Many of you may not be aware that Pasco County is seriously considering creating another MSBU. This one is for Dredging the dozen coastal canals serving West Pasco Communities.
THIS COULD COST UP TO $13,500,000 (for now)
The County has hired Dewberry in Tampa to make recommendations for the County to complete 12 individual projects in Sea Pines, Hudson, Sear Ranch, Pleasure Isles, GULF HARBORS, Westport and Driftwood to increase the canal depths to 5 feet. The report was scheduled to be presented to the BOCC on October 24, 2017.
The County is proposing to spread the cost to property owners by creating another MSBU charging $177 per year for the next 15 YEARS. In the article written by C.T. Bowen of the Pasco Times, it states that the cost will be spread to 1,334 homes in Gulf Harbors. I am hoping that this is an error since Gulf Harbors has over 1,800 property owners.
Issues of Concern:
Mr. Greg Myers of Gulf Winds Sailing Club believes that there is a larger problem not being considered. The study considered the east-west channels and does not consider the issue of the secondary canals. The Dewberry management plan is for the County’s 27 miles of shoreline and network of canals created in the 1960s.
GULF HARBORS:
The Proposal is to take 307,000 cubic yards from the north and south channels at a cost RANGING FROM nearly $3,700,000 to $6,100,000 (Pasco Times article dated October 19, 2017 by C.T. Bowen)
The County will need permission from both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers before any work can begin.
Editorial:
As boaters are the primary recipients of this service, would it not be more appropriate to add to the boat and or jet ski registration costs?
