Citrus County’s modestly-priced Beverly Hills subdivision was among the first retirement-oriented planned communities in Central Florida with a community center, park and swimming pool owned and maintained by the community.

In the decades that have followed, the retirement-oriented community has become more demographically diverse with fewer retirees and more young families in starter or rental homes.

With the changing demographics making the operation and maintenance of the community’s swimming pool unaffordable for residents, the county took ownership of the pool in 2011. Following the pool’s $117,000 refurbishment in 2016, county commissioners voted to close it in 2019 due to declining usage and an estimated $70,000 repair bill.

Even with the pool closed, however, the pool continued to be a community conundrum that just would not go away. Beverly Hills community leaders and residents brought forth various proposals to the Board of County Commissioners without resolution, making the pool’s fate akin to the 1993 movie Groundhog Day where the day is repeated over and over.

The most recent proposal by the Keep the Pool Open Committee appeared to offer a promising resolution for the Groundhog Day conundrum for both the Beverly Hills community and BOCC.

As proposed, the Nature Coast Affordable Housing Corporation would purchase the pool property and a small, nearby parcel of vacant land from the County for the construction of a playground. The pool would be used for free by the Citrus County Boys & Girls Clubs. Also, a reduced rate to incentivize Beverly Hills Civic Association members to join a planned swim club would be offered to help underwrite the pool’s operations and maintenance.

Although the proposal, as presented, had no impact on county taxpayers, it regrettably was a missed opportunity for both the committee and BOCC.

It was a missed opportunity for the committee because it did not communicate the proposal’s details to the BOCC in advance of its scheduled vote. The absence of details left commissioners skeptical, especially Commissioner Ruthie Schlabach, who had previously championed keeping the pool open.

The BOCC, absent the “devil in the details,” missed the opportunity to give the proposal a fair hearing and a more informed vote by not acting upon Commissioner Diana Finegan’s willingness to table the issue pending more detailed information.

In light of the missed opportunity by both parties, only time will tell if the BOCC vote to fill in the pool to end Beverly Hills’ Groundhog Day has best served the community’s recreational needs.

Citrus County Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at 1:17 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, on North Muscadine Path in Beverly Hills where, upon arrival, a home was found almost entirely engulfed in flames.

The single story, concrete block residential home of around 2,600 square feet was approximately 75 percent involved with fire by the time authorities arrived, with active fire showing from the center roof and main body of the home, according to a Fire Rescue release.

The property owner had self-evacuated from the residence before Fire Rescue’s arrival and advised he was the only occupant in the home.

Law enforcement was also on the scene and evacuating neighbors from their homes on each side of the residence as a precautionary measure. Firefighters from Hernando, Pine Ridge, Kensington, Connell Heights, Highlands, Citrus Springs, a Chief Officer and a Safety Captain responded to the scene.

Extinguishing the flames began from the yard while neighboring exposures were protected. It was soon found that the fire extended into the garage attic and additional suppression activities began as well.

The property owner told Fire Rescue he was returning from work and found the roof of the residence on fire, tried to enter but was unable to because of the flames and heavy smoke inside. He then called 911.

Firefighters entered the residence and confirmed there was no one else inside.

A neighboring property owner was contacted to be advised of heat damage sustained to a gable and siding on their residence. Crews investigated for any further fire or smoke damage to the neighbor’s home but found none.

The fire was brought under control by 1:49 a.m., but the residence was a total loss. No injuries were reported, per a Fire Rescue release. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced homeowner. After an extensive mop up, the last unit cleared the scene at 6:02 a.m. The power company also responded to the scene to secure power.

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause and origin of the fire.

For more information about Citrus County Fire Rescue, go to the website at citruscountyfire.com or follow @CitrusCounty FireRescue on Facebook or @citruscofire on Twitter.

Contact Chronicle Reporter Georgia Sullivan at 352-564-2929.

The 6,000 customers of Rolling Oaks Utilities may soon be dealing with a new company called Central States Water Resources (CSWR)-Florida.

A meeting with county water authority officials will be held Oct. 10 in the Lecanto Government Center where officials will consider approving a sale between the two utilities.

(CSWR) Florida, the 12th-largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the nation, plans to acquire Rolling Oaks and make upgrades and improvements.

John Patton, president of Rolling Oaks Utilities, said the 6,000 customers of Rolling Oaks, primarily in the Beverly Hills area, should not notice any immediate impacts.

The Chronicle reached out to Aaron Silas, CSWR’s regulatory case manager, for more specific impacts to local customers. This was his response:

How will your acquisition impact current utility customers?

“CSWR-Florida has proposed adopting the current rates and charges of Rolling Oaks, so customers will not be experiencing any changes to their bills upon acquisition,” he said.

In addition, CSWR “would implement operational changes to improve and enhance customer service,” Silas said.

“Customers would have access to a 24-hour phone line to report any utility service issues,” he added. “Finally, we have multiple ways to pay that allow our customers to choose the best option for their needs.”

The company, he said, has a “proven track record of acquiring small, oftentimes distressed, water and wastewater systems, making the repairs and upgrades those systems require, and bringing in professional operations in order to operate them in a way that pleases utility and environmental regulators alike.”

What is the purchase price of Rolling Oaks Utilities?

“It is company policy to not release the purchase price of deals that the company has with commercial sellers without their express permission, and we have yet to obtain that,” Silas said.

When is your acquisition of the utility expected to be complete?

“We are currently on the county’s agenda for October, so we are projecting receiving all necessary county approvals in October and closing this deal by the end of the year.”

Final words

“We are excited about the opportunity to provide reliable and safe services to the Rolling Oaks customers and we’re happy to answer additional questions as they may arise,” Silas said.

Michael D. Bates is a staff writer with the Citrus County Chronicle and can be reached at mbates@chronicleonline.com.

From burritos to bowling. From coffee to comestibles. This edition of Comings & Goings has something for everyone.

(Yes, I had to stretch on comestibles to keep the alliteration going).

It’s been awhile since my last column so there is much to cover. So without further fanfare, let’s get started.

Chipotle

Chipotle Mexican Grill is tentatively scheduled to open its first restaurant in Citrus County this summer.

Located at 911 Main St. in Inverness, Chipotle specializes in tacos, burritos, quesadillas and burrito bowls that are made-to-order in front of customers.

The franchise is at the same spot that used to be home to Joe’s Family Restaurant. After 28 years, the family decided to open a smaller, 155-seat building nearby at 1754 U.S. 41 North, a former art studio next to the Roller Barn.

Chipotle has 211 restaurants in Florida and over 3,000 globally.

Bowlero

Speaking of bowls (non-burrito), the new Bowlero sign went up this month in Crystal River, replacing the family-run Manatee Lanes that had been there for more than 40 years.

Bowlero, at 7715 State Road 44, is a Virginia-based chain.

“From our signature blacklight lanes to our sleek laneside loungers to our huge HD video walls, our stunning locations feature modern, upscale amenities and a retro-cool vibe that makes every party a little more memorable,” is how the chain describes itself on its website.

Bowlero Corp. is the largest 10-pin bowling operator in the world with more than 325 bowling centers across North America. In 2019, Bowlero acquired the Professional Bowlers Association,

To learn more, visit https://www.bowlero.com.

Aldi

The German-based grocery store is building two stores in Citrus County: one at the under-construction Shoppes of Black Diamond at the northwest intersection of County Roads 491 and 486 in Lecanto and the other at the northwest corner of State Road 44 and Forest Drive in Inverness

The Lecanto site is nowhere near ready.

The ground-clearing, utility work and other infrastructure should be completed on the Shoppes by the end of the first quarter of 2023 – weather permitting, Joe Cappuccilli, with Gulf to Lakes Real Estate Inc., told the Chronicle recently.

Land-clearing at the Aldi in Inverness has not begun so don’t look for that location to open anytime soon.

Starbucks

The Shoppes at Black Diamond will also be home to the Seattle-based Starbucks coffee chain.

Starbucks recently filed a site development permit with the county, which is required before the issuance of a building permit. Look for it to open about the same time as Aldi.

The coffee chain will also build a standalone store off State Road 44 in Inverness. Insight Credit Union will be torn down to make way for Starbucks. A timetable for construction and opening has not been announced.

Jersey Mike’s

Wanted to let sub fans know Jersey Mike’s opens March 22, at 6826 State Road 44, inside the Publix-anchored Crystal Springs Plaza.

No burritos but lots of other comestibles.

Michael D. Bates is a staff writer with the Citrus County Chronicle and can be reached at mbates@chronicleonline.com.

County Commission Chairwoman Ruthie Schlabach on Tuesday said it broke her heart but she had no choice in making a motion to fill the Central Ridge pool in Beverly Hills with cement and stop trying to pump life into a failed project.

“It’s almost the death of a dream for me,” she told the board and public.

Her colleagues sided with her and the final 5-0 vote apparently puts to bed an issue that has been ongoing for over three years.

The move didn’t sit well with some.

Resident Janet Barack said the pool was meant for families to enjoy and “not to be filled in with cement.”

Beverly Hills Civic Association president Harvey Gerber pleaded with commissioners to back a plan to salvage the county pool.

He asked the board to sell it to the Nature Coast Affordable Housing Corporation (NCAHC), which would refurbish the pool and build a playground there to be used for free by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Citrus County.

Gerber said he has the cash and a committed company to perform the renovation work.

“We have all the money and then some,” said Gerber,

But Schlabach said she has received no correspondence from the Boys & Girls Clubs and has not seen a detailed plan from the NCAHC.

It’s time, she said, to let it go.

“This is trying to put life into something where there is no life,” she said.

Schlabach agreed to work with Gerber on another project at the park.

“That pool was not supported by Beverly Hills,” Schlabach said. “The community had it, they couldn’t support it, they couldn’t afford it.”

Added Schlabach: “We need to move on. It is not healthy. It is not serving any purpose for Beverly Hills right now.”

Commissioner Diana Finegan said she would favor tabling the issue pending more details. But ultimately, Finegan said she would support Schlabch’s motion because of the time and energy she put into the matter.

The county will now perforate the pool shell, backfill it and finish it with a concrete pad – all at a cost not to exceed $24,620.

The Beverly Hills Recreation Association once owned the pool, Beverly Park and community center. The county took it over when the association could no longer afford it, creating the Central Ridge Community Park.

The county closed the pool in 2019 due to poor attendance and high maintenance costs. It’s sat empty ever since.

Michael D. Bates is a staff writer with the Citrus County Chronicle and can be reached at mbates@chronicleonline.com.