Auburn council approves park master plan, land sale, road and lighting contracts and public-safety software

The Auburn City Council on May 6 approved a suite of contracts and land actions including a Richmond Park master-plan agreement, a 15.6-acre sale for Tech Park infrastructure, an ALDOT engineering and construction contract for traffic cameras along I-85, and other transportation and parks-related amendments, Mayor Ron Anders said.

Council approved a master agreement with the Foresight Group to begin planning and parks-and-recreation development at the city-owned Richmond Park, a roughly 60-acre site accessible off Richmond Road where Will Beechner Parkway intersects Richmond Road. "We're very excited about the potentiality for this," Mayor Ron Anders said.

The council also concurred with the sale of 15.6 acres to Dixie Electric Cooperative for the Tech Park to enable the utility to build infrastructure to serve customers in that area. In a separate resolution, the council approved a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation for engineering and construction related to traffic cameras on I-85 between Exit 50 and Exit 58. Anders credited U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers with securing a $1 million grant for the city; the city—s required match is $250,000. "This will make I 85 much more safe, on these, key corridors and these key exits to the city of Auburn," Anders said.

Other approvals included an $88,000 amendment to work with Cadre Engineering for the North Donahue widening project from Shug Jordan Parkway to Saugahatchee Creek, a purchase of LED lights from Musco Sports Lighting for the Yarborough Tennis Center at a little over $300,000 (with Auburn University expected to pay most of the cost and the city covering the balance), and a contract with Tyler Technologies for enterprise public-safety software to serve the police, fire and emergency communications departments.

Council did not provide vote tallies in the mayor—s summary. The mayor indicated these items were acted on during the regular meeting under contracts and resolutions. The agreements advance multiple capital and operational projects across parks, transportation, public safety and economic development.

The Richmond Park master plan and the Tech Park land sale are intended to shape future development and infrastructure; work on roadway widening, traffic cameras and lighting is aimed at transportation safety and capacity. The city—s packet materials contain project descriptions, scopes and contract amounts referenced by Anders.