Alachua County Commissioners debated Tuesday how more than $1 million meant for charities should be allocated.
The Commissioners agreed that the money should go to organizations that feed people and help children, but they disagreed on whether long-term or short-term aid was best. The discussion leaned past policy and into philosophy at points, touching upon Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the “teach a man to fish” adage.
Commissioner Mike Byerly said day-to-day needs, like food, shelter and medical care, must be addressed first.
Chair Lee Pinkoson said organizations that help young children, like the Reichert House Youth Academy and Success By 6, should be funded.
“If we don’t invest in the children, the situation will never, ever, ever get better,” he said.
Byerly said he’d support funding child care organizations if basic-needs organizations
are funded, too.
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Other points of discussion were:
- The Commission wants to look into putting up signs in Alachua County lakes to make sure boaters are aware of the air boat curfew.
- After being notified that the informal meetings were being called “secret meetings” due to the lack of an agenda, the Commission is considering putting the audio recording of meetings on its website. County Attorney Dave Wagner pointed out that Tuesday’s meeting couldn’t have been a secret because reporters from The Independent Florida Alligator and The Gainesville Sun were there. He said the public is welcome to attend.
The next informal meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. in the Grace Knight Conference Room at the County Administration Building, 12 SE First St.
