[0:00] Chair. It’s 9

[11:53] o’clock.

[12:01] >> Goodmorning has everyone

[12:04] this morning. If you are

[12:05] willing and able please rise

[12:06] for the invocation and the

[12:07] Pledge of Allegiance. Father

[12:15] in heaven. We thank you for

[12:16] the stay that you have blessed

[12:17] us with. Thank you for those

[12:17] that have come.

[12:20] >> Here today, Lord to take

[12:21] part and local government. I

[12:22] pray that you give us all the

[12:25] ability to reason have

[12:27] discernment be kind gracious

[12:31] one another. We ask for you to

[12:32] walk with us throughout the

[12:34] stay in Jesus name.

[12:39] >> I pledge allegiance to the

[12:40] flag of the United States of

[12:42] America and to the Republic

[12:43] for which it stands. One

[12:45] nation under God, indivisible,

[12:48] with liberty and justice for

[12:49] all. Thank you. You may be

[12:52] seated. Madam Clerk.

[12:59] >> This is a special meeting

[12:59] of Citrus County Board of

[13:01] County commissioners on the

[13:02] 17th day of August 2026. and

[13:05] attendance. Our chair Diana

[13:07] Finnegan first Vice Chair

[13:08] Janet Eric Second Vice Chair

[13:11] Hart Commissioner Rebecca

[13:13] Bay’s Commissioner Holly

[13:14] Davis, County Administrator

[13:16] Steve Howard and county

[13:17] attorney to nice a dime

[13:18] inland. Thank you very much.

[13:21] >> Madam Attorney, just turn

[13:22] this over to you. Thank you.

[13:25] Madam Chair, one second,

[13:26] please.

[13:35] >> Sorry, I have to sign into

[13:35] my computer because it’s gone

[13:36] to sleep. Okay.

[14:00] >> So good morning

[14:01] commissioners. We are here

[14:01] today for a special meeting.

[14:05] The requested action is to

[14:07] seek approval to initiate

[14:08] litigation against Sic Lecanto

[14:12] Sand LLC. We’re looking for a

[14:13] motion and a vote to direct

[14:14] staff to initiate that

[14:15] litigation against Qantas and

[14:18] also, although it’s not

[14:20] printed, were also seeking

[14:20] that you authorize the

[14:21] chairman to sign any documents

[14:22] that might be necessary. As we

[14:27] institute that litigation. So

[14:28] we’re here this morning as a

[14:30] follow-up to your 11 August

[14:32] 11th meeting during which the

[14:33] board directed us to stop what

[14:36] is believed to be on permitted

[14:37] activity out at. can’t just

[14:42] stands parcels during the sand

[14:44] land application hearing the

[14:46] board received evidence and

[14:47] testimony relating to ongoing

[14:49] mining operations on a portion

[14:51] of their property. And then

[14:53] you also heard testimony and

[14:54] evidence that there’s ongoing

[14:57] debris falling in disposal on

[14:59] one of their other parcels.

[15:00] The Henley parcel that they

[15:03] recently both all properties

[15:07] currently have pending code

[15:07] violation cases. And as the

[15:11] board is aware, the board has

[15:13] delegated your code.

[15:14] Compliance matters to a

[15:15] special master. Those

[15:16] processes are in place

[15:20] continuing through those

[15:23] processes to and fruition.

[15:24] With the special master

[15:25] hearing. But because of the

[15:29] exigent circumstances with the

[15:32] continued, what what is

[15:32] believed to be continued

[15:33] mining and debris disposal. We

[15:36] believe that’s why the board

[15:37] came to the conclusion that

[15:37] you wanted to seek the

[15:38] injunction. Your decision. And

[15:43] despite the cease and desist

[15:44] notices that have been issued

[15:45] through the code cases, we’ve

[15:47] learned that the applicant

[15:48] intends to continue

[15:48] operations. We receive. We

[15:52] scheduled this meeting to

[15:54] receive direct direction from

[15:56] you and approval to file

[15:58] injunction. And although we

[15:59] are just beginning to develop

[16:00] the case because it’s been

[16:01] very quick, we wanted to share

[16:03] some important things with

[16:04] you. So.

[16:19] So although you might

[16:21] not be able to see it because

[16:21] it is small, this is the first

[16:23] code compliance notice of

[16:25] violation and clearly they say

[16:28] it says that they’re to cease

[16:29] all activities and provide

[16:30] documentation and down here

[16:33] too. Evidence establishing the

[16:40] property has been in

[16:42] continuous use for mining

[16:43] activity since November of

[16:45] 2008. The second code

[16:50] compliance case has similar

[16:51] language in this is on the

[16:52] Henley property, which is

[16:52] that?

[16:55] >> Can you put a mike Sorry? I

[17:00] apologize. Think This is the

[17:01] second notice of violation

[17:02] that was issued and this is

[17:02] for the Henry property, which

[17:05] is next door to the original

[17:07] property. And it clearly says

[17:09] cease-and-desist on mining

[17:10] activities and also cease any

[17:11] debris. Acceptance. Madam

[17:16] Attorney. Just want to clarify

[17:21] But that’s the September 4th

[17:23] 2026. Bicep I think they have

[17:31] provide evidence before

[17:31] September 24th. That’s the

[17:32] new. Activity. That’s the new

[17:36] activity on Henley property.

[17:37] So in other words, once there

[17:40] cited, they have a period of

[17:41] time to correct it right.

[17:46] September 4th hasn’t happened

[17:46] yet. Yes, ma’am. Okay. While

[17:51] you are pursuing code

[17:53] compliance cases, you can also

[17:55] concurrently pursue actions in

[17:57] circuit court. So you don’t

[17:59] have to wait for those code.

[18:01] Compliance matters to come to

[18:02] fruition. With it. You can

[18:06] stop This now code compliance

[18:10] is a much different process

[18:11] than what we when we go to

[18:12] court. So I just brought up

[18:13] this just a from your eyes,

[18:16] you with, again, with the

[18:18] properties, the properties

[18:19] marked. To one 82 BN 3.30.

[18:25] Those are the Henley

[18:27] properties. The other

[18:29] properties are the sand land

[18:31] properties where it’s alleged

[18:31] that they’re continuing

[18:32] operations. What’s interesting

[18:36] about this aerial is this is a

[18:37] current aerial. I just took

[18:38] this picture this morning and

[18:39] added it and you can see that

[18:43] on 0, 0, 0, 3, 4, 0, It

[18:48] doesn’t look like there’s any

[18:49] mining activity. And that’s

[18:51] because the property

[18:52] appraiser’s aerials are taken

[18:53] as of, you know, that prior in time. If you look on

[18:57] your your phone is your Google

[19:01] Earth or any of those you’ll

[19:02] see the activity that’s going

[19:03] on there. Now. Now, this is a

[19:05] video. That was shared to our

[19:09] staff from Mister Corolla. And

[19:13] it depicts aerials from 2010.

[19:19] 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021

[19:22] 2023. And if you could push

[19:24] play.

[19:38] So it seems pretty clear

[19:43] from these aerials that there

[19:44] had previously been mining.

[19:47] But from looking at those, it

[19:49] looks as though there’s there

[19:50] was not any mining from at

[19:52] least 2019 through 2023. and

[19:54] where in 2026. And then

[19:57] finally.

[20:05] >> And one of the owners of

[20:07] Florida filtered. If you

[20:08] haven’t seen much of us to

[20:10] this point, we’ve been mostly

[20:12] just hosting what we have for

[20:13] sale and too little promotions

[20:14] here. And there. We have been

[20:19] under attack recently from

[20:21] officials there trying to shut

[20:22] us down there. A lot of people

[20:24] in Citrus County. Against us

[20:27] and it’s not about growth.

[20:30] This is a very personal

[20:30] attack. But we are still open.

[20:34] We are still operating. We’re

[20:39] not the big Very small

[20:39] business veteran knowns and

[20:41] unknowns. And we Citrus

[20:43] County. So we’re here to

[20:44] support smart growth. With

[20:47] their support housing for

[20:48] hurricane evacuation route.

[20:50] That’s what we do. So we

[20:54] really appreciate your support

[20:56] and just know we are open. We

[20:57] are continuing to fight this

[20:58] ands. We haven’t been loud up

[21:01] until this point. We want you

[21:04] to know our side and we want

[21:05] you to know that we are still

[21:10] here. We are still operating

[21:11] and we really, really

[21:11] appreciate your support. Thank

[21:14] you so much for watching. Give

[21:16] us a call. Let us know if you

[21:17] need anything. But again,

[21:18] we’re celebrating. We’re still

[21:22] here. The punches keep coming

[21:25] But we’re and ready to fight

[21:26] back. Thank you so much. And

[21:27] we’ll see you all soon.

[21:31] >> That video was posted on

[21:32] Friday. August 14th. So it

[21:35] appears clear from from the

[21:36] video and from things we’re

[21:39] hearing in the community that

[21:40] they do continue to operate

[21:41] out there. And so the board

[21:42] has a choice. The board can

[21:46] either seek the injunctive

[21:46] relief from the court or can

[21:48] let the code compliance

[21:49] process play out, which, as

[21:53] you know, won’t happen at

[21:54] least until September. The

[21:54] date on that. so we’re here

[21:58] today seeking direction from

[21:59] the board on how you want us

[22:00] to proceed on this case.

[22:08] >> Any questions prepared to

[22:10] make a motion. All I’d like to

[22:13] open it to the public before

[22:13] we visually comes after we

[22:14] have motion a second. make a

[22:21] motion the we direct the

[22:25] county

[22:25] >> To initiate litigation

[22:26] against a Qantas and LLC to

[22:29] enjoin continued unpermitted

[22:33] activity.

[22:33] >> And to direct a chair or

[22:34] authorize the chair to sign

[22:37] all necessary documents.

[22:37] Second.

[22:41] >> Okay. There’s a motion by

[22:42] commissioner Canard and a

[22:42] second by Commissioner Davis.

[22:46] You know, it’s your time to

[22:47] speak from the public. You’ll

[22:48] have 3 minutes at the podium.

[22:51] Please fill out a green card

[22:51] located on that table. If are

[22:56] requesting 5 minutes

[22:56] representing a group, please

[22:57] let the clerk know that you

[23:00] have a letter and file have a

[23:02] look at her. Her words gold.

[23:03] If you have a letter, let us

[23:05] know in commissioner Canard

[23:06] will give you 5 minutes.

[23:07] Please keep your comments.

[23:10] Respectful, direct all

[23:10] comments to meet the chair and

[23:13] state your name and where you

[23:15] live. For the record. Welcome.

[23:17] Good morning. PJ off, hammer,

[23:17] Citrus County. This is going

[23:18] to be very quick. I was

[23:20] heading to AM county library

[23:23] meeting on Friday. And I came

[23:27] assess a trail just because I

[23:28] like to see what’s happening

[23:29] in areas and was passed by no

[23:30] fewer than 3 loaded trucks

[23:34] with sand. And when I came to

[23:37] Hoskins, there was still kind

[23:37] of, you know, near from coming

[23:39] down the sand road, which

[23:42] leads me to believe that yes,

[23:43] indeed, they are still very

[23:44] much in business. And I just

[23:46] thought you might like to know

[23:47] that. Thank you. Thank you.

[23:49] Next speaker, please.

[24:06] >> Good Morning Commission.

[24:07] Madam Chair Commissioners,

[24:08] County attorney’s Office

[24:10] County Administrator County

[24:12] staff. My name is Kyle Van and

[24:14] attorney with Bend

[24:15] representing Lecanto sand. And

[24:18] I just wanted to speak a

[24:19] little bit to try and maybe

[24:22] clarify some of the issues

[24:24] this matter to hopefully try

[24:26] and avoid some kind of

[24:27] litigation and adverse

[24:28] relationship. I have a have a

[24:31] short presentation. I’m not

[24:33] sure limited to the 5 minutes,

[24:34] you know, as this is directed

[24:36] against my client. But you

[24:41] know, as you’ve seen the the

[24:51] property is being mind. But I

[24:52] think it’s. A little unclear

[24:56] about what exactly the scope

[24:57] of that mining is. And I just

[25:01] wanted to to reference a few

[25:02] things. Is there a computer

[25:04] that I can plug into

[25:05] presentation to?

[25:09] >> I believe there’s not. You

[25:10] only have 2 minutes left. So

[25:13] okay.

[25:14] >> So just to address the code

[25:15] enforcement issue. They’re

[25:18] there was a notice of

[25:18] violation issued. code

[25:23] enforcement actions are

[25:23] governed by chapter one. 62 of

[25:24] the Florida statutes that

[25:27] requires before code

[25:28] enforcement citation can

[25:29] actually be issued, that there

[25:31] has to be a notice of

[25:32] violation and then a

[25:34] reasonable amount of time for

[25:37] the person being potentially

[25:39] sighted to correct the

[25:40] violations. So that’s why you

[25:40] have a notice of violation

[25:44] saying seesaw work by

[25:46] September 4th or else you can

[25:48] have a code enforcement action

[25:49] or your injunction action. So.

[25:52] They’re still there is still

[25:52] mining on the property. And I

[25:55] think at the hearing on last

[25:59] Tuesday there was some

[26:01] confusion about the code

[26:03] enforcement Action code

[26:05] compliance issues and the

[26:06] rezoning and comprehensive

[26:09] plan amendment. So the

[26:11] northern essentially half of

[26:12] the property is already zoned

[26:13] for mining. It’s already got a

[26:16] future land use of extractive

[26:18] so mining can be done on those

[26:20] properties as well as the

[26:20] Henley properties on that. The

[26:22] western side going north. All

[26:24] that would be needed to do

[26:26] that is a mining permit. So my

[26:29] clients have applied for a

[26:30] mining permit to do that. I

[26:33] think there were discussions

[26:33] between my client and county

[26:36] staff prior to purchase it

[26:38] prior to purchasing the

[26:38] property. And after. Basically

[26:42] where where staff could too.

[26:45] My understanding is that she

[26:46] indicated that there was

[26:47] historical mining operations

[26:48] on the property. There was a

[26:51] non-conforming use. took that

[26:56] as okay. We don’t need a

[26:58] permit and that’s why they

[26:59] started mining. So I think

[27:00] there was maybe I’m

[27:00] misunderstanding there.

[27:03] Obviously a mining permit is

[27:04] required. They have applied

[27:04] for that. And my clients here

[27:13] as well. Thank you. Thank you.

[27:15] >> Next speaker, please. Good

[27:29] morning. warning may need to

[27:29] move that Mike I’m just going

[27:35] to read Kuz so.

[27:38] >> here because I want to

[27:39] share my concerns. Trucks are

[27:40] still coming in and out of the

[27:42] old Henley property. I was

[27:42] under the impression they were

[27:43] told to stop operating. My

[27:46] other concern is access to

[27:48] look into sand through the old

[27:49] Henley site. I have photos of

[27:50] Genoa can’t share on my phone

[27:54] that I took from the road of

[27:54] them moving sand on la Qantas

[27:55] and site. I don’t know what it

[28:01] is for, but this proves that

[28:02] they can access the Qantas and

[28:03] by way of the old Kenley site,

[28:06] he also closed the entrance to

[28:07] a Qantas. And so you with a

[28:08] berm. Could have been to close

[28:12] up shop or to hide what’s

[28:12] really going on there. We

[28:14] can’t see it and I don’t trust

[28:16] it. Neither should you. I

[28:18] mean, the bottom line is they

[28:20] are operating without a

[28:22] permanent. They have admitted

[28:24] to it and they have said

[28:24] they’re going to keep doing

[28:25] it. They don’t care what you

[28:26] guys say. So I’m just asking

[28:28] you to do what’s right. Thank

[28:30] you for coming.

[28:32] >> Oh, man. Madam Clerk, did

[28:34] you get her name? Megan Horak,

[28:39] thank you. Next speaker.

[28:41] Please.

[28:50] >> Good morning. Good morning,

[28:51] ladies and gentlemen. My name

[28:52] is Thomas Nunzio. I’ve been

[28:55] living in this neighborhood

[28:56] for over 35 years. Everytime

[28:59] somebody new comes in. They.

[29:02] I’ve been through this round

[29:03] and round and round with the

[29:04] sand mines. Nobody wants to do

[29:05] the right thing. I have

[29:09] pictures on my phone. I have

[29:11] video of yesterday day before

[29:13] the day before that. But

[29:16] trucks on the road, they they

[29:18] pull out of the mine. And then

[29:21] they clean their tailgates off

[29:22] on the road. They stop on the

[29:24] road. We share. You have to go

[29:27] around these trucks. Just to

[29:30] get by. There’s a truck coming

[29:31] the other way. You have to

[29:33] wait. I mean, it’s just

[29:35] ridiculous. They should be

[29:35] doing that in the mine where

[29:36] it doesn’t put all debris in

[29:37] the road because it is a

[29:39] shared wrote apparently they

[29:42] don’t care. I got I got video

[29:43] of debris coming in. I the

[29:47] trucks that are there. There’s

[29:47] got to be. 10 trucks. Many

[29:50] will wish I had my own truck

[29:52] almost 30 years. And I know

[29:56] just about every one of those

[29:56] many Willis, they’re all from

[29:57] Tampa. Half of them don’t

[29:59] speak English. They don’t care

[30:03] about stop signs. They don’t

[30:06] care if your granddaughter or

[30:07] grandson is riding a horse

[30:08] around the neighborhood, they

[30:08] don’t care. They just

[30:12] oblivious to everybody who

[30:14] lives. Specter. It’s their

[30:16] business. They’re going to do

[30:16] what they’re going to do and to tell you the truth,

[30:19] we’re really getting tired of.

[30:23] These guys. They put up stop

[30:25] signs by were Hoskins is and

[30:26] they have to make a right on

[30:28] cooler. They put 3 stop signs

[30:29] up to its a 3 way. Stop. But I

[30:34] swear I can sit there all day

[30:34] long and I can bet you my

[30:38] paycheck that none of them

[30:38] will stop that. Those stop

[30:39] signs they just run them and

[30:42] go and they’re stopped in the

[30:43] road. Both sides sometimes

[30:44] talking to each other. They

[30:46] won’t move. It’s just

[30:48] ridiculous. It’s it’s if it’s

[30:49] a share growth, they ought to

[30:49] have a little consideration.

[30:52] And they have not stopped

[30:53] mining. They’re still mining

[30:54] without a permit. I just want

[30:58] to let you all know that.

[30:58] That’s what’s going on back

[31:01] there. So it’s just getting

[31:02] way out of hand and the girls

[31:06] that live next door to me,

[31:07] they were riding their horses.

[31:07] They got run off the road by

[31:10] many Willard. It was coming up

[31:11] the road, you know, week we’ve

[31:13] used these roads for years to

[31:14] ride our horses enjoyed life.

[31:17] And they should have to go

[31:18] through that. Their young

[31:21] girls there, they just want to

[31:22] ride their horses you know,

[31:24] the traffic that’s in there is

[31:27] unbelievable. The many willer

[31:29] after many with tractor

[31:30] trailer. She just ridiculous.

[31:32] Just wish that That’s

[31:35] something which saw Ort.

[31:37] Somebody would just be a

[31:40] better neighbor. You know, it

[31:40] just seems to me like nobody

[31:41] gives a c***. Tell you the

[31:44] truth. It’s getting pretty

[31:45] tired of it. Show. Thank Just

[31:48] want to let you know what was

[31:49] happening. I do have proof do

[31:51] if you

[31:53] >> Thank you for comments

[31:53] next. Speaker.

[32:08] >> Good morning. Commissioners

[32:09] Chris Croll owner and Qantas

[32:09] and mind. Thank you for

[32:12] putting this together.

[32:16] Honestly, if I was in your

[32:16] position looking in, I

[32:17] completely understand how this

[32:17] would look. What I would say

[32:21] is that we would like to have

[32:23] the time to present to you.

[32:23] Our evidence of working with

[32:25] staff about the plan that was

[32:27] in place for all of this. I

[32:29] know we don’t have much time

[32:32] right now, but we are we have

[32:33] put everything together. We

[32:33] look forward to presenting it

[32:36] buyer due date, which was

[32:37] presented by the violation.

[32:39] And that’s all I want to say.

[32:39] Thank you very much. Thank

[32:40] you.

[32:43] >> Next, speaker. Are you

[32:51] coming up, Mister, a

[33:04] >> commissioner Finnegan

[33:04] Commissioner Davis, thank you

[33:05] for meeting with myself and

[33:06] some residents last weekend. I

[33:08] look forward to our meeting

[33:08] with Mister Steve Howard

[33:10] tomorrow. Commissioner Davis

[33:12] during our meeting, you told

[33:14] us I’m paraphrasing, that has

[33:16] direct comments to make for at

[33:19] leadership. And I asked you

[33:19] how how we can a can. Restore

[33:23] trust. I want to talk about

[33:25] why residents are losing

[33:25] confidence in some of our

[33:27] board. I don’t want to

[33:29] distrust my commissioners,

[33:30] quite frankly, a rather

[33:30] believe that you have our

[33:32] backs that you’re watching out

[33:34] for us. I want to believe that

[33:34] when a developer comes the it

[33:38] has to do it. I just your

[33:39] time. commissioner Davis says

[33:42] Commissioner Davis, speaking

[33:43] of doctor, Titus, General,

[33:45] Open to the public or is it

[33:46] supposed to be only about the

[33:47] motion on the floor that

[33:48] motion on the floor? Is this

[33:48] about the same line?

[33:52] >> Part of it to sustain name

[33:53] for the record, sorry. erase

[33:56] it just brings okay. So I want

[34:01] to believe that when a

[34:02] developer comes before with a

[34:03] massive proposal, you first

[34:04] question is is a project right

[34:04] for Citrus County. But Pine

[34:07] Ridge has made it difficult.

[34:08] The sand mines made it

[34:09] difficult county reporting 90

[34:09] or 91 made it difficult.

[34:13] That’s farm has made it

[34:13] difficult. What about the data

[34:14] center portagers for others?

[34:16] So I want to ask a very simple

[34:17] question who comes first in

[34:18] this county, the developers of

[34:20] the community, because based

[34:21] on what I’ve seen, I’m

[34:22] concerned that too often the

[34:23] answer appears to be the

[34:23] developer. Let me be clear.

[34:25] I’m not against development.

[34:29] I’m I’ve said that publicly

[34:29] and not anti-growth. And I

[34:30] don’t expect Citrus County to

[34:32] stop growing. I understand all

[34:34] of that. But I also believe

[34:35] the people who already live

[34:35] here have rights, one of the

[34:39] right says to expect

[34:40] development to happen.

[34:40] According to the rules, this

[34:41] county adopted to protect our

[34:43] communities. That’s really

[34:44] what this is about. Do we have

[34:46] a local government? We can

[34:47] trust to follow, protect and

[34:48] enforce its own rules. Who is

[34:50] protecting our land when it

[34:51] came to the sand. Mine who is

[34:53] making sure the permitting

[34:54] requirements and rules are

[34:56] being followed. What about

[34:58] Tuscany Ranch? Residents had

[35:00] questions about the request,

[35:01] particularly after

[35:01] Commissioner Basil counting

[35:03] Rent County Road 4.91. and

[35:05] that 3 million dollar state

[35:07] funding request. Those events

[35:08] matter because trust is

[35:10] cumulative. And then we come

[35:11] to Pine Ridge. The same 3

[35:13] commissioners voted to approve

[35:14] Pine Ridge application as the

[35:16] court is no question that

[35:17] approval. And the reason is

[35:19] not insignificant. The judge

[35:21] found that the board failed to

[35:21] observe the essential

[35:22] requirements of law. That’s

[35:24] not a technical issue. That’s

[35:25] a fundamental problem. I keep

[35:26] coming back to one question.

[35:28] Why did residents and pirates

[35:30] have to take their own

[35:30] government to court to get

[35:31] this question answered? Think

[35:33] about that. Residents had to

[35:34] spend time and money

[35:36] challenging a decision made by

[35:36] the government. They elected

[35:39] to present How can that not

[35:40] affect our confidence? Because

[35:41] people are watching. We’re

[35:44] asking questions requesting

[35:44] public records were paying

[35:45] attention to vote. And we’re

[35:47] comparing what we’re being

[35:48] told with what we’re seeing

[35:49] and we’re speaking out. And

[35:51] then Pine Ridge comes along.

[35:54] We are told rules matter.

[35:55] We’re told facts matter. We’re

[35:58] told the Comp Plan Matters.

[35:58] Land Development, Code matter.

[36:00] Zoning matters. So when

[36:01] residency one controversial

[36:02] project after another, and

[36:04] then a court finds that some

[36:06] of the board failed to observe

[36:07] the essential role

[36:07] requirements of law. People

[36:10] are naturally going to start

[36:10] connecting the dots. Truth

[36:13] isn’t necessarily lost because

[36:14] of one isolated incident.

[36:17] Trust is lost and people are

[36:17] being seeing a pattern. So I’m

[36:20] asking you to make us believe

[36:21] that you are putting Citrus

[36:23] County first. That’s what

[36:24] we’re asking for. Thank you.

[36:26] for your comments

[36:28] next speaker. Please. Anyone

[36:33] else would like to come up and

[36:34] speak before the board on the

[36:38] A close open to the public.

[36:41] Board. Any further comments.

[36:42] Commissioner Barrick. Friday,

[36:46] I was going from one meeting

[36:47] down assess and I had to take

[36:47] 4.90.

[36:52] >> And there were sand mine

[36:53] dump trucks coming out onto

[36:55] 4.90, not one, not 2. And yes,

[36:58] it was disruptive of the

[36:58] traffic. And I was upset

[37:00] because at our meeting we were

[37:04] told they were not mining. And

[37:08] to me, I was president just

[37:09] Spring Civic Association and

[37:12] we have deed restrictions and

[37:13] we send out letters to our

[37:14] attorney and what it should

[37:15] cease and desist. It meant

[37:18] seasoned ISIS from that day

[37:20] until you got it fixed. Not

[37:23] continue until whatever date

[37:26] you feel like it or whatever

[37:27] date you go back to court. So

[37:29] when I see this come across

[37:30] our desk again. I say we need

[37:35] to approve the attorney to do

[37:36] what you need to do and have

[37:39] chair sign whatever papers are

[37:40] needed because

[37:43] >> when we say ceased and

[37:45] desist, it means top right

[37:48] now, not tomorrow or not. 6

[37:48] weeks from now. Thank you.

[37:51] >> They want I have a couple

[37:57] questions just one speaker had

[38:02] talked about legality of

[38:03] following the correct

[38:05] processes and this commission

[38:08] can register before we have to

[38:10] stop engaging in lawsuits.

[38:11] What? I get there’s a time

[38:17] difference of a couple of

[38:17] weeks rates timber. 4th. I see

[38:18] on this last paper. If they

[38:22] follow that process, it goes

[38:24] to the magistrate and then

[38:26] there would be an order given

[38:27] if we do this process with

[38:30] that, the you handling it with

[38:33] that? The U.S. hiring outside

[38:34] counsel what’s the cost to the

[38:37] taxpayers? In either

[38:42] direction? And obviously it

[38:42] would have to be an

[38:43] approximate cost. I know I

[38:43] would not hold to you ever to

[38:45] a dollar amount. I just want

[38:47] to know how lengthy is the

[38:50] process both ways. So we could

[38:51] say if. If the border

[38:55] ex-Michigan I signed this

[38:57] today, what does that do

[38:59] differently and what’s the

[39:01] cost of that? Then if we go

[39:05] code enforcement, think that

[39:05] much time are we saving? You

[39:07] understand I’m saying? First

[39:10] of all, we were going to

[39:11] handle it within my office. I

[39:12] think you all know I’m having

[39:13] some health issues, but

[39:15] together Valen I can.

[39:18] >> Can get that done. So we

[39:19] weren’t going to engage

[39:20] outside counsel for this. The

[39:22] county has a history of

[39:24] pursuing some of these types

[39:25] of actions in the past that

[39:27] I’ve seen. it’s not unusual,

[39:32] at least for the county to to

[39:33] seek these types of actions

[39:35] when it’s something, you

[39:40] Important say some might think

[39:41] egregious but also important

[39:44] so we can handle that. The

[39:46] costs involved would just be

[39:46] the filing fees and meal if we

[39:50] have to court reporters if we

[39:56] have to do any kind of

[39:56] investigative things, there

[39:57] might be some some cost, but

[39:58] the cost will be minimal

[40:00] because we are keeping it in

[40:01] house as far as timeline. It’s

[40:05] hard to say how quickly we’re

[40:07] going to be able to get to

[40:09] court. I would say 6 months to

[40:13] get some initial reaction from

[40:16] the court. I’m not going say

[40:17] that it’s going to be final

[40:18] within 6 months, but hopefully

[40:18] we can get a hearing on our request for temporary

[40:23] relief. We be asking for

[40:24] temporary and permanent

[40:26] relief. So hopefully on the

[40:28] temporary it could be

[40:31] relatively short. But I can’t

[40:32] stress the the weight

[40:36] difference between an order

[40:36] from the court and an order

[40:37] from the special master. There

[40:41] is a certain finality and

[40:43] importance and weight given to

[40:44] a circuit court a county court

[40:47] decisions. So I think What we

[40:52] find with our code compliance

[40:53] cases is sometimes we see them

[40:58] order entered and then it

[40:58] becomes back and that comes

[41:00] back. It. It’s not as final as a court decisions. So I in

[41:08] quite interim, I question I

[41:08] understand that one.

[41:10] >> It is more powerful than

[41:11] the other. But one is

[41:15] September 4th. The other way

[41:16] you’re seeing 6 months. I’m I

[41:21] don’t want to I don’t want to

[41:21] give you false expectations

[41:23] and say it’s going to you

[41:24] know, a month or 2 months.

[41:26] It’s a soon as we can get on

[41:26] the court’s calendar.

[41:27] >> Hopefully. The respondent

[41:32] will cease operations,

[41:33] especially after today and

[41:34] especially if you direct us to

[41:35] file the suit because when it

[41:39] comes to court, the judge

[41:39] probably won’t look favorably

[41:43] upon them continuing

[41:43] operations after it’s been.

[41:45] mean, there was ample evidence

[41:46] that you’re hearing that they

[41:47] shouldn’t be mining and the

[41:52] September 4th date, I would

[41:55] point out is on this second

[41:56] partial the Henley, partial

[41:58] the other date was June 27th.

[42:00] I say. And so if perhaps if

[42:04] you want to wait on the

[42:06] vegetative debris and the

[42:07] property from coming in from

[42:08] the Henley property, if you

[42:12] want to wait til September,

[42:12] you can do that. But the

[42:14] deadline for this other has

[42:14] already passed. I say.

[42:19] >> And so that deadline

[42:20] passed, it went to the

[42:21] magistrate.

[42:24] >> know, their their

[42:24] opportunity to cure past. It

[42:27] says when does that case go to

[42:30] the magistrate?

[42:30] >> Wednesday to to stay. If

[42:32] you’re going mass J C

[42:34] Charlton, our director. Mr.

[42:40] Charlton, we often don’t get

[42:41] to see you at these. Nice to

[42:42] see this morning.

[42:45] >> Good morning or good

[42:46] morning, Jace.

[42:52] >> Our next hour here. And for

[42:53] those cases be October, 21st.

[42:59] And we’re going to the other

[43:00] if the other ones go to that

[43:02] hearing is will it also be

[43:03] October 21st as well? We’re

[43:03] going to have them all

[43:04] together. Thank you. Any more

[43:06] questions.

[43:12] >> Yes, Commissioner Kerik has

[43:13] a question patients to

[43:14] magistrate this week. Is it

[43:15] possible to get the one from?

[43:18] June moved up to this week’s?

[43:19] No, ma’am, OK, thank you.

[43:23] Thank you. Anyone

[43:24] else for Mr. I would hate to

[43:35] spend a lot of tax, my

[43:36] question just I don’t want to

[43:37] spend a lot of taxpayer money

[43:39] if the result is going to be

[43:41] the same around the same time.

[43:41] Does that make sense?

[43:44] >> But you’re saying that

[43:45] we’re not going to spend you

[43:47] don’t see us spending a lot of

[43:49] extra money for the result of

[43:50] maybe coming at the same time.

[43:55] I don’t see you spending a lot

[43:56] as you turn I said you, you

[43:58] May. You’re gonna have a

[43:59] filing fee I’m sorry that I

[44:02] don’t know what those are

[44:02] these days. Maybe my assistant

[44:05] might come rushing up to tell

[44:11] me.

[44:12] >> we all know how much,

[44:13] Sally, flick.

[44:17] >> Ali, remember, this was

[44:18] Denise that right up here and

[44:19] that may have to go the she’s

[44:20] gonna was pretty okay. 400,

[44:25] $400 for filing fee. And then

[44:26] if there are any depositions,

[44:29] court reporter, fees.

[44:32] Ministerial Fi service fees.

[44:35] You know, $40 here. I mean,

[44:36] it’s not going to be. It’s not

[44:39] like when we hire outside

[44:40] counsel. Okay.

[44:45] >> Thank you or to any other

[44:45] comments or questions.

[44:50] >> All those in favor signify

[44:51] by saying Aye, aye, any

[44:54] opposed motion carries 5, All

[44:56] right. With that, this

[44:56] meeting’s adjourned.

[45:10] I’m

[45:10] sorry. It’s on the agenda.

[45:20] After the motion, there’s a

[45:22] separate open to the public

[45:22] after the

[45:27] >> Microphone meeting back in

[45:29] session.

[45:31] >> My apologies and thank you

[45:31] for that because I did open to

[45:32] the public just for the item

[45:36] and you would like to speak

[45:36] about whatever you’d like to

[45:37] speak about.

[45:37] >> Come on open to the public

[45:40] is now. Please forgive me.

[45:57] >> Good morning. Commissioners

[45:58] polled already 30 41 West

[45:59] thing be street. You many

[45:59] times before here. I’m

[46:02] speaking on something today.

[46:04] Not about what you have on

[46:04] your agenda directly. Citrus

[46:09] County benefit from an AI data

[46:09] center. As controversial as an

[46:14] AI data center seems to be. I

[46:16] believe that one and only one

[46:18] reasonable site exists in this

[46:19] county. By examining what all

[46:23] parties want. The finding a

[46:25] solution that gets us there

[46:25] without undue hysteria. The

[46:28] county can satisfy all but the

[46:29] most polarized elements. What

[46:32] the people want. From numerous

[46:37] comments at public meetings.

[46:37] The great majority of the

[46:40] people want any AI center to

[46:40] be far away from them.

[46:45] Complaints of noise light.

[46:46] Does vibration unsightly mess

[46:49] and proximity to an AI

[46:50] disappear with distance?

[46:54] Perceptions of future

[46:54] expansion and its attendant

[46:56] anxiety decreases well with

[46:57] distance. What the purveyors I

[47:00] want. Obviously great

[47:05] long-term profits can be had

[47:06] by those who own slash

[47:07] control. I center. These

[47:12] entity seemed to feel the time

[47:12] is of the essence, do it now

[47:13] before the bubble bursts. The

[47:18] current nature of AI is huge.

[47:21] Computational slash collating

[47:23] power, coupled with the

[47:23] seeming sorcery of algorithms.

[47:28] The strain this imposes on

[47:28] resources like electric power

[47:31] generation, excessive heat

[47:32] production requiring cooling

[47:34] and vast land areas to

[47:35] accommodate equipment and

[47:37] buildings are prohibitive. In

[47:38] most cases. Some projects come

[47:43] with NBA’s that leave the

[47:44] public. it ease? This is a

[47:46] hard sell. What the county

[47:49] needs to do. Find a balance

[47:56] that quiets disagreement

[47:56] between the parties that is

[47:57] also beneficial to the entire

[47:57] county. Proposal. Place all AI

[48:03] development in the northwest

[48:05] corner of the county on or

[48:06] near the Duke Energy complex.

[48:10] From the standpoint of

[48:12] distance to populated areas

[48:13] and availability of required

[48:14] resources for AI data centers.

[48:16] There is no better location.

[48:19] The existing usage of the area

[48:21] has created an industrial

[48:23] complex in an environmentally

[48:25] sensitive region for over 50

[48:27] years with no great

[48:28] dislocation to the county. The

[48:31] Heat Island already exist. The

[48:35] noise light, does that already

[48:37] exist. The copious power and

[48:39] water availability already

[48:40] exist. Little of consequence

[48:45] remains except negotiations

[48:47] between the involved parties

[48:48] slash factions on terms of

[48:49] usage. The current generating

[48:53] capacity as measured and you

[48:53] go out. May I continue? OK?

[48:58] Thank you. Thank you.

[49:02] >> Next speaker, please.

[49:12] >> We needed morning board. My

[49:13] name is John. Every than in

[49:15] France. And I was here before

[49:17] you last week regarding an

[49:19] incident of a death threat

[49:20] being reported to the

[49:22] sheriff’s office. Since that

[49:24] time, the Chronicle has run a

[49:26] sort of a clarification buried

[49:27] in the local section that you

[49:30] have to go online to find what

[49:32] the issue is. And it’s out in

[49:33] the 16th paragraph. So it’s

[49:34] not really an apology and

[49:36] hardly anybody will notice it.

[49:38] But what happened was a

[49:42] citizen of Citrus County who’s

[49:42] running for County commission,

[49:46] came into the sheriff’s and

[49:46] reported a death threat. Then

[49:49] she came to the county

[49:50] commission and said that she

[49:51] had done it. And the Chronicle

[49:52] said it was a lie that she had

[49:56] never reported it even though

[49:57] they had the video that they

[49:57] that she did. And and you

[50:01] know, the issue really that I

[50:01] have, which you can address is

[50:03] the the sheriff’s office

[50:05] mishandling it because they

[50:06] didn’t put it in in written

[50:10] report. so I found out that

[50:12] Jennifer Grogan has gone back

[50:13] to the sheriff’s office. She’s

[50:16] spoken to commit a crime

[50:18] detective and they have

[50:19] subpoena to her phone records

[50:22] to try to find out who trace

[50:23] it, which I believe should

[50:23] have been done in the first

[50:24] place. So my issue is that the

[50:27] sheriff’s office is not

[50:28] handling these issues

[50:29] correctly from the beginning.

[50:30] And so we Co go back after

[50:32] they find out because of you

[50:36] article in the newspaper that

[50:37] the report was never filed

[50:40] properly. So hope, you know,

[50:43] tomorrow’s election but you’re

[50:44] a gun and still be there for

[50:44] at least the next few months,

[50:45] regardless of what happens in

[50:46] the election. So I would like

[50:47] to see this addressed, you

[50:51] know, the sheriff’s in a way

[50:52] has acknowledged that it was

[50:53] but it shouldn’t take in all

[50:55] this to make that happen. I

[50:58] think procedures and to be put

[51:00] in place so that when somebody

[51:01] comes to the sheriff’s office

[51:03] with complain about a death

[51:06] threat, that there is a

[51:07] procedure that’s followed,

[51:07] that the call was traced. You

[51:08] know, if it’s a it’s a came in

[51:09] through a phone call and that

[51:12] it’s not dismissed in the

[51:13] report immunity. Put that it’s

[51:14] an every day, something like

[51:15] an everyday thing which is

[51:17] just totally wrong exposed

Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting

Agenda

Transcript