Can't see the forest for the tees

Someone needs to contact Commissioner Diana Finegan.

Because, boy, do we need a border resolution.

I nearly choked on my Cheerios when reading the Tampa Bay Times story about the state handing 324 acres of Withlacoochee State Forest to a Brooksville developer for a golf course.

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The logic is perfect. No trees! More tees!

Jumping to the punchline: Citrus County should come out loudly against this hare-brained idea. You know how developers work. Once they get their toe in the door, only a matter of time before an entire hoof is kicking it in.

The property we’re discussing is in Hernando County just below the Citrus County line. While the developer does not own Citrus County property…c’mon…that’s just a matter of time. Before we know it someone else with deep pockets wants to build 1,000 homes in the middle of nowhere.

I have numerous thoughts on the subject:

— Just a bad, bad, bad idea. Hernando County commissioners are either asleep at the switch or disconnected. How could they miss this?

— Citrus County, take the lead. This is public land right along our border. The potential invasion of development is clear and convincing enough that we should take immediate action. Time for a resolution to the governor, Cabinet, and our legislators to stop this public land giveaway.

— I encourage you to read the Times story. They really nailed it. The state tossed this swap on a Cabinet agenda at the last minute with no mention of the developer’s plans for a golf course, nothing to support the premise these state lands have no public purpose, not even an appraisal of what we’re getting for what we’re giving.

— When the government goes to such lengths to keep the public out of a public transaction, we should see that for what it is: Trouble. 

— That includes our friend Wilton Simpson. The former Senate president, now Commissioner of Agriculture, has earned very strong ties with community, business, and political leaders in Citrus County. Recently, though, he’s made some head-scratching political moves. One was to endorse our future ex-sheriff. Another was to vote for this land swap.

The Times story says Simpson’s office noted that a final decision still rests with another board, which is great, but there wouldn’t even be an issue here if he hadn’t voted for such a dumb plan without doing even some basic homework.

— It’s easy for five Republican Citrus County commissioners to take a swipe at the Democratic president over illegal immigration. Won’t be so easy for them to take a swipe at the Republican governor, especially since he was just in town last week with a big sewer check, over something much more significant to our lives.

It’s the right thing to do no matter how uncomfortable. Commissioners want to use their connections to finesse a solution without calling them out publicly, fine. However, the result should be that Citrus County unequivocally opposes this train wreck. Period. Wishy-washy will not work here. (Nor will delay. The Cabinet vote occurred in June.)

— It’s not even a true land swap. The developer hasn’t yet purchased the land it’s swapping. How about that? The state is giving 324 pristine Withlacoochee State Forest land to a developer who is buying 861 acres of timber in Levy County. Have you visited Levy County lately? It’s 90% timber. Florida has no need for additional public timber in Levy County.

— Something fishy about this whole deal, beyond what I’ve already covered. It has that “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” feel to it. Makes it even more important for Citrus County commissioners to get in front of it immediately. 

— I don’t know how our commissioners feel about this. I didn’t ask them. We’re having some very detailed conversations about growth and development in this county, and voters made their opinions known by tossing an incumbent, seen as pro-growth, from office. My guess is most folks are behind me on this one.

— The same people who support this forest giveaway also think building 600 homes on Cardinal Street in the middle of nowhere at the Suncoast Parkway interchange is proper planning. I’m telling you…some developers and politicians see dollar signs in our vacant land.

— This one has legs. I can feel it. Let’s make sure we stay on it.

What a beautiful Tuesday. Enjoy it, friends.

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