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Northeastern part of county faces changes
By CHASE SQUIRES © St. Petersburg Times, published January 2, 2001 What a difference a year makes. The three municipalities that make up Pasco County's northeastern corner whisked through 2000 with changes that promise one thing: more changes. The common element is growth. Preparing for growth, dealing with growth and benefiting from growth dominated city and town business throughout the year. Saint Leo borrowed from its reserves to cover a budget shortfall for the 2000-01 fiscal year, anticipating the start of a tax boost as new homes in the Lake Jovita development begin sprouting. In San Antonio, two new commissioners made their presence felt, the city landed a new attorney and tensions surfaced between commissioners and the volunteer fire department chief. And in Dade City -- the seat of county government -- downtown welcomed a new county office building while new city leadership directed the community on an aggressive track to deal with growth that is expected to lead to a new emphasis on economic development. "We're trying to think outside the box a bit more and take on a few more challenges," Mayor Scott Black said. "You've got to realize that if we continue to do things the way we've always done things, things will never change." When Black advanced from vice mayor to mayor in April -- replacing Charles McIntosh, who retired after a decade in office -- he was joined on the commission by newcomers Hutch Brock and Lowell Harris. The reshaped commission, with incumbents Bill Dennis and Eunice Penix on board, moved quickly. In July, commissioners gambled by opting out of a guaranteed county-administered grant program in favor of a competitive grant process. Now commissioners may hire a grant writer to hunt big federal and state money for large community projects. And while Black and City Manager Doug Drymon joined the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce's new Economic Development Council, the commission set off to find more money for big-ticket projects. In the new year, commissioners expect to hire a bond consultant to help the city borrow millions for city projects and hire a consultant to prepare a study to lure a national chain motel to town. Commissioners expect to use Dade City's position as an entertainment hub as part of their pitch. The city welcomed first-ever events in 2000 that included a steeplechase horse race, a day of bicycle racing downtown and an increasingly popular monthly classic car cruise-in that has attracted more than 500 autos to downtown. All three events were the work of private groups that cooperated with the city but took the initiative on their own. A bond issue would have to be approved by residents in a vote, Black said, but with a mixture of infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements, the mayor said he is optimistic the public will approve. "Some needs as well as some wants will be in there," he said. "The wants will make it attractive, but the needs will be there as well." In the coming year, Black said he is anticipating the opening of a Dade City YMCA branch, the long-awaited completion of a state-mandated $3-million sewer upgrade and more work on the renovation of the historic Crescent Theater. With quality-of-life and infrastructure work, the city is showing it wants to be part of the economic development of Pasco County, he said. "Dade City is open for business," Black said. Economic growth hasn't been limited to Dade City, however. In the unincorporated community of Lacoochee, chicken feed giant Columbia Grain & Ingredients opened its largest grain distribution center in the state this summer, an investment of nearly $5-million that company officials said could eventually open up to 100 acres of industrial land -- complete with rail access -- to commercial development. And in Saint Leo, where Mayor Janis Klingle ignited a debate over the future of State Road 52, the booming Lake Jovita development opened its clubhouse as homes began popping up in what were once woods and fields. Klingle started a discussion over what to do with SR 52, a 55 mph stretch of state highway that sports a notorious 90-degree turn at the border of Saint Leo and San Antonio and could see increased traffic as housing developments sprout. Saint Leo borrowed more than $20,000 from its reserve funds to meet cash demands, with the understanding that growth will more than make up the difference in the coming year. As Lake Jovita lots went on the market, the town's taxable property value rose from $6.4-million to $12.9-million. That is expected to mean big cash benefits in the coming round of property tax payments. San Antonio, too, is anticipating growth. The city has two new subdivisions approved, with one already under construction, and commissioners approved construction of a small shopping center along SR 52. Just down the road, mega-developer Del Webb has secured -- at least temporarily -- the construction rights on the 5,000-acre Cannon Ranch property. New commissioner Heiskell Christmas was appointed to the city's board in February to replace Olaf Jonasson when Jonasson moved out of state, and political newcomer Wendi Edwards joined the board in April's election. As was true in Dade City, it was private groups that provided entertainment, with the Rattlesnake And Gopher Enthusiasts bringing back the Rattlesnake Festival -- after hurricane threats closed the show in 1999 -- and the successful downtown June Jam and Fall Jam street dance series. San Antonio also hired a new attorney, Richard Davis, who replaced Kenneth Buchman when Buchman accepted a job as Plant City's full-time attorney. And the city is ready to embark this year on restoration of the public beach house on the shore of Lake Jovita. The park, owned by San Antonio but located inside Saint Leo limits, is the only public access to the lake. Of course, it wasn't all smiles in San Antonio. A dispute between city commissioners and the San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department caused friction not only between the city and fire station, but also with neighboring Saint Leo. Amid questions about how much each community should pay for fire protection, San Antonio Mayor Roy Pierce began studying fire department finances, finally warning at a December meeting that he intends to consult with Pasco County and Dade City about providing fire service for the city if the department can't account for its spending. Dade City's Mayor Black said a key for all municipalities in the coming year is continuing to work together. The Municipal Association of Pasco, or MAP, has been a good place for the county's small municipalities to have a voice when county issues impact them. "With the MAP, we are seeing good things coming from a common strategy," Black said. "We can speak with one voice."
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