MediaUpdate

​Since its announced start date, this has become a hot topic for residents as many feel that their county failed them for letting this festival happen and being a sponsor.

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​The Alachua County Attorney’s Office launched an investigation into Alachua County Animal Resources after a former employee emailed a 15-page complaint detailing allegations of mismanagement and animal neglect.

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​The vote came after the Gainesville City Commission and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, in a joint meeting on Monday, requested that the vote be delayed. The Alachua City Commission sent a letter to the SBAC on Wednesday, also asking for a postponement on the vote.

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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 March 20, 2026.

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​Burn bans in Alachua and Levy counties are once again being extended for another week.

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​Since the plan was made public, Gainesville and Alachua city commissioners, Alachua County commissioners, and community members urged the board to pause before voting. The primary concerns raised included traffic and transportation, the relocation of students, teachers, and administrators, and the historical significance of the schools facing closure.

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​​On March 11, Gainesville Police Department officers assisted Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAR) with executing a search warrant at 3023 NE 12th Street after receiving a report about animal cruelty and dogfighting.

​At the March 9 joint meeting of the Alachua County Commission and Gainesville City Commission, Commissioners heard an update on their Literacy Action Plan.

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​The county attorney’s office announced during the County Commission's March 10 meeting that it has retained a third‑party firm to investigate conditions at the county's Animal Resources shelter after a former employee raised allegations of mismanagement and animal welfare neglect.

A former County Animal Resources Outreach coordinator named "Anthony" sent a letter to The Sun on March 2 calling for an investigation into what he described as “concerns gone unanswered or dismissed without meaningful follow-up, demonstrating a pattern of institutional inaction” by interim Animal Resources Director Gina Peebles and Shelter Supervisor Brittney D’Azzo.

In the letter, Anthony, who did not provide a last name, said staff members are targeted for raising legitimate animal welfare concerns, that experience and work ethic do not lead to promotions, and microaggressions are prevalent throughout the facility. He also alleged Peebles has referred to volunteers as “lynching ladies.” Anthony added that Peebles does not consider public opinion in her decision-making and that public comments are intentionally not reviewed and emails are sometimes not read.​

​The email was sent to commissioners on March 3.

​During the March 10 meeting, five people wearing T-shirts featuring two dogs and the words “Show us they’re safe” spoke before the dais in support of Anthony’s letter. They echoed similar claims and said commissioners have been misled by shelter leadership.

​One of the critics, volunteer Patricia Antonucci, supported the claim about the “lynching ladies” remark and said she fears that if the commission waits until the investigation concludes to act, animal conditions will continue to decline and public trust will erode.

"Shelter management has obfuscated on statistics, selectively excluded staff and forced euthanasia all while attempting to limit public and volunteer involvement, dismissing our efforts to help their supposed mission. On the other hand, they've been quick to pat themselves on the back via social media and engage in performative displays for people who visit the shelter," Antonucci said.

​Confirming the investigation, County Manager Michelle Lieberman said the county has retained a third-party firm to conduct a formal investigation managed by the county attorney’s office, led by Sylvia Torres.

Torres said the March 2 letter triggered the county’s whistleblower ordinance and marks the third investigation initiated since the board adopted the ordinance in 2020. The investigation is expected to take up to 90 days.

​"The purpose of this ordinance is to encourage disclosure of potential violations of law, rule, regulation, or suspected actions of malfeasance or misfeasance, and to protect employees from retaliation. The ordinance gives an option of an internal investigation or an external investigation," Torres said.

Torres said Lieberman and she chose an external investigation on March 3 so the public can receive information from a credible source once the investigation is completed.

County Commissioner and shelter volunteer Marihelen Wheeler said she visited the shelter unannounced after the email was sent and observed cages filled with urine and feces, along with empty, crusted food bowls.

Commissioner Anna Prizzia said she was confused why the commission had not yet met with the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, which she said is designed for situations like this. Prizzia said it is critical for AWAC to understand the full scope of the investigation.

With scattered applause, Prizzia said she and staff are very frustrated with the situation and believes Peebles should not run the shelter during the investigation, while also saying she trusts the investigative process.

​Echoing those concerns, Commissioner Mary Alford said that following a March 9 meeting with Sheriff Chad Scott, she learned that when allegations are made against an employee, that individual is typically removed from duty until the matter is resolved.

Commission Chair Ken Cornell said he appreciates Peebles’ work and noted that Peebles serves as the county’s chief of staff, did not ask for the interim shelter role, and would leave that role once the temporary assignment ends. Cornell added that placing a top official in the position demonstrates the county’s commitment to stabilizing the shelter.

The commission voted to seek alternative temporary management for the shelter, schedule a meeting with the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, and provide additional resources and temporary assistance to shelter staff.

​​Lieberman reminded the board that the shelter would be closed March 11 to interview three candidates for the Animal Resources director position.

Lieberman also said the lease for the new shelter site at UF has been signed by University of Florida Board of Trustees Chair "Mori" Hosseini.

​The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Florida that sustained economic losses caused by freeze, frost, and high winds occurring Jan. 23 to Feb 5, 2026.

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​Alachua County launched an outside investigation into the operations at the county animal shelter following a 15-page complaint by former staff.  

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​Alachua County commissioners unanimously approved a five-part motion, which includes referring to the county manager to look for alternatives to the current interim management, along with calling for a meeting with the Animal Welfare Committee as soon as possible.

Watch the story​.​

​At the March 10 Alachua County Commission meeting, the board asked the County Manager to hold an Animal Welfare Advisory Committee meeting as soon as possible and consider changing the interim leadership at the shelter.

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​After a three-hour discussion during a joint meeting, the Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission weighed in on Alachua County Public Schools’ newly proposed rezoning map, which would lead to the closure of four elementary schools while converting three middle schools into K-8 schools.

During a March 9 presentation, interim Alachua County Superintendent Kamela Patton and the school district’s director of full-time employment, Kim Neal, said the district is navigating a changing public education landscape marked by lower birth rates, limited funding, and students moving to charter, private, or homeschooling options.

Through rezoning, the district aims to address overcrowding, reinvest in programs, and achieve long-term sustainability while saving millions of dollars annually.

​The district initially proposed potentially closing Alachua Elementary, Duval Early Learning Academy, Stephen Foster Elementary, Marjorie Rawlings Elementary, and Williams Elementary, while “significantly expanding” Lincoln Middle, Mebane Middle, and Oak View into kindergarten through eighth-grade schools.

After receiving public input, the district now recommends keeping Duval and Rawlings open while closing Irby Elementary, Foster, Alachua, and Williams. Neal added that Irby would consolidate with Alachua to form a K-8 school at Mebane.

​Neal said each closure would save at least $1.1 million annually, totaling $4.4 million in one year, $22 million over five years, and $44 million over 10 years.

Currently, the district has 6,600 empty seats: 2,666 in elementary schools; 1,981 in middle schools; and 983 in high schools. Neal said the empty elementary seats alone could fill four average-sized elementary schools, two middle schools, and about half of a high school.

​Additionally, district staff anticipate an approximate loss of 7,000 students between the 2019–2020 and 2030–2031 school years.

During Neal’s presentation, Alachua County Commissioner Ken Cornell asked whether the enrollment data included students attending charter schools or those being homeschooled. Neal replied that the data includes only “brick-and-mortar” traditional schools and sponsored charter schools, not private or homeschool students.

​Neal said that anecdotally reviewing the data last week showed more than 2,100 students are currently homeschooled. When asked if that number could be compared to homeschooled students from four years ago, Neal said she did not have that statistic available.

Neal also noted a 4,500-student increase in the district’s family empowerment vouchers, bringing the total to 5,500 students compared to about 1,000 four years ago. Combined with homeschool students, Neal said about 7,600 students are not reflected in the district’s enrollment data and are not tracked in the same way.

Urging the board to slow down but not stop the process, Cornell asked district staff to ensure the public school system remains not only a right, but something families actively choose.

At the end of the presentation, Alachua County School Board member Tina Certain apologized for leaving early to attend a Children’s Trust meeting but criticized city and county commissioners for not attending previous meetings.

"I hate to leave, and I feel like our staff are going to get beat up by our colleagues who are equally elected as we are," Certain said. "I'm getting the impression that you guys are treating us like we need to get your guys' opinion before we can move forward. I don't think that's fair to us given that the school board is elected just like you guys."

​After Certain left, Mayor Harvey Ward told the audience that Mayor Pro-Tem Casey Willits and County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler attended an earlier meeting but did not realize the district wanted all commissioners present.

“This is a lot to get done in one month — that meeting was Feb. 6,” Ward said. "We haven't been in the process, we're just trying to get up to speed as we get towards something kind of inevitable."

Calling it significant that Duval and Rawlings would remain open, Ward said he appreciated the school board’s effort to preserve the neighborhoods surrounding those schools.

Responding to Certain’s comments, City Commissioner Desmond Duncan-Walker told Patton she hoped the superintendent did not feel the commission was beating up on district staff, but instead felt the “great” passion behind the discussion, to which Patton agreed it was business, not personal.

Duncan-Walker also expressed interest in scheduling additional meetings to continue the conversation.

​​The Alachua County School Board is scheduled to vote on moving forward with a final rezoning map at a special meeting on March 12.