Citrus County commissioners pull proclamation to rename Cross Florida Barge Canal after veterans amid objections from commissioners and stakeholders

The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners debated and then removed from consideration a proclamation to rename the Cross Florida Barge Canal “American Freedom Canal,” after several commissioners and members of the public said the county had not sufficiently consulted affected stakeholders.

Commissioner Jeff Kennard led objections to the proclamation, saying the county had asked neighboring governments for letters supporting a state funding request for a large boat‑ramp project before telling those jurisdictions about the renaming plan. “We never once mentioned to either one of those counties ... that we were considering renaming the barge canal as well,” Kennard said, adding that the county had not consulted the Marjorie Harris Carr family, the Florida Defenders of the Environment, the Florida Greenway and Trails partners, Dixie and Robin Hollins, the U.S. Coast…