By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Levy County Commissioner Lilly Rooks, who isn’t shy about bashing the Suncoast Connector toll road, got on her bully pulpit again Tuesday to say why the project shouldn’t be built through the county.
Rooks won commission support to send state lawmakers a copy of a resolution the board adopted celebrating Levy County’s 176th birthday. The resolution contains language outlining what many see as Levy County’s legacy.
The final paragraph of the resolution states Levy County residents strive to protect and promote the county’s unique heritage and livelihoods that come from agriculture, aquaculture, silviculture, hunting, fishing, and eco-friendly tourism.
She said the words demonstrate what Levy County residents and county commissioners have always considered top priorities.
“It shows this goes a long way back in our history in Levy County,” she said. “The board is trying to protect Levy County from the toll roads.”
Rooks told the board she wants a copy of the 176th-anniversary resolution sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis as well as to State Sen. Jennifer Bradley and State Rep. Joe Harding, Levy County’s representatives in the Florida Legislature.
She was asked if preservation of agricultural land was her primary objective in sending the resolution to state lawmakers.
“All of it – everything,” she responded.
Levy County was established on March 10, 1845, and became the 27th Florida county one week after Florida became the 27th state in the Union on March 3, 1845.
Commissioners had previously voted 3-2 on April 7, 2020, to adopt a resolution opposing construction of the Suncoast Connector through Levy County.
Commissioner John Meeks, Commissioner Mike Joyner, and Rooks voted for the motion, but Meeks reserved the right to bring it back for reconsideration at a later date.
Commissioners Rock Meeks and Matt Brooks, who sat on the toll road task forces voted against the resolution.
Rooks said she doesn’t want Levy County to look like a big south Florida city.
“I don’t want to see Levy County turned into Orlando or Tampa…just because someone in Tallahassee – these idiots — want it,” she said.
Renate Cannon, longtime observer of the Levy County Commission, loudly applauded Rooks’ statements.
Chairman John Meeks called attention to recent statements by a Florida Legislator advocating for construction of the Suncoast Connector alongside U.S. 19 in Levy County.
The Florida Department of Transportation has also mentioned co-locating the Suncoast Connector alongside U.S 19 as one possible scenario for building the road through Levy County. U.S. 19 itself would remain a free road.
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting March 2, 2021; Posted March 2, 2021
