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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs has finetuned its purchasing policy but did not change purchase threshold amounts.

Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2020-G on Aug. 27, which amends the City’s purchasing policy and procedures. The main changes address the City’s competitive purchasing process price thresholds and approval requirements.

This item was carried over from the July 23 Commission meeting when Commissioner Nancy Lavin suggested several modifications. Commissioners asked for more time to consider the modifications and asked that the item be brought back at this meeting.

Commissioner Lavin expressed concern with currently policy language that states “The Director of Finance, under the City Managers leadership, is the authorized purchasing agent for the city, with the City Commission’s approval.” The wording has now been changed to reflect that the City Manager is the purchasing agent for the City, but that he or she may designate someone else to act in that capacity.

Another of Lavin’s concerns was wording that the City Manager should be the signer on any contracts involving financial responsibility. That wording has been changed to read, “All contracts will be signed per City Charter unless the City Commission directs otherwise.”

Lavin also expressed concern about the length of time records are retained by the City. The wording now reflects that records retention is “in accordance with public records law.”

Another concern was about threshold amounts. City Finance Director Jennifer Stull indicated that she had checked with the City of Newberry and High Springs was similar or lower than Newberry in that capacity. Therefore, no changes were proposed on this issue.

Lavin advocated that the City Clerk, Finance Director and Department Heads purchasing amounts should be lowered. Commissioner Linda Jones opposed the measure and the purchasing amounts were not modified.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission has approved the purchase of a parts warehouse storage shed. The 12 x 30-ft. storage shed will be used for Public Works such as water, sewer, streets and cemetery. The storage shed is being obtained from Buildings and More, Lake City, for $5,850.

At the Aug. 27 Commission meeting, City Manager Joel DeCoursey, Jr. and Finance Director Jennifer Stull said the existing structure had become a safety hazard.

Although Commissioner Scott Jamison said he had no doubt the structure was needed, he didn’t understand why this item wasn’t included in the current year’s budget. In response it seems the employees were making do with the existing structure until they couldn’t do so any longer.

Stull explained that there was more than $12,000 in contingency funds in the Water Department budget, which she had planned to use for this purpose. However, Jamison said he would prefer to see the money come out of capital outlay and for the City to use the contingency fund as a last resort.

Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase. The storage shed will be located behind the Public Works office.

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WALDO – Alachua Head Start is coming to Waldo. Head Start is a free, high-quality school readiness program providing health, nutrition, disabilities and family support services to those that quality. The program serves children ages three – five years of age. Virtual programs are available this year.

Waldo City Manager Kim Worley said Alachua Head Start representatives will be at Waldo Square sometime soon to sign up children, but parents can also apply via www.ecs4kids.org or by calling 1-800-745-4836 for an interview. The program will be held at Waldo Square in the Noe Wing, 14450 N.E. 148th Avenue, Waldo.

Head Start is administered by the Office of Head Start, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“This is good for the kids in Waldo,” said Worley. “We’re very pleased to have this program available for our families,” she said.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission has set its meetings dates for the remainder of the year.

During the Aug. 27 City Commission meeting, alternate dates for the September, November and December City Commission meetings were approved. This was considered in order to accommodate the first and second budget hearings in September and holidays in November and December.

Commissioners will hold a regular City Commission meeting on Sept. 10, which will also address the first budget hearing. On Sept. 21, Commissioners will hold a Commission meeting, which takes the place of the Sept. 24 meeting, and addresses the second budget hearing.

City Hall will be closed on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, but the Commission will hold its annual Reorganization Meeting on Nov. 12. On Nov. 24, Commissioners will meet in a regular City Commission meeting, which will take the place of the Nov. 26 meeting to avoid the Thanksgiving Holiday.

The last Commissioners meeting of the calendar year will take place on Dec. 10. All meeting times remain at 6:30 p.m.

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ALACHUA County – Starting Sept. 8, Alachua County Public Schools have been offering free meals for all children, ages 0-18.

Alachua County Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Department received authorization from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer free meals to all Alachua County children ages 0-18 beginning Sept. 8 and running through Dec. 31.

Families will be able to pick up meals Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 26 locations. Students will be provided three breakfasts and three lunches on Tuesdays and four breakfasts and four lunches on Thursdays to cover meals for each day of the week.

The distribution sites are as follows:

Children do not have to be registered at a school to receive free meals and may pick up meals from any one of the 26 locations.

The expansion of the program also means that all children enrolled in a brick and mortar school will have access to free meals during the school day.

“We are thrilled to be able to implement this free program for all families in Alachua County,” said Maria Eunice, Director of Food & Nutrition Services. “This is a great opportunity for children of all ages to have access to healthy meals, and we’d like to encourage all families, regardless of income, to take advantage of it.”

For specific information on meal distribution visit the Food and Nutrition Services website at yourchoicefresh.com or contact the district office at 352-955-7539.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Two ordinances to amend the City of High Springs’ official zoning map were heard on second reading and approved in quasi-judicial public hearings during the Aug. 27 City Commission meeting.

The first to be considered was Ordinance 2020-07/Z 20-01 submitted by Jarrod Ryan Hingson and Crystal Courtney Hingson. Their application requested the City amend the Land Development Code’s Official Zoning Map from “IND” Industrial to R-1 Residential on 20.06 acres. According to the City, water is available on the property but sewer access is not. This application received unanimous approval by the Commission on first reading on Aug. 13. Although Commissioners Gloria James and Nancy Lavin were not in attendance at the Aug. 27 meeting, Commissioner Scott Jamison said he felt comfortable voting for this item since all five commissioners unanimously approved it on first reading.

The second amendment under consideration was Ordinance 2020-09/Z 20-03 submitted by Woodland III Ltd. The application requested the City amend the Land Development Code’s Official Zoning Map from “IND” Industrial to C-3 Commercial of 32.98 acres of land bordering the road known as Railroad Avenue in High Springs.

During the Aug. 13 meeting, Fire Chief Bruce Gillingham said that this property was heard and approved in 2006. The item was submitted to the Department of Community Affairs, but got tabled and swept up with Industrial-Commercial (Mixed Use) C3 zoning. This zoning request is consistent with the property to the north of it.

Dennis Lee appeared on behalf of Woodland III Ltd., but no questions were asked of him by Commissioners or staff. Although Gillingham did not testify during this public hearing, he stated previously that there was sewer access on Railroad Avenue.

Both items received second and final unanimous approval.

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