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Citrus County moves forward on new Inverness-area fire station after $3.5 million appropriation
Summary
County officials said a $3.5 million state appropriation is in place for a new Inverness-area fire station; county staff estimate total construction costs near $4.5 million and say the design (60% complete) will include three drive-through bays and equipment to house an engine, ambulance and brush truck.
Citrus County officials said they are advancing design work for the first new county fire station in decades, with a state appropriation of $3.5 million described on the county program as helping to cover the project.
Host Steve Howard said relocating the station to airport property near Inverness Airport will extend coverage to roughly 7,200 additional residents and "better position our crews to respond quickly to emergencies in a high-demand corridor." He also said the county expects lower homeowner insurance rates as a result; "The savings was almost $4 million a year in insurance," he said on air.
Greg Ellis, identified on the program as division chief of administration with Citrus County Fire Rescue, described the design progress and operational plans. "It'll have a three drive-through base," Ellis said, adding the design would allow the station to house at minimum a fire engine, an ambulance and a brush truck along with specialty equipment. He said the project is at about a 60% design phase and that increased costs have pushed the county estimate to roughly $4.5 million compared with comparable stations built earlier in Sumter County.
Why it matters: County leaders said the station aims to improve response times in a growing corridor and could reduce insurance costs for homeowners by placing firefighting resources closer to residents. The program did not provide a detailed construction schedule, contract award dates, or the full funding breakdown.
What remains unclear: The broadcast did not state whether the appropriation required a formal county commission vote airing during the program, what portion of the $4.5 million (if any) the county must fund, or exact timing for construction. Those details were not specified on air.
Next steps: Program remarks indicate staff are advancing design work; no specific procurement or construction timeline was presented during the segment.
