January 10, 2024

These highlights will give residents a quick review of the commission meeting and provide video and agenda, and other useful links.  

Honoring Charles Chestnut III

To honor the legacy of former County Commission Charles Chestnut III, the Alachua County Commission agreed for Chair Mary Alford to send a letter in support of renaming Alachua County Public Schools’ administration building after the late county commissioner.

In 2017, shortly after the county removed the “Old Joe” Confederate statue, the school district also removed the Kirby Smith Center moniker from its building and associated signage due to its Confederate ties, a name that carried over from when it was known as Kirby Smith Elementary School.

Chestnut passed away in December 2023 and is the father of County Commissioner Chuck Chestnut IV. He was a pillar in the local Civil Rights movement and was also the first Black School Board member in county history.

Read the complete highlights for this meeting.

The holiday season has passed, and people have finished opening their presents wrapped in paper and an array of plastic and cardboard packaging.

County residents have wheeled their trash and recyclables to the curb. But where will it all go?

It’s a complicated answer – and one that depends on the material itself.

Since opening its doors in 1998, the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station – named after a former county commissioner – has been a leading example throughout North Central Florida on how waste can be managed.

Gus Olmos, Alachua County’s director of solid waste and resource recovery, says it’s no easy feat and one that requires continual public education.

"The most important and difficult thing to teach is how to properly recycle," he said.

Read the entire feature story.

World Masters Athletics (WMA), the international governing body for track & field, cross country, road race, and racewalk for athletes 35+, announced today that Alachua County will host the 2025 WMA Indoor Championships (WMACi25).

This will mark the first time the event has been held in the United States, giving Alachua County the honor of being the first U.S. community to host. In the WMA announcement, WMA Council President Margit Jungmann thanked the Alachua County, Gainesville Sports Commission and RADD Sports for hosting the 2025 Indoor Championships.

“We are confident their team is exceptionally qualified and capable of organizing a World Championship as they support over seventy sporting events annually,” she said. “It will be special having outdoor events in warmer average temperatures than previous Championships and returning to North America.”  

Read more about the Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center is now open for conferences, business meetings, retreats and events.

The 200-acre property located in the heart of Alachua County near Interstate 75 features a main meeting hall, commercial kitchen, cabins, a camping area, an archery range, a pavilion, a lodge and a newly renovated Nature Center with screened-in classrooms and ADA restrooms.

Watch a video featuring all of the amenities available at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center.

The facility makes it the perfect place to accommodate small or intimate gatherings or larger multi-day corporate retreats.

For multi-day events, the overnight cabins can fit up to 20 guests and feature air conditioning and bathrooms. Spaces are also available for individual rentals.

The on-site climbing wall, 18-hole disc golf course, game room, and swimming pool can also be used for team-building exercises or to relax at the end of the day. Guests can also unwind by taking a walk on Cuscowilla’s scenic boardwalk or visiting George’s Pond.

Learn more about Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center.

If interested in hosting your next event at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center or looking for more information, call 352-574-2372 or [email protected].

Alachua County Community Support Services, Victim Services, and Rape Crisis Center invite survivors of violence to contribute original artwork to the 2024 Survivors of Violence Art Exhibit in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April). The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 1, 2024.

All survivors of interpersonal violence are welcome to submit original work, including performance pieces, to be presented at the reception. The exhibit will be held at the Harn Museum of Art (3259 Hull Rd, Gainesville) from Tuesday, April 2 to Tuesday, April 30. A reception for the artists will be held on Thursday, April 4, beginning at 10 a.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

"We have the opportunity to expand our art display for the month of April, and we are grateful for our survivors and community members who share their journey with us," says Project Coordinator Cassandra Moore. "It's a brave and vulnerable step. The cathartic process that goes along with being resilient is something to be honored."

Those interested in submitting art should fill out and submit an online application.

For more information, contact Cassandra Moore at 352-262-7748​.

January is "National Staying Healthy Month." The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) invites residents to get outside and participate in an ecologist-led, family-friendly, healthy hike at the Turkey Creek Preserve. The hike is on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, from 8 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. Hikers will meet at the Turkey Creek trailhead (6300 NW 93rd Ave., Gainesville). Environmental expert and talented wildlife photographer Michael Drummond will lead the hike, accompanied by several members of the ACEPD staff. In the event of rain, the hike will be rescheduled for Jan. 27. Those wanting to participate in this free hike do not need to register.

Learn more about the Turkey Creek Preserve Hike.

Peaches are the January Plant of the Month

The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce that the January “Plant of the Month” is peaches.

Peaches can be eaten on their own or added to a variety of dishes and are a rich source of vitamins A, C, E and fiber. They provide 6% of the daily vitamin A needs and 15% of daily vitamin C needs. One medium peach also contains 2% or more daily value of vitamins E and K, niacin, folate, iron, choline, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper. 

January is a good time to grow peaches in North Central Florida. Check the Plant of the Month website for information on planting, harvesting, recipes, and more. Listen to the Extension Cord Podcast to get further insights on the Plant of the Month.

“Peaches are a stone fruit that come with either yellow or white flesh,” said Mary Alford, chair of the County Commission. “The yellow flesh peaches grow best in Florida.”

The Plant of the Month program is a collaborative effort between Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County, Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteers, Alachua County Public Library and Working Food. 

Other than emergency services, all Alachua County government offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Due to the observance of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, residential curbside collection services for solid waste, recycling, and yard trash will be delayed one day for the entire holiday week. The regular schedule for these services will resume the following week on Monday, Jan. 22.

The five Alachua County Rural Collection Centers, the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station, the Hazardous Waste Collection Center, and the Office of Waste Collection will also be closed on Monday, Jan. 15. They will reopen on Tuesday.

Alachua County seeks volunteers to serve on advisory boards. Those looking for a volunteer opportunity that allows them to give back to their community and participate in their county's decision-making process should consider serving on one of the many board vacancies currently open. 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.

Find out more about Advisory Board openings.