Local

ALACHUA – The City of Alachua has cancelled the scheduled April 14, 2020 municipal election. The City of Alachua’s qualifying period for the election ended at 12 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2020. Current City Commissioner Dayna Miller was the only individual who submitted the necessary documents to qualify for the Seat 3 election.

Since Miller was the only qualifier for Seat 3, and there are no other races or matters to be placed on the scheduled election, the City of Alachua has cancelled the election. Miller first came to the commission on an interim basis and was subsequently elected in the 2017 election, garnering a three-year term, which ends this year. 

Miller’s swearing in ceremony will be held April 20, 2020 as she enters her second three-year term.

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ALACHUA – There was a special staff at Alachua's Mi Apa Restaurant on Feb. 19. The mayor, city commission members and city employees had a new job for the day serving food to customers at the poplar eatery.

They weren't changing careers, instead they were doing it as a fund raiser for cancer research as part of the Annual Relay for Life.

Mi Apa restaurant sponsors the “Stick a Fork In Cancer” day annually and the city employees raised $1,311 in a single day. The City of Alachua staff is one of 19 volunteer teams that help raise funds in advance of the Relay for Life event, which will be held on April 3 at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex. Combined, the 19 teams have already raised $21,098 in advance of the event with 39 fundraising days still to go.

Relay For Life is the signature fundraiser cancer walk for the American Cancer Society. Relay is staffed and coordinated by volunteers in more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries who give their time and effort taking action against cancer by funding research.

Relay For Life is a team-based fundraising cancer walk event where team members take turns walking around a track or designated path. Each event is 6-24 hours in length and each team is asked to have a member on the track at all times to signify that cancer never sleeps. Cancer patients don't stop fighting because they're tired, and the walkers want to symbolize their fight. Each team sets up a themed campsite at the event and continues their fundraising efforts by collecting donations for food, goods, games, and activities. This money will count toward their overall team fundraising goal. Many of the volunteers are cancer survivors in remission, family caregivers or those who have lost loved ones and walk in remembrance. The goal is to continue to fund research to eradicate cancer and to remember those who have lost the battle against a form of cancer.

The American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 by 10 doctors and five laypeople in New York City. It was called the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC). At that time, a cancer diagnosis meant near-certain death. Rarely mentioned in public, this disease was steeped in fear and denial. Doctors sometimes did not tell their patients they had cancer, and patients often did not tell their friends and families that they had been diagnosed with it. The Society’s founders knew they had to raise public awareness about cancer if progress was to be made against this disease. The society started by writing articles for popular magazines and professional journals; publishing a monthly bulletin of cancer information and recruiting doctors throughout the country to help educate the public.

In 1945, the ASCC was reorganized as the American Cancer Society. Philanthropist Mary Lasker and her colleagues helped to raise more than $4 million for the Society in 1946 – $1 million of which was used to establish and fund the Society’s groundbreaking research program. They also helped establish the link between cancer and smoking; demonstrated the effectiveness of the Pap test; developed cancer-fighting drugs; dramatically increased the cure rate for childhood leukemia and promoted the use of mammography to identify breast cancer. Since 1946, the American Cancer Society has invested more than $4.9 billion in research. The Society was instrumental in the development of the Surgeon General’s report on the link between smoking and cancer and pushed for the passage of the National Cancer Act in 1971.

The Relay for Life event began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, wanted to raise awareness of cancer and boost the income of his local cancer charity. He spent 24 hours circulating a track in Tacoma, Washington, and raised over $27,000. This event showed that one person really can make a difference. Since then, Relay For Life has become the largest fundraising event for cancer in the world. Celebrated by more than 4 million people in over 20 countries, this overnight event empowers and unites local communities to fight cancer.

In Alachua there is a series of events and fundraisers leading up to the actual walk. Besides each team separately finding ways to raise money and awareness, there is a Survivor Dinner on April 1 to honor the survivors who have battled cancer and their caregivers. Then, on the evening of April 3, volunteer teams and other community members will gather at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex. Each team, along with other organizations, including student groups from Santa Fe High School, will have a tent or area set up to help continue to raise money. Some will sell food or craft items, others will hold raffles or sponsor activities such as petting zoos or bike races. Each year there is also a dunking booth where local personalities and leaders will give people a chance to dump them in the water tank, with a donation for each try.

But the main focus is the walkers and survivors. At the end of the event, luminaries are lit around the walking path in memory of those who lost their battle. The goal of the Society and the Relay is to try and make sure that these lives were not lost in vain and that one day cancer will be eradicated.

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ALACHUA – Students in the Institute of Biotechnology at Santa Fe High School will be benefitting from a donation from UF Innovate and the local Center State Bank. On Feb. 25, 2020, Santa Fe High School’s C. Wyland Oyama of the Institute of Biotechnology and Principal Dr. Elizabeth LeClear met with Center State Bank Manager Romina Mincey and UF Innovate’s Elliott Welker to receive a check from the bank for $1,000 to benefit the Institute of Biotechnology program students.

Under the direction of Oyama, the biotech program is a three-to-four year commitment that can earn high school students industry certification through the Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE). Students in the Academic Magnet Program are experiencing hands-on learning to prepare them for jobs in the biotech industry immediately out of high school or training for a college curriculum in the biotech field.

Students conduct labs using current techniques and equipment they would see in the industry and develop the skills and knowledge to pass the BACE. Participants experience an intense program, testing themselves with college level science and math content while still in high school. To stay with the program takes dedication and hard work.

Biotechnology is changing the world and the job market. Currently, there are more than 250 biotechnology health care products and vaccines available to patients, many for previously untreatable diseases. Biotech is saving lives and improving health by harnessing nature's own materials and using genetic makeup. The technology is reducing rates of infectious diseases and reducing life-threatening conditions affecting millions around the world.

More than 13 million farmers around the world use agricultural biotechnology to increase yields, prevent damage from insects and pests and reduce farming's impact on the environment. Biotechnology has helped increase food production by improving crop insect resistance, enhancing crop herbicide tolerance and promoting the use of more environmentally sustainable farming practices. This has helped generate higher crop yields, lowered the amount of agricultural chemicals required by crops, which limits the run-off of these products into the environment and using biotech crops that need fewer pesticides.

UF Innovate at the University of Florida was created to foster innovation and research while also promoting entrepreneurship and business growth in science. UF Innovate connects innovators with entrepreneurs, investors and industry. They help startups and growing tech companies learn how to run business as well as conduct research. Many of the startup companies are located in Alachua's Progress Park at UF’s Sid Martin Biotech, a world-recognized leader in biotechnology business incubation. Both the University of Florida and Santa Fe College have strong departments in science, math and medical fields, which strengthens the local workforce of biotech employees that are employed locally by companies in the biotech industry.

UF Innovate Sid Martin Biotech sees the potential of Santa Fe High School’s role in preparing students and helping them transition into jobs in biotech and to college. Alachua’s Center State Bank Branch Manager Mincey also recognizes the work of these students, and as a sponsor for the UF Innovate program, the bank helps grow biotech industry businesses, assisting many of the startup companies at Progress Park. UF Innovate also has started a Go Fund Me site to raise $3,000 to buy textbooks for the program as well.

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PALATKA — With the change of the seasons, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s year-long #WaterLess campaign has shifted to focus on springtime watering needs and a timely reminder to give your sprinkler system a checkup.

“As spring approaches, the Water Less campaign emphasizes taking control of your sprinkler system to make it work for you while also saving water,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “When the clocks change to daylight saving time on March 8, it’s an ideal reminder to inspect your automatic sprinkler system and timer.”

More than half of all residential water is used outdoors for lawn and landscape irrigation. The year-long Water Less campaign focuses on water-conserving strategies to help curb outdoor water waste while allowing for beautiful, vibrant landscapes.

If you do water your lawn and landscape, you can reduce the amount of water you use by with a well-designed irrigation system and regular maintenance. To make sure you don’t just set it and forget it, the district offers a few easy tips:

• Check timing devices regularly to make sure they are operating properly.
• Ensure your system is set to follow watering restrictions, if you need to water at all.
• Florida law requires that all automatic irrigation systems installed after May 1991 have a functioning rain sensor shut-off switch, which senses when a preset amount of rain has fallen.
• Install the most water efficient spray heads designed for different uses (turf areas, planting beds, etc.).
• Fix any broken or misdirected sprinkler heads.
• Check that water is only spraying on the landscape. 
• Look for leaks and clogs.

Visit WaterLessFlorida.com for more outdoor water saving ideas. Join the conversation on social media: #WaterLess #waterconservation #sjrwmd #watermanagement.

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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua will be awarded a grant from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County. On Dec. 9, 2019, the City Commission unanimously authorized City Manager Adam Boukari to develop and submit a grant application to the Children's Trust of Alachua County. The application included funding for educational programs in after-school activities, tutoring services, summer enrichment and education services, and summer high school credit courses in music and science/technology. The Children's Trust considered 56 applications and funded applications at a 70 percent, 50 percent and 30 percent levels based upon ranking of the applications. The City of Alachua's application received the highest funding level award of 70 percent for a total award of $135,002. The Alachua program will be conducted at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center.

In June 2018, the City of Alachua solicited formal proposals from qualified vendors to provide engineering inspection services to assist in the expansion of the city’s electric system. The winning bid went to Jacobs, an electrical engineering firm. Jacobs will provide construction engineering inspection (CEI) services for the expansion of City electrical infrastructure with the construction of the Legacy Substation.

The inspection services are to verify that construction is performed in compliance with plans and specifications. This includes the monitoring of daily project progress and applicable reporting to the City. Jacobs will also be responsible for an engineer’s certification of compliance certifying the work performed by the construction contractor, so payments may be processed throughout the construction of the project. This bid was approved in January 2020 and the inspection services will cost $180,000, which has already been allocated in the FY 2020 City budget out of the Electric Fund.

In 2018 the City also entered into a contract with Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) on a solar power project, which includes three 74.5 MW utility-scale solar facilities located in Osceola and Orange counties. Alachua is one of several cities involved with the project with participation at a 9 MW entitlement. However, the project has experienced delays due to site conditions, which prevents the solar from going online in mid-2020 as expected.

FMPA has proposed an amendment to its purchase agreement with Poinsett Solar, LLC to extend the time frame for providing solar power. The amendment provides for additional time for development of the solar facility in consideration of reduced pricing, and provides for a 20-year term with no extensions. This project allows the City to invest in clean, renewable energy, decreasing environmental impacts, while at the same time providing a savings to the City's electric utility customers. It also allows the City to add solar energy as a new component in its electrical services which provides additional security to rate payers in the event natural gas or other traditional energy markets spike. The Commission approved the amendment to lengthen the time frame for gaining solar power from the project. Overall, the cost to the City on the total contract will be $2 million which will come from the city's Electric Fund budget.

The Commission also approved an application for funding assistance to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) - Office of Criminal Justice Grants. The JAG Program provides agencies the flexibility to prioritize and support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. This includes law enforcement programs; prosecutions and court programs; prevention and education programs; community corrections programs; drug treatment and enforcement programs; technology improvement programs; crime victim and witness programs; and mental health programs. The Alachua Police Department (ADP) submitted a request for the purchase of equipment of gun safes and tablets/laptops in the amount of $20,157. The funding request was approved, and the distribution of funds was agreed upon and approved unanimously.

In other business, the Commission had also considered an ordinance request at the previous meeting to amend the Official Zoning Atlas from Planned Unit Development (PUD) Alachua County designation to Industrial General (IG) City of Alachua designation on a 34.63 acre property at McGinley Industrial Park is located north of County Road 25A (Northwest 120^th Lane) and the CSX railroad and to the south of Northwest 128^th Lane. Several property owners within McGinley Industrial Park had jointly submitted an application to rezone the properties to place a zoning designation on the property that is consistent with the underlying Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designation. The Commission approved the ordinance on the first reading and approved the second and final reading at this meeting on Feb. 24.

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Cont:      Alachua law enforcement receives funding

After school and summer credit programs offered

By RAY CARSON

Today Reporter

ALACHUA – The City of Alachua will be awarded a grant from the Children’s Trust of Alachua County. On Dec. 9, 2019, the City Commission unanimously authorized City Manager Adam Boukari to develop and submit a grant application to the Children's Trust of Alachua County. The application included funding for educational programs in after-school activities, tutoring services, summer enrichment and education services, and summer high school credit courses in music and science/technology. The Children's Trust considered 56 applications and funded applications at a 70 percent, 50 percent and 30 percent levels based upon ranking of the applications. The City of Alachua's application received the highest funding level award of 70 percent for a total award of $135,002. The Alachua program will be conducted at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center.

In June 2018, the City of Alachua solicited formal proposals from qualified vendors to provide engineering inspection services to assist in the expansion of the city’s electric system. The winning bid went to Jacobs, an electrical engineering firm. Jacobs will provide construction engineering inspection (CEI) services for the expansion of City electrical infrastructure with the construction of the Legacy Substation.

The inspection services are to verify that construction is performed in compliance with plans and specifications. This includes the monitoring of daily project progress and applicable reporting to the City. Jacobs will also be responsible for an engineer’s certification of compliance certifying the work performed by the construction contractor, so payments may be processed throughout the construction of the project. This bid was approved in January 2020 and the inspection services will cost $180,000, which has already been allocated in the FY 2020 City budget out of the Electric Fund.

In 2018 the City also entered into a contract with Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) on a solar power project, which includes three 74.5 MW utility-scale solar facilities located in Osceola and Orange counties. Alachua is one of several cities involved with the project with participation at a 9 MW entitlement. However, the project has experienced delays due to site conditions, which prevents the solar from going online in mid-2020 as expected.

FMPA has proposed an amendment to its purchase agreement with Poinsett Solar, LLC to extend the time frame for providing solar power. The amendment provides for additional time for development of the solar facility in consideration of reduced pricing, and provides for a 20-year term with no extensions. This project allows the City to invest in clean, renewable energy, decreasing environmental impacts, while at the same time providing a savings to the City's electric utility customers. It also allows the City to add solar energy as a new component in its electrical services which provides additional security to rate payers in the event natural gas or other traditional energy markets spike. The Commission approved the amendment to lengthen the time frame for gaining solar power from the project. Overall, the cost to the City on the total contract will be $2 million which will come from the city's Electric Fund budget.

The Commission also approved an application for funding assistance to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) - Office of Criminal Justice Grants. The JAG Program provides agencies the flexibility to prioritize and support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. This includes law enforcement programs; prosecutions and court programs; prevention and education programs; community corrections programs; drug treatment and enforcement programs; technology improvement programs; crime victim and witness programs; and mental health programs. The Alachua Police Department (ADP) submitted a request for the purchase of equipment of gun safes and tablets/laptops in the amount of $20,157. The funding request was approved, and the distribution of funds was agreed upon and approved unanimously.

In other business, the Commission had also considered an ordinance request at the previous meeting to amend the Official Zoning Atlas from Planned Unit Development (PUD) Alachua County designation to Industrial General (IG) City of Alachua designation on a 34.63 acre property at McGinley Industrial Park is located north of County Road 25A (Northwest 120^th Lane) and the CSX railroad and to the south of Northwest 128^th Lane. Several property owners within McGinley Industrial Park had jointly submitted an application to rezone the properties to place a zoning designation on the property that is consistent with the underlying Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designation. The Commission approved the ordinance on the first reading and approved the second and final reading at this meeting on Feb. 24.

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For more information, contact Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Senior Environmental Specialist Hollie Greer at 352-264-6827.

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