Pasco dealt in good faith. Pinellas dealt in good faith. I don't know what Hillsborough dealt in. Hillsborough commissioners ignored their staff's recommendation and several environmental studies that said the plant, which would produce 25-million gallons of drinking water a day, would be safe. Now, the process will be delayed while a judge hears Hillsborough's objections.
Time is money.
And there was already barely sufficient time to get the project up and running. Former Hillsborough commissioner Ed Turanchik, one of those who labored to create Tampa Bay Water, sighed deeply when asked what he thought about the decision. You kind of cringe at these symbolic protests. Before it's all over, Pinellas commissioners likely will get an opportunity to show their political backbone. This summer, Tampa Bay Water likely will choose to build another desal plant, and it probably will be in Pinellas, said Latvala and others.