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Dirt Pile Fines Mount; Deadline Extension Denied

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Northwest News & Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY The $500-a-day fines issued to those responsible for what was once an eight-story dirt pile on Sheldon Road will continue, said Special Magistrate Christopher E. Brown during a hearing Monday.

Jason Freyre, owner of Jason's Hauling, and his attorney Daniel Dietrich went before Brown at a Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing to ask for an extension of time for removal of the dirt.

The issue began in late January when Jason's Hauling stockpiled 60,000 cubic yards of dirt on a 3-acre lot belonging to Nicolas and Konstantina Tsokos. The dirt came from the Tampa International Airport interchanges' work site. Neighbors complained and county officials inspected the pile, discovering that neither Jason's nor the Tsokoses had a permit to put dirt there.

On March 31, Freyre and the Tsokoses were given 45 days to remove the dirt from the property on Sheldon Road and Cluster Avenue. On May 16, a day after the deadline, investigators said a portion of the dirt remained and the fines began and have been accumulating since.

Although Dietrich requested an extension until June 13, Brown said the fines would continue until the dirt is gone.

When the dirt is removed, Jason's Hauling and the Tsokoses will receive a letter notifying them of the total fines which they can pay or appeal, said Christa Hull, environmental supervisor for the county.

Angela Delgado

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