It's fish or cut bait time in Ozello

My, oh my, it’s a beautiful Tuesday! Let’s jump into it.

Four items on today’s County Commission agenda have my particular interest. All should have a ring of familiarity to them.

They are:

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• Pirates Cove
• Whispering Pines Park RV
• Fort Island Gulf Beach restrooms
• Sales tax

— Last one, first. I’m not going to belabor this, but the updated report still shows support for a 1-cent sales tax referendum in November 2026.

The numbers are tighter, as would be expected. Remember that the Chamber of Commerce reopened the survey for 10 days after presenting the initial batch of 500-plus responses to commissioners last month.

The update shows 56% support for a referendum, down from 59% from the initial survey. Undecided is at 9%, which tells me we still have much to discuss. That’s a good thing.

Road paving is still the top choice for spending the tax, by a wide margin. Yet, someone in the county government is making a push for buying conservation land. The county emailed additions to the agenda backup (unfortunately, the agenda isn’t updated, so I can’t link it) that include North Florida Land Trust agreements with Highlands and Flagler counties. I’m guessing these are examples for us to follow.

Look. I’m neither for nor against using sales tax money to buy conservation land. The survey numbers don’t seem to back it up. Nothing against NFLT, those folks know their business. But we haven’t even decided on a referendum. Highlighting NFLT right now has that cart-before-the-horse feel.

Here's the timeline. This is one conversation I’m looking forward to.

— Meanwhile, we have a beach with no permanent restrooms. That’s thanks to Hurricane Helene a year ago, which leveled Fort Island Gulf Beach to just, um, beach.

The county wants to prevent further damage, so its insurance carrier has a restoration company to build a two-story restroom, sort of a Citrus County version of the ones on I-275 at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that overlook Tampa Bay.

This rather expensive project — $691,000 — is essentially free. Insurance would cover up to $1 million to replace the restrooms; the county’s bit is 5%, or about $34,000, which it will attempt to recover from FEMA.

Here’s the question: Do we want a two-story restroom at the beach? Is that convenient for beach-goers? It’s one thing at a rest stop; not the same experience in July when I’m catching rays. 

When this first came up a few months back, one commissioner openly wondered whether it made better sense to have portable restrooms that can be removed when storms approach. The idea being that a two-story restroom structure is out of place at our little beach. 

Here’s the design. Thoughts?

— I backed the county buying Pirates Cove in Ozello before anyone was talking about it. The idea of the county owning these 3 acres, adjoining the community park and boat ramp, always made more sense than private development.

But I’ll admit, I hope we're nearing the end of the road, so to speak.

I’ve had numerous conversations with Commissioner Jeff Kinnard about this project. I totally support his idea, and he knows that. He also knows I'm still looking for a Pirates Cove game plan. 

The commissioner insists there are people ready to step up once the sellers agree to the county’s offer. What’s before the board today is a land contract for $1.17 million that requires the county to raise $300,000 privately within 90 days, or sellers will refund the $50,000 deposit in full. That's if sellers accept the offer.

Hoping we get some clarity today.

— Back in January, the City of Inverness came to the county with a routine matter: Support our legislative funding requests.

These things rarely cause a stir. 

Well. Last year’s request from the city included $2 million in state funding for an RV park at Whispering Pines Park. A majority — Rebecca Bays, Janet Barek, and Diana Finegan — wouldn’t support it. City folks were very unhappy and saw that denial as a slight. One local government simply doesn’t do that to another local government. That’s the City’s view.

Now that same request is back. The same five commissioners will see it again.

I wasn’t crazy about an RV park at Whispering Pines then, and I’m still not crazy about it. Citizens have made it clear these last few years they do not want public parks commercialized. Inverness sees this as a needed financial boost for the park. Citizens see an obstruction.

Does the city have county support? Guess we’ll see.

That’s it for today. Join the JWC Inner Circle for updates throughout the board meeting. Have an awesome day, friends.

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