City celebrates start of $5.3 Million wastewater system, new police vehicle

WALDO – The City of Waldo recently hosted community leaders and elected officials from the cities of Waldo and Gainesville, Alachua County and USDA Rural Development as construction started on the city’s wastewater system. The City also celebrated the addition of a new vehicle to police department’s fleet.

The official groundbreaking marks the beginning of a project that will ultimately decommission the city’s aging wastewater treatment plant and construct a new pump station and force main to interconnect to Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) for treatment of the city’s wastewater.

The current treatment plant was constructed in 1985 and serves city residents and commercial users. The facility is permitted through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to discharge treated effluent to surface waters through three onsite constructed wetland cells that flow to a natural receiving wetlands which eventually discharges into the Santa Fe River.

The plant was issued a Consent Order by the FDEP due to nutrient, toxicity and surface-water quality issues. To address these environmental issues, the City of Waldo secured a $2.5 million USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal direct loan and a $2.8 milllion grant to design and construct a master pump station and a 10.5 mile pipeline along Waldo Road (SR 24) to the point of connection with Gainesville Regional Utilities at N.E. 39th Avenue.

Waldo Mayor Louie Davis lauded the efforts of GRU, the county, USDA and City of Waldo officials in reaching an agreement despite the complexities involved.

“Getting this many agencies to come to the table and agree wasn’t easy, but I think this project shows that it can be done and as a result, we all benefit,” said Davis.

“We are very proud that this connection will help improve the environmental footprint of Waldo and help improve the conditions of the Santa Fe River,” he said.

USDA Rural Development State Director Richard A. Machek echoed similar sentiments saying, “This project will pay dividends for year to come as the cities of Waldo and Gainesville and Alachua County work together to protect the environment for future generations.”

“This project, and many more like it, demonstrates the critical role USDA Rural Development can play in communities across this country,” Machek said.

In addition to improvements to the town’s centralized wastewater system, residents of Waldo now have an additional police vehicle patrolling their streets. Following the groundbreaking ceremony, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Pursuit Vehicle equipped with rear wheel drive and a police pursuit package was officially put into service at a dedication ceremony. Purchase of the $36,000 vehicle was made possible in part due to a $20,000 USDA Rural Development Community Facilities grant. The $16,000 balance of the purchase price came from the City of Waldo. “Assisting rural communities with essential public safety services is a priority for Rural Development,” said Machek.

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HIGH SPRINGS – A local roadway has become a point of controversy for some in High Springs. In 2010, the High Springs City Commission approved a resolution prohibiting traffic along the roadway behind City Hall. On Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, the issue was brought before the commission again, in the form of a new resolution, which if approved, would have repealed the 2010 resolution prohibiting traffic along the roadway and would have formally re-opened the road around James Paul Park to vehicular traffic.

The new resolution was prepared by City Attorney Scott Walker, at the direction of the sitting commission prior to the November election, in order to formalize a controversial 3-1 decision to reopen the road which was made during the Oct. 18, 2012 City Commission meeting.

With the failure of the new resolution, the road remains closed and no further action on re-opening it is currently anticipated.

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Zoning and Poe Springs top list

HIGH SPRINGS – High Springs City Manager Edwin Booth is kicking off 2013 by meeting with County Manager Richard Drumm on Thursday, Jan. 3. Booth initiated the meeting before Christmas as a sort of “meet and greet” to get to know one another and begin discussions on some items in common to both governments.

One of the items on Booth’s list is enclaves, which are county areas surrounded by city-zoned properties. “That’s something we need to work on getting cleaned up,” said Booth in an interview the day before his meeting with Drumm.

Another area of mutual concern is Poe Springs. “We are not quite ready to take that over yet, but it certainly seems like they are putting some money into it and it is probably something we should take over at some point,” said Booth.

Concerns about not having a recreation director or department to maintain the spring is one item holding up progress on taking over management of the popular recreational spot. “We need to get that taken care of and in place before we have the responsibility of maintaining the spring,” said Booth, who is expected to bring the High Springs City Commission up-to-date on the joint city-county meeting prior to their next meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10.

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 Tim Manning (Right) reently opened Shear Fusion hair salon on Alachua's Main Street.

ALACHUA - If you’re in Alachua and need a haircut, there’s a new salon creating a lot of buzz.

Owner Tim Manning opened Shear Fusion on Nov. 2. He said he decided to open the salon after finishing cosmetology school.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own business,” he said. “I’m really good at doing hair. It just seemed like the logical thing to do.”

He said he also wanted to save money and avoid a long commute. The salon is located on Alachua’s Main Street.

“It made more sense to open something on my own that’s literally right down the road from where I live,” he said.

Manning said he’s received positive feedback from customers so far.

Alachua resident Diana Felver said she first started visiting Shear Fusion after she found out her hairdresser was relocating. Although Felver said she hasn’t had her hair done at the salon yet, she’s bought hair products from the salon.

“The products we’re getting from them -- I’m like a walking advertisement,” she said. “Everyone’s asking, ‘What did you do to your hair?’”

She said her 19-year-old daughter, Jillian, visited the salon for a haircut and dye and loved it.

“She said it was the best haircut she ever had,” Felver said. “The color is really gorgeous.”

Felver said her daughter enjoyed the salon for the atmosphere as well.

“She said Tim was the most humorous hairdresser she’s ever been to. She said he made her laugh the entire time. It was a really fun experience for her, too.”

Manning said the salons prices are affordable with highlights priced at $65, hair color at $45, women’s haircuts at $25 and men’s haircuts at $10.

Local police officers, firefighters and EMTs receive half-priced haircuts at the salon. Manning said it’s done to show gratitude.

“They’re our local heroes,” he said.

City of Alachua employees receive a 10 percent discount on services at Shear Fusion.

“We want to do something in return for all the people who bolster us up,” he said.

Manning said he hopes to keep the salon on Main Street for a long time. He said he loves the camaraderie local business owners have.

“We’re gonna be here,” he said. “I absolutely love Alachua.”

Manning thinks a small-town salon might make customers feel more at home.

“You get to know the people and you get to know their stories,” he said. “Essentially, you end up with not just customers, but friends all over the place.”

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