Hoofbeats July 2013. Somebody will take care of it Shawn Roark I think we re all guilty of that assumption at times. After all, who has time? Most of our residents have lives to live, children to raise, jobs to hold and bills to pay. I think we can forgive them if they really don t have the extra time or desire to add stress to their already busy lives and careers. Pasco Trails is a unique community; we don t live in a planned unit development that charges $900 a quarter, maintaining and dictating everything down to the color of our mulch. Sure, those folks still have to pay a landscaper to cut their 800sq feet of lawn and they might have to sweep their 20 ft of driveway once or twice a year, but the stress level of that type of ownership is really limited to the letter chastising them for having parked their car outside of the garage last week. Neither do we live in the unincorporated, undeveloped and unrestricted areas of the county, where you could roll the dice and see your neighbors replace their well-groomed lawn with yard art, a pig farm and a collection of 1978 Trans Ams, in various states of terminal restoration. Sure, county zoning might save you from a trailer being stuck on blocks next door. But will it protect Citation road from turning into Moon Lake, Ehren Cutoff or a myriad of other locales in Pasco County with the same zoning, but lacking community covenants? Most of us moved to Pasco Trails, because of what it has to offer.the country/equestrian lifestyle with just enough restrictions to prevent us from thinking we woke up in an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies, but without having to take out a second mortgage to pay the annual dues and/or having our neighbors report us to the Home Owners Association because we planted a shrub not on the approved list. There are trade-offs of course there always are. It would be nice to not have hogs tear up your St Augustine; it would be nice to not have to worry if we can afford an attorney to prevent a gun
range from being built next door; and it would be nice to not have to rely on the generosity of our neighbors to maintain our common areas. In the end, We accepted the limitations and the burden of covenants when we purchased our properties. We accepted that we would abide by the same rules as our neighbors. way is the only way. In a community of generally successful individuals, that can result in a perfect storm of will and resources. Unfortunately, the vast majority in the community, who only want to live peacefully, suffer the same fallout as the rest. Pasco Trails will get through this current storm with the help of those willing to take care of it. The one aspect that has made dealing with this storm tolerable is the willingness of so many to volunteer their time and energy. We will get this behind us, and with any luck resolve the issues that have caused division in recent years. In the We accepted that we would pay our share of the costs of living here. We accepted that all residents would shoulder the obligations and privileges of the community, equally. In practice, of course, those expectations don t always translate to a trouble-free community. We rely on volunteers to take care of it, and well intentioned or not, sometimes mistakes are made, egos clash and individuals believe their meantime, we will continue to count on the good will of our community. I want to thank those in the community who didn t just say somebody will take care of it, but instead stepped up and took care of it. John Vanderkam, Dave Hankin, Robert and Lynn Millaway, Seth Emnett, Phil Kickliter, Andre & Debra Landreville, Michael Yap, Ava Rossler, David Stead and Ray David deserve our thanks for contributing to the community. I apologize for anyone I may have missed, but all of your efforts are appreciated. Update on Legal Issues The Pasco Trails Association meeting this week was a relatively laid back affair. Most of the audience had already received an information package detailing Judge Babb s reasons for denying the Association s request for dismissal of the lawsuit filed against it and all residents, and some reaction or questions from homeowners might have been expected. But the turn-out was low as well, so there were few in the audience to ask questions. The short story is that the law firm representing the plaintiffs Darlene and Kevin LeBlanc was better prepared than the firm representing Pasco Trails, so the Judge had more details supporting the plaintiff s position than she did in support of the Association s request. All it means is that the case can go forward in Judge Babb s court, and another hearing will be scheduled to take it to the next step.
The reasons behind the filing of the lawsuit go back many years, and have been compounded over time through inaction when action, though difficult, expensive and time-consuming, would have been the better choice. But that was then the issues have now escalated for a variety of reasons and we may have hit the wall. The case will likely take much time, dig deep into our community s history, and cost a lot of money, but hopefully the hard feelings can finally be buried. A Mess on the Front Porch At some time during the week of July 1st, one or more unknown pickup trucks gained entry to the Pasco Trails common area at the entrance to the community and tore up large areas of grass leaving ugly, scarring ruts that members of the community will have to clean up. Not only are such ruts an eyesore, they also are a danger for horses which are often taken to the area for training and exercise, as well as for some of our youngsters who use those areas to play on their dirt bikes. As a result of that unauthorized use, a padlock has now been installed on the access This is what trucks do to the grass. gate, and only members of the community have been given the combination. It is clearly stated in our governing documents that our recreation areas are for the enjoyment of Pasco Trails residents and their guests only. No others may use the areas unless invited and accompanied by a resident of P.T. And any user who is not an adult must at all times be accompanied by an adult who will take responsibility for their behavior. It Had to Happen Soon after that truck incident, on Sunday, July 7th, a young resident of Pasco Trails, enjoying the recreational freedom of the community s front rec. area, suffered an accident in which his
collar bone was broken. The accident involved dirt bikes and a skimming board on which the young man was towed around the perimeter of the pond. As sometimes happens, something unexpected occurred and he fell off. Such incidents are never planned for, but they happen. Unfortunately children don t expect anything to happen to them until it does; only then do they realize how much pain they can take. I m sure none of us want to deny kids their fun, and I m equally sure we all did dumb things in our youth and suffered similar injuries as a result it s all part of growing up. But all users of the common areas must be reminded that, 1) there is an alligator that enjoys that pond from time to time, and 2) cottonmouth and Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes also call that area home especially now that much of their usual habitat is flooded. Please be sure everyone in your family is aware of the potential danger enjoyment of the common areas is at the user s own risk. The issue of kids, dirt bikes and the common area has been a hot topic recently. Even before this little mishap there were comments about the noise, the damage, the gate being left open and so on. Some can take it in stride, others have stronger feelings. It has been discussed at the monthly meetings a time or two, and was on the agenda for the July meeting but was tabled due to time constraints. In short, there are some who feel that the liability issues for the community outweigh the benefits for the kids, and liabilities are very real concerns. They must be addressed soon and in all likelihood will be on the agenda for August, so if you have something to add to the discussion we suggest you make it a point to Please Write! be at the meeting August 20th. If you have no input you have to accept the output. Dirt bikes leave their mark too, but for the most part they just flatten the grass. A neighborhood like Pasco Trails has plenty of space for kids and adults to enjoy outdoor activities. Dirt bikes may not be everyone s choice, but neither is canasta. The chief concern here seems to be largely centered on What if??? There are also issues to do with noise, scaring horses, disturbing families that live nearby, the gate being left open, and damage to the land. All are valid, and all can be addressed in an open meeting. On a personal level I have to say the kids I ve seen on bikes have for the most part been very respectful of community interests. I live nearby and hear them from time to time but I don t find it disturbing; I don t have horses; I ve watched the kids close the gate when they leave, and appreciate their behavior. But liabilities are something that won t go away and must be dealt with. Please make it a point to be there Aug. 20th.
Many of our neighbors have suggested items I should include in issues of Hoofbeats, but please understand an editor s job is to edit what others have written, not necessarily to write everything himself. If there are stories you d like to see published, please write them and send them to me. If it s of interest to you I m sure it will be of interest to your neighbors as well. But I am not party to everything that goes on here, and cannot write about situations I have not experienced. A community newsletter is only as good as its content, and depends upon the contributions of its readers to fill pages. I m happy to carry on as your editor if you ll provide me with material to edit. Send it to Raymond.david@verizon.net, and include your own name and e-mail address. Photos with captions are also very welcome. All submissions are subject to editing, and no unsigned submissions will be considered.