Future of a Homosassa bar delayed

Saturday, November 15, 2008

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Patrons of The Freezer are hoping the bar will stay open.

CITRUS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- A meeting about the future of a Homosassa bar was supposed to clear things up this week, but instead the meeting was delayed -- leaving more questions than answers.

Overcrowding forced the first meeting to be postponed and moved to Citrus Springs. And while there was plenty of room in Citrus Springs, the board decided to postpone the meeting again.

"This isn't a new issue. How can they say we don't know what's going on, and we're going to postpone it," said The Freezer customer Coleen Brady. "Because every time they meet, they figure less and less people are going to come."

The county says The Freezer has been operating illegally for 16 months. There is a fight about zoning issues, procedural issues and land use issues, but really it comes down to location.

The bar opened up in a fish house, 118 feet from Georgeanna Phelps' bedroom window.

"You can't open the windows," Phelps said. "You can't go outside without hearing the multitudes of people talking and saying things I really don't want my grandkids to have to listen to."

Phelps' peace and quiet and the fate of The Freezer are postponed until further notice, while the county struggles to figure it all out.

The bar will be going before code enforcement next Wednesday.

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Jonathan Petramala, a journalist who lives and works in Citrus County, knows that there are plenty of stories out there that need to be told. He would love to hear from you so he can share your story.