Local

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs is arrears in taxes to the tune of some $15,000. City Commissioners were surprised during their Nov. 19 meeting to find out that the City owes back taxes on 20 – 25 parcels of land in the amount of approximately $15,500. A letter received on Oct. 19 from the Alachua County Tax Collector’s Office indicating it was their final notice to the City prior to selling the properties at auction was a surprise to City staff, who say they never received previous notification of taxes due.

The city attorney recommended that the City pay the back taxes immediately to forestall any further action by the County. He indicated that further research may lead to the City being able to apply for refunds for some of the properties.

Apparently, some of the properties had been deeded to a developer who never developed them and ultimately gave them back to the City.

Commissioner Scott Jamison persisted that for the time those properties were in someone else’s hands, they should be paying the taxes on them. While all agreed to that logic, immediate action was required and further research on the part of the City would be required.

Ultimately, Jamison moved and Commissioner Linda Jones seconded a motion to pay the taxes. The motion received unanimous approval.

In another action, Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution No. 2020-N, which urges the Florida Legislature to approve Medicaid expansion for certain adults under the age of 65 in an effort to improve the health of all Floridians.

League of Woman Voters member Diane Imperio addressed the Commission and said that according to the Florida Policy Institute, Florida would see net state budget savings of roughly $200 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23 by expanding the Medicaid program.

She specified that nearly 10,000 adults in Alachua County between the ages of 19 and 64 have incomes below 138 of the federal poverty level and are uninsured. “More than 800,000 Floridians would be covered if Medicaid expansion is approved,” said Imperio.

The resolution urges the governor and legislature to accept federal funds to expand Medicaid in Florida rather than fund healthcare elsewhere.

Following Imperio’s presentation and response to questions, Commissioners approved the resolution and it will be sent to the governor and state legislature upon signing.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry has approved three voluntary annexations of some 20 acres, which are contiguous to the municipal boundaries of the City of Newberry.

All three were originally heard in quasi-judicial public hearings during the Oct. 26 Commission meeting and were approved on first reading at that time.

A letter notifying the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) of the City’s intent to annex these parcels was sent to BoCC Chair Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson on Oct. 2.

The County’s response was received Oct. 22 from Alachua County Growth Management Director Mari K. “Missy” Daniels stating, “County staff reviewed these annexations and found no issues as far as compliance with statutory form requirements.”

During the Nov. 9 City Commission meeting all three annexation ordinances were heard again in quasi-judicial public hearings. The ordinances were presented at this meeting by Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell.

In all three cases Kinser-Maxwell told Commissioners that all were found acceptable with regard to Section 171.044, Florida Statutes. Following each presentation, she recommended approval of the ordinances.

The first, referred to as Ordinance No. 2020-27, consists of 9.64 +/- acres, and is owned by Merrill Joshua, 12607 S.W. 28^th Place, Archer.

The second, referred to as Ordinance No. 2020-28, consists of 2.98 +/- acres, and is owned by BMB Squared LLC, 14260 W. Newberry Road, PMB 346, Newberry.

The third, referred to as Ordinance No. 2020-29, consists of 7.5 acres +/- acres, and is owned by Tiffany Marie and Jonathan Andrew Castle, 2801 S.W. 298^th Street, Newberry.

In all three hearings, no comments were offered by members of the public.

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ALACHUA ‒ It was a sunny day in Alachua as a group of military veterans marched through downtown proudly wearing insignia marking their branch of service and displaying the American flag. Veterans Day is observed annually on Nov. 11 to honor military veterans who have served in the five branches of the military. Originally called Armistice Day, it celebrates the exact time hostilities in World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. While Memorial Day is reserved to honor those that paid the supreme sacrifice with their lives, Veterans Day is to honor all who served in the armed forces.

After serving in the Marines from 1961-1981, George Gibbs is now retired and living in Alachua. Every day he goes to Gallop-In-Gary's on Alachua's Main Street for lunch. Over time he has established a strong friendship with the Greco family staff and chef and owner Larry Greco. Larry Greco, originally from Florida, joined the Marines in the early 1970s where he served two tours in Vietnam. After he separated from the military, he went to California and for some time worked as a LAPD police officer and then moved to New York where he opened a restaurant. After a successful stint as a chef in South Florida, he opened two Gallop-In-Gary's restaurants, eventually closed both, and since has opened a new location on Main Street in Alachua.

“These are the nicest people I have come in contact with and I wanted to do something to help their business for the future,” said Gibbs. “Help make people aware of the restaurant and the good people that own it. Many people live life and check out, but it’s important to help others in need, and God helps direct you to those you can help.”

With Gibbs providing a $1,000 donation, he and Greco teamed up to honor and support their fellow veterans with a free meal for all veterans on Nov.11.

“The $1,000 wasn't about us or the restaurant,” Greco said. “It was about giving veterans a place to feel welcome and get the recognition they deserve for their service.

“People don't realize that if it wasn't for the service of the vets there would be no holidays—they are what has preserved our nation. They don't get enough recognition for their sacrifice, especially the ones that didn't come back.”

Using word of mouth and social media, they spread the word to veterans throughout the county. Gibbs, a member of the veterans Gator Detachment Marines Corps League, approached the organization about participating with a color guard.

So, it was on a sunny Veterans Day that the Marine Corps League Color Guard marched up Main Street, stopping in front of Gallop-In-Gary’s to present the colors to Alachua Mayor Gib Coerper as the restaurant opened.

Singularly and in small groups, veterans began to filter in for lunch and a cake cutting. Two of the many who came by were Navy Nurse Virginia McCort who served from 1956 to 1958 and Fred Judkins, a Vietnam War veteran who was on the first helicopter into Laos. Over the course of the day they were joined by nearly 300 veterans who came and enjoyed a meal courtesy of two of their own.

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 HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Police Department (HSPD) responded to a delayed service call concerning a report of an indecent exposure incident on Nov. 15 at 8:43 a.m.

An investigation revealed that an unknown male parked his vehicle near a driveway at 16600 N.W. 222^nd Street (Cedar Lane area), in High Springs. He exposed his genitals to the female victim as she was biking in the area.

The man has been described as a white 20 – 30-year-old male, approximately 5 ft.10-in. – 6 ft. in height and weighing approximately 185 pounds. He was described as “skinny.” He was completely nude wearing a black and red hat, sunglasses and dark shoes. The male was in a silver or gray square SUV, possibly a Honda Element or Ford Edge.

Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact HSPD Detective Tracy Taylor at ttaylor@highsprings.us or at 352-955-1818. Anyone can also call Crime Stoppers at 352-372-STOP and remain anonymous.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs Police (HSPD) and Fire Departments (HSFD) were called to the scene of a one-person crash on Oct. 31, at 10:50 p.m. The incident occurred at 24300 W. U.S. Highway 27.

A 2001 Subaru Outback, driven by a 47-year-old Gainesville woman, had been traveling east on West U.S. Highway 27 when it struck the curb on the south side of the roadway. According to the HSPD, the vehicle may have been traveling above the posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Authorities report, “The Subaru flipped in excess of three times based on damage to the vehicle and debris from the accident.”

Upon arrival, HSFD firefighters found the vehicle on its roof. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle and was transported by Alachua County Fire Rescue 20 to Shands-UF as a “Trauma Alert” for severe injuries. No other vehicles were involved and no property was damaged in the rollovers.

HSPD states the driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and alcohol did not appear to be a factor in this case.

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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ A manual recount of the Alachua County Growth Management Area Amendment was completed on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Gainesville. Although figures were slightly changed, the result remained the same. Out of 128,692 votes cast during the Nov. 3 election, a slight majority of voters approved the amendment.

Initially, 64,462, or 50.09 percent, voted “yes” during the regular election to 64,230, or 49.91 percent, who voted against approval of the amendment.

Following the manual recount, total votes counted were 128,873. Of those 64,569, or 50.10 percent, voted “yes” to 64,304 voters, or 49.90 percent, who voted against approval of the amendment.

Tropical Storm Eta temporarily delayed the beginning of the recount, which was previously scheduled to begin on Thursday, Nov. 12.

As a countermeasure to the amendment passing, the cities of Newberry and Archer each filed a complaint against the County and the Charter Review Board to rule the amendment as unlawful.

“I would like to thank the roughly 65,000 voters who stood with the municipalities and cast a vote in favor of allowing them to control their own futures,” said Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe following the recount.

“I hope that the [Board of County Commissioners] BOCC will reconsider all of their policies that are really just attempts to seize control and power away from its citizens and the cities that are trying to live peacefully within this county. I am hopeful that the courts will also stand with the municipalities and the principal of checks and balances between governments,” said Marlowe.

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