Town Commission Regular Meeting

Town Commission Regular Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM 706 NE Cholokka BLVD CALL TO ORDER Mayor Jiana Williams called the meeting to order 7:00 pm INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG ROLL CALL Commissioners: Mayor Jiana Williams, present Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Putansu, present Commissioner Judy Galloway, present Commissioner David Massey, present Commissioner Ken Wessberg, present Town Staff: Town Attorney A. Derek Folds, absent with notice Town Administrator Sara Samario, present Deputy Town Clerk Patty Polk, present CONSENT AGENDA Motion made and seconded (Galloway/Putansu) to approve the consent agenda as submitted; passed 5-0 1. Agenda Approval 2. Regular Commission Meeting Minutes of September 9, 2025 Tentative Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2025 Final Budget Hearing Meeting Minutes of September 29, 2025 3. Tentative Budget Hearing 4. Final Budget Hearing - Minutes GUESTS 5. Micanopy Branch Library Update Unavailable  6. Willie Mae Stokes Community Center Bishop Christopher Stokes gave a verbal report. All is going well. They will host a Thanksgiving feast on November 22, 2025, at the new church, 815 N Division St. CITIZEN’S FORUM Public Comment (public comments limited to 2 minutes per speaker, please) Carolyn Crass, thanked the commission for the sound system. Patty Crass, would like to donate to the Thanksgiving Feast. She should reach out to the Willie Mae Stokes Community Center to donate. Aaron Weber, thanked for the support and landscaping at the Gazebo. Bud DesForges, reminded everyone of the Trunk or Treat event on October 24, 2025 Ms Sheffield, Alachua County Sheriff's Department. They are excited about the support from the Children's Trust; they are partnering with the community to show they are here and here to assist. The Sheriff's Department will be at each town in Alachua County during spring break, focusing on having fun with literacy. Stop by their booth at the Fall Festival to say hello. Sandy Newman, the Plant Exchange is on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. They will have plants to give or exchange, as well as baked goods for sale. Newman - next Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm, we will have an organizational Community Garden meeting upstairs. Fliers are available at the door and posted throughout the Town. Stoney Slaton, is glad that the town was able to get a sound system, and questioned if streaming is in our future. Mayor Williams stated that this is not in our near future as it would require more personnel to operate. Slaton brought up the need for a street sign on the corner of Ocala/Division St. Town staff will address this soon. Also need the stop bar painted on Seminary Ave on the Corner of County road 234, Micanopy. TOWN COMMISSION LIAISON REPORTS 7. Alachua County League of Cities Mayor Williams stated that Alachua County League of Cities meeting is coming up soon. 8. Alachua County Children’s Trust Mayor Williams stated that the billboards are up and visible. The impacts of opioids on our children's lives are immense, and we are trying to reverse this. 9. Thrasher Warehouse Board Commissioner Wessberg gave a verbal report. The Thrasher Warehouse board discussed maintenance of the new Town signs. Administrator Owen stated that we have oil for the signs, and it is on our maintenance schedule. CITIZEN BOARD AND COMMITTEE REPORTS 10. Planning and Historic Preservation Board Administrator Samario gave a verbal report. A certificate of appropriateness was heard at the regular meeting and approved. A special-called meeting was held on October 7, 2025, regarding the Micanopy Area Cooperative School (MACS) preliminary site plan and special use application. The site plan was approved with three conditions, and the special use permit was tabled. 11. Tree Committee Paul Cohen, Tree Committee Member, gave a verbal report. Mr. Cohen discussed the live oak on Tangerine St on the proposed site of Micanopy Area Cooperative School (MACS). MACS has agreed to adhere to the tree protection zone. TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT Nothing to report REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND REPORTS 12. Presentation of the 2024 Fiscal Year Audit Noah Leonard, James Moore & Co, gave a written and verbal report. Discussion ensued. 13. Emergency Purchases Administrator Samario discussed an emergency purchase. We hired an external planner with EDA, and we felt it was a necessary purchase. This gave us two planners to review the MACS site plan. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT 14. Report Informational Only Administrator Samario gave a verbal report. The residential structure on the annex property is looking good. Discussions are needed soon on this structure and the Fire Station. Micanopy Native American Preservation Park, residential structure may be discussed at the next potluck dinner on November 17, 2025, at 6:00 pm. The fire station should remain open, and we can host a workshop there to discuss its future. Add a Fire Department discussion at a one-hour workshop on November 10, 2025, at 6:00 pm. Details will be emailed to our residents. Discussion ensued at length. The broadband expansion has caused some expected damage. Cox is under a deadline to be available by Thanksgiving.  15. Forward Focus Participation Administrator Samario discussed Forward Focus and the Eastern Alachua County Community Bulletin. They need participation; will provide food, and we need more people to sign up; they are looking for support. 16. Proposed Lift Purchase Ring Power has loaned a lift to public works for testing. Commissioner Wessberg was instrumental in getting the used lift tested and has received a quote to purchase. This lift is a 2007 model and has been 100% rebuilt. Motion made and seconded (Wessberg/Galloway) to approve the purchase of the Ring Power machine contingent upon staff approval of the lift; passed 5-0 17. Task Order with EDA Motion made and seconded (Massey/Putansu) to approve the task order with EDA and not to exceed $2,225.00; passed 5-0 NEW BUSINESS 18. Consideration of Counteroffer for Land Purchase – Community Resource Center (CDBG-CV grant) Land purchase for the future community center. Discussion ensued at length. Motion made and seconded (Massey/Putansu) to purchase the property on the corner of Cholokka Blvd/Hwy 441 for $125,000 as counter offered by Mark Gregg, owner, to build a community center next to the new library building; passed 5-0 19. Purchase Approval for Traffic Control Devices Traffic control devices. Discussion ensued. Motion made and seconded (Galloway/Putansu) to approve purchasing the traffic control devices, not to exceed, $2,500.00; passed 5-0 20. Agreement with North Central Florida Regional Planning Council (NCFRPC) for Planning Services for fy26 Motion made and seconded (Massey/Galloway) to approve the contract with NCFRPC for planning service for FY26; passed 5-0 21. Agreement with Micanopy Athletic Association Discussion ensued at length. Tabled until next month. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 22. Woodard & Curran Presentation  Discussion ensued at length. Mike New, Woodard and Curran, gave a presentation. Commission discussion. Citizens discussion. Motion made and seconded (Massey/Galloway) to move forward with option 2 to authorize the town administrator to move forward with this project; passed 5-0 TOWN COMMISSIONER REPORTS 23. Commissioner (Seat 1) Judy Galloway Commissioner Galloway gave good advice to be careful when attending Halloween and the Fall Festival. 24. Commissioner (Seat 3) David Massey Commissioner Massey thanked everyone for attending and it has been a long meeting. 25. Commissioner (Seat 4) Kevin Putansu Mayor Pro Tem Putansu announced a food and toiletries drive for the pantry. You can leave donations on his porch, 206 NW Ogehoee St. Patty Polk will email the notice to residents. 26. Commissioner (Seat 5) Ken Wessberg Commissioner Wessberg discussed Marlene Oberst service was very nice, she was a 45 year store owner in Micanopy. He will donate a bench in her memory. MAYOR (SEAT 2) JIANA WILLIAMS REPORT Mayor Williams gave her thoughts for the day. Trunk or treat will be on Cholokka Blvd by Jems Originals; join the fun. ADJOURN PLEASE NOTE: PURSUANT TO SECTION 286.015, FLORIDA STATUTES, IF A PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONSIDERED DURING THIS MEETING, HE OR SHE WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT, A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES NEEDING ANY SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN TOWN MEETINGS SHOULD CONTACT THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR, 706 NE CHOLOKKA BLVD., MICANOPY, FLORIDA 32667-0137, TELEPHONE (352) 466-3121. Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting at 9:50 pm