Davis gets her shot at the gavel

Time for Holly Davis to take the middle seat.

The Citrus County commissioner is in line to become the newest chairman during Tuesday’s organizational meeting. Only once in my 35 Citrus County years has the commission vice chairman not ascended to chairman, and I recall that board as somewhat cantankerous.

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That’s not the case with this board and nothing stands in the way for commissioners to appoint Davis.

She certainly has earned it. Both Davis and colleague Ruthie Davis Schlabach suffered during their first two years in office under the thumbs of former Commissioners Scott Carnahan and Ron Kitchen Jr. Basically, Davis and Schlabach learned how NOT to do it.

Davis is eager for the role, as she should be. The chairman runs the meetings and sets the tone for congeniality or chaos. An organized chairman keeps the board and staff on task. We see the results of a disorganized chairman — votes that are not clear, vague direction given to staff, and a general feeling that no one’s in charge.

The Chairman, however, is not the Speaker of the House or Senate President. The chairman has no more power than any other commissioner. The chairman sets the agenda and runs the meeting. And signs documents. And gets invited to functions because everyone wants to hear from the board chairman. That’s it.

Here’s where you’ll see a difference in chairs: How they handle public comment.

With Commissioner Diana Finegan’s divisive border resolution on the Tuesday agenda and what’s bound to be more anti-library rhetoric down the road, will Chairman Davis allow folks to say whatever’s on their mind, no matter how insulting or abusive toward others? Or will she attempt to restore civility to the County Commission chambers?

Along with Davis assuming the chair, the only question is whether Finegan gets into the rotation.

Right now, it’s Schlabach chairman, Davis vice chairman, and Rebecca Bays the second vice. Davis will become chair, Bays likely will be vice chair, and then the unknown is the second vice chair because that person becomes chairman in two years.

Normally Finegan would get that nod. Again, though, commissioners are not consistent. Former Commissioner Jimmie T. Smith’s colleagues froze him out of the chairman rotation despite his prior experience as a three-term legislator.

Smith, however, antagonized his colleagues, and they didn’t want him running meetings. I realize Finegan rubs some the wrong way, but enough to block her from leadership? Doubt it. I mean…why? 

One other item on Tuesday’s agenda has my eye and, of course, that’s Betz Farm.

The sale for $6 million to Bravo Land Group is all but certain, with commissioners having no interest in discussing whether this is good for Citrus County or not, other than the dough we’ll have in hand afterward.

The agenda item is to start the 90-day due diligence period with a closing no later than 60 days after that. So we’re still up to five months away from this thing being a done deal.

I’m done beating my head against the wall, trying to get a conversation about Betz Farm. But I’m not finished making a point.

A month ago I asked the county for info on the Betz Farm land swap. I’ve written for years that the Tamposi family received impact fee credits and Citrus County got 350 acres of prime real estate. How did that work out?

Worked out pretty well for Citrus County taxpayers, that’s how. For one thing, it wasn’t an exchange as I’ve been led to believe. Tamposi donated the property, asking only for credits on money already spent on Betz Farm to be transferred to another project. Certainly reasonable.

That came to $352,198 in impact fees and 1,979 water/sewer hookups to Tamposi. Not close to the $6 million that’s on the table for Citrus County to receive.

But get this: According to minutes from the May 2003 meeting, Tamposi offered the property to the county for — drum roll — recreation and conservation. While that was not binding with the donation, everyone thought it was a great idea.

The county administrator, Richard Wesch, noted that the school district planned an expansion of Crystal River High School across the street and “it would lend itself well to a combination of active recreation.”

Commissioners, the minutes state, said the property presented an “ideal situation’ for a Little League complex, walking trails and passive recreation.

Twenty years later we’re ready to unload it to the highest bidder for another 300 high-priced homes on an overburdened street.

Let’s not talk about it. By all means.

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