Manager's Blog

Randall Reid, County ManagerRandall H. Reid
County Manager
About this Blog

An Earth Day Message

4/22/2008 4:15:00 PM
Earth Day is a celebration focused on our environment, and in the final analysis the day is all about the individual choices and decisions we make, most frequently, as consumers and citizens. As individual employees and heads of American households we play an integral part in the bioregional and international systems of resource extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal that has a global impact on the planet and our fellow human beings.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



To Do My Duty, To God and Country

8/13/2007 10:40:00 AM
All of us in Alachua County Government extend our condolences to the family of Specialist Christopher Todd Neiberger. Chris lost his life while serving with the United States Army in Iraq on Monday, August 6, 2007. He was the son of Mary June Neiberger of the Alachua County Equal Opportunity Office and Dr. Richard Neiberger. Chris graduated from Gainesville High School in 2003. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 454 and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He joined the Army after spending two years at Florida State University.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Resolving Annexation Disputes: Alachua County Becomes a National Model of One Approach

7/24/2007 5:45:00 PM
One of the least heralded accomplishments of the past year is the formal adoption of an annexation transition agreement, known as the ATA. The City of Gainesville and Alachua County entered into an Annexation Transition Agreement formally on March 13th 2007. The intent of the annexation agreement is to identify the fiscal and service delivery impact of annexations and how they may be mitigated to avoid immediate impact on the County. The agreement also provides a schedule for representatives of the City and County to identify appropriate areas and chart out a strategy and time frames for annexations which the County could support. This allows for a balanced approach to avoid the cherry-picking of only revenue producing commerical areas or wealthy residential enclaves and avoid serpentine patterns. This initial effort is underway now with teams of employees meeting to discuss these complex issues. At some point in FY08 staff teams from both jurisdictions will provide this information to their Commissions in a discussion of how Gainesville may expand its corporate limits in a mutually agreed upon program of annexation. We hope other communities will follow along and sign similar agreements....
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THE EROSION OF HOME RULE

7/10/2007 6:10:00 PM
Today is the day I submit the Tentative Budget to the County Commission for FY 08 and FY 09. This year's budget message theme is Sustaining County Services in an Era of Property Tax Reform. Over the next two fiscal years of FY08 and FY09 our efforts will revolve around the actions we will need to undertake to sustain the County's organizational capacity to provide core services and build new infrastructure in the face of mandated property tax relief legislation and what I consider the erosion of home rule....
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Hurricane Season and the Governor's "New Civics"

6/4/2007 7:35:00 PM
The start of the Hurricane Season was Friday June 1, 2007. Each year at this time local officials and our professional staff come together at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to review the hurricane forecast for the season ahead and review the elements of our County's emergency plan. The forecast for the upcoming season is again not good, with predictions of above average hurricane and storm activity. This year the normal concerns in the EOC among our local governments were exacerbated by the upcoming Special Session in June and the potential of overly zealous efforts to reduce property tax revenues funding our local government emergency budgets. Earlier this year the county had to turn down a federal grant of nearly $1 million dollars to harden an expansion of the EOC because we did not have a local, matching funding source for the needed expansion. Emergency operations are funded by the General Fund and grants in Alachua County. Emergencies require more than a response by uniformed officers. A response also comes from public works, building department and social services employees, phone operators, purchasing agents, vehicle mechanics, etc. While some expenses in extreme situations are reimbursable by FEMA, experience has taught us that it is essential for our reserves to be in place and adequate because of the long slow process required to complete the FEMA reimbursement process.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Not all disasters are natural

5/11/2007 6:55:00 PM
Florida's 67 county and 412 municipal governments are at a critical crossroads in the debate playing out in Tallahassee over how to reform Florida's current property tax system. Some state leaders have cast local governments as the villain in this issue. Indeed, some proposals would impose state mandated caps on local government spending and cut billions of dollars that counties need to pay for critical local programs and services for our citizens. Governor Crist's proposal would reduce our $125 million dollar County Government General Fund by $31 million dollars.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



A Citizen of No Ordinary City

5/7/2007 10:15:00 AM
Last Friday, the day after a long public hearing on the SpringHills development, I received a briefing from Roland Loog, our tourism director, that Gainesville had been selected as the #1 city in the US to live . I took home an advance copy of the book, "Cities Ranked and Rated: More Than 400 Metropolitan Areas Evaluated in the US and Canada" by Bert Sperling and over the weekend did as thousands of others who will read the book this year to see how the Gainesville area compared to other places I had lived or considered living. On Sunday morning I awoke to the New York Times, which showcased the public announcement of the new national rating and announcing the book will be appearing on bookstores shelves across the country today. The Times article published a picture of Paynes Prairie at sunset for the entire nation to see by the caption "This Years #1, Gainesville, Florida." Once again we see the asset of the natural beauty of Alachua County used to highlight the character of our community nationally...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



The SpringHills DRI : Can We Please Stockholders and Stakeholders?

3/29/2007 4:15:00 PM
On May 1st a public hearing will be held at Santa Fe Community College at 5:00 PM to consider a Comprehensive Plan amendment requested by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust for a major development surrounding the NW 39 the Ave and I-75 interchange. The project is known as the SpringHills DRI. A DRI is a Development of Regional Impact meaning it is a project the State recognizes will have an impact in terms of economic and growth impact that is not localized but regional in nature. The SpringHill DRI totals 596 acres and is planned to provide commercial, offices, and a residential development and mixed use town center. The retail commercial space is over 1.5 million sq. ft. in size, larger than the existing Oaks Mall and the residential portion has 2300 units of single and multi family residences comparable in size to Haile Plantation. In geographic scope it stretches from the southern quadrants of NW 39th Ave and runs along the interchange northward towards Millhopper Rd....
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



No More Frontier: Consolidation, Annexation and Joint Planning

2/16/2007 7:45:00 PM
The Rusk Report offers several strategies to assist the central city; Consolidation, Annexation and Joint Planning. Consolidation of governments is neither politically popular, assured to be more efficient for the taxpayer, nor easy to legally accomplish even with a positive public referendum. The fact is clear that the majority of consolidation referendums fail in Florida. Mr. Rusk, as Mayor of Albuquerque, could not achieve consolidation in his own jurisdiction in Arizona. Unless a catalyst arises, such as high profile corruption, economic collapse of a one industry town or racial tension the natural tendency is to resist loss of local autonomy by our citizens. People tend to like it the way it is now. Why change? Why risk a different situation in a political context when people are not enamored with higher level politicians of any stripe. Consolidation is often the most popular the day it is conceived and it typically losses support as it goes though the process towards public approval. Political body expansion and decentralized service delivery and supervision may eat up proposed savings quickly, as those of us who have worked with single member districts can attest. It would be however an interesting process to go through here and was the topic I studied for my Masters Degree as an assistant assigned to a township-city merger commission in Ohio...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



No More Frontier: The Necessity of Real Regionalism

2/14/2007 5:10:00 PM
Last month Mr. David Rusk, the author of "Cities Without Suburbs" came to Gainesville to present an update on his 1996 report "Healthy Cities. Healthy Region" report. Mr. Rusk is a strong advocate for central city fiscal health through the use of techniques such as annexation "at will" policies for central cities, government consolidation, and regional tax base sharing. His recommendations do revolve around and are based upon the theory and research related to the "elasticity hypothesis". That hypothesis says in brief that those central cities that have elastic boundaries are fiscally and socially more healthy than those surrounded by restrictive rings of healthy suburbs or "non-contributing" or parasitic unincorporated areas that weaken the health of their host. The City of Gainesville is a central city surrounded by rings of cities or rural towns and suburban unincorporated areas to be precise. It is far smaller than many of the examples, such as Baltimore, included in Mr. Rusk's research and the data base used to justify conclusions or provide examples of suggested solutions. The 2006 update of the Rusk Report is very thought provoking and would be a good discussion piece for a community dialogue involving non-Gainesvillians and residents of the surrounding cities.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Please Get Those Annual Report Surveys In Monday!

2/2/2007 3:25:00 PM
So what do you think? How should we prioritize our County expenditures this year? Do you support extending Alachua County Forever to acquire more environmentally sensitive lands? What do you think of our County services? Let us know what you are thinking about these and other topics this final weekend through our Annual Report Survey. But please respond by mail or online before this coming Monday....
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Martin Luther King : A Global Figure With An American Holiday

1/12/2007 4:50:00 PM
Alachua County Offices are closed on Monday January 15, 2007 in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday. Residential curbside collection service for solid waste, recycling and yard trash will be delayed one day for the entire holiday week. As we do each year this weekend comes in the midst of two weeks of local activities honoring the slain civil rights leader. Events are held all over town, some require tickets but a good way to participate is to attend the National Holiday Kick-Off Program held at 12:00 noon at the Downtown Community Plaza in Gainesville...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Gainesville: Championship City

1/10/2007 8:55:00 AM
Go Gators! National Champions, not once but twice. Not in one sport but two! One of the great things about living in Alachua County is the unity, excitement, and cohesion of citizens that comes from being the host community for great athletic college teams. This is never more evident than when playing in national tournaments and Championship games when even most of the FSU and Miami alumni living here join with the UF Gator boosters in town to cheer for the home team. This year the Gator football team showed all of us how dedication to purpose and the ignoring of those that wish to limit your horizons or dismiss you can be overcome by hard work, discipline, and teamwork. Congratulations to Coach Urban Meyer and our Gator football team for being National Champions. The synergy shown between our football team and our national champion Gator basketball team shows the mutual respect of great athletes who spur each other to higher levels of performance. Thanks to the student body for the enthusiasm after the game with relatively few incidents or damage to the community. That shows great character and restraint in our UF student body as well.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



"On Holiday" Down Under

1/8/2007 2:45:00 PM
Happy New Year! I have just returned from a three week visit to New Zealand and Australia over the holidays to see my daughter who works in Sydney, Australia. It was the longest time off in my career. The trip made me vividly aware of how other cultures and countries have a much stronger concept of being "on holiday". "On holiday" is not taking a single day off as a holiday or a long weekend off but rather where seemingly the populations of entire countries take several weeks off guilt free as a part of the national effort to balance work life and enjoy of life ...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Seasons Greetings from My Family to Yours in 2006

12/20/2006 12:00:00 AM
This week I will not be updating the County Manager's blog as I am taking time off for the Holiday Season to be with family and have a little adventure. Each year I enjoy watching "Its a Wonderful Life" which is a movie by Frank Capra starting Jimmy Stewart. I am sure we have all seen it by now. It is about the about hope that Christmas brings. Hope is the great necessary ingredient in the life of people and successful communities...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



If We Could View People as Snowflakes

12/15/2006 4:25:00 PM
I enjoy Christmas. While loving Florida's mild winters I also appreciate snow for at least a short period of time each year. There is a Christmas spirit in wintertime scenery and the heavy silence of snowy evenings. I have lived much of my life in the winter snow. I spent much of my youth playing in the snow in Ohio. In Green River, Wyoming, where I was the City Manager, the Rocky Mountains were at 6200 feet elevation and we would often close I -80 due to snow emergencies. Therefore, it is natural for me to find the work of Kenneth Lebbrecht, a photographer of snowflakes, to be inspiring at this holiday season.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Waldo Road Corridor Meeting December 18th

12/14/2006 5:55:00 AM
Earlier this year I wrote a blog regarding the renewed effort to revitalize the east side of Gainesville in a blog entitled Full Throttle Up! At that time I highlighted and summarized a number of events and community investments that were creating a catalyst to improve this important area of our county. We want to alert residents of an important meeting regarding east side economic development or Waldo Road Corridor as we call this key planning area. We want your to take part in this bold effort at community building by encouraging your attendance...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Your Annual Report Calendar Is In The Mail!

12/13/2006 9:50:00 AM
The new 2006 Annual Report and 2007 Calendar is in the mail and on its way to your house this weekend. The report features information on Alachua County activities, finances and programs. This year's theme is "Creating Respect for People and Place" and we have used this theme to focus upon the history of Alachua County. The functional 2007 calendar provides dates of holidays and County meetings plus plenty of space for you to note important family activities and appointments. We urge you to use it all year long.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Salute To the Builders Association of North Central Florida

12/11/2006 3:15:00 PM
This weekend, several County representatives attended the Annual Builders Association of North Florida 51st Installation Banquet. Congratulations to Alison Cox, the new Association President. The outgoing President, Jim Painter, deserves the credit for a great year for the Association. I always enjoy the December event, and this year's theme of "Making a Difference" was appropriate, as the over 500 members and associates in this Association are a vital community building and economic engine in the County. Unlike the construction industry in the more metropolitan areas of south Florida, which are dominated by national builders, I appreciate the benefits and special problems of working with local, homegrown, small builders, many whose sons and daughters or multiple generations participate in the business. Due to their local allegiance to Alachua County, our builders do a great deal of good year after year in the civic affairs of this community. Individual members, such as the late Charles Perry, fund numerous community causes in their hometowns that better our community. Members of this Association also monitor and participate in local government meetings more frequently than most others and are heavily affected by the decisions of local government.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



"Killer Weed" Is Coming Across Our Borders

12/7/2006 4:45:00 PM
Now that I have the attention of both liberals and conservatives, here is my concern with a growing problem we need to address in 2007. There is a serious threat growing on the Alachua County border with Marion County headed right for Paynes Prairie or a vacant property near you. And it is high time we wake up and deal with the potential terrorist threat it presents to our environment. No, I am not talking about that killer weed if that's what you were thinking -or human terrorism, but an invasive plant known as Cogon grass. This plant, native to Asia, is one bad hombre and is considered one of the top ten "worst weeds" world wide. It is already in Alachua County (as well as half of Florida's 67 counties) and may already cover over a million acres of Florida. It came to the U.S. as a packing material. It has invaded every continent. Growing in open, sunshiny areas, it has been observed turning healthy biological communities into savannahs of this single plant, which grows about four feet high. Now that is world-wide terrorism.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Florida Gators: SEC Champions

12/4/2006 8:25:00 AM
Congratulations this morning to Coach Urban Meyers and the UF Gator Football Team for winning the SEC Championship in Atlanta and being invited to play Ohio State for the National Championship! Early this year before a group of community service club members Coach Meyers explained his desire to win the SEC this year. "Winning is everything," he said. He wanted the players on the UF team to experience the feeling of being "winners." He said that when you win the SEC or should they win the national championship it affects your whole life and outlook. The Coach added when you're a winner the air seems to smell better, the sun seems to shine brighter and life itself is sweeter. He said he personally wanted to feel that sensation again and he wanted the team to feel that feeling, which was like no other feelin g for him ...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Rosa Parks and Myles Horton: The Quiet Courage to Say "Enough"

12/1/2006 3:30:00 PM
Tonight there is a memorial tribute to Rosa Parks, the small, slender black lady whose personal insistence that she wouldn't move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama ignited the Civil Rights movement. A very deserving award called the "Quiet Courage Award" will be given to former County Commission Chair and School Board member Charles Chestnut III for his work on local civil rights issues. Another award called the youth "Legacy Bearer" will be given to local student Donavaun Horne. The event is sponsored by the Quiet Courage Committee and it is hoped to become an annual event.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Affordable Housing: The Impossible Dream?

11/30/2006 4:20:00 PM
This week a major educational session for the community was held on the subject of affordable housing in the County. It was sponsored by the San Felasco Planning Chapter of the American Planning Association. Affordable housing is a major issue in Alachua County and around the United States, so the subject drew a mixed crowd of planners, government officials and builders. The speaker was Robert A. Koch, AIA, who presented an informative lecture entitled "Addressing the Need for Affordable/Workforce Housing: Meeting the shelter, economic and social challenges responsibly." Our planning staffs, some realtors and builders, were excited at the ideas suggested by Mr. Koch.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Thanksgiving: An American Holiday With a Message For All

11/22/2006 9:55:00 AM
Like governments across the country, our County offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday in recognition of Thanksgiving Day. Our County Commission wishes your family a wonderful holiday with family and friends.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Google Me A Rezoning Please

11/21/2006 8:25:00 AM
This item will only make sense if you're one of those people that appreciates the implementation of technology to improve what your organization does, and particularly those of you who are fans of Google Earth software. First, as background information, in 2000 our County Commission established three transformation strategies that we believe could serve to guide our organization's future development.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Remembering Our Veterans: Past and Present

11/9/2006 6:05:00 PM
Alachua County Veterans Services and the veteran community of Alachua County will hold their Annual Veterans Day Celebration on Saturday, November 11 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Alachua County Veterans Memorial in Kanapaha Park, on the corner of SW 75th St. and SW 41st Pl. in Gainesville. This is an opportunity, in the midst of a current wartime situation, to recognize the contribution of Alachua County veterans of all wars for their service to our country. The Greatest Generation will be at Kanapaha Park this Saturday as we are honoring WW II veterans this year so I hope you can participate. Bring your children so they can remember meeting real everyday heroes in their own community. The actions and sacrifice of these veterans preserved the world as we now know it. If we remember them, current and future generations of Americans will draw strength from their example...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Learn About G.R.A.C.E. at the Homeless Night Out

11/7/2006 3:00:00 PM
This is National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. Both of these issues are serious national and local problems. Many of us do not want to recognize or think about people in our county being hungry or homeless. However, they are here. There are always reasons not to tackle these problems. It is tempting to avoid them, to look the other way. These problems will not go away without the community taking compassionate and practical actions. Fortunately, in Alachua County we are dealing with the issue through personal acts of benevolence and G.R.A.C.E.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Vote On Tuesday: Despite the Negative Campaigning

11/6/2006 7:15:00 PM
I have always enjoyed Robert Redford's movie "The Candidate" as it makes a statement about political campaigning which I suspect can be true. We expect to see negative campaigning somewhere else in Florida or in another part of the country. But it has surprised many to see that people who serve the same community in public offices in Alachua County and sit at the same civic clubs are so willing to trash each other so deliberately to earn or should I say acquire a State office. Unfortunately the winner will likely have to assume he could not have won without going negative as the "other guy" is always accused of starting it. Hats off to those local campaigns ran on issues and civility...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



The Best Weekend of the Year: Festivals, Football, Fall and Friends

11/3/2006 4:15:00 PM
I have just returned to work after four days off. I was recuperating from knee surgery, painkillers, and daytime television. It is good to go to work again. It is great to come back just in time for what is always one of the best weekends of the year here in Gainesville. This is the weekend when the Downtown Art Festival, a televised Gator football game, an early voting opportunity, and the fall weather all appear simultaneously in our own venue, Alachua County.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



East Gainesville Redevelopment: "Full Throttle Up"

10/27/2006 12:55:00 PM
In 1960 JFK imagined a man on the moon within a decade. Some of us can imagine a revitalized East Gainesville within a decade. A new east side Wal-Mart store, a potential new National Guard Amory, two business parks, academic campuses, a future library and plans for the Waldo Road corridor have the situation looking up for East Gainesville residents. I have many friends working for NASA....
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Sustainability: The Art of the Long View

10/24/2006 10:30:00 AM
On October 25 and 26, 2006 the University of Florida will be hosting a conference entitled Community Sustainability: Sharing Best Practices and Visions for Florida. Keynote speakers include Carl Hiasson, Michael Shuman, author of "The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating Global Competition," and Steve Siebert, Director of the Governor's Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida. I may not endorse every idea or concept floated under the banner of sustainability at the conference, but the concept of sustainable thinking as a whole has captured my attention and that of managers in public and private businesses worldwide.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Property Tax Reform: Be careful what you ask for...

10/20/2006 5:20:00 PM
With much of the statewide election rhetoric centering on the property tax "crisis," some proposals have sprung up which may have 30 second sound bite appeal, but could do more to exacerbate an existing problem. At least one statewide candidate has committed to "double the homestead exemption" which would increase the current $25,000 exemption to $50,000. While this proposal, on its surface, may appeal to any voter owning homesteaded property, the ultimate result, should it come about, could severely cripple local governments' abilities to function...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Next Week: FEMA Flood Maps and Global Warming

10/18/2006 7:55:00 AM
Sometimes agenda planning is filled with its own irony. On Monday, October 23rd, at 6:00 p.m. there will be a special Commission meeting with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in attendance to discuss the problems recent flood zones mapping has caused some properties in Alachua County. On the following day, during the regular Commission meeting on October 24th at 4:00 p.m. a special presentation will be made on Global Warming by Dr. Stephen Mulkey. Dr. Mulkey is...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Keeping the Public's Trust in a Virtual Town Meeting World

10/16/2006 5:05:00 PM
Trying to maintain the public's trust in government and the credibility of government and elected officials is extremely difficult nowadays. Accurate information is a major concern, as well as an understanding of the mandates placed upon County government are a key to citizens understanding the role of County government. Take for example the kick off last week of the Gainesville Sun Virtual Town Meeting, which was an interesting and innovative step for our community's newspaper to use an online forum. The forum question posed by an editor of the paper asked citizens to...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Alachua County Loses a Champion: Doris Bardon

10/13/2006 5:45:00 PM
We received word today of the passing of Doris Bardon, a well known and beloved member of this community. She was an extraordinary individual, talented and concerned community activist, graceful and humane person and the epitome of a good citizen in every sense of the word. At many community meetings I have been at she always was calming influence and spoke with nurturing concern for the community and environment. Among indigenous peoples there is a great respect for the elderly, but...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Being Prepared In a Dangerous World

10/9/2006 10:35:00 AM
This week is Fire Prevention Week. It is a time that we in government and fire service make that special effort to focus our local community's attention on the danger of fire in our homes and wild lands. Government has an inherent role as "guardian" of the community to insure the publics' safety and welfare. Increasingly we try to remind and instruct citizens, particularly our children, that prevention and planning for life threatening emergencies is...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Certified Public Manager's Program Helping Alachua County Excel

10/6/2006 3:25:00 PM
At the October 11, 2006 County Commission meeting we will be recognizing the County's most recent class of graduates from the Certified Public Manager Program. Graduation exercises were held August 25, 2006 in Lakeland for 14 of our employees representing many of our departments. Citizens should recognize that like any corporation the greatest resources we have are the employees that provide our services. The training and succession planning of our...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Federal Emergency Management Administration and FIRM Map Concerns

10/2/2006 4:55:00 PM
In recent weeks, many citizens have voiced concern about new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Alachua County. Several residents have been notified that they have been advised that their properties are now shown as being in flood plain. I want to take this opportunity to clarify the events leading up to the current situation and the role of Alachua County and this beleaguered Federal agency...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



County Benefit Liability Not As Threatening As National Study Suggests

9/26/2006 3:55:00 PM
In public management, the early morning walk to the curb for the morning news and quick scan of headlines can often disrupt your day before it starts. Yesterday's headline in the Gainesville Sun's article Will (Public) Retiree Benefits Sink Agencies? might lead some Alachua County residents to concerns about the fiscal integrity of the County. The report discussed the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirement for local government to identify and report on their outstanding liabilities for retirement and healthcare benefits. Many jurisdictions have been placed in crisis mode...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Alachua County Forever is a Living Legacy

9/25/2006 10:00:00 AM
For those who know this special place Barr Hammock is one of the most beautiful natural areas in Alachua County. The property was introduced to me in 2000 through the efforts of former Commissioner Robert "Hutch" Hutchinson. Many folks who love the land here in Alachua County are ecstatic it will soon be one of the crown jewels of the Alachua County Forever program...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Celebration of UF's First 100 Years Kicks Off On Friday This Week

9/18/2006 9:45:00 AM
This week's kick-off of the celebration of the University of Florida's first 100 years begins this week on Friday, September 22, 2006. Citizens are invited to attend the event at 10:00 a.m. in the University Auditorium to hear presentations by local university and community officials and a concert by the UF Men's Glee Club. Parking restrictions are being lifted in the area so everyone interested may attend. This is the first of numerous events scheduled this fall to celebrate our town-gown relationship. Our Alachua County residents appreciate the University and enjoy attending cultural and sporting events on campus throughout the year. Let's turn out to celebrate the Gator Nation!
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Blogging 101 from San Antonio

9/13/2006 9:55:00 AM
I have been out of town this week attending the International City and County Management Association www.icma.org annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. ICMA is the principle professional organization for city and county managers world-wide. There are managers from many countries attending, and it is always good to see old friends I have made during the 30 years I have been a member...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Remember 9/11/2001--Lest We Forget

9/8/2006 5:55:00 PM
Our County Commission wishes to remind all Alachua County residents and visitors to pause at 9:03 a.m. on Monday, wherever you are at, in a moment of silence or prayer to remember those victims and families of the attacks on the United States five years ago on September 11, 2001. I will certainly not forget the activities of that morning. We were in a Commission meeting at the time the first plane hit the tower, and my staff asked me to step out of the meeting to see the television coverage on CNN playing in our conference room area. After returning to the Commission meeting in a short time...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Final Budget Takes Shape - Comment at September 20, 2006 Public Hearing

9/8/2006 10:25:00 AM
On September 20 at 5:30 p.m. citizens will have their last opportunity to comment on the FY 2006-2007 budget for which we are approaching the final stages of approval in the second and final public hearing. The total budget is $326,450,322. This includes a reduction of millage rate to 8.887 mils in the General Fund. Another major decision confirmed last evening was deferral of enactment of a storm water fee until after a county-wide study is performed, which will be funded from reserves over the upcoming year.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Hail to the Chief!

9/6/2006 7:40:00 AM
One of the great pleasures of managing a dynamic organization is appreciating some of the outstanding folks who serve the public. I like to refer to these outstanding employees as County Champions, as they excel at what they do and reflect the best of public service. Alachua County Fire Rescue Emergency Services Director, Chief Will Gray May Jr. is such a person...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Demography is Destiny

9/5/2006 9:20:00 AM
The Census Bureau last week released its annual snapshot of Alachua County and Gainesville, as it always does at this time of year. Thanks to the web this information is now available in your homes and businesses. This is an update of information derived from the last census in 2000. Most of the annual census data come from questionnaires sent to roughly three million American households per year...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Protecting Alachua County Springs - World Class Waters in our own Backyard

9/1/2006 12:45:00 PM
On Wednesday afternoon, September 20, on the banks of Hornsby Springs at Camp Kulaqua in the City of High Springs a public workshop is being held to bring stakeholders together to find common ground on better ways to protect our local springs and aquifer system. This Springs Protection Summit is hosted by the Santa Fe Springs Working Group representing concerned citizens, businesses and local, regional, and state governments concerned with this vital natural and economic resource in our County. The consensus of environmental experts is that our springs are in harm's way due to a lack of safeguards to protect these rare and precious waters from the encroaching impact of population growth and land development.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Growing Biotech, Growing Opportunities, Growing Jobs

8/29/2006 3:40:00 PM
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce retreat in Amelia Island. I joined several dozen business leaders to discuss the economic prospects of Alachua County. We heard an outstanding presentation from Sue Washer on the growing potential of the biotech industry in Alachua County. Biotech deals with the use of our accelerating knowledge from the area of life sciences and its utilization in technological, agricultural or pharmaceutical applications. The earliest use of the term "biotech" dates back to 1919 and a discussion of soap and its impact on organisms.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Diamond Sports Park's Complex is Complex Issue for County

8/28/2006 8:30:00 AM
Many residents have contacted my office and the County Commission concerned with the loss of the Diamond Sports Park's numerous recreational fields and diamonds due to its potential sale to the School Board or to a private company interested in developing the facility. For those citizens unaware, the Diamond Sports Park is located on SW 122 Street, or Parker Road. It is privately owned and operated and has been a recreational venue for...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Welcome Students and Thanks for the Gift!

8/23/2006 11:15:00 AM
Today is the start of classes at the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. I wanted to take this time to welcome all of our students, returning and new, to Alachua County. You are important to our community's economy, culture and vitality. As arriving students, I also hope you will become citizens and be increasingly respectful of our community and positively involved in civic life of the community you now reside
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



An Expanding Community Fleet of Hybrids

8/22/2006 7:45:00 AM
Last Wednesday's public announcement by President Bernie Machen at the Civic Luncheon that the University of Florida will be utilizing more hybrid vehicles in its university fleet is welcome news on local efforts to build a more sustainable Alachua County. Higher gasoline prices may be a practical motivator, but the vehicles' additional value is they are less polluting and better for the environment. Alachua County acquired some of the first hybrids in the State in 2000...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Early Voting for September 4 Primary Begins Today

8/21/2006 9:05:00 AM
Beginning today, registered voters in Alachua County may vote early for the September 4 primary at three early voting locations. These locations are at the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office in the County Administration Building, Millhopper Library and Tower Road Library...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Expanded Tax Incentives for Land Conservation

8/18/2006 3:30:00 PM
Governing Magazine, an excellent read for those tracking state and local issues, featured in their August issue an article on "Green Pieces," dealing with the eco-regionalism and the increasing use of conservation easements and donations for preserving and connecting environmental lands and scenic vistas throughout the country. Land preservation has become increasingly a state and local responsibility...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



School Is In Session - Be Careful With Our Future

8/14/2006 1:05:00 PM
The opening of schools is a hectic time for parents and teachers. Over 30,000 students and many of their parents in the Alachua County School system are beginning another season of daily travel to school sites around the County. For this reason the County Commission joins with others in the community to urge everyone to slow down as they drive to and from work this week and throughout the school year to avoid accidents that might inflict injury on our community's children...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Mike Roberto: The Man in the Arena

8/9/2006 9:50:00 AM
Last week I was informed of the death of a friend and professional colleague, Michael Roberto. Mike had asked his wife to have me do a eulogy at his funeral service last night with several others who knew him at different points in his life. Michael was the epitome of the professional local governmental manager--a gifted visionary leader, demanding and caring manager, and whirl wind of activity.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Great Universities, Great Communities, Great Places

8/7/2006 12:30:00 PM
I spent last week visiting southern and midwestern college campuses and historical sites with my family. From a design standpoint it is interesting to note the quality and beauty of America's academic campuses and the way they interface with their communities.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



A Sense of Place: Take A Local History Test

7/31/2006 8:10:00 AM
You may have lived here for your entire life or just moved into Alachua County, but most of us find it easy to fall in love with this place. I don't know about you but I think it is a jewel of Florida at this time in our history, and I hope we can keep it that way. I have moved several times in my local government career and developed a habit early on to explore local history museums and learn more about the history of where I live, its communities, local personalities and place names...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Jonesville Park Community Meeting

7/28/2006 7:00:00 AM
Every truly great city or county has a great park system. Alachua County hopes to work with our citizens and municipalities to develop one. County governments may build parks of all kinds but needs to concentrate on active recreation and our regional parks. The next park to be planned in Western Alachua County is a regional park located in Jonesville. It is not very often that Alachua County residents have an opportunity to help review and plan for a major new regional park.
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



When Governments Do Wrong...

7/27/2006 6:50:00 AM
You know it is a bad day in government when you discover your organization has done something wrong and your office suddenly becomes both the "regulator" and a "regulated" at the same time. It can and does happen in the complexity of county government, where we both deliver services or develop facilities and protect public safety or enforce codes regulating those activities. Like the private developers we regulate who may get caught violating development requirements, we are not perfect and can "screw" up unintentionally. Fortunately for us it is not often and almost always unintentional...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



The Synergy of a Fairgrounds and a Business Park

7/26/2006 7:45:00 AM
Stephen Covey has advocated for those of us in management for decades to seek the power of synergy in our lives. Synergy is where the actions of two or more events, people, or substances are combined and create an effect of which each alone is incapable. Good public decisions by nature can either encourage competition or seek to create synergy to maximize the positive mutual benefit when achieving diverse or separate goals...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



A Funding Partnership for Municipal Parks and Recreation Programs

7/25/2006 7:10:00 AM
The Alachua County Commission has moved forward in implementing its vision to more clearly define the future role of County government principally as one of open space land acquisition and the development of parklands. This is in lieu of directly providing recreation services and leaving that job up to our municipalities. This year's proposed budget has over $1.1 million directed towards annually funding capital park projects...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



10 Years of Alachua County Online

7/24/2006 7:20:00 AM
Alachua County is celebrating our 10th anniversary of having a presence online and to celebrate we have redesigned our website. This allows us to expand our online capabilities... In the past ten years Internet usage among our citizenry has come a long way and we are a very computer literate community. So too has Alachua County's effort to...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Customer Service Request (CSR) System Begins Operation

7/21/2006 7:30:00 AM
With the growth in technology impacting every facet of our lives, it is only appropriate that various channels of communication we use also become faster and more reliable to keep pace with society's expectations. This holds true for local government agencies as well, which is why it is my honor today to unveil and introduce to you Alachua County's new Customer Service Request (CSR) system...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



"Investing in the Future" Bond Issue

7/20/2006 7:05:00 AM
The County Commission is in the midst of reviewing the budget this time of year. It is a hectic time filled with extra meetings squeezed between family vacations, requests for information and emails from citizens advocating where to expend the "windfall" in property taxes. The theme of this year's budget continues to be "Investing In the Future" a continuing theme held over from last year...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



Two Gold Stars for Climate Change Progress

7/19/2006 8:35:00 AM
My wife and I recently saw Al Gore's new movie "An Inconvenient Truth " at one of the local theaters along with some other community leaders and friends. It is a thought provoking movie about the subject of global warming and what folks who are concerned about it can do...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog



The Athenian Oath

7/18/2006 6:00:00 AM
Welcome to my first posting on the new Manager's Blog. I'll get better at this as I go, I promise. Where do you start? There is no better place for a Web log dedicated to civic education to begin than to go back to the cradle of democracy. For that I suggest we begin this conversation with what I believe is one of the finest statements ever articulated on citizenship. This oath, which was taken by the young men of ancient Athens when they...
Read this entry | Back to Latest Entrys | Comment on this Blog




Randall H. Reid

County Manager
Phone (352) 374-5204
Fax (352) 338-7363
12 SE 1st Street
Gainesville, FL 32601