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Dangling the bait of lower utility rates, the city invites residents of a waterfront community to join it.
By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 6, 2002
LARGO -- With one eye on the waterfront property and the other on $200,000 a year in new tax revenue, Largo is going after a country club community.
City commissioners, hoping to step up Largo's aggressive annexation policy, decided this summer to ask Cove Cay residents to make a choice between living in Largo or staying in unincorporated Pinellas County.
They intend to hold a referendum vote in January on annexation, with only a majority of the 600 registered voters out of about 2,000 Cove Cay residents needed for it to pass.
Lou Hilton, the city's salesman on annexation, said state law allows them to compel the referendum because the majority of land -- a private golf course -- is not owned by registered voters.
But even as officials polish their best sales pitch hoping to sway a majority of those voters who show up, the task may require nothing more than a few numbers.
That's because Largo levies a 25 percent premium for sewer and reclaimed water services for customers in unincorporated areas. Cove Cay residents combined could save more than $87,000 annually through annexation, city officials said.
With the community's residents already dependent on Largo's reclaimed water, fire protection and sewer service, the city may end up leaving the figures and taking the cannoli -- $197,000 a year in new property tax revenue.
"They made us an offer we can't refuse," said Richard Solomon, president of Cove Cay Village 2.
Cove Cay would give Largo its first view of Tampa Bay, along with a taxable property worth nearly $58-million. That includes an 18-hole golf course, 16 buildings and 927 condominium units on 148 acres east of U.S. 19 and south of Belleair Road.
That's a Clearwater mailing address, but within Largo's service area and contiguous to city property.
So Largo officials have asked them to come on board. They plan to mail letters, conduct meetings between residents and city commissioners to give them confidence in Largo government, and break down the cost comparison.
"Nobody came to us saying, will you annex us into the city," said Hilton, a city planner hired to persuade property owners to be annexed. "But we are serving them. It's in their best interest."
Hilton initiated the deal in January when he wrote Gerald Panagrossi, Cove Cay's property manager, and asked if the community would consider annexation.
Panagrossi met with Hilton, and later scheduled meetings with prominent residents who serve on the community's four individual boards, each representing one of the four villages.
Some say the benefits override the costs. They expect the vote to fly.
"I'm in favor of it," said Yolanda Hauer, who is secretary for Cove Cay Village 4 board that represents 308 units. "I think it would be beneficial to us. The taxes would be somewhat lower. The people that I have talked with seem to be okay."
The only issue she has heard is that people want to keep the Clearwater mailing address. The postmaster has told her they will not lose that.
"That's a whole different matter," Hauer said. "The address would stay the same."
But others like Doug Crum have specific concerns.
Crum, president of the Cove Cay Village 3 board that represents 154 units, said the reclaimed water is a carrot his complex does not need.
They have a well. It's the golf course that consumes the majority of the 90-million gallons used annually, a cost of $45,000.
Even if Largo lowers the current rate from 50 cents for every 1,000 gallons to 40 cents with an annexation agreement, he wouldn't feel much of the $9,000 saved.
"We sort of have ourselves in a valuable position," he said. "That is not a big deal for us. That is one of the things they seem to hang the most in front of the other villages."
Crum is more concerned about police protection. He has heard that Largo's force has a higher resident to officer ratio than the Sheriff's Office.
"If Largo annexes and we call the police, we get one cruiser," he said. "If we call the sheriff, we get 12."
There is also the question of the "vote."
Only those registered to vote in that precinct can participate in the election. That means no "snowbirds" who spend the winter in Florida and the rest of the year elsewhere.
And no property owners who lease out their units. The city figures one in three residents may end up being eligible to vote.
"If you live there, you can vote," said Diane Bruner, Largo's city clerk. "If you are a property owner who owns four units, and you live in St. Petersburg, even though it affects your four properties, you don't get to vote. Your renters do."
Richard Solomon is a snowbird, so he won't be able to vote.
"But if it were up to me, I would vote in favor," Solomon said. "People I've spoken with will be voting for it."
-- Michael Sandler can be reached at 445-4174 or sandler@sptimes.com.