Newberry Reviews Flood Zone Updates

NEWBERRY ‒ During the June 9, 2025, Newberry City Commission meeting, several items were reviewed and approved, including updates to flood zone mapping, a major construction contract, land transfers, and a park renaming.

Professional Engineer Mary Diaz, representing the Suwannee River Water Management District, addressed the Commission to inform residents about an upcoming public meeting regarding proposed changes to flood zone maps.

Diaz invited the public to attend the meeting at 5 p.m. on July 1 at the Dogan Cobb Municipal Building, located at 660 E. Hathaway Ave. in Bronson.

“After the July 1 meeting,” Diaz said, “making changes to the maps will be more difficult.”

She noted that two properties in Newberry are expected to be reclassified from low or moderate risk to high-risk flood zones, meaning the owners will be required to obtain flood insurance. The meeting will allow residents to provide input if they believe the proposed changes are inaccurate.

In other business, the Commission unanimously approved several items on the consent agenda, including a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Salser Construction for the Newberry Environmental Park Retention Basin Project. The contract, totaling $676,566, includes approval for the City Manager to authorize change orders not exceeding 15 percent of the contract amount if necessary.

Commissioners also approved the city’s acceptance of two tax deed transfers from Alachua County. The parcels, previously acquired by the county through the escheatment process after the original owners failed to pay property taxes, were conveyed to the City at no cost.

City staff is currently evaluating whether the properties may serve a municipal function, such as for public infrastructure or community use. If no viable use is identified, staff will return with a recommendation to dispose of the properties in accordance with city policy, likely through sale or surplus declaration.

A resolution was approved authorizing the acceptance of the parcels and directing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to complete the transfer.

The Commission also approved a resolution renaming the southwest corner of Lois Forte Park as Newberry Veterans’ Memorial Park. The change formally recognizes the section of the park where the city’s Veterans’ Memorial was recently dedicated.

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