Alachua County Board of County Commissioners - Meetings & Minutes
"Regular BoCC meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The County Commission BOCC Agenda is available on the Internet by Friday before the scheduled meeting. Back-up documents are also available at this time. If an amended agenda is published, it will be posted (along with any back-up documents) on the Monday before the Tuesday meeting. No new information will be posted after this time. You are encouraged to check this website before each meeting for any changes which may have occurred."
Storm Ready Storytime Comes to Local Libraries
"Alachua County Emergency Management, in partnership with the Alachua County Library District, invites families with young children ages 3 to 8 to attend Storm Ready Storytime. The free educational program is designed to help children learn about storm safety and emergency preparedness as the 2026 hurricane season gets underway.
During each Storm Ready Storytime session, Emergency Management staff will read "Henry and the Hurricane" by Brittany Perkins Castillo and engage children in interactive activities that make emergency preparedness fun and accessible. Participants will decorate their own safety kits, learn about severe weather safety, and discover simple ways their families can prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies.
"Hurricane preparedness starts with the whole family," said Alachua County Emergency Management Director Jen Grice. "Storm Ready Storytime combines literacy, crafts, and emergency preparedness activities to help children learn important safety lessons while giving parents and caregivers practical information they can use to prepare their households for the season ahead."
The program will be offered at all Alachua County library branches during June:
Library Partnership Branch – June 9, 2026, at 12:30 p.m.
High Springs Branch – June 10, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Archer Branch – June 10, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Hawthorne Branch – June 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Waldo Branch – June 13, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Cone Park Branch – June 13, 2026, at 2 p.m.
Tower Road Branch – June 16, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Alachua Branch – June 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Millhopper Branch – June 22, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Micanopy Branch – June 23, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Headquarters Library – June 26, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Newberry Branch – June 26, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Families are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them.
Residents can also stay informed during hurricane season by signing up for emergency alerts through Alachua County Ready. Text ALACHUA to 888-777 to receive emergency notifications and preparedness information.
For more information about Storm Ready Storytime, visit the Alachua County Library District events page or contact Alachua County Emergency Management at 352-264-6500."
Meetings & Minutes
"Meetings & Minutes
Regular BoCC meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. The County Commission BOCC Agenda is available on the Internet by Friday before the scheduled meeting. Back-up documents are also available at this time.
If an amended agenda is published, it will be posted (along with any back-up documents) on the Monday before the Tuesday meeting. No new information will be posted after this time.
You are encouraged to check this website before each meeting for any changes which may have occurred.
Upcoming and Past Meetings
Note: The page encountered errors displaying the list of upcoming and past meetings."
Poet Laureate
"E. Stanley Richardson is an American Poet, Actor, Playwright and Producer. He is the Founder and Director of ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc., the North Central Florida Youth Poet Laureate Program, and the Bard & Broadside North Central Florida Poetry Festival. He is the author of the 2017 award-winning book of poetry, "Hip Hop is Dead - Long Live Hip Hop. The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Hip Hop Activism". Mr. Richardson is the Inaugural Poet Laureate of Alachua County, Florida (2020 - present).
Poetry Readings include performances at Lake Forest Elementary School Playground Dedication, and readings of poems including "EDEN," "Century Oak," "An Elegy for Black Bodies," and "Make Me Wanna Holla."
Published poems include:
- "An Elegy for Black Bodies" (1867-1924) addressing truth and reconciliation in Alachua County, Florida
- "Century Oak - A Conversation With A Tree" exploring historical trauma and environmental witness
- "Make Me Wanna Holler" addressing healthcare access, systemic inequality, and social justice
- "The Big Picture" reflecting on nature, community, and environmental concerns
- "Fare Thee Well Commissioners" as a farewell to departing commissioners
- "Bread And A Song" exploring themes of survival and spiritual resilience
- "Sankofa Sister" celebrating ancestral connection and truth reconciliation
- "The Perkins' House" addressing truth and reconciliation at Dudley Farm in Alachua County
- "Shield of Valor" honoring fallen military service members, presented at Memorial Day Ceremony 2024"
Community Update Newsletters - Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
"The page displays a comprehensive listing of Community Update Newsletters from Alachua County. Newsletters are organized chronologically by year, with the most recent being from 2026 and archived newsletters dating back to 2020. Each newsletter entry includes a publication date and a link to the full newsletter content. The 2026 newsletters include editions from June 10, May 27, May 13, April 29, April 15, March 26, March 11, February 25, January 29, and January 14. The 2025 archive contains 16 newsletter entries spanning from January 16 through December 11. The 2024 archive includes 12 newsletters from January 10 through December 11. Earlier years (2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020) contain additional archived newsletters. The page also provides links to related content including County News, County Videos, County Commission Meetings, and Advisory Board Meetings. A subscription option is available at the bottom of the page with the text 'Alachua County Headlines and Newsletter - Keep up-to-date with all news and developments in your community delivered to your inbox.' The page notes that media releases prior to 2017 are available through a separate link."