Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Jack Mariano’s attempt to get Pasco County Commissioners to declare their support for the United States Constitution was shot down March 19.
Pasco County Commissioners opted against declaring their support for the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights during their March 19 meeting. Or, more pointedly, they voted down the resolution presented by Commissioner Jack Mariano as it was written. Calling it a “political ploy” and saying there was no need for a resolution declaring Pasco County’s support for the Constitution, Commissioner Pat Mulieri opted against supporting Mariano’s measure. She was joined by fellow commissioners Ted Schrader and Kathryn Starkey in her opposition. “I’m angry,” Mulieri told Mariano during a heated discussion on the measure. The idea for Mariano’s proposal came about during talks about Pasco County possibly closing a loophole in local …
Friday, March 15, 2013
Pasco Commissioners are considering an increase in the local option gas tax. The hike would have West Pasco motorists paying a nickel more at the pumps.
West Pasco motorists struggling with high prices at the pumps might soon find themselves paying a nickel more a gallon. Pasco County Commissioners were asked during a workshop Tuesday, March 12, to consider raising the local fee from 7 cents to 12 cents, according to The Tampa Tribune. The reason lies in the county’s need to generate more money for road repair and maintenance. A raise in the tax would produce nearly $8 million a year that could be used improve roads throughout the county. Mike Garrett, the county’s public works director, says his department is underfunded when it comes to meeting road maintenance and repair needs. Understaffing is also a problem. Right now, it can take up to 26 days for county staff to repair a pothole …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The county has a new strategic plan that lays out four main objectives. Do you agree with the priorities the commission has set?
Pasco Commissioners last week approved a plan that outlines priorities for the county to pursue over the next five years. The county’s 2013-17 strategic plan is a roadmap of sorts, meant to guide staff and commission actions toward specific goals. The county has laid out four “strategic objectives” for the coming years. We’d like to know what you think about them New Port Richey. Here are the objectives, according to the county’s website: Do you think the county’s priorities are straight? Do you think Pasco can achieve its goals? What improvements would you like to see made between now and 2017? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The week of Feb. 11-15 has been declared Severe Weather Week in Pasco County.
Just because the temperatures are mild, rain is scant and storms have been kept well at bay in the New Port Richey area in recent weeks doesn’t mean those conditions are likely to continue. Florida’s weather can turn on a dime and the threat of severe conditions is ever present, said Annette Doying, director of emergency management for Pasco County. “We’re (Florida) at risk all year long and that risk changes,” Doying said during the Feb. 5 Pasco County Commission meeting. The risks, she added, go beyond hurricane season to include wild fires, rip currents and other natural disasters. Doying was present at the board meeting to receive a resolution declaring the week of Feb. 11-15 Severe Weather Awareness Week in Pasco County. The week is …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Commissioners are considering closing the “gun show” loophole and want to hear from residents during an upcoming meeting.
Gun control wasn’t on the Pasco County Commission’s agenda Tuesday, but that didn’t stop residents from stepping forward to voice their opinions about the prospect of new laws being passed on the local level. Several residents came out to express their concerns that the commission will delve into an issue that is already being discussed at the state and national level. Commissioners are considering a local law that would close the “gun show loophole,” which allows people to buy weapons without a background check or waiting period at gun shows. “Guns, if they’re made illegal, instead of licensed gun dealers, you’ll have criminals,” warned Jose Lugo of Spring Hill. Lugo, along with several other residents, said the main issue that needs to …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Ted Schrader faces domestic battery charges.
Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader, 57, was arrested Feb. 3 on one count of domestic battery. According to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office complaint affidavit, the incident that led to the arrest brewed over the course of the weekend starting with an argument on Friday night. Around 9 a.m. on Saturday, Schrader entered his wife Julia’s bedroom. When she turned “to her left side” to avoid confrontation, Schrader “grabbed the victim’s left wrist and left leg and pulled her towards him against her will,” the report said. The Schraders, who have been married for about 30 years, according to the report, have separate bedrooms. The act, according to an incident report, left three half-inch bruises on Julia Scrader’s left forearm and …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
A former school board member gets the recommendation of a longtime County Commissioner
- ELECTIONS
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Thursday, June 21, 2012
Longtime Pasco County Commissioner Ann Hildebrand is retiring this year from her elected position and is endorsing Kathryn Starkey for her seat, according to a press release from the Starkey campaign. The seat in question represents district three on the county commission. Starkey is a former Pasco School Board member who also has leadership of several organizations under her belt. District three encompasses southwest Pasco County, from the Gulf Harbors area south to the southern border of Holiday. It also encompasses the area from the southern side of of S.R. 54 to the southern border of Pasco and eastward to the junction of 54 and County Road 581. The candidates who will be duking it out in the general election for Hildebrand’s seat as …
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Jeffrey Baker and Justin Lawrence are trying to earn a Guinness World Record for pickleball attempt.
Two New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center employees recently completed their second attempt at earning a Guinness World Record for longest game of pickleball ever played. They are still waiting on official word from Guinness on whether they earned the record. In the meantime, they got some accolades from local officials. Lia Gallegos, one member of the two-person team doing public relations for the Aquatic Center, announced the commendation Tuesday on Facebook. Here are her (edited) words. For updates on doings at the Rec Center,m check out the facility's Facebook page. Today the Pasco Board of County Commissioners congratulated Justin Lawrence and Jeffrey Baker for attempting a new Guinness World Record for the “Longest …
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
After hearing from a legion of businesspeople and others in attendance at public hearing Tuesday who said the ordinance is burdensome, commissioners agreed unanimously to direct staff to bring them a proposal next month to repeal the rule.
Pasco County Commissioners expressed they are open to the idea of repealing a controversial county ordinance requiring that secondhand dealers electronically log transactions they make as part of business. After hearing from a legion of businesspeople and others in attendance at a public hearing Tuesday who said the ordinance is burdensome, commissioners agreed unanimously to direct staff to bring them on April 24 a proposal to repeal the rule. Under the county secondhand dealer ordinance, dealer logs are to be filed with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office within 24 hours of a transaction. Photos of the goods and fingerprint customers are required accompaniment. Swap shops, coin dealers, flea market vendors, antique shops and gold and …
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Pasco commissioners and tourist development council members said money is there for grants to advertise events such as the Chasco Fiesta.
County grants to promote events such as the Chasco Fiesta appear to be safe for the coming year. There also appeared to be little inclination during a workshop session between Pasco County commissioners and the Tourist Development Council on Tuesday to raise the county’s 2 percent tax on hotel and short-term rentals that helps fuel the grants. During the session held at St. Leo University, Eric Keaton, public communications manager for the county Tourist Development Council, said the county allocated $80,000 in bed tax money for 16 events last fiscal year but groups only claimed $70,000 of that. The money can only pay for advertising and promotion outside of Pasco and is intended to help lure people from other states or counties to spend …
Joe T
1:20 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
yes free speach is a problem more ›