Board of County Commissioners - October 26, 2026

The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners’ regular meeting on October 26, 2026, included a significant procurement-related discussion of a proposed CoreCivic arrangement to negotiate with federal immigration authorities over housing detainees at the county detention facility. The board authorized negotiations, rather than approving a final detention contract; the negotiated agreement is to return for board consideration. Commissioner Canard supported proceeding on the condition that the county receive 6.9% of the negotiated reimbursement rate, potentially above the current $8.52 per detainee per day. CoreCivic representatives said medical and hospital costs would be borne by CoreCivic or the federal government. Commissioners and residents raised concerns about jail staffing, operating costs, safety, and the county’s potential financial exposure; the motion passed 4–1, with Commissioner Davis opposed. The board also approved item E1D, a Motorola contract for two-way radio towers serving first responders; the transcript gives no contract amount. The consent agenda and several other agenda items were approved, but their details are not available in the transcript.

Staff also reported ongoing work on county facility and recreation projects, including waterfront restoration, Fort Island Gulf Beach restrooms, and sports fields; some scopes, funding, or vendor terms remain in development. A potential vendor agreement for inshore placement was still being negotiated. The board reached consensus to continue developing proposed land-development-code amendments on landscaping, buffers, utilities, and related standards, with further review by the Planning and Development Commission; no final code change was adopted. In public hearings, the board approved a planned-unit-development application for a Take 5 automotive service site in the coastal high-hazard area. A separate car-dealership expansion was considered and a motion to approve with specified conditions and deviations was made, but the transcript does not record a vote before adjournment.