HIGHLIGHTS OF THE APRIL 8, 2025 COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING | | |
These highlights will give residents a quick review of the most recent County Commission meeting and provide video, agenda, and other useful links.
Florence Landfill
The commission heard a presentation on the state-required closure plan for the Florence Recycling and Disposal Landfill, which the Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulates.
In January, the commission approved a six-part motion that included bringing back options for an air monitoring plan to detect harmful contaminants in the area.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the commission approved a plan for a six-month study that will collect air samples and data every 30 minutes around the landfill. It will measure hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. The contract is estimated to cost about $95,000 and will come back to the board for final approval.
Read the complete highlights for this meeting.
| | Big: Culture and Arts Festival | |
The third annual Big: Culture & Arts Festival is set to take over Gainesville from April 11-12, offering a vibrant fusion of live music, art, fashion, and circus performances that promise to captivate all the senses.
Presented by Dion Dia and How Bazar, the festival will span the Porters Quarters Community to South Main Street, with the support of Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, as part of the county’s yearlong Discover 200 Bicentennial Celebration.
This year’s event is bigger, bolder, and more diverse than ever. It will deliver a dynamic mix of music from both local and national artists, immersive performances, and interactive installations. From fire breathers and stilt walkers to aerial artists soaring through silks, attendees will be immersed in a carnival-like atmosphere that blends street culture, music and circus artistry.
Read the Feature Story about the festival that is set to transform Gainesville.
Watch Co-founder Laila Fakhoury on Alachua County Talks.
The new episode of Alachua County Talks features an interview with Big: Culture and Arts Festival co-founder Laila Fakhoury. The festival runs Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12, 2025, in downtown Gainesville. The interview focuses on the festival’s origins and history of supporting local, national and international musicians, artists, and performers across multiple musical genres and art forms.
| | Alachua County calls on residents to celebrate Earth Day 2025 | | |
To celebrate Earth Day 2025, the county, along with the City of Gainesville, the University of Florida, Santa Fe College, and other local organizations, have planned a series of events for citizens to enjoy.
This year’s celebration theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.”
Learn about all of the Earth Day events.
| | April is Water Conservation Month | | |
Alachua County has joined governments, utilities, and agencies across Florida in proclaiming April as Water Conservation Month. This initiative highlights the importance of preserving our water resources, which are essential for our drinking water, springs, rivers and lakes.
Outdoor irrigation can account for up to 60% of residential water use. Residents can significantly reduce water waste and lower utility bills by making small changes to irrigation habits. We encourage property owners with automatic irrigation systems to "turn it off, watch the weather, and wait to water." Established plants often require less water than new plantings, and many homeowners can turn off entire irrigation zones or shorten run times, leading to meaningful savings.
Read more about Water Conservation Month.
| | Cuscowilla Day Camp Open House | | |
Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is hosting a Day Camp Open House on April 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon. Families can drop in and try out some camp activities, meet the summer staff and take a tour of the camp. Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is at 210 SE 134th Ave., Micanopy.
“This is a great opportunity for prospective families, new campers who have already signed up or for those who are just missing camp. All are welcome to attend,” said Camp Manager Jamie Bass. “We will have staff stationed at main areas of the camp like the archery range, the climbing wall, the game room and more.”
There’s still time to register for this summer, but spots are filling quickly.
Learn more about the open house.
| | Northwest 138th Avenue Pavement Improvement | | |
Northwest 138th Avenue will be closed entirely for pavement repairs beginning on March 31, 2025. The closure is expected to last approximately a month, depending on the weather. The roadway will remain open for local property access only.
The section that will be temporarily closed is approximately 700 feet west of County Road 235A. The detour route is shown on the map provided. Please plan accordingly, as this may add time to your commute.
| | County seeks applicants for the Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board | | |
Alachua County is seeking applicants for the Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board. Currently, the board has a vacancy for one alternate voting member representing the small, incorporated cities of Archer, Alachua, Hawthorne, High Springs, LaCrosse, Micanopy, Newberry and Waldo.
To accommodate working schedules, the 10-member board, which includes three alternates, meets quarterly at 5:30 p.m. to ensure the surtax proceeds are invested in eligible projects, per state statute and county ordinance. The public’s next opportunity to attend a meeting is on May 12 at 5:30 p.m. on the second floor in the county manager’s training room at the Alachua County Administration Building (12 SE 1st St. Gainesville).
The Alachua County Commission makes board appointments, while the City of Gainesville approves its appointments. Members serve staggered four-year terms.
Find out more about the oversight board.
| | County Seeks Advisory Board Volunteers | | |
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity that allows you to give back to your community and participate in your county's decision-making process? Serving on an Alachua County advisory board offers you this chance. The County Commission relies on input from these boards to make informed decisions and set policies.
Over 250 citizens serve on the advisory boards advising county government and local agencies on many topics. They include affordable housing, economic development, environmental protection, human rights, county finances, and many other issues. The Alachua County Commission seeks citizen volunteers to serve on several advisory boards.
For example, the Human Rights Board currently has three vacancies. The board makes recommendations to the equal opportunity manager for the enforcement of the Alachua County human rights ordinance.
Read about the advisory board vacancies.
| | Lochloosa Slough Preserve Public Input Workshop | | |
Alachua County’s land conservation program, Alachua County Forever (ACF), is hosting a public input workshop on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss future recreational opportunities at Lochloosa Slough Preserve. The meeting will be held in the cafeteria of Shell Elementary School (21633 SE 65th Ave., Hawthorne).
Lochloosa Slough Preserve is a 6,265-acre preserve in southeast Alachua County, south of Hawthorne.
Attendees should be ready to actively participate in conversations about these potential recreation plans, as county staff is seeking input specifically on recreation to be considered for the county’s 10-year Management Plan.
At the workshop, ACF staff will facilitate group conversations among community members and various potential user groups to discuss all the potential nature-based recreational opportunities planned for the preserve. Opportunities will likely include hiking, bicycling, hunting, horseback riding and general nature observation.
“The goal of the meeting is to have people talk to each other in a group setting where they can share what types of recreation they would like to see offered, but also to listen to what other opportunities people may want access to as well,” said ACF Stewardship Coordinator Ryan Kennelly. “This preserve is well set up to accommodate multiple recreational uses, and County staff want to serve a broad range of users while protecting the preserve’s natural resources.”
| | Alachua County Public Works Hosts Regional Heavy Equipment ROADeo | | |
Last week, the Alachua County Public Works Department partnered with the City of Gainesville Public Works Department to host a competitive event for heavy equipment operators at the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center in Newberry.
The Regional Heavy Equipment ROADeo, organized by the Santa Fe Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA) and sponsored by Beard Equipment Company, attracted over 60 skilled operators from nine counties and municipalities. Participants competed in a series of timed events, showcasing their expertise with large, complex machinery for the chance to win prizes and earn bragging rights.
Find out more about the ROADeo.
| | Community Reuse & Recycle Day | | |
The Alachua County Solid Waste & Resource Recovery Department, in collaboration with the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, invites residents to participate in the Community Reuse & Recycle Day.
The free event will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Santa Fe College Northwest Campus (in the Construction Institute Parking Lot 8 on North Road) across from the gym).
Nonprofit organizations will be on-site to receive clothing in wearable condition (no dirty or damaged items), nonperishable food (no expired or open items), housewares in usable condition, supplies for school, offices or art, and household hazardous waste (such as paint, chemicals, old electronics, etc.) for recycling or proper disposal. Household garbage, general recycling, damaged/soiled items, and other materials unsuitable for donation will not be accepted.
Learn more about the Reuse and Recycle Day event.
| | Alachua County Seeks Applicants for Children’s Trust | | |
Alachua County is accepting applications from individuals interested in serving on the Children’s Trust of Alachua County (CTAC). CTAC is an independent special district with taxing authority dedicated to funding preventive, developmental and treatment services that support the well-being of local children.
CTAC is governed by a 10-member board, featuring five members appointed by the governor. The governor makes appointments from a list of names recommended by the Alachua County Commission.
Currently, there is one vacancy, and four board members are eligible for reappointment.
Read more about the Children's Trust.
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