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NEWBERRY ‒ Commissioners in the City of Newberry received their annual audit report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023.  The City had one finding in each the City audit and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) audit. 

The audit was presented by Barbara Boyd, a partner at Purvis Gray, the City’s contracted audit firm. 

This is the first year that the City has had its CRA separately audited.  The special review was triggered by a statewide law requiring such an audit in any year when the CRA has had $100,000 or more in either expenditures or revenues. 

Newberry received an unmodified opinion, the highest level of assurance auditors provide.

Auditors reviewed internal controls to determine if there are material deficiencies, finding none.  Internal controls are measures taken by the City to ensure the integrity of the city’s finances and transactions, such as requiring multiple signatures on checks, oversight of accounts, and the division of responsibilities across multiple personnel to improve transparency and oversight.

Boyd said the City’s local government investment policies materially complied with Florida law.

Because the City had more than $750,000 in grant funds, Purvis Gray also performed a State single audit to ensure that the City complied with the requirements of major grant programs, finding no internal control issues with respect to those funds.

The only issues cited by auditors centered on the City’s building permit process.  As the pace of growth in Newberry has continued to rise, so too have the number of building permits being issued.  In auditing the building permit process, Boyd said of the building permit packages “tested,” auditors found two building permits with incorrect rate type, while another permit had the incorrect valuation, which is used to determine the permit amount.

Boyd said while none of those issues caused any material misstatement, Purvis Gray makes a recommendation that the City’s management go back and evaluate the building permitting process to make sure sound policies and procedures are in place to prevent discrepancies.  

For the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the results were similar to the City’s general audit, garnering a “clean” opinion.  The only issue found during the audit process of the CRA related to the timely transmittal of its budget to the County.  The CRA is funded by tax increment financing from taxes returned to the CRA in part by the County and in part by the City.  Boyd said the City should submit its budget for the CRA to the County within 10 days after its adoption and within 10 days after any amendment to the budget.

The City’s total revenues and expenditures were both up about $1.1 million.  The primary drivers behind increased revenues for the year ending Sept. 30, 2023 was increased property values, a significant uptick in building permit fees, and additional interest income as a result of the City’s investment policies.  As for expenditures, the primary reason for the increase from the prior year to last year was an increase in the number of personnel as well as pay adjustments following a pay study.

City Manager Mike New lauded Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee and his team for keeping the City in compliance while continued growth increase opportunities for missteps.

Also during the April 8 meeting, the Newberry commissioners adopted an investment policy codifying the City’s current investment plan and allow the additional investment of surplus funds as permitted by Florida law.  The objective of the policy is to build the confidence of debtholders for improved bond issuance terms as the City embarks on major projects, including the construction of new City Hall facilities.

The Commission authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Coleman Construction to pave a new parking lot at the Easton Sports Complex.  The majority of the 42 new paved parking spaces will be located directly in front of the Easton Sports Complex.  The project also includes 64 new “stabilized” grass spaces in addition to stormwater improvements to deal with new runoff generated by the paved parking surfaces.  The total cost of the project is estimated at $581,000.  The project will be funded by nearly $448,000 in Wild Spaces Public Places sales tax funds and another $133,000 from the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.  In addition to the parking project, the City is planning to construct a new gymnasium at the Easton site.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ A fire erupted on I-75 as a semi car hauler, laden with vehicles, became engulfed in flames, bringing traffic to a grinding halt and sending plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.

Units from Alachua County Fire Rescue and High Springs Fire Department responded to a commercial vehicle fire on I-75 at the 398-mile marker southbound at about 10:45 a.m. on March 20, 2024. Also assisting were units from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Units arrived to find a semi tractor pulling a car hauling trailer with heavy fire involving the trailer and multiple vehicles being carried.

The truck’s operator was able to separate the tractor from the trailer, limiting damage to the trailer and the vehicles being hauled. The trailer and three of the vehicles sustained heavy damage and one vehicle sustained minor damage, but no injuries were reported.

The I-75 southbound exit was closed at exit 399 and vehicles were rerouted around the area. Authorities reported that the incident prompted authorities to shut down several lanes of the interstate, diverting traffic onto alternate routes for approximately one hour to allow for operations and the clearing of debris. Fire rescue units responding to the scene included two fire engines, two water tankers and one District Chief.

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ALACHUA ‒ In a decisive move toward fortifying emergency response capabilities, the City of Alachua is entering into an agreement with Alachua County for public safety radio services.

Previously, public safety radio services (PSRS) county-wide have been provided by GRUCom, the communications arm of Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU).

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners recently purchased the radio system previously owned by GRUCom. This has resulted in a more equitable share among the 10 partner agency system users, including the Alachua Police Department.

All local law enforcement agencies, fire rescue agencies, and some local municipal and federal agencies utilize the public safety radio system, also known as the trunked radio system (TRS) that until recently, has been wholly owned and operated by GRUCom. Having access to the PSRS allows for communication with the Combined Communications Center, which provides countywide dispatch services and allows for the efficient operation of local governments which use the PSRS.

Alachua Commissioner Jennifer Blalock made a motion to approve the agreement and Vice Mayor Dayna Miller provided the second. The measure passed by a unanimous vote of the Commission.

After the purchase, all partner agencies, including the Alachua Police Department, received new user agreements. Under the new agreement, the City of Alachua will pay Alachua County a total $84,084 annually for a period of five years. This annual payment will be made in 12 monthly installments of $7,007. After five years, the agreement will be renegotiated.

The City of Alachua is responsible for the purchase of radios and any required upgrades or reprogramming will also be the responsibility of the City of Alachua.

The agreement was effective Jan. 1, 2024 and will renew annually on Oct. 1, unless terminated by the parties.

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STARKE - Bradford County School District was awarded $4 million by Gov. Ron DeSantis to support expanding Santa Fe College’s Associate in Science in Nursing (ASN) program into Bradford County.

The “Bradford: Building a Healthy Future,” initiative was among nearly $223 million in projects funded by the Governor on Feb. 2, 2024, through the federally supported Multipurpose Community Facilities Program. The program provides for the construction and rehabilitation of community facilities for workforce development, educational opportunities and access to healthcare in small and rural communities for Floridians.

Bradford County received the maximum award. It was among 29 projects funded across the state, including community centers, health clinics, schools and workforce development programs serving 18 counties.

The school district’s collaboration with Santa Fe College will increase access to healthcare education in Bradford County as well as access to healthcare for county residents by addressing nursing shortages experienced locally and across the U.S.

“Nurses are an indispensable part of an effective health care system, and both locally and nationally, there is a need for trained, qualified nursing professionals,” Santa Fe College President Dr. Paul Broadie II said. “We are excited to partner with North Florida Technical College on this transformational opportunity to address the nursing shortage, while providing the citizens of Bradford County easier access to the training needed to enter this in-demand field.”

The program will be located at the school district’s North Florida Technical College in Starke. The award will allow NFTC to renovate, upgrading space for the nursing classroom, lab and office space, as well as the purchase of equipment. The award also supports remote instruction.

The program, which anticipates launching in 2026-27, will allow students to earn their Associate in Science degree in Nursing without having to travel to Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus in Gainesville. Graduates from Santa Fe College’s program will have the opportunity to earn high paying jobs. The average pay for Registered Nurses is $71,922 annually.

The collaboration with Bradford County complements the college’s efforts to expand nursing education, including the Nursing ANEW program launched in 2022, which provides instruction on nights and weekends for working professionals.

“We are excited to continue to expand our partnership with Santa Fe College,” Will Harley, Bradford County Superintendent of Schools, said. “The ASN program will be a valuable bridge for our students at North Florida Technical College to continue their education and pursue jobs that provide a higher wage.

“I am so appreciative of all of those who worked on this grant to increase the opportunities to our community. We will be working hard to complete the necessary renovations so that the program can start as soon as possible.” 

“Bradford: Building a Healthy Future,” also includes support for the proposed telehealth access space for Bradford County students and citizens, increasing access to healthcare and fitness.

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ALACHUA ‒ In a collaborative effort to preserve the natural beauty of Alachua, the City of Alachua will be hosting the 2024 Great American Cleanup on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – noon. This event is Alachua County’s largest community improvement program with more than 20,000 communities across the nation participating each spring.

Alachua is encouraging volunteers of all ages to participate in the event this year. There will be cleanup and beautification projects of various difficulty levels, so that volunteers, both young and old, can participate and make a difference in a short amount of time.

“We are proud to participate each year in the Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest community improvement program,” said Rodolfo Valladares, Assistant City Manager and former Public Services Director for the City of Alachua. “It’s a wonderful time for The Good Life Community to showcase one of our core values: neighbors helping neighbors.”  

Breakfast will be provided for all participants beginning at 8 a.m. and lunch will be available at the conclusion of the event. Trash bags, safety vests, gloves, maps, instructions and other pertinent tools necessary to complete the cleanup will also be provided.

Interested in joining in the 2024 Great American Cleanup? Show up at Alachua City Hall, 15100 142^nd Terrace, at 8:00 a.m. on May 4, 2024 and help keep Alachua beautiful.

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ALACHUA ‒ On March 26, 2024, the Alachua Lions Club celebrated the 84^th Cattlemen’s Banquet, holding its largest charity fundraiser of the year to a packed house at Valley View, just outside of Alachua.

The evening's program featured an array of entertainment, including a live music performance, a silent auction and the Cattleman of the Year award.

The annual Cattlemen's Banquet is the longest continuous Lions Club fundraising event in Florida, with all profits from the banquet supporting charitable sight, hearing, youth and community service activities. It all started 1940 when the Alachua Lions Club sought to bolster Alachua High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) students in their quest to raise a steer for auction. Lions Club members attended the auction and drove the bidding higher. Not only did their winning bid cover the FFA's cost, but it also provided additional funds to the FFA.

Each year the event grew, bringing many of the area’s cattle ranchers, politicians and residents to the event. For years the event was held at the Alachua Woman’s Club and attracted the attention of local and state officials as guest speakers including President Jimmy Carter, Florida Governors Buddy McKay, Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham. Eventually the event outgrew the Woman’s Club and was moved to a bigger venue at the Santa Fe River Ranch, and in 2022 the fundraising event was moved to an even larger venture at Valley View at Santa Fe River Ranch.

Last Tuesday was another fun filled evening of laughter and good food as nearly 450 people attended the event that was kicked off with a cocktail hour on the veranda overlooking rolling pastures dotted with sprawling oak trees.

When the doors opened to the main hall, guests were welcomed by Club President Paul Good. The Pledge of Allegiance ceremony was led by Lions Club District Governor Tony Esposito, the traditional singing of “God Bless America” was led by Alachua Lions Club member Bill Johnson, and the invocation was led by club President Good.

Former City of Alachua Commissioner Ben Boukari, Jr., served as Master of Ceremony and offered good natured jokes, many directed at attending guests, who took it all in stride as an appreciative audience laughed.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by Newberry native and former UF graduate and football player Jimmy Getzen. Getzen was introduced by Lions Club President Paul Good along with longtime friend and former UF teammate Fred Abbott. Throughout his performance, Getzen took the opportunity to share personal anecdotes and insights. And his up-tempo vocals accompanied by guitar and frequent audience interactions were a hit with the crowd.

This year’s Cattleman of the Year award went to Samual Pratt Perry, posthumously. Perry was an African American cowboy born and raised in Alachua County. The award recognizes Perry for his contributions to the cattle industry. The award was accepted by his two sons.

An event of this size takes months of planning as well as coordinating support from corporate sponsors who provided either funding or services for the banquet. The Alachua Woman’s Club, a longtime partner with the Alachua Lions Club, once again sponsored the Silent Auction. And, in keeping with tradition, the Santa Fe High School FFA Chapter was on hand to assist as guests helped themselves to the choice aged controlled steaks, loaded potato casserole, salad and dessert.

The curtains have come down on this year’s Alachua Lions Club Cattlemen’s Banquet, but it will undoubtably be back for the 85^th such event of good food and good times for a good cause.

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