County Combines Resources to Help Open Bloomingdale Preschool

Ami Gohil was frantic.

Her new private preschool, the , was due to open within the week when she received word that the county wouldn't issue her a certificate of occupancy.

"I looked at the utility plans and realized that the sewer line wasn't going to work," said George Goodwin of the county's development review section. "I was the bad guy. But my role is to insure that infrastructure meets county standards, and I wanted to make sure the sewer system would work for the school."

But for Gohil, who owns the school with her husband, Ketan, the county's decision presented a dilemma. She was expecting 125 children to arrive for the start of the new school year in August, and she was going to have to turn them away. Out of desperation, she showed up at County Commissioner Al Higginbotham's office seeking help.

"It was a really crazy and hectic day," recalled Higginbotham. "My aide, Eli (Rodriguez), came and told me there was someone in the lobby with an issue with a certificate of occupancy."

Higginbotham sought the advice of Peggy Hamric Smith, the new director of the Center for Development Services, formerly the Planning and Growth Management Department.

The Center for Development Services, formed less than a year ago, signifies a new approach by Hillsborough County, said Smith.

"Instead of saying 'no' to people, we bring people of various county departments together to figure out ways to say 'yes,'" she said. "We've enhanced communication among departments and strive to find ways to solve problems."

There was a valid reason to deny the Primrose School a certificate of occupancy, said Smith.

"But that didn't mean we couldn't find a solution," she said. "We were able to sit down with the Gohils and the public utilities department and work together to solve the problem."

As a result, the county issued a temporary certificate of occupancy while the Gohils worked to get the sewer system up to county standards. Then, county employees continued to work with the Gohils until they were issued a final certificate of occupancy in December.

"We were happy to help," said Rick Kirby, a senior engineer specialist with the public utilities department. "I don't like to see something like this happen to honest people trying to start a small business."

"We did what we could to make sure the Gohils prosper and that the little ones are safe," added Smith.

For the Gohils, first-time small business owners, the county's willingness to help them work through the problem was a huge relief.

"It was our dream to open this school and we felt as if that dream was falling apart when we couldn't get our certificate of occupancy," said Ami Gohil. "I was desperate when I went to Commissioner Higginbotham's office to ask for help."

"It was a lot of hard work to make this happen, but it was definitely worth it," said Smith.

To thank the staff members for their cooperation in resolving the problem, Higginbotham hosted a luncheon last week at the Primrose School of Bloomingdale, 1280 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.

"The staff's passion for what they were attempting to do really struck me," said Higginbotham, noting this isn't the first time he's hosted a luncheon to thank county employees. "They were so sincere with what they were trying to do.

"And this was so significant. It represents a change in the way the county operates," said Higginbotham. "Bureaucrats and policitians get a bad rap."

Smith was overwhelmed by the gesture.

"We all believe in our jobs but it's nice when someone in his position offers the time to say thanks," said Smith, a 30-year county employee. "I didn't know what to say when Commissioner Higginbotham offered to host this luncheon. In all my years with the county, I've never had a board member make this gesture."

Higginbotham said it was the least he could do.

"There's not enough thank-yous," he said. "This is just my little way of saying 'thank you.'"