[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6224469,"mediaKeyId","3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f","parentId",3550477,"title","County releases courthouse-space study; AECOM recommends downtown Inverness judicial complex and staged moves","audioSeconds",1622,"startMs",5788000,"endMs",7410000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f&start=5788&end=7410","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f/thumbnail_5788000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224469/Citrus-County/Florida/County-releases-courthouse-space-study-AECOM-recommends-downtown-Inverness-judicial-complex-and-staged-moves","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224469-14829a182e149f5bfe8563a54c492876/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121185&Signature=juQ6ZH5J5cWfvxS9EERRgaEPXgRbuOzFap1kRaiu~pKDgozwltakTH46wShvce8iYvWKCOprWUQW4Kg1J9K-buNHgjfgcD1AY0lXJlefXO9vgkCgpkR46gSd3JE8IT0BhcMM0VolJ~vS1QTCo0K6ytnbKL6uP9W6lR7yEQY0XqtxXZYmWJLc8AFZiQWSISUMUovz8EXg8f9tJjLyU-X5VCxtua3-Gcwa8loJLVdD9C~1s7SkFNjb~UDAiFxjkmpI2rKs5KWjmIPWL0UnE0D1ak2z0CtHDkwe0etyW6xwn5uXN9j4Ly36KehvWgfuA5Kv0tl~u~HE42m6tgex8xKIGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Citrus County, FL","date","2025-05-27T22:19:13Z","article","Citrus County staff and AECOM consultants presented a space-needs assessment Tuesday that maps office needs, proposes a downtown judicial complex and outlines short-term moves to free up courthouse space.

Lede: AECOM’s yearlong study recommends consolidating judicial and county administrative functions in a coordinated downtown courthouse complex, while moving select court-support offices in the near term to the Coca-Cola building and leased space in Inverness to reduce overcrowding and improve security.

Nut graf: The report, intended as a long-range blueprint, offers short-term staging — moving Clerk’s IT and the public defender to nearby space, leasing roughly 5,100 square feet in the City of Inverness for commissioners and county legal staff, and a multi-decade option to develop a consolidated courthouse complex — with high-level cost estimates and program standards for planning.

Details: Carlton Hall, county public-works director, told the board staff already produced vetted plans for courtroom space on the courthouse second floor, and that moving some stakeholders to the Coca-Cola building will allow reconfiguration. “We’ve produced a floor plan. We vetted that floor plan with the judicial. The judges have looked at it,” Hall said. He asked the board to authorize lease-negotiation authority for city-owned space that would provide near-term secure office space for commissioners and county legal staff.

AECOM’s findings: Jake Devost of AECOM summarized the firm’s process, which included stakeholder interviews, site visits of government facilities at Lecanto, Inverness and Meadowcrest, and development of workplace standards. The consultant proposed strategic pillars — secure, streamline, standardize, optimize — and explored scenarios for a new courthouse complex that would preserve public access, add parking and incorporate the Coca-Cola building. Devost presented high-level cost matrices and advised the county to treat the study as a living document for phased implementation.

Commissioner reaction: Commissioners debated costs and timing. Commissioner Janet Barrett recalled a prior price estimate for a new courthouse of about $70 million and urged careful use of existing buildings. Commissioner Diana Finnegan said she appreciated staff’s early work but suggested the report did not yet show sufficient efficiency or savings to justify some of the numbers. Staff said a workshop will follow to dive into the study, and that constitutional officers and stakeholders will be asked to review the materials before the board takes further action.

Next steps: Staff said they will schedule a workshop and circulate the full report to constitutional officers and stakeholders. Lease terms for immediate moves will return for board approval, and any new capital project would require further design, public vetting and appropriation.

Ending: Commissioners praised the intergovernmental cooperation with the city of Inverness and asked staff to bring back a workshop that includes cost, timing and options for staged consolidation or sale of surplus properties to offset costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","AECOM presented a space-needs assessment recommending a long-term courthouse complex in downtown Inverness, short-term moves of court-related staff to nearby buildings, and a planning roadmap for up to a $98 million buildout.","taxTitle","Citrus County, Florida","taxId",12756,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224474,"County housing director: 395 Citrus County applications in Elevate Florida program; elevations to begin after contracts awarded",198,3962000,4160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f&start=3962&end=4160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f/thumbnail_3962000.jpg","/articles/6224474/Citrus-County/Florida/County-housing-director-395-Citrus-County-applications-in-Elevate-Florida-program-elevations-to-begin-after-contracts-awarded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224474-46941d9d9553233f5559b013abaa5ba7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121185&Signature=EjkYrhMVqgTKMtWA17mY0~DhG0p3fmugENOFY2p2N9bShAlcryeF1jqkaRCS2rdVO4NaiS63AgiZT5Gu-a50xyDG~6PretxYZKyG02cFRsYAETISJPMWmMM0dPtlKw7r2nuQS6I5VIgdA48GGcfgPYcYol1tLXGx-gLxuBaPw4Xd0lw~QVVzvlBqYXfD6O725CDfPIq9S2iOgZSrFCACdMNjWiSFFofKzFH2~44Ky2fUFxxxwsRBYkEhh2b8M6GB-390VVlcF23mjtD06K-3dg3fuM49CDCLlJgWFqwShVO2NQl8fXgLTz5b4hzfrcJiTgCYw63F3hwg7WDFBiQueg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Citrus County’s housing services director updated the Board of County Commissioners on the state’s Elevate Florida program, reporting local application totals, likely timelines and program requirements.

Lede: Michelle Alford, the county’s housing services director, told commissioners the state has logged about 12,000 applications statewide and 395 applications from Citrus County residents; officials expect contract awards around July 1, with contractor work and elevation starts projected for September.

Why it matters: Elevate Florida is a federally funded mitigation effort that provides funding to elevate or demolish and reconstruct homes in flood-prone areas. For Citrus County homeowners, successful applications mean structural elevation, reconstruction to meet elevation code, or buyouts where appropriate — with long-term implications for flood insurance and community resilience.

Details: Of the 395 county applicants, 120 live in Crystal River and 269 sought elevation-only projects. Alford said 107 applications sought demolition and reconstruction to meet elevation codes, 16 were for wind mitigation work and 3 were proposed acquisitions and demolitions. About 71% of applicants reported the residence as a primary home; 54% already had flood insurance. Thirty-two percent of applicants are low- or moderate-income households.

Program timing and next steps: Alford said the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) stopped taking applications on April 11 and has posted a request for qualifications for contractors. FDEM plans to award contracts July 1, Alford said; once contractors are under contract, county officials expect property-level meetings and a kickoff with elevations starting around September. Alford cautioned that elevations will start with structures that are structurally feasible; demolition and replacement projects likely will follow.

Local support: Citrus County has set aside HMGP funds (Alford cited $16,200,000) to complement state efforts and to support local participants. The county also provides a mitigation specialist — Marina Edwards — as a resident point of contact to help applicants navigate letters, flood-insurance questions and status notices from FDEM.

Questions and concerns: Commissioners asked about debris and C&D landfill capacity if demolition projects occur in September, which is within the hurricane season. Alford said debris would be handled at the county C&D landfill and reassured commissioners that FDEM is aiming to start elevations in a timeframe that should allow projects to be staged to limit hurricane-season exposure.

Ending: Alford urged residents with program questions to contact county housing staff and noted that detailed eligibility and project schedules will be available once FDEM awards contracts. Commissioners thanked staff and noted the program’s potential to reduce flood risk for vulnerable households.","Citrus County staff reported 395 Elevate Florida applications from county residents, described eligibility breakdowns and said the state expects to award contracts in July with construction starting in September for elevation projects.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224479,"Citrus County sheriff urges year-round preparedness, outlines hurricane-season tools and shelters",488,2447000,2935000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f&start=2447&end=2935","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f/thumbnail_2447000.jpg","/articles/6224479/Citrus-County/Florida/Citrus-County-sheriff-urges-year-round-preparedness-outlines-hurricane-season-tools-and-shelters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224479-2746af8088ae76ef03cbf4e67b46b904/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121185&Signature=nKYdAGDOOhKuD2U0NX2LWApt-c-U1c8Ko3kokekwVlufS0AWR5OfYkr16xrbpmQ1Qi0Z3UM0q2xEHOppBRE6YJcOC~Zmfxu8UYduv7Z6JzUY2SPVDW5MtKOjcpfXVkPmBC0OIE6xqoFhJS0V9rAafTCIZjKdjB7IGPZfa0edgzTqXSuazLH0fICSRSnmvtkjlL-GKL9EX~DwwkUwc8F3bMsbT9QaL7BG2mTEVyXZZMFHrpeDyzCe8CVfgdW36HN45rdYhJgNrSZatPZlFqc~JmvUVRAU~4rCi2YRwgTSWbYRWfV0-5PLMCUjDFxJkrXxfo64cZSGPAbjMJRBF-9sQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office delivered a comprehensive hurricane-season briefing Tuesday that emphasized preparedness, clarified evacuation guidance and described new and existing public resources for residents.

Lede: Sheriff’s Office representatives told the Board of County Commissioners that while the 2025 hurricane forecast predicts an active season, local preparedness and awareness matter most, and they urged residents to plan for seven days of supplies and to “run from the water and hide from the wind.”

Nut graf: The sheriff’s presentation covered how federal forecasts are translated for local impacts, evacuation-zone lookups, shelter types, sandbag use, and mitigation steps for homes. Office staff unveiled a new disaster-preparedness guide, described an “Alert Citrus” messaging system and said the department can use Wireless Emergency Alerts to reach all county cell phones during severe events.

Details: Captain Chris (Sheriff’s Office emergency management lead) walked commissioners through hurricane fundamentals — season dates (June 1–Nov. 30), peak activity (around Sept. 10) and forecasted averages — and stressed that impacts, not just the forecast cone, determine local risk. “Storm strength does not determine storm surge,” the presenter said; “focus on the impacts, not the cone.”

On shelters and evacuation: The sheriff’s office described three shelter types at Citrus County Schools: general-population shelters, pet-friendly shelters and special-needs shelters for residents requiring electricity or oxygen. The office emphasized that Citrus County Transit can transport residents to shelters free of charge.

Sandbags and mitigation: Officials said sandbags should be lined with plastic sheeting to be effective and that residents should buy materials early rather than wait for emergency distribution. The sheriff’s office also cautioned that emergency workers will not perform rescues during sustained winds above 45 mph, underscoring the need to follow evacuation orders.

New tools and outreach: Sheriff’s staff announced a newly published county disaster-preparedness guide on sheriffcitrus.org and reminded residents about the county’s GIS address lookup for evacuation zones, base flood elevations and other property-level information. “Please check in,” the sheriff said, encouraging residents to follow local briefings and sign up for Alert Citrus, a free county notification system.

Preparedness numbers: The office recommended a seven-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day, not including pets), fuel at least half-tank (“halfway full, halfway there”) and disaster kits that include medical and specialty needs and guidance on lithium-ion battery safety.

Ending: The sheriff’s office invited residents to an all-hazards expo on June 14 at the College of Central Florida and said staff will continue outreach and exercises. Commissioners praised the briefing and highlighted the practical steps residents can take to reduce storm impacts.
","The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office presented the county’s hurricane-season outlook and preparedness guidance, telling residents to focus on impacts not the forecast cone and describing evacuation zones, shelters, sandbag guidance and new public resources.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224484,"Citrus County, water district settle long-running Chazewitzka boat-ramp dispute",243,2201000,2444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f&start=2201&end=2444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f/thumbnail_2201000.jpg","/articles/6224484/Citrus-County/Florida/Citrus-County-water-district-settle-long-running-Chazewitzka-boat-ramp-dispute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224484-b0d7f0402954e529a6e915cbbe49fcd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121185&Signature=EnmAkmpVYy2q6UqcpuYSamVQQP~vjInD6PtuwkXbnXUdmmPSSSm2ZIZrhGt6Em68HwFe6yLZdh3EjynHIyoHqIBi36Xr-8oCnzGDeM6jx5qtX~NfbbUtRT7QgJnp2v4OpvV9E3vadLu4AqNrOI7J4VWmUIab2gBVRdCc9cwyQAR58lm9cL2o3wfXXyUxcwlAFswEyOb9ElLe6hhY98MX7b0KvmdySi6i0EfMXSKFgMIMlx5Q8uLpfB7DWtOsv70ccQdlwEmsj4cPIweTc7C62XVbvUxj1yKcPY8Hta9mln7bI5-0PweuCSeN73OTA2~zFIfSQm2vRPJcCjicG-4~mA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Citrus County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a settlement agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District that ends years of litigation over the Chazewitzka boat ramp.

Why it matters: The settlement resolves a dispute that the county described as beginning in 2019 over the public’s right to use a county boat ramp on the Chazewitzka River. Commissioners and county attorneys called the agreement a practical outcome that protects public access without a prolonged and costly trial.

Details: County attorney and outside counsel briefed the board and described a multi-year process that included mediation and litigation. Commissioner Jeff Kennard praised the result and thanked both legal teams for avoiding a long trial. “When government sues government, the people lose,” Kennard said, adding that cooler heads prevailed and that the outcome was “a win for not just Citrus County voters, but the public in general to continue to have access to the Chazewitzka River.”

Outside counsel who handled the matter for the county told commissioners that the negotiated settlement secured for the public “everything that we would have asked for and hoped for in a court decision,” and thanked the district for cooperating to avoid further litigation.

Public comment: The board opened the matter for public comment and received none before the vote.

Action taken: The board voted 5–0 to authorize the chair to sign the settlement agreement and carry out the terms described in the agreement, as summarized to the board. Commissioners directed staff to memorialize the agreement and proceed with any implementation steps required.

Ending: Commissioners and their counsel framed the settlement as a practical resolution that maintains public access and avoids the time and cost of extended litigation, a point that several members emphasized as beneficial to taxpayers and boaters alike.","After years of litigation, Citrus County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District reached a settlement over the Chazewitzka boat ramp that County commissioners approved unanimously, preserving public access, county leaders said.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6224489,"Citrus commissioners grill FDOT on Suncoast Parkway fill sourcing as residents warn of sand-mining risks",1005,4665000,5670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f&start=4665&end=5670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3550477-4751a40d315d22542383e53689abb36f/thumbnail_4665000.jpg","/articles/6224489/Citrus-County/Florida/Citrus-commissioners-grill-FDOT-on-Suncoast-Parkway-fill-sourcing-as-residents-warn-of-sand-mining-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224489-b7ddb373180f9ecb8cd8ef231202ee2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121185&Signature=gVws9wtPlSn1jOpSIxO-bS4CrI4aPz6j91Li6AGYEbeGS55JJ6HgvkrBX0Ghu14XrqBdKM79lAic~4eDp9b-EeYL~1aseiAThYvU4J4t6zF3R9hHpowVTNB7yIXmUwIQrCTAJcjNRLdaW735HQN9EyV6HnqiY7u5mDeCmvPvsDsVwAjsfDHcp4JN3b63Sv48eUTJtbvF8XjtNsNWdQnIhuq7GPcyTXz22aLOnSNUdxCQ-xRneg9qiCx7jt9xUXP9Uc-hs9MeGRI-xD44vFM5FHsAqNXlXcnjpL9iylLnPIjd2HN7xMLZxwoG-rTfUoXAcleX4NEERqJOepwYRb60Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners heard a detailed briefing Tuesday from Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) staff about fill sourcing for the Suncoast Parkway extension and an FDOT request to add flexibility in how fill could be obtained.

The request, FDOT officials said, was intended to give the agency options if contractor-supplied fill proved insufficient, including buying or using properties close to the project for staging and fill, or acquiring fill through contractors. Justin Hall, secretary of Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, told the board, “This request before you today adds a valuable tool to our toolbox to allow for greater flexibility in the event that the total amount of fill cannot be met by the currently planned sources through our contractors.”

Why it matters: Commissioners said the county needs the extension to relieve long-running traffic problems but warned that broad exemptions or fast-tracked land-use changes could open the door to sand-mining activity near neighborhoods and springs. More than two dozen residents from Pine Ridge, Beverly Hills and Crystal River attended the meeting and repeatedly raised concerns about water quality, noise, dust and traffic tied to potential mining and staging operations.

FDOT explained the technical problem as material shortfalls: the extension’s first phase requires millions of cubic yards of fill and, if planned borrow sites or contractor sources cannot deliver, FDOT wants the option to use other nearby properties quickly. Hall said FDOT is also exploring state purchase of property, a move that would be exempt from county permitting, adding that the contractors “have been able to source material through various properties, some that are already permitted and some that are going through the county mine approval process now.”

Commissioners pressed for limits, public process and drainage safeguards. Commissioner Jeff Kennard warned that if the county altered its land-development rules and a private mining application later failed, “then the district or their contractor is short an awful lot of fill,” adding the scale of material involved could be “202,000 to 250,000 truckloads” for the first segment. Commissioner Diana Finnegan urged that any changes not bypass public hearings and stressed concerns about drainage: “How do all these different properties, if we waive this ordinance in Citrus County, start changing the topography without us looking at it?” she asked.

Residents at the meeting linked the fill discussion to a pending private sand-mining application that has drawn strong opposition. “Sand mining should not be allowed in every single land use district within 5 miles of the Suncoast Highway on the future land use map,” resident Colleen Farmer told the board during public comment. Others cited a recent legal fight in Levy County and warned of risks to springs and the aquifer. “The Levy County sand mine is not currently open because a judge stopped the mine from operating,” said Susan Sterling, describing that case as a cautionary example.

County staff and FDOT officials said they were not asking the board to approve any immediate ordinance change at Tuesday’s meeting. Secretary Hall repeatedly framed the request as a contingency tool, saying FDOT was not seeking carte blanche and that contractors had largely addressed the immediate supply need. “For sheer magnitude, this job has 4,500,000 cubic yards of fill,” Hall told commissioners, explaining why FDOT had asked for flexibility in where fill could come from.

What the board did: Commissioners did not vote on any ordinance change Tuesday. Several members said they would not support dropping public hearing requirements or blanket waivers; commissioners repeatedly emphasized any change would need to respect the county’s procedures for public notice and environmental review. Commissioner Janet Barrett said she was not comfortable “other departments or divisions overstepping what we as a county have,” and both Finnegan and Holly Davis said they favored preserving public-notice protections if FDOT or contractors seek local approvals.

Next steps: FDOT and county staff will continue discussions. The pending private mining application will be heard first by a special master on June 27; any later BOCC action would follow that process. Commissioners encouraged residents to submit written comments for the record and urged all parties to preserve established permitting and environmental review steps rather than rely on broad, preapproved exemptions.

Ending: The meeting underscored a recurring tension in fast-growing Florida counties: how to balance large regional infrastructure projects that require millions of cubic yards of material with local land-use protections and community concerns over water, noise and traffic. Commissioners asked FDOT to return as needed, and several urged that any changes preserve public hearings and environmental safeguards.","Florida Department of Transportation officials sought flexibility to source fill for the Suncoast Parkway extension; commissioners and dozens of residents pressed for limits, environmental safeguards and keeping public process intact amid an active sand-mine application.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County releases courthouse-space study; AECOM recommends downtown Inverness judicial complex and staged moves

County housing director: 395 Citrus County applications in Elevate Florida program; elevations to begin after contracts awarded

Citrus County sheriff urges year-round preparedness, outlines hurricane-season tools and shelters

Citrus County, water district settle long-running Chazewitzka boat-ramp dispute

Citrus commissioners grill FDOT on Suncoast Parkway fill sourcing as residents warn of sand-mining risks