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Town's growth, census data seem to clash
By CHASE SQUIRES © St. Petersburg Times, published April 5, 2001 SAN ANTONIO -- No matter what the U.S. Census says, city leaders on Tuesday again found themselves dealing with the growth of their community. Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a 25-home subdivision, on the heels of last month's approval of a nearby 44-home subdivision. The board also heard a pitch from Peoples Gas, which is looking to run natural gas lines into the city to serve a thriving business community and the new developments. Then, looking outside city limits, commissioners considered allowing cell phone antennas atop the city water tower. Companies eager to fill a nearby wireless phone dead spot may be willing to pay big money for the lofty perch, Commissioner Heiskel Christmas said. A 6,700-unit development was approved last month for neighboring Cannon Ranch, and homes have been sprouting in the 900-home Lake Jovita development on the other side of the city since last year. Tuesday's talk of how to deal with the growth inside the city -- the two new subdivisions are in addition to a 36-home subdivision approved in 1999 and being built now -- came a week after the U.S. Census reported the city lost about 16 percent of its population. According to the 2000 federal count, while Pasco County's population grew 23 percent, San Antonio's population declined from 776 to 655 since 1990. Mayor Roy Pierce has pointed out that there are few, if any, vacant homes in town, and new homes have been built since 1990. City Clerk Barbara Sessa is investigating the results. Most residents still use post office boxes instead of street addresses for their mail, a holdover from years when the post office did not deliver in town. The census did not mail forms to post office boxes, and Sessa said she has heard from residents who said they were never counted. Despite the census data, the demands of growth took center stage at Tuesday's meeting. The expectation of increased cell phone demands already came up at a Saint Leo Town Commission meeting in February. The town enacted a tower moratorium after wireless giant Verizon asked permission to erect a 199-foot tower on the campus of Saint Leo University. That tower could have been worth up to $120,000 a year to the school in lease fees, a Verizon representative said. If Saint Leo doesn't want the tower, Christmas reasoned, maybe San Antonio could provide a spot on the water tower, for a price. Mayor Roy Pierce supported further study, and Christmas said he would find out how much companies would be willing to pay. Commissioner Sharon Madden objected strongly, citing the potential health effect from the tower and the aesthetic effect on the city. In other business, commissioners discussed ways to encourage water conservation but agreed not to increase rates. Pierce said water consumption has actually dropped from 3.9-million gallons a year three years ago to 2.9-million gallons last year, thanks to conservation. Commissioners shared some water saving tips. Commissioner Dennis Phillips reported that for years he has showered with a two-gallon bucket in the shower next to him. He uses the collected water to flush his toilet, he said. And commissioners unanimously promoted city Water Clerk Tammy Bader to the newly created position of assistant city clerk.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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