HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AUGUST 12, 2025
COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
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These highlights will give residents a quick review of the most recent County Commission meeting and provide video, agenda, and other useful links.
Comp Plan amendment and rezoning on Hawthorne Road
The commission approved an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and the rezoning proposal along Hawthorne Road near Newnans Lake. The property will soon become a single-family home subdivision with no more than 149 units.
Read the complete highlights for this meeting.
| | Ribbon Cutting for the Diesel Mechanic Training Program | |
Santa Fe College, in partnership with Alachua County and CareerSource North Central Florida, is launching a new heavy diesel mechanic training and certification program aimed at strengthening the region’s skilled labor force and supporting long-term economic development.
The public was invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the program on Monday, Aug. 11, at the Alachua County Public Works Fleet Operations facility.
Learn more and see photos from the ribbon cutting.
| | NE/NW 53rd Avenue Resurfacing Project to Begin Aug. 17 | | |
Alachua County Public Works will begin Phase 1 of the resurfacing of Northeast/Northwest 53rd Avenue on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025.
Watson Construction will complete the $7.6 million project, which will resurface the 3.8-mile roadway from U.S. Highway 441 to North Main Street. In addition to resurfacing, a new left-turn lane will be added at Northeast 15th Street, and the existing left-turn lane at the Waldo Road intersection will be extended.
Read more about the project.
| | Animal Resources Hosts Annual Summer Lovin’ Adopt-A-Thon | |
The event surpassed its goal of 100 adoptions! Thank you to everyone who came out and brought home a pet. If you couldn’t make it on Saturday, no worries. The shelter is waiving adoption fees for the rest of the month in hopes of finding more homes for our furry friends.
Find out more and see photos from the event.
| | Cuscowilla Summer Camp Wraps with Fun & Adventure | | |
Alachua County’s Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center has concluded its 2025 summer camp season after seven weeks of outdoor activities, environmental education and community engagement.
The day camp welcomed an average of 80 children per week, ages 6 to 12. Campers participated in activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, archery, kayaking and climbing. The Friends of Cuscowilla provided scholarships for campers who qualified.
Read more and see photos from the camp.
| | World Masters Event is Finalist for National Award | | |
Alachua County is excited to announce that the 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships has been named a finalist for a 2025 SportsTravel Award in the Best Amateur Sports Event category.
This prestigious recognition comes from SportsTravel magazine, a leading publication in the sports-event industry, and reflects the voices of its readers, who nominated outstanding events from across the globe. The awards honor excellence in amateur, collegiate, and professional sports events held over the past year.
Learn more and Learn more and vote.
| | Alachua County Crisis Center to Host Free Virtual Mental Health Symposium | | |
The Alachua County Crisis Center will host its annual free virtual symposium on suicide prevention and mental wellness on Sept. 15-17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This year’s theme, “Crisis to Connection: Navigating the Continuum of Care,” reflects the center’s commitment to providing accessible, supportive mental health education for the community. The event will be held via Zoom, with links and session information emailed to registrants.
Find out more about the symposium.
| | Alachua County Crisis Center’s Mobile Response Team Honored with NACo Achievement Award | | |
Alachua County is proud to announce that its Mobile Response Team (MRT) has won the 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award. This recognition celebrates innovative and impactful county government programs nationwide that improve services for residents, increase government efficiency, and enhance the quality of life in communities.
The Alachua County Crisis Center has facilitated mobile crisis services for over 50 years, with both staff and incredible volunteers responding to the community.
Read more about the award.
| | Alachua County Ranks Fifth in Florida for Recycling | | |
Alachua County ranked fifth out of Florida’s 67 counties for recycling in 2024, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) annual recycling report.
The county achieved an overall recycling rate of 67%, improving from its No. 6 ranking the previous year. Palm Beach County led the state for the third consecutive year with a 90% recycling rate, followed by Collier, Lee and Baker counties.
Learn more about the county's recycling.
| | Public Invited to Learn About Flood Map Changes in Alachua County | | |
Alachua County residents are invited to attend upcoming public meetings about proposed updates to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the Waccasassa Basin and surrounding areas.
To inform the public about the changes, FEMA has opened a 90-day public comment period, which runs through Oct. 1, 2025. This is your chance to have input before these maps are adopted.
Find out more about flood map changes.
| | Emergency Management to Host Local Mitigation Strategy Meeting | |
Alachua County Emergency Management will host a Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group and Project Ranking Task Force meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Alachua County Emergency Operations Center (1100 SE 27th St., Gainesville).
The meeting begins the multi-step process of updating the county’s Local Mitigation Strategy plan, which is revised every five years. Residents will have the opportunity to provide input on the next version of the plan. The Project Ranking Task Force will also review mitigation projects submitted for future funding opportunities.
Learn more about the upcoming meeting.
| | Citizens needed for Climate and Environmental Advisory Committees | |
Alachua County is seeking residents to serve on two advisory bodies focused on protecting natural resources and addressing climate change.
The Environmental Protection Advisory Committee (EPAC) and the Citizen Climate Advisory Committee (CCAC) are accepting applications to fill fall vacancies.
Read more about the vacancies.
| | Alachua County Begins Design Phase to Help Widen Archer Road to Four Lanes | |
Alachua County is beginning the preliminary design to widen a 3.84-mile section of Archer Road (State Road 24) west of Tower Road, a long-sought project aimed at easing traffic congestion and supporting economic growth in and around the City of Archer.
The County Commission has advocated for the state to convert this corridor into a four-lane highway for several years to improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and support development in southwest Alachua County.
Find out more about the road project.
| | Alachua County to Host Public Workshop on Lochloosa Slough Preserve Recreation Plans | |
Alachua County’s Land Conservation Program, Alachua County Forever (ACF), is hosting a public workshop to discuss future recreational opportunities at Lochloosa Slough Preserve on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The workshop will be held at the Lochloosa Community Church (16503 SE 210th Terr., Hawthorne) and will provide an overview of the proposed 10-year management plan for the 6,267-acre preserve located in southeast Alachua County. The plan outlines strategies for managing natural and cultural resources, promoting public recreation, and the proposed establishment of a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Learn more about the workshop.
| | 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 various advisory boards
Read more about Advisory Boards.
| | Alachua County Congratulates Graduating Certified Public Manager (CPM) Cohort | |
The Alachua County Commission proudly congratulates the latest cohort of public service professionals who have successfully completed the rigorous Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program and earned their national designation.
Graduates in this year’s class include Mehdi Benkhatar, Elisha Cash, Amy Childs, Johnathan Criswell, Brian Kauffman, Gary Kendall, Gina Peebles, Nadia Penelton-Scott, Elizabeth Reyes, TJ White and Misty Woods.
The CPM program is a nationally recognized leadership development initiative for public managers and supervisors, currently offered in 42 states and by the federal government. Designed to elevate the standards and effectiveness of public sector management, the program consists of 31 days of intensive classroom instruction, supplemented by real-world homework assignments and exams.
Find out more about the Certified Public Manager program.
| | Alachua County to Host Free Agritourism Workshop | | |
Alachua County will host a free agritourism workshop on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center (210 SE 134 Ave., Micanopy).
This half-day event is designed for anyone interested in or involved with agritourism, including farmers, ranchers, landowners, entrepreneurs, and others seeking to explore or expand agritourism opportunities on their property or in the community.
Learn more about the workshop.
| | 2025-2026 4-H Open Enrollment | | |
Enrollment for the 2025–2026 4-H year opens on Sept. 1, 2025, and it is the perfect time to get involved. Adults and youth, ages 5 to 18, interested in volunteering are invited to join the largest youth development organization in the country, right here in Alachua County.
Whether you are interested in animals, STEM, public speaking, leadership, the creative arts, or exhibiting at the Alachua County Youth Fair, there is a 4-H club for you.
Read more about 4-H enrollment.
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