Mehlenbacher Road Forgotten By Many

Last updated on July 15, 2023

Mehlenbacher Belleair Florida Twenty Years of Neglect and Plenty of Lies

For 20 years, I’ve been aware that some regions of Belleair received extraordinary service levels. While others we’re receiving unequal levels of service from the Town of Belleair. Particularly Belleair’s Southern border and especially Mehlenbacher Road. As the second-longest resident of Mehlenbacher.

It wasn’t until last August, the first time in 20 years, we requested assistance from the Town of Belleair concerning a flooded Belleair wastewater culvert. When Mr. Murphy Belleair’s Town Manager informed us, our 0.02 stretch of Mehlenbacher was a Pinellas County right-of-way road. Telling me, “Pinellas County does not permit the Town to perform regular maintenance on any of Pinellas County’s infrastructure, including the trail.”

I was in disbelief and highly disappointed with myself for being unaware of the right-away road issue and watching Belleair residents. Get new sidewalks, curbs, crosswalks, and street lights, spend money on unnecessary roundabouts, and stay silent while directly across the street in unincorporated Largo. I watched Pinellas County install sidewalks and sewers.

Had I been aware? I wouldn’t have trusted Belleair to do the right thing one day. And would have made a difference in my approach to the right-away road issue. But, by not knowing and without the Town of Belleair’s assistance and backing. Mehlenbacher is a county right-of-way road. Why would Belleair assist? Doing so would only lessen what Belleair could spend in more desirable areas.

It was then I understood. Not only had Belleair’s Mehlenbacher residents been victimized by the town, but now learning Pinellas County ignored us. So, I sent out a few emails and asked some questions.

Murphy continued, “Background notwithstanding. I’ve asked our public works folks to see if they can agree with the County to either perform maintenance on the same regular schedule as the town or to allow us to perform additional maintenance so that our residents receive equal levels of service. Additionally, I’ll forward this request to Pinellas Country so they can address the culvert issues.”

Pinellas County Public Works said they had no such request on file from Belleair.

Adding, “By way of background, this stretch of road is Pinellas County’s Right of Way. Pinellas County performs regular maintenance on the road and related sewage and drainage systems. Also, “I know that they sweep it with some regularity, although not likely monthly, as with The Town of Belleair Rights of Way. I’ve ordered a sweep of this stretch while our contract provider, The City of Largo, outperforms the sweep this week”.

All lies!