Description

The Citrus County Chamber of Commerce invites the public to “Harmony in Growth: Balancing Nature and Progress in Citrus County,” a town hall discussion on August 7th, 2024, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the College of Central Florida Wilton Simpson Campus in Lecanto. 

Citrus County’s landscape is changing rapidly, as people and developers have determined that this is the next frontier in which to live and build. Whether you are for or against this growth, the reality is that it is happening, and we cannot close our doors or bury our heads in the sand. 

This town hall is a follow-up to an earlier discussion in June, “Charting Citrus County’s Future: Embracing Managed Growth for Sustainable Progress,” that focused on an understanding of how our leaders are working to create the balance for smart growth to ensure we can attract the workers and businesses that we need to serve all our residents while maintaining the quality of life we have all come to enjoy. 

The August 7 town hall will focus on what is being done to sustain and conserve our environment and natural resources in the face of change. It will begin with a keynote address by Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner, Wilton Simpson followed by Citrus County Growth Management Director, Eric Landon to open the panel discussion. The panel, co-moderated by Gerry Mulligan and Josh Wooten, includes:

• Ralph Massullo, Florida State Representative 
• Joyce Palmer, Refuge Manager, US Fish & Wildlife Service 
• Lace Blue McClean, Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Keep Citrus County Beautiful 
• Capt. Mike Baize, Nature Coast Adventures 
• Chris Wynn, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission 
• Katasha Cornwell, FDOT Office of Environmental Management 

Concluding the event, we will hear a wrap-up from County Administrator, Steve Howard. The event is free and light refreshments will be served. No RSVP is required. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions at the beginning and during the event.