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ALACHUA ‒ Police Chief Jesse Sandusky began the Feb. 27 Alachua City Commission meeting with a special presentation for a member of the Alachua Police Department (ADP) who is retiring. The presentation was for K-9 Thor, a Belgian Malinois who has been in service with the APD since 2014. Thor, now 10 years old, officially retired from service at the meeting. In honor of Thor's service to the community, Sandusky presented a shadow box of his years with the department to his handler, Sgt. Justin Horn. Thor will now become Horn’s family pet with a life much more relaxed than as a police K-9.

That ceremony was followed by presenting certificates to 12 student artists from the Alachua Learning Academy who had their artwork featured on display in the foyer of City Hall.  Mayor Gib Coerper and Ms. Kovie of the Alachua Learning Academy called each student up to present the certificates while they displayed their artwork and posed for photos.

During the City’s fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, the Finance and Administrative Services Department periodically prepares fiscal analysis reports conveying the City's general fiscal operating condition to the City Commission.  City Accounting Manager Tyler Williams gave the report for the quarter ending in January, showing that the City currently has $60,659,853 in its budget, which includes both available cash holdings of $26,754,588 as well as investment portfolios of $1,639,825.

In other business, the Commission heard from City Planner Adam Hall regarding the consideration of the preliminary plat and Final PD Plan for the Peggy Road Planned Development project, which proposes the subdivision of a 51.26-acre property into 150 single family lots with associated common areas and road right-of-way.  The property is located south of Peggy Road, north of CSX rail right-of-way, east of Interstate 75.and directly across from Legacy Park, The proposed subdivision will consist of lots ranging in size from 6,000 square feet to 9,335 square feet, with the majority of lots being 6,000 square feet.

The preliminary plat proposes common areas along the eastern, southern and western boundaries of the property with one access point onto Peggy Road.  A pedestrian pathway will connect the internal sidewalk system to the public right-of-way of Peggy Road and will include a connection to the Hal Brady Recreation Complex and Legacy Park.

There will be a 50-foot buffer zone, owned by CSX, between the proposed lots and the eastern property line. The plan also proposes creating a turn lane and flashing caution light on Peggy Road to improve safety for cars entering and exiting the development as well as a crosswalk for pedestrians to access Legacy Park. The Commission approved the preliminary plat, which will now submit construction plans before getting final approval by the Commission.

On another development issue, Fletcher Development, LLC. entered into a Subdividers Agreement with the City of Alachua to provide the requirements for the construction of infrastructure for a project known as Savannah Station Phase 2A, Unit 2. This infrastructure was completed in accordance with the Subdividers Agreement and the City’s Land Development Regulations on Dec. 7, 2021. The one-year maintenance period has expired and any items in need of repair have been completed by Fletcher Development, LLC.

The initial estimate for the value of the infrastructure was $1,284,669. The required infrastructure improvements by the developer included the water system, wastewater system, electric system, roadways, stormwater conveyance system and sidewalks. Since the work has been completed, the City approved returning the $1,284,669 surety to the developer.

The Commission also approved acceptance of three recent grants to the City. The Children's Trust of Alachua County (CTAC) provided the City with a grant of $66,665 for Alachua's summer camp and enrichment services to be held at Legacy Park. Additional funding of $20,000 is projected to be received from non-CTAC funded enrollment fees.

In October 2022, staff submitted an application to the Duke Energy Foundation and the Greater Gainesville Chamber Foundation for a grant to help, strengthen, and uplift the community's awareness for climate and environmental resiliency in the Mill Creek Wetland Park. On Jan. 23, 2023, representatives from the Duke Energy Foundation and the Greater Gainesville Chamber Foundation presented the City Commission with an award of $20,000 to assist with the cost of educational exhibits and signage throughout the park.

On Nov. 16, 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) executed a grant agreement with the City for the Alachua West Wastewater Improvement Project to design and construct a new pressurized wastewater main and make improvements to existing life stations. This grant is in the amount of $850,000 and requires no City matching contribution.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board met on Feb. 9 to consider one item, a Commercial Façade Improvement Grant application for Prohibition Pizza. The grant request was initially submitted on Oct. 20, 2022 by the owners, David and Kelly Potter.

The grant amount was for $5,000 to help pay a portion of a new roof on a building located next door to the Priest Theater at 18559 N.W. 237^th Street.

The roof was estimated to cost $15,500 and had already been installed. During the meeting it was pointed out that normally CRA grants are not approved after the work has been completed. High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos said that the application was submitted prior to the work being done, and through no fault of the property owners, the request could not be heard until this meeting. Staff recommended approval of the grant.

Board members agreed as they unanimously approved the grant application request and wished the owners well in their endeavors to get the business open.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Three people were transported to the hospital after a vehicle crash in Newberry. On Sunday, Feb. 19, at approximately 6 p.m., firefighters from Newberry Fire Department and Alachua County fire Rescue responded to a two-vehicle crash at 24252 West Newberry Road.

Upon arrival, firefighters found one vehicle on its side and one occupant trapped. Crews used the Jaws of Life, hydraulic extraction equipment to remove the occupant from the overturned vehicle.

Three individuals were transported to local hospitals for evaluation.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission has given final zoning approval for a development of 636 homes and 140,000 square feet of commercial properties. The 220 +/- acre property was rezoned from Agricultural (A) to Planned Development (PD). The Commission, at the Feb. 27 commission meeting, approved the zoning change for the property located south of West Newberry Road/State Road 26 and west of Southwest 202nd Street. Development of the property is planned for four phases which is to occur over a 20-year period.

CPAs & Zoning

The Commission also gave unanimous approval to rezone four properties from Alachua County Agricultural to City of Newberry Agriculture (A). These properties were annexed into Newberry on July 11, 2022.

Properties rezoned included 22.75 +/- acres owned by Joshua P. and Tracie A. Blackford located on the west side of the intersection of Northwest County Road 235 and Northwest 46^th Avenue; 4.35 +/- acres owned by Clifton A. and Shari D. Brown located on the west side of Northwest 32^nd Avenue; 20.68 +/- acres owned by Richard Marion Fowler II located on the southwest corner of West Newberry Road/State Road 26 and Southwest 266^th Street; and 40 +/- acres owned by Martin and Martin (20 acres) and Todd and Lori Martin (20 acres) located on the east side of Northwest 298^th Street.

CR 337 Water Main Extension

A $1,249,227 base bid for the County Road 337 water main extension was awarded to Andrews Paving, Inc. Director of Utilities and Public Works Jamie Jones said the project has already been approved as part of the current budget. Construction on this project is set to begin in late April or early May.

Consent Agenda

Construction plans were approved by resolution for a 45 +/- acre property owned by Jilanne Belcher. The property is located at the northwest corner of Southwest 15^th Avenue and Southwest 170^th Street. The construction plans provide for infrastructure and site work improvements. The proposed infrastructure will remain privately owned and maintained. This petition is related to the special exception for a Small-Scale Rural Subdivision approved by the Board of Adjustment on Oct. 24, 2022 and the preliminary plat entitled Lakota approved by the City Commission on Oct. 24, 2022. A final plat will be forthcoming.

In other business, the Commissioners unanimously authorized submittal of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program for the Agri-Tech Innovation Park. This is a competitive grant. If the City’s grant application is approved the grant would help pay for a qualified consultant to produce the incubator business plan and help pay for economic development consulting services. The total project cost is $75,000 and the grant amount being applied for is $55,000.

The Commission also approved construction plans and a replat for Cedar Estates Addition, which Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas said is an infill project. The construction area encompasses 2.5 acres and the replat allows for seven detached single-family residences and one lot designated for stormwater retention. The City will provide utility services for this project.

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WALDO ‒ Dennis James Alton, 49, and Billie Jo Marie Dowling, 45, were arrested Saturday, Feb. 25, after Dowling padlocked Alton in a room of their home in an attempt to prevent his arrest on a warrant. Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies went to the couple’s home in Waldo on Saturday morning to serve a warrant on Alton for violation of probation in a 2015 case of aggravated stalking against Dowling. The warrant was originally issued in 2016 after Alton moved without notifying his probation officer.

Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence and made verbal announcements for Alton to come outside. Dowling reportedly came to the back door and told deputies she would come back out when she was dressed. Deputies reported hearing furniture being moved around inside the home after she closed the door.

Dowling reportedly came out to talk to deputies in front of the house and told them that she hadn’t seen Alton for a month and didn’t know whether he was in the house. She went inside and reportedly called out for him a few times, then went inside a room, where deputies could hear her talking to someone. When she came out of the room, she was holding a padlock, and a deputy reportedly saw her locking the door of the room with the padlock. She then went out to the front porch and sat down, reportedly continuing to deny that Alton was inside the house.

When deputies asked Dowling where she put the key to the padlock, she reportedly said she didn’t know where it was and also would not tell deputies why she locked the room.

Alton was reportedly found hiding under the bed in the padlocked room. Dowling reportedly acted surprised when he was escorted out of the home.

Both defendants have been charged with resisting or obstructing officers without violence.

Post Miranda, Dowling reportedly confessed that she knew he was in the bedroom the whole time and that she intentionally tried to hide him from deputies.

Post Miranda, Alton reportedly admitted hiding under the bed when he realized deputies were at the house.

Alton has one felony conviction and was sentenced to probation, which he is now charged with violating. His warrant specifies that he be held without bond, however, court records indicate a bond set at $10,000.

Arraignment is scheduled for violation of probation on March 14.

Dowling has been released from the Alachua County Jail.

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HIGH SPRINGS – One person was escorted out of the Feb. 23 High Springs Commission meeting as tempers flared. The root of the controversy was the agenda item “Discuss, consider and act on City support for High Springs Chamber of Commerce operations and events.” A number of people attended the meeting, speaking out about the matter. One resident, Janet Evans, said she felt like the Chamber is being targeted. The meeting turned into a near free-for-all when Evans later attempted to speak a second time on the topic.

In an effort to maintain control of the meeting, Mayor Gloria James explained that Evans had already spoken and others were waiting their turn to speak. At that point Evans began shouting at another meeting attendee, Bruce Borders, who had stood up and was heading to the podium.

High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard and another officer escorted Evans out of the room. After about five minutes, Evans slipped back into the room silently and listened for a few minutes and left the meeting shortly thereafter.

Rumors had been circulating throughout the community that the City wanted to take over Chamber events, a notion that City Manager Ashley Stathatos refuted, saying that the City would like to be an equal partner with the Chamber to help make the events larger and help support the business community. “We would like to be included in planning and visioning with the Chamber as equal partners,” said Stathatos.

Stathatos presented a list of the functions City staff had already performed for the Chamber’s Christmas Parade. She pointed out that there is no budget for assisting the Chamber with their events so she has had to cut out other budgeted items in an effort to keep departments within their budgets when they work overtime to support a Chamber event.

Chamber President Sharon Decker addressed the Commission to say she welcomes a partnership with the City. “I have never said I didn’t want to work with the City,” Decker said.

A cross section of residents and business owners, as well as a former city commission, weighed in on the matter. Former High Springs City Commissioner Linda Jones, an apparent self-appointed liaison between the City and Chamber, said that Decker was not receiving any communication from the City. Stathatos countered by saying Decker has her cell phone number and has called her over the weekend and at night. She said the only time she had not responded was when her children were visiting from out of state.

Business owner Jessica Caldes, who works in partnership with the City on the Summer Arts Camp, said her program has done well in partnership with the City.

Business owner Jeffery Connolly said the day of the Christmas parade was his biggest day ever. Chamber member Andrew Miller talked about the growth in the number of floats and Pioneer Days vendors.

Backers of Decker included Lanier Smith, who read a letter, which had been provided to the Commission, in support of Decker. Sharon Decker’s husband, Don Decker, asked for the City to give the Chamber support. But not everyone at the meeting voiced support one way or another, with Alice Brown saying she was more confused after listening to the discussion.

Commissioner Katherine Weitz suggested that the City consider adding a charge for review of Special Event Permits, which is what the Chamber and others would have to submit prior to obtaining permission for their event.

Following discussion, Stathatos said she would submit Special Event Permits to the Commission so that they could tell how much the City would be contributing and they could determine whether to exceed the City budget. There was no further conversation about the matter, and the Commission moved on to another agenda topic.

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