Government

On Tuesday, Marion County's safety program became the most recent recipient of the annual Member Safety Award. This award recognizes the program's efforts to decrease preventable accidents across the county by bringing attention to the county’s safety needs and promoting participation in safe workplace practices.

The Evergreen Cemetery is in need of volunteers for a cleanup day that will take place on Saturday, May 21 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Throughout the month of May, Marion County will be celebrating Building Safety Month, a nationally recognized awareness effort that aims to promote the importance of strengthening, repairing, and modernizing buildings and infrastructure.

The City of Ocala is providing residents with a variety of options to view and participate in its city council meetings, which are held at 4 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).

The City of Ocala is seeking approval from council members to provide a nearly $295,000 payout to its former City Manager, Sandra Wilson. Her annual salary was over $239,000, and the proposed payout includes severance for 20 weeks of pay, administrative leave equal to 3 months of pay, and unused Extended Leave Bank and Paid Time Off hours.

During the month of March, Marion County Solid Waste Code Enforcement Officers managed 54 illegal dumping cases throughout the county and issued 3 civil fines of $68 each for “illegal dumping of waste weighing less than 15 pounds."

Ocala SW 80th Avenue LLC is seeking approval from Marion County officials to rezone a 132-acre property for the construction of 648 residential units, consisting of 408 single-family residences and 240 townhomes, in southwest Ocala.

Shortly after Ocala City Manager Sandra Wilson was fired by city council members in a 3-2 vote, Assistant City Manager Bill Kauffman made the announcement that he will be retiring on May 4.

During the Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved a program that will convert certain areas from septic systems to sewers to help preserve the local aquifer and other water resources.

Ocala City Manager Sandra Wilson was fired during the city council's regular meeting on Tuesday. Council members Barry Mansfield, Kristen Dreyer, and James Hilty voted in favor of the termination while Ire Bethea, Sr. and Jay Musleh were the dissenting votes.

Marion County is partnering with Televate, a technology consulting firm, to begin the Broadband Feasibility Study which will help determine areas where internet services are needed or could be improved throughout the county.

The City of Ocala is seeking approval of $1.75 million in grant funding for a wastewater system improvement project which would eventually remove over 160 septic tanks by making sanitary sewer service available.

The monthly Solid Waste Operations report for the month of February shows that over 128,000 pounds of litter were collected in Marion County.

On April 5, the City of Belleview Commission welcomed its newest commissioner, Ray Dwyer, and he will serve in that role until the next general election in November.

The month of April was proclaimed as “Water Conservation Month” by Marion County commissioners during their meeting on April 5. The county offers several rebates to eligible residents for the replacement of low-efficiency toilets and irrigation system improvements.

Marion County commissioners have recognized the week of April 10 to April 16 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to celebrate the emergency call takers, dispatchers, technicians, communications staff trainers, communications center personnel, and other public telecommunications staff who work to help citizens during emergencies.

Marion County commissioners have designated April as Fair Housing Act Month to highlight the Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, familial status, or disability.

Marion County commissioners are currently seeking a new facility for the Animal Services department, and two possible locations for the new facility include an area near NE 36th Avenue and a site near Coehadjoe Park.