Local

Irby Elementary teacher Ashley Helfrich welcomes kindergartner Taylor Mcrae and his mother Charlene Mcrae on the youngster’s second day of school Wednesday morning.

Santa Fe High School welcomed new principal Dr. Beth LeClear as she replaces former principal Bill Herschleb who recently retired.  Valde Fortner, meanwhile, stepped into her new role as Irby Elementary School’s principal.   Fortner has been welcomed by some 380 students at the school.

“Our first week of school at Irby has gone extremely well,” said Fortner said, adding that the students were practicing and learning their daily routines and procedures.

Although the school was deluged with rain in addition to students during the first two days of school, it apparently hasn’t put a damper on the start to the 2012/13 school year.

“We are all very pleased with how smoothly everything is progressing.  It takes everyone including parents and additional volunteers from within our community to make this happen, and so we appreciate each one.”

Preliminary enrollment estimates put Santa Fe High with 1,071 students at the top of the list among schools in the outlying areas of Alachua County.  Newberry High has roughly 600 students while Oak View Middle has 674 and Newberry Elementary has 478 students.

A whopping 845 students are enrolled at High Springs Community, a combined elementary and middle school.  Other enrollment estimates include:

Alachua Elementary-387

Archer Elementary-479

Hawthorne-339

Mebane Middle-396

Shell Elementary-185

Waldo Community-196

#     #     #

E-mail editor@alachuatoday.com

City expected to appeal verdict

GAINESVILLE – A jury dealt a shocking and costly blow to the City of Alachua Wednesday evening, awarding a hefty $3.9 million in damages to a one-time real estate developer.

A case filed in 2009 by Heritage Oaks – TND, LTD., leveled numerous charges against the City of Alachua as to its dealings with the developer of the commercial and residential development adjacent to Santa Fe High School on U.S. Highway 441.

The case, which lasted 10 days, saw numerous expert witnesses and City officials take the stand, including former city manager Clovis Watson, Jr. and developer John Curtis, Jr.

Photos presented during the trial reportedly revealed wastewater pipes that had been repaired by the developer or its subcontractors using duct tape.  Attention was also called to allegedly improperly paved roads and numerous other quality of construction issues, which had become a point of contention between the City, the developer and homeowners in the neighborhood.

Heritage Oaks alleged a breach of contract on the City’s part and interference with the development.  It reportedly sought damages for losses of profit, future sales, loss of appraised property values and expenses it claims the City forced them to incur.

After closing arguments Wednesday afternoon, the jury was given instructions and a form to arrive at conclusions and calculate damages.  On five counts upon which the jury was ultimately sent back to deliberate, they found the City guilty of all of them and awarded the vast majority of the financial damages sought by Heritage Oaks.

In the case, Heritage Oaks claimed, “The difference in the way the City treated Heritage [Oaks] as compared to other similarly situated developers, was done in order to intentionally discriminate against Heritage [Oaks].”

Other accusations are that the City “inordinately burdened” the developer and “effectively precluded” them from being able to market its property.

While the City clearly didn’t win in court Wednesday, Aug. 22, the City is expected to appeal the case.

#     #     #

Email editor@alachuatoday.com

Recent rains have helped raise levels in area rivers and lakes, but for some businesses it’s bitter-sweet as business has suffered.

As the raindrops land on the hollow shells, the deserted building sits silent, waiting for the weekend, waiting for the people to return, waiting for the storm to blow over.

“It might not be good for our business personally when it rains, but it’s good for our water, our aquifer and our springs,” said Patsy Andersen, co-owner of the Adventure Outpost. “All in all, we think the rain is wonderful.”

Despite the frequent storms, the canoe and kayak business in the area has improved, Lars Andersen said. While rainy days may not draw the people to the store, the rising water levels on the Santa Fe River have enticed visitors and locals back onto the waterways, and in effect, back into the Adventure Outpost.

“Ever since the river went down after the storm [Debby], business has been great. Better than ever, I think,” Patsy said. “We hadn’t done the stretch from the 441 boat ramp to the 27 boat ramp in over a year because it was way too low, and that’s a beautiful stretch.”

With Debby’s deluge, the water on the river is flowing again, and so is the overall business at Lars’ shop.

But despite the increase, Lars and Patsy doubt that the frequent rainfall has helped replenish the aquifer.

“As much rain as that brought us, there are still some waterways, surprisingly, that are still too dry to paddle,” Lars said. “It kind of speaks to how great our water deficit really was.”

Prairie Creek, which winds close to the city of Gainesville, remains at low water levels since the tropical storm’s flooding. Lars admits, however, that he hasn’t been out to that area in a of couple weeks.

Since Debby, the levels have slowly started to decline, although they are not as low as prior to the storm.

“People have been saying the aquifer is fine,” Patsy said. “Now that we’ve had all this rain, we can waste water again. It’s not true. We need to conserve water now – for the long run.”

However, while Lars and Patsy have seen an increase in business, other places around High Springs have not been as lucky.

“I’ve had to reschedule several classes due to the poor conditions,” said Dan Patterson, a dive instructor at Extreme Exposure Scuba Shop.

With increased surface runoff, the springs turned dark and tannin-stained, resembling a brownish tea instead of the crystalline waters normally common for springs in this area.

For divers, and cave divers especially, decreased visibility makes it hard to dive and sometimes even dangerous to train, Patterson said.

Ginnie Springs, Patterson’s favorite cave system, currently has the worst visibility he has seen since approximately 1998.

With poor conditions at the local springs, even equipment purchases have seen a decline at Extreme Exposure. After Debby, Ginnie Springs closed for three or four weeks, Patterson said, adding that some of the store’s business is from through traffic on the way to scuba dive at the spring.

Summer is normally the busiest time of the year for the High Springs scuba business, but Patterson believes he will have to continue rescheduling classes. Already, the first class in September has been pushed back a couple of weeks.

“Cave divers are a pretty tenacious group,” Patterson said. “They’re still diving.”

Even the springs, such as Ichetucknee Springs State Park and Blue Springs Park, suspended services offered during the time directly after Tropical Storm Debby. Both restricted visitation because of naturally darkened water that occurs after a flood.

However, both recovered quickly and are once again open to the public for recreational uses, such as swimming and tubing.

Jennifer Diaz, external communications manager with Ichetucknee, said the rising floodwaters that occur after a storm cause the waters to become turbid. However, since the storm, the water levels have decreased and clarity has returned to the spring.

Despite the continued rain, the park is enjoying normal visitation levels for this time of the year.

According to Gus Olmos, water resource manager at the Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Alachua County is still currently in a water shortage order as dictated by the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), even though the district has lifted the ban in other counties within its jurisdiction.

Alachua County DEP is waiting for an updated report from the SRWMD about the health of the aquifer within its district. As of last month’s report, the aquifer still had a long way to go before it was anywhere near healthy water levels. However, Olmos said the county has seen a large amount of rainfall in the past weeks that may have decreased the severity of the situation.

#     #     #

Email awilliamson@alachuatoday.com

According to Mike New, Alachua’s public services director, planning and engineering work for the project began in 2007. While there isn’t a firm completion date set, New expects the construction work to be completed in early 2014.

“The construction plans are essentially filed. Our city commission requested a change and that redesign work is currently being done,” New said. “I would be expecting that construction plans will be finalized no later than October or November of this year.”

The project will include the installation of an underground storm water management system, sidewalks, street side parking and intersection realignment.

The original proposal included replacing the existing four-way stop with a roundabout at the intersection, but these plans have been abandoned. New estimates that by not putting in a roundabout, project costs will be reduced between $50,000 and $75,000. The original price tag was an estimated $2.1 million.

In keeping with the design theme of the Main Street and downtown area, both NW 142nd Terrace and NW 150th Avenue will also have curbs, storm gutters, sidewalks, red brick crosswalks and paved side-street parking. The project will constitute the first major aesthetic connection between the Main Street and Alachua Towne Centre areas.

Officials originally hoped that bids would come in lower due to economic conditions. New still expects bids to be low due to the economy.

“Construction costs have been down for four years, ever since the economy went down,” New said. “There’s been so little construction activity that contractors are very aggressive in their bidding.”

There are currently utility poles being installed on NW 142nd Terrace, but that isn’t connected to the NW 142nd Terrace and NW 150th Avenue project.

“The city’s utility poles are completely unrelated to this project,” New explained.

Darryl Tompkins is the chairman of the City’s Downtown Redevelopment Trust Board, the organization funding the costs of the improvements. Tompkins says he believes the project will provide a much-needed pedestrian connection in Alachua.

“Our redevelopment board has been working for a couple of years on this,” Tompkins said. “It will connect Main Street and the shops in downtown Alachua with City Hall and the Town Center.”

“It will connect the two major parts of Alachua together,” Tompkins said.

#    #     #

Email astewart@alachuatoday.com

Vice Mayor Bob Barnas previously proposed moving forward with advertising at an earlier meeting on Aug. 9. During Thursday’s discussion, the motion to advertise passed with Barnas, Commissioner Linda Gestrin and Mayor Dean Davis voting in favor of the measure.

According to the ad that will be placed in several newspapers and web sites, the City is looking for a new city manager until a closing date of Sept. 26. Applicants should have three to five years experience, as well as preferred experience in finance.

Current City Manager Jeri Langman said she does not intend to apply for the position because she doesn’t think her application would be accepted. However, she did send a letter to the commission to correct what she believes are misconceptions spoken about her on the dais.

“I have never said I wanted to retire,” she wrote. “I have done my best as a manager and I have done my job under very trying circumstances. I have made the upmost effort to steer the city in the right direction. I have earned this position.”

Langman also states that when the commission made her a permanent manager, she acquired certain rights afforded to her by the High Springs City Charter. She claims that her termination and the removal of the rights must occur pursuant to the charter guidelines.

“I have Whistleblower rights under Florida law,” she stated in her letter.

Langman wrote in her letter that the rift between her and the commission started after she issued a press release calling for Barnas to resign because of several alleged charter violations on his part. Subsequently, the vice mayor appeared on radio talk shows stating he wanted Langman terminated, as well as trying to rally support for the action, Langman said.

During the meeting on Aug. 9, Barnas announced in the final moments of the meeting that he wasn’t happy with Langman, and he claimed the memorandum of understanding, which outlines her terms of employment, stated that she was a temporary employee helping High Springs until a permanent manager could be brought on.

However, there seems to be some disagreement among the commission on that point as Davis said during Thursday’s meeting that Langman was not temporary, but had been voted in as a permanent city manager. In an unannounced move by the commission at the Feb. 9, 2012 meeting, Langman made the transition from interim to permanent city manager.

Commissioners Sue Weller and Scott Jamison take issue with the process the other three commissioners are taking to effect Langman’s removal from office, characterizing the action as unethical.  Weller has stated that the special meetings, originally scheduled as budget workshops, are not the place to discuss the future of the city manager.

The matter should instead be placed on an agenda during a regular commission meeting. Citizens do not expect the future of their city manager to be discussed during a budget meeting, Weller said.

Jamison argued that seeking a new hire for a position which an employee is currently occupying is wrong.

“Just because it’s legal to do it, doesn’t make it right. What’s going on right now is wrong,” he said during the Aug. 9 meeting.

In her letter, Langman detailed that the commission majority has left the City unable to balance the budget, especially in the face of grave economic times. The majority of the commission refuses to increase taxes, yet the City is struggling with sewer debt, the cost of bringing back a city run emergency dispatch enter and draining contingency funds.

“Why did Commissioner May resign? Why have two City Attorneys resigned?” she wrote. “It is because the Commission majority is damaging the City beyond repair.”

#     #     #

Email awilliamson@alachuatoday.com

All three will face challengers in November election

GAINESVILLE – Tuesday brought surprises and victories for some candidates running in the Aug. 14 primary election.

Alachua native and former Alachua City Manager Clovis Watson Jr. won his primary bid for the State House District 20 seat.  Watson garnered 58.45 percent of the ballots with a total of 6,438 votes.  Opponent Marihelen Wheeler brought in 4,576 votes in the district.

Watson will appear on the ballot in the general election as he is challenged by a write-in candidate.

Still Watson was joined by supporters at a victory party Tuesday evening as election results poured in.  Watson was met by a standing-room only crowd at Las Margaritas on NW 39^th Avenue in Gainesville.   A jubilant Watson thanked his supporters for their efforts and called the win a victory for the people of District 20.

“I am very excited and honored to carry the message of the people to Tallahassee,” Watson said, adding, “I’m going to work hard for the people, even those who did not vote for me.”

Watson has been a lifelong resident of the city of Alachua, having grown up in the Merrillwood housing projects.  He became a police officer on the City of Alachua police force, rising through the ranks to become Deputy Chief of the department.  He was later tapped by the commission to serve as City Manager, a role he filled from 2002-2009.

Watson and Wheeler are both democrats and sought election to a district that before being redrawn was District 23 and represented by Charles Chestnut IV.  Chestnut (Dem.) did not seek re-election to the Florida House of Representatives, opting instead to run for the Alachua County Commission District 5.   During the general election in November, he will face off against Dean Cheshire (Rep.) and K. Siva Prasad (NPA).

Resident and former commissioner and mayor of Hawthorne, John Martin (Rep.) prevailed in a three-way republican primary race for the County Commission District 1 seat, which included Brandon Kutner and Kevin Riordan.  Martin picked up 42.48 percent of the votes to clinch his spot on the general election ballot.  Kutner and Riordan received 29.37 percent and 28.13 percent respectively.

Martin will face Mike Byerly, who won in the democrat primary race against Roberta Lopez.  Lopez, a longtime resident and former commissioner in the City of Archer picked up 8,122 votes, but it wasn’t enough to beat out Byerly’s 11,203 votes.

Following the results Tuesday evening, Riordan and Kutner both threw their support behind Martin in the race he now faces against Byerly in the general election.

“We all need to rally together because we’re going to need all the support we can get if we’re going to beat a 12-year incumbent,” Martin said of Byerly Tuesday night at a victory party at The Pickled Pelican in Jonesville.

With 11,135 votes, Robert Hutchinson won against Ken Cornell, 8,125 votes, for a democrat primary race for the Alachua County Commission District 3 seat.  That will pit Hutchinson against longtime Alachua resident and former Alachua mayor and commissioner Jean Calderwood (Rep.) during the general election.  Calderwood did not have a republican opponent in the primary.

In a major upset, political newcomer Ted Yoho emerged as the winner, beating out longtime U.S. House Representative Cliff Stearns.  Yoho and Stearns were in a four-way republican primary race for United States House District 3 seat, which was redrawn following the most recent census.  Stearns, a 24-year veteran of the House conceded the race to Yoho Wednesday morning.

Yoho, with 21,899 votes, edged out Stearns who garnered 21,068 votes.  Also in the same race were Florida State Senator Steve Oelrich and James Jett, who picked up 12,017 votes and 8,710 votes respectively.

Yoho was greeted by hundreds of supporters at The Pickled Pelican in Jonesville. As Yoho arrived, the crowed poured out into the parking lot where the victorious candidate was congratulated by family, friends and supporters.  Yoho will face J.R. Gaillot (Dem.) during the general election

In other races, Alachua County School Board candidates Leanetta McNealy, 12,479 votes, and Barbara Sharpe, 10,850 votes, will be in a runoff in the November general election.  Jodi Wood, with 8,865 votes, came in third in that race.

Alachua County Property Appraiser Ed Crapo, with 13,616 votes, defeated opponent Alonzo V. Perkins who picked up 5,615 votes.  Crapo will face a write-in candidate in the general election.

Florida State House District 21 candidate Andrew Morey, with 5,285 votes, beat fellow-democrat Aaron Bosshardt who received 4,925 votes.  Morey will face Keith Perry (Rep.) for the seat in the general election.

#     #     #

Email editor@alachuatoday.com