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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Area employers are having a tough time meeting labor needs and are looking for ways to reach prospective employees. A job fair in High Springs this past weekend was just one step these companies took to attract much needed workers.

The COVID pandemic had a devastating effect on the economy and employment. Prior to February 2020 the unemployment rate had hovered around 4 percent for the previous four years. But when the pandemic hit, the country shut down. People stayed home, quarantined to avoid infection. Many businesses, especially service industries like restaurants and retail stores, were forced to reduce staff due to lack of business, which then affected numerous other industries. By May 2020 the unemployment rate rose to 14.8 percent and over 33 million Americans lost their jobs.

The federal and state governments responded by increasing unemployment benefits and issued stimulus checks to help people financially survive. Unemployment benefits were extended for a longer timeframe and additional funds were added on top of the standard benefits. An additional 24 weeks of unemployment benefits, with up to a maximum of 79 weeks, was added for people who have exhausted their state benefits.

A weekly supplemental payment of $600 was added on top of any state-provided unemployment benefits, which expired July 31, 2020. A lower supplemental payment of $300, began after December 26, 2020 with an end date on or before September 6, 2021.

While this money helped many survive it also had an unexpected result. In Florida where standard unemployment benefits range from $32 to $275 per week, the addition of the $300 for an extended time created a situation where low-income workers were financially better off collecting unemployment than returning to work. And many workers had found other ways to supplement income by working from home in new entrepreneurial jobs.

As the nation began to recover economically due to a massive effort to vaccinate the population, businesses again opened up and unemployment has dropped to 5.8 percent with 9.3 million Americans still out of work. As employers began hiring again, they ran into an unexpected problem. There are plenty of companies hiring, but few people were applying. The jobs are there—the workers are not.

Andrew Miller runs Poetic Cuts, a small barber shop in High Springs. As the economy improved, he looked to expand his business and hire employees, but received no applications. Throughout the area he saw multiple signs offering jobs but few takers.

Miller believed it would take a concerted effort and a single location to make people aware of available jobs in the area. He approached local businesses including Radiant Life World, which owns several restaurants, including the Great Outdoors and Pink Flamingo. They discussed the situation with the Chamber of Commerce and High Springs Parks and Recreation Manager Damon Massina. Out of these discussions came the idea to host a job fair at the High Springs Civic Center on June 22.

Over 25 companies had expressed interest in attending, but bad weather served to lower the number of participants. “It's a rainy day, so we lost a few companies that didn’t show and turnout has not been as good as we hoped, but overall, I think this has been beneficial and has helped those that are interested in finding work,” said Deborah Simone, HR manager for Radiant Life. “I think most businesses have been surprised at how hard it is to find new employees. Our restaurants have been understaffed and had trouble finding qualified employees. We are hoping by holding the job fair, we can help people find jobs,” Simone said.

Many of the attending companies expressed similar feelings. Sgt. Park with the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) said he was somewhat baffled by the current situation. “When I joined the DOC, jobs there were so few that I had to wait six months until another employee retired,” Park said. “We had a reduction in the work force due to the Covid pandemic and are now understaffed. We are not only offering jobs, but sign on bonuses as well.”

Several other companies at the event echoed surprise at how hard it has been to find employees. Representatives from Whitfield Windows and Doors, North Central Florida Air Conditioning, Domino’s Pizza, Smith and Sons and Pinnacle Site Solutions all shared similar experiences.

Each company has a variety of positions, some needing qualified workers with specific skills but there are also positions that need no prior training. Stacy Brown with Smith and Sons said, “We have a variety of positions, but just can’t find anyone that wants to work.”

Dan O'Neal with Natures Source, which supplies firewood to Lowes, Home Depot, Publix and various restaurants, believes the problem is directly related to the stimulus and unemployment benefits. “Unlike some other companies here, we hire unskilled workers that do not need previous training, but we still have plenty of positions available,” he said. “I am amazed at the lack of people actually looking for work that are still unemployed.”

Several of the companies reported not being understaffed, but have seen a large increase in business with the improving economy and need to expand their work force.

Although the weather affected turnout this time, companies are still looking to hire and this may not be the last job fair opportunity.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Florida League of Cities (FLC) recently announced that two staff members of the City of Newberry have been appointed to the League’s Legislative Policy Committee.

Director of Finance and Administration Dallas Lee was appointed to the Municipal Administration Committee and will join Newberry City Clerk Judy Rice, who was reappointed to the Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works Committee.

As a Legislative Policy Committee member, Rice and Lee will help develop the League’s Legislative Action Agenda, which details priority issues that are most likely to affect daily municipal governance and local decision-making during the upcoming legislative session, as well as help League staff, understand the real-world implications of proposed legislation. Committee members are also asked to serve as advocates for local decision-making throughout the legislative process.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve as a legislative policy committee member,” said Rice on learning of her re-appointment. “As a public servant, I look forward to discussing with the committee the many issues facing our cities and deciding on a policy direction for the Florida League of Cities legislative efforts,” she said.

Lee echoed Rice’s sentiments stating, “I am pleased and excited to serve on this committee to offer a local voice to these important topics at the state level.”

In announcing these appointments, FLC explained their purpose and philosophy. “The Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities, which are formed and governed by their citizens. The League believes in ‘Local Voices Making Local Choices,’ which focuses on the impact citizens and city leaders have in improving Florida’s communities.”

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NEWBERRY ‒ One Monday, June 14, the City of Newberry conducted a Board of Adjustment meeting, followed by a regular City Commission meeting and finally a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board meeting.

The Commission gave unanimous approval of a new contract for law enforcement services between Newberry and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department.

The earlier contract was signed in October 2017 under Sheriff Sadie Darnell and began in 2018 at $777,000. The agreement was for a three-year period with a two-year extension allowed. In subsequent years a 3.75 percent increase was added to the previous year’s cost each fiscal year. However, during the 2020-2021 fiscal year the contract increased by 20.46 percent with no increase in services.

Newberry City Manager Mike New said the cost would have been $1,007,513 this year with an increase in health insurance and retirement costs.

In October 2020, Newberry sent a contract termination letter to the Sheriff’s Department. Based on the terms of the previous agreement and the termination letter, services provided to Newberry were scheduled to end July 1, 2021.

The new agreement with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., is for a five-year period and begins with a cost to the City of $867,731. “That is a savings of [nearly] $140,000,” said New. From July 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2021, the City will pay monthly payments of $113,856. The next fiscal year’s total cost would be $900,276. With an increase of 3.75 percent per fiscal year, by the end of the contract period in 2024-2025, the total payment would be $1,005,396.

In addition to continuing to provide three school resource officers, one for each Newberry school, a full-time deputy within the City, crossing guards, increased patrols within the city limits, extra deputies for the usual events and dispatch services, Watson proposes to establish a sheriff’s substation in Newberry. In this agreement, the City agrees to make office space available for use as a substation via a lease agreement.

According to Watson, he proposes to have sheriff’s substations in each Alachua County municipality that doesn’t have their own police department.

Two citizens asked Watson if the schools could retain the same school resource officers, saying that their children have grown to trust the ones that have been stationed in their schools previously. Watson said he was moving people around in his department so his staff would have the opportunity to experience other aspects of police work.

In other business, Commissioners considered checking out additional options for legal services as the City has used the same law firm for 50 years. An option brought up was having an in-house attorney on staff. Ultimately, Commissioners expressed their belief that they had good representation currently and no action was taken.

Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas reviewed the proposed Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Redevelopment Plan for the CRA Board and explained that the Plan is funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF).

The proposed CRA district is about one square mile in downtown Newberry that has been determined to be blighted. Total estimated costs to address everything in the plan, which includes parking, economic development, affordable housing, streetscaping, historic preservation and parks/public spaces, etc. would be between $9.7 and $14.15 million.

The CRA plan is for 20 years. Thomas said projected TIF contributions are estimated to be $1,639,305 over that period of time. “However, the City can request another 20 years near the end of the initial 20-year-period in order to complete the projects unfunded at that time,” he said.

Following unanimous approval of the CRA plan Thomas said the plan would be forwarded to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for consideration at the joint meeting between the City and County scheduled for June 28.

Two Quasi-Judicial public hearings and a final plat approval for Phase 1A of Avalon Woods were held on second reading and all were approved. The first was Ordinance 2021-24 for voluntary annexation which involves three parcels contiguous to the City boundaries. The total acreage annexed is 238.6 +/- and the location is 3200 N.W. 202^nd Street.

The second Quasi-Judicial hearing was an application to amend the Lexington Station Mixed Use Development, Ordinance 2021-14, on 196 +/- acres directly north, west and south of the Easton Newberry Sports Complex. The request also includes changing the development’s name to Avalon Woods.

In addition to the name change, a modification to the maximum permitted residential and nonresidential uses was approved. As part of their approval and recommendation to the City Commission, the Planning and Zoning Board advised that storage or mini warehouses not be allowed along highway frontage. The plan indicates that those issues are addressed.

The final item approved also involved Avalon Woods, which received Phase 1A final plat approval. Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell said the plat had been reviewed by the city’s surveyor and the city attorney and the developer has provided a surety agreement for the Phase 1A infrastructure.

New addressed the joint City/County Commission meeting scheduled for June 28. He listed the items the County wants to address and then the items the City wishes to discuss. The County has listed a strategic workshop and infrastructure surtax, which New said he believes is the combination of a road tax and Wild Spaces Public Places funds to be provided to each city. He also listed a residential rental unit permit and inspection program the County hopes the City will partner with them on. A Trunk Radio System and an update on the Ag. Center and Extension Office are also listed by the County.

Tentative City items include the CRA plan, a rural road resurfacing program and support for a regional wastewater treatment plant.

“Several workshops will be taking place this summer,” New said. June 26 is the date for the Community Visioning Session. “Anyone planning to attend should RSVP as soon as possible,” he said.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Area residents may be getting their power from a solar array north of High Springs if Duke Energy is successful in negotiating a lease agreement with property owners. A presentation by Duke’s Renewables Manager Thomas Lawery and Director of Renewables Development Vanessa Goff kicked off the June 10 High Sprigs City Commission meeting.

The 720 acres under consideration for the solar power development is just north of High Springs. Duke estimates there would be tax revenue to Alachua County for a minimum of 30 years of more than $12 million. Although the property is just outside of the city limits, City Manager Ashley Stathatos said the current property owners may want to annex into High Springs.

During construction, which would take nine to 12 months to complete, Duke estimated that up to 200 local construction jobs would be created. Presenters were quick to point out that no public resources would be needed for the project. Trash collection, police, water and sewer would not be required reducing impact to local resources.

Asked about the 30-year timeframe, Goff said that often property owners do not want to sell their property, but will lease the property for 30 – 40 years. Fencing would surround the facility and a 150-foot buffer would surround it to block the visibility of the fencing. “The facility would include 30 acres of pollinator plantings,” said Goff. Connection to the utility grid would be underground from the facility to Duke Energy 230 kV Ginnie Substation in Gilchrist County.

Duke will be holding public meetings to let surrounding property owners and those who would benefit from the facility ask questions, see what is planned and help everyone understand the benefits of a program of this sort. Commissioners commented that they saw this solar array as a way to help protect the environment from development that might prove detrimental.

In other business, a text amendment to the Land Development Code concering food trucks was unanimously approved on first reading.

“In mid-2020, Florida Statute [Section 509] was passed limiting how local municipalities could regulate food trucks within their jurisdiction,” said Stathatos. “The biggest change shifted licensing solely to the state and prohibited cities from requiring licenses or permits from the owners of food trucks. However, the statute still allowed for the regulation of food trucks via zoning laws,” she said.

In an effort to comply with the state statute, the City is required to amend the existing Food Truck Ordinance, which was passed on Jan. 9, 2020.

The amendment lists notable ordinance changes describing where and under what circumstances food trucks can set up and also adds a section for Food Truck Parks detailing standards by which food trucks must comply. Stathatos said applications for food truck vendors would be included on the City’s web page. Assistant City Manager Bruce Gillingham said there would be inspections conducted to verify that the food trucks were operating in a safe manner and had addressed appropriate facilities requirements.

Commissioner Scott Jamison suggested a notification should be posted on the food truck stating that the truck owner and property owner had met all qualifications. Although that wasn’t included in the motion to approve, it is something that the City may choose to implement at some point.

Another text amendment to the Land Development Code received unanimous approval by Commissioners on first reading. This ordinance lists allowable uses and in which zoning districts they are allowed by right, by Special Use application, by Special Exception and by Conditional Use application.

“The table as a whole has been rewritten,” she said. “This includes adding new uses, amending certain uses to be reviewed at a higher/lower tier, deleting duplicate entries and correcting formatting issues.” She said it was obvious that these issues hadn’t been updated in some time and it was time for a review and updating. Commissioners agreed and voted to approve the proposed ordinance.

In other action, the Commission approved on first reading rezoning the City-owned public recreation facility known as Memorial Park from R1 (Residential) to P/SP (Public/Semi-Public). Rezoning the property more accurately reflects the use of the property and brings the zoning into compliance with the allowable uses table within the City’s Land Development Code.

Commissioners also approved Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) specific assistance agreements to assist the City in planning for future water, wastewater and reclaimed water improvements. Gillingham said FRWA is in the process of preparing Critical Asset Evaluation and Management Plans for the City.

The plans will provide funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program and supply part of the required documentation for State Revolving Fund applications for financing needed infrastructure repairs and improvements. “The plan also equips the City with an inventory of the condition, age and performance of critical assets,” said Gillingham. The plan is expected to become completed in three to four months.

“The cost for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Facility Plan is $33,000,” said Gillingham. “The cost for the Wastewater/Reclaimed State Revolving Fund Loan Facility Plan is $30,300. Both plans can be done in phases.”

The City will use money remaining in the Water and Sewer funds that are currently available in this fiscal year. Gillingham suggested that the Commission could consider budgeting to finish the projects as they address the next fiscal year’s budget.

Commissioners unanimously approved both agreements.

As a final act of the evening, Commissioners enthusiastically agreed to the appointment of Cassandra Davis to the vacant Parks and Recreation Advisory Board position. The position is set to expire in November 2021.

The Commissioners agreed to host Farm Share for food distribution again on either Aug. 21 or 28, depending on Farm Share’s schedule.

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GAINESVILLE—The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention has made its way across the Pond! The Institute of Imagination (iOi), a London based charity, is hosting The Big Build from May 31-July 8 featuring the Cade’s PolyCade Project.

PolyCade utilizes paper polyhedrons, three-dimensional figures made of various flat faces, lines and sharp edges commonly used in art, design and architecture. Visitors can build these paper sculptures up to towering heights and then tear them down to start again.

“Innovation and invention are not possible without first pushing the limits of imagination,” said Stephanie Bailes, President and Executive Director of the Cade Museum. “The PolyCade Project encourages individual exploration and a community-wide shared experience. It provides an important opportunity to fuse imagination with the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning process.” 

The PolyCade Project was designed exclusively for the Cade Museum by renowned Dutch artist Noa Haim of Collective Paper Aesthetics and is available to be licensed by museums around the world.

The Institute of Imagination licensed PolyCade to be a part of their Big Build initiative. The Big Build is a public art sculpture installation that was imagined by thousands of primary school students from Newham using the PolyCade polyhedrons. In May, 14 schools explored how to transform ideas into 3D models, creating polyhedron sculptures that represent hope, celebration and community in the wake of the pandemic. The children’s vision was then brought to life on a large scale across the district by Danish-born East Ham artist Anne Harild.

The Institute of Imagination writes “This exciting initiative brings much needed creativity to the heart of Newham, one of the London districts hardest hit by the pandemic. Inspired by the district’s 2021 Year of the Young Person, the sculptures aim to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of young people across Newham. Each sculpture provides an opportunity for children and young people to design and build together in a symbol of collaboration and hope.”

The Big Build has been and is on display in the following locations on the following dates:

1. Thames Barrier Park | 31st May – 17th June

2. London Design & Engineering UTC | 1st June – 1st July

3. Queen’s Market | 2nd June – 2nd July

4. Beckton Globe Library | 3rd June – 5th July

5. Westfield Stratford City | 4th June – 6th July

6. East Ham Library | 5th June – 7th July

7. Olympic Park – Pontoon Cafe | 6th June – 8th July

About the Cade Museum
 
In 2004, Dr. James Robert Cade and his family established the Cade Museum Foundation to build the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention in Gainesville, Florida. The Cade’s mission is to transform communities by inspiring and equipping future inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. Dr. Cade, a physician at the University of Florida, was best known as the leader of a research team that invented Gatorade in 1965. The Cade Museum is open to the public and located at 811 South Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601. An independent 501(c)(3) public foundation, the museum receives no operational funding from federal, state, or local governments, or the University of Florida.

About the Institute of Imagination (iOi)
The Institute of Imagination is a London based charity with international reach. Through dynamic hands-on events with partners, such as TATE and Lego, the organization champions opportunities for children and young people to develop their imaginations, a quality that is vital to creativity and the next generation’s ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our goal is to spark imaginations everywhere and encourage creative learning through our events, training, partnerships, and research.

In 2020, the iOi launched iOi at Home: a digital event space providing engaging creative programs for children and young people to support skills development and wellbeing.

www.ioi.london

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