Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 8-25-15 Edition

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Some Residents Feel
U. S. Air Force Enlistee Completes Military Training
Stormwater Fee Hike Should Be
Air Force Airman 1st Class Michelle E. Betan- court has completed all re- quirements and graduated from basic military training. The graduation ceremony was held at Joint Base San Anto- nio-Lackland, in San Antonio, Texas.
Airman 1st Class Betan- court completed an intensive, eight-week program that in- cluded training in military dis- cipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who com-
plete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community Col- lege of the Air Force.
Airman 1st Class Betan- court is the daughter of Jea- nine and Robert Heyer, of Zephyrhills, and the wife of Kenneth Betancourt.
She graduated from Zephyrhills High School in 2010. She continued her edu- cation at the University of South Florida, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in 2014.
Restricted To Flooded Areas
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Thursday in a public hearing, the City Council will listen to a proposal from the City’s Stormwater Depart- ment for a fee increase.
Because of all the recent flooding, Council Chair Frank Reddick said the tim- ing is perfect. However La- Gaceta publisher, Patrick Mantiega, said he feels it’s unfair to have people who don’t live in flood zones pay the higher stormwater fee.
“In my opinion, it should be broken down into districts. Each district that has experi- enced severe flooding pro- blems should pay the increased fee, not those who have experienced little or no flooding.”
Council Chair Reddick
said in his opinion the formula the city used is not fair to peo- ple with low income or on fixed incomes.
“Most African American neighborhoods are not in high flood zones. I also don’t think it’s fair that some areas will be exempt from paying the in- crease.”
Some citizens were asked what they thought of the pro- posed increase.
Betty Reed: “As a home- owner, I understand that peo- ple who live closer to shorelines suffer from flood- ing. It’s their choice to live in those areas, so an increased fee shouldn’t matter.
“However, I do want to know how much longer will everyone have to pay for the problems in certain areas of the city?
“I think breaking it up into districts would localize it bet- ter, and better identify those areas that have flooding prob- lems.”
Sam Kinsey: “We should be outraged over the proposal to increase the fee. We aren’t that affected by flooding and we shouldn’t be paying a fee to improve a problem in another community. I also think breaking it down to districts is
BETTY REED
a good idea. Living in East Tampa, there’s no benefit to us in paying the higher fee.”
Betty Bell: “It more or less offsets itself, because someone else is paying to fill the pot- holes in our area. I do agree that it would be better to break the fee down to specific dis- tricts.”
City of Tampa Public Works Director, Brad Baird, gave this explanation on how the formula was reached for the increased fee.
‘There are projects through- out the improvement area. Our plan for the smaller pro- jects is to take care of them within 5 years, no matter where they are in the city.
“I looked at road closures we had (35) due to the heavy rain, and only 3 were in South Tampa.”
Baird said there are flood- ing issues all over the city. And they do think the major efforts are outside of South Tampa.
“The fee is based on the bur- den the owner is putting on the city as far as stormwater is concerned. The city retained two firms to develop the Stormwater Service Assess- ment. They took a sample of single family dwellings and came up with 3,310-square- feet for a single family dwelling that would equal one stormwater unit.
“Four tiers were developed for residential, and they are small, medium, large, and very large, as far as the square footage on the structure’s foot- print is concerned.”
BETTY BELL
U. S. Army Enlistee Completes Basic Training
BRAD BAIRD
City of Tampa Public Works Director
Baird said the assessment started in 2003 and everyone was included that didn’t have off-site discharge to the city’s stormwater system.
“The retention ponds are city ponds and are not exempt. We also have to clean ditches and retention ponds more fre- quently to maximize the sys- tem we already have.”
Baird said the state will be financing the work on flooded state roads along with SWIFT- MUD.
“We’re trying to maximize the city’s fund. The service as- sessment included micro pro- jects that will be ongoing. The improvement assessment is for 30 years.
“Also, new commercial and large residential constructions projects are mandated to have some kind of water collecting system.”
Army Private First Class Brandon L. Holt has gradu- ated from basic combat train- ing. The graduation ceremony was held at Fort Jackson, in Columbia, South Carolina.
During the nine weeks of training, Private First Class Holt studied the Army mis- sion, history, tradition and core values, and received in- struction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare
When I Need God’s Provision and Protection
I love You, Lord. I know that Your provision and protection are evidence of Your great love for me. I call upon You, for You are worthy to be praised, and You will save me from my enemies (Psalm 18:3). I rejoice in You, I trust in You, I shout for joy be- cause You defend me. Thank you that You bless and surround me like a shield (Psalm 5:11-12). YouaremyGod,andIam one of Your sheep for whom You extend Your hand of protection (Psalm 95:6-7). You are my refuge and my strength in the day of trouble, and I will sing Your praises forever (Psalm 59:16-17).
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise
and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map read- ing, field tactics, military cour- tesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.
Private First Class Holt is the son of Laura Kachel- ries, of Brandon. He gradu- ated from Hillsborough Baptist School, in Seffner, in 2011.
Him.
Lord, You are King and
Lord over all my life. I sur- render everything I have to You because I recognize that every good thing I have has been given to me byYouasasignofYour goodness, mercy, and love (James 1:17). Thank You that You are my Provider and You provide every- thing I need. Lord, I praise you as my Protec- tor. Thank You for hiding me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me (Psalm 17:8-9). I give praise to You, for You have deliv- ered my soul from death. You have kept my feet from falling, so that I may walk before You in the light of the living? (Psalm 56:12-13).
Those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. PSALM 34:10
PAGE 8 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2015