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ALACHUA – On Aug. 11, 2025, the Alachua City Commission voted 3–2 at the end of its regular meeting to terminate its contract for legal services with Robert A. Rush P.A., closing a chapter of more than two decades of service from City Attorney Marian B. Rush.

Rush, the sister of firm founder Robert A. Rush, has served as the City of Alachua’s attorney for over 20 years. Under the current contract, she is paid approximately $138,000 annually, plus $200 per hour for work outside the scope of the agreement.

The commission’s majority — Commissioners Jennifer Ringersen, Dayna Williams, and Vice-Mayor Shirley Green Brown — are the three most senior members of the board. Collectively, they have spent years observing the interactions between the city attorney, city managers, and other staff. All three said the city’s growth, along with a desire to have the city look ahead, has convinced them it is time for a change.

When the City constructed its new city hall in 2007 — nearly 20 years ago — it included an unfinished office space intended for a future in-house attorney and legal assistant. Despite that foresight, no steps had been taken to fill those positions until now.

“This city has grown enough to warrant an in-house city attorney, to have a city attorney whose sole focus is on the City of Alachua not necessarily to take away anything from our current city attorney,” said Commissioner Dayne Williams.

Rush indicated during the meeting that she might be interested in applying for the position if it were created.

The motion to terminate was introduced by Ringersen after the commission unanimously voted to waive its rules and procedures, allowing the matter to be brought before the commission. Mayor Walter Welch and Commissioner Jacob Fletcher — both of whom have served fewer years on the commission — voted against the motion, citing the lack of notice to city staff, fellow commissioners, or the public.

“I feel blindsided by this,” Fletcher said, adding that the abrupt timing allowed just 30 days to advertise, hire, and bring a new attorney up to speed on pending litigation and local code.

Welch said he also had no prior knowledge of the proposal and voted no “because I’m confused right now.”

Public comment on the motion was minimal, with one resident describing the scene as “disturbing.”

The commission’s vote starts a 30-day clock to formally end the current legal services agreement. During that period, the city is expected to advertise for a full-time, in-house city attorney — a position that, if created, would mark a significant shift in how Alachua handles its legal affairs.

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L-R: Newberry Assistant City Manager/Director of Utilities and Public Works, Jamie Jones, Mrs. Barlow, representing the Hooie Property and City Manager Jordan Marlowe commemorate the Commission’s approval to purchase land for the stormwater basin. / Photo special to Alachua County Today

NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission on Aug. 11, 2025, approved the purchase of about 1.34 acres in southwestern Newberry for $160,000 to build a stormwater basin needed for upcoming roadway improvements.

Assistant City Manager/Director of Utilities and Public Works Jamie Jones asked the Commission to authorize the City Manager to execute a Vacant Land Contract to acquire the property. The parcel, identified as part of Tax Parcel No. 02022-000-000 — commonly referred to as the Hooie Property — was determined to be the most suitable site under the city’s Stormwater Facility Plan. The basin will support the planned resurfacing of Northwest 266^th Street and paving of portions of Northwest 265^th Street and Northwest 1^st Avenue, identified in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan as critical projects for 2024.

When engineers began design work for the road projects, they determined that stormwater capacity was necessary before construction could move forward. Without the basin, the roadway projects could not proceed.

City staff contacted the property owners, who expressed interest in selling a portion of the land. Independent appraisals valued the property at $160,000 and $180,000. After negotiations, both sides agreed to the $160,000 price, and a vacant land contract was prepared.

The commission authorized the city manager Jordan Marlowe to execute the contract, complete the real estate closing, and carry out all related documents. The vote was unanimous.

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NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission on Aug. 11, 2025, approved budget amendments, annexations, a solid waste assessment agreement, a roadway connection, a plat approval delegation, and a tolling agreement, while also advancing several land transactions.

Budget Amendments Adopted

Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Dallas Lee presented proposed changes to the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. Lee reported that as of June 30, city departments were 75 percent through their budgets — in line with projections — and that all departments were operating within or below their allocated amounts. The commission unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-35.

Solid Waste MSBU

Commissioners held a legislative hearing on first reading of Ordinance 2025-67, granting consent for the entire city to be included in Alachua County’s Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) for solid waste management.

The MSBU rate for residential customers in Fiscal Year 2025-26 will remain at $25.27. The ordinance also provides multi-year consent, provided annual rate increases do not exceed 10 percent. If they do, the commission would have to reauthorize participation.

The county’s solid waste assessments fund waste collection, recycling programs, household hazardous waste disposal, and monitoring of solid waste facilities, along with rural collection centers — including a planned facility in Newberry. The measure passed unanimously.

Annexations Approved

The commission gave final approval to 13 voluntary annexations, bringing 14 parcels — totaling about 196.17 acres — into city limits from unincorporated Alachua County. The annexations, down from an initial 203 acres after two applications were withdrawn, will help eliminate enclaves.

Roadway Connection

Commissioners authorized acquisition of about 0.33 acres to connect Southwest 254^th Street to Southwest 253^rd Terrace in the southwest quadrant along Seaboard Drive. The city will replace the landowner’s fence and provide a $1,000 deposit. The connection is intended to improve traffic flow.

Platting Authority Delegated

In line with a new state statute, the commission approved a resolution delegating administrative platting and re-platting authority to the city manager or designee. Plat approvals will appear on consent agendas, with commissioners able to pull them for discussion.

Tolling Agreement

The commission approved a tolling agreement with Gaston in a dispute over a stop-work order. The agreement pauses litigation while the Alachua County Property Appraiser determines whether the property in question qualifies for agricultural use.

Other Business

City Manager Jordan Marlowe noted Fire Department assistance with first-day-of-school traffic control. Commissioner Mark Clark condemned the theft of flags from the Veterans’ Memorial, offering a $1,000 reward for information. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 25.

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Coach Michael Hernandez, fourth from left, stands with members of the Oak View Middle School girls softball team during their recognition at the June 9 Newberry City Commission meeting. Chairperson Pro Tempore Tony Mazon is pictured at far left / Special to Alachua County Today

NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission during its June 9, 2025, meeting recognized Oak View Middle School athletes for their championship seasons this year.

Girls softball team members were honored first, with Coach Michael Hernandez thanking them for their dedication and effort. “Thank you for working so hard during the year,” Hernandez said. He is pictured fourth from the left in the accompanying photo, alongside Chairperson Pro Tempore Tony Mazon, who stands to the left.

The Oak View Middle School Girls Soccer team was also honored for its championship season. Coach Ashley Arnold noted the team’s strong record, finishing with 12 wins, one loss, and two ties. Mazon is pictured in the center rear of the soccer team photo.

The Varsity Boys Baseball Team was mentioned although they were unable to attend the meeting.

The teams received standing ovations from commissioners and audience members in recognition of their achievements and commitment to representing their school.

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Coach Michael Hernandez, fourth from left, stands with members of the Oak View Middle School girls softball team during their recognition at the June 9 Newberry City Commission meeting. Chairperson Pro Tempore Tony Mazon is pictured at far left.

ALACHUA COUNTY – As the new school year gets underway, local and state officials are reminding drivers, parents and students to make safety a top priority when traveling to and from school. From bicycle safety to hands-free driving laws, agencies are working to reduce crashes and keep children safe.

Bicycles Are Vehicles Under Florida Law

The Alachua County Public Works Department is urging families to remember that bicycles are considered vehicles under Florida law, and cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists. Riders should always travel on the right side of the road, follow traffic signs and signals, and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks when entering a street from a driveway, sidewalk or bike path.

Cyclists are encouraged to remain alert for hazards such as potholes, wet leaves, storm grates and parked vehicles. Personal electronics that can distract attention should be avoided.

Gear, Helmets and Visibility

Public Works stresses the importance of helmets—required by law for riders under 16—and recommends bright or fluorescent clothing to improve visibility, especially in low light. Reflective gear and lights are strongly advised for dawn, dusk, night or bad weather conditions.

Before riding, cyclists should check that bicycles are in good working condition and that helmets fit properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers a free “Fitting Your Bike Helmet” guide for reference.

Communication on the Road

The department also reminds riders to use verbal and non-verbal communication, including turn signals, pointing out road hazards to other cyclists, and announcing “on your left” when passing pedestrians or other riders.

Hands-Free Zones in School Areas

In addition to bicycle safety, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and Florida Highway Patrol are reinforcing the “Put It Down: Focus on Driving” campaign, which prohibits the use of handheld wireless devices in active school zones and school crossings. The hands-free law, in effect since 2019, requires drivers to put away phones and other handheld devices while traveling through these areas. Violations can result in fines and points on a driver’s license.

Enforcement and Education Efforts

State and local officials say the law is meant to reduce distracted driving, which is a leading cause of crashes near schools. Enforcement is already underway across Alachua County, with Gainesville Police and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office conducting school-zone patrols during morning and afternoon drop-off and pickup times.

The combination of distracted driving enforcement and bicycle safety education is designed to create safer travel routes for all students — whether they walk, bike or ride in a car or bus. Officials urge drivers to slow down, be alert for children crossing the street, and respect the reduced speed limits in school zones.

For more information on bicycle safety, contact Alachua County Public Works Senior Engineering Technician Clark Collins at 352-548-1271 or email cccollins@alachuacounty.us. Details on Florida’s hands-free driving law are available at www.flhsmv.gov.

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ALACHUA COUNTY – As the 2025–26 academic year gets underway, Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) is rolling out a suite of new communication tools aimed at streamlining connections between families, schools, and the broader community.

The district introduced a redesigned website earlier this summer at alachuaschools.net, along with a new mass notification system called Alerts. The changes followed the expiration of contracts with the previous vendors for the website and messaging service on June 30.

On Aug. 13, two additional platforms were launched to expand school-to-home communication.

The first is the Alachua County Public Schools mobile app, available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app offers one-stop access to school messages, calendars, lunch menus, and other resources. Users can choose to follow specific schools and enable notifications to receive timely updates.

The second is Rooms, a secure, two-way messaging feature built into both the mobile app and district website. Rooms allows families to communicate directly with teachers, principals, coaches, and club sponsors. It supports class announcements, team updates, and private conversations in one platform, reducing the need for multiple apps or logins.

Notifications from Rooms are sent automatically by text message, even to families who have not downloaded the app. The system includes safety and moderation features designed to meet district standards for security and accessibility.

“By bringing everything into one clear and consistent system, we are making it easier for families to stay engaged with their child’s education,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kamela Patton said. “We are excited to offer a more connected and user-friendly experience this school year.”

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