IV 4 roads still stuck in neutral

Then this happened.

As seen in today’s photo, a Citrus County Fire Rescue truck got stuck in sugar sand in the infamous Inverness Villages 4.

A resident sent the photo to me on Friday, along with all county commissioners and, I’m sure, other interested parties.

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This is the same neighborhood with the video last summer of a UPS truck sinking in the mud.

The message to commissioners is clear: See what you’ve wrought! We are in danger and it’s all your fault.

The county takes an opposing view.

I don’t want to go there. So, let’s go there.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve broached IV 4. No need to rehash the details. The roads are public but not publicly maintained. Because of that, the streets and drainage are in truly horrible condition.

We’re at a stalemate. Residents want action. The county, believing the person who sold many of these lots has committed illegal acts, asked the attorney general to investigate. We’ve been waiting quite a while, but the county won’t budge until hearing back from the state.

So, there we are. Oh, yeah, the firetruck.

I spoke with Fire Chief Craig Stevens, a top-notch public servant as there is. I’d be good with whatever Craig told me.

The fire truck crew had accompanied an ambulance on a medical emergency. The ambulance left for the hospital with a patient, and the truck got stuck in sugar sand when it attempted to turn around.

Stevens isn’t thrilled with the situation, but he said it’s no different than any other sandy road in Citrus County that emergency vehicles access. He chalked up the IV 4 scenario to an inexperienced driver who didn’t recognize the terrain.

He also stressed that his people would get to the emergency, no matter the road’s condition.

Still. A fire truck stuck in sugar sand is a jarring sight. Point fingers all you want, but geez, no one wants to see that.

The problem is that IV 4 residents and the county have become adversaries. Trust is nonexistent. Each side believes the other is unreasonable.

I have five ideas that could get us off the dime:

— Pick one street for paving and drainage. The owners of those properties pay the assessment. Maybe it expands to the rest of the neighborhood, maybe it doesn’t. But designate one main road and get ‘er done.

— Homeowners could dedicate to the county strips of land for swales to capture rainwater. I’m not an engineer, so I have no idea how that would work. Or even if it’s possible. Let’s move on before I embarrass myself further.

— Someone suggested this: Bring in crushed rock for the roads and assess homeowners on the cost.

No-brainer, right? Well, here’s the problem. The county won’t let residents put rock on a public road. It’s proper paving or nothin’. The water management district would pitch a fit, as well.

Me? I think the bureaucracy can be altered. IV 4 is a one-time problem. Never happened before and will never happen again.

— Residents pool their money for an occasional street grader. Same challenge. County owns the roads. Residents need the county’s permission. (Though, honestly, who’s going to complain?)

— I really don’t have a fifth idea. Keep doing the same thing…lots of words, little action.

We don’t want to see emergency vehicles stuck in sand on a public road. That’s for sure. But solutions are elusive. At least here they are.

Have a wonderful Tuesday, friends.

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