May 27, 2026

Highlights from the May 26, 2026 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.

Lake Forest Creek Purchase

The commission approved the purchase of 20.24 acres at Lake Forest Creek in east Gainesville.

The public will eventually be able to visit the property via tour. The $258,700 acquisition will be paid for with the voter-approved Wild Spaces Public Places surtax.

Read the complete highlights for this meeting.

Alachua County Lifts Burn Ban

Effective today, May 27, 2026, Alachua County has lifted the countywide burn ban following substantial rainfall across the region over the past several days and additional rain forecasted throughout the week.

County officials, in coordination with the Florida Forest Service (FFS), determined that improving environmental conditions have significantly reduced the immediate threat of wildfires.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which measures soil and vegetation dryness, has dropped to 415 from 618 last week and is expected to continue declining as rainfall persists.

Learn more about the burn ban being lifted.

84 Road Projects Totaling $121M Completed, Under Construction or in Progress

Alachua County is paving the way toward a stronger, safer future. In May 2023, the Alachua County Commission approved the historic 10-year, $250 million Transportation Capital Improvement Program (TCIP), focused on improving road conditions, extending the life of county infrastructure, increasing traffic safety, and improving mobility for our residents. The program represents the largest sustained investment in transportation infrastructure in Alachua County’s history.

To date, the county has completed 33 projects costing $24.1 million, has begun construction on 17 projects valued at $35.8 million, and has 34 projects valued at $61 million in the planning and procurement stage.

Find out more about the road projects.

The Power of Recovery & Community Support

The following article by Alachua County Clinical Supervisor Rebecca Hunt shares reflections on the recent Metamorphosis Residential Treatment Program graduation ceremony and the life-changing work underway within the program.

From the article:

Watching six residents walk across the stage at the recent Metamorphosis Residential Treatment Program graduation ceremony was a powerful reminder of why this work matters.

Every day at Metamorphosis, our team works alongside residents as they rebuild their lives, often after years of instability, addiction and trauma. Operated by Alachua County through Community Support Services, Metamorphosis is a clinically managed, high-intensity residential therapeutic community for adults experiencing moderate to severe substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Read the article.

County Wins Innovative Partnership Award

Alachua County has been recognized by the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) with a statewide Innovative Partnership Award for its project $36 million catalyst: “Converting Federal Investment into High-Wage Workforce Opportunity in Alachua County,” highlighting one of the most significant and strategically coordinated economic development efforts in east Gainesville’s history.

At the center of the initiative is the $36 million U.S. Army Reserve Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) investment, the largest economic development investment within the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) district and widely recognized by local leadership as a long-term priority area for redevelopment and economic growth. Through coordinated leadership between the county’s Economic Development and Public Works departments, in partnership with Santa Fe College, the project has been leveraged beyond its original infrastructure scope into a long-term, industry-aligned workforce pipeline that delivers sustained economic mobility outcomes for residents.

Learn more about the award.

Transportation Improvement Plan Final Draft Available for Comment

The Gainesville and Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is pleased to announce that the final draft of its Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) for fiscal years 2026-2030 is now available.

View the full TIP document.

Projects in the plan can also be viewed on the TPO’s newly launched interactive website. (Please use a computer for an optimal viewing experience.)

Residents are encouraged to submit comments on the final TIP draft online by navigating to the “Projects” and “Interactive Map” tabs of the website, then selecting an item to view project details. The “Add Comment” button will be in the top-right corner of each selected item.

Although the list of projects can’t be changed at this point, comments for projects will be reviewed when the TPO opens the next cycle during development of its “List of Priority Projects” (LOPP), which will be announced at a later date.

Extreme Water Shortage Declared in the Region

The Suwannee River and St. Johns River water management districts have updated water shortage declarations for each of their portions of Alachua County and surrounding areas due to ongoing drought conditions and declining aquifer water levels.

The following water conservation actions are required and apply to wells and water supplied by a public or private utility:

Landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week, between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Homeowners’ associations may not require additional watering of landscapes.
Non-essential water uses are prohibited, including fountains and washing of streets, sidewalks and driveways.
Pressure/soft washing for aesthetic reasons is prohibited.

Residents are asked to postpone planting new landscapes until the rainy season arrives, as the establishment period requires additional water, and establishment irrigation is currently limited, which may hinder landscape success.

Find out more about the water shortage.

Construction to Begin on County Road 235 Roundabout

Alachua County Public Works and the City of Newberry will begin construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of County Road 235 and Newberry Lane on Monday, June 1, 2026.

To allow crews to safely complete the work, the intersection and surrounding roadway will be closed to through traffic for the duration of construction, beginning June 1. The anticipated completion date is Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, with the roadway scheduled to reopen on Aug. 10.

Learn more about the project.