Alachua County's 2024 Citizens Academy Recap Feature story

Alachua County’s spring Citizens Academy class kicked off Thursday with approximately 70 people shuffling into the newly opened Fire Rescue Training Facility (5801 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville) to learn more about the functions of Alachua County government.

The meeting started with comments from Alachua County Commission Chair Mary Alford, who graduated from the eight-week course before running for office. She is one of four current commissioners to go through the program.

“I never thought I was going to run for office, and then I sat through this class,” she told the room. “I really enjoyed learning about local government … It was eye-opening to me.”

Government structure

After Alford, County Manager Michele Lieberman introduced herself and talked about her professional background, what brought her to Alachua County and why she loves it. She provided participants with an understanding of the structure of county government, its departments, commission district lines, other municipalities and their population sizes and a budgetary overview.

She also shared historical facts, such as the county being founded in 1824 and how the population has massed 293,000 residents – up nearly 70,000 from just 10 years ago.

Lieberman fielded questions about taxes and the impact of the University of Florida’s growth over the years. She talked about the need for providing services to the increased student population and that Alachua County is proud to have reduced its millage rate for seven consecutive years, a trend she hopes to continue with her next budget.

Legal

County Attorney Sylvia Torres gave the room an overview of the complex and variety of work her department performs. Among the many services Torres’ office is involved with include public records requests, finance, legal claims, contracts, bidding, code enforcement issues, land purchases, endangered species and historic preservation. She presented several scenarios to the room for them to consider, but added each situation is unique and depends on a range of other factors.

The office has seven attorneys in total who represent the Board of County Commissioners, county manager and staff, Supervisor of Elections Office, Tax Collector’s Office and various other boards.

Budget

Budget Manager Maureen Rischitelli had the tall order of breaking down the county’s budget and explaining how taxes fund various services, such as public safety, transportation, facilities and community support services and more.

The fun started when she broke the room into groups and gave each team $250 million in fake money to divide across various departments. The exercise explained where money comes from and where it goes.

While some in the room shared that the taxes seem high, they were reminded that Alachua County is around the middle of the pack across Florida’s 67 counties, a state that ranks 45th in the lowest tax burden on individuals in the nation.

Communications

Communications Director Mark Sexton wrapped up the day by offering context to various lingering topics previously discussed, such as taxes and roads.

He showed people how to stay better informed with the latest news in Alachua County at a time when local news resources are dwindling. He showed the room how to navigate the county website, where to find public notices, sign up for press releases, read feature stories, view upcoming meeting agendas and where to watch past and live meetings.

Sexton expressed how proud he is of the county’s commitment to transparency and how his office encourages building relationships with the public, as well as media outlets, by answering questions and providing records as quickly as possible.

“I’m very glad that we’ve built a reputation that we are one of the most responsive local governments that folks have ever worked with,” he told the room.

Following Thursday’s session, attendees packed up their binders and chatted with others about what they learned that day. Several people shared that they signed up simply to know more about their local government, some even being county employees or how the county functions.

“I heard this was a very wonderful way of looking at the county’s operations,” said Paula Waterman, who added that she looks to learn about parks and protecting land.

Session 2

One would think it was almost planned for dozens of residents to be hunkered down in one of Alachua County’s safest buildings during a tornado watch to learn how officials respond to local emergencies.

But one thing you can’t control is Mother Nature.

Week two of Alachua County’s Citizen Academy kicked off Thursday at the Emergency Operations Center, at 1100 SE 27th St. in southeast Gainesville, where participants got an up-close look into public safety and how fire rescue, the sheriff’s office and others respond to emergencies and natural disasters.

“Session 2, like all sessions, builds on what we learned the previous week and shows how taxpayer dollars are put to use with our first responders,” Bradbrook said. “I always enjoy coordinating with our county firefighters, paramedics and the sheriff’s office to take us outside of our classroom-style training and help us better understand their daily challenges in the field and for their willingness to answer an abundance of questions.”

Fire Rescue

The session started with Alachua County Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Taylor who shared how the department has grown since its inception 50 years ago. He spoke about ACFR’s budget, the cost of equipment, growing response calls and the new stations being added throughout the county, including the sparklingly new Station 80 in southwest Gainesville.

Attendees were broken up into groups with firefighters and paramedics who showed off some of the tools the department uses in the field, including oxygen tanks and hydraulic rescue tools, a.k.a. the “jaws of life.”

The class then made its way outside before a torrential downpour to tour an Alachua County fire truck and ambulance, learning first-hand the array of different equipment and tools readily available for any call.

“Everything we do is to support our folks to be able to go out and deliver good timely service to you. You’re what we’re here for,” Taylor told the room.

Learn more about ACFR in the feature story “The Ordinary and the Extraordinary.”

Emergency Management

David Peaton, the county’s assistant director of emergency management, gave participants a rundown of how the EOC building operates, and how his office helps with preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts.

Depending on the damage of the incident, the recovery process can take months, years or even decades. The team helps connect residents with FEMA for assistance, debris management, housing and food needs.

During a major weather event or large-scale emergency, the EOC must be activated within one hour of notification and be able to maintain operations throughout the event. That sometimes means staffing the EOC and having people remain on duty and sleep on site. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the EOC was activated for 27 weeks, the longest streak in Alachua County history.

Peaton also discussed the renovations of several locations (other than schools) throughout Alachua County that can operate as shelters if needed. Those sites include the MLK Multi-purpose Center, Sidney Lanier Center and the Freedom Community Center. Grace Marketplace is also currently being retrofitted to serve the community.

Learn more about Emergency Management and how to be prepared.

Sign up for alerts and notifications in your area by texting “Alachua” to 888-777.

Sheriff’s Office

The session ended with a visit from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, an agency that, between law enforcement and jail operations, makes up the largest share of the county’s budget.

The class again split into groups, one touring the combined communications center, which handles 911 and non-emergency calls, regardless of the responding agency. Calls are then dispatched to the nearest available units. With a plethora of screens and information to review, the dispatcher sends notes to the responding agency to help them better serve the caller upon arrival.

The other half went outside with a deputy to tour one of the sheriff’s office vehicles, fielding a host of questions, including preferred protocols for drivers being pulled over or how body cameras work.

Sheriff Emery Gainey introduced himself to the room as the final speaker and said his agency’s number one priority is keeping the community safe. He, too, took a range of questions about the state of the office, staffing, responding to mental health episodes and gun violence.

Learn more about ASO.

Session 3

Dozens of Alachua County residents voluntarily went to criminal court Thursday for a crash course in the judicial system.

No, they weren’t in trouble.

They were part of Alachua County’s Citizen Academy, where participants were given the basic in-and-outs of how the courts operate from the area’s top elected legal minds.

“I’ve learned things that I don’t know how else I would’ve found out about without doing some deep diving, things I didn’t previously have an interest in or thought about,” said academy participant Jack Kulas. “It broadens your horizons, and you appreciate the complexity of government.”

Court system

State Attorney Brian Kramer, Public Defender Stacy Scott and Judge Susan Miller-Jones, all of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, spoke to the room about their different roles in the court system and their awareness of the hurdles some face.

Roughly 96% of criminal cases that go through Alachua County never actually make it to a trial, Scott said. That’s because the system is set up to encourage plea negotiations. Scott said her office, which typically represents indigent clients, investigates the facts of each case and assesses the risks before her client decides whether it’s worth going to trial. Because the penalties can be extreme, she added, people will often enter into a diversion plan or plea agreement with the prosecution.

The plea system, in many ways, is considered a trade-off, as more trials would mean more needed resources.

Kramer said his office handles close to 18,000 cases annually. If more cases went to trial, it would require more judges and staff, which would lead to increased costs and taxes for residents.

Miller-Jones, who rules over cases debated between the two offices, said she tries to consider what’s best for the people coming before her courtroom. Sometimes that means entering a defendant into drug abuse or mental health programs instead of jail.

Clerk of the Court

Many people may not know it, but Clerk of the Court and Comptroller J.K. “Jess” Irby and his office do far more than simply record court cases. He and his office offer services to all residents, the Bar, the judiciary offices, the library district, Board of County Commissioners and other government offices.

Last year alone, the clerk’s office handled roughly 13,500 circuit cases (felony, family, domestic violence, etc.) and more than 30,000 county court cases (traffic, small claims, misdemeanors, etc.). The courthouse held proceedings during all 365 days of the year in 2023.

Other jobs include: Officiating weddings and issuing licenses; Jury management; Conducting foreclosure and surplus sales; Keeping minutes of court proceedings and maintaining all court documents; Collecting over $20 million for traffic fines and fees annually; Collecting over $20 million in child support payments; Holding evidence and exhibits for cases; Digitizing Ancient Records.

The clerk’s office also offers residents assistance through its Self Help department, allowing people to better navigate the court system on their own. The office allows people to bypass the costly expense of hiring lawyers and print out their own documents for filing. People can even do it from the comfort of their homes.

In 2023, Alachua County saw nearly 144,000 electronic filings for civil cases. Though many are done by attorneys representing clients, a large chunk are Pro Se cases that saved residents thousands of dollars.

As comptroller, Irby’s office is also responsible for Alachua County’s debt management, financial statements, payroll and accounting and minutes for the Board of County Commissioners.

Learn more about the clerk of the court office and services.

Code Enforcement

The last speaker of the day was Codes Officer Greta Moreau, who explained to the class how typical code violations are handled.

She explained the recent changes in state law about reporting:

“A code enforcement officer may not initiate an investigation of a potential violation of a duly enacted code or ordinance by way of an anonymous complaint. A person who reports a potential violation of a code or an ordinance must provide his or her name and address to the respective local government before an investigation may occur. This paragraph does not apply if the code enforcement officer has reason to believe that the violation presents an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare or imminent destruction of habitat or sensitive resources.”

Most of the cases handled by codes are junk cars, trash and overgrown grass. They also investigate livestock density in residential areas.

During every election season, political signs placed in the public right of ways are an issue, Moreau said. Her office has no problem picking up those signs, she added, and warned residents to be cautious when removing signs themselves.

The office also investigates minimum housing standards in landlord/tenant disputes.

Learn more about the Office of Code Administration.

Session 4

The fourth week of Alachua County’s Citizen Academy featured three very different departments that all share a common theme of keeping residents safe and healthy.​

Session 4 featured speakers from the county’s departments of health, environmental protection and community support services.

Department of Health in Alachua County

Although the Florida Department of Health in Alachua County is technically a state agency, it maintains a presence in all 67 counties across the Sunshine State and coordinates closely with local government.

The Department of Health has a budget of $22 million, employs roughly 300 employees and offers 30 different programs. Alachua County Administrator Paul Myers, however, shared that his office primarily focuses on four pillars: Emergency/hazard response, environmental health, communicable disease control and community health/primary care.

The department’s Alachua County branch is one of the last counties in the state to continue to provide primary medical care for children and adult residents.

The department has three clinical sites that focus on preventative, acute and chronic disease cases. The offices are open for extended offers, including being open seven days a week, to prevent unnecessary emergency room visits.

The department’s focus on communicable diseases and looks at cases of rabies, foreign travel clinics, sexually transmitted diseases, immunizations and epidemiology and disease control. Myers said his department is seeing a resurgence in measles, largely due to people not immunizing their kids, which could be almost entirely preventable.

Myers said studies show that immunizing 70% of elementary and middle school students would prevent an estimated 31 deaths, 27,000 illnesses and more than $9 million in direct and indirect healthcare costs for local residents. Data also shows that immunizing just 20% of kids, who are considered “super spreaders,” would protect the elderly better than if 90% of the elderly population were immunized, he said.

It’s a big reason why his department visits schools to offer influenza immunization services.

“There is a seasonality to these diseases,” Myers said.

To better track diseases, the health department also maintains six separate sites with chickens, which are bitten by mosquitos and then tested. Major weather events, like hurricanes, will typically bring out more insects and give the team a better understanding of what people need to watch out for.

The department’s work on major natural disasters and emergencies doesn’t stop there. Other issues that follow, such as flooding, mold, sewage spills and wind damage, also need to be monitored. The department will take well samples to ensure water is safe for use and will catch thousands of mosquitos to prevent diseases from spreading.

The agency has several water programs and performs bacteriological analysis and water system regulations. The ingestion of contaminated drinking water is the primary route of exposure that results in adverse health effects, he said.

Myers’ office also looks at environmental health aspects throughout the community, including at mobile homes and RV parks, food services, tattoo and piercing businesses, public and private schools and even sanitary nuisance investigations.

Community Support Services

Originally called the Department of Social Services and now the county’s Department of Community Support Services (CSS) was founded in 1965. It has expanded to offer a host of services to residents in need.

Its mission statement is: “To be a place of hope and support where individuals are seen, voices are heard, wounds are healed, and people are strengthened.”

The department has grown to 88 employees, with a budget of about $40 million, covering social services, homeless services, prevention, permanent supportive housing, veterans services and the crisis center/suicide hotline, victim services and rape crisis center, as well as many other services.

CSS Director Claudia Tuck said the department works with about 120 volunteers, many of whom come from the University of Florida, and assist with the crisis center hotline and coordinate with the mobile response team.

Assistant Director Candie Nixon, who also spoke, shared how housing, community stabilization/engagement and the Foster Grandparent Program are also pillars of the department.

Started in 1973, the Alachua County Foster Grandparent Program consists of senior volunteers who go into local schools and childcare centers to help with tutoring, reading and mentoring.

CSS has played an increased role in housing the homeless population in recent years. With the recent purchase of two motels in southwest Gainesville and plans to add shipping container homes, the department is adding over 100 housing units for people who otherwise would have nowhere to live.

“We’re always looking for innovative ways that we can create housing for those who need it,” Nixon said.

Much like the Department of Health, CSS also plays an important role during natural disasters. The team staffs the 311 emergency information hotline. Workers will even sometimes sleep at the Emergency Operations Center during emergencies to ensure residents are assisted as quickly as possible as calls come in.

Learn more about the Foster Grandparents Program.

Environmental Protection Department

The last presentation of the day was from Alachua County’s Environmental Protection Department, led by Director Stephen Hofstetter and his team, who focus on clean quality, protecting natural resources, land conservation and handling petroleum and hazardous materials.

The department has more than 50 employees and works with a budget of $5 million to $6 million annually, much of which comes from the state and grants. Additional funding from the Wild Spaces and Public Places surtax helps with land acquisitions and projects.

Hofstetter shared that his natural resources team reviews every development in the unincorporated areas of the county, looking at zoning, design and construction inspections to ensure the protection of wetlands, natural wildlife habitats and historical areas of significance.

In 2023, the natural resources division made 621 site evaluations and reviewed 1,369 building permits.

Wetlands play an important role in protecting our environment and are more abundant in the eastern portion of the county. They are a vital resource in filtering pollutants before they travel the Florida Aquifer. Wetlands are also essential to the health of wildlife by providing drinkable water and also for capturing and controlling stormwater.

“Protecting our wetlands and our floodplains is one of our most important missions,” Hofstetter said.

Water Resources Program Manager Stacie Greco told the room that her office focuses on education and sharing how residents can better protect and conserve water. She said every time someone turns on their home irrigation system, it uses about 1,000 gallons of water, which is the equivalent of standing in a shower for eight hours.

The office holds 110 events annually and responds to many complaints and illegal discharges that affect Alachua County’s water supply. This year, she said her office is emphasizing rebates for upgrading existing septic systems, tune-ups and rebates for irrigation systems and sampling Santa Fe River and Hogtown Creek.

Citizens Academy participants had the opportunity for a hands-on experience with an “enviro-scape” model where Greco explained how pollution, such as oil, dirt, pet waste and trash, sinks into the drainage systems, creeks and the aquifer.

EPD’s hazardous waste team responds to complaints of illegal discharges in the air, water and soil and will initiate enforcement cases. The office has 1,190 regulated facilities to oversee and averages about 400 inspections a year. It’s an important role because just one gallon of gas improperly disposed of can contaminate about 1 million gallons of water.

EPD’s final speaker was Andi Christman, the county’s land conservation and management program manager.

Christman shared how the Wild Spaces Public Places surtax has been a major help for the county to acquire, improve and manage environmentally significant lands. Those efforts, like the other departments, build on EPD’s goal of protecting water resources and wildlife habitats.

Since the surtax’s initial approval in 2000, then known as Alachua County Forever, the county has protected more than 34,000 acres of land through land acquisitions, conservation easements and partnerships with local and state programs.

Of that land, Christman’s office manages more than 24,000 acres, the bulk of which is at Barr Hammock and Lochloosa Slough. Another 10,000 acres are managed by local partners and property owners on conservation easements.

Learn more about the county’s land conservation program.

Session 5

​Once a year citizens of Alachua County receive their TRIM notice, which details their property taxes and the many entities that make up their tax bill.

During Session 5 of the Alachua County Citizens Academy, locals were given a broader understanding of that process. Attendees met at the library headquarters office in downtown Gainesville, where they heard from employees from the county’s tax collector, property appraiser’s office and learned about the range of available tools available at local libraries.

Property Appraiser

When property owners receive their TRIM notices (Truth in Millage) by August, they learn the latest value of their home and are given an idea of what to expect to pay in property taxes.

Sometimes, those estimations are off due to a range of factors that may be unknown to appraisers. Director of Valuation Christian Cao said that’s when he welcomes residents to reach out and help the local property appraiser’s office understand issues inside the home that they can’t see.

Every five years, the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office visits each property in the county to ensure projected values are accurate. Values are factored by location, improvement size, quality grades, what the structure is made of and its depreciation or age.

TRIM notices include proposed tax rates set by local governments and include factors, such as homestead or agricultural exemptions.

The property appraiser’s office handles about 2,000 exemption claims annually, many of which are homesteads to save taxpayers up to $50,000 of the taxable value. Other exemptions are available for senior citizens, widows, people with disabilities, first responders and veterans.

Since appraisers can only go around the outside of homes, Cao said they rely on residents to inform them of other issues to ensure the proposed values are accurate.

If someone disagrees with proposed values, residents have three options to mitigate the problem: Simply ask for an informal review from his office or taking the issue before the Value Adjustment Board (VAB). The request can be made at the county courthouse. If those options are unsuccessful, property owners can take the issue to Circuit Court.

Learn more about the property appraiser’s office.

Tax Collector

Tax Collector John Power told the room Thursday that he takes pride in his office running effectively and helping customers. It’s that effectiveness that helped his team earn a 2022 Governor’s Sterling Award for performance excellence in management and operations. The award follows a rigorous assessment process based on criteria from seven categories: leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement analysis, and knowledge management; workforce focus; operations; and results.

The tax collector is an elected constitutional officer who serves in an administrative role overseen by the Department of Revenue.

As such, Power’s office works closely with the Department of Revenue, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.

His office then sends out the official annual bill to let property owners know the breakdown and cost for each taxing authority. That will include costs for the rural collection center, stormwater, millage rates for the school district, as well as the city and county millage rates. It also includes the library district, water management district and assessments.

Ensuring the transactions are handled smoothly is essential, Power, as municipalities and other governmental agencies are relying on those funds to run their operations.

In 2022, Power’s office collected about $506 million. Being off by a fraction could mean a multi-million-dollar mistake.

“Accuracy is paramount in our office,” he said.

The office handles more than just property taxes. It also is the location where residents update their vehicle registrations, titles, and driver licenses. People can even get registrations for their boats and birth certificates.

The office handles about 240,000 vehicle-related transactions annually, which breaks down to about 900 customers per day. For driver licenses, the office handles about 61,000 transactions or about 235 visitors per day.

Those large customer influxes are why Power says it is vital for his team to run smoothly and to ensure residents are educated about what they need to be helped. He stressed the importance of scheduling appointments with his office or doing transactions online.

On average, customers who visit his office have an average wait time of 10 minutes. Survey results show that about 80% of visitors waited under 15 minutes.

Learn more about the Florida Sterling Council.

Learn more about the Tax Collector’s Office.

Library District

The Alachua County Library District offers locals far more than just opportunities to check out books. It is rich with resources and tools to make learning in all forms accessible for residents that many may be unaware of.

​In 1918, Gainesville’s first public library was formed, thanks in part to the GFWC Gainesville Women’s Club and GFWC High Springs New Century Women’s Club, though it was exclusive to white residents. By 1953, the Carver branch opened as the first library for the county’s Black citizens. Following desegregation, the Carver branch closed in 1969 and opened local libraries to all residents.

However, it wasn’t until 1985 that citizens approved a special referendum to create what we now know as the Alachua County Library District, an independent taxing district.

Today, the district has grown to more than 175 employees, 12 branches, two mobile libraries, and a location at the county jail. It holds conferences, workshops, webinar training, programs and much more for residents of all ages.

The library estimates it saved residents about $68.9 million through checkouts and online resources from 2022-2023.

Oversight of the district has two boards: the governing board and the board of trustees.

The governing board is composed of elected officials of three county commissioners, two Gainesville city commissioners and one school board member. Its board of trustees is formed by three Gainesville representatives, three county representatives and one for the League of Cities.

The district’s largest community supporter is the Friends of the Library, which helps provide programming and education for branch visitors. The group also hosts bi-annual -- and widely popular – book sales. Last year, the organization donated $140,000 back to the library district.

The library’s Public Relations and Marketing Director Brad McClenny informed Citizen Academy attendees that by signing up for a free digital or physical library card, they can access local programs, events, eBooks, movies, music, streaming services, tutoring opportunities, kits for book clubs, bird watching and hiking, sensory toys, plant seeds and more. Residents can access up-to-date copies of the New York Times and Gainesville Sun and check out mobile Wi-Fi devices for up to two weeks.

A cardholder can even check out or hold up to 100 items at one time. Digital downloads are capped at 10 per month but will soon be 20 due to their rising popularity, McClenny said.

Even more enticing, he added, the library district since 1978 hasn’t charged for late fees.

Anyone looking to volunteer at the library must be at least 12 years old and can help with a range of tasks, such as computer technology, music, filmmaking, book repair, reshelving or checking out materials.

Learn more about the Summer at the Library reading program.

Session 6

Week six of the Alachua County Citizens Academy was held at the Freedom Center at Veterans Memorial Park, where participants had an opportunity to learn more about the monuments dedicated to those who lost their lives in armed conflicts.

Originally dedicated in 1993, the “Walk Through Time” shows major U.S. wars (starting in 1775) and features bricks stacked high. Each brick represents 1,000 military lives lost.

There are at least 267 names of deceased service members who entered the military from Alachua County inscribed on each corresponding war marker. A granite headstone at the flagpole also shows the names of 504 University of Florida students who died as a result of war.

The monument was rededicated in 2016 after it was rebuilt.

School District

The first presenter of the day was Jackie Johnson, the communications director for Alachua County Public School (ACPS). She explained that with more than 26,000 students and 4,000 employees throughout the county, the school district faces a unique set of complex issues daily that go well beyond just classroom instruction.

The district runs 40 different schools and centers, including the popular Camp Crystal. To keep up with facilities, initiatives and goals, district officials are working on a five-year strategic plan as well as a long-term facilities plan.

Among the notable challenges facing ACPS include bridging the achievement gap between white and minority students, ever-changing state laws and standardized tests and disciplinary issues that have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson explained how decreased funding for public education, unfunded state mandates and diversion of funding going to charter schools have put additional strain on the local education system.

About 53% of the district’s funding comes from the state, while another 46% comes from local funds (property tax rates that are set by the state). The remaining 1% comes from the federal government and is primarily made up of Medicaid funding.

The district has seen a decrease in its budget for nine consecutive years – and 13 out of the last 14 years. While the Florida Lottery provides funding for scholarships and advertising, Alachua County received $0 for discretionary spending.

Luckily, voters in Alachua County recognize the challenges and support public education.

In 2020, voters renewed the One Mill for the third time. The money costs homeowners about $14 a month and helps raise about $23 million annually for schools. About $1.5 million of that goes toward charter schools.

“That’s what allows us to maintain our very robust art, music and drama programs, school counselors, school bands, school librarians, our academic magnets, our career tech magnets, classroom technology and it guarantees funding for school nurses,” Johnson said.

The One Mill also fully or partially funds about 360 teaching jobs, which make up about 20% of the ACPS teacher workforce.

Additionally, voters also passed a half-penny sales tax in 2018 to help pay for construction and renovation projects at schools. So far, the funding has helped pay for revitalization projects at Metcalfe and Idylwild elementary schools and Bishop Middle School. It also helps with building the new Terwilliger Elementary School campus and expanding Oak View Middle School.

Future and ongoing projects include Westwood Middle School and Littlewood Elementary School. ACPS has also implemented several new initiatives at schools, Johnson explained. Recently, a year-round pilot school program was announced for Rawlings Elementary School, an HVAC program at Santa Fe High School and a barbering program at Eastside High School.

Learn more about Alachua County Public Schools.

Growth Management

Next up was the Alachua County Growth Management Department.

Senior Planner Gerald Brewington explained how the department has 47 full-time employees that are broken up into two divisions: The Office of Planning and Development and the Building Department.

The Building Department handles enforcement of the state uniform building code and in the field daily to ensure construction meets the code. The division is also responsible for issuing permits.

The Office of Planning and Development is responsible for updating the county’s comprehensive plan, which serves as a blueprint for growth and projects up to approximately 15 years out.

Among the most frequent questions Brewington said he receives are about roads, rezoning properties, obtaining addresses for new developments, whether allowed to park RVs on residential properties, assessor dwelling units, and even about family cemeteries.

“A lot of people ask, ‘What does a planner do?’ What I do is answer questions,” Brewington said. “We get dozens of phone calls every day.”

Learn more about the Growth Management Department.

Supervisor of Elections

The duties of the Supervisor of Elections reach farther than just hosting elections once or twice a year.

Supervisor Kim Barton, who has been in office since 2017, is one of six elected constitutional officers in Alachua County. Her responsibilities include upholding county, state and federal election laws. They help and support in municipal elections around Alachua County, register voters, qualify candidates who run for office, keep statistics relating to voting, maintain voter rolls, defining polling locations and precinct lines.

Barton said her office stays busy when not running an election by hosting voter engagement workshops, tabling at events and doing voter registrations.

The supervisor’s office visits schools throughout the year to help educate children on civics and hosts fake elections with ballots.

In 2019, the office earned the “Stars and Stripes Award” for its partnership with the University of Florida for the 2018 election.

Early voting will be held at eight different locations in 2024, including at UF and Santa Fe College. For the upcoming primary election in August, Barton’s office will have 13 early voting days. For the general election, the office will have 14 days.

“It’s going to be a busy election year,” Barton told the class. “You’re going to hear a lot of things. Some will be true and some will not be true. But always remember, our office is the official trusted source of information for elections. If you hear something and you’re not sure if it’s true or not, call our office.”

Learn more about the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Session 7

Dozens of Alachua County residents who embarked on their latest tour of county facilities Thursday were locked down behind metal doors along with hundreds of inmates.

It was all part of a scheduled Citizens Academy visit to the Alachua County Jail where the class learned about security measures, available programs, mental health resources and how the legal process works for those arrested.

“Meeting the sheriff's office Department of Jail leadership and touring the inner workings at the jail is an important part of the Citizens Academy not only because it ties together the earlier presentations from the Alachua County sheriff, the state attorney, the public defender, the judiciary representative, and discussion points during the county's budget session,” Bradbrook said, ”the tour and staff interaction dispels several preconceived notions, mostly obtained through TV and movies.”

Alachua County Jail

The class arrived early at the work release building located near the jail (3371 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville) and were told the rules: No cell phones, no knives or any other objects that could be considered a weapon. Bradbrook reminded the group that many of the inmates have not yet gone to trial and are innocent until proven guilty.

The class then walked over to the jail where they were met by Jail Director Maj. Jeff Cloutier and a team of fellow law enforcement officers.

In 1998, the County Commission, through an interlocal agreement, contracted with the Alachua County sheriff to operate the jail. The 314,000-square-foot facility is designed to incarcerate male and female offenders for up to a year.

Currently, the jail houses about 900 inmates, an uptick of more than 100 from a year ago. About 40 of those individuals have been sentenced and waiting to go to prison, though state law only allows 15 county inmates per week to be transferred.

The class was split into four groups and escorted around the jail by law enforcement. They entered a secured door and waited for it to close behind them before the next one opened.

Passing by several holding cells, a group entered the virtual first-appearance courtroom.

This is where inmates go before a judge virtually for their arraignment.

The class then made their way to booking. They passed changing rooms, restraint chairs and witnessed inmates being escorted by law enforcement along hallways. Each section of the jail brought a host of questions that included thoughts on the bonding system, the safety of inmates and mental health considerations.

The class had questions about commissary items and phone calls worked. They learned that the County Commission had made outgoing jail calls free for inmates and removed fees for most commissary items.

Visitors were taken to the jail library and classroom shortly after where they learned about inmate programs.

Career Source helps inmates find employment upon release. They also receive help with resume writing. A library partnership includes a re-entry conference job fair to further find career options after release and a GED teacher and instructor is available to help with their education if needed.

Inmates at the jail wear three different uniforms: Women wear blue, men wear green and white stripes and “trustees” wear orange. A trustee is an inmate who has demonstrated they are ready to take on extra responsibilities and is rewarded with extra benefits while incarcerated, said Inmate Support Bureau Chief Fotina Perry.

The last stop for visitors was the general population area where a mass of inmates could be seen from behind the glass window/walls. Both the class and many inmates were looking at each other with curiosity and interest.

The Alachua County Jail goes through several layers of accountability, accreditations, audits and inspections. Some are done monthly, quarterly, annually or even every three years. Cloutier said he prides himself on knowing the jail meets or exceeds all levels of expectations for levels of care, maintenance, services and cleanliness.

Learn more about the Department of the Jail.

Court Services

Following the jail visit, the class walked back to the work release building to learn another aspect of the judicial system: Court Services.

Programs that fall under Court Services include investigations, pretrial services, probation, community service, drug court, mental health court and veterans’ treatment court.

Thursday’s presentation was led by Assistant Directors Joe Lipsey and Salatheia Jenkins-Brown, the program supervisors explained how their offices intersect with the jail and courtrooms.

The team attempts to reduce the need for incarceration by supplying information to the court, along with cost-effective and community-based supervision and services that will still ensure public safety.

“The key objective for our Court Services staff is to provide information to the court so judges can decide which offenders can be managed effectively in the community,” Jenkins-Brown said.

State law says that low-risk offenders don’t need to be in a high-security detention facility and that those simply violating a municipal or county ordinance are entitled to a pretrial release upon reasonable conditions. Plus, if the individual is in custody, they are unable to work, can’t support their families, and there is no tax revenue for the county and state.

When it comes to managing the jail’s population, Court Services identified 371 clients in fiscal year 2022-2023 that had highly acute medical and mental health issues. About 80% of those individuals were released from jail with conditions.

Community service programs also allow indigent offenders to do work in lieu of paying costs and fines. During 2022-2023, 1,264 clients performed a combined 27,156 hours of community service hours.

Learn more about Court Services.

Session 8