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Road work needed to enable evacuation

Is there any doubt that Ridge Road needs to be extended?

Just look at the havoc that Hurricane Rita caused the people in Texas. The residents wanted to get out of the way of the storm, yet were caught in crippling traffic jams that did not seem to move for hours!

The proposed extension project needs to start without further delay. While the environment needs to be protected, so does human life. I think the scrub jay and the gopher tortoises can find another place, just north or south of the road. The proposal has accounted for enough space for wildlife to roam.

It will be a tragic day when a storm like Katrina or Rita comes roaring through our area. It is inevitable. The storm surge will come, accompanied by high winds, and State Roads 52 and 54 will be a parking lot trying to get away from the storm.

Have the environmentalists tried to drive on these roads during a simple rush hour? These roads are already bumper to bumper. They will be impassable during a chaotic situation.

Let's use our heads and be proactive with a plan for more escape roads. All the parties involved in this project - from the environmentalist to the state to the county to the developers that will build along this road - need to come to a quick solution.

Only when a human life is taken does action start. I can only hope that it doesn't come to this in regards to this road.

Bonds would help curb shoddy repair jobs

The problems associated with the deteriorating roads and drainage in the Thousand Oaks subdivision bring to light an issue that the taxpayers of Pasco County must continually face: the expectations of the developers to make large profits while placing ever larger burdens on the existing taxpayers of this county. The most recent burden, the expensive repairs of roads and drainage in Thousand Oaks and the Trinity area, will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars because of shoddy workmanship and poor planning. While a new homeowner is protected against poor workmanship by a new homeowners warranty, the taxpayers receive no such protections for the subdivision infrastructure that the county government is asked to accept and maintain.

Currently, other municipalities and local governments require some type of fiduciary bond on roads and drainage infrastructure improvements made by developers. These bonds, with durations that are typically three to five years, must have sureties and conditions acceptable to the local government and act as a warranty pertaining to the design and construction of the streets and drainage systems in accordance with local government standards. They also ensure satisfactory performance during the warranty period, which commences with the county's formal acceptance of the roads. Subsequent to acceptance, the developer is not responsible for repairing damage done to the roads that was not a result of design or construction failure, but only those failures that are the result of poor design and planning, such as those in Thousand Oaks.

The cry of the builders' lobby will be that the price of this bond is too prohibitive. I submit that this is a cost of doing business and should be required so that the taxpayers of Pasco can take one less step in providing welfare for the wealthy builders. The only question now is whether our commissioners have the guts to take a stand for their constituents.

Concert fundraisers needed better coverage

We had our two concert fundraisers and unfortunately did not get the turnout we hoped for. We ended up with approximately 40 people at each show. The show was fabulous. We collected $1,230 for the American Red Cross and presented a check to it Sunday night. The Red Cross was very pleased.

Our performers consisted of Jeannette Assalti, Jamie Perlow, Courtney Griffin, Chris Stein, Chris Valentine, Heather Timpanelli, Jonathon Timpanelli, Lexi Balestrieri, Vicki Perlow, Maria Coccaro, the Gulf High Jazz Band, Chelsea Burton, Gabrielle Mirabella, Jennifer Frances, Rochelle Hall, and of course me. I would like to thank everyone who donated his or her time and the people who came out to enjoy such a wonderful show. The desserts, coffee and hall rental were donated by myself.

It is told to me at most of our shows that it is too bad we don't get the press coverage that the other theaters in the area get. But we continue to go forward and make this a success as the hundreds of followers continue coming back to us.

New Port Richey

[Last modified September 27, 2005, 02:45:31]