Editor: The situation in the Rolling Oaks development of Hudson is surreal, to say the least. The water is still there after months and Pasco County says there is nothing that can be done. My opinion after this is they are very good at nothing.
But, of course, "The engineers are working on it." Our son has four children and lives on a street the Times as well as Channels 8, 9, and 10 have featured several times. But it's old news now, so you've all abandoned it. It's not worth it for you to hold officials' feet to the fire anymore, I guess.
However, I'll bet if some county mucky-muck was living this nightmare with four children, no phone, (Verizon won't attempt to string a wire to our son's house, so it's part of the problem too), water all around breeding whatever, an alligator living in the street it's so deep, and the standing water becoming more infested every day, I'm sure something would happen quickly.
I'm very disappointed and will absolutely vote for anyone new on the ballot for any Pasco County position next time.
-- Wayne Hays, Hudson
Lighthouse restoration worth it
Re: Spending on schools deserves to be our No. 1 priority, Sept. 17 letter
Editor: To the person who wrote in about the waste of money used to restore the Anclote Key Lighthouse, my answer is that in some people's eyes, this was a great task to restore a historic place.
That money was wasted only in the letter writer's eyes. I believe some of that money came from private individuals plus their time to restore the light.
Yes, there was state money used for this task, just like there's state money used for schools.
I don't think either should be priority one - medical insurance is high on my list of firsts in this state - and I am sick and tired of hearing about schools and budgets.
I think the lighthouse restoration was money well-spent.
-- William Bushell, Port Richey
If you don't like invocation, don't join in
Re: County public meetings not place to pray, Sept. 17 letter
Editor: Invocation is defined as to appeal for aid, to call on for assistance. Invocations at meetings, political or otherwise, have been part of agendas for years and is a call for assistance in making wise decisions during that meeting. It is not preaching or promoting a religion.
People who object to violence on TV are told they have the option to watch something else. In a like vein, perhaps a nonbeliever should join the meeting after the invocation, which is usually said immediately after the call to order and before any business has taken place. This does not mean the nonbeliever is a second-class citizen. It simply means that he has exercised his option not to join in the invocation.
-- Alfred DiServio, New Port Richey
Yes, this is a Christian nation
Editor: Is America an English speaking, Christian nation? Yes, that's what the Founding Fathers established. Some people don't understand this because of the principle of separation of church and state.
Separation of church and state means that we are not compelled to attend a government-decreed church and we are not compelled to pay taxes to a government-decreed church.
What confuses some people is that we are a Christian nation, but we have freedom of religion. We are free to practice any religion or no religion at all.
When the immigrants came to America in the early part of the last century, they understood this and accepted it. They valued freedom and the guarantee of their individual rights.
There are many religions in America, and they are all free to practice their particular religion, but it is too much to expect that our public institutions conform to their ideas of religion. Freedom of religion does not include the right to overthrow Christianity.
We are a Christian nation. Why do you think Christmas is a national holiday?
-- Charles Derer, Hudson
City should step up to its responsibilities
Editor: When requesting to be connected to the city sewer system, the Dade City city manager's office replied it would be a minimum of $10,000 to have the sewer pipes laid down my residential street.
We live in the city limits, and the city is willing to allow me to be held hostage to the septic companies and their outdated systems with very few options. The city should realize that septic systems in the city are environmentally unsafe and offer a breeding ground for bacteria and disease. It is an outdated method of processing sewage into the environment.
As a taxpayer, I believe I should have the same rights as the residents who live 200 feet away without having to pay for the city's responsibilities to supply utilities and pave roads.
I currently pay the electric bill for the city street light or they turn it off. Last week the city approved a rate increase for water and sewer funds. What do you think the odds are that I will get needed upgrades to their sewer system so I can connect for the standard $2,000? Also, a paved street would be nice. Our street washes away every time it rains.
-- Craig E. Hollis, Dade City
Correction to golf course information
Re: Beacon Woods could take lesson from semiprivate golf courses, Sept. 15 letter
Editor: The referenced letter contained misinformation on fees for Beacon Woods golf course.
There is a membership certificate of $4,000 that is fully refundable after termination of membership. There also is an $800 initiation fee, not $1,500.
The club is open to the public and we welcome the public to come play in the best course in Pasco County for a reasonable fee.
-- Garry Rossano,Bayonet Point
We don't need the supercenters
Editor: I am against Wal-Mart's plan to build more supercenters along U.S. 19 because uncontrolled commercial growth in Pasco is getting out of hand. Retail saturation is obvious. We have abandoned shopping malls.
Our county government is responsible for providing a level playing field for small to medium size businesses to prosper and provide good jobs. Instead, we open the door to big box retailers like Wal-Mart that end up destroying small businesses. I support the Pasco County Traffic Concurrency Ordinance and urge the County Commission to pass it.
-- Mary Hudson, Hudson
Pass the ordinance to control growth
Editor: An overwhelming number of residents in the Hudson/Bayonet Point area along with local business owners are opposed to the Wal-Mart Supercenter at the Bayonet Point Mall location.
We in Beacon Woods have serious concerns regarding the impact that this store will have on the Hudson/Bayonet Point area, and we urge the passing of the Pasco County controlled ordinance for U.S. 19.
-- Richard Bingen, Beacon Woods
Growth along U.S. 19 must be controlled
Editor: Wal-Mart is planning to build a supercenter on U.S. 19 in Hudson. The experience gained from the building of such a supercenter at U.S. 19 and Ridge Road should be instructive.
The operations division conducted an accident crash study and found a 74 percent increase in accidents at that intersection. Growth along U.S. 19 must be controlled or we will all pay the price.
-- William J. Carey, Bayonet Point
Our community is not their parking lot
Editor: I am against Wal-Mart because as a resident of Beacon Woods. I whole heartedly support the closing of Beacon Woods Drive as it enters the Beacon Woods community, not allowing Wal-Mart 5,000 to 10,000 car trips daily to use our community as extension of their parking lot.
-- Evelyn S. Wyman, Bayonet Point
[Last modified September 22, 2003, 02:08:05]
