[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6566693,"mediaKeyId","3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19","parentId",3203249,"title","Votes at a glance: key actions by Marion County commissioners on May 6, 2025","audioSeconds",4331,"startMs",1149000,"endMs",5480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19&start=1149&end=5480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19/thumbnail_1149000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566693/Marion-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-key-actions-by-Marion-County-commissioners-on-May-6-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566693-e3ba13760262a4b8dde4ed4789ddb1a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993242&Signature=C0sj5KZRLFkwzZGAWg9-d8nRdSAlwLhB6uVW-95bZAbtwR2DoTvn~8Vh9yA8ycRja6Gi~3WazYaKfDGtQZUoTOuKjBO9GFfKv26CpJgxOeXgkcg5ErFV0CY6YdJZQmzhuZTyNbpV9QHGFR46k3T4QW6gWUDNt3ehEiaSTEOj1X3e1m7lcEwwefOXAKIU5wAvjv~EiAFzza9SktOCrvjbSjRQH6LUZPrgVlAv2NoJtnrg60ttatwK30zcyFHHxP6Nyq~rizM4481wS9kaIOqTP7AgwvHy-iowHsHefL8H9dU6eQg-MLmfD0DBD-~apEeJUGmc59r8IKwJ57ueEc-9JQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion County","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Marion County Board of County Commissioners took several formal actions at its May 6, 2025 meeting. Below is a concise list of motions, outcomes and key details from the official record.

Votes at a glance

- Proclamations and presentations (Items 1.1–1.8): Motion to approve proclamations and presentations passed unanimously.

- Developer agreement: Motion to approve the developer agreement for the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park, granting impact-fee credits and approving the requested 20-year credit duration. Motion by Commissioner Stone, second by Commissioner Curry. Outcome: passed unanimously. (See detailed article on the developer agreement.)

- Budget amendments and disposition (Items 5.11–5.19 and related): Motion to adopt the listed budget amendment resolutions and move related items passed unanimously.

- Disposition of miscellaneous property (Item 5.21): Motion to approve disposition passed unanimously.

- Consent agenda: Motion to adopt the balance of the consent agenda (after pulling item 7.605) passed unanimously.

- Civil restitution lien reduction (case involving Mr. Levi Miles Callas): Motion to reduce civil restitution lien to $5,100 (waive interest); mover Commissioner Stone; second Commissioner McLean. Outcome: passed unanimously. Note: lien reduction reflects inmate-worker credit calculation and does not affect unrelated court fines and costs.

- Code enforcement lien release (cases 571485 and 591524, parcel 11497-001-00): Motion by Commissioner McLean, second by Commissioner Stone to reduce the lien to hard costs of $1,495.24 (county hard costs). Outcome: passed unanimously. Staff noted $710.51 surplus funds from sale could be applied if the board chose.

- Water-connection waiver appeal (Item 9.1): Motion by Commissioner Bryant, second by Commissioner McLean to grant a waiver allowing a private well for a Lake Weir Village parcel otherwise within the 400-foot connection radius. Outcome: passed unanimously. Utilities staff will follow up with cost and timeline details; Solid Waste staff noted Davis Waterline Project funds remain but historically have been applied to parcels inside the contamination plume.

Meeting procedure notes: all motions recorded as unanimous votes, and staff were directed to prepare agreements, resolutions or follow-up reports as appropriate. Several commissioners asked staff to prepare ordinance-level clarifications (impact-fee credits) or to return with more detailed fiscal options (fire-rescue assessment) during the June–September budget cycle.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marion County - Board of County Commissioners on 2025-05-06 9:00 AM - May 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A summary of formal votes taken by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners at the May 6 meeting, including developer agreement credits, lien reductions, a water-connection waiver, budget amendments and consent agenda approvals.","taxTitle","Marion County, Florida","taxId",4897,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566698,"Board grants well waiver for Lake Weir Village parcel after applicant cites high water-extension cost",5653,3455000,9108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19&start=3455&end=9108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19/thumbnail_3455000.jpg","/articles/6566698/Marion-County/Florida/Board-grants-well-waiver-for-Lake-Weir-Village-parcel-after-applicant-cites-high-water-extension-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566698-62a78c95dd6854f92c08fa70686bb0a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993242&Signature=DOBZvpjGzatDybJQx5Qbp0605lOOQlcak~qsVSpXJjLYvwrz4Yr2PZiZF44DMFOWAyCbEvZRFLZ7H78fHMYtxxgeShJrNn~UzjElit6fpBzlRn-E-YIVfAo3UD-JmVSCzADzcweRhAfO3WW~4aKSQ8dS5Y7RX10BnhESw4hH2avLT1t7L3nz8i2Ke-Sz-f5d5ZnV28N02oLt4T55ERgTiUnJGDJooGO0hklT1LdlvrhQJrYbG3jQjZk1A0~CR-JTnoN5W4sS96FOuD7Zgz68ppfpW9jNq-bf6adaOLnMjku6HlsiJVARqsdYbQl7O1u70xNvv8WmWcC3HsS79oI1bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners on May 6, 2025, granted a waiver that allows a property owner in the Lake Weir Village area to install a private well rather than be required to connect to county water.

Background: County code requires parcels within 400 feet of a water main to connect to the system. Utilities staff verified that the subject parcel sits about 355 feet from an existing water main and therefore met the connection requirement. The property owner, Bridgette Bitter, said she purchased the parcel for a manufactured home and had understood a well would be allowed; she said the county's estimated extension cost — which she reported as as high as $76,000 in initial conversations — made the lot effectively unbuildable for her household. Bitter said her purchase price was $55,000 and that median household income in the neighborhood is about $48,000, making an extension fee infeasible.

County staff, Solid Waste and Utilities responses: Utilities Director Tony Cunningham confirmed the existing main location and said the estimated cost to extend line service to the parcel would be roughly $45,000; he also noted the property is about 1,900 feet outside the Davis Landfill contamination plume, so it would not automatically qualify for Davis remediation-era connection funds. Cassie Peterson, fiscal manager with Solid Waste, said the Davis Waterline Project still has funds available but historically the county has used that program only to connect properties within the defined contamination area.

Outcome: Commissioner Bryant moved to grant the waiver; Commissioner McLean seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioners and staff noted that approving a waiver for a parcel outside the contamination area sets a different precedent from past practice and said that the case would be handled carefully going forward. Utilities staff offered to work with the applicant to outline the timeline and costs should the owner elect to connect instead of drilling a well.

Provenance: The applicant presented her waiver request during the public-comment / appeal portion of the docket; Utilities staff verified main location and costs during the hearing; the board voted to grant the waiver following discussion.

","After a public appeal, Marion County commissioners voted unanimously to grant a waiver allowing a property in Lake Weir Village to use a private well instead of connecting to county water. Staff noted the site lies within the 400-foot connection requirement but outside the Davis Landfill contamination plume.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566703,"Marion County debates fire-rescue assessment increase; board asks staff to prepare initial resolution",1140,4560000,5700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19&start=4560&end=5700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19/thumbnail_4560000.jpg","/articles/6566703/Marion-County/Florida/Marion-County-debates-fire-rescue-assessment-increase-board-asks-staff-to-prepare-initial-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566703-712e13bf903dd51f344db6ccdaf4be4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993242&Signature=ch4CVSrvvO1WG~04GTlcyB7~Fx9yMyGQ5RaulPuKuUNxmOVv6ZblW3rOBg826ZkLJl0poUxrHWHzAWmsqADF5KO2N-dy7-Bhw9d8dmT1rmjS1zVgYiIL5QFwol8fz52WAwk21MKXWsBA~oYuMa4XseDx6MrktHNxGIujeycc1a~Q3NCwYTTLiFqR~ky2ntbdLs-eH9DcjdHFQUNJv3ffNgQ78KCNDyKxYiPpHRslNj7~HailkxPglUeDWKiQ6s2sFTGwba57gE-Yr~b9XKFBEbDXAHFyww4W33MLo-y~pdl7yKathQYQZ4AWGl8U8cesfMu4QwcFze7LUP3ZjAvZ7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County leaders on May 6, 2025, heard a multi-scenario presentation on proposed changes to the county's fire-rescue assessment and gave staff direction to prepare the initial assessment resolution ahead of a June deadline.

Fire Chief James Banta presented seven scenarios to the board analyzing staffing, capital purchases and fund-balance targets. The county's current residential assessment was shown as about $199.91. Scenarios included a one-year “budget-neutral” adjustment to $237 per household with later increases, a minimum-rate option and a five-year average recommendation of $283.97. Staff and the consultants modeled how each scenario would affect the department's reserve (staff targeted roughly 17%–20%) and fund sustainability across a five-year horizon.

Why it matters: the assessment funds Marion County Fire Rescue operations and capital. Commissioners emphasized the need to preserve fund balance ahead of upcoming labor contract negotiations and to avoid repeated year-to-year adjustments. Several commissioners said they prefer a single, predictable five-year path rather than annual resets; others favored phasing the increase to reduce immediate pressure on taxpayers.

Board direction: commissioners discussed setting an initial resolution on June 3 and holding a public assessment hearing in September. The five-year average of $283.97 was discussed repeatedly as a preferred five-year target; $290 was referenced as a possible upper figure for later budget years to preserve reserves and fully fund planned expenditures. The board did not adopt a final assessment at the May 6 meeting but asked staff to prepare the required initial resolution and to include options and explanations for the September public hearing.

Provenance: Chief James Banta presented the financial scenarios and fund-balance implications; commissioners questioned fund-balance targets, negotiation risk and timing. The transcript records a multi-commissioner discussion and a board request that staff prepare the initial resolution and return with final numbers during the budget cycle.

","County staff presented scenarios for raising the fire-rescue assessment to fund personnel and capital. Commissioners discussed a phased approach and a five-year average rate; the board directed staff to prepare the initial assessment resolution reflecting the five-year average and to maintain flexibility for budget deliberations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566707,"Marion County approves 20-year impact-fee credit for Florida Crossroads Commerce Park",5400,0,5400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19&start=0&end=5400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3203249-a2343bdbcc19e41c6e2f8d510fc93c19/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6566707/Marion-County/Florida/Marion-County-approves-20-year-impact-fee-credit-for-Florida-Crossroads-Commerce-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566707-4e66557284d2cd3feb06e8257ff32390/orig.mp4?Expires=1770993242&Signature=UEijXXuM16EXqUt4rxRYMcl1FEJ4pIQ8FTrxX3Q9rOo6022ba--SaFQDUiVeXp~WMG~JPRfE9X7zKwu4bVNZFnqFVHbZPILiISXBlZZGKshVW9HKINBnsMLjkaoxczWKXV0mLzeuZJouy5cGrsV-FK1ViFGl1TRImjjNSWFI2PKCMUC~7cc1A2vds0FqyqUDh0d6lI4Cz3JBHEbmNk217VvpBRswxygjeeL8FCvI2H9Z3Z~kkAFX5xrt4IyFtaeTWT3pKahL5NgLv3FwALDMWF~lGg-2TUIcBpAEwT96WffXHwLvpm4U4iauCnSXSZbywP0aPSxBxA6lkiHlEPAYew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Marion County Board of County Commissioners on May 6, 2025, unanimously approved a developer agreement that grants impact-fee credits to the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park and allows the credits to be used over a 20-year period.

Growth Services staff told the board the credits are intended to pay for turn-lane and median improvements along Highway 44 — specifically at the planned extension of 40th Avenue and at 50th Avenue Road — and that the credits are being requested as part of a larger PUD-approved development spanning the north and south sides of Highway 484 near Interstate 75. Staff said 524 property notices were mailed; the county received one letter in support and five in opposition tied largely to earlier PUD approvals.

Why it matters: the credits will let the developer offset required impact fees by constructing capacity improvements on Highway 44 ahead of county-funded projects. County code ordinarily requires improvements receiving impact-fee credit to appear on the five-year transportation improvement program (TIP) and limits credit agreements to five years unless the board authorizes a longer duration. Growth Services recommended approval; staff noted the improvements are likely to reduce existing traffic issues on Highway 44.

Applicant representative Jimmy Gooding asked for the 20-year duration and presented examples of prior 20-year approvals and cases where credits expired during economic downturns, arguing that a longer term is appropriate for phased, large developments. County Engineer Stephen Cahoon estimated that turn-lane extensions would “not be anywhere north of $750,000 to $1,000,000” unless signalization is required.

Commissioner Stone moved to approve the agreement as presented; Commissioner Curry seconded. The motion passed unanimously. After the vote several commissioners said the board intends to bring forward tighter guidance on future long-term credit approvals and signaled staff should consider ordinance changes to make five years the presumptive term while leaving a process for applicants to request extensions.

Provenance: Growth Services opened the item as the \"second and final public hearing\" and staff discussed scope and notices; the vote and motion language are recorded in the transcript. The board's decision authorizes the developer agreement with impact-fee credits and the 20-year duration.

","The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a developer agreement granting impact-fee credits tied to Highway 44 intersection improvements for the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park and allowed a 20-year credit duration, an exception from the county's usual five-year credit period.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key actions by Marion County commissioners on May 6, 2025

Board grants well waiver for Lake Weir Village parcel after applicant cites high water-extension cost

Marion County debates fire-rescue assessment increase; board asks staff to prepare initial resolution

Marion County approves 20-year impact-fee credit for Florida Crossroads Commerce Park