TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Potholes Peeve Postal Customers

Tribune photo by Robert Burke

Potholes near the Ruskin post office have customers up in arms. A county official says the holes may not be filled until 2009. Tribune photo by Robert Burke.

ADVERTISEMENT

By LOIS KINDLE lkindle@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2008

RUSKIN - Dodging small craters in front of the Ruskin post office has become more than an annoyance.

"I'm concerned for people's safety," said Sandy Council, who encounters the hazards regularly as she drives around the Thriftway Plaza. "It's like Russian roulette, with oncoming drivers, who are trying to miss the potholes and each other.

"There are people who ride through on bicycles, too," Council said. "Someone could get hurt, especially when the holes are filled with water."

Tom Cairns, manager of the Thriftway Plaza, said he has been inundated with calls from angry customers.

"I tell them the potholes are not on plaza property," Cairn said. "I've tried to reach the owner, but haven't had any success. I've heard he's out of the country."

Cairn is referring to Allen Pelham of Ruskin One LLC, which owns the road.

Attempts to contact Pelham were unsuccessful. His mother, Joyce Pelham of Pelham Realty in Lutz, however, said her son is only one of the owners of Ruskin One.

"That property is actually a private drive," Joyce Pelham said, adding she did not know how to contact him.

Hillsborough County code enforcement has been notified, Cairn said, but to date, nothing has happened.

"It's called due process and the wheels are slow," said Jim Blinck, operations manager for code enforcement. "We sent a certified letter May 30, posted the property and cited it for nuisance conditions and failure to maintain parking services."

Although the matter has been referred for a code enforcement hearing, Blinck said it's not scheduled.

Once the code enforcement board hears the case, it has the authority to place a lien on the property for noncompliance and impose a running fine, if the owner is found guilty.

"Usually, when that happens, people comply," Blink said.

But there's no guarantee.

After another 90 days, code enforcement can turn the matter over to the county attorney for further action.

Blink acknowledged it could be 2009 before those potholes get filled.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT