PINELLAS COUNTY - County residents won't be asked to pay an additional 1-cent in gas taxes; however, the county will be implementing a new mobile home transition program.
The county Board of Commissioners meeting was attended by a crowd that overflowed out into the lobby and into the conference room on Tuesday night. Most were there for the public hearings on the proposed additional 1-cent gas tax, an ordinance to approve a mobile home transition program, rezoning for redevelopment of the Golden Lantern Mobile Home Park in Pinellas Park and rezoning for redevelopment of the Briarwood Travel Trailer Park in Largo.
The mobile home transition program had been the first public hearing on the agenda; however, the board rearranged its schedule and began the night making decisions on a number of mostly undisputed zoning matters.
The two public hearings dealing with the county's gas tax that had been last on the agenda were moved up as the next items of business.
Commissioners Ronnie E. Duncan, Calvin D. Harris and Robert B. Stewart voted no to the proposed ordinance to impose an additional 1-cent gas tax. The final count was 4-3. The measure required a minimum of five votes to pass.
The additional 1-cent would have provided a funding source for a countywide Intelligent Transportation System aimed at reducing traffic congestion.
Commissioners unanimously approved continuation of the 6-cent gas tax. The 6-cent tax is used for operation and maintenance of the county's roadways and bridges.
What had been first on the agenda, a public hearing on the mobile home transition program, came next.
After hearing passionate pleas from more than a dozen mobile home owners and residents of mobile home parks not to approve the program described as the "first of its kind," the board voted 6-1 to approve the plan. Board chairman John Morroni voted no.
Next, mobile home owners and residents received a second blow when the board voted at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to approve action that would send consideration of a deal to the state for redevelopment of the Golden Lantern Mobile Home Park. Chairman Morroni and Commissioner Karen Williams Seel voted against the action.
In a related matter, the board voted to approve rezoning of the Briarwood Travel Trailer Park to allow for redevelopment.
