The Gainesville City Commission selected Anthony Lyons as its new city manager today, bringing to an end the months-long search process that followed the November 2015 resignation of Russ Blackburn after his 10 years in the post. Lyons, who has served as interim city manager since Blackburn's resignation, was chosen from 95 initial applicants and five finalists.
Read More »Five Vie For City Manager Position, To Be Decided Thursday
Come Thursday, the city of Gainesville will have a new city manager. The seven-member Gainesville City Commission interviewed the five finalists for the position on Tuesday.
Read More »City Commission Proposes Making Police Chief a Charter Officer
At the Nov. 19 city commission meeting, a proposal was made to move the chief of police from answering to the city manager to answering directly to the city commission. City Commissioner Craig Carter said the police chief is presently under the city manager, and if the commission were to move him to a charter officer, would answer to the commission directly.
Read More »Gainesville City Manager Blackburn Resigns
Gainesville's city manager, Russ Blackburn, announced his resignation at a city commission meeting Thursday. Blackburn served the position for more than 10 years after starting in September of 2005.
Read More »Dust Around Depot Avenue Raises Concerns for Nearby Neighborhoods
Gainesville residents living near Depot Avenue are seeing clouds of dust and dust lines left on the street. With more construction under way in the area, a local soil researcher says the dust being left behind can pose harmful health effects.
Read More »City Commission Grants Gainesville Management Of Dignity Village
Gainesville City Commission passes a motion for the management of Dignity Village. The motion begins the process of addressing safety issues and concerns regarding the logistics of the community.
Read More »Police Union Raises Concerns Of Safety Issues At Local Homeless Community
Both the number of residents and reported incidents have increased at Dignity Village. Gainesville Mayor Ed Braddy and local PBA Representative Lt. Mike Schibuola discussed the rise of safety concerns for the local homeless community at a meeting Tuesday.
Read More »Website, phone app helps Alachua County neighbors connect
Several Alachua County neighborhoods fight crime by using NextDoor, a website and phone app that helps neighbors connect with each other.
Read More »Gainesville city manager explains why he turned down “Occupy Gainesville” permit
[audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/BLACKBURNCONVO.mp3] While the protestors applied for a permit to allow them to stay overnight at the Bo Diddly plaza, that request was turned down by City Manager Russ Blackburn. He talked with Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM News Director Tom Krynski about the decision. WUFT: Tell me about who makes the decision. …
Read More »Alachua County and Gainesville City Managers co-author article on how negative publicity over last year’s planned Koran burning event pulled community together
Last year Gainesville found itself in the national and international spotlight when Dove World Outreach Center Pastor Terry Jones announced his plans to burn copies of the Koran. As a result of poor publicity, Gainesville City Manager, Russ Blackburn and Alachua County Manager, Randall Reid joined together to write an …
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