LARGO -- Largo's commissioners gave a very cool response at their work session Tuesday to a proposal to rename streets that, in their course, have more than one name.
In many instances, streets under the control of different jurisdictions that continue into another jurisdiction often have different names sometimes resulting in confusion.
Sometimes, a road within the city completely has more than one name.
Cited as examples of local roads in the city with more than one name were Del Robles Drive-St. Paul's Drive ande Gladys Street-Vonn Road-131st Street.
A county road with at least two names is Starkey Road-Keene Road.
One result of changing the names of thoroughfares is that it has an impact on residents and commercial establishments who must change records.
Commissioners felt that any renaming was of low priority. But there was sentiment to change Clearwater-Largo Road from its present name, dropping the Clearwater part of it.
Mayor Bob Jackson said he had talked to Clearwater officials and there seemed to be no objection to this. "The road is called Fort Harrison Road in Clearwater," he said.
Jackson asked that city staff check with merchants along the largely commercial Clearwater-Largo Road to get their input on a name change.
Commissioners also saw a demonstration of a device used by police officers that subdues subjects who are violent. Deputy Chief John Carroll pointed out that the Taser, now coming into common use among police departments, is an effective alternate tool.
Officer Ryan Dulski was wired up in the demonstration that was conducted by Sgt. Kelly Goswick. Dulksi was rendered helpless when the procedure was applied.
Chief Lester Aradi wants most officers in the department to be equipped with Tasers -- with 50 being scheduled to be purchased at a cost of $40,000 in the 2005 budget. The department currently has 19 tasers in use.
The cost to the city once all officers are so equipped is in the $100,000 range.
The Sheriff's Office is in the process of equipping its deputies with the tool that delivers an electrical charge and temporarily disables and brings down a subject who is violently resisting.
Aradi, like many members of the department, has experienced the effects of what a taser does. "I wouldn't ask my people to experience something that I hadn't," he said.
The original plan for Tuesday's work session was set back an hour when a negotiation meeting was scheduled with the union that represents city employees.
As a result, two items that had been set for the work session were postponed. A redevelopment report on Clearwater-Largo Road and and downtown tax increment financing will apparently be discussed later.