Gulfport to make attorney position full time

GULFPORT -- Tim Driscoll is out as Gulfport’s attorney. The City Council voted 3-2 at a special meeting Tuesday night to change the city’s part-time attorney position to full time, effectively eliminating Driscoll. Voting for the change were Mayor Mike Yakes and council members Michele King and Sam Henderson. Voting against were Bob Worthington and Judy Ryerson. The council will hold a special meeting Friday to formulate the job description for the new position.

Patti Ewald, Times Correspondent

*

Pinellas environmental lands chief quits

CLEARWATER -- Bruce Rinker, director of Pinellas County environmental lands division, is leaving July 21 to take a job in Virginia teaching biology, environmental science and tropical studies.

Rinker, who was paid nearly $98,000 year, will scoot out as the county's preliminary budget called for cutting the department nearly in half, from 32 to 17 employees. The cuts would reduce the hours of education centers and environmental monitoring by the county and maintenance. County commissioners say the environmental lands enforcement unit also could be trimmed, though Rinker and other officials said it appears safely funded now.

But Rinker, who not so long ago espoused a tree canopy walkway project, said his decision is separate from the county's proposed cuts. He wanted to get back to teaching, he said, and accomplished a lot in five years.

In an e-mail to volunteers today, Rinker said an announcement about his replacement could happen soon.

David DeCamp, Times staff writer

*

Expected state Senate prez backs Latvala

Mike Haridopolos, expected to be the next Florida Senate president, has endorsed Republican Jack Latvala for the District 16 race in 2010. Latvala, a former state senator and the only GOP candidate to replace Sen. Charlie Justice, is trying to lock down Republican support early in the Pinellas-Hillsborough district.

"He was the driving force to end the water wars in the Tampa Bay area, he was a champion for the environment, and he was a true leader in the area of education," Haridopolos, R-Melbourne, said in a Latvala news release.

"I worked with Jack Latvala and saw firsthand how hard he worked for the people he represented and how effective an advocate he was on the issues he thought we were important to the people of Florida. He earned widespread respect from those in both parties with whom he came into contact. I look forward to serving with Jack Latvala in the Florida Senate.”

David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

*

County ends interest in Graham-Rogall public housing complex

LARGO -- The Pinellas County Housing Authority's fleeting interest in buying the Graham-Rogall public housing complex in St. Petersburg has fluttered away.

The agency expressed interest last month in buying the site and retaining it as low-income housing after a private developer recently ended plans to redevelop it as affordable housing. Adding to the microdrama: The city housing authority is headed by Darrell Irions, who left the county authority in a huff this summer as some board members questioned his actions and strategies.

But the county agency is no longer interested in Graham-Rogall, noting in a letter to Irions that the city's plan to renovate part of the complex for low-income residents makes a county purchase unnecessary.

David DeCamp, Times Staff Writer

*

Bostock: New expensive recycling programs don't make sense given cuts

With deep budget cuts at the sheriff's office and county programs, Pinellas County Commissioner Nancy Bostock wants the county to rethink a much bally-hooed new program: curbside recycling pickup.

The recycling program is supposed to begin Jan. 1 and cost up to $10 million annually.

But Bostock said that when $85 million is being cut from the budget, utility fees could rise and new fees for parks could be charged, spending money on recycling pickup makes her scratch her head. The new program would be paid with utility fees, not property taxes, but Bostock said residents have told her curbuside pickup is unnecessary.

"All of the things that we’ve talked about in my opinion are more important than curbside recyclying, and we already have a very good program," Bostock said Thursday.

David DeCamp, Times staff writer

Hayden makes state Senate run official

Pinellas County School Board member Nina Hayden has made her bid to succeed state Sen. Charlie Justice official, launching a fledgling Web site and a press release today.

Hayden, a Democrat who is nearly eight months into her term, is so far the only Democrat running in the 2010 race. Former state Sen. Jack Latvala is the only Republican in the race.

Justice, D-St. Petersburg, is running for U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young's seat.

-- David DeCamp, Times staff writer

Welch: Property tax increase still an option

Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch said cuts to balance next year's county budget may justify a property tax rate increase, though other commissioners have said they're reluctant to do it.

"At this point, we are preparing a proposed budget that does not include a millage increase," chief assistant county administrator Mark Woodard said this afternoon.

But Welch, noting Commissioner Calvin Harris also has maintained that all options are open for discussion, says the depth of reductions could be too much with a $7.8 million gap remaining. A rate increase to generate $10 million or so more might not require more than a majority vote under Florida law, though it likely would spark some public resistance.

"I think I certainly could make the argument to concerned citizens. Do you want to remove the safety net for our hospitals .. do you want to remove the funding for homeless services?" Welch said today.

It may also solve a dispute with Sheriff Jim Coats, who said this week that the county's attempts to close the gap by cutting his department's spending is unjustified. He has offered a 16 percent cut, but does not want to have to cut further.

-- David DeCamp, Times staff writer

St. Pete Pride co-chairman calls County Commissioner Kevin Beckner a hero

When the St. Pete Pride parade heads toward Central Avenue on Saturday, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner will be leading the way.

Parade organizers selected Beckner, the region's first openly gay elected official, as grand marshal for the parade, which culminates with a street festival celebrating gay pride. Organizers expect attendance to hit 70,000.

"It's a really exciting opportunity," Beckner said. "Pride is very important. It allows people to be who they are. I think it's important that we recognize everyone for the value they bring to our community."

Update: St. Pete Pride co-chairman Brian Stipsit said the organizing committee selected Beckner unanimously for the honor. "Kevin has really been a hero to us in the community," Stipsit said. "He's a champion for a lot of our rights. We are proud of him."

Previous grand marshals have been national radio personality Derek Hartley and Susan Stanton, a former Largo city manager who had a sex-change operation.

Janet Zink, Times staff writer

*

Domestic battery charge against Jose Coppen is dropped

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH -- A domestic battery charge against former Commissioner Jose Coppen was dropped by the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's office last week.

Coppen was arrested and jailed in April after his wife, Mirtha, complained that Coppen had struck her several times during an argument.

He told deputies investigating the case that his wife had yelled and thrown water at him.

He was arrested on a felony charge of battery against a person 65 or older.

After spending the night in jail, Coppen was released on his own recognizance. A court order prohibiting contact with his wife was subsequently lifted.

After an investigation, the State Attorney's Office informed the court on June 16 that it would not be filing an information (a formal charge).

Coppen could not be reached for comment.

Sheila Mullane Estrada, Times Correspondent

*

Treasure Island sues St. Petersburg over wastewater surcharge

TREASURE ISLAND -- When one city files a lawsuit against another you would think the defending city's lawyers would want to be notified.

Not so in St. Petersburg, whose city attorneys refused earlier this month to accept notice of a lawsuit filed against the city by Treasure Island.

"They did not want to accept process service, so we'll just have to track down the mayor," Maura Kiefer told the Treasure Island Commission June 16.

On Friday, the notice of the lawsuit was finally accepted by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker's office.

Turns out, Kiefer said, St. Petersburg's city charter designates the city's mayor as the only person who can accept legal notices from process servers.

The charter defines the mayor as the city's "chief administrative official". Among his duties are accepting "service of process", a legal term referring to the delivery of legal documents such as summons, court orders, and notification of legal actions.

And the lawsuit? Treasure Island is asking for a declaratory judgment throwing out St. Petersburg's demand for a wastewater treatment surcharge  of $35,000 a month -- an amount Kiefer said will total "millions" over the next 10 years.

-- Sheila Mullane Estrada, Times Correspondent