Auburn council approves contracts, zoning and industrial conditional use; delays Historic Preservation appointments

The Auburn City Council on April 1 approved a series of contracts, land-use requests and roadway work, and reappointed Bonnie McElwain to the Auburn Public Library Board, while postponing Historic Preservation Commission appointments until its April 15 meeting.

The council reappointed Bonnie McElwain, who serves as chair of the Auburn Public Library Board, to another full term. Mayor Ron Anders said two incumbents for the Historic Preservation Commission had been unable to reapply because of “portal issues,” and the council agreed to receive their applications and consider those appointments at the April 15 meeting.

Council members approved several routine and project-specific contracts that city staff described as budgeted or previously planned. Approved items included a six-month landscape-maintenance contract with Cutting Edge Lawn Care for work at Exit 57; a $106,000 contract with Jacobs for a wastewater master plan update; and a purchase of one Ford Explorer for inspection services, listed at $39,000, for a new fire inspector. The council also approved a contract with Compton Contractors to install insulation at Boykin Gymnasium and a modification to a contract with Barge Design Solutions related to the Northwest lift station and force main project in the Water Resource Management Department.

The council approved an agreement with…