High Springs City Manager resigns, City begins replacement process

BY JESSE THOMAS FLETCHER

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. –  At the August 27 meeting, the High Springs City Commission unanimously approved a separation agreement under which City Manager Jeremy Marshall resigned effective immediately, ending the removal process that began after Commissioners placed him on paid administrative leave on July 23.

Under the one-page agreement, the City waived a provision requiring Marshall to give 90 days’ notice before resigning. Marshall will receive only his accrued paid time off on the next payroll, and both sides agreed to release all potential legal claims against the other. Marshall signed the agreement before the meeting.

Before accepting the agreement, Commissioner Tristan Grunder stated that he still believed Marshall deserved termination, but he supported the agreement to avoid continued salary payments and a possible lawsuit. “If we can just get this signed and get him gone, in my opinion, that is the best thing we can do tonight for the citizens of High Springs,” Grunder said.

The Commission voted 3-2 on Aug. 13 to delay Marshall’s formal removal and authorize settlement talks. 

Commissioners authorize free search consultant and name Applebee as Interim City Manager

After accepting Marshall’s resignation, the Commission unanimously authorized the City to request assistance from the Florida City and County Management Association. The association offers free consulting to help define City Manager qualifications and compensation, advertise the opening, review applicants, and assist with interviews for an interim or permanent manager.

The Commission also voted to raise Interim City Manager Jennifer Applebee’s annual pay to the City Manager position’s $97,000 base rate while she serves in the role. Commissioner Grunder argued that it was unfair to ask Applebee to carry the responsibilities of the Manager position without compensation. Applebee said she would serve as long as needed but hoped eventually to return to her role with Parks and Recreation.

Scrutiny of City spending

The meeting also brought scrutiny of City spending under the previous City Manager. Resident Sue Weller pointed to the consent agenda packet, which showed $111,585 in payments to accounting firm CKH Consulting between April 17, 2025, and July 16, 2026. Finance Director Leslie Moyer said the total was paid through multiple invoices, each below the $25,000 threshold requiring Commission approval. Mayor Andrew Miller asked that the City Manager’s budget authority be revised to prevent spending from being divided into smaller payments that do not individually require Commission approval.

Moyer said she is making process improvements and strengthening contract oversight, and she will bring back purchase orders in the future to set aside the full cost of each contract in advance. 

Commissioners later approved a new CKH agreement that expires when the fiscal year 2024-25 audit is completed. The agreement is capped at $10,000 in the City’s financial system, requires Commission approval for travel expenses, and designates Moyer to direct the consultants’ work.

Change orders approved for a wastewater-extension project

Commissioners also approved two change orders for a grant-funded wastewater-extension project. The changes cover an additional lift station and manhole, price increases caused by delays, and fencing around a lift station. The resolution also approved additional changes without another Commission vote if the total remains within the grant award.

NW 237th Street improvements

At the CRA meeting before the Commission meeting, the City Commission, acting as the CRA Board, unanimously directed staff to move proposed Northwest 237th Street improvements to the bidding stage. The upgrades include raised crosswalks, adjusted parking, new sod, sidewalk connections, and a landscaped island. Board members asked staff and GAI Consultants to review the island’s size, parking effects, bicycle racks, and utility work before construction.

The CRA Board also approved a $5,000 residential facade grant for Alice Brown’s replacement windows and received an update on a pilot program for the $20,000 “Springs Hopper” shuttle. CRA Manager Amy Bohannon said the shuttle has shifted to an on-demand model, has attracted business sponsorships, and is currently tracking ridership for a return-on-investment report after the pilot’s completion.