 Before I get into what I really want to discuss, two quick items from Tuesday’s county commission meeting:
1. The Betz Farm buyer gets another 90 days to secure a conditional Swiftmud permit before closing on the property. We’re crossing our $6.6 million fingers he gets that permit.  No big plans for the day? Mosey over to Inverness at 1 p.m. for the Citrus County Commission meeting.
It’s a big day for this new board. A few agenda items may test their ability to debate issues of significance and keep cool heads.  A county commissioner uttered a word the other day that I had not heard in quite some time. Commissioners were discussing growth, and in particular the stores and homes coming to the Central Ridge area north of C.R. 486 and along the C.R. 491 corridor.  Every so often I get a great idea for a blog early in the day but by the time I sit down to write it’s four hours later and the idea gets shoved aside because something better came along.
Boy, I wish that were the case here. Nope, the fun blog idea will have to wait because I spent all of Thursday figuring out my income taxes.  It’s the first Thursday in February and you know what means — county commission email!
We haven’t had much to report lately because there hasn’t been much coming in. Could be the holidays, changing of the guard, a little lapse in news.  Raise your hand if you’ve got the Betz Farm property deal figured out.
I thought so. It’s approximately the same number of hands I see raised when asking a similar question about the animal shelter project.  It’s a warm Jan. 31 so let’s talk about Clark Stillwell.
For over 40 years, Stillwell has represented the interests of developers before the county commission. Oh, he’s had a few other jobs too — Citrus County Hospital Board attorney, Crystal River city attorney (only the old timers would know that one).  Let’s spend a few minutes this Monday discussing our hometown newspaper, the Citrus County Chronicle.
You may have seen that the Chronicle has a new editor, Jim Gouvellis. Former editor Jeff Bryan is now working with Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County.  It’s Friday and my brain is full after a busy week of government stuff.
You know what that means… — Heard a ton of great suggestions from the county commission goal-setting retreat Wednesday, but my favorite was Commissioner Diana Finegan’s idea for Citrus County to put on a pretty face. Finegan suggested monument-type “welcome to Citrus County” signs that are landscaped, and other ideas to spruce up the place.  You’re probably as tired of reading about our county commission as I am writing about it.
Except I’m not tired of it. Not by a longshot. Not if this county commission continues to thrive, which I believe it will. |
AuthorMike Wright has written about Citrus County government and politics for 35 years. Archives
February 2023
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