A board hand-picked by Gov. Ron DeSantis will take control of Gainesville Regional Utilities within the next few months.
Efforts to combat Gainesville Regional Utilities’ rising debt could come at the expense of homeowners as well as public service initiative funding, according to state decisions and the city’s 2024 fiscal year budget proposals.
In light of pressure from state lawmakers, the Gainesville City Commission heard proposals for drastic cuts for the 2024 fiscal year budget at a special meeting Wednesday.
Gainesville City Commissioner Casey Willits and Alachua County Commissioner Mary Alford represent Gainesville as the only two elected officials in the county who are openly a part of the LGBTQ community. The two commissioners have followed contrasting paths to their positions today — both professionally and personally.
Nathaniel Chan, 24, is a gay, Chinese American dedicated to using city planning to serve the community he loves. While his determination got him a position with the city, his path there was not always clear.
Alachua County will re-acquire 13 acres of land in East Gainesville, originally intended for affordable housing, from the nonprofit Dogwood Village for $1,840,934. The total settlement will cost the county $2,964,730.60.
The City Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve a solar contract with Origis Energy, making construction of a plant in Archer the first solar project for Gainesville Regional Utilities.
The three ordinances will completely revert the city’s zoning codes back to what they were, including four different types of single family zones, residential conservation zones, mobile home zones, multi-family zones and mixed use zones.
After over a year of contract negotiations, the Gainesville City Commission has decided to temporarily halt plans to build a solar plant, called the Sand Bluff Solar Project, until it receives approval from a state committee.
With the startling amount of waste becoming more than just an eye sore, three cities in the state have made it a goal to reduce their amount of waste. Gainesville joins Key West and Orlando in the fight to reduce waste and resulting greenhouse gases.
On Monday morning, Rep. Chuck Clemons (R-Newberry) filed legislation, House Bill 1645, that would put Gainesville Regional Utilities under state control if passed.
The Alachua County Commission voted Thursday night 4-1 to provide free and unlimited prison phone calls by Oct. 1.
After nearly four hours of passionate public debate and multiple reminders for the audience to remain respectful, the Alachua County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to advance plans for a meat processing facility in Newberry.
The Alachua County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve cottage villages as appropriate housing.
Cynthia Chestnut, 73, was the first Black woman to serve as a Gainesville City Commissioner, mayor, Alachua County Commissioner and state representative for District 23. She’s now a city commissioner, serving Gainesville for the second time since her tenure in the 1980s.
The Alachua County Legislative Delegation voted 4-1 March 17 to move a bill affecting Gainesville Regional Utilities to the floor of the Florida House of Representatives.
The bill, filed by Rep. Chuck Clemons, would move power over regional utilities out of the Gainesville City Commission’s hands by creating a state-appointed GRU Authority. The board would consist of volunteers from the area served by GRU, appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
A bill drafted for the Florida House of Representatives could put Gainesville Regional Utilities out of the city’s control.
The Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously to both sell the Gainesville Regional Utilities worker radio system to Alachua County and move forward with contract negotiations for a solar plant in Archer.
The Alachua County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to hold a public hearing on guidelines for cottage neighborhoods, the newest solution to the area’s affordable housing crisis.
Solutions by The State News
