Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry City Commissioners honored Director of Planning and Economic Development Bryan Thomas during the May 28, 2024, City Commission meeting for his 10 years of service to the Newberry community. Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe read a proclamation into the record to thank Thomas for his service and to honor him by declaring June 3, 2024, as Bryan Thomas Day in Newberry.

During his career in Newberry, which began Jan. 1, 2014, Thomas has worn many hats in service to the community. He began by serving in the City of Newberry Planning Department and has since served as the Director of Planning and Economic Development.

“He has been instrumental in helping the City Commission, Development Application Review Team, Planning and Zoning Board, the Historic Architectural Review Board, and many developers in their discussions of planning, land use, historic preservation, economic development, and many other issues that affect the City of Newberry and its residents,” said Marlowe.

A few of his accomplishments include the creation of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), streamlining of the development process, establishment of the gateway corridor standards, the creation of the Economic Development Steering Committee, and much more.

“Bryan’s service extends well beyond the Planning Department and he is well respected by the community,” said Marlowe. “Bryan has built cooperative relationships with residents, other government organizations, community groups, local non-profits, Newberry businesses, design and development professionals and other members of the community,” Marlowe said.

He commended Thomas as a hard-working and dedicated public servant, at all times committed to helping the Newberry community and administering planning regulations with a sense of fairness; and has provided invaluable leadership and guidance on many significant projects.

“On behalf of the entire City Commission, I want to express our sincere appreciation to Bryan for his loyalty to the City of Newberry and wish him much happiness as he begins this exciting new chapter in his life,” Marlowe said.

Marlowe finished by proclaiming Monday, June 3, 2024, as Bryan Thomas Day in the City of Newberry. He urged all residents and employees to join with the City Commission in congratulating Thomas on an outstanding career with the City of Newberry and wished him many continued years of happiness and good health.

Asked what Thomas has planned after his lengthy career with the City of Newberry, he remarked that he wanted to take some much needed “R & R” for the moment.

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L-R: Carolyn Waters, High Springs Garden Club President Claudia Wolfson, Kathy Fowler and Bob Fowler.

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Garden Club has the honor of choosing Bob and Kathy Fowler for our “Yard of the Season.”

Their love of plants and gardening is reflected in their manicured yard. You can drive by and see the yard at 18786 240^th Street, St High Springs. 

The Garden Club will be choosing another beautiful yard in the fall.

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ALACHUA ‒ This past weekend, the City of Alachua’s Recreation & Culture Department and District 5 hosted the highly anticipated first round of All-Star play for youth ages 4 to 15. The event, held across multiple venues including the Hal Brady Recreation Complex, the baseball park at downtown Skinner Field, and Preacher Copland Field at Progress Park, saw participation from over 40 teams.

These teams hailed from various areas, including Alachua/High Springs, Newberry, Palatka, Bradford, Chiefland, Gainesville, Wriggly, Williston, Keystone, Melrose, Bronson, and Archer.

The tournament was marked by sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication, leaving a lasting impression on participants and spectators alike. The local volunteers, coaches, and officials played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution of the event and in creating unforgettable memories for all involved. Congratulations and best of luck to the teams advancing to the Florida State Championship Round.

In addition to the sports festivities, the City of Alachua also organized a trip for its senior citizens. Last week, a group of the city’s golden agers embarked on an enriching journey to St. Augustine, Florida. The trip, which included lunch, sightseeing, strolling, shopping, and bonding, was a resounding success, thanks to the assistance and coordination of Crafty Gemini. This initiative is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to provide quarterly adventures for local senior citizens.

Looking ahead, the City of Alachua is set to offer more exciting recreational opportunities. The 399 Sports & Recreation Basketball Academy will be hosting two three-week sessions, promising a mix of fun, skill-building, and competitive games for young basketball enthusiasts. Additionally, on June 22, the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center will host the Saucy Elite Basketball Camp, featuring two-time Gainesville Sun Player of the Year Don’Trell Jenkins and other local basketball legends. These events aim to nurture young talent and provide enriching experiences for the community.

For more information on upcoming activities and programs, residents can contact the City of Alachua’s Recreation & Culture Department at recreation@cityofalachua.org or call the Legacy Multipurpose Center at 386-454-0145. Those interested in the basketball camp can reach out to 399 Sports & Recreation via email at 399sportsrecreation@gmail.com.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The measure to convert Newberry public schools to charter schools was brought to a vote in April 2024. The City of Newberry and a group called Newberry Education First requested a vote by classroom teachers and parents on the conversion of Newberry Elementary School, Oak View Middle School and Newberry High School to charter schools beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

After months of rigorous public debate, townhalls, and public campaigning, the parents and teachers at two of the three public schools in Newberry voted down proposed conversions from public schools to charter schools.

The April 17 tallying of votes at the Newberry Municipal Building lasted for several hours and ended in some doubt as to the outcome of the vote for the Newberry Elementary School conversion.

The dispute over whether the elementary school charter conversion achieved enough affirmative ballots was called into question. Based on information from the Florida Department of Education, proponents of the conversation maintain the vote for Newberry Elementary was sufficient to claim victory, and the City of Newberry is working to align ordinances and assist in the charter school application.

Newberry City Manager Mike New on the City Commission meeting on May 28, 2024, reviewed the list of steps the City is going through to develop an ordinance and get the necessary documents in place for the charter school. At one point he said the charter application has 22 parts to the application.

New said they have initiated a process to develop ordinance language establishing the charter school, make-up of the governing board, responsibilities, limitations, etc. anticipating adoption in June.

He said the City has downloaded a copy of the charter application and is reviewing/assigning responsibilities. He said he is working to initiate a process to develop agreements between the City and the Charter holder (a 501(c)3 entity) for the City to prepare/submit a charter school application and to operate the school in accordance with the anticipated charter.

New said further he has solicited proposals from firms with expertise to complete the charter application by August, for submission by September deadline for consideration by the Charter School Review Committee.

He has also received a proposal budget from Education First Newberry and it is under review.

New informed the Commission that he plans to discuss this further at the June 10 City Commission meeting. He also provided a charter application timeline to help commissioners visualize the schedule.

The next Newberry City Commission meeting is June 10.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Construction of a new City Hall, which has been on the minds of City Commissioners for some time, has moved one step closer to fruition with the 4 – 1 vote to authorize the issuance of $6.29 million in Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2024 to generate proceeds to finance the project. Commissioner Mark Clark was in dissent.

The Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for City Hall has come in at just over $8.5 million. “Staff will provide more GMP information at the June 10 meeting,” said Assistant City Manager/CFO Dallas Lee. Construction will be funded through the issuance of these bonds and the utilization of various reserve funds. The bonds will feature a 30-year level debt service amortization, with interest payments beginning on March 1, 2025, and principal payments beginning on September 1, 2025.

Commissioners want to get all staff under one roof to help citizens more easily conduct business with the City.

NC Ranch

The project known as NC Ranch Planned Development received approval on second reading of the ordinance at the May 28 City Commission meeting. Ordinance 2024-14/LDR 23-06 was introduced at the first public hearing on April 15and approved by majority vote.

The application from Patrice Boyes, Esq. and CHW Professional Consultants, agent, was on behalf of Norfleet Properties, LLLP; E.D. Norfleet & Sons, Inc.; E.D. Norfleet, Jr. and Phyllis Norfleet; E.D. Norfleet III; Katrina Bill; and, Norfleet Construction Co., owners. The application is to rezone property from Agricultural (A) to Planned Development (PD) for a project known as NC Ranch Planned Development.

The site is located west of US Highway 41 between Northwest 53^rd Lane and Northwest 10^th Avenue and consists of approximately 1,293 acres. The petition proposes 4,500 dwelling units, 700,000 square feet of non-residential uses, and 250 assisted living facility beds.

Highland Park

The project formerly known as Newberry Plaza was heard by resolution to adopt the planned development construction plans for the non-residential aspect of the development. The application was made by CHW Professional Consultants, agent on behalf of Newberry Plaza LLC, owner.

Commissioner Mark Clark recused himself from any Highland Park-related issue as he is in negotiation to purchase a house on the same property.

When this item was heard by the Planning and Zoning Board, they suggested a number of conditions for approval. The Commission agreed with their suggestions. Conditions include: a traffic signal required prior to fueling station and/or 72,000 square feet of commercial property; wastewater lines to be made eight feet deep to 12 feet deep and making the lift station larger; fair share contributions for improvements to adjacent intersections; pioneering agreement required for oversizing of wastewater lines and upgrade of lift station; easement agreement for wastewater lines; and transfer fee-simple east 40 feet of section line right-of-way (code required).

City Manager Mike New said that Publix, the City and Alachua County had previously agreed to pay a portion of the cost of installing the traffic signal.

Representing CHW Professional Consultants, Gerry Dedenbach was on hand to explain that they had already agreed to pay a portion of the cost of the traffic signal as well. Following lengthy discussions, both Dedenbach and Henry Fortes said they would pay any additional costs required to install the traffic signal.

In a second action regarding Highland Park, Resolution 2024-17/SD 24-07 unanimously approved a preliminary plat of all residential phases included in the Newberry Plaza Planned Development for 350 detached single-family residential lots.

Although the residential phases were originally set at seven, the developer wanted to reduce that number to two phases to attract national builders to the project. Dedenbach said national builders want to do 90 – 100 residences. Had the Commission agreed to reduce the phases from seven to two, Phase I would have included 193 developable lots and Phase II would have included 157 developable lots. Also, one additional through street connection was added to the southern properties. The Gray residence, to be purchased by Commissioner Clark, was removed from the platted area of residential properties.

Concern was raised by Commissioner Tim Marden that 75 homes per year would work best with the number of staff available to review plans, etc. Commissioner Rick Coleman said he wanted local builders and not national builders, who tend to build fast and then disappear.

Once again the Planning and Zoning Board recommended stipulations: sidewalks on both sides of the street, a good-faith effort to preserve trees on-site, provide sufficient shade trees throughout the residential areas, provide traffic calming throughout the residential area, voluntarily offer limitations to the number of new home constructions per year and/or per phase and increase the number of phases to a number greater than two and closer to seven.

SW 4^th Avenue Turn Lane

Commissioners authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with O’Steen Brothers, Inc. to construct the Southwest 4^th Avenue turn lane modifications for $305,431 and to authorize the City Manager to authorize change orders up to 10 percent of the contract amount.

The project scope is the addition of left turn lane for westbound traffic on Southwest 4^th Avenue onto U.S. Highway 27/41. The project was estimated to cost $180,000 originally, but project bid amounts came in at $305,000 - $715,000. The project is to be construction from June 1 – Aug. 1 to avoid school times. Staff indicated funding for the project was included in the approved Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 budget.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Children 18 years old and younger can receive free breakfast and lunch during the summer months through the Alachua County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) department.

The Summer Meals Program, funded by the federal government, is open to any child regardless of family income. The meals are served at more than 70 sites, including local schools and other locations.

Children do not have to be enrolled at a particular school or program to receive meals. They also do not have to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals during the regular school year to take advantage of the program. Children do need to eat the meal on-site, and families going to schools for meals are asked to check in at the front office.

“Families can take their children to the site that’s most convenient for them,” said Jamie Lovett, Director of the district’s Food and Nutrition Services department. “They just show up during the serving times and enjoy a nutritious meal, with no registration required.”

The Summer Meals Program provides nutritionally balanced meals to all children during summer vacation when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. All children 18 years old and younger are eligible, and families can take advantage of the program at any of the local sites. Baby formula, cereal and food are also available, although families should call the FNS office at 352-955-7539 two days ahead of time to make those arrangements.

New this summer will be several mobile sites, one each in Alachua, Archer, East Gainesville and High Springs and four stops in Hawthorne. At those sites, families can pick up food twice a week to cover seven days’ worth of meals combined. Participants will receive a bag containing ingredients to prepare at-home meals for breakfast and lunch. The five sites are the only locations that allow for families to pick up meals to prepare at home.

Most sites will be up and running the week of June 3, 2024, with several running through July 26. The dates and times that meals will be served will vary from site to site. Details are available at www.yourchoicefresh.com Click on the banner labeled ‘Free Summer Meals’ or call 352-955-7539.

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