Occult scammers welcome?

By John Labriola - Fortunetellers and other occult scam artists with past fraud convictions could have an easier time setting up shop in Citrus County under a proposal under consideration by the Citrus County Commission.

On Tuesday (March 14), commissioners will decide whether to schedule a March 28 hearing to discuss the idea of eliminating the entire section of the county code governing fortunetellers. 

Known as Section 22-1, the existing rules bar applicants who have been "convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, deceit or any other act of dishonesty or a similar crime" from obtaining a permit to start a fortunetelling business. Under current rules, fortuneteller permits also have to be renewed every two years and can be revoked by the county at any time if applicants are found to have lied on their application or been convicted of fraud. Other requirements of the existing ordinance, which was adopted in 1992 and amended in 1994, include being a Florida resident for at least two years and having at least five character references. 

The push to ease regulations on occult practitioners is coming from the county land development division, where staff reportedly "discovered" the current restrictions after someone recently inquired about obtaining a fortunetelling permit. Tuesday's agenda includes a memo from Land Development Division Director Joanna Coutu labeling the rules as "outdated."

But some residents are not happy with the idea of rolling out the welcome mat for fortunetellers and palm readers. 

"The victims are going to be the vulnerable people with not a lot of money who are going to pay their last dime trying to get answers [from fortunetellers] instead of looking in the Bible," said Lala Sanders of Inverness, who plans to attend Tuesday's meeting to object.

The item to set a hearing for the proposal is part of Tuesday's "consent agenda," which occurs between the pledge of allegiance and special presentations, but before the meeting's "open to the public" section. That means any resident opposing the item must pay close attention and rise to speak immediately after a motion and second is made from the dais to approve the consent agenda.

The commission meeting will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N Apopka Ave., Inverness, FL 34450. 

Residents unable to attend the meeting can share their thoughts with commissioners before Tuesday by emailing them below. 

Ruthie Schlabach <ruthie.schlabach@citrusbocc.com>, Holly Davis <holly.davis@citrusbocc.com>, Rebecca Bays <rebecca.bays@citrusbocc.com>, Diana Finegan <diana.finegan@citrusbocc.com>, Jeff Kinnard <jeff.kinnard@citrusbocc.com>

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