Local

GAINESVILLE - Today, Alachua County Public Schools Superintendent Carlee Simon sent letters about student masking to all families and staff. The text of that letter follows:

Just a few weeks ago, we were all planning for a more ‘normal’ start to the school year. Unfortunately COVID--particularly the more infectious and dangerous Delta variant--has changed those plans.

During last night’s School Board meeting, several doctors and health experts representing UF Health, North Florida Regional Medical Center, the Alachua County Health Department, Alachua Fire Rescue and other organizations shared alarming news about COVID in our community. There’s been a huge increase in cases and hospitalizations, including among previously healthy children. Intensive care units are reaching and sometimes exceeding capacity. At times, the county has run short on ambulances because of the spike in COVID cases, which has increased response times.

ACPS is experiencing this spike first-hand. Over the weekend two of our employees passed away from COVID. The number of employees testing positive for COVID has jumped in the past two weeks, even before most of them are back from summer break. We’ve had 18 new cases in the last three days alone. More than 80 employees are now in quarantine, and that number is rising fast. Many of them have symptoms and are waiting for test results.

We want our schools to be open, because we know that’s best for children. But if this trend continues, we may not have enough people to operate our schools safely.

For these reasons, the School Board has decided to require masks for students for the first two weeks of the school year. At its August 17 meeting, the Board will reevaluate that policy.

The district had already taken the step of requiring all employees, vendors and visitors to our schools and facilities to wear masks starting immediately and running through at least September 17. That would include Meet Your Teacher/orientation sessions later this week.

In keeping with our Face Coverings Policy, families may request that their child opt out of wearing a mask by submitting a form signed by a doctor. Schools will also continue to provide mask breaks throughout the day.

Our goal is to keep schools open, protect our students, staff and families and help this community avoid an even bigger health crisis. We certainly don’t want to make it harder for the citizens of Alachua County to get the emergency and medical care they need by adding to the spread of COVID.

With your support, we can help bring this virus under control and look forward to a return to normal sooner rather than later. More importantly, we can help prevent more needless illness and deaths.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ There may be some relief in sight for Turkey Creek residents concerning flooding in the area due to Tropical Storm Elsa and other flooding issue from streams located in the Turkey Creek neighborhood.

At the July 26 Alachua City Commission meeting, Commissioner Robert Wilford, the City of Alachua’s representative at the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), reported that northwest Alachua County received up to seven inches of rain in the span of one day with the average rainfall throughout Alachua County standing at three inches.

Flooding in the Turkey Creek subdivision has been a longstanding issue. In 2019, SRWMD staff met with several Turkey Creek Master Owner’s Association (TCMOA) board members and other residents to discuss ways to alleviate the subdivision’s ongoing flooding issues. The TCMOA cannot directly apply to the SRWMD for grants, but City of Alachua may do so as a possible solution to address the longstanding flooding. Plans are underway for the City of Alachua and TCMOA to consider the best course of action.

In other business, developers of Briarwood Phase 1, a new housing development on CR 235A near Santa Fe High School, are requesting an amendment regarding sidewalk construction. On Nov. 9, 2020, the City Commission approved the Final Plat and Subdividers Agreement for the subdivision, which called for sidewalks. The developer, Troon Creek, LLC, now requests to amend the previous agreement to permit the construction of sidewalks after completion of the homes within the Subdivision.

The previous agreement required that all infrastructure, including all sidewalks, be completed by the Developer and approved by the City before final building inspections can be scheduled for any homes. The proposed amendment would permit construction of sidewalks after completion of the homes. The remaining infrastructure has not been completed by the developer, but is subject to the current Common Law Performance Bond of $4,131,891 held by the City of Alachua.

The Commission also heard a request for a replat of a five-acre property in the Red Oak Estates subdivision to modify the drainage easement for a more suitable location of a single-family residence and accessory structures. The lot lines are not being amended and building setback lines are not being reduced.

#     #     #

Email rcarson@

alachuatoday.com

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering free hunter safety internet-completion courses in 10 counties during August. Hunter safety courses are designed to help students become safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunters and learn about conservation.

Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.

All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course and have a hunting license to hunt alone (unsupervised). The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.

The date and times are:

Alachua
Aug. 7 (8 a.m. until complete) Gainesville

Baker
Aug. 28 (8 a.m. until complete) Macclenny and range to immediately follow in Lake City

Bradford
Aug. 26 (6 to 9 p.m.) Starke
and Aug. 28 (8 a.m. until noon) Graham

Citrus
Aug. 7 (9 a.m. until complete) Lecanto

Aug. 21 (9 a.m. until complete) Lecanto

Clay
Aug. 19 (6 to 9 p.m.) Green Cove Springs
and Aug. 21 (8 a.m. until noon) Graham

Columbia
Aug. 21 (8 a.m. until complete) Lake City

Duval
Aug. 26 (6 to 9 p.m.) and Aug. 28 (8:30 a.m. until noon) Jacksonville

Madison
Aug. 21 (1 p.m. until complete) Madison

Nassau
Aug. 7 (8 a.m. until complete) Fernandina

Suwannee
Aug. 14 (8:30 a.m. until complete) Live Oak

The specific location for these classes will be given to those who register in advance. Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/hunting, then clicking on “Hunter Safety” or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Lake City at 386-758-0525.

Youth between 12 and 17 years old who successfully complete a hunter safety course can learn more about conservation and experience hunting through the FWC’s Youth Hunting Program. Check out the calendar for safe, educational, mentored youth hunts. In addition, hunter safety course graduates can participate in the Youth Hunter Education Challengeprogram. YHEC events are designed to teach youth aged 18 and younger about leadership, safety and conservation while building skills and knowledge related to hunting, map and compass, wildlife identification and target shooting. Find and register for YHEC events.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A decision about a zoning request to the High Springs City Commission has once again been delayed. At the July 22 City Commission meeting, a zoning change application submitted by J.H. Londono, agent for Safeca Ltd., was rescheduled to the Sept. 20 meeting.

The request is for 89.69 acres located east of Bailey Estates be changed from R-1A (low and medium density single-family residences) to R-3 (medium density single-family detached residences). If approved by the Commission, it would be consenting to a minimum lot size of 4,500 square feet.

The application has been continued for several months to finalize a development agreement with Londono. The City has provided a draft development agreement to him, but the applicant proposed that 40 percent of the lots be 5,000 square feet minimum and the remaining lots be 6,000 square feet minimum.

In a second revised version, the applicant proposed all the lots be 6,000 square feet minimum. “City staff did an analysis of all the lots in Bailey Phase I and found that the majority of lots are in the 8,000 square feet and 9,000 square feet range,” said Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham.

The City has said they could not support a development agreement with a lot size starting at a 6,000 square foot minimum. “Staff is not in favor of this zoning request because it is not compatible with surrounding land uses,” Gillingham said. Londono does not want to increase lot size, putting the rezoning request at a standstill.

Although the City Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the proposed zoning change on Sept. 22, 2020, the Commission did not approve the request when it was first presented to them at their Oct. 8, 2020 meeting. Londono was then asked to present an amended plan. The ordinance was read and adopted on first reading at the Nov. 24 meeting, but was continued at the Dec. 10 meeting and has been continued several more times. A request at the July 22, 2021 meeting to extend second and final reading to Sept. 20.

Area residents spoke about the rezoning request and expressed a strong desire to limit further continuations of this application past Sept. 20.

In other city business, the third amendment to an agreement between the City and Prochamps, which originated in 2015, received a unanimous vote to extend the agreement for another two years. The company, which is based in Melbourne, provides registration and tracking of homes in or about to go into foreclosure. There were no changes to the agreement, which will now expire on Aug. 31, 2023.

The purpose of the agreement is to provide a system of registration and tracking of foreclosed homes and homes in default with personal contact information of the party who may be responsible for remedying Code violations.

Law enforcement mental health and wellness is the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)between High Springs and Gainesville.

Gainesville was awarded the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Grant. The grant provides for implementation of a multi-jurisdiction law enforcement mental health and wellness peer support program.

The collaboration of Peer Support Programs (PSP) within each agency will prove cost effective and could serve to be beneficial in its ability to break down the stigma and stereotypes associated with the profession of policing and mental health services.

In budget matters, the Commission approved Resolution 2021-F, which fixes the proposed tentative ad valorem taxes for fiscal year 2021-22. While the current rate is 5.88 mills, the Commission voted unanimously to raise the proposed tentative rate of taxation to 6.25 mills.

Most municipal governments set their tentative rate of taxation higher than their previous year’s rate because they have not yet gone through the budget process. The City still has the option to lower the taxation rate once they have completed the budget process.

Following up on the latest Farm Share food distribution in High Springs, Commissioner Byran Williams said that 671 households were served. He thanked everyone who volunteered their time to hand out the food.

High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard announced that National Night Out will be held on Aug. 3 this year.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As students begin to return to Gainesville for the start of the fall semester at the University of Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) wants to remind all road users of recent changes made to the roadway so they are able to navigate it safely.

Speed tables were installed in May at four locations on West University Avenue (State Road 26) as a means of slowing traffic along the roadway. Motorists are advised to slow down when approaching speed tables, as they are designed for speeds of 25 mph or less.

Additionally, the speed limit between just east of Northwest 21st Terrace and Northwest 13th Street (U.S. 441) was lowered to 25 mph at the end of May. Other safety improvements, including signal retiming and enhanced crosswalks, were also completed in the spring for the safety of pedestrians.

FDOT will begin additional improvement projects in the coming months dedicated to improving safety. These include installation of two signalized pedestrian midblock crossings just west of Northwest 14th Street and at the stadium entrance, as well as the signalization of both Northwest 16th Street and Northwest 19th Street.

FDOT reminds all pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists to obey all traffic laws to help keep everyone safe on the road.

Stay informed about lane closures and roadwork in your area by following FDOT District 2 at @MyFDOT_NEFL on Twitter or at MyFDOTNEFL on Facebook.

#     #     #

Email editor@

alachuatoday.com

ALACHUA ‒ An Obrien, Florida man was killed in an accident in Alachua o July 21. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) was called to the scene of an overturned truck on Northwest U.S. Highway 441 near Northwest 104^th Terrace at 5:09 p.m., on Wednesday, July 21. The crash stopped traffic in the area for several hours as investigators and emergency response teams were on the scene.

FHP reports that the 39-year-old Obrien, Florida driver of a white 1995 Ford pickup truck was northbound on Northwest U.S. Highway 441, approaching Northwest 104^th Terrace, when he lost control of his vehicle. The truck ran off the roadway to the right and overturned.

The driver was pronounced deceased at the crash site. His passenger, a 59-year-old man, also from Obrien, was transported to the hospital for minor injuries.

According to the FHP, the crash is still under investigation. Neither man was belted in at the time of the event.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com