Teaching Piano Lessons for 80 years. At 95-years old, Elba Ruilova still teaches piano lessons four afternoons a week from her west Tampa home. She began teaching when she was 15.
On Monday night, an emissary of the (818) 239-2215 Land Trust put a temporary construction-style fence around the part of its property that runs alongside the yard of Sam Dennewitz in Aloha Gardens.
A representative of the secretive 818 land trust spent Tuesday afternoon relaxing in a boat off the coast of Southern California — and denying that the trust's activities in Pasco County amount to extortion.
But extortion is how county Commissioner Michael Cox described the (818) 239-2215 Land Trust's $4,000 sale of a Zephyrhills road to the homeowners who need it to reach their properties.
"There's no doubt in my mind those people were extorted out of $4,000," Cox said at Tuesday's County Commission meeting in Dade City. "I don't think we want to allow that to continue."
Commissioners directed County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder to work with Pasco's constitutional officers to find ways to prevent scenarios such as the one caused by the 818 land trust.
Back in March, the land trust paid nearly $4,000 for tax deeds to three parcels on the county's list of delinquent tax properties. Since then, neighbors to those properties say the trust has tried to intimidate them into buying the parcels for inflated prices. So far, only the residents of Plaza View Drive in Zephyrhills have taken the trust up on the offer.
Tax collector Mike Olson called the trust's actions an "outrageous misuse" of the tax list, saying in a letter to commissioners that it was "imperative" that property owners nearby be protected.
He recommended that the county consider canceling taxes on some delinquent properties and consider notifying adjacent property owners that the pieces of land are up for sale. The list contains nearly 110 parcels, including small strips of land, rights of way and submerged properties, that could be bought.
Commissioners were open to changes.
"I just think we need to address this and to see what, if any, options the County Commission does have," said Commissioner Ann Hildebrand. "I mean, they're out there buying little spits of land and putting the fear of God in some of the residents over rights of way."
The trust is taking on new activities with its Aloha Gardens property, a 20-foot-wide strip that runs behind nine homes in Holiday. Residents there had always assumed that the strip was part of a utility easement.
On Monday night, the trust sent an emissary, William L. Smith III of Tampa, to put a temporary construction-style fence around the part of its property that runs alongside the yard of Sam Dennewitz.
The trust has been pounding Dennewitz over his longtime use of a shed on that property, which he thought was part of his back yard. Dennewitz, describing what he says are harassing phone calls and letters, said he wants the trust to get a court order for him to stop using the shed.
The trust also continues to market the property, posting a recent Craigslist ad that says a home could be built on the land, albeit one that is "a little unusual." The asking price in that ad: $25,000.
But under county regulations, the parcel is not even buildable, officials said Tuesday. Even if it were, the building would be less than 10 feet wide because of setback requirements.
The land trust kept up its habit Tuesday of conducting interviews with the Pasco Times through a relay service, in which the caller communicates by typing to an operator so that his or her voice is never heard. A representative of the trust claimed to be speaking from a boat 10 miles off the coast of Southern California.
Asked why a California resident would care whether his name was made public in Pasco County, the representative would say only that it was a decision made by the board of the land trust.
The representative went on to say that the board was made up of men and women and, unprompted, described the women as "the most breathtakingly beautiful ladies you would ever lay eyes on." (At this point, the monotone operator who was reading the replies tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a laugh.)
The representative also mentioned a new potential buyer for the Aloha Gardens property: Pasco County taxpayers.
"It seems the county acts like they're looking for an excuse to get our neighboring property owners out of the mess," said the representative. "They (the county) can certainly make us an offer."
Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6247. David DeCamp can be reached at ddecamp@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6232.
[Last modified: May 15, 2008 11:14 AM]
Comments on this article
by Josh
May 15, 2008 11:14 AM
There's a reason people stop paying taxes on these type of properties. Usually they are un-buildable and only serve any use to abutting owners.
by John
May 14, 2008 5:24 PM
People's knickers are in a knot over nothing. Tax sales are ruled by FL law, not the collector or commission. Jerks like the trustee prey on ignorance. Learn the rules. Don't pay then buy the land at the next tax sale. Who else will buy it?
by Taxpayer
May 14, 2008 12:31 PM
These neighbors use and even build on land they don't own. I'd like the county to buy my neighbor's property so I can just invade it. Give abutting owners notice of the tax sale and let them decide if they'll buy. Otherwise screw 'em.
by Ronnie
May 14, 2008 12:31 PM
I am appalled at the actions of the land trust; however, the county could prevent this by not selling this land for taxes. Instead, take the property and deed it to the adjacent land owners. It's back on the tax rolls, no harm done.
by Steve
May 14, 2008 12:31 PM
$4,000 is peanuts. The caller is hiding his voice because he is almost certainly a local resident, probably a high pitched teenage voice I suspect. Just ignore them and they will go away.
And be sure to vote against Mike Olsen!
by dawn
May 14, 2008 12:31 PM
If the county was with it from the beginning this would not have happened. To bad for these Residents the county was to ignorant to be on top of things!!!!
by PASCO PETE
May 14, 2008 12:31 PM
PROPERTY LIKE THAT SHOULD BE OFFERED TO ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS 1ST THIS WOULD STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING. IF THEY COULD NOT AFFORD IT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAKE PAYMENTS THE LAND WOULD THEN BECOME A PART OF THEIR LOT NOT SOLD AS A SINGLE LOT EVER
by Cindy
May 14, 2008 12:31 PM
What an egregious misuse of a land trust! A trust is supposed to hold ownership on behalf of another with the intention of preserving/protecting the land parcel!! As a non-profit isnt there some way that can be taken from them? as strict laws govern
by alan
May 14, 2008 12:30 PM
i think they got all rights to the prop, its too bad the county has these loopholes..but im glad that someone is finding them,,and making the county pay,,so far its always been the co, that takes it,,but this time someone beat them to it, thats all.
by Tim
May 14, 2008 12:30 PM
Who owned the property to begin with? Did the County make the developers provide these strips of land as some type of easement?
by Just Me
May 14, 2008 12:29 PM
Sara, reread the whole story again. You misunderstood who was saying what. The company in CA is the one saying they have the most beautiful women on their land trust board.
by Dave
May 14, 2008 2:13 AM
Can we stop giving these guys publicity? This is a stunt after all. Let them do what they *think* they can do and fine them later. When the fines add up, the county willt ake the property from them.
by Sara
May 14, 2008 2:13 AM
The ladies of the land trust are flattered by the comments of one its board members but we are more dumfounded by the fact that Mike Olsen the trusty has now advertised over 100 similar parcels. Is he trying to sell more of them not stop selling.WOW!
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