Residents press Pasco commissioners on flooding, illegal mining, feral cats and sky lantern safety

Several residents used the Feb. 17 public comment period to press the Pasco County Board on neighborhood safety and enforcement issues.

Allen Rose urged renewed attention to waterways and spillway maintenance, describing flooding in his Golden Acres neighborhood and urging county action and pursuit of available federal and state funds. Bruce Bumstead accused the county of selective enforcement and described multiple parcels where he says illegal mining or unpermitted dirt removal has occurred since 2013; staff offered to meet with him after the meeting. Residents Bonnie Garvey and David Cruz described feral cat damage to lanai screens and property and asked county animal control and code enforcement to intervene.

Brandy Whitten described sky lanterns that landed in trees near her Dade City home and raised alarm because Pasco was under a burn ban. Joanna Cheshire, interim assistant county administrator for public safety, said staff had considered the burn ban, required organizers not to light anything on Sunday when winds increased, and pulled the permit for Sunday’s activity; she said the event paid for extra resources to mitigate risk. Commissioners asked staff to explore environmental and litter concerns and whether classification as fireworks under state statute leaves room for local mitigation.

Other speakers urged the board to reconsider a proposed tree ordinance, and one resident objected to a planned four‑lane road through Bud Bexley, saying homeowners were not adequately notified and citing wildlife impacts. Pastor Jen Kerouac thanked the county for sheltering work after a cold spell and noted more than 40 people were assisted.

What the board will do next: county staff offered to meet with complainants where requested, and the board directed staff to research regulatory and environmental options related to lanterns and litter; staff also indicated they would follow up on code enforcement questions raised by residents.

Representative quote: "If we continue on this path without taking care of the waterways, it's gonna get really bad," Allen Rose said during public comment.