Fight to bring two cut Lake Co. Lynx routes back heats up

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — The fight to keep some Lynx buses on the road in Lake County got heated Tuesday.

Deputies had to be called to a packed county commission meeting as residents fought to keep two popular routes running.

One of those buses runs from the Four Corners area to Disney.

The other makes trips between Clermont and Orlando.

The commission end up approving a plan to save the Clermont to Orlando run by cutting the number of trips -- and doubling the monthly $70 fare.

They're negotiating with Lynx to bring back the Four Corners route but both hinge on using some federal funding.

Tempers got a little hot at this Tuesday morning's meeting.

Citizens addressing the Lake County Commission had three minutes to make their case.

Lake County resident Gustavo Ortiz's time was up.

"You're going to have to continue to let me finish," Ortiz said.

"I'm not going to," Commission chair Leslie Campione said.

"Yes you are," Ortiz said.

"No, I'm not," Campione said.

Campione temporarily stopped the meeting and deputies were called.

The controversy over the cut of two Lynx bus routes in the county put the whole room on edge.

"I need this bus. Please, do something," Lake County resident Mary Priebe said.

The controversy started months ago when the commission voted to end its $170,000 taxpayer subsidy of the route.

Lynx nixed the Four Corners stop last month and the Clermont runs could end Oct. 18.

Even though commissioners approved possible solutions to keep the buses running they were given grief.

"Wait a minute! I'm not gonna say anything when you talk! I change my mind pretty regularly, so I don't know if I'd be hollering at me," Commissioner Welton Cadwell said.

"You're turning me against you by that kind of disrespect to Commissioner Cadwell," Commissioner Jimmy Conner said.

Ortiz was not allowed to finish.

"You're time is up. You said your peace," Campione said.

"I personally am going to focus on what's already been said, because I really don't appreciate the tone."

The federal shutdown could throw a wrench in the commission's plan to keep buses on the road.

WFTV