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Commissioners Will Pay For Reservoir Fixes

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

DADE CITY - Pasco County leaders will stay the course on a troubled reclaimed reservoir project in Land O' Lakes despite concerns that proposed fixes may not work.

Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to spend $4.2 million more to add a liner to the reservoir, create an extra berm and cut off a portion of the southeastern edge to prevent the reservoir walls and base from collapsing and flooding neighborhoods. The measures are intended to prevent sinkholes.

Commissioner Michael Cox was opposed, saying he is not confident the fixes county-hired engineers are suggesting will help. He also is concerned about growing costs, which have mounted to more than $21 million since the project's inception.

"I have a lot of reservations," Cox said at a meeting at the historic Pasco County Courthouse. "I don't have the level of comfort to move forward."

Commission Chairman Ted Schrader asked Cox what he would need to support the recommendations. "I don't know," Cox said.

An independent engineer met with the county's hired geotechnical engineers and a consultant to evaluate the project last week. He suggested a different fix to county staff Monday, but Assistant County Administrator Bruce Kennedy said those methods would be too expensive and possibly trigger more sinkholes.

The reservoir, which would store reclaimed water during the rainy season, is being constructed as part of a consent order with the state Department of Environmental Protection. Pasco Utilities officials agreed to take on a number of projects in lieu of a multimillion-dollar fine.

The reservoir initially was projected to cost several million dollars.

Also Tuesday, commissioners:

•Set a tentative schedule for revising and writing ordinances for the county's comprehensive growth plan, which went into effect in January, and agreed to try to hire a consultant to review major land-use changes in the meantime.

•Agreed to consider at future public hearings several changes to a sign ordinance to better accommodate businesses. Commissioners in split votes rejected some changes to the rules. Veteran Commissioners Pat Mulieri and Schrader said the changes would violate the spirit of the ordinance, which was to remove clutter from Pasco roadways.

•Agreed to move forward with an ordinance that would require developers to provide reports from geological engineers on potential sinkholes.

•Agreed to continue to require developers to build roads to serve the new residents they attract despite a three-year reprieve from the state Department of Community Affairs.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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