Unit VII
American State and Local Politics
Columbia Southern University
The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners met on December 1st, 2020 at 1:00
P.M. This was a regular meeting of the Board and was held in the Commission Chambers inside
the Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness, Florida. I was unable to attend in person, but was
able to view the meeting via internet video streaming. Although I have attended commission
meetings in the past, I was excited to view this one for the purposes of a class assignment. I
watched the meeting with more interest, part because I knew I would need to discuss it, and part
because the knowledge gained in this course gave me a different perspective.
All five Commissioners were present for the beginning of the meeting, however
Commissioner Carnahan had a prior obligation and had to excuse himself, missing only two
motions. During the meeting, commissioners voted on twenty-three motions, and all were
passed unanimously. Out of the five Commissioners, three were either in the middle of their first
term, or had recently been re-elected. Commissioners Schlabach and Davis were the freshman
Commissioners, having just been elected to office in November of 2020. I was not able to
determine if the unanimous votes were as result of the new Commissioners still finding their
voice and not wanting to be contentious, or if all five of the Commissioners all have the same
political leanings.
There were a wide variety of topics discussed during the meeting that required a
Commission vote, to include; bids for municipal improvements, purchase orders and budget
resolutions, tobacco free campaigns, and changes to the Special Water District and utility
easements. Other motions included: owner liens, Section 8 housing, and terms of a local airport
lease. As the meeting continued there were multiple small motions voted on concerning small
purchases, and appointing a director to look into an issue
American State and Local Politics
Columbia Southern University
The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners met on December 1st, 2020 at 1:00
P.M. This was a regular meeting of the Board and was held in the Commission Chambers inside
the Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness, Florida. I was unable to attend in person, but was
able to view the meeting via internet video streaming. Although I have attended commission
meetings in the past, I was excited to view this one for the purposes of a class assignment. I
watched the meeting with more interest, part because I knew I would need to discuss it, and part
because the knowledge gained in this course gave me a different perspective.
All five Commissioners were present for the beginning of the meeting, however
Commissioner Carnahan had a prior obligation and had to excuse himself, missing only two
motions. During the meeting, commissioners voted on twenty-three motions, and all were
passed unanimously. Out of the five Commissioners, three were either in the middle of their first
term, or had recently been re-elected. Commissioners Schlabach and Davis were the freshman
Commissioners, having just been elected to office in November of 2020. I was not able to
determine if the unanimous votes were as result of the new Commissioners still finding their
voice and not wanting to be contentious, or if all five of the Commissioners all have the same
political leanings.
There were a wide variety of topics discussed during the meeting that required a
Commission vote, to include; bids for municipal improvements, purchase orders and budget
resolutions, tobacco free campaigns, and changes to the Special Water District and utility
easements. Other motions included: owner liens, Section 8 housing, and terms of a local airport
lease. As the meeting continued there were multiple small motions voted on concerning small
purchases, and appointing a director to look into an issue
