World Masters
The commission heard an update on the upcoming World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship. The event is open to the public and will be held March 23-30, making it the first World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship to be held in the U.S.
The event will feature about 3,700 participants from 97 countries representing all the continents. Registration and other event information can be found at www.wmaci2025.com.
Watch the discussion.
Gun Violence
The commission heard an update on its gun violence initiative.
The county voted to maintain its relationship with the City of Gainesville and Santa Fe College in a Community Gun Violence Prevention Alliance.
The alliance will move forward with creating a countywide strategic plan that will include steering committees and stakeholders to help curb gun violence, suicides and address mental health crises throughout communities.
Watch the discussion.
Community Health Worker Program
The commission heard a presentation regarding the future of the local Community Health Worker Program.
The program, which is funded by the county but currently housed under the Florida Health Department in Alachua County, works to close healthcare disparities and improve communication countywide. The commission agreed that the program should continue in its current form continue before sunsetting. It will then be expanded and fall under Alachua County Fire Rescue’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare Team.
Staff will bring back data on patients and outcomes and recommend a deployment during the next budget process, including assigning workers across the county to serve residents.
Watch the discussion.
County jail update
The commission heard a presentation regarding the condition and future renovations of the Alachua County Jail.
The 314,000-square-foot facility has not seen a significant upgrade in 15 years. A full renovation is estimated to cost approximately $81.7 million and would include extensive mechanical, plumbing, electrical, building and kitchen upgrades throughout the facility.
The commission expressed a desire for a phased plan for the fixes.
Watch the discussion.
Florence landfill
The evening portion of the meeting included a discussion regarding the Florence Recycling and Disposal Landfill in southeast Gainesville.
The commission approved a six-part motion that included working with the health department to come back in 60 days with a plan to begin implanting an air monitoring program to find any contaminants.
The board also asked the Environmental Protection Department to graph groundwater results and report data back to the commission, asked the facility operator for all drywall to be diverted to the Palatka facility, to consider installing “no truck” signs around Kincaid Loop, to write a letter asking for the early closure of the facility and to send the state a chair letter expressing the affected community’s concern.\
Staff will review the landfill’s current closure plan and bring back a presentation in 90 days.
Watch the discussion.
Proclamations
County Commissioner Mary Alford presented a proclamation to declare Feb. 2, 2025 as World Wetlands Day in Alachua County.
Read the proclamation.
Watch the presentation.
See the full Jan. 28 meeting and agenda.
