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Pasco Letters to the Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

Jackson No Journalist

Regarding 'Curious Case Of Incurious Commissioners,' Tom Jackson, Sept. 30:

Jackson's 'words' in The Pasco Tribune confirm he is certainly no journalist with any standards of integrity. Looking up the word 'journalist' in Wikipedia clarifies that, by definition, he is just a columnist, which must preclude him from the need for truth and accuracy in reporting.

I would have expected The Tampa Tribune to step in, however, when it comes to spreading unwarranted fear in the public arena concerning heavy metal emissions from the Pasco County waste-to-energy facility in Shady Hills.

On July 24 we sent a personal e-mail offering to meet Jackson at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection offices in Temple Terrace to review the facts of the permit application he continues to represent with vigor. Evidently, his moonlighting job at Angelo's Aggregate Materials, the company proposing the landfill in northeast Pasco County, does not require any such time investment to understand the realities of this important community issue.

Given the public health concerns with heavy metals, we believe the community needs to understand the solid waste alternatives and their implications.

In 2006 the Shady Hills plant emitted approximately 2 ounces of mercury a day, significantly less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's permitted levels of 540 pounds per year. However, landfills emit airborne mercury at levels 1,000 times those typically found, according to studies conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on currently operating landfills in Florida in 2002.

Regarding hydrogen chloride and sulfur dioxide, the Shady Hills plant emitted 42 tons versus the permitted level of 450 tons for 2006. For your enlightenment, landfills, according to the EPA, are the largest emitters of methane in the United States, which is a major contributor to global climate change.

Additionally, when the applicants' tipping fees go to $70 a ton, per their DEP application, from their verbal 'sales price,' it would be great for Jackson to pick up the difference for the citizens of Pasco!

CARL ROTH

Dade City

A New Ride

Regarding 'Clerk Looks To Trade In His Vehicle,' Sept. 28:

Once again the Pasco County Commission wasted citizens' time with the concern over Clerk of Court Jed Pittman's vehicle. While they are in the biggest budget battle in recent history, the commission was considering wasting more than $22,000 on the vehicle for the man in charge of investing county funds, among many other duties.

The request Pittman made was for the same newer model truck with bucket seats instead of the standard bench seat that came with the vehicle he is driving. If, in fact, this is required for health reasons or comfort, why not just install bucket seats in the current truck he is using and solve the problem?

The time the commission wasted considering this matter could have been used to help solve other major issues we face in Pasco County.

So, I ask you, county commissioners, show us, the citizens, that some common sense does exist with this board. Or go ahead and spend $22,000 to fix a $2,000 problem and buy a new truck.

CURT PRYSTUPA

Hudson

More Planning Needed

Regarding 'If Push Comes To Shove, School Board Should Sue To Protect Mission,' Sept. 16:

It would seem to me that the Pasco County School Board should have taken care of this situation in regards to roads and sidewalks before they built new schools.

County commissioners and the school board should have met to discuss these issues before contractors were hired to build these schools, one should never assume. One should get the facts before starting any projects pertaining to the education of children in Pasco County.

I believe it would cost the taxpayers of Pasco more money if the school board takes the county to court. Commissioners would probably have to reduce more in their budget and take away from other projects to build sidewalks and roads leading to these schools.

I feel the school board did not do enough research when planning to build these schools, and in the future they should.

JUDY M. KENNEDY

Elfers

Signs Of Trouble

What can be done to keep snipe signs off our right of ways?

I know there is a law on file in the code enforcement division of Pasco County government. Who can I contact to express my opinion?

This has gotten out of hand. I personally have removed hundreds of signs, but they keep coming back.

We need to fine those people and companies so they will be discouraged not to place signs on our roadways.

TONY COLLINGS

Wesley Chapel

The writer is a member of Protectors of Florida's Legacy, a group working to defeat Angelo's Aggregate's plans to develop a landfill near Dade City.

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