Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Manatee Festival: Preview in today’s paper WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 79 Partly cloudy. LOW PAGE A4 57 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 24, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 167 NEWS BRIEFS Board may have broken law Citrus County COVID-19 cases Charter school held closed meeting in apparent violation of Sunshine statute According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, FRED HIERS away from the public to they thought about the ap- closed door meetings The First Amendment 11 positive cases were Staff writer discuss two applicants for plicants and their reason- were consistent with Flor- Foundation is a private, reported in Citrus County principal. ing behind the decision to ida’s laws requiring open non-partisan, nonprofit or- since the latest update. The Academy of Envi- The board voted pub- reject them. public meetings and re- ganization that promotes No new deaths were re- ronmental Science char- licly at the March 18 meet- The board’s chair- cords, known as the Flor- the public’s right to access ported, for a total of 420. ter school board appears ing to not hire either of woman Michelle Leeper ida Sunshine law. government through Flori- to have violated the Flor- the two applicants, but told the Chronicle on Virginia Hamrick, a da’s Sunshine and Public To date in the county, ida Sunshine Law when banned the public from Tuesday, March 23, that lawyer with Florida’s Records Law. 10,170 people have the board members met hearing their backroom she believed as long as First Amendment Foun- tested positive (including behind closed doors and discussions about what the vote was public, such dation, disagrees. See MEETING/Page A5 85 non-residents). Three new hospitaliza- tions were reported, for a total of 662 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject County OKs hike in impact fees to revision. Vaccine registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individu- als 50 and older and frontline health care work- ers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for vaccine appointments and be notified when ap- pointments are available in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. As part of the statewide preregistration system, each county has a desig- nated number that indi- viduals can call and preregister with if they do not have internet access. Citrus County’s desig- nated helpline number is 833-540-2058. Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available for several weeks. Drive-thru food MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle giveaway A construction worker carries lumber to a roof Monday, March 22, as new homes are under construction in Citrus Springs. continues Mark your calendar: Beginning at 9 a.m. Commissioners vote 4-1 to raise single-family home charge to $6,017 Wednesday, March 24, MICHAEL D. was the result of a formula rate and the re- higher gas prices, he report and said the num- the public can receive BATES last-minute discussion maining six categories said. bers don’t accurately re- boxes of assorted food Staff writer between Steve Lach- at 100%. But his colleagues flect the county’s items at the New Church nicht, assistant county Commission Chair- didn’t see it that way. projected growth. Without Walls at 300 S. After almost two hours administrator and Dun- man Scott Carnahan They believe the county “We have a report that Kensington Ave., Le- of brisk debate, county can Associates, the con- cast the sole dissenting will grow and the money I have absolutely no canto, next to the Holiday commissioners Tuesday sultant hired to do an vote and his motion to will be needed to fund confidence in,” Kinnard Inn Express. voted 4-1 to raise impact impact fee study. keep current fees intact roads, schools and other said. Monetary donations fees for a single-family The fee for single- was defeated 3-2. infrastructure. Lachnicht said he are needed to continue home from the current family homes is lower “I think we need to An alternate motion contacted the consul- $4,809 to $6,017. feeding Citrus County than the $6,172 the con- compete with our sur- by Commissioner Ron tant and cleared up a The $1,208 increase sultant previously rounding counties (and) Kitchen Jr. that raised discrepancy regarding residents. Please con- will take effect in 90 days. recommended. I see an unstable econ- fees passed 4-1. the law enforcement sider donating through The fee for multi-fam- The fees for transpor- omy headed our way,” Commissioner Jeff Kin- fee, which helped re- the New Church Without ily homes will decrease: tation and roads will Carnahan said. nard sided with Carnah- duce the fee hike. Walls (www.newchurch from $3,644 to $3,322. continue to be calcu- The county is already an’s original motion. He withoutwalls.com), Citrus The new fee schedule lated at the current 50% seeing that in terms of panned the consultant’s See FEES/Page A5 United Way (www.citrus unitedway.org), Commu- nity Food Bank of Citrus County (www.community foodbankofcitruscounty. org) or We Care (www. Subsiding virus has city AstraZeneca wecarefoodpantry.org). New online citizen portal vaccine hits snag now available mulling larger events Citizens are now able to submit service re- Social distancing to still play key role, though Company accused of quests to various Citrus BUSTER about reopening grander attendees are scattered County BOCC divisions THOMPSON events. throughout the city’s ‘cherry-picking’ trial data using a new online portal Staff writer “We need to be in the downtown, and not pack- at portal.citrusbocc.com. planning stages,” he said. ing into Kings Bay Park LAURAN up-to-date information Requests for engineer- Citing a lull in COVID- “We need to start plan- ahead of the show. NEERGAARD AND and that the more recent ing, grounds mainte- 19 infections, Crystal ning for the future.” Council members were ZEKE MILLER findings are consistent nance, road River City Council is com- Citrus County’s seven- in favor of Bollin’s Associated Press with its initial an- maintenance, solid waste, fortable moving ahead day average positivity strategy. nouncement that the and water conservation with larger city events on rate for COVID-19, which “We should pursue it,” WASHINGTON — vaccine offered strong can now be submitted a modified scale. is the ratio of positive test Mayor Joe Meek said. “I AstraZeneca may have protection. It promised an update within 48 using this portal. Users Council members at results to total tests taken, think you’re seeing folks included “outdated in- their regular meeting the has hovered around 5% become more comfortable hours. must register and create formation” in touting the evening of Monday, March since February’s end but and aware of what’s going effectiveness of its In an extraordinary an account. 22, told city staff to start had a slight uptick in on.” COVID-19 vaccine in a rebuke, just hours after For additional assis- planning the city’s modi- mid-March. “I totally agree, unless U.S. study, federal AstraZeneca on Monday tance, contact the depart- fied July 4 fireworks COVID-19 forced coun- something crazy hap- health officials said announced its vaccine ment or division event. cil last March to cancel its pens,” Councilman Ken Tuesday in an unusual worked well in the U.S. associated with your re- City Manager Ken Frink July 4 event. Brown added. “It could, public rift that could fur- study, an independent quest. For a list of depart- told council beforehand City Events and Market- but I don’t think it will.” ther erode confidence in panel that oversees the ments and divisions, visit local COVID-19 transmis- ing Director Leslie Bollin Also on Monday, in a 5-0 the shot. study scolded the com- citrusbocc.com/ sions in recent weeks said she’s trying to plan vote, council approved In response, Astra- pany for cherry-picking departments/index.php. have lessened, prompting the city’s Independence Zeneca said that it is — From staff reports city staff to start thinking Day fireworks so See CITY/Page A10 working on more See VACCINE/Page A10 Classifieds . .C7 Crossword . .C14 INDEX Education . A14 Obituaries . A8 Comics . .C6 Editorial. A11 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .C5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE CC-000ZUCS N OTHING ABOVE PINK LINE Page A3 - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the Foundation rings in spring with fundraiser lineup COUNTY BUSTER com/citruseducation. $1,000 grant. “Last year,” Burdette contact Burdette at 352- THOMPSON “We want people to Race packets will be said, “we hosted three 726-1931, ext. 2240, or Conservative Staff writer share this as much as pos- available from a drive- countries and seven Shaunda.Burdette@ Women’s Political sible and be a part of it,” thru pickup 3 to 7 p.m. states.” CitrusEducation.org; or Springtime is here and so CCEF Executive Director April 8 at Gulf to Lake Ma- CCEF is also moving for- CCEF Associate Director Network to meet is the Citrus County Educa- Shaunda Burdette said. rine & Trailers, 700 S. ward with its 22nd annual Susan Frampton at 352- The Conservative Wom- tion Foundation’s lineup of To register for the eighth Thompson Ave., Lecanto.