MediaUpdate

​Alachua County commissioners are looking for ideas to improve east Gainesville.

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​Worsening drought conditions led Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a State of Emergency on Monday, Feb. 9, which included Alachua County.

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​“This summer, we’re partnering with outstanding educational organizations, including UF/IFAS Extension, the Micanopy library and the Harn Museum of Art, and hosting a special week with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office focused on the radKIDS personal safety curriculum,” said Camp Manager Jamie Bass. “Camp gives children an increasingly rare opportunity to unplug, build confidence, and immerse themselves in the natural world right here in Alachua County.”

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​After reviewing Alachua County’s current wildland fire conditions and in consultation with state officials, the mandatory countywide burn ban has been extended and will remain in effect through Feb. 20, 2026.

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​The project focuses on creating sustainable, affordable homeownership opportunities to improve residents’ quality of life and boost the local economy. It will develop market-rate and affordable single-family homes and create opportunities for homeownership and neighborhood revitalization. The initiative stems from feedback emphasizing the need for workforce housing and market-rate housing in the area.

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​Alachua County Fire Rescue crews and Gainesville Fire Rescue crews responded to a fire in the Green Leaf subdivision off Southwest 75th Street at around 8 p.m. Tuesday.

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​The inaugural WildFlowers Festival of Music and Dance in Melrose will move forward in March after a unanimous Tuesday vote by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and six hours of presentation, comments and deliberation.

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​Multiple fire crews responded to a backyard fire that extended into a multi-unit residential structure in the Green Leaf Subdivision in Gainesville on Tuesday night.

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​With more than 100 people attending across three rooms, the Alachua County Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 10 to approve a temporary use permit for the contested Wildflowers Music Park festival in Melrose.

The more than six-hour meeting featured two opposing sides. One group, largely dressed in white shirts bearing a red slash over the words “Wildflowers Music Park,” sat opposite supporters wearing aqua blue shirts with a floral pattern behind the word “Wildflowers.”

Running from March 13-15, the Wildflowers Music Park festival is named after Gainesville native Tom Petty’s iconic album, "Wildflowers."

Supporters of the 210-acre festival said it presents an opportunity to bring a rural community together through music while conserving land and generating a positive economic impact.​

​Critics, while supportive of live music, said they fear the festival will bring heavy traffic, excessive noise, trespassers and trash into their backyard.

Principal Planner Chris Dawson presented the commission with a proposal for approval that included 14 conditions, such as limiting amplified music to certain hours, requiring fencing or silt barriers to protect gopher tortoise burrows, and setting a maximum attendance of 5,000 people.

​Under the conditions, gates may open to the public no earlier than 9 a.m. on March 12. All attendees and vendors must leave the property no later than 2 p.m. on March 16.

Former County Commissioner Robert Hutchinson is helping spearhead the festival alongside Wildflowers Music Park Inc. President Guy Forchion.

​Hutchinson said 10 to 20 volunteers have been working on the festival so far and estimated that about 2,000 people will attend.

Forchion said he hopes the site will plant a seed not only for the music park, but also for other uses such as weddings and picnics.

"We are not just a festival, but we are asking you today to approve this temporary use permit so that we can introduce it to the community," Forchion said.

​At one point, a total of 69 people had signed up for public comment, speaking for more than an hour and a half from both sides.

One of the most vocal opponents was Anne Rudig, who helped organize the Melrose Forever protest on Jan. 8. Rudig said the festival would not have a significant economic impact on Melrose because the proceeds would go to the festival, not the community.

​Father and son Michael Hines and Cameron Hines addressed the commission and volunteers, expressing frustration over the lack of secured boundaries after seeing volunteers in their backyard.

Commissioner Anna Prizzia added a condition requiring no-trespassing signs to be posted along the entire property boundary.

Not wearing a Wildflowers shirt, Albert Cleary said that on March 12, 2024, he drove behind a helicopter carrying his then 6-month-old daughter, who was being flown to Shands Hospital for a heart transplant.

Cleary said it is his dream to dance with her at the festival.

“Due to her heart transplant, she can’t go very far from the transplant center, so this would be her only chance to really have a celebratory moment after spending 333 days in the PICU at Shands,” Cleary said.

​​After hearing from both sides, Chair Ken Cornell became emotional, saying he arrived prepared to vote no due to concerns about roads and trespassing, but was moved by Cleary’s comments.

Calling the festival a test, Prizzia said it represents an opportunity to build something rather than prepare for the “apocalypse.” She added that it also gives Melrose a chance to protect its agricultural land.

“I get why they’re scared. A lot of people see potential noise, but I see the application and how you’ve addressed those issues,” Prizzia said. “Having nature parks and rural activity centers in rural areas brings tourism and people interested in agritourism.”

​At the end of a six-hour evening session on February 10, the Alachua County Commission unanimously approved a Temporary Use Permit for a four-day event in March at the Wildflowers Music Park.​

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​The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) traveled to Archer City Hall on Monday for its annual joint meeting with the City Commission, where the governing bodies discussed Archer’s financial status, as well as county resources for the city as it prepares for growth. 

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​Alachua County commissioners unanimously approved a temporary use permit Tuesday night allowing the Wildflowers Music Festival to move forward in Melrose from March 12–16, following hours of public comment that highlighted deep divisions within the rural community.

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​Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman said that since Fiscal Year 2018, Alachua County has reduced the general millage rate by 0.8648 mills, a 10.22% decrease, while the MSTU Law Enforcement (MSTU-LE) millage rate has remained unchanged for the past six years. Over the same time period, the property valuation in the county increased 72%, while property taxes increased 54%. 

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​At approximately 8:00 p.m. on February 10, crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) and Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) responded to reports of a multi-unit residential structure fire in the Green Leaf subdivision off SW 75th Street.

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​Cents & Sensibility explains how the county budget works, where revenue comes from, and how funds are used to support services that affect daily life. The guide uses plain language, infographics, and links to break down complex financial topics.

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​Alachua County Public Works is pleased to announce that the resurfacing project on Northeast/Northwest 156th Avenue is on schedule and nearing completion.

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​“This accreditation affirms our commitment to public safety and to providing high-quality, patient-centered emergency medical care,” Fire Chief Harold Theus said. “It reflects the professionalism of our paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and support staff, as well as our focus on accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.”

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​ The Children’s Trust, UF Health, the Safety Net Collaborative, and Alachua County have aligned with FindHelp to promote its free, centralized online resource guide for residents to access local services.

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​On February 9, crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue, High Springs Fire Department, and Town of Lacrosse Fire Department responded to four fires within a two-hour period.

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​​The Gainesville & Alachua County Transportation Planning Organization (GACTPO), formerly known as the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO), is amending its current Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for FYs 24-26 and preparing the draft for FYs 26-28.

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​Alachua County commissioners will hear a presentation on Tuesday regarding the temporary use permit for the controversial Wildflowers Music Park for an event in mid-March.

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