![]() Crazy busy day Tuesday so I’m saved once again by the county commission email, this week randomly from Commissioner Jeff Kinnard. Kinnard didn’t provide much in the way of replies, at least not yet. So naturally, I will: — After hearing AGAIN last week from residents of Inverness Villages, Building Director Carl Jones sent a letter to the builder threatening to put a hold on permit inspections unless he stopped violating county ordinances.
Jones gave him a week’s notice to come into compliance, saying inspectors are visiting today and if the violations still exist — uncontained trash and debris on construction sites, no silt screens to prevent erosion — trouble is coming. “Please review your job sites and take the appropriate actions before our inspection on the 8th. Failure to do so would be a violation of the code of ordinances.” JWC take: That’s all nice, but anyone in that Inverness Villages mess who thinks the builder is going to shake over a threatening letter clearly hasn’t paid attention. I realize the nightmare is not easily solved. But it is so annoying when residents who put up with the dusty/mucky “county” roads must constantly remind the government of its responsibilities. Inverness Villages isn’t a secret. The alleged violations have existed for months at least. Why does it take an exasperated citizen to beg county commissioners for relief? Citizens sometimes just want the government to show it cares. Not by what it says, but what it does. — Two emails regarding the proposed “glampground” in Ozello caught my attention. Both were opposed to the rezoning request that county commissioners will hear in April. “The risk of sewage leaks into the estuary during storms and tidal peaks is just too great. Fishing and natural resource enjoyment by the public is of far greater importance than more RVs concentrated there and the resulting pollution,” says one. “At the Zoning and Planning meeting, I addressed the safety of the 10,000 gallon septic system…Due to the size and location of the system next to a wetlands, with flooding potential, this system is a danger to the environment and ecosystem of Citrus County,” reads another. JWC take: Not taking sides, but wanted to point out that both of these emails were written by experts. One is a retired geologist from the U.S. Geological Survey, the other has a Ph.D. in medical microbiology and immunology. We’re constantly talking in this county about tapping into the expertise from our residents. These two email writers have opinions based, at least in part, on more than just wanting to preserve Ozello from development. I don’t have any indication where this one is headed. Opinions are very strong on all sides. — “My primary issue with the development of Cardinal is that the street is too narrow to accommodate current traffic, and there are no sidewalks or bike lanes. Last year I was told…that Cardinal was going to be four lanes in the next five years. Is that still true?” JWC take: Don’t get me started about Cardinal. I’m perplexed by the whole “interchange management” idea on a rural country road. The email writer was referring to the county’s decision to negotiate a development plan with Cardinal Farms, 147 acres of what is now nothing but vacant land just west of the Suncoast Parkway interchange. It’s owned by the same gentleman under contract to buy the Betz Farm property. I ask, “Um, why are we encouraging development on Cardinal?” The answer from the government is we’re only encouraging ORGANIZED development. The idea being if we did nothing, there could be a hodge-podge of zoning changes and we’d have a mini Wildwood on our hands. Maybe I’m not seeing this, but I don’t get it. Just because the parkway has an interchange there, suddenly we need to allow development, build a fire station, widen the road — where does it end? I mean…can’t the county commission say no? Especially when no one wanted an interchange at Cardinal in the first place. Supposedly the state picked Cardinal because the more obvious choice, Grover Cleveland Boulevard, was too close to S.R. 44. —There’s more but I think I’ll close for now. Still plenty to do this week. JWC take: We agree. Comments are closed.
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AuthorMike Wright has written about Citrus County government and politics for 36 years. Archives
February 2025
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