5A – Identifying Local Opportunities

1) The title of the article: County looks into designating truck route: Front Page and 10A

The link to the article.: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/02/84/22/01623/04-10-2019.pdf

A description of the story, in your own words: Live Oak is a small town in the North Florida that is placed just south of I-10. I-10 actually curves around Live Oak and adds about 15 minutes to the commute passing through the area. Its geographic position means that traffic could passthrough Live Oak’s main roads US-129 and US-90 to save time and to avoid 2 agriculture check points. This new ordinance isn’t for allowing traffic on these roads but is actually for allowing traffic on a similar bypass road in the county.

A description of the problem presented in the story: According to the city, who opposes traffic along the city center, The increase in commercial traffic would be dangerous and bad for businesses. The ordnance in question could “snowball” and “open the gates” for more rules in favor of commercial traffic near the city. Commercial trucking business owners, agriculture businesses and large companies are in favor of opening the city to commercial trucking because it would decrease transportation costs.

A description of who has the problem: Small business along the city centers wants less commercial traffic. Commercial trucking business owners wants to decrease their transportation costs. Residents don’t want the increased traffic and noise. 

2) The title of the article: Rail crossing replacement postponed

The link to the article.: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/02/84/22/01621/03-27-2019.pdf

A description of the story, in your own words: The rail crossing on 129 needs to be replaced and has been postponed by the city multiple time. The city has struggled with he new crossing since 2007 crossing wasn’t don’t correcting and has resulted in many accidents.

A description of the problem presented in the story: The crossing is a hazard and creates a dangerous hill that many vehicles stall on, and is very close to the city center.  The city hasn’t mad eimprovements to the crossing because they feel the mistake should be paid for by the CSX rail company. The CSX company doesn’t feel responsible.

A description of who has the problem: Citizens of the community have the problem because everyone passes through that intersection. The intersection is very close to a busy intersection and frequently the intersections over flows over the tracks and becomes dangerous.

3) The title of the article: Council votes to raise Helvenston speed limit

The link to the article. http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/02/84/22/01620/03-20-2019.pdf

A description of the story, in your own words:  Helvenston is a principle residential street in live oak Florida. The use of this road is critical to navigating the city. For many years the residents of the city have seen this roadways as a speed trap that creates income for the city. This is very common in small rural cities with much thru traffic.  

A description of the problem presented in the story: . For many years the residents of the city have seen this roadway as a speed trap that creates income for the city. This is very common in small rural cities with much thru traffic.  Situations like these creates distrust in the police department and creates a more dangerous environment for traffic enforcement.

A description of who has the problem: Citizens of the community have the problem because everyone use that roadway to leave town. The police have this problem because trust in the police is a concern for law enforcement.

4) The title of the article: NFCC officials discuss plan for Live Oak location

The link to the article.: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/02/84/22/01618/03-06-2019.pdf

A description of the story, in your own words: NFCC is a local community college in Madison county Florida. They have always been a favorite for the local community and have the highest attendance rate from the local high school.

A description of the problem presented in the story: NFCC would like to open a branch in Live Oak. This would create new competition between the other local college like Hamilton Tech and FGC.

A description of who has the problem: The community is not large enough to properly support multiple colleges so some of these schools must close. NFCC is the largest and poseses the most funding, Hamilton Tech has an vocational agreement with the high school and has a fixed market. I think FGC has the most to lose.

5) The title of the article: BOCC votes to demolish Douglass Center buildings

The link to the article.: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/02/84/22/01617/02-27-2019.pdf

A description of the story, in your own words: The Douglas center is a series of abandoned building that were once a high school for the community. They haven’t been demolished for years because of the nostalgic sentiment for many in the community.

A description of the problem presented in the story: The community has decided to keep these buildings many times, but they are unsafe and hold not value. Recently they have become a liability as homeless people have started squatting in the buildings.

A description of who has the problem: The near-by residents to these building need to have these building removed. They are causing decrease in property values. The homeless living in them will need new places to stay.