky and uh Commissioner Joerger, thank you so much for championing this. Uh uh we really appreciate the support and we appreciate the support from the entire commission. So thank you uh Pasco County for the continued investment in affordable home ownership. Um we will be breaking ground probably within the next couple months on the project across the street on off Little Road. Uh we're very excited to get that project going. Um we built 88 homes this past year in our service area. 15 of those were in Pasco County and we feel like there's so much more opportunity for us uh to partner with the not only the county but the community to build more homes. Um the the families we serve uh they do uh they do receive a zero interest mortgage uh zero down payment, zero PMI, uh so no private mortgage insurance is required. Um and it really is a great way to anchor these families in the community. uh as we know, we're losing uh teachers, we're losing firefighters, police officers who are moving out of our community because they can no longer afford here uh afford to live here. And so, uh Habitat is one of those solutions and we look forward to a continued partnership for 40 more years. So, um one of our board members, Charlie Rogers, is with us today. Uh Candy Haggler is our executive director here in Pasco. She sits in our office right down the street. Uh Sean King is our executive vice president at the organization and Skyler Alexander is our government relations manager. So uh thank you again for the time and and the recognition.

You know I want to I want to echo something that Commissioner Jgo said. This is not a handout.

Um these people have earned the opportunity to get in line to be a recipient and then they have to continue to earn their house by helping others build their houses. So, um, you know, we're all about a hand up, not a hand out. And that's one of the things I like about your program so much.

I will say one thing. I learned the other night how hard it is to hammer a nail into a piece of wood. I I don't know if I can do that.

When the nail guns come out, it's a lot easier.

Yeah. Okay.

Bing. Okay. All right. Let's go down and uh take

I want to get a nail gun.

That's not safe.

I have my own And I know how to weld.

No, I think ready. Okay, we are on to the consent agenda and I do have some polls in here somewhere. We are Thank you. Um Oh, yeah. There it is. We have uh C66 by Keith Wy. C8, Commissioner Mariano. These are all pull and discuss the C14, C43, and C67. Are there any other items that anyone wishes to pull? Seeing none, I'll take a motion for the consent agenda.

Move.

Second.

All in favor?

I. Mr. Wy.

Good morning. Keith Wy, Parks, Recreation, Natural Resources, C66. We had to correct the awardes name throughout the documentation. Well, I went to this when my oldest kids were See, they're 42, so they were like five or six or something. So, that was a long time ago.

Yeah, it's been around for a while.

Correction.

Yeah.

Second.

I'm amazed it's still going on. All in favor?

I Are they still doing the turkey legs?

Yes, they are.

They're not as big as

Thank you.

All right. Thank you so much. Um C8.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, reason I pulled it. I asked uh I talked to JP about this and JP coming up.

Yeah. One million.

I asked him for the data as far as like what was being done with the unlicensed contractors when we had the hurricanes going on.

I mean I had like call after call about people doing work without permits going on and on. And when I asked for the data, uh the chart I showed was uh concerning as far as like there were very little that was done from let's say October there was nothing shown. O November was nothing shown, December had a little bit of activity, January had a little bit of activity, and then the next two months had a little bit more activity. But uh I talked to JP about, you know, with code enforcement, we we try to put things in and put policies in place that we think will work. He started with a pin handling ordinance, went to a rightaway ordinance,

but we found that if it wasn't done the right way in the right times, it's not effective. And I just wanted him to kind of talk about what he he's had a few days to look at this, but what things can we do to make this program better, more effective, um, and getting getting the value for what we're putting into it.

So, uh, through the chair, uh, thank you JP Murphy, director of building construction services for the record today. We have technical questions. Chris Maine, deputy building official for minimum standards is here with me. Uh I think Mr. Daniels may come up and make a few comments as well. Um we took a look at at at your your concerns particularly after the hurricane and um I will say there was a there was some learning on both sides of this relationship which has been a fantastic relationship with the sheriff's office. Um in fact I I think over the years performance has has doubled. You can see that in even the 20 2024 where the the number of arrests had doubles. But we weren't prepared for unlicensed contracting enforcement following the hurricane because all of our staff was dedicated to doing some of those other activities, recovery, damage assessment, substantial damage uh improvement, the power waiver release thing that we've never had to do before. So all of our available resources were were put towards those efforts. Um, so we didn't, admittedly, did not have a lot of minimum standards efforts out looking specifically for unlicensed contracting. That's not to say it didn't happen. The sheriff's office was out looking for unlicensed contracting. Immediately following a storm, a couple things happened. Folks are starting to do muck and gut. You don't need a license for that. Anybody can come in. In fact, we saw that with our nonprofit groups. It takes a little bit of time following the storm for the real kind of contracting and bad acting actors coming in. What a lot of folks didn't realize is the Office of Insurance Regulation also had state level inspectors driving around. We saw them out at at Gulf Harbor certainly uh and some other places and they were going around grabbing um numbers off of trucks looking at license plates searching Facebook. So there was a lot of that happening behind the scenes. Unfortunately, we just didn't get great data collection of one of the thing of the stuff that was happening during those months. It was kind of it was is a bit frantic. So part of our um our BPI coming forward for for budget, you'll see later, is we're also going to have two civilian unlicensed contractor inspectors focusing on that to partner with the sheriff's team as well. The sheriff's relationship is critical for for minimum standards because we don't have the power to uh do some level investigations, subpoena, detain, and arrest and and do criminal charges. We can only do stuff under the ordinance under the Florida building code. Um so strengthening that posttorm in addition our we have a um um a procurement going out for posttorm recovery services so that you know when we have a vendor coming in that's going to be an area of focus that we hire additional professionals to do continue to do the the unlicensed crime tracking enforcement during those significant spikes. You know the team for on the sheriff's side is two individuals for

what we pay for. They work under the economic crimes uh crimes group and they do focus on some pretty big things and we can there's a presentation if you want to see it otherwise I'll just talk about it but um a couple big big items in two cases alone two contractors alone had over 280 victims with o over $2.6 million worth of recovery. So that's why this is important. And oh, by the way, our contractors spend $5 on every permit to fund this type of operation because our contractors are also hurt because if we have unlicensed contractors going out, they don't have the cost for insurance. They don't have the cost for lensure. Um, and it affects them as well as our victims. So for those reasons, that's why we feel like this is is is worth your approval.

Yeah. And I think it is a good program to go. And again, I want to just look when I just looked at the data, a lack of data. I says there's got to be something more to it. and and I was out there when the state inspectors are out there too. So maybe we need to reach out to the state inspectors and get some more data to kind of find out what they found because I think it should be part of this and if we have another storm the same situation we can learn from it to at least get their data, use it to make it more effective. But but I I support the program. I just want to make sure we're going to maximize the best we can.

That's a great suggestion. We'll work with Mr. Daniels to see if we can get some better data collection as well throughout the year.

Chase, you want to add? Chase Daniels, Pasco Sheriff's Office. Um, thank you very much, uh, Commissioner for bringing this forward. So, uh, I I did just want to touch on on some stats as well. I know JP has had a presentation as well, but, um, so, so last year, um, our unlicensed contract has made 44 arrests. Um, so in each one of those cases, you know, as JP noted, uh, those are some major cases that that could possibly have, uh, several victims within each of those cases. Um, regarding the the data too, I did want to um note that we are not the only partners in the in the judicial circuit. So, for instance, right now, uh, we currently have 23 cases that are currently pending with the state attorney's office. So, just because there may not be, uh, stats or data in in one month or immediately following, uh, does not mean something didn't happen. It means that we are waiting on our other partners, the state attorney's office, to finish their investigation, to move forward with their with their invest and things like that as well. So, it's just things like that um that that could skew those numbers as well. But certainly grateful for for the partnership and and what we're what we're doing here.

Thank you. And to the borders, you know, our team and and Chris Mine in company with JP when we had to go to different places like Senate Manor, whatever, Se Ranch, C Pines, those guys are out in numbers helping the people every step of the way. So, I can understand why they couldn't do what they were doing. But again, I just want to bring the attention to that and and if we can get some more data, that'd be great. I think the state should be able to provide at least something to what they what they found and we'll learn from that and and go forward with that. I'll move approval.

And I just one comment. I did find out JP will make house calls.

Um I I do have a question. I I just saw I think in

a motion.

Yeah. I didn't get a second.

A second.

Okay. Under discussion. Um in Pulk County with Jud Grady Jud um they I think it was there might have been Penellis County. They did some unlicensed contractor stings. And when was the last time we did something like that?

Uh, as frequent as last month.

So, we did do some We just don't make the newspaper.

We do occasionally. Um, during the storm, they did one in November that netted 12 arrests.

Okay.

Um, part of of the the new partnership by adding some folks on our civilian side is to kind of go out and be the eyes because, you know, two people can't see everything. Yeah.

So, we're trying to spread that out a little bit longer. But um yeah, we've in fact uh yeah, well there's one done in September that netted I believe 10 arrest, one in May that netted 12 arrests. Um we do a a smaller version of a sting and like you might see in one of in some of the southern counties where they'll go out and do kind of one big enforcement in in one area and do some multi- agency stuff. In Pasco, it's basically just kind of us and we uh we look for different properties and try to keep it fresh so that house doesn't get burned and burned by like everybody knows, hey, don't go accept a job over there right now.

So, uh you know, I'm almost done with my um house that was damaged by the storm. The electricians were out yesterday, I think, finishing up hopefully. Um, but they found a lot of illegal electrical work in my house that we had to fix in the attic and behind the kitchen walls that um that got fixed and up to code and they're like, "You were close to having your house burned down." Um, and then I got a call I got a call from a business um, it's a cheerleading gym plus a a baseball batting cage. a bunch of professional athletes around here came together and and started a batting cage and they just got shut down because all the electrical work that was done in that building was unlicensed. That's a health and safety issue. There's nothing we can do about that. So, you know, get you know I I love this. Yes.

And mention just one thing one thing I told JP as well. A lot of these things happen during the weekends too when our team's out there. So, we need to make sure you get the flexibility to add that, make those changes so on the weekends, we can go out there and keep on it.

Yeah, that was a cornerstone of Chris's plan to add the two individuals to make sure that we can have that and and on marked vehicles, too.

A lot of a lot of new roofs get put on on the weekend. It's amazing.

I'm amazed how quickly a roof can go on these days.

All right. So, we had a motion, a second. All in favor?

I.

Uh, next one. Commission Mariana.

Yeah. uh C14 was just a simple this is a a a payment that we can make uh we can buy it. So it's it's it's a pretty easy purchase, but we have a local um container product person that has just opened a new factory.

And much as we want to get this done quickly, I think it may even work quicker if we try to put the specs out to our local contractor and see if he can take a look at what he could bid it for and possibly take a look at it. Um,

the the only thing I have to say about that is then we have to bid it out, right? And it makes the sheriff's office wait that much longer for bathrooms.

And I mean, that could be I'd have no idea how many months.

I'd at least like take a look and see what the number is. Again, local business just starting to create jobs here. And if we needed to, we could always work with a different company to bring in something temporary if the savings were big enough. But I think it's worth taking a look at even if it just came back in two weeks.

Yeah. Chair.

Yeah.

When we looked at these bathrooms, the initial expense was I don't remember if Chase is here, but it was like last budget cycle or budget cycle before. I think it was knocking them over to what a million bucks or something. And then we went back and took a sheriff looked at it and said, "Yeah, I agree. Million dollars worth bathrooms is a little bit high." $244,000 almost $245,000 for bathrooms still is a bit painful. There's showers too in there.

But we need to

we need to let get some sort of facility out there for folks to get cleaned up while they're training. What the right way is, I don't know, but just expensive.

Madam Chair.

Yes.

Uh that seems like a lot of money. $27,000 for this portable bathroom. We're going to sit out there, but it's a very well-built uh bathroom area. But the fact of it is you can build a building with men's and ladies restrooms and the snack bar like we've done out of Keith Wley's had that before in some of our parks. You're talking about up $500,000 or more for bathrooms and a snack bar and it's very very expensive. So when you look at this number, it looks very high for what it is, but the fact of it is is cheaper than building that concrete and building which Andrew I believe can

enlighten you on that. So

and the other thing is I want to point out that does have showers, bathrooms, it's it's a trailer. Um, I I just I don't like that they're using porta potties out there. And I think our um I think we can like I think it's two $200,000 in the big scheme of things to let them have good facilities with showers and things like that. Um, and it would solve the problem now. I'm all for it.

Yes. Madam Chair,

yeah,

I just do a followup if you could. Andrew, I know it's it's listed as an Arizona company. I don't know where it's coming from, but can you put a time time number, sorry, when you think this is going to be built and put up and ready to go?

Uh, yes, sir, we can. So, the way this was purchased, it was purchased through a cooperative purchase agreement. So, it's already pre-bid. Um, we used Omnia Partners in this instance. Um, and the Williams Scotsman Company, they now call themselves Will Scott. Uh they're a nationwide company that uh makes modular trailers of all sorts of different styles, whether it's office

be very nice.

Yep. Uh so in this instance, this trailer is includes eight restrooms, uh five showers, two ADA uh two of those are ADA equipped. Um so this is a it meets all the needs uh that's out there. So this isn't just some small restroom facility. This is a pretty good size uh facility. Um for instance, as just comparison, the uh the Starky Park Trail uh we we did a

$496,000 um but that was a a modular pre-cast uh concrete uh restroom facility. So just for comparison of of different type of products in this same sort of genre uh of facility um this really is what we we feel we

that took 13 years to get done.

Yes ma'am. But we we really have looked for the the most cost-effective solution. Um and we we will absolutely try to make sure it's expedited as fast as possible. I think that's part of what we're what we're looking for out of this. I don't have the exact dates but I can certainly get that for you.

Right. We got to keep moving. and where it's going to be made.

I don't know the exact location it's going to be.

I think I would like to see it continue two weeks and get those answers and then two weeks will not set us back far. I want to see the deputies as quick as we can out of portallets. I hate them things too. So, I do want to change. I think it's I don't think it's a bad price even, but if we could get it done locally and even cheaper, I think it's worth a look.

Well, do you have support for that? Others?

I'm good with the eight bathrooms showers and it's already been b bit out. Yeah, I think I think it'd be I think it'd be worth it to go and have a conversation with with this crew, at least get to know future opportunities. But I'll support today's measure.

Okay. Well, then I need to um Oh, can we get two? Can we put Yeah, Keith Keith Keith W is asking if we can get one for the Sun Coast. We don't need the showers there, but we need the bathrooms. We do. We do need to get something going there. It's Sun Coast of 54.

Um, okay. I need a motion.

Okay. Well, I I make a motion to approve um the 200 or C14 for 244 62595.

I'll second.

All in favor? I opposed.

Nay.

Okay. Um, Commissioner Mariano C43.

This is just a good thing I wanted to just highlight real quick so we can get to other things. Um, I just want to say that the recycling contract is a good contract, very little cost increase and the it's important for the citizens to know the better we do in recycling, the less uh landfill space we need. We create a better situation for the waste energy plant. We save tax dollars. So with that, I'll move approval of C43.

Second.

All in favor? I I

Okay. Um, we are on Oh, sorry. 67.

Who's that? Waitman.

Mine.

Okay.

Yes. Thank chair. No, I just pulled this um conservation a nice size conservation easement coming together with Keith. You're here. 669 acres. Uh special appreciation to the Alustin family for for selling it for the conservation easement and the 5050s play it. So, it's just important that

as we have continuously done to to show the effort to conserve uh special properties here in Pasco. So, approval. How many acres was in that?

669.

That's nice. All the way.

Yeah.

Down.

That's been in the process for a while.

Yep.

I'll second that motion.

Final step.

All in favor?

I I

All right. So, um, we cannot do the bid one.

Correct. I was going to suggest, Madam Chair, R72 is the budget item. I anticipate that's probably a 20 to 30 minute discussion. So, we can either get started on that and conclude after lunch or you could hear R74 from public works, which is probably a 5 to 10 minute presentation. You have a light public hearing agenda in the afternoon and we are here until 5:15. So,

let's get that one then.

Thank you. R 74.

All right. Good morning again. Jason Ml, public works director. Um, at your at your May 6 meeting, we had um an item for the Fox Ridge MSPU. the board asked us to reconsider um dissolving that MSPU and then to come back to you with some options, some recommendations to do maintenance throughout that community. And I'm here today to provide you with a really quick um update and show you what we came up with. So, I won't bore you with the timeline, but I'll just show you on that last timeline there is what I just mentioned. That's where we came to you to the board. You asked us to go back and explore some other options. Um, so within the community there's about a 2.7 mile ditch system that runs through it. I don't know if you're familiar with it at all. It's just to orient you. It's kind of Wesley Chapel area east of 75. Um, this system has been overgrown for decades and there's lots of um kind of invasive trees and underbrush that's that's kind of clogging up the system that's um intended to move water, convey water throughout that community. So there are some there are some blockaged areas that can cause some flooding within the community. Um so our proposal is to uh work with one of our contractors and to go out there. Now I'll just I'll just throw it out there. Um for us to do it internally because that was some of the discussion for our teams to go out there and do it would would be about a threeyear or so process. It would take up a lot of our resources. So, we looked at an alternative, which is hiring a contractor. Just to orient you on the map, that's that's some of the canal system throughout the community. Um, if you're familiar, again, if you're familiar with it, it's it's about about 10 ft wide. Um, severely overgrown, not a lot of conveyance occurring through there. What we'll do is we'll use the MSBU money that's currently available, about 849,000 of it, which is just less than what we have um within the MSBU. Um we could use that money to hire a contractor and maintain that ditch to the point where we could get most of that cleared out. Um then what we would do from there is our teams can maintain that um that clear ditch uh as part of our stormwater maintenance program. Uh and as as you know we have uh MSTU uh for our road rehabil re rehabilitation program that we can put these roads on our list for for um for road rehabilitation. Um, so we can use the MSTU, which they're paying into, um, to do their roads, and then we could use what money they have in their MSBU to do the, um, storm water maintenance that's needed out there. So, with that, I tried to make it really quick, just give you an update of what we come up with. Uh, we can, again, just in summary, we can use a vendor um to do this work. Uh, we have multiple vendors that we can work with. will probably go through the normal bid process. Using um that purchasing process to go out to bid and getting the work done would be about

an 18month process.

Commissioner Mariana.

Yeah, Madam Chair Jason, I want to thank you Brford the team because this this was started like before Bransford was here

trying to get this done. They did some of the work out there uh but then evidently it stopped.

Uh so with all the money that's out there, I thought it was very appropriate that we take it forward. So Jason, I I'll I support you going forward to have your team look at it to do it, but I think in speed of 18 months compared to three years, I think it's worthwhile depending how the cost bids come out. So I I'm I'm supportive of uh what you're trying to do and I appreciate the effort.

Great. Thank you.

Yes. So um do we need action today? No,

there's no action today, Chairman.

Chair. Yeah.

Yeah. Three three years to do a little over two miles. Um that's mighty slow. So

based on money.

Yeah. But anyway,

glad glad glad I spoke with some of the board members uh last week and um they'll be Have you talked to them? Have you given them this up? We have

Yep. Our team has met.

All right. Good

with them.

Yep.

Good deal. Thank

Okay.

Okay. So then you're good to go, right?

So you I'll come back to you with a a future board item to move this project along.

Yes.

Okay. Um, did any of these folks have any flooding during Milton

or were they lucky?

I don't think there was any structure flooding, but there's community flooding there.

Yeah. Yards. And

it's a it's a wet area anyway.

Well, let's get

Everybody's in there. They're on acre plus, but it's just

Yeah.

Just a

When you clean those out, it really surprised you how quick the water moves out of there

and doesn't cause the flooding like we had in the past.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay. Okay. So, we have 10 minutes. Um, do you want to start on the budget?

We can if the board would like.

Yeah, let's start on the budget.

Let's just finish it.

Are we going to do a cut off at noon? We're going to start.

Yes. Because Mike and I have a lunch meeting.

Amy Ferrell, budget director with the Office of Management and Budget. So we're here to discuss the final adjustments to the fiscical year 26 budget as a result of the first public hearing. All right. So the first public hearing was held on September 3rd and at that meeting the board adopted the tenative mill rates and budget that was set in July and then the county administrator um made a promise to come back with a reduced general fund millage rate um less 01000 mills. And so as as a result and I've spoken with you individually about this um after good consultation with the budget team and and the remaining members of the team I think we can take that 0.01 and actually make a 0.02 uh reduction in the in the general operating millillage. This of course would be the third year in a row that this body has has done that which in total since the 23 budget represents about a 0.19 um 84 mills off the general operating budget. So how do we do this? Um really the the the first thing that we did is we looked at uh we looked at travel expenses across the board and just went ahead and made a 5% reduction. Um not only in general operating but across across all departments and all funds. Uh with that uh we we looked into some of your your tax increment financing uh that is used to subsidize operations in our 107 fund. That is our road and bridge fund that covers traffic operations, public works and those things. there was some underexecution that we saw in that and so we we felt that you know it's it's pretty safe to go ahead and and make that move today. Not that I would make that a long-term recurring effort. And then something that we're calling good faith uh reserve efforts. So this team through the course of the budgeting process and Amy will talk about this a little bit you know made made significant reductions in our budgets as before we brought them forward to include general general fund budgets. Um but um but as part of that we also have great ideas that our team members bring forward. One one such is is it for example uh we've we've made reductions in um in that contract cost. We've also uh changed uh an employee buyback program. In other words, we've we've we've put good ideas to work that we think will yield savings and um we're confident in those we'll make that reduction through reserves today. However, you know, we will be meeting with with the team to make those reductions in those budgets as we realize those savings to put back into the reserves. So, in other words, what I'm saying is is, you know, we we'll pay for it out of reserves today, but through the course of the budget year, as we realize the savings, we'll make reductions in those operating budgets to achieve those 0.02 savings. I I hope that makes sense. But that's that's that's literally our approach as well as a number of other what I'll just call minor minor nips and cuts to other other areas of budgets wants versus needs and those types of things.

Um I I think this is wonderful. I think our citizens will be happy with this and you've given me an idea and I think we did this a long time ago. Maybe not. Um so it has come up with an idea. The IT division has come up with an idea on how to save money. I love competition. What if say next year I don't know how little you want to go as far as division or whatever. Let's have a contest to see who comes up with budget saving ideas and whoever wins gets an extra day off or something, right? And let's let's get some good ideas brought in.

Yeah, I like that.

I think that's a good idea. And I also think that we need to commend all of our departments in in the county for

uh coming back with lowering their own budgets within their departments and also keeping them flat and not continuous grow their departments just because there's possibly money to grow. Cut that back, give it back to our citizens right thing to do. So

okay. Um, when it comes to the travel reduction, um, I would love for us to explore if there's an online training instead of, you know, our sending our employees out. I think that we will see a huge savings across the board there. Um, because then we're not, we don't have travel. We, you know, a bunch of expenses go away. So, I think we're going to see it a larger savings than 5% after a year,

but I would like that noted.

Yes, we would do that.

And I think the fact um commissioner training program went online. You used to have to travel when I I did it. I paid for it out of my own pocket, but um we uh you had to go to Gainesville or Tallahassee or somewhere and was a couple days and now I believe it's online. It is online.

Yeah.

So, yeah. Um, okay. Any other comments on this? Because because it is my birthday and I have a family birthday dinner tonight and so um

So, you got to get home early.

Yeah. Yeah. And I moved it up a half an hour early. When I saw this giant number here, I said, "Oo, I'm going to tell everyone they don't have to have dinner at midnight tonight. We I should be able to meet them or I show up for dessert and no dinner." Um,

but I think we're headed in the right direction. I think there's more that we can do and I think with that, you know,

getting departments out there to come out with better ideas and

and to help accurate Amy, as I call her, uh, get this budget right. So, I think it's it's all worthwhile to do.

And and remember, our county is is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. So we have a lot of things we have to infrastructure we have to put in place that some other counties who aren't growing but are seeing the increase in the property values. You know what one day we'll get there and Hernando will have our issues um and Citrus or who whomever lake um but right now we can't build parks fast enough. We've got road road safe sidewalks, roads, parks,

a

lot of infrastructure.

Infrastructure, cour houseses, EOCC's. I mean, we've kicked the can a lot and um we're slowly biting at that apple.

Commissioner Joerger did. Oh, Commissioner Mariano,

I was going to say I want to say Mike, Amy, your team's done a great job to to find a way to make this work. Um, you know, when we did the road MST last year, there was a such great response, but there's still so much more to be done. Uh, we were trying to work and the sheriff was very helpful with the with uh helping us fund our parks as well. There's a lot to be done. All these families want to go out and play and we know that the better our kids are uh as far as out playing families together, it's it's a great thing. It's quality of life. So, all the things we're trying to do to premiere, it takes money to go do it. and having haven't gone through seen parks cut back.

The economy dropped 06 07. We cut ourselves and put ourselves in a big hole. We're still not out of it yet.

No.

So, I think this is a reasonable number to to go with. People should be happy with it, but at the same time, it's not going to hurt us for a lot of the stuff we're doing. So,

um I'll support that, too.

I just have um if if we cut one more mill, what does that uh how much would that be out of the budget? A mill one mill not 01 sorry sorry 01 so 0.01 001 would represent approximately we'll just say another half a million dollars of of cuts I would say that between the efficiencies that our budget departments and our assistant county administrators have done with their department budgets we would we would want to start looking at what I would having a more serious conversation regarding additional recurring spending. So, you know, my advice to this board if that's something that that could be a conversation that we have if this body wants to have it. Uh, but it but it would require probably a more critical look at new expenditures. And mind you, the new expenditures that we call BPIs are completely aligned with your strategic plan and they include things such as staffing new libraries, staffing the expanded corrections facility, uh making investments in your land development code, all all of those things. Um, beyond that, then you you kind of get into your perhaps, you know, your discretionary dollars. Uh, you can look at um

I have I have I have a suggestion. I don't know if anybody else will be on it, but I'm all for taking the half a million out of reserves um for our for our constituents. It's a half a million.

The only thing I would I would caution on that again, Commissioner, is that when you pull from reserves, it it is it's it becomes a recurring matter, right? That is a one-time fix. And again, when we look at cutting what the recurring revenue to to this county government, which is the millillage cut. Um, I would recommend professionally that you look into recurring expenses versus pulling from savings. It is a one it's a one-time it's a one-time fix. It's perfectly valid. Um, but I I again, my recommendation would be you look at your recurring expenses. The other the other thing um the only other thing I want to mention is not not cutting any of those things but looking at our needs verse wants when it comes to building improvements things like that. Do we need to do that? Do we want to do it?

I

Yeah. But do we need to do it? No. That's that's something else I feel passionately about. Um I feel like we can get down one more 0.01. So if if the board wants to do that certainly I can take a look at what we call the non-f facilities CIP budget. So the non-f facilities CIP budget contains a number of items. They are you know anywhere from fixing showers at uh at at the corrections facility uh to buying chairs uh for jud judicial center, right? And so um you know could we delay some of those perhaps? Um

and then the it'll cost more when we

Okay. So then we do a one then I'm for a one time out of the um reserves

anything right now to save our taxpayers.

Commissioner

thank you commissioner Jagger you're singing from my himnil no secret. So you're you're you're suggesting

003

003 a 003 millillage over a 02 there. I'm just going to say it. There's $55,000 to not for profofits, which is discretionary. Um, not calling any any of them out. They all do great and wonderful work, but that's a want. That's a want of the taxpayer dollar. The need of that $55,000 needs to go into a park system, needs to go stripe a road, needs to go help clear a ditch, not help fund not for-profit businesses, which they choose to do on their operating budgets. So, I know I know that's controversial. I know it was a structural change, but that's when you look at the wants and and the needs, there's 505,000 right there. That's an option versus a general fund and others. I'm I am all open for for looking and exploring ways to to tighten the purse strings and becoming more efficient and effective with our with our public funds. That's that's no secret. So, I throw it out there. I'm excited about 003. Uh how we get there, uh I'll just be excited to potentially vote vote yes on that. So, I'll let the accurate Amy and the budget team sharpen their pencils, help figure it out.

I do want to say I really don't want to take it away from the nonprofits. They are truly our hands and feet in our community and I have sent I can't even count how many people to these to these nonprofits for help and without them um they would not have any any aid at all. So you're talking about uninsured you're talking you know they're saving people's lives. So I have a hard time taking from them. I you know I I don't know if I could do that.

And Commissioner Joerger I agree with you. Um, frankly, I think as a percentage of total budget compared to most counties, that number that we get is very small. Um, but I I do think it's an it's an important number and um and uh I wouldn't want to touch that either. Okay. So, it's 12:02. We had a great discussion. Um and we will break for lunch. And I'm not sure if you've got support for that 03, but if you want to I mean

I I think it'd be good. Amy still has a presentation left. Uh give us a chance to maybe look at look at some examples of what those items could look like and then if it pleases this board, we can talk about them after lunch and then you can give us some direction.

And obviously you note just that we're all clear we're not touching public safety any of that.

Correct. at these levels. I would I am not recommending that

parks or libraries.

No, not Oh, we're not touching parks, libraries. No,

none of it,

Madam Chair.

Yeah.

What we might want to do is maybe delay the public hearings a little bit and let Amy do a presentation first and that'll kind of free up a little bit time in case we needed to do other things.

That would be appreciated, I'm sure, on the budget's part, especially if there's changes.

All right, everyone. Have a great lunch. See you back 1:30. Your birthday lunch. [Music] Pasco County waterways and wildlife depend on you to keep them healthy. Excess fertilizer, grass clippings, trash, oils, and pet waste wash into gutters