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Pasco commissioners unanimously approve retiree honors and observe Transit Employee Appreciation Day and Finance Week
Summary
The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved resolutions honoring two retirees — Ronnie Deese and Chief James E. Walters — and adopted observances for National Transit Employee Appreciation Day and Government Finance Professionals Week during its March 11 meeting.
The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on March 11 approved multiple resolutions honoring long-serving local officials and observing workforce recognition days.
The board approved a resolution honoring Ronnie Deese for more than 36 years at Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, noting his role in community projects, boards and local redevelopment work. Deese, who retired on Jan. 17, 2025, attended and thanked commissioners, saying, “I've had a lot of coworkers, friends, and citizens of this county that I have depended upon ... they haven't buried me yet.”
The board also approved a resolution honoring Chief James E. Walters of the Dade City Police Department for a 30-year law-enforcement career; Walters retired Feb. 28, 2025. The resolution cited his work on community policing and the department’s annual "Shop with a Cop" program. Walters told the board he was "honored to be here today" and praised partnerships among county agencies.
In separate resolutions the board declared March 18, 2025, as National Transit Employee Appreciation Day in Pasco County, recognizing Go Pasco operators and support staff, and declared March 17–21, 2025, Government Finance Professionals Week, acknowledging county and clerk finance staff for fiscal stewardship. Annette Orlanding and other Go Pasco staff attended the meeting to receive the board’s recognition; Annette told commissioners the department has about 180 employees.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution 25-146 (honoring Ronnie Deese): moved, seconded and approved unanimously (5-0). - Resolution 25-148 (honoring Chief James E. Walters): moved, seconded and approved unanimously (5-0). - Resolution 25-1405 (observing National Transit Employee Appreciation Day): moved, seconded and approved unanimously (5-0). - Resolution 25-147 (declaring Government Finance Professionals Week): moved, seconded and approved unanimously (5-0).
The votes were taken during the meeting’s resolutions portion; each motion was moved and seconded and the chair called for the ayes. The resolutions are ceremonial and carry no operational mandates beyond the recognitions.
Ending: The board moved from the resolutions onto a longer budget briefing on municipal services taxing units and long-term capital planning.
