Local

NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission on July 24 considered a number of financial matters including impact fees, the annual millage rate and the annual fire assessment fee.

The Commission is revamping impact fees it charges for new development within the city limits and approved an impact fee ordinance at its July 24 meeting. Municipalities use impact fees to maintain current levels of service if new development is to be accommodated without decreasing current levels of service, and impact fees are assessed when new homes and new businesses are built, or when existing businesses are expanded.

The Commission had previously considered and approved changes to existing impact fees, but additional changes were approved Monday night. Earlier, the Commission directed that the impact fees be staggered over a period of five years with implementation at 60 percent the first year and 10 percent the following four years.

If the impact fee ordinance is approved on second reading by the Commission at the Aug. 14 City Commission meeting, impact fees will be implemented 90 days after second reading.

Millage Rate

In other business, the Commission unanimously approved Resolution 2023 – 04, which sets the Preliminary Millage rate at 5.9999. Currently, the first public hearing is scheduled for Swept. 11 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

The Commission set the preliminary millage rate at 5.9999, the highest rate they expect to adopt in September, although the Commission has authority to set the rate to a lower level.

Fire Assessment

The commission also approved a proposed Fire Assessment rate that includes an increase of $5 per dwelling unit to offset the increased fire department costs in Fiscal Year 2024. Proposed rates for Fiscal Year 2024 are $200 per residential dwelling unit, $0.17 per square foot for Commercial properties, $0.03 per square foot for Industrial/Warehouse properties and $0.23 per square foot for Institutional properties.

At the meeting, City of Newberry Assistant City Manager/CFO Dallas Lee said the special assessment for fire services can only be used to fund personnel costs, capital improvements, equipment and other costs related to responding to fire/non-medical emergencies and maintaining readiness to respond to fire/non-medical emergencies through staffing, training, procuring and maintaining facilities and equipment.

The Commission can consider lowering the amount when they approve the final Fire Assessment amount in August.

Proclamation

Parks and Recreation Director Travis Parker reviewed the status of the City’s recreation programs, number of participants and ongoing program development. Following his presentation Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record declaring the month of July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Planning and Zoning Board on July 17 approved a zoning change request for Springs Garden Village for 3.71 +/- acres from C-2 (Commercial) to PD (Planned Development). The property is located south of Northwest 176^th Avenue, east of High Springs Main Street, north of 174^th Avenue and west of Southside Court.

Upon completion, the property will include 38 two-bedroom units with two units attached as duplex townhouses. Each unit will have a two-story floor plan of 1,000 sq. ft. or more and parking at 1.5 parking spaces per bedroom. The proposed project will include green space on approximately 40 percent of the site with a plant/tree buffer surrounding the project.

Several area residents requested that the Board deny the zoning change application. Residents’ opposition included increased traffic in the area, proximity to Liquide Air and the propane plant, sinkholes on the property, the desire for a larger tree line buffer to protect new property owners from chemicals from nearby commercial properties, area flooding, sewer capacity and noise.

Ryan Kremser of ThemeWorks asked that some type of sound buffer be included in the project as their company has noise and trucks coming and going on their property throughout the night and early morning hours. He said residential property owners would be disturbed by the noise and there could be conflicts.

High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos and Planning Technician Kristyn Adkins said that the developer will be required to perform a geotechnical study as part of the next steps to rule out sinkholes. Stathatos said that a PD zoning designation allows the City to have more control over the details of the development. She also said that by the time the project is built, the City would have adequate sewer capacity.

Board members were made aware that under C-2 zoning, a hypothetical commercial shopping center on that property could easily generate up to 1,600 cars per day as opposed to the 228 generated by residents in the proposed development.

Adkins also said that no development could be placed within 50 feet of a sinkhole. Should sinkholes be found on the property, the developer will be required to modify development plans or not build. One Board member commented that the only way to prevent development on the property is for the City to buy it and leave it undeveloped.

Board members voted 3 – 1 to approve the rezoning application with the condition that City staff work with the developer to construct sound barriers and perform ground density tests to address sinkhole concerns.

Board Chair Donald Alderman advised that the people opposing the change during the Board meeting attend the City Commission meeting when the proposed development will be discussed and voted on again.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Christian David Vargas, 19, of High Springs, was arrested on Tuesday, July 18, and charged with lewd or lascivious battery on a victim under 16 and lewd or lascivious conduct by an adult in two separate cases that both reportedly occurred at Ignite Life Center.

The first case involved a victim who was 12 years old when the incidents began in 2020 and 13 years old when they stopped in 2021. The victim said she had intercourse with Vargas at least three times. The victim reportedly told a Gainesville Police Department officer that the incidents occurred at Ignite Life Center, 404 N.W. 13^th Avenue, and that Vargas repeatedly pressured her to have intercourse until she gave in. Vargas was 16 years old when the incidents began.

The second case involved a victim who was 14 years old and reportedly began when Vargas was 17, in February or March of 2022. The victim said Vargas repeatedly asked her to have sexual intercourse and said he could have intercourse with her because he was 17, but he would get in trouble once he was 18. She said she interpreted this as pressure to have intercourse with him at the church.

The victim said Vargas once asked her to meet him in a special room at the church and that he told her it’s normal for teenagers to have sex and they could “move slow.” She said she was scared of Vargas and lied that she heard someone coming so she could get away from him and leave the room.

The victim said Vargas continued to pressure her to have intercourse after he turned 18 but said she could not tell anyone. She said that although he “continually” pressured her, she never had intercourse with him.

Post Miranda, Vargas reportedly admitted that he had dated the first victim when she was 12 and he was 16 and that he met with her six or seven times in a private area of the church called the “furnace.” He reportedly admitted kissing her and having conversations about sexual intercourse, but he denied having sexual intercourse with her.

Vargas reportedly admitted he had met with the second victim in the area called the “furnace” and that they both unbuttoned their clothing but did not have intercourse.

Vargas has no local adult criminal history. Bail was set at $40,000 by Judge Mark W. Moseley.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Cemille Lakedra Denise Jackson, 29, of Alachua, was arrested on Thursday, July 6, and charged with possession of a concealed firearm by a convicted felon after she allegedly pulled a gun from her purse during an altercation.

At about 2 a.m., a Gainesville Police Department officer responded to Boardwalk Apartments at 2701 S.W. 13^th Street, where a witness reportedly said that she had physically fought another person earlier in the evening and that Jackson had arrived later with three other people to pick up some keys that had been dropped during the fight.

The witness said she was worried that Jackson and the three people in her car would jump her, so she armed herself with a knife but never threatened anybody with it or moved toward anyone with the knife.

Two witnesses told the officer that Jackson reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out a handgun but did not point it at anybody or threaten anybody.

The officer reported that the three people in Jackson’s car said nobody had a gun and Jackson said there was no gun in her car. A search of the car with Jackson’s consent reportedly produced the shoulder bag and a handgun, which was hidden under a pile of clothing.

Post Miranda, Jackson reportedly said that she had reached into her shoulder bag to imply that she had a gun after the witness grabbed the knife. However, she denied having a gun in her bag or on her person.

Jackson has a juvenile criminal history and served an 18-month prison sentence for battery on detention staff in 2013-14 in Martin County. She also has two local misdemeanor convictions for participating in a fight on school grounds in 2020. Bail was set at $50,000 by Judge Susan Miller-Jones.

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ALACHUA ‒ The City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council has been named one of three winners of the 2023 Municipal Youth Council Community Service Contest awarded by the Florida League of Cities (FLC). The annual competition showcases community service projects performed by municipal youth councils that successfully address specific needs in their local communities.

Municipal youth councils are special councils that typically serve as advisory boards to the local governments. They are composed of high school students within the city and are sometimes referred to as youth corps, teen advisory boards, or mayor’s youth councils.

“It is inspiring to see our future leaders taking action and making a positive impact in their communities,” said FLC President Jolien Caraballo, Vice Mayor for the City of Port St. Lucie. “The Florida League of Cities is proud of the work these students are doing to support and improve their cities. On behalf of the League, congratulations to this year’s contest winners.”

The Alachua Youth Advisory Council partnered with the Alachua County Quilt Remembrance Project through the Equal Justice Initiative to construct a publicly displayed quilt to remember lynching victims in the Alachua area. The victims were represented with embroidered name blocks and quotes, which gave a voice to those whose voices were taken.

The Youth Council played a major role in the planning, embroidering and quilting process with guidance from well-established quilters in the area. The students designed several of the name blocks and the colors of the embroidery threads chosen by a Youth Council member are the colors in the City’s emblem. The quilt is currently displayed in the City Hall front lobby.

The cities of Fort Pierce and West Park Youth Councils wee also named winners in the statewide competition. Contest winners will receive a trophy and be featured in the League’s award-winning magazine, Quality Cities (QC), as well as on the League’s website and social media outlets.

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ALACHUA ‒ From a chic traditional bed and breakfast to a contemporary upscale wine bar, two area businesses have risen to the top. Both businesses have received industry awards and national recognition for exceptional service.

Beaker and Flask, recognized by Wine Spectator magazine with the publication’s Award of Excellence, is a wine bar located in Alachua’s San Felasco Tech City right off U.S. Highway 441 next to Daft Cow Brewery. Although Beaker and Flask opened their doors less than six months ago, they have already built a reputation as a premiere wine bar with over 135 varieties of wine from around the world. They offer high-end wines by the glass or bottle, and they also hold wine tastings and offer classes taught by wine experts.

Wine Spectator magazine has been publishing since 1976 and is the world's leading authority on wine that recognizes restaurants with wine lists offering interesting selections, that are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.

To qualify for an award, a wine list must present complete, accurate information, including vintages and appellations for all selections. Lists that meet these requirements are judged for one of our three awards. The Wine Spectator award acknowledges only venues with over 90 selections of wine.

To qualify for the award, Beaker and Flask paired with food truck Cheffreys Food. “We always have food trucks outside our location next door to the Daft Cow Brewery, which we both share to offer our patrons food with their beverages,” said Beaker and Flask owner Elliot Welker. “Cheffreys is one of our favorite food trucks and they designed a menu to match various wines for the awards application.”

Welker said that only four restaurants in the county have received the Award of Excellence and the award represents the pinnacle of recognition in the industry. “Receiving it gives recognition of our exceptional wine program and the work of our team,” said Welker.

Welker is no newcomer to the wine and food industry. “My father is the wine distributor for Wards Grocery and has been in the industry for 50 years.” Once Welker turned 18, he accompanied his father on trips to wineries throughout the world to learn the craft. “Last year I decided it was time to open a high-quality wine bar of my own,” Welker said. “It’s been a great success, with our patronage increasing every month.”

Beaker and Flask is located13800 Tech City Circle, Suite 311. Additional information about wines and classes can be found at https://www.beakerandflaskwinebar.com/

Just down the road a few miles in High Springs, The Grady House Bed and Breakfast has won the Favorite Hotel for the Gainesville metropolitan area from “Our Town Magazine” for the second year in a row.

It is one of several awards the bed and breakfast has garnered in its short time under new owners Sara Miller and Scott Towne. The Grady House has also been awarded Best of High Springs in the Business Hall of Fame for both 2022 and 2023, the Best Hotel and Restaurant in Florida by the Guide to Florida in 2022, and Miller was also in the top three for best chef in Alachua County as well.

The location where the Grady house now stands has a rich history in the town’s development. Prior to 1900, the location was the site of the town’s bakery. In 1917, H.L. Grady built a house on the property and his family lived there for many years. One of the Grady House owners purchased the 122-year-old Easterlin House next door and transformed it into Skeet’s Cottage, a beautiful two-story Victorian home.

In 1990, Ed and Diane Shupe bought the house and turned it into a bed and breakfast. They eventually sold to Lucie and Paul Regensdorf who ran it for over a decade. It was sold in 2019 to Bobbie Sabo and her husband, who spent time and money updating the house only to close its doors due to COVID in 2020, leaving the Victorian mansion sitting abandoned for over a year.

Miller and Towne purchased the Grady House and Easterlin House in August 2021. “We absolutely loved the Grady house, along with the companion Easterlin House (Skeeters Cottage) as well as the gardens and event site behind the house,” said Miller.

Miller says the couple loved the community of High Springs and felt welcomed by its people, with some of them stopping by the house before it opened to introduce themselves and offer information about the area and its history. “We want to be part of that community and contribute to it,” said Miller. “We plan to be more than just a B&B, providing special events including music concerts in the back garden and host other special events for the community.”

Despite the early awards and accolades, Miller and Townes expanded the appeal of the Grady House by offering weekend breakfast service open to the community by reservation at 11 a.m. The brunch became so popular, there was a six-week waiting period for a coveted seat in the dining area that was capped by a 16-person limit.

Looking to expand on the brunch popularity, plans are underway to accommodate the growing demand. “We have decided to turn the Easterlin House into strictly a restaurant for weekend brunch, which will be able to seat about 40 patrons,” said Miller. “We are so grateful for the support we have received from the community that has led to the success we have had with this beautiful old house.” Miller anticipates that the Easterlin House brunch should be open by the end of August.

The Grady House is located at 410 and 420 N.W. 1^st Avenue in High Springs. Reservations can be made by calling 386-454-2206 or visiting https://www.gradyhousebnb.com/

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