Tag Archives: Russ Blackburn

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Several Alachua County neighborhoods fight crime by using NextDoor, a website and phone app that helps neighbors connect with each other.

[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. …

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 …