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Tennis Stadium Is Still Up In The Air

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By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2008

DADE CITY - More than five years after the county commission agreed to build a tennis stadium in Wesley Chapel with Saddlebrook Resort, the parties still are at odds on key issues.
County attorneys and Saddlebrook owner Tom Dempsey on Tuesday were expected to set terms of their partnership and a timetable for construction of the $7.9 million Pasco National Tennis Center, but that did not happen, Assistant County Attorney Jane Fagan said.

County Administrator John Gallagher is to meet with Dempsey separately to settle other outstanding issues, such as when the main entrance will be built and who will pay for water and sewer services.

The 5,000-seat stadium, practice courts and related facilities are to be built next to Saddlebrook on 24 acres donated by the Porter family, owners of the 5,500-acre Wiregrass Ranch. Construction is to be paid for with a one-time allocation of tourist tax revenue, collected through a 2 percent tax on hotel stays and short-term rentals. Dempsey is to manage the property through a nonprofit foundation.

County Attorney Robert Sumner told county commissioners at a meeting in Dade City that Porter Boulevard, which has been designated as the main entrance to the tennis stadium, is not scheduled to be built until 2015. In the meantime, traffic would be diverted through a back entrance to Saddlebrook Resort, along already congested State Road 54.

The tennis stadium is projected to take two years to design and build once contracts are in place, he said.

Water, Sewer Issues

Another issue that surfaced during negotiations was who would pay the estimated $216,500 to provide water and sewer services to the stadium.

"That wasn't contemplated in any of the agreements we had," Sumner said.

In light of the news, county commissioners put off a discussion on how to spend tourist tax revenue. The Tourist Development Council has recommended commissioners dedicate more money to advertising for sporting events and less on savings for construction projects such as the tennis stadium, the only "bricks and mortar" project approved in Pasco so far.

Commission chairman Ted Schrader said he did not want to make any policy changes until the tennis stadium contract is signed, and it is under construction. "It's my belief we should finish negotiations with the tennis stadium before we move forward," Schrader said.

Schrader said the commission should "wean" some of its longtime grant recipients from advertising grants for established events, such as the Chasco Fiesta in west Pasco and Kumquat Festival in Dade City. .

Commissioner Jack Mariano, who chairs the tourism council, agreed. He said the advisory panel thought the county and Saddlebrook would have a deal by now.

"We thought back a long time ago we would know where we stood with the tennis stadium," he said.

Commissioner Pat Mulieri interjected: "And we don't know?"

"It's not finalized," Schrader said.

Pasco collects about $750,000 per year from the tourist tax. Currently, 10 percent of the proceeds are used for administrative costs, 40 percent for promotional activities and 50 percent for construction projects to promote tourism. Any interest accrued or unspent money goes into the bricks-and-mortar fund.

Money is allocated that way in part because it is difficult to predict how much the county will collect from hotel stays, said Michael Nurrenbrock, director of management and budget. After Sept. 11, 2001, for instance, Pasco tourism unexpectedly dropped and has not fully recovered.

Commissioners Balk At Consultant

Also Tuesday, four of five commissioners balked at the idea of hiring a consultant to help identify how residents want taxpayer money spent.

County Commissioner Michael Cox asked fellow board members to solicit proposals from consulting firms that facilitate public workshops - for an estimated $20,000.

Commissioner Pat Mulieri vehemently objected, calling the proposal "a harebrained idea." She said she would participate in workshops but not vote to hire a consultant.

"I think it is harebrained to spend $20,000. Nothing against you," she said, addressing Cox. "If you read the e-mails, young people want parks and libraries. Elderly people want other services. And people on dirt roads would like to get a chunk of that gas tax only spent on certain roads."

Mulieri said she would rather see the county spend money to provide bus service to struggling residents in Moon Lake.

Polk County has been using the visioning method to trim spending and ensure residents are getting the services they want, but that process has cost about $200,000, Schrader said.

County officials already have been streamlining operations and holding back on hiring for some positions in light of state-mandated budget cuts. More cuts are expected.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said he gets plenty of ideas by talking to constituents.

Commissioner Ann Hildebrand said the board should not "meddle" in day-to-day county operations and concentrate instead on its job of setting policy.

"Heard enough?" Schrader asked, turning to Cox.

Cox said he also is concerned about spending money on consultants. He did manage to persuade the board to set a workshop to identify goals for the coming year.

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

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