TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Complex, Utilities Top Cox's 2008 To-Do List

ADVERTISEMENT

By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 1, 2008

Fourteen months after taking over the District 4 county commission seat, Michael Cox is looking to the future, with goals for a multipurpose sports complex, mandatory recycling and acquisition of private utilities.

If his first year is any indication, Cox, who defeated his one-time ally Steve Simon after a heated campaign in November 2006, is likely to meet controversy in the coming year and land with some kind of compromise.

The former Pasco County Democratic Party leader and Port Richey mayor took on fireworks, sinkholes and the county attorney's office, among other foes, soon after becoming a county commissioner. He got mixed results, but had more success than other commissioners who have tackled those issues in the past.

Commissioners learn early on that they represent just one out of five votes, so if they want support on an initiative, they must convince at least two other board members.

As Simon had before him, Cox pushed for a ban of most fireworks sales in Pasco, which are allowed under an agricultural exemption. Unlike Simon, he was able to persuade his reluctant colleagues to tighten the rules before the Florida Legislature decided counties should not have more power to regulate fireworks than the state does.

While Simon had argued it was the state's responsibility to reduce fraudulent sinkhole claims, Cox successfully pushed for county rules tracking sinkhole investigations. Commissioners added the provisions to the county rulebooks, although some enterprising attorneys used the records to attract new clients.

When County Attorney Robert Sumner announced his retirement and recommended his chief assistant, Barbara Wilhite, as his successor, Cox campaigned vigorously against Wilhite, and eventually, she was eliminated as a candidate.

His first choice, Tim Hayes, was dropped from consideration, however, because of concerns from other commissioners that he was the "developers' choice." Cox won in the end when he suggested a compromise candidate, Jeffrey Steinsnyder, who will join the county later this month.

This year, Cox hopes to move forward a few other initiatives, including a multipurpose sports complex. He lobbied for such a project several years ago with Simon when he had the District 4 seat, and Cox was a private citizen. The county commission voted 3-2 however, with Simon and Commissioner Pat Mulieri opposed - to use tourism tax dollars to build a tennis stadium next to Saddlebrook Resort instead.

The tennis stadium still is in the works, but Cox said he wants to move ahead with the multipurpose complex, too. He hopes the county can form a public-private partnership in the coming year with an agency that builds baseball diamonds, soccer fields and pavilions and pick a location. Among the contenders are the Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, the Bexley Ranch in Land O' Lakes and the Starkey development in Trinity.

"I can't say it's financially feasible yet, but the first thing in my mind is to pick a partner," he said.

Cox also hopes to persuade at least two of the five other commissioners to make recycling mandatory and reduce Pasco's reliance on its waste-to-energy plant, which burns trash and converts it to electricity.

The commission has toyed with the idea of mandatory recycling many times but be became stymied with discussions of costs and logistics. Cox plans to bring up the issue at a workshop in February.

Also on his agenda is another old issue: acquisition of troubled, private utilities. The county for years has been negotiating - unsuccessfully - to buy Lindrick Utilities in west Pasco. Lately, the parties have become closer.

Cox also wants officials to pursue Aloha Utilities, although he conceded the county would be dealing with an unwilling seller. Customers for years have complained of a rotten egg smell and discoloration in Aloha's water. County-mandated fixes have not yet brought about a resolution.

"I'm probably biting off more than I can chew with Aloha," he said.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT