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.
352-212-1533Free Consultation
Latest News in Inverness, FL
Inverness homeowners feeling forgotten about as new development has drainage, flooding issues
Calvin Lewishttps://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2023/12/23/inverness-homeowners-feeling-forgotten-about-as-new-development-has-drainage--flooding-issues
CITRUS CO., Fla. — Homeowners in a new community in Inverness say they’re feeling forgotten about.It comes as “Inverness Village 4” development continues and as more homes go up, roads are showing signs of wear-and-tear in combination with flooding and drainage issues.What You Need To Know “The main concern that people are worried about is losing their homes to some sort of shifting and the drainage and flooding,” said resident Karleen Sempert.Since September, ...
CITRUS CO., Fla. — Homeowners in a new community in Inverness say they’re feeling forgotten about.
It comes as “Inverness Village 4” development continues and as more homes go up, roads are showing signs of wear-and-tear in combination with flooding and drainage issues.
What You Need To Know
“The main concern that people are worried about is losing their homes to some sort of shifting and the drainage and flooding,” said resident Karleen Sempert.
Since September, Sempert has called Inverness Village 4 ‘home.’ She bought her property back in May, after living thru Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers.
“We looked all over the State of Florida,” said Sempert. “We definitely wanted to be away from the coast because of the flooding. But when we drove around and visited all of the places, we loved Inverness just because it was a very small, cute town. We’re originally from the country, and it’s a beautiful area.”
But since moving in, issues have followed, coming with a warning. As homeowners have posted signs- warning potential buyers of a risk.
“The more research that I did, I did discover that the drainage was not in place,” says Sempert. “Now what we’re having is homes are suffering with shifting areas. It’s mostly in the land.”
Taking a drive around the community, you can see what Sempert is talking about. With drainage pipes lying in trenches. An issue these homeowners have taken to the county.
“Basically, what they’re saying is, because the builder does not have the proper permits from the water management district, they can’t hold up a permit for construction of a home,” said Sempert.
Elsewhere in the community, further evidence of shifting land is in sight. In a neighbor’s backyard, a large trench has formed.
“All of that sand that’s there right now is just flushed through and is, eventually, going to make its way to her pool,” said Sempert.
A worrisome sight for Sempert looming in the back of her mind. Imposing as a potential outcome if something is not done soon. But Sempert is keeping belief.
“We feel abandoned out here,” she says. “But I truly believe the harder we push and the more we can work together with the county.”
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.
Artist to paint Elvis mural visits Inverness
STEVE STEINER Chronicle Reporterhttps://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/artist-to-paint-elvis-mural-visits-inverness/article_ce818982-ae41-5b3a-875f-0be726ca7a4e.html
When Jonathan “Jay” Ramirez, of Miami, first received word his mural proposal was the one the Inverness City Council decided will grace the wall on the alleyway of 106 N. Pine St., he was more than excited.“He wanted to immediately come up to Inverness,” said his girlfriend, Adrienne Hernandez. She was able to convince him, though, to wait until she could take off from her job; she is a medical researcher. On Thursday, Sept. 28, they made the trip, where one of the things they did was tour the Historic Old Cour...
When Jonathan “Jay” Ramirez, of Miami, first received word his mural proposal was the one the Inverness City Council decided will grace the wall on the alleyway of 106 N. Pine St., he was more than excited.
“He wanted to immediately come up to Inverness,” said his girlfriend, Adrienne Hernandez. She was able to convince him, though, to wait until she could take off from her job; she is a medical researcher. On Thursday, Sept. 28, they made the trip, where one of the things they did was tour the Historic Old Courthouse Museum and take in the Elvis Presley collection.
The following day, Ramirez and Hernandez accompanied Inverness Community Development Director Chris Shoemaker to look at the wall that in a matter of weeks will undergo a transformation from a blank wall to a mural featuring Elvis Presley. It’s a project Ramirez is eager to get started painting, not just as an artist, but on a personal level.
“It’s something meaningful to me. Growing up in the ’90s, I constantly listened to his music,” Ramirez said. He listened to Elvis on a daily basis, he added. When he learned that Inverness was looking for artists to submit proposals for the mural, and do some research, he learned about Elvis’s connection to the city and immediately knew what his topic would be. “It means something to the local community as well.”
On Friday, Sept. 29, Ramirez, along with Hernandez and Schumacher traveled to the wall, where he planned on visualizing the ultimate product.
“I photograph the wall, and then I use a process known as doodle grid,” he said. A doodle grid, also known as a scribble grid, is a method where the artist randomly scribbles shapes all over the wall and then photographs that. The photo is then digitally overlayed on the sketch and used for reference when directly painting on the wall. It is one of several known methods, others being (but not necessarily limited to) using a square grid method, or working off a projection.
Prior to even doing a doodle grid, work will also possibly include laying down a primer on the wall and other preparations.
“I still have to do a breakdown,” he said. These include calculating how much paint he will need, brushes and other related materials, the rental of a lift in order to reach the inaccessible heights (he plans on starting at the top of the building) and protecting it with a sealant. Ramirez estimates it will take approximately two weeks from start to finish, which he plans tying into the arts festival that takes place this year Nov. 3-4.
About the artist
Jonathan “Jay” Ramirez currently is based in Miami, although he and Hernandez are seriously contemplating closer to the center of Florida, and are considering Inverness or Citrus County.
He got his start as a muralist by painting the interior of homes for friends, which was followed by doing the same for small businesses. Via word of mouth and social networking, he has been commissioned to paint murals for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and DJ Khaled, as well as several professional athletes and social influencers.
While the majority of his murals are in and around Miami, in April 2023, a showcase of his work was on display at Orlando’s Florida Groovefest, a musical event.
Steve Steiner can be contacted at steven.steiner@chronicleonline.com.
'Light the tree! Light the tree!'; Inverness crowd enjoys the tree lighting ceremony, festivities
STEVE STEINER Chronicle reporterhttps://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/light-the-tree-light-the-tree-inverness-crowd-enjoys-the-tree-lighting-ceremony-festivities/article_e91da1a8-5ca7-54d9-8a4c-9fafc965a175.html
Never let it be said that Inverness doesn’t know how to throw a street festival. Time and again it shows how it should be done, from the most recent month-long Cootertober festival to the subsequent art festival and on Saturday evening, the lighting of the 30-to-34-foot tall Christmas tree. Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle Just as with the previous events, downtown Inverness was jam-packed with people who came to see the latest addition to the city. As many as possible came to not only admire the tree, but to p...
Never let it be said that Inverness doesn’t know how to throw a street festival. Time and again it shows how it should be done, from the most recent month-long Cootertober festival to the subsequent art festival and on Saturday evening, the lighting of the 30-to-34-foot tall Christmas tree.
Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle
Just as with the previous events, downtown Inverness was jam-packed with people who came to see the latest addition to the city. As many as possible came to not only admire the tree, but to pose for photos in front of it.
For those who may not know, the tree’s genesis had its roots during Christmas 2022. That’s when Mayor Bob Plaisted, Sandy Levin and others traveled to Brooksville, where they saw what that city had done with Christmas. From there they drew their inspiration, and it became a project sponsored by the Rotary Club of Downtown Inverness, its mission twofold: Not only the tree itself, but with the goal of making Citrus County renown as “Christmas County.”
It was a challenge, from raising the necessary funds – which was aided by Citrus County Commissioner Rebecca Bays – to the actual design and construction. Of the latter, delays sometimes seem to happen almost without stopping. But in the end, on Friday the tree was assembled and adorned in time for Saturday’s unveiling.
Starting at around 5 p.m., people began gathering. To while away the time, a number of them toured the historic courthouse museum (and yes, a cutout of Elvis was back up in a window on the top floor). Others chose to dine or shop or both at the restaurants and retail stores open. Others strolled about, taking in scenes such as the double-decker bus, or engaged in conversation with Santa Claus.
Musical entertainment was provided by the Salvation Army band, which was followed by a vocal group, The Harmonizers, and concluded with gospel numbers sung by The Ovations.
Following a welcome and introduction by Rotary President Rick Reynolds, the mayor addressed the gathering, filling in the crowd on what it took to get the tree built, the sponsors, plus the people behind the scenes who made it all happen. He paid special tribute to Bays and her role as county commissioner, and had her do the honor of lighting the tree. But prior to her doing so, the audience began chanting “Light the tree! Light the tree!”
First to come on was the star atop the tree in blue lighting, and then the tree itself. First turning on in green, it then began changing colors and hues as well as varying and dazzling patterns.
According to the mayor, the tree will remain until Jan. 6, 2024.
Steve Steiner can be reached at steven.steiner@chronicleonline.com.
Solving Inverness Villages 4
Chronicle Onlinehttps://www.chronicleonline.com/opinion/columnists/solving-inverness-villages-4/article_2e1b66c9-29f8-5413-92a0-e62c2ca5cca2.html
Being a commissioner requires operating at multiple scopes. At the highest level we’re looking at long-range planning, encompassing subjects that affect the entire county. On the other end of the spectrum are hyper-local issues, such as code compliance, senior citizens in need, and so on. These are issues that must be solved within fairness doctrines to the county residents and taxpayers at large.When I first took office I heard about the insanity that is Inverness Villages 4 (or IV4 for short), a critical issue on the hyper-loc...
Being a commissioner requires operating at multiple scopes. At the highest level we’re looking at long-range planning, encompassing subjects that affect the entire county. On the other end of the spectrum are hyper-local issues, such as code compliance, senior citizens in need, and so on. These are issues that must be solved within fairness doctrines to the county residents and taxpayers at large.
When I first took office I heard about the insanity that is Inverness Villages 4 (or IV4 for short), a critical issue on the hyper-local end of the spectrum. I drove through there, and was appalled to see virtually impassable roads and built-on landscaped lots sandbagged to protect from runoff on this hilly section of our county. I tried mightily to find some resolution, and was blocked at every turn.
Enter a new and far braver board last November. We stopped issuing permits in IV4, which started the ball rolling towards some sort of conclusion. I will do my best to outline everything here in a way that makes sense, so the public is fully briefed.
Government does good things for us, no doubt, but it also can get in the way, which is why it’s so important to keep the size of government in check. The more government and laws we have, the more complex a system and the harder it is to get things done. Paradoxically, it can also lead to less protection for our citizens, and the case of Inverness Villages 4 is a perfect example. The three entities involved in the IV4 train wreck have managed to thread the needle between multiple government agency rules and missions to make what I suspect are obscene amounts of money on the backs of retirees and their life savings.
You have a developer, Anton Van Usen, who bought a bankrupt development, claims he’s “just a lot owner” to get around the rules about providing roads and drainage, who then starts selling lots, often sight unseen, some to foreign buyers, and many to domestic buyers looking for a great deal on their forever retirement home. He says the county owns the roads, and must provide the roads and drainage. Untrue. While the public does control the roads as platted, county taxpayers at large never pay to have roads paved and drainage established in a particular neighborhood. That is the job of the developer, or can be done after the fact by a neighborhood MSBU in which all the benefitting lot owners are assessed an amount on their annual taxes, or they can pay it in a lump sum. Once roads and drainage are established to county standards, the county may (or may not) elect to bring maintenance of those two things into the county rolls.
The buyers who come in person are brought (by Casalta Realty, part of Van Usen’s league) through the first section that has roads and drainage – via MSBU to those owners – and is a beautiful neighborhood. This sets the stage for erroneous expectations of what the buyers will be getting in IV4, provided by Van Der Valk Construction, the third member of the IV4 league.
Van Der Valk was the entity that cut the roads from what was a hilly grass meadow, leaving them as sand and rock vulnerable to storm washouts. One example of “threading the needle” above, is that cutting those roads without a SWFWMD permit violated their rules. SWFWMD does not want to prosecute that violation, because it would be the innocent lot buyers who would be cited, rather than the entity who caused it.
Two jaw-dropping “add insult to injury” actions taken: low, flood-prone lots being sold and built on, driving the cost up for the MSBU because now homes must be condemned to establish the drainage; and serious concerns about Van Der Valk’s timeline and quality of construction. These are people’s life savings at risk, their dream home vision turning into a dangerous, flooding, washed-out mess with no school bus and only intermittent mail service.
The current status of the potential MSBU has changed. Previously a reveal of the per-lot cost was scheduled for our Oct. 10 meeting; it has been delayed because perk tests came back worse than expected, and additional lots will be needed for drainage. Without holding one or more of the IV4 entities accountable, the likelihood of fixing this without bankrupting homeowners dims.
Legally, it is not the responsibility of the county to do anything to solve this, and that’s the excuse prior boards used to skirt the issue. I looked into this deeply, and determined that even though it is not our legal responsibility, there is no entity better suited than the county to volunteer to bring this to a good resolution for those who bought in IV4.
I put all the various agencies (SWFWMD, FWC, FDEP, Forestry, Citrus County), whose rules and missions the IV4 development violates, into contact with each other so we can work together to solve this problem. The biggest story to come from this to date are the FWC gopher tortoise misdemeanor charges, which may lead to jail time and fines, if Van Der Valk management is found guilty. Citrus County Code Enforcement is in the neighborhood virtually every day, and we continue to pursue code violations, even as unsold lots are transferred among as many as 11 different corporate entities in a game to outrun fines and penalties. (Code Enforcement has to start over with the new “owner” of the unsold lots.)
To their immense credit, the agencies have all said they are less interested in punishing the developer and builder than getting an equitable solution for the homeowners. So there is indeed a path to a positive resolution, but it requires one or more of the entities to come forward with a checkbook. Until that happens, all agencies will continue to ratchet up the pressure.