High Springs Mulls Lawsuit Against County

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the use of public funds for the purposes of litigating and advertising to educate and inform the electorate about Alachua County’s Growth Management Charter Referendum. The referendum allows Alachua County to have zoning and land use control of a parcel of property, even after it has been annexed into a municipality. Municipalities contend that the Alachua County Charter Amendment is not lawful as it is an encroachment on Home Rule, which authorizes local governments such as municipalities to enact ordinances, codes, plans and resolutions.

Now that the election has passed and the results have been certified approving the charter amendment, the City of Alachua is continuing with its lawsuit seeking injunctive relief against the County’s Charter Amendment.

Meanwhile, the cities of Archer and Newberry have also brought suit on the same issue, which is assigned to Judge Brasington.

High Springs City Attorney Rich Maltby explained to High Springs Commissioners that there is the potential for combining the Archer/Newberry suit into the City of Alachua’s suit and having all three heard by Circuit Court Judge Donna M. Keim. A hearing is currently scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 16.

At that time, both the cities bringing suit and the County will present their cases in an attempt to win the argument.

High Springs’ City Commissioners will hear this ordinance on final reading Nov. 24. Should the ordinance be approved at that time, it is possible that the City of High Springs will join its sister cities in their suit to oppose the County’s amendment.

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