Citrus County will overcome punch to gut by Duke Energy

By JOE MEEK | Special To The Tampa Tribune
Published: February 12, 2013 Updated: February 12, 2013 - 12:00 AM

Last week was difficult for Citrus County. We learned the nuclear power plant in our county will not be fixed and that Duke Energy will start the process of retiring and decommissioning the facility.

The nuclear plant employs more than 600 people directly, with hundreds more subcontractors and support personnel. It has provided jobs and revenue for our community for many years, and the reality is that is coming to an end. While the decommissioning process will be long and produce jobs in itself, the operational days of the plant are over.

Our first concern is with the 600-plus individuals and the families they support. They have been an integral part of our community, and any support as a community we can give, we will. We are grateful to the men and women who have worked at the nuclear facility.

The impact of this decision will also be felt by numerous businesses in our community that support plant operations and provide goods and services to the people who work at the plant. From restaurants to insurance businesses, to many more small businesses, the effects will be felt.

While all these issues can be overwhelming, we must remember that our community will get through this. The news and issues presented are huge, and to the emotions of our community, it is another punch to the gut, but we will get through this.

I can say this because I know Citrus County. I was born and raised there, and my family is from there. Citrus County is a special place to call home. We are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our county who truly care about the future of our community and are willing to do everything possible to ensure we are successful.

We have a great story to tell. We are the gem of the Nature Coast. On the west side of our county we have seven Florida Outstanding Waters, and on the east side we have a beautiful lake system. We are home to more beautiful natural resources than almost anywhere in the state ? or the nation for that matter.

Our school system is ranked as one of the best in the state, and we have one of the lowest crime rates in Florida. We are home to some of the best golf courses in the nation. We are home to the largest concentration of manatees in the world, and we have cities such as Crystal River and Inverness that epitomize small-town America.

We are home to a four-year accredited college and have one of the best technical vocational institutes in the state. We have multiple hospitals that provide excellent, state-of-the art care and doctors who provide excellent services.

We have a workforce that has been tested and been through a lot, but is one of the hardest working anywhere. We have churches that provide a bedrock for our county. We have thousands of small businesses that manufacture goods and provide services. We are home to one of the largest military veteran populations in the country. We have organizations such as the United Way, YMCA, Salvation Army, food banks and many more that work every day to support our community and help those in need. We have farms that win awards.

Citrus County government will do everything possible to make sure our community is a successful and thriving place to call home. While everyone will not always agree with all the decisions we make, we are dedicated and determined to make our county better. We have been and will continue to work hard every day to diversify our economy, keep costs low and ensure our quality of life remains high. The closing of this plant is an opportunity for us to redefine our identity and focus on priorities that will ensure we are a sustainable, thriving community for generations to come.

So while we face big issues, individuals can be proud to live in Citrus County. The nuclear plant does not define us, and its closing will not devastate us. We are a community of more than 140,000 people who refuse to give up on making our county a better place to call home.

Source: http://www2.tbo.com/news/opinion/2013/feb/12/naopino2-citrus-county-will-overcome-punch-to-gut-ar-631521/

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