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 Guard or the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before placing the proclamation on the agenda.

Kennard said the renaming appeared tied to timing for funding, and that the board “put the cart before the horse.” He urged the board to withdraw the proclamation and instead build a coalition and bring partners into discussions before advancing a name change.

Commissioner Diana Finnegan and other commissioners pushed back. Finnegan called the rename a step to honor veterans and said she had been told veterans’ organizations had been contacted and invited; she asked colleagues to support honoring veterans now and then pursue outreach. “This is what we’re supposed to do,” Finnegan said of issuing a proclamation of support for honoring veterans. Commissioner Rebecca Bays, the chair, said she wanted consensus when honoring veterans but ultimately supported pausing the item to avoid proceeding without broad buy‑in.

Public commenters and community groups also weighed in. Speakers representing the African American Club of Citrus County and the United Way spoke at the same meeting on unrelated proclamations (Black History Month and United Way 2-1-1 recognition) but several members of the public and at least one preservation advocate reminded the board to respect local history and to consult families with historical ties to the canal. One member of the public noted that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names lists the waterway as the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

After extended discussion and a motion that was later rescinded, the board formally rescinded the proclamation item and directed staff to bring back alternatives and additional information about how to honor veterans and about next steps for the boat‑ramp project. County administrator Steve Howard and county attorney Denise A. Diamond Lynn were asked to help coordinate follow‑up outreach to federal, state and regional partners and to veterans’ groups.

Why it matters: The debate linked an otherwise ceremonial action to a major capital project and state funding effort. Commissioners who opposed moving forward without outside consultation said the county risked alienating regional partners and historic stakeholders; proponents said a ceremonial step could be a first move toward honoring veterans and raising awareness about the boat‑ramp effort.

What’s next: The item was removed from the agenda; staff were directed to return with options for honoring veterans and to coordinate outreach to the groups mentioned in the discussion. The county’s broader request for state appropriations for the barge‑canal boat ramp remains a separate item on the county’s capital projects list.