FAQs

AMI

How do I use my AMI Portal?

You can follow a step-by-step guide on using your new AMI portal here: https://www.newberryfl.gov/ami/page/using-your-ami-portal

How do the new meters work?

Your new meters will be equipped to communicate with the City of Newberry. Your usage data will be sent over a secure private network, accessible only through your online portal. 

What will the AMI system change about my utility bill?

We can not change the cost of your utilities, but it will provide insights about your utility usage. If you’d like to lower your bill, you’ll be able to do so by seeing what days and times you’re using the most electricity and water. By connecting the detailed usage information to your habits, you can understand what’s contributing to your bill and more effectively adjust your usage to lower costs.

Why is Newberry changing their utility meter system?

Upgrading the system allows us to provide insights to residents that can help them lower their bills and conserve energy. Replacing the older meters allows us to access readings without sending someone out into the field. AMI systems are becoming a more common way for tracking and reporting utility usage. These systems are already present in Florida cities such as Ocala, Lakeland, and Orlando.

Will I lose electrical service during the installation?

Yes, for a few minutes.  You will need to reset electronic clocks and some other devices.

Will the City notify me prior to installation?

Yes.  We will be sending out installation schedules through a variety of methods. General schedules will be posted online. Customer will also receive a post card in the mail 2-4 weeks prior to their install letting them know the installers will be in their area soon.

Will this affect my utility bill?

If you had a faulty meter that wasn't reporting your usage correctly, you might see an increase in your bill that reflects the more accurate reading. If you have a concern about an increase in your consumption, you can use the new tools available through the portal to investigate. If you need assistance please call us at 352-472-2161 ext 1.

How does AMI benefit me?

The meter upgrade provides our residents with numerous benefits and will allow us to expand some value-added services in the future.  The new meters will help us:

  • Offer more billing options
  • Save money by eliminating the labor and transportation costs of in-person meter reading – savings we pass on to our customers
  • Improve billing accuracy, eliminating misreads or inaccurate readings
  • Pinpoint the exact location of outages more quickly, meaning a faster response time
  • Help customers troubleshoot high-bill problems by providing information about power consumption patterns, outage and blink count history, and voltage information - reducing usage questions
What are Advanced Metering Infrastructure Systems?

Advanced Metering Infrastructure systems are a modern solution to reading information from utility meters scattered across the city.

Instead of sending an employee out to read your meter once a month, we're upgrading your meter to a communicating smart meter. Usage data will be automatically transmitted to the city over a secure private network, and we'll provide that information to you online! This system ensures accurate readings, quicker response times to leaks and power outages, and hour hour-by-hour usage information to help you lower your electric and water consumption. 

Have more questions about AMI? Please email them to us at Service@NewberryFL.gov 

Do I have a choice in getting a new meter?

No. New meters will be installed on all accounts. The City is embarking on a system-wide program that will change 100 percent of existing residential and commercial meters to acquire more accurate information, without the need to enter a customer's property.

At this time, if customers have a question about their energy usage, the City must send operation personnel to the owner’s property to re-read the meter. With the new system, customer service representatives can access the meter information and obtain the reading almost instantaneously.

The new system will give you hourly meter readings, instead of monthly readings. Other features of the new system will provide new data that will enable us to monitor the system better and correct inefficiencies.

What’s the difference between the new meters and the previous meters?

The new enhanced meters can store and transmit more data than the previous meters, allowing the City to help customers get a better understanding of their hourly energy and water use. In the event of an outage, meters that lose power will send a signal relaying the outage information back to the City, allowing us to better pinpoint outages and decrease outage restoration times.

Billing & Customer Service

How much is the utility deposit?

The deposit for a single-family residence varies depending on the size of the meter at the location as well as other considerations. Customers may have their deposit waived partially or entirely based on credit and previous payment history. Please call our Customer Service at 352-472-2161 ext 1 for the exact deposit amount for the location in question.

Where are you located?

We are located in City Hall at 25440 West Newberry Road, Newberry FL 32669.

What are your hours of operation?

Office:7:30 - 5:30 (M-Th)
Drive-Thru:7:30-6 (M-Th)
24-hour by phone

What address should I mail a letter or payment to?

Mail your payment to :

25440 West Newberry Road

Attn: Customer Service

Newberry, FL 32669

How do I apply for utility service? Terminate my utility account?

Contact a Customer Service Representative at 352-472-2161 ext 1 or visit us at City Hall.

What utilities are provided by the City of Newberry?

Potable water, sanitary sewer, garbage container and pick-up, storm water (run off from water drainage systems), recycling programs, electric service, and mosquito control.

When is my utility bill due?

Your due date is listed in the bottom right hand corner of your utility bill on the stub.

What is the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)?

The Power Cost Adjustment is a separate line item on each electric bill which reflects the increases/decreases in the City’s cost of power purchased wholesale. The fluctuation in the Power Cost Adjustment is largely caused by changes in the cost of fuel for generation.The City's cost of wholesale power is now more than 70 percent of the total electric system expenses, so it's critical that the City makes sure that it recovers all of its wholesale power costs in its retail sales. The cost is collected from customers through the energy charge and the Power Cost Adjustment.

Presently 7.650 cents per kWh is included in the base rate for the cost of wholesale power. When the cost of power is greater than the amount included in the base rate, the Power Cost Adjustment is a charge.

In months that the power cost is lower the City moves excess funds into the Rate Stablization Fund which helps keeps the total cost for electricity more level throughout the year even when fuel and power costs may flacutate. This helps our customers not feel the drastic changes.

 

Cemetery

How do I purchase a site?

Call the Public Works Office at 352-472-8149 or 352-472-1537 or visit the office during regular business hours. 

  • It is recommended you schedule an appointment to avoid excessive waiting. Appointments are generally scheduled between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday. These times may vary depending on the current funeral schedule. Fees are outlined in the Cemetery Fee section of this Manual.
  • Purchasing the certificate of burial sites and funeral notices cannot be done on weekends or City designated holidays.
  • Burial rights may also be purchased for future needs (pre-need). A site may be secured by purchasing it in full.

 

Purchasing a Certificate of Burial Right

The purchase of the certificate of burial right and all applicable burial costs must be paid in full prior to the funeral service. The City of Newberry cemetery requires 48-hour notice for all pending funeral services. This 48-hour notice must be given during regular business hours. 

  • Select burial site at Public Works office.
  • Buyer will need to provide: Name and address of person purchasing the site(s)
  • City will provide the cemetery city ordinance and cemetery policy to the owner of burial right.
  • City will provide a copy of Granting Permission for Burial, which must be paid immediately at Public Works office, City Hall or Finance Department.
  • When said payment was made in full, City must update the cemetery database.
  • Owners will be issued a Certificate of Burial Rights.

Payments can be made by the following options.

  • By mail, (personal check, cashier’s check, official check along with a copy of Certificate of Burial Right).
  • In person at Public Works office (personal check, cashier’s check, official check, cash, debit or credit card)
    • Note: Payment made by debit or credit card will be charged additional card processing fee
       
How much is a cemetery site?

Cemetery Site Fees

1 Site Purchase | $600.00

4 Sites Purchase | $2,100.00

8 Sites Purchase | $3,600.00

The Fee and Fine Schedule Resolution is adopted yearly by the Commission and subject to change. Other fees, charges, and rates exist in the City’s Code of Ordinances. State and local sales taxes will be charged as appropriate. For more fees regarding the Cemetery please contact the Office.

 

How do I properly clean a monument?

Precautions:

  • Ensure the stone is stable, secure, level and that all sections are securely attached to each other, also check that the stone is not in danger of falling if you put pressure on it.
  • If the weather is hot and the stone surface is hot to the bare had, do not put cool water on it. It may cause stress cracks in the stone. Cover the stone to cool it or let the water warm in the sun before using it.
  • Do not clean the stone if there is any chance of freezing temperatures. Water will get into cracks and freeze. Water expands when frozen and may crack the stone.
  • Do not attempt to clean a broken headstone.
  • Make sure you have enough water to thoroughly clean and then rinse the stone several times. Leave no residue from the cleaning agent on the stone as it could cause permanent streaking.
  • NEVER use household cleaners, bleach, metal tools, scouring pads, wire brushes, power tools, pressure washer or nyalox brushes. The cleaning products with Alkyl are not the products we can recommend.

Inspection:

Check for delamination of the stone, this is where layers of the stone begin to separate. Lightly tap on the stone with your knuckle or other soft object. If you hear a “hollow” sound, the stone is probably delamination. Do not attempt to clean. This should be left to a professional stone conservator or preservationist.

  • Check for stress cracks. Thoroughly wet the stone with water. Observe it while it is drying. Stress cracks will show up as wet “streaks” because the water has entered the crack and will take longer to dry than the surface water. If the stress cracks are wide or severe, leave this stone to the professionals.
  • Check to see if biological growth has cracked the stone. The growth must be carefully removed, and the stone repaired before cleaning. Material at the cracked edges is very fragile and will chip off even gentle cleaning.

Basic Cleaning Procedure:

  • Soak the stone with water and wait a few minutes. Gently remove loose materials from the surface. Once saturated, the lichens and moss on the stone will loosen and can be removed easily with a plastic scraper or wooden spatula. This helps remove the big particles so you will not be rubbing them back into the stone. Rinse thoroughly.
  • Clean the wet stone with a wet brush by making random circular motion and rinsing frequently to remove dirt and biological growth. Always be as gentle as possible. Keep both the brush and the stone wet at all times while cleaning. Be sure to clean the entire stone. Normally, clean water and soft scrubbing will remove the dirt and grime. If not, use one of the recommended cleaning agents from the materials’ list below. Be sure to rinse often and thoroughly.•

Removal of Biological Staining.

Lichens, moss, mold and other biological growth, especially bird droppings can cause severe damage and staining to headstones and markers. D/2, a non-toxic biological kill and deters biological growth.

  • Rinse thoroughly. You may have to apply more D/2 to certain areas. Even if the stain is not removed after D/2 has set on the stone, been scrubbed in and rinsed, have faith it will continue to work for weeks, working its way into the pores killing biological growth that may have grown inside the stone. Don’t be surprised if certain areas of the stone change color. That is the D/2 working, this is normal, and the stone will return to its usual color in a few days. Mud, dirt, and other dry or easily removable substances may be removed y gently using a dry nylon brush. Or add some water so you can clean the stone better and be able to rinse away the loosened debris.
  • Soak the stone and while it is set, spray the stone with D/2. Wait 10 – 15 minutes and using your brushes scrub the D/2 into the stone with special emphasis on areas that have been stained.

Orvus is a sodium lauryl sulfate. It is completely biodegradable, non-ionic, and does not contain phosphates. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a “surfactant” – it removes stains and residues that are oily, so it’s found as an ingredient in sites of surface cleaners. It is versatile stuff and is used to clean vintage textiles, linens, needlework, and quilts. All things very prone to delicate dies and fibers that must be treated very gently. Orvus paste is very concentrated so it does not take much to clean with. There are several ways to use Orvus Paste, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them. They are simply a matter of preference.

 

City Elections

How do I register to vote?

To register to vote you can

  • Register to vote or update your voter information online. After completing your application, print it out and sign the application form and mail your signed voter registration application form to the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office at 515 North Main Street, Suite 300, Gainesville, Florida 32601
  • Register in person by visiting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office at 515 North Main Street, Suite 300, Gainesville, Florida 32601
  • Register at a Florida DMV agency, an Alachua Library Branch, the Social Security Administration Office, or when applying for service with a public assistance agency or one which serves people with disabilities.
  • Call the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office at 352-374-5252.

You may register to vote at anytime. However, to be eligible to vote in an election, you must be registered to vote in the State of Florida 29 days prior to that election. 

How do I run for Office of the Mayor or Commission?

Prior to opening a campaign bank account, accepting, or spending any money towards a campaign, candidates for municipal office must file Form DS-DE9 with the City Clerk! 

Any citizen interested in running for office should contact the City Clerk. To file or qualify as a candidate for the City of Newberry you must 

  • Be a registered voter of the City of Newberry and the State of Florida for at least 6 months prior to the date of qualifying.
  • Have lived within the corporate limits of the City of Newberry for at least 6 months prior to the date of qualifying.
  • Pay qualifying fee of one percent of the annual salary of the office sought as required by F.S. § 99.093 and a filing fee, the amount of which shall be set by resolution.

Per City of Newberry Charter Article III Sec 8, City of Newberry Charter Article IV Sec 11, and Ordinance 2019-29

 

Can I vote in the City of Newberry Municipal Election?

To vote in City of Newberry elections residents must be registered to vote with the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections and live in the City of Newberry. 

The voter registration book closing date is 29 days prior to Election Day. Residents must be registered to vote by this date. Residents who are already registered to vote are encouraged to verify and, if needed, update their registration by visiting www.RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov or contacting the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections office. For additional voting information or registration, questions visit www.VoteAlachua.com.

If you are unsure if you live within the incorporated City of Newberry, please search for your residence address here. The second line will show "This parcel is in the city of Newberry" or "This parcel is in unincorporated Alachua County." A mailing address of "Newberry, FL, 32669" does not indicate whether you live within the City of Newberry. If you have any questions, please call us at 352-472-2446.

How do I request a Vote-by-Mail ballot?

You may request a Vote-by-Mail ballot by

  • Calling the City Clerk's Office at 352-472-2446
How do I request a Vote-By-Mail ballot for another voter?

Only a designated member of a voter's immediate family (or a legal guardian) can request a Vote-By-Mail ballot for that voter and they may do so only if directly instructed by the voter.

Immediate family means the voter's spouse or the parent, child, grandparent or sibling of either the voter or the voter's spouse.

Requests must include:

  • the voter's name
  • the voter's current legal residence address (no post office boxes)
  • the voter's date of birth
  • the voter's signature (mail requests only)
  • the requestor's name
  • the requestor's address
  • the requestor's driver license number (if available)
  • the requestor's relationship to the voter
What do I bring with me to vote?

You are required to present picture and signature identification before voting. You may use two forms of identification to meet this requirement. If you do not present proper identification, you must vote a provisional ballot.

The following forms of photo identification are accepted at the polls:

  • Florida Driver's License
  • Florida ID Card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • United States Passport
  • Debit or Credit Card
  • Military ID
  • Student ID
  • Retirement Center ID
  • Neighborhood Association ID
  • Public Assistance ID (Social Security or other social services)
  • Veteran Health ID issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • A license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to S. 790.06.
  • Employee ID issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, the state, a county, or a municipality.

According to Florida Statute 101.043, the above forms of identification shall be considered current and valid if they contain the name and photograph of the applicant and have not expired.

How important is my signature when voting by mail?

A vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and not be counted if the signature on the voter’s certificate does not match the signature on record.

  • The signature on file with the Supervisor of Elections when the Clerk's Office receives your vote-by-mail ballot is the signature that will be used to verify your signature on the voter’s certificate.
  • If you need to update your signature for this election, send your signature update on a voter registration application to Alachua County Supervisor of Elections so that it is received before your vote-by-mail ballot is received.
  • If your ballot envelope was returned to us without your signature, or if the signature on the ballot does not match the one we have on file, this error can be corrected. If that happens, you must fill out the Vote-by-Mail cure affidavit to correct it and return to the Clerk's Office with a valid picture ID before 5 p.m. on the Thursday after election day.

Hydrant Flushing

Does the City test the water regularly? Is the testing done at various sites?

The City of Newberry regularly tests the water leaving the water plant and throughout the water system, following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection protocols.  Many tests are also completed around the clock during the water treatment process. 

How come my water is discolored, but my neighbor didn’t notice my discoloration?

Discolored water may enter your plumbing if the water inside a home or business is turned on while hydrant flushing is going on.  If neighbors do not use water during the day, they will most likely not notice any discoloration. 

I live on the west side and the City is flushing hydrants on the east side. How come my water is discolored?

Sometimes residents who live beyond the limits of the area where hydrant flushing is currently being performed may notice rust-colored water.  This can occur because the opening of a hydrant can cause water to run in the opposite direction than normal.  

My water is discolored. What should I do?

Wait until flushing has subsided in your area, then run a cold water tap until the water runs clear. 

Remember, rust-colored water is safe, but it may stain laundry.  If this happens, keep clothes wet and treat them with stain remover.

If you notice the water flushing crew is near your property, refrain from using water, and delay washing clothes as much as possible.
 
 

Why is my water rust/tea-colored from the hydrant flushing? Is the water safe?

Sometimes hydrant flushing can make the water temporarily appear rust-colored because the iron and other mineral deposits in the water mains get stirred up.  There is no health hazard associated with discolored water.  Water is safe to use and consume during hydrant flushing, however it may stain laundry.

Why does the City perform hydrant flushing?

Hydrant flushing is the quick release of water from fire hydrants.  It’s a controlled procedure that is vital to the general maintenance of the City’s water distribution system.  It ensures adequate water flow is available to firefighters, residents, and businesses.  It also improves water quality by clearing iron and other mineral deposits from the water mains.

What are the effects of hydrant flushing?

Hydrant flushing helps ensure water quality and helps avoid random bouts of rusty water if there is a high water demand caused by a major firefighting effort or water main break.

During the flushing of a hydrant, some customers may notice reduced water pressure and flow.

Mosquito Control

What are the types of mosquito-borne diseases?

* Zika Virus

* West Nile virus (WNV)

* Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV)

* St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV)

* Dengue virus (DENV)

* Chikungunya virus (CHIKV)

* California encephalitis group viruses (CEV)

* Malaria

* Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

* Yellow Fever Virus (YFV)

Right-of-Way

How do I find out about a right of way permit?

Please call the office at 352-472-2161 Ext. 2 to request the permit application or the current right of way manual.

What is a right of way?
  • The right of way is the area of land that coincides with all city-maintained streets.
  • This area includes the street and the tracts of land on either side of the street, generally a distance of 10″ to 12″ leading away from the back edge of the street or curb.
  • The city holds rights to these areas to control the work done on and near the streets and utilities.
  • The right of way is property controlled by the city for the use of the public as a way for traffic to travel. Traffic can mean vehicles or pedestrians.
  • The right of way is the street, sidewalk, curb and gutter, alley, and/or lawns and landscaping. Note that the right of way is not just the paved portion but also the entire width from private property line to private property line.
When do I need a right of way permit?

Where a right of way permit is required

  • A right of way use permit is required for the new installation or major modification of existing overhead or underground gas lines, water lines, electric lines, cable television lines, telephone line, sewer lines, drain lines or any other utility whether investor or government owned.
  • A permit is required for all underground installations and all above ground and aerial installations.
    • The extension of a water main, gas main, electrical conductor, telephone cable, TV cable, or any other utility or proposed use within City of Newberry right of way to serve previously unserved areas.
    • Attaching any utility to a City of Newberry structure.
    • When it is necessary to cross a City of Newberry right-of-way (including the installation of a residential or commercial driveway).
    • When major maintenance of existing facilities is required.

Work or activities in the right of way including but not limited to maintenance or repair of permitted existing facility, new construction, installation or repair of an underground utility, installation of planters, retaining walls, mailbox, newspaper box, irrigation system, landscaping or placing a construction waster container, etc. This permit lets the city know what work is being done and provides a way for it to monitor, coordinate, and inspect every aspect of the work.

A Permit is not required if:

  •  Any routine or normal maintenance work to existing facilities; overhead or underground.
  • Any facility added in existing line, pedestal, valve, pump, pull box, transformer, and capacitor.
  • Any emergency work.
  • Placement of a stub pole.
  • Placing a pole within an existing pole line.
  • Private or area light installations.

Per state law a utility locate must be obtained before work is performed in right of way regardless if a permit is required or not.

Who applies for a right of way permit?

Subject to the satisfaction of and compliance with requirements contained herein, a right- of-way use permit may be issued to the following:

  • Investor or government owned utilities that will be servicing the permitted facilities
  • Contractors responsible for the installation of any utility facility or structure subject to this guide, but only when acting as authorized agent for an entity shown in A above;
  • Private citizens, corporations or organizations with a reasonable, and legitimate purpose in using the right-of-way, which purpose poses no threat or danger to the public health, safety or welfare.
Once I have the right of way permit, is there anything else?

All work in the right of way must be inspected. Please call 352-472-2161 24hrs prior to start of work and upon completion of work.

Search Tips and Tricks

Do the search results include the contents of PDFs and other documents?

Yes.  The website indexes web pages as well as PDFs, Microsoft Office documents, and text documents.

If I search for a phrase (e.g. alarm permit), will the results only show exact matches?

No.  By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase.  In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.

In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations.  The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.

Can I exclude a word from a search (e.g. all pages that have the word "alarm" but not the word "permit"?

Yes.   You can exclude words by using the minus sign (-).   In order to find the results of all pages that have alarm in the result but not permit, you would search for alarm -permit.

Streets and Roads

How do I report a pothole or request city road grading?

Fill out the report a roadway or street issues form or call 352-472-8149.

How do I report traffic light issues in Newberry?

Call City of Newberry 352-472-2161 or City of Gainesville 352-393-8155 for the non-emergency contact 352-955-1818

Traffic signals are controlled by City of Gainesville Traffic Operations.

How do I report a possible sinkhole?

For sinkholes on City right-of-way or roads please call 352-472-2161.

Sinkholes on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The property owner can hire an inspector who is a licensed professional geologist to evaluate the situation.

For more information please visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection FAQ page.

You may also report newly observed sinkholes to the Alachua County Natural Resources staff at 325-264-6800 or fill out thier online form.

If there is a risk of physical harm, please call your local law enforcement agency. 

 

How do I report streetlight issues for Alachua County streets?

Fill out the Report an Issue page on Alachua County's website.

How do I report streetlight issues for Gilchrist County Streets?

Contact Duke Energy 1-800-228-8485 

Emergencies after normal business hours, please contact Gilchrist County Sheriff Office at 352-463-3410

 

How do I report street light issues for a State Road?

Call the local Florida Department of Transportation office at 352-381-4300 or visit the FDOT Customer Service Portal.