HIGH SPRINGS ‒ Residents and businesses in High Springs will see changes to their utility bills after the City Commission voted Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, to adopt updated water and sewer rates as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

The new rates, approved unanimously by commissioners, keep monthly water service charges steady for most customers but raise sewer base charges significantly and increase costs associated with hydrant meters and new water connections.

Sewer Rates See Largest Jump

The most significant adjustments affect sewer service. Residential customers will see the base monthly charge—including up to 5,000 gallons—rise from $44.05 to $68.30. Commercial and multi-family customers will see their charge increase from $57.29 to $81.54.

Despite the base rate increases, the usage fee for water over 5,000 gallons remains unchanged at $7.96 per 1,000 gallons.

Water Rates Remain Stable for Daily Users

For households and businesses, the structure of tiered water usage charges will remain the same in FY26. The monthly customer charge stays at $15.55, and the four-tier usage schedule—ranging from $3.12 per 1,000 gallons for the first 3,000 gallons to $4.15 per 1,000 gallons for usage above 15,000 gallons—will not change.

Hydrant Meter Costs Increase

Contractors and others who rely on temporary hydrant meters will face steep increases. The city will begin charging $125 for installation and removal, a service that was previously free. Deposits will jump from $100 to $500, and the monthly base charge will rise from $15.55 to $40.00. The per-gallon usage rate for hydrant meter water will also increase, from $3.25 to $3.80 per 1,000 gallons.

Impact Fees Adjusted

New connection fees were also restructured. Water connection impact fees will double from $250 to $500, while sewer connection fees will be reduced sharply, from $2,120 to $240.

The city’s disconnect/reconnect fee for nonpayment or tampering remains at $50.

Next Steps

The new rates will take effect with the start of the 2026 fiscal year on Oct. 1, 2025. Commissioners said the adjustments reflect the rising costs of maintaining water and sewer systems while ensuring long-term stability for the city’s utilities.

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HIGH SPRINGS – High Springs City Commissioners worked through a packed agenda Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, approving a series of measures ranging from setting the tentative property tax rate and adopting a budget to supporting local events and community projects.

Millage Rate and Budget

In the first of two required hearings, commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2025-K, setting the city’s tentative millage rate at 6.99 mills for Fiscal Year 2025-26. The increase from 6.74 mills follows months of budget workshops. The final vote on the rate is scheduled for Sept. 22.

On first reading of Ordinance 2025-05, the commission also adopted the proposed General Fund budget of $8.08 million for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The budget was shaped through public workshops held in May, June and July.

Utility Rates

Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025-M adjusting utility fees. The changes include higher costs for temporary hydrant meters, revised sewer base rates, updated impact fees and a reconfirmation of the $50 water disconnect/reconnect fee. Notices of the rate changes were sent to customers on July 31.

Priest Theatre Roof Project

The commission awarded a contract to Hoffman Construction, Inc. for repairs to the historic Priest Theatre. The bid of $550,828 includes roof replacement and structural work, with an additional $18,280 to replace the parapet wood apron on the front elevation. Officials said the project should be completed before hurricane season intensifies.

Operation Douglass Warriors

Veloria Kelley and Donald Ham of Douglass Historical School Society, Inc. requested the City’s support and approval of a project honoring the City’s veterans and celebrating the legacy of the now defunct Douglass School by creating a permanent memorial for those qualified veterans who attended Douglass.

“We have dubbed this project ‘Operation Douglass Warriors (ODW),’ and it will celebrate veterans who have served both during peacetime and wartime,” said Kelley. The event will also preserve and celebrate the rich history of Douglass School, which provided educational opportunities for African Americans in High Springs from 1930 until its closure in 1970 due to integration.”

Commissioners unanimously backed the Operation Douglass Warriors project and agreed to waive event costs for a dedication ceremony scheduled Nov. 15.

Special Events and Alcohol Ordinance

Marine Corps League submitted an application for a Special Event known as Hot Rodding for Heroes Car Show to be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. The permit lists a live DJ and indicates the event will take place on a public road near the High Springs Brewery.

The application requests street barricades and asks the City to permit visitors to carry beer in plastic cups into the show area.

Following a brief discussion, Commissioners unanimously approved the event and agreed to suspend the alcohol ordinance for this event.

Fire Services Agreements

Commissioners extended the city’s interlocal agreement with Alachua County Fire Rescue for fire suppression and emergency services through Sept. 30, 2026. They also voted to abandon a previously discussed letter regarding the county’s Fire Services Funding Agreement.

Winn-Dixie Support

In another action, commissioners reaffirmed support for the local Winn-Dixie grocery store and formally opposed any proposed conversion of the site to an Aldi. A letter will be sent to the grocery chain expressing the city’s position.

Grants and Engineering Services

City Manager Jeremy Marshall presented details of a $700,000 Community Development Block Grant for flood and drainage improvements. Commissioners approved issuing a request for qualifications for engineering services to carry out the work. The city will contribute $50,000 in matching funds.

KCT Agreement

Finally, commissioners approved Resolution 2025-0, authorizing a consulting services agreement with KCT Consulting Services for engineering and other professional services required to accomplish geotechnical, structural, stormwater, roadway, traffic, resiliency, water, wastewater, reclaimed water, landscape and park design, buildings and other Public Works/Public Utilities related projects within the City’s service area.

The measure passed 4-1, with Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the sole dissenting vote.

The next city commission meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ A High Springs man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida announced this week.

Jon Walter Crawford, 36, received the sentence following a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Homeland Security Investigations determined that Crawford possessed over one thousand files of videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children.

The case began when the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Deputies identified Crawford and confirmed his involvement in both possession and distribution. Federal agents later determined the full extent of the material in his possession.

Alachua County Sheriff Chad D. Scott commended the work of investigators, noting that the persistence of his detectives and their collaboration with federal partners were critical to the outcome of the case. He said the investigation reflects the agency’s commitment to protecting children and sending a clear message that those who seek to exploit minors will be found and prosecuted. “Let this serve as a clear message: anyone who seeks to exploit or harm children will be found, held accountable and delivered into the arms of justice. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will continue to use every available resource to ensure these predators are stopped and that our community’s children are safe,” said Scott.

Officials stressed that the conviction was the result of strong cooperation between local and federal agencies. Homeland Security Investigations emphasized that individuals who collect such material contribute to ongoing abuse.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody prosecuted the case.

The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin, who said protecting children from exploitation is among his office’s highest priorities.

Crawford’s prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child exploitation and abuse. The program brings together federal, state and local agencies to track down and prosecute offenders while also working to identify and rescue victims

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NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission met Aug. 25, 2025, to consider a wide range of ordinances and land use amendments beyond fire fees and the Avalon Woods development. Commissioners moved quickly through multiple agenda items, most of which passed without dissent.

Commercial Zoning Approvals

Commissioners approved several rezonings and land use amendments. Hawley Family Holdings LLC, 9.7 acres at 23125 West Newberry Road, was approved for a small-scale amendment from Agriculture to Commercial. A related rezoning to Commercial Intensive was also approved on first reading. Also, IMS 2707 LLC, a 25-acre tract, was advanced on first reading for a change from Agriculture to Commercial, with a companion rezoning to Commercial Automotive. Staff noted opposition from the Planning and Zoning Board to the proposed car lot use. And Pat Post Property, a 111-acre annexed parcel, was approved for a large-scale amendment from Agriculture to Residential. Rezoning to City Agriculture was also approved on first reading, with authorization to transmit the plan to state officials for review.

Large-Scale Land Use Amendment

A legislative hearing considered a request from NV5 Global, Inc., representing Charlie L. and Juanita H. Futch. The proposal sought to reclassify 159 acres on Southwest 15^th Avenue from Mixed Use to Residential Low Density, with up to 500 units planned in a development called CountryWay II. Commissioners approved the change unanimously. A companion rezoning application will return to the Planning and Zoning Board and commission in the coming weeks.

In other business, the commission unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-67, approving the city’s inclusion in the Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) for solid waste costs. The annual residential rate of $25.27 remains unchanged from last year. The ordinance also allows for multi-year consent, provided increases do not exceed 10 percent in a single year.

On second reading, commissioners unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 2025-15, formally establishing a Mayor’s Youth Council. The program aims to provide student members with leadership opportunities and a platform for civic engagement. Later in the meeting, the commission appointed Anna McGehee and Elana Wilson to the board, with one vacancy still open.

The next Newberry City Commission meeting will be held Sept. 8, 2025.

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Colorful flowers and balloons in Santa Fe High’s colors of red, black and gray decorate the chain-link fence outside the school’s athletic fields on Sept. 7, 2025. Students and friends also used red cups to spell out the letters “Long Live JPJ” in tribute to senior Jonathan “JP” Prior, 17, who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Union County. / Alachua County Today Staff Photographer

ALACHUA – A Santa Fe High School senior was killed Friday night in a motorcycle crash in Union County, sending shockwaves through the community and sparking an outpouring of grief from classmates, family and friends.

Florida Highway Patrol officials said Jonathan “JP” Prior, 17, was riding southbound on State Road 121 when he rear-ended an SUV near Southwest 76^th Way on Sept. 5, 2025. The impact threw him from his motorcycle, and he did not survive his injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

Prior was a senior at Santa Fe High School and also worked as a lifeguard at Camp Kulaqua, where colleagues described him as dependable and kind.

Over the weekend, hundreds of students, teachers, relatives and neighbors gathered at Santa Fe High School for a memorial. The gathering turned into a living tribute filled with tears, laughter and stories that highlighted the teenager’s warmth and humor. Classmates said the size of the turnout reflected how deeply he had touched those around him.

In response to the tragedy, Camp Kulaqua lifeguards launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the Prior family. The fundraiser quickly drew community support, becoming a focal point for those seeking to help during the family’s time of loss.

Santa Fe High administrators said grief counselors are available to support students as they cope with the sudden death of a peer.

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The Cleather H. Hathcock, Sr. Community Center in Alachua shows its age as city leaders plan for a replacement. / Alachua County Today Staff Photographer

~Bigger spaces, expanded programs, and a road upgrade on the table~

ALACHUA ‒ The Cleather H. Hathcock, Sr. Community Center has long been a hub for gatherings and events, but the aging building has struggled to keep up with the community’s needs. Burdened by constant maintenance problems and limited space, the facility has reached a stage where city leaders agree renovation alone will not suffice.

Commission Reviews Next-Generation Plans

City of Alachua Commissioners got their most detailed look yet at what the next-generation Cleather H. Hathcock, Sr. Community Center could be, and the early verdict was enthusiastic. Architect Barnett Chenault, President of Monarch Design Group, delivered a brisk but wide-ranging progress report that translated weeks of staff interviews and a well-attended community workshop into space needs, site constraints, access fixes, and first-pass building layouts.

City Manager Rodolfo Valladares framed the process as a deliberate solicitation of commission, staff, and community engagement that will repeat until a full report returns to the board on Oct. 27.

Community Input Guides Priorities

Chenault said more than 1,600 notices went out for the public workshop at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex, where residents moved through visual boards and dot-voted their priorities. Indoors, the most consistent ask was for larger, flexible rooms capable of handling the city’s growing Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and other community events, alongside vocational training space and computer labs.

The workshop feedback also emphasized intergenerational programming that uses daytime for seniors and evenings for youth to stretch the building’s capacity without forcing programs to compete. Outside, residents favored a shaded stage or amphitheater and outdoor fitness areas, with interest in rentable community space for festivals and gatherings.

Practical Upgrades: Parking, Access, ADA

Practical upgrades kept pace with the wish list: more parking, ADA-compliant paths, better landscaping, and attention to stormwater and erosion that have dogged the site. While most people currently arrive by car, Chenault noted a meaningful number walk to the center — another reason to fix sidewalks and improve frontage along Northwest 140th Street.

Before design comes math, and the design team laid out the non-negotiables that will shape the footprint: parking ratios, stormwater area, buffers and setbacks, and a minimum open-space requirement. Using an easy benchmark, Chenault said a 10,000-square-foot program drives roughly 33 parking spaces — and because each stall consumes around 300 square feet once aisles are included, parking alone carves a tall slice out of the site.

Those realities, he said, make access improvements a smart early investment no matter which building plan the Commission prefers. Chief among them: paving Northwest 159^th Lane to city standards, keeping existing access points until a final design is set, adding sidewalk links, and increasing the number of ADA spaces. Valladares was unequivocal about the street work: if the city is going to invest in a “beautiful building,” the roads leading to it should be finished to match.

Early Design Options Presented

To translate community input into rooms and square footage, Monarch built a preliminary “space matrix” —a budget of sorts — totaling roughly 10,000 interior square feet: around 6,000 for community/program rooms, 1,300 for administration, and 1,200 for the invisible but essential functions like HVAC, IT, janitorial, and AV.

With that as a guide, Chenault showed two early massing options. A one-story version comes in around 8,400 square feet, organized around a north-south corridor connecting multi-purpose rooms, a catering/warming kitchen, support spaces, and covered porch.

A two-story version pushes offices and vocational rooms upstairs, adding circulation needs (stairs and an elevator) and nudging the total to about 9,200 square feet, but freeing ground area and making future expansion more feasible. Outdoor elements — such as a stage, community garden space, stormwater features, and service enclosures — would be planned in tandem but sit outside those interior totals.

Debate Over One-Story vs. Two-Story Layout

The Commission quickly coalesced around new construction rather than renovating the relocated, aging building on site, which has been described as compromised by termites and in constant need of upkeep. On height, however, the commission was not yet settled, though a two-story approach is being seriously considered.

Calls for a History Room and More Storage

Vice Mayor Shirley Green Brown said she liked parts of both a one- and two-story approach and insisted that the project include a dedicated City history room. Chenault said the history theme surfaced repeatedly in public input and will be woven into the plan.

Commissioner Jennifer Ringersen leaned toward a one-story building to simplify access for seniors and avoid elevator costs, but pressed for more small-group rooms and far more storage — lessons hard-won in other civic projects. She also urged isolating a computer lab away from big-room activities so tutoring isn’t drowned out by bingo or events.

Commissioner Dayna Williams favored a two-story path to bank future growth, reasoning that as Alachua grows the city will want the flexibility to expand programs and administration without starting over. She floated the idea of exploring Community Development Block Grant dollars for related street upgrades. Mayor Walter Welch also voiced support for going vertical.

Recreation and Outdoor Amenities

The board dipped briefly into recreation specifics when Green Brown asked about pickleball. While not highlighted on every workshop board, staff confirmed it appeared among the outdoor-fitness suggestions alongside foursquare and kickball. Chenault said the next round of public engagement will test interest in specific sports more directly. He also clarified that improved paved parking could be paired with some managed overflow on unimproved areas to retain the practical capacity residents are used to during large events.

Balancing Scope, Budget, and Vision

Valladares closed the discussions by cautioning that scope and budget must now be balanced against the community’s “dream big” brief, but said the process is doing exactly what it should: turning a long list of ideas into a buildable, fundable plan the public can recognize as its own.

Next Steps in the Design Process

Monarch will return with refined scenarios that prioritize new construction, present trade-offs between one and two stories with most program rooms on the first floor either way, reserve space for a history gallery, and package baseline site improvements — especially the paving of Northwest 159th Lane — into the recommended path forward. Applause followed as the city manager promised a better iteration next time and, ultimately, a center the whole city and the community can be proud of.

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