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Alachua County commissioners approve six‑month perimeter air monitoring around Florence Landfill
Summary
After a staff recommendation, the board voted to rent three perimeter air monitors plus a background unit for six months to measure particulate matter and hydrogen sulfide; staff estimated a single‑unit six‑month rental at about $41,608 and said data would be shared with DEP and posted publicly.
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners voted to rent perimeter air-monitoring equipment to test for particulate matter and hydrogen sulfide around the Florence Construction and Demolition Landfill, approving an initial six‑month assessment with three monitoring units plus a background monitor.
The motion, moved by Commissioner Prizia and seconded by another commissioner, directs staff to contract for the monitoring and return any required agreements to the board for approval. Chair (speaker 1) called for a voice vote; the motion carried.
Staff recommended rental monitors rather than purchase to keep initial costs lower and to include contractor operation and maintenance. "A single unit for six months, you'd be looking at, an estimated $41,608 not counting any local access costs," said Chris Gilbert, Hazardous Materials Program Manager for the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department.
Gilbert and Steve Hostetter of the county environmental department outlined two core options: a single high-frequency unit or a multi‑unit array that would enable triangulation to better locate a source. "With three units ... and the weather data, you can triangulate to where any hits that are detected are coming from," Gilbert said. Staff said monitors could sample every 15 to 30 minutes and recommended the three‑unit configuration for source identification.
Several commissioners and county staff emphasized the monitoring is intended to generate actionable data the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) can use. "That data then would be referred to the Department of Environmental Protection," Gilbert said, adding the DEP holds regulatory authority over the landfill’s permit.
During discussion commissioners asked about additional analytes such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, and whether the county could add those later. Gilbert said additional analyses could be added through the consulting contract but would raise costs.
Public commenters urged quick deployment and expressed support for the three‑unit approach. "I am in favor of scenario C ... it is covering what we've been predominantly speaking about as the particulate matter and hydrogen sulfide gas," said Susan Michael Morris, a neighbor of the landfill.
County attorney staff warned the purchase or rental will require a contract and license agreements for sites that host the monitors, and that the agreement likely exceeds the manager’s signature authority. Commissioners directed staff to proceed with procurement, return contract documents for approval, and post monitoring data and groundwater graphs on the county website when available.
The board’s action is an initial assessment; commissioners said they would reassess monitoring scope after six months and may add analytes or extend the sampling period if warranted.
