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County To Review Lobbyist's Contract

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2007

DADE CITY - County commissioners on Tuesday are set to consider renewing their contract with Joe Mannion, who has worked as Pasco's legislative consultant and lobbyist for 20 years.

If commissioners approve the contract, Mannion will be paid $84,854 - the same salary he received this past year. Mannion, who began working for the county in April 1987, has been given 5 percent raises the past couple of years, but the county budget is tight this year because of state-mandated tax reform. Most departments pledged to keep spending at or below last year's levels.

Mannion has advocated for the county on issues such as state assistance for a hurricane shelter, road projects and flooding fixes.

For the past three years the county also has retained a transportation lobbying firm, Tew Cardenas, to help persuade the state Department of Transportation to push for improvements on congested roads.

Also Tuesday, commissioners are slated to:

•Discuss Pasco's recycling program in comparison with a more comprehensive program in Polk County. Some board members advocate increasing recycling and possibly making it mandatory. Polk takes in about $360,000 per year from recycling, according to its solid waste division officials. Polk processed 29,000 tons of recyclables last year.

•Consider in a final public hearing an ordinance that would allow landowners to fight for 'vested rights' in their property before the commission, rather than file suit. The board is expected to continue a hearing on vested rights requested by the developers of Gulf Landings Development Corp. in New Port Richey until 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at the West Pasco Government Center.

•Consider hiring Impact DataSource as an economic development consultant.

•Discuss a construction schedule for Sysco Food Services of Central Florida, which plans to build a headquarters in Zephyrhills. The company wants assurances that incentives offered by the city and Pasco County will be awarded in conjunction with its expansion, Commissioner Michael Cox has said.

Tuesday's meeting starts at 10 a.m. at the historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. in Dade City. Public hearings start at 1:30 p.m.

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

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