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Earth Moves, At Last

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By ANGELA DELGADO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - The saga of a dirt pile, nicknamed Mount Sheldon by neighbors and county officials, is approaching its final chapter as the last truckload of dirt was removed Thursday.

"I'm happy to see the pile finally go away and the trucks finally go away," said Steve Rey, owner of the Green Thumb Nursery across the street from the pile. Although happy it's gone, he said he hopes the county will do something about the dirt field that remains.

The 60,000 cubic yards of dirt that appeared at a lot at Sheldon Road and Cluster Avenue in late January caused an uproar from neighbors who wondered where the dirt came from and how long it would stay on the 3-acre property.

The dirt was brought in by Jason's Hauling from the Tampa International Airport interchanges work site. Once it arrived, neighbors complained, and when the county investigated, officials learned Jason's and property owners Nicolas and Konstantina Tsokos were stockpiling without a permit.

Jason's Hauling and the Tsokoses went before the county March 31 and were told to remove the dirt within 45 days or be fined $500 a day. On May 15, the dirt remained, and the fines began.

On May 19, a third party contractor began removing the dirt and taking it to a property on Race Track Road. Jason Freyre, owner of Jason's Hauling, went before the county June 2 to request an extension until June 13 and a decrease in fines.

About 20,000 cubic yards remained at that time, and Special Magistrate Christopher E. Brown denied the requests.

The fines can be appealed once the property owners and dirt hauling company get a letter listing the amount of fines accumulated.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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