Biomass complaint call center online

ALACHUA – Local leaders representing Alachua County, the City of Gainesville, the City of Alachua and law enforcement from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police, Alachua Police and Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) continue to meet to address the quality-of-life complaints related to the new Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC).

The panel has been meeting since mid-October to discuss community concerns regarding noise, odor, and fugitive dust and debris issues related to the GREC facility. The most pressing concern discussed was setting up a centralized process to efficiently receive complaints and ensure the proper follow-up action is completed.

The panel is made up of Alachua County Manager Betty Baker, Gainesville City Manager Russ Blackburn, Alachua City Manager Traci Cain and Assistant Manager Adam Boukari, GRU Interim General Manager Kathy Viehe, Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones and Alachua Police Chief Joel DeCoursey.

Telephone complaints continue to be processed by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center and the Alachua Police Department Communications Center. Sheriff Darnell continued to express concern that 911 lines and personnel are being tasked with non-emergency related duties and suggested the creation of a call center for deflecting GREC calls away from the communications center.

The call center began operation on Nov. 7, and can be reached at 352-338-2479.

During the Oct. 31 meeting of local leaders, GRU agreed to utilize and pay for a call center for complaints pertaining directly to the GREC facility. This call center will handle only the quality-of-life complaints related to the facility and will not handle actual emergencies where response from law enforcement, emergency medical or fire are needed.

The purpose of the call center is to track non-emergency complaints specifically related to the GREC facility, and serve as a mechanism for local agencies to take necessary steps to address the complaints.

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