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An East Lake group asks the county for welcome signs for the changing community, but history is against it happening.
By ROBERT FARLEY
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 26, 2001
EAST LAKE -- County Commissioner Susan Latvala figured the request was benign enough.
Some members of the community group East Lake 2000 asked the county put up East Lake signs at the entrances to the suburban community. They said the signs would help build community identity and act as landmarks to aid motorists.
Latvala agreed and directed the public works department to order the signs.
But history suggests the signs could be a bigger controversy than Latvala imagined. More than a decade ago, East Lake signs put up around the entrances to the community were taken down after a strong community outcry.
Then, as now, the concern is that anything that contributes to a community identity for East Lake -- such as signs -- is a step toward incorporating East Lake as a city, which is seen as costly and unnecessary.
And some residents resent East Lake 2000 attempting to speak on behalf of the community.
"Where do they get off telling the county what kind of signs to put up?" said resident Howard Brody. "They're not any kind of authoritative body. What if I came and asked for signs for Tarpon Woods?"
Like several other residents, Brody also opposes East Lake 2000's efforts to get a uniform ZIP code and mailing address for East Lake. Now residents have mailing addresses of Palm Harbor, Oldsmar or Tarpon Springs.
"It's political posturing," Brody said.
As for the signs, Brody said he sees no advantage to them.
"I'm against spending money that's not going to have any return," he said.
County officials said the signs will cost $50 to $75 each.
Besides, Brody said, there is no such place as East Lake in Pinellas. "I live in what is known as the unincorporated area of Pinellas County. I love it just the way it is."
Dan Bobel, chairman of East Lake 2000, said the signs have nothing to do with incorporation.
"It's just a common identity in the East Lake corridor," said Bobel, who is a local fire commissioner and publisher of the East Lake Eagle monthly newspaper.
Bobel noted that the area is known as the East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District. There's an East Lake Library and an East Lake High School.
"Why not use the name like everyone else," Bobel said. "It only makes sense."
Chuck Schult, a former fire commissioner and longtime opponent of Bobel, is convinced that most residents in East Lake don't want the signs or the name. Schult views it as a step toward incorporation, which he strongly opposes.
"If it came to a vote, it would lose 2 to 1," Schult said of the signs. "There is no such place as East Lake. Why should the county put up signs?"
Latvala said she was aware of the history of the controversy over East Lake entrance signs. But that was more than a decade ago, she said, and the group that opposed it "just doesn't have the strength it used to."
Besides, she said, there does not appear to be an intent by anyone to incorporate East Lake. Rather, she said, the signs were seen as a way to help people find East Lake.
Latvala would like the county to consider signs not just for East Lake, but for other communities in unincorporated areas of Pinellas County, such as Ozona and Crystal Beach.
"If you tell someone from Clearwater you live in Crystal Beach, they have no way of knowing when they get there," Latvala said.
The county planned to move forward with five East Lake signs: two on Keystone Road at the community's east and west borders; two on East Lake Road at the north and south borders; and one on Tampa Road near the entrance to Boot Ranch.
"Unless there is resistance to it," Latvala said, "I think we're going to do it."
But Keith Wicks, the county's public works director, has put the sign plan on hold for a while.
Wicks said the department has decided to look at all of the communities in unincorporated Pinellas that may want signs as well. He plans to come to the County Commission with a proposal in a couple months. The county will hold off on the East Lake signs until then.
Bobel said the opposition is coming from older residents who are resistant to any change. But East Lake's demographics are different from a decade ago, he said.
"There's a lot of young, fresh corporate blood," Bobel said. "We should give these people something to sink their teeth into . . . Things change."
The County Commission will soon find out how much.