County Hikes 2019 Stormwater Fee

County Hikes 2019 Stormwater Fee

County Hikes 2019 Stormwater Fee

By Bob Sanchez

 

After a public hearing on September 5 in Tampa, County Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the Stormwater Utility Assessment (Stormwater Fee) for unincorporated areas of Hillsborough County, including Sun City Center.

Most Sun City Center residents will see a rise from $42 to $76.36 per household for single-family medium homes covering 1,501 – 3,200 square feet of impervious surface, including the roof and driveway. The proposed annual fee had been $92.41, which the commissioners reduced. The next range is 3201-5700 square feet, with an approved assessment of $116.83. The amount will appear as a line item in residents’ Calendar Year 2019 property tax bills and will remain at that rate until Commissioners vote to change it.

The fee pays for increased maintenance activities such as mowing, ditch and pipe cleaning, culvert repair, and street sweeping to improve conveyance and reduce roadway flooding. Additionally, this funding will be used to accelerate replacement of failing pipes and other infrastructure, along with flood reduction projects.

In August, County officials had held six open houses explaining the proposed increase to interested citizens. At the Southshore Regional Service Center in Ruskin, for example, engineers used charts on easels showing locations of stormwater projects and potential problem areas.

“We prioritize our pipe replacements based on failed or near failure pipe conditions and age,” said Sharbel Riveron, Hillsborough County’s Capital Program Project Manager. None of the projects in Sun City Center are designated as urgent.

Riveron explained in an email that “Not adequately funding the long-term maintenance and operation of stormwater systems leads to more expensive emergency repairs and flooding remediation that could have been avoided. Without a sustainable level of funding, the County will continue to spend more to fix unexpected collapses instead of wisely investing in preventative maintenance and improvements to avoid stormwater system failures.”

The approved assessment is expected to yield about $31 million, compared to the $38 million anticipated from the original proposal.

The accompanying graphic is an example that identifies some projects in Sun City Center. To see the County’s project map, visit this shortened link: https://bit.ly/1SgzzOr and focus on Sun City Center. Click on a specific project for additional detail.

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Free Fitness Training for SCC CA Residents

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Free Fitness Training for SCC CA Residents

By Jim Blackstone

 

“Have It Your Way” free fitness training at the Sun City Center Fitness Center resumes October 8, 2019. Personal Trainer Dennis O’Brien will lead three different classes: introduction to resistance training, cardio training, and free weight and cable machine training.

Choose the program that best suits your fitness interests. Have it your way! Since the inception of these free programs in 2015, over six hundred SCC residents have benefited from this training.

Visit the 6,700 sq.ft. Fitness Center located on North Course Lane next to the Atrium building and ask the attendant for program descriptions, class schedules, and registration forms. Each class is limited to four participants and takes approximately 90 minutes. A $10 deposit is required to register for a class. The deposit may be cheerfully refunded upon completion of your class. You must be a SCC resident to participate. Remember, exercise is the fountain of youth.

 

IN THE PHOTO: SCC resident Connie Dotson and personal trainer Dennis O’Brien.

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Sun City Center Photo Club Announces Winners

Sun City Center Photo Club Announces Winners

On Tuesday, September 10, club photographers submitted images to be judged by expert, Al Churilla. We received many great entries, and the evening proved to be pleasantly challenging.

In the Digital Color category, at the Master Level, two photographers tied for first place, receiving perfect scores. Carol Feldhauser received a gold award for “Pink Puff” and Jack Migliore received a gold for “Mom Let Me Explain.” At the Advanced Level, two photographers also tied for first place.  Ann Jacques received a gold for “Country Church And Lupine Flowers.” Barbara Klimczak took the gold for “Protecting Baby and P.S. I Love You.” At the Intermediate Level, Tom Bredesen took first place with “Autumn Mist “ and Charles Davanzo also received first place for “ Time Gone By.” In the Unassigned category, Joe Sciafani received a gold for “Dream Boat.”

In the Monochrome Digital category, at the Master Level, Carol Feldhauser received a gold  for “Wave Runner ” while Bobbie Ray took second with “After The Storm. ” In the Unassigned category, Joe Sciafani received a gold award for “Angles.”

In the Digital Creative category, at the Masters level, Robert Miller took the gold award for “Raining Umbrellas.”  Receiving the silver were Pat Jones with “Bell Shape Flowers” and Bobbie Ray with “Phalaenopsis Swag.” At the Advanced level, Kathy Vitale  received a gold award for “Ocean Bowl.” She also received two silver awards for “Chihuly Meets Van Gogh and “Night Fishing.” Bruno Graziano received a silver for “Wrinkled Copper Pot.” At the Intermediate level, Rose Stack  took first with “Happy Hour Drink.” In the Unassigned category, Sue McBride won the gold award for “Canyon Geometrics,” while Joe Sciafani received the silver award for “Drops Of Patriotism.”

In the Color Print Category, at the Advanced Level, two photographers tied for first place. Kathy Griffith received a gold award for “Perennial Aster” and Gary Pate for “Kool Kitty.” In the Monochrome Print Category, at the Master Level, Robert Miller received two gold awards for “Polytechnic Reflection” and also for “Reflective Convergence.” At the Advanced Level, Bruno Graziano received  a perfect score for “Three Amigos.“ Gary Pate took the silver with “Knight.“ At the Unassigned Level, Joe Sciafani received a gold award for “Handsome Heron.” 

      

In the Creative Print category at the  Masters level, Madlyn Blom  won the gold award for “Run Like The Wind.“  Bob Miller received the silver for “Painted Lily Fractal.” At the Advanced Level,  Kathy Griffith received a gold award for “Zinnia In Ink.”

Congratulations to all of our club winners! For more information about our club and the many opportunities available to you when you become a member, please visit www.photoclubscc.com.

 

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The October 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The October 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…

Meet the new HART CEO, learn about the county’s higher stormwater fee, see who won the recent SCC Photo Contest, meet a new Creative Person, learn how to protect your legs for long-term health, discover how to protect yourself on social media, find out what those taped-off squares are on local beaches mean, and get to know the story behind My Warrior’s Place. Then, travel to the Smoky Mountains, sign up for free fitness training for SCC CA members, prepare for the next CA Board election, look for the new pedestrian crossing light on Pebble Beach, catch up with SCC Connects, and dive into an enthralling read about an unlikely feather thief.

Then be sure to…

Check out the Entertainment Corner, SCC Bulletin, Kings Point, Community News, Dance, Military News, Faith & Service, Arts, Sports, Travel, and South County Events sections to help you plan your month. Then travel with your friends and neighbors who carried The News around the world.

Read the October 2019 Issue of The News

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Preparing for the Community Association Election  

Preparing for the Community Association Election  

Preparing for the Community Association Election  

By Diane M. Loeffler

 

As senior citizens, we have experienced enough in our lives to have some ideas on how things work and how they should work. We have our opinions and reasons for them. Over the years, we may have felt we were in a position where all we could do was vent our frustrations or complain.

In Sun City Center things are different. Our community is small enough that each vote does make a difference. We can be involved in the day-to-day decisions in a significant way. When we volunteer for our Community Association’s committees, clubs, charities or government, we can actually see the results of our efforts.

Have you ever wanted to get involved, but don’t want a year-round commitment? Can you spare a few hours for three or four days to count newspaper ballots? Would you like to greet people as they come in for the two days of in-person elections? Would you like to count votes after the election?  If so, consider volunteering this fall to be a judge, teller, door greeter, floor person, ballot box person, or affidavit person. These roles only require a commitment of a few days a year. Another option would be to be the election committee chair or co-chair beginning in January.

Recently, Barbara Gingrich stepped in to chair the election committee. Gingrich is working with Brigitt Lewis this fall, but prior commitments will keep her from continuing in that role in 2020.

Some years ago, Gingrich and Tommy Wardlow co-chaired the elections committee for six or seven years. Gingrich says, “Sam Sudman told me there was a need for an election committee chair for the rest of this year, so I stepped in. If anyone would like to help the community in this way, I would be glad to train that person. It would be helpful if one of the chairs had some technical experience.”

Gingrich has lived here for 22 years and has been involved in many organizations over the years. She currently volunteers at St. John the Divine and the Information Center. She is also on the board for the Oldies but Goodies Club, and helps with many organizations and activities including the July 4 and Holiday Breakfasts.

Gingrich wonders why so many people don’t vote and asks, “Are people so content that they don’t feel we need to make any changes?”

Do you have opinions on how things should be done? Put your ideas and experience toward a good cause, the future of our community. You can do so by volunteering for the election committee or any number of clubs or groups. Your efforts, whether for a day or all-year round, do make a difference in the quality of life for us all.

 

IN THE PHOTO: Barbara Gingrich is currently chair of the elections committee.

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