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Citrus County commissioners debate ethics, lobbying and County Road 491 funding request
Summary
A monthlong dispute over who sought state money for County Road 491 produced public anger, a failed motion to file an ethics complaint and moves to tighten local lobby and post-office rules.
Citrus County commissioners spent more than three hours on May 13 debating whether county officials or a former commissioner improperly sought state funding for a County Road 491 project, as public commenters pressed for accountability.
The controversy began after a state appropriations request for County Road 491 was circulated in Tallahassee with Citrus County listed as the recipient; residents later raised questions about who authorized that submission and whether county staff or outside lobbyists had overstepped local rules.
Why it matters: County Road 491 is a longtime local priority. Residents and commissioners said unclear processes for submitting state appropriations and for contacts between commissioners, staff and outside lobbyists have undermined trust and could complicate future efforts to secure state money.
At the meeting, Commissioner Jeanette Barrack moved to direct the county attorney to file an ethics complaint…
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