The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Inverness, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services

Eco-friendly & clean work area.

PDCA Certified Member.

Your Go-To House Painting Company in Inverness, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More

Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.

Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Inverness, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More

The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Inverness, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses

We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:

01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.


03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.


05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Latest News in Inverness, FL
Inverness council to consider land grant to county at Oak Ridge Cemetery
Fred Hiers Chronicle Reporterhttps://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/inverness-council-to-consider-land-grant-to-county-at-oak-ridge-cemetery/article_426fc28b-6e58-564d-b043-1fd2c60c1763.html
The problem of a cemetery within a cemetery will again come to the Inverness City Council Tuesday where council members will consider giving land to Citrus County.At issue is the historic 1.4-acre, African American Pine Hill Cemetery within the larger, city owned Oak Ridge Cemetery. The county owns Pine Hill Cemetery, which was privately donated several decades ago for African American burials. Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle After a review of Pine Hill Cemetery earlier this year, city cemetery officials disc...
The problem of a cemetery within a cemetery will again come to the Inverness City Council Tuesday where council members will consider giving land to Citrus County.
At issue is the historic 1.4-acre, African American Pine Hill Cemetery within the larger, city owned Oak Ridge Cemetery. The county owns Pine Hill Cemetery, which was privately donated several decades ago for African American burials.
Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle
After a review of Pine Hill Cemetery earlier this year, city cemetery officials discovered that there had been Pine Hill Cemetery burials outside the cemetery’s original boundaries, Inverness City Manager Eric Williams told the Chronicle.
Pine Hill Cemetery was created before Oak Ridge Cemetery and is now in the southern portion of Oak Ridge. Inverness took over the Oak Hill Cemetery ownership in the 1980s.
Williams will propose to the Inverness City Council to give to the county commission about half an acre of land were Pine Hill burials occurred outside its original boundaries.
The city council will meet 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 7, at city hall, 212 W. Main St., Inverness.
Williams said the city’s cemetery, which generates revenue for the city and for maintenance of the cemetery, is operated differently than Pine Hill Cemetery.
The old African American cemetery lacks maps as to who is buried there and precisely where, lacks sales records, and burial records, Williams said.
Williams said that it would not be practical to offer to absorb Pine Hill Cemetery into Oak Ridge Cemetery and divert money away from Oak Ridge Cemetery to maintain Pine Hill.
Also in council business, Duke Energy Florida will ask the council for a small-scale comprehensive plan map amendment and zoning change.
The utility company will ask the council for the change regarding a 2-acre property on 2811 Forest Drive which is home to an obsolete bill payment center.
The current land use and zoning is low density and residential. The utility company wants that changed to commercial.
Williams said the planned use of the property is for either a fast food restaurant or a retail business.
Fred Hiers is a reporter at the Citrus Chronicle. Email him at fred.hiers@chronicleonline.com.
$115,000 in scholarships awarded to industry students by the ARA Foundation
ararental.orghttps://www.ararental.org/Rental-Pulse/Article/ArticleId/3197/-115-000-in-scholarships-awarded-to-industry-students-by-the-ARA-Foundation
A total of $115,000 in scholarship funds has been awarded to 39 students by the ARA Foundation and its affiliate programs for the 2022-2023 school year.The scholarships will provide financial assistance to students pursuing equipment and event rental-related education at trade schools, community colleges, undergraduate colleges and graduate schools.This year’s offerings included the brand-new American Rental Association (ARA) Student Member scholarships worth $2,000 each, available exclusively to applicants who have joine...
A total of $115,000 in scholarship funds has been awarded to 39 students by the ARA Foundation and its affiliate programs for the 2022-2023 school year.
The scholarships will provide financial assistance to students pursuing equipment and event rental-related education at trade schools, community colleges, undergraduate colleges and graduate schools.
This year’s offerings included the brand-new American Rental Association (ARA) Student Member scholarships worth $2,000 each, available exclusively to applicants who have joined the ARA student membership designation for high school and higher-level education students interested in learning and growing within the equipment and event rental industry.
The recipients and the scholarships they were awarded are:
Leonard Hawk Founders Scholarship worth $5,000 Lexa Ann Thompson, DeRidderRentals.com, DeRidder, La.
ARA Insurance Scholarship worth $4,000 Lexa Ann Thompson, DeRidderRentals.com, DeRidder, La.
ARA Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships worth $3,500 each Katherine Anne Blood, Blood’s Catering & Party Rentals, White River Junction, Vt. Matthew Steven Citron, LiftSmart, Vista, Calif. Zachary Clawson, Diamond Event, Salt Lake City Nancy Clippard, Houston ToolBank, Houston Jay Evers, Village Hardware, Leipsic, Ohio Alexis Martindale, Arapahoe Rental, Littleton, Colo. Nicoletta Nadolski, Sun Rental, Mentor, Ohio Michael Stelpflug, Middleton Farmers Cooperative, Middleton, Wis. Ryan Wechsler, Atlas Event Rental, Boynton Beach, Fla. Jonah Yingling, Capitol Rentals and Sales, Carlisle, Pa.
ARA Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships worth $2,000 each Jane Bliss, Elitsac, Castile, N.Y. Joshua Clawson, Diamond Event, Salt Lake City Tyler Hesseltine, Texas Throne, Portland, Texas Jager Jensen, Scotty’s Rentals & Landscaping, Rocky View County, Alberta, Canada Kurt Kaufmann, Jon P. Kaufmann d/b/a Fun Services, Bellevue, Mich. Kenneth Gregory Meuler, Doral Equipment Rental, Menomonee Falls, Wis. Grace Schuler, 12th Street Catering, Philadelphia Abby Stockton, Stockton Rental Co., Sheridan, Ark. Tyler Van Es, Gierke Robinson Co., Monee, Ill. Zachry Thomas Veal Jr., Beachview Event Rentals & Design, Brunswick, Ga.
ARA Foundation Graduate Scholarships worth $3,000 each Christopher Sayre, Allied Technical Services, Cincinnati Ashlyn Talcott, Wasatch Equipment Rental, Salt Lake City
ARA Foundation Trade School Scholarships worth $2,000 each Madison Clipperton, Nor-Val Equipment Sales, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada Cory Johnson, RC Watt, North Huntingdon, Pa. William Robert Pray, MEI Hambelton, Wichita, Kan.
ARA Student Member Scholarships worth $2,000 each Ella Hoffman, Overland Park, Kan. Jessica Irene Selvidge, Sunflower Rents, Topeka, Kan.
ARA of Arkansas Scholarship worth $2,500 Abby Stockton, Stockton Rental Co., Sheridan, Ark.
ARA of Georgia Scholarship worth $2,000 Zachry Thomas Veal Jr., Beachview Event Rentals & Design, Brunswick, Ga.
ARA of California Scholarships worth $1,500 each Matthew Steven Citron, LiftSmart, Vista, Calif. Gabriel Hughes, Hometown Rentals, San Dimas, Calif.
ARA of Florida Scholarships worth $1,000 Nicholas Richard Webster, True Value Rental of Inverness, Inverness, Fla. Ryan Wechsler, Atlas Event Rental, Boynton Beach, Fla.
ARA of Illinois Scholarships worth $1,000 each Rebbeca Lynn Meyers, 1st Rental & Sales, Rockford, Ill. Logan Patrick Soares, First Place Rental, Oswego, Ill. Tyler Van Es, Gierke Robinson Co., Monee, Ill.
ARA of Michigan Scholarships worth $1,000 each Garrison Stuart Booms, Booms Rent-All, Bad Axe, Mich. Kurt Kaufmann, Jon P. Kaufmann d/b/a Fun Services, Bellevue, Mich.
ARA of New York Scholarships worth $1,250 each Jane Bliss, Elitsac, Castile, N.Y. Carlin Elizabeth Reyen, Johnson Outdoors, Binghamton, N.Y.
ARA of North Carolina Scholarship worth $1,000 Alex Colin Lohrman, Party Reflections, Greensboro, N.C.
ARA of Ohio Scholarships worth $1,000 Jacob Bourque, Bedrock Party Rentals, Athens, Ohio Jay Evers, Village Hardware, Leipsic, Ohio Nicoletta Nadolski, Sun Rental, Mentor, Ohio
ARA Region 10 Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship worth US$1,500 Jager Jensen, Scotty’s Rentals & Landscaping, Rocky View County, Alberta, Canada
ARA Region 10 Doug Mitchell Scholarship worth US$1,500 Mason Richey, West Point Rentals, Terrace, British Columbia, Canada
ARA Region Two Ron Marshall Scholarships worth $750 each Grace Schuler, 12th Street Catering, Philadelphia Jonah Yingling, Capitol Rentals and Sales, Carlisle, Pa.
Texas Rental Association/Bill Loomer Houston Area Rental Association Scholarship worth $3,000 Nancy Clippard, Houston ToolBank, Houston
Texas Rental Association Scholarships worth $1,500 each Tyler Hesseltine, Texas Throne, Portland, Texas Kayla Terrell, Display Concepts Party Rentals, Amarillo, Texas Ross Wilkins, Frontier Forklifts & Service, Pearland, Texas
ARA of Wisconsin Scholarships worth $1,000 Kenneth Gregory Meuler, Doral Equipment Rental, Menomonee Falls, Wis. Michael Stelpflug, Middleton Farmers Cooperative, Middleton, Wis.
Don’t miss the latest news from the equipment and event rental industry. Click here to subscribe to Rental Pulse and Rental Management magazine.
An official publication of the American Rental Association. Produced by Rental Management Group. Copyright © 2022 Rental Pulse all rights reserved
Next proposed Inverness affordable housing project makes progress
Fred Hiers Chronicle Reporterhttps://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/next-proposed-inverness-affordable-housing-project-makes-progress/article_0487a83b-8b68-5a44-9795-012215c42433.html
Despite a rocky start when a Fort Lauderdale-based developer proposed its second Inverness affordable housing project, Green Mills Group completed an important hurdle this week paving the way for its development.The Inverness City Council voted unanimously for a comprehensive plan amendment land use change that would start the process leading to the proposed 100-unit apartment complex. The vote was the second and final vote for the comp plan land use change. Later this month the council is expected to approve the developer’s zon...
Despite a rocky start when a Fort Lauderdale-based developer proposed its second Inverness affordable housing project, Green Mills Group completed an important hurdle this week paving the way for its development.
The Inverness City Council voted unanimously for a comprehensive plan amendment land use change that would start the process leading to the proposed 100-unit apartment complex. The vote was the second and final vote for the comp plan land use change. Later this month the council is expected to approve the developer’s zoning change request.
The council vote ushers in the change from the property’s current comp plan designation of low density residential to high density.
Originally there was neighborhood resistance to the proposed 6.5-acre project at 1940 Forest Drive, but that changed after Green Mills representatives met with area residents and made concessions to the Longwood Gardens complex to alleviate many of their concerns.
“I think once we were able to have a dialog ... that allowed us to scale back (the project, the residents were accepting),” said Shaun Mosheim, Green Mills development manager for the project.
Although the affordable apartment complex was best suited for four stories, Green Mills reduced it to three, he said.
The developer also reduced the number of units from 110 to 100 units.
Many in the neighborhood also expressed concern about the proposed family demographics, fearing increased traffic, noise, and a change in the nature of the community.
Mosheim said he then asked “if they would be amenable to a seniors demographic,” and residents were more receptive to the change. So the project will now be open to only those 55 years old and older.
But Mosheim warned that while the proposed affordable housing for residents 55 years old and older was needed in the county, there’s still a need for affordable housing for working families.
Greg Rice, Inverness community development director, said there are still many land use steps in the process before final approval, so the public and council will have ample input.
Councilwoman Jacquie Hepfer said during Tuesday’s public council meeting that the area needed affordable housing, but this project also allows for a controlled greater density.
“I’m thrilled to see you have anti-urban sprawl,” she told Green Mills representatives at Tuesday’s meeting.
Councilman Gene Davis said that “part of small town done right” means Inverness needs to offer people affordable housing.
Mosheim told the Chronicle that part of the process now will also be to apply for a federal affordable housing tax credit, which would make the project profitable for Green Mills. Mosheim said if Green Mills isn’t awarded the tax credit through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Green Mills would apply again the following year.
Council president Cabot McBride said the community needed the affordable housing given the rising cost of homes and rentals.
“We talk all the time about smart growth,” McBride said, adding that if the dictionary had a picture of smart growth, this project would be it.
“This is something we need to do for our senior (citizens),” McBride said.
About two years ago Green Mills completed its first Inverness affordable housing project, Colonnade park, on Colonade Street.
The apartment costs are, in part, based on area incomes and are limited to people based on those incomes.
The income limit for a household with one person is $17,760 – $31,040. The limit for a two-person family will be $20,280 – $35,520, according to Green Mills.
The rent for a one-bedroom apartment would cost $475 – $951 per month, based on income. A two-bedroom apartment would cost $571 – $1,142.
The developer’s plan is to begin construction during the first quarter of 2024 and complete the project in early 2025.
Inverness Hotel construction delayed due to many challenges
Katya Guillaumehttps://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2022/04/15/inverness-hotel-delayed-due-to-many-uncontrollable-challenges
Construction for Inverness's first franchise hotel started more than two years ago, and today crews are still building.What You Need To Know According to officials with the hotel — which is expected to have 72 rooms — it is only about 70% complete.While his family is already in the business, Dr. Paresh Desai said he has had an eye on the hotel industry since 2018.He purchased the two-acre property on South Seminole Avenue in early 2020, not far from the hospital where he works his day...
Construction for Inverness's first franchise hotel started more than two years ago, and today crews are still building.
What You Need To Know
According to officials with the hotel — which is expected to have 72 rooms — it is only about 70% complete.
While his family is already in the business, Dr. Paresh Desai said he has had an eye on the hotel industry since 2018.
He purchased the two-acre property on South Seminole Avenue in early 2020, not far from the hospital where he works his day job.
“The hospital does not have any hotel in the nearby where the residents, doctors, health care workers and the patients can stay and take care of their patients,” he said.
He said that he’s faced quite a number of challenges that have pushed production on the project back.
“Shortage of material, labor, supply chain problems — so we were delivered and persistent that it would be done," he said.
“The cost of drywall has doubled since the beginning," he said. "Just two years ago, this use to be $10 for one sheet of drywall and it’s now 20 bucks.”
Most of his materials were coming from overseas, but now he’s having to look for alternate items to stay on this new schedule.
“Right now we’re into the rough ends," Dungan said. "We got the plumbing rough end so I’m one-siding all the walls inside the building now, I got one more inspection for the water test, we’ll insulate and soundproofing and we’ll close the walls up and start the texture and painting here in the next three weeks."
Desai said they are hoping to finish the project by "July or first week of August.”
Despite the challenges, he said he is still anticipating the city’s soon-to-be only franchise hotel will be what Inverness is missing to attract more visitors to the area.
While walking the property, Inverness Mayor Bob Plaisted said it’s come a long way, despite the delays. Once complete, he said the hotel would be great for the city.
“We have a plan," he said. "To go ahead and make this a big campus for the hotel and doctor's medical centers and things like that, so that going to be great and this hotel.
"We couldn’t have done all that without Dr. Desai putting up his money to get this whole thing going. He’s done a wonderful job with this.”
Desai said he has other projects he started working on in the county but had to put those on hold due to the general uncertainty.
‘Stop the turnpike’: Inverness residents call for city council to pass no build resolution
Heather Bushmanhttps://www.wuft.org/news/2022/05/04/stop-the-turnpike-inverness-residents-call-for-city-council-to-pass-no-build-resolution/
Buttons, bumper stickers, shirts and signs — all adorned with calls to “save it, don’t pave it” and “stop the turnpike” — were the accessories of choice for several Inverness residents on Tuesday evening.About 70 of these decorated locals gathered at the bi-monthly Inverness City Council meeting, where they voiced concerns regarding potential construction to the Florida Turnpike. The meeting included a lengthy public comment portion and concluded with the council’s decision to review a &...
Buttons, bumper stickers, shirts and signs — all adorned with calls to “save it, don’t pave it” and “stop the turnpike” — were the accessories of choice for several Inverness residents on Tuesday evening.
About 70 of these decorated locals gathered at the bi-monthly Inverness City Council meeting, where they voiced concerns regarding potential construction to the Florida Turnpike. The meeting included a lengthy public comment portion and concluded with the council’s decision to review a “no build” resolution, which several attendees requested.
Residents raised concerns in response to the proposed Northern Turnpike Extension (NTE), which offers four potential routes expanding the turnpike northwest through combinations of Citrus, Marion, Levy and Sumter Counties. It was conceived as part of the now-repealed Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) bill to improve traffic congestion and capitalize on economic development across the state.
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, a division of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), introduced the extension as a standalone project last year. Since then, residents in the affected counties have expressed fears of land loss and environmental damage.
Inverness residents like Kevin McAdams, 67, worry that the construction of the southernmost corridor option, which reaches as close as two miles from downtown, will destroy the local nature and wildlife. During the public comment portion of the meeting, McAdams said he pictures a “landscape devoid of all the attributes and memories of the Nature Coast” if the project proceeds.
Environmental uncertainty was a major topic of discussion. In addition to resident comments, Michael McGrath, a representative from the Florida chapter of the Sierra Club and the No Roads to Ruin coalition, detailed the potential detriments to Florida’s natural resources in a presentation.
McGrath said the construction threatens vital natural areas like the Kings Bay springshed and the Withlacoochee River: two important waterways to Florida’s overall aquatic health. He said a no build option, which nullifies all construction plans, is non-negotiable.
“The no build is the only option to protect our state,” McGrath said.
FDOT representatives Jeffrey Arms and Jennifer Stults, who presented project updates and addressed questions from the council, said the department is working to minimize any environmental impacts.
The project’s schedule, Stults said, has “slid to the right about a year” to allow for more adjustments. Stults said will look to narrow the potential routes where possible, which will limit the areas affected by construction.
As Floridians, Stults said FDOT employees are conscious of the project’s consequences.
“We also want to do the right thing,” she said. “We live in Florida, too.”
The extension is in its Alternative Corridor Evaluation stage, which aims to designate one of the potential routes as the official option. FDOT will evaluate the final route against a no build option in the following Project Development and Environment study, set to conclude in 2024.
But residents want the no build now. Instead of breaking new ground, they suggested a Transportation Systems Management approach, which looks to improve existing roadways. They pointed to the expansion of Highway 44 and possible construction to Interstate 75 as alternatives to the extension.
Though not legally binding, local governments can pass no build resolutions to communicate that they are not in favor of the construction. Arms said FDOT will take these into consideration as it decides on a potential route.
More than a dozen residents participated in public comment regarding the potential construction, and all called for the council to pass a resolution immediately. Commenters like McAdams feel the move can slow the pace of the project.
“By this council endorsing a no build option, you’re sending a signal to pump the brakes,” he said.
The council ultimately sided with its constituents, unanimously agreeing to consider passing a no-build resolution. However, Cabot McBride, the council president, said the resolution will include a key revision.
McBride said the council will remain open to potential construction plans if further studies from FDOT deem them necessary. Though he and the council support taking the alternative management approach and exploring other alternatives, McBride said an extension to the turnpike through Inverness is a lingering possibility.
“We need to have the honesty, the integrity and the ability to say to all of these people sitting here that we may need to look into this again,” he said.
The council will meet May 17 to review a draft of the resolution. Council members will then vote to officially support a no build option.
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