The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard updates on the investigation into its Animal Resources department on Tuesday while also voting to purchase 55 acres at Newnans Lake and rezone a parcel along Archer Road for up to 112 units.  

At the end of the meeting, Chair Ken Cornell also asked for an update about the negotiation with Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) to amend the county’s Parker Road (NW 122nd Street) expansion design in order to save five live oak trees.  

Missy Daniels, assistant county manager, said the negotiations with GRU were successful and that the utility agreed to give an extra 16 to 17 feet of extra easement. The extra easement only includes the initial part of the road expansion just north of Newberry Road, where the county is trying to save five live oak trees. 

She said the county is looking ahead to the next phase of the project to ensure another last-minute tree rescue isn’t needed. While wooded, she said the next second segment lacks as many large trees.  

Cornell said he wanted to publicly thank GRU CEO Ed Bielarski and the utility for the decision. He added that despite some expert comment that the trees were already damaged and beyond saving, county staff believe the trees could survive. 

Animal Resources 

Concerned public commenters flooded the chambers on Tuesday and to speak about the investigation the county started into its own Animal Resources department. The commenters wore shirts with photos of dogs that had, according to them, been improperly euthanized at the shelter.  

Their comments extended what is normally a 30-minute limit on public comment to around an hour. 

The group also presented a 25-page report that included a timeline on Animal Resource’s dealings with Emerald Shores Humane Society and backup emails detailing how dogs were euthanized earlier this year.  

County Manager Michele Lieberman said the investigation, done by an outside attorney, is continuing with employee depositions expected soon.  

Lieberman highlighted that the county is taking a serious look at Animal Resources, posting assistant managers at the shelter for supervision, hiring a veterinarian in the next month, looking at more staff and making improvements to the shelter building. The county also entered a plan with UF to build a new, $30 million shelter just south of the main campus.  

“We are in a very difficult position,” Lieberman said about the investigation. “The public wants answers, but some of the people with the most direct knowledge are the ones whose information is being discounted. So that makes the process more difficult and more time-consuming. 

Lieberman was referencing that the public commenters named Gina Peebles, county chief of staff and interim director of animal resources, and Brittany D’Azzo, animal resources shelter supervisor, as part of the problem. 

Lieberman said there’s been no direct evidence that would support sidelining these employees and said more oversight is now in place. She said the accusations are serious, but the investigation must remain focused on facts. Any employees accused also deserve fairness while the investigation happens, Lieberman said.  

Alachua County is currently interviewing finalists for its Animal Resources director position. The county has had three directors over the past five years.  

Lieberman said the county is conducting the search as it would a county manager search. The finalist will visit the shelter, talk with staff, be interviewed by the citizen-filled Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and have one-on-one interviews with county commissioners.  

“We have elevated this to a level unheard of for a department director because it is so important to you and to the community,” Lieberman told the BOCC.  

Commissioner Anna Prizzia and other commissioners assured the public that if any employees violated standard procedure or faked documentation, the BOCC would want to know and ensure those staffers no longer work for the county.  

Cornell added that the timeline from the citizens gave him additional questions for the staff. The first: why were Lilly and 50 Scent, dogs in the animal shelter, called back from their foster homes before being eventually euthanized? 

Archer Road rezoning 

The BOCC approved a rezoning and new land use for an 8-acre parcel off Archer Road, allowing the potential density to move from 64 units to 112 for the site.  

The project is one of several happening around the Tower Road and Archer Road intersection and the first to use the county’s affordable housing incentives to get extra units.  

Prizzia said it’ll be the first that will need to comply with the new land-use restriction agreement set up for the affordable housing process. She said she wants staff to keep in close contact with the developer to see how the process unfolds and what tools the developer might need. 

The agreement will set aside units for tenants who make 80% or less of the area’s median income. 

“It’s baby steps in the right direction,” Prizzia said. “It’s just a few units, but every unit helps.” 

The county report also notes that any development would be required to connect to the roadway stubs within the Park Lane development to the north and east, allowing more access than just Archer Road. 

Newnans Lake purchase 

The BOCC also signed off on the purchase of 55 acres with a small frontage on Newnans Lake. The purchase price was $549,400 with a 10% contingency approved by the commissioners.  

Closing is expected to take place in August 2026. 

The property is located within several environmental focus areas, including the East Side Newnans Lake Strategic Ecosystem, East Newnans Lake Alachua County Forever Project Area, Florida Wildlife Corridor and Orange Creek Basin Management Action Plan crediting area.