County Commission Chairman Matt Brooks provided this graphic to illustrate vacation rentals are open for business in Levy County.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                County Commission Chairman Matt Brooks announced Wednesday that the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has ordered vacation rentals reopened in Levy County.

            County Commissioners used their contacts and political leverage to encourage Gov. Ron DeSantis and DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears to lift the closure of vacation rentals in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

            The closure of vacation rentals had been part of the coronavirus shutdown of the state economy, but DeSantis, who had promised to gradually reopen the economy, is honoring his pledge, Brooks said.

            “It’s huge. The timing is important. There were so many reservations pending in our county and people just don’t realize Memorial Day weekend is extremely important as far as revenue from these rentals as well as businesses that will benefit from the guests being here,” Brooks said.

            Brooks said DBPR is continuing to advise businesses to use social distancing guidelines which discourages groups of more than 10 people and encourages maintaining a distance of 6 feet from the nearest person.

            Brooks said the governor hasn’t reopened bars, but he believes it will happen soon. Bar owners complained bitterly at Tuesday’s county commission meeting that DeSantis is starving their businesses of revenue.

            “We’re working on that still. I’m very optimistic the governor is really getting fired up on the great job Florida has been doing in contrast to some of the other areas of the country,” Brooks said. “I really think he put in protective measures for our most vulnerable population and he’s being true to his word, he’s going to open up step by step. He’s doing it.”

            Brooks gave the governor a big nudge Tuesday when he expressed his extreme disappointment that vacation rentals and bars were still closed by DeSantis’ executive order.

            “But he also needs to know we’re supporting him in this effort because he’s got a lot of people who want to keep us shut down. If we just stay silent and it’s going to be what it’s going to be; you can’t be silent; you have to fight for your community and we’ve done that and it’s showing rewards,” Brooks said. “The whole board has done their work and made their contacts and leveraged all their relationships. I think it’s been a team effort.”

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Enterprise reporting by Terry Witt May 20, 2020