Paul M Grogan(Captain)

Forum questions

Citrus County is undergoing significant growth, which brings with it the dual challenge of fostering development while safeguarding our natural resources. When evaluating proposals, it’s essential to balance these needs. I would align my assessments with the top ten principles valued by the citizens of Citrus County, ensuring that the proposals resonate with our community’s core values.

Additionally, I’ve developed a personal framework consisting of ten statements: “I want ,” “I don’t want ,” “I understand I have to give up,” “My actions will be ,” “I will have (Stepping Stones) to show achievement,” “I know someone with a testimony about __,” “I know why I want it,” “There are things I don’t do,” “I share/help others to accomplish the same,” and “Here’s my success story.”

Regarding homelessness in Citrus County, I have engaged with the homeless coalition, family resource centers, and United Way to gain insights into the challenges faced by the homeless population. A critical step is determining the accurate number of individuals experiencing homelessness. Through collaboration with local feeding programs, many have found employment, highlighting the need for ongoing support and opportunities. We must recognize that vulnerable segments of our community exist and strive to empower them through meaningful work options, education, and skill development, fostering their sense of recognition as productive members of society.

Concerning the county’s road repaving plan, I believe it needs significant improvement. Current strategies rely on outdated data and methods. We must adapt to our constituents’ needs by developing a flexible approach to road construction that allows for different phases of development, ensuring we create sustainable infrastructure.

On the topic of the newly allocated $2 million for a mental health facility, it’s vital to address the generational nature of mental health issues in our community. As our population ages and younger families settle in, the facility must cater to all five generations. Programs like those at the Key Training Center can assist in fostering independence. We must ensure that mental health care goes beyond mere admissions and discharges, integrating supportive aftercare.

If elected, I would oppose a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU) for funding the Sheriff’s office. Instead, we should implement management systems based on proven ISO standards to ensure proper oversight and efficient use of resources.

In terms of our response to the recent hurricane, the collaborative efforts among various departments and community organizations were commendable. By utilizing local resources effectively, we demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to recovery. Moving forward, we must maintain transparency and integrity in our planning and land development processes to prevent future issues.

In summary, Citrus County is at a pivotal moment, balancing internal growth with external pressures. By fostering a strong foundation rooted in community values, prioritizing health and safety, and preserving our natural environment, we can create a vibrant future for the next generation. My experience in business and maritime management equips me to serve as your county commissioner. I am committed to protecting our community, supporting our first responders, and nurturing a compassionate approach to our environment and the people within it. Together, let’s ensure Citrus County remains a safe, productive, and thriving place for all residents.

How would you weigh these needs when you evaluate proposals?

Every community has a value system. I would take the value system that Citrus County values in their top 10 principles and we would see as we look at these proposals if they match that value system and the value system is created by the citizens.
One thing that I personally created was ten sayin’s I Want__________. I Don’t want___________. I understand I have to give up . My Actions will be . I will have _ (Stepping Stones) to show achievement along the way. I have or know someone that has a Testimony about (What I want). I know Why I want it. There are some things I Don’t do. I Share/ Help others to accomplish the same. Here is my Success story:2

What are the two most important ways that the county BOCC should address homelessness in Citrus County?

I discussed with the homeless coalition and family resource centers as well as United Way to get a better understanding of those who are homeless and those who are hopeless adversity things we have to do is we have to get the real number. I work with a variety of citizens and the community that are part of a feeding program that helps the homeless and then they all ended up getting jobs so the feeding program was kind of been a law but circumstances would have a group of homeless people created a small tent, and there’s a new group that I think population will always have a segment of the community that are vulnerable so we would adjust for that vulnerability and know that as a compassionate community we can weigh our worth as a community by how we can support the underneath and the percentages are lower than Average and Citrus County for homelessness And many of those homelessness can work and be productive member to society if they were allowed to work on a farm or they were allowed to do alternative work or what they call Spot jobs or gig work and that process I would encourage them to get the proper education with the with the work Supporting certificate, recognition, and life skills that they gain on the job or through the job it’s not just about them getting a job. It’s about them getting the recognition that they’re productive members of the community even on the smallest level. This definitely enables the psyche to move forward.

Can you explain the county current plan to repave the roads and is it adequate to meet the needs of the citizens? ***** The current plan sucks. It’s based on looking at old data using an old machine to build new roads. The reality is that we gotta meet our constituents where they’re at, and we gotta start looking at how much percentage of roads will become country roads and allow for us to build different layers at different times this concept of coming in and putting the road back the way it was when you can put in a beautiful country road that, come back later 2-3 years and build on top of that is the right way to grow. 4. The County committed 2 million dollars for the construction of a mental health facility what do you think are the next steps the County should take to address mental health issues in our community? • These are generational issues and we’ve had so long of populous of over 57 years old in that 57 average age has moved into the 60s zone and now we’re starting to see an influx of younger couples 5 generations of family staying in the community. If facility must accommodate all five generations and it needs to address some of the issues that have to do with the state planning and parental rights so when we look at the Key Training Center program, we see that there’s cognitive programs that help people live independently and we need to look at programs like that for the aftercare so if the health system is only gonna do admission game where you check in and check them out, we might as well call it what it is an institution, no different than jail. Well, jails are managed differently than hospitals. This Segway would be looking like a merge of the two and then what will happen is that you won’t be able to staff it by the mandates and then you’ll be forced to contract it out. 5. If elected would you support an mstu for funding the Sheriffs office. **** no an MSU is a tool that is used when something is being managed properly at the end of the day if we use the ISO standards 9001 we can easily create a management system that regulates our expenditures and allows everyone to work in the capacity that they were designed through mission vision, and value statements. This is how fortune 500 companies are on their companies and there’s no reason why we can’t use the same tool since we already know that it works, and it stands the test of generational change. 6. How was the counties response to the recent Hurricane. **** this response was particularly good because we saw where the interdepartmental relationships were built and we were able to work with the Cities the county facilities and the sheriffs department together. We had great cooperation from the schools when it came to utilize the institutions that were available and we also had a deep recovery effort that was community driven and would like to see some more resources in the right places I believe that community is common Unity and there was some common sense leadership where we let some people organize and function without putting them into a permit box and that was common sense so those aspects are in place what I’m hoping the outcome will be that we have information integrity where we know where the issues were with the water and the direction that it went in and we look at our land development codes to make sure that we’re not gonna create a greater problem as we grow forward.

Summary:
We are together in all weather whether it’s a peaceful days or days of storms. We know that Citrus County is growing internally while we also have external forces coming in and belly up as well so when you have horizontal growth and vertical growth is the same time you have the opportunity to Create a foundation that allows for the next generation to be part of the solution and as long as we remain result, orientated and we stay focused on our primary principles of love, honor, and respect we can definitely always put such county values ahead of the agendas of any kind of contractual proposal or new development that may come to up and our core values. I would prioritize health, an access to good health and then safety the ability to meet at these intersections both physically and metaphorically so that our crossing points are safe environmental, I would maintain that the 25% or more of our nature. Coast remains intact for the next 500 years I believe these things together use an ISO standards will give us, the impact that we need to have the quality of life that we are accustomed to. I will do everything in my power to preserve protect and provide for the citizens of Citrus County. I will ask all department heads to follow for leadership principles one is how can we give back to the community to? Is this information integrity? Are we only making this decision based on one source or have we use multiple sources? I believe a strong sense of common sense leadership comes from listening to the people, and we would create that that value hierarchy that says this matches the values of this community, the final thing I would like to do ahead of departments just make sure that it’s common unity we know it’s a core objectives are now how do we make that the common denominator for the community? How do we give them what they need from our department in order to live, the life that they deserve. I come from a family that has owned and operated businesses, restaurants and retail stores and Citrus County. I’ve been here since 1978 and I’ve always had a mailing address and Citrus County to pursue career and Merchant marines where I learned how to operate manage and facilitate self-contained mobile units that float aka boats and I usually manage vessels that are between thirty four to hundred million dollar range.
And the capacity management that I stood on, the ships usually had a management team of 4 to 6 people, and you have deckhands, galley staff and engineers to deal with. You’re also dealing with the shore base, client and of course your office and occasional a wifey, children and some pets along with a county permitting department back home.

i’m pretty sure that I’m ready willing and able to serve as your next county commissioner being one of five people on the board that can move us forward in the right direction respectfully and honorably putting our veterans first and our schools as the top of the state and the nation we do that by protecting our community and providing for our first responders when people feel safe they’re productive and none of that matters if we don’t have health. Taking care of our environment is a way to show our youth compassion towards animals and plants and they’ll take that compassion and put it towards others.