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County sues engineering firm over roads

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 5, 2007

TRINITY

Pasco County has sued Landtech Engineering of New Port Richey and its engineer Ray Gustafson, asking for money to repair damaged roads in the Thousand Oaks neighborhood in Trinity. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Pasco Circuit Court, is the latest chapter of the troubles that began in 2002 in the neighborhood. The county says professional malpractice and negligence led to the faulty roads, which cracked and broke from water exposure within two years after the upscale neighborhood was built. Overall, Pasco has asked for $244, 000 to settle the case, according to a memo from the County Attorney's Office. Last month, county commissioners agreed to settle with the developer, Sunfield Homes, for $81, 200 and no admission of wrongdoing. But they rejected a $5, 000 offer from Gustafson, who would admit no liability, either.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Code enforcement change is sought

The city is moving forward on a plan that would move code enforcement out of the hands of a citizens panel and into the hands of a county court judge. Tonight, the City Council will hold its first hearing on the plan. The meeting begins at 7 at City Hall, 5919 Main St. If approved, New Port Richey would join other local governments - including Pasco County, Dade City and Zephyrhills - that have already switched to the court system. The reasons behind the proposed change? Officials say the prospect of facing a judge - and facing possible contempt of court charges if they do not comply with the judge's orders - is a strong incentive for people to clean up their properties.

WESLEY CHAPEL

Gopher tortoises moved from site

Ten gopher tortoises, including six babies, were moved Saturday from the Cypress Creek Town Center site to the developer's preserve, called the Alston Tract, in southeastern Pasco. Ecologists from Biological Research Associates found three more nests than were detected earlier, and applied Monday for a permit to move up to 40 more tortoises. "Great care was taken to both protect the tortoises and follow our permit guidelines, " said Tom Schmitz, vice president for the mall's developer, the Richard E. Jacobs Group. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission official was present and verified the move was done correctly, said mall spokeswoman Deanne Roberts.

County's deadliest road a familiar one

Once again, U.S. 19 tops the list as Pasco's deadliest road. But accidents are on the rise in central Pasco, home to five of the seven most dangerous intersections. Story, Page 3

[Last modified June 5, 2007, 00:41:42]