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 James Pavin for the FY25 roadway patch project. Mayor Anders described the project as “almost $300,000” and said it covers roadway cuts made during infrastructure work in the city.

On land-use and ordinance matters, the council adopted new parking restrictions at Gatewood Place and established restricted parking at McKinley Avenue and Alice Street. It approved a temporary construction-material laydown area at the Auburn Water Works Board for an eight-month period and approved a road-service use (a golf-cart sales business) at 453 Opelika Road. The council granted conditional-use approval for an industrial use at 2471 Innovation Drive for a new business identified in the meeting materials as DK Dynamics, and it approved subdivision amenity plans for the Tiger Crossett neighborhood that include a clubhouse and pool. The council also approved an expansion of a commercial development at 2240 East University Drive that will add two residential units above the commercial space.

Council members supported an application for an industrial road-access grant through the Auburn Industrial Development Board to be coordinated with the Alabama Department of Transportation. The council approved a temporary construction-material laydown area at Auburn Water Works Board for an eight-month project and a contract to install insulation at Boykin Gymnasium.

Mayor Anders also read a memorandum from Public Works Director Dan Ballard recognizing Patrick Slaughter of Public Works as employee of the month and listed several employee service awards and retirements. Those recognitions were presented as part of the meeting’s routine acknowledgments.

Votes at a glance - Reappointment: Bonnie McElwain, Auburn Public Library Board — approved; vote tally not specified in transcript. - Contract: Cutting Edge Lawn Care, landscape maintenance at Exit 57 (6 months) — approved; vote tally not specified. - Contract: Jacobs, wastewater master plan update, $106,000 — approved; vote tally not specified. - Purchase: Ford Explorer for inspection services, $39,000 — approved; vote tally not specified. - Contract: Compton Contractors, insulation at Boykin Gymnasium — approved; vote tally not specified. - Ordinance: No-parking zone, Gatewood Place — adopted; vote tally not specified. - Ordinance: Restricted parking, McKinley Avenue and Alice Street — adopted; vote tally not specified. - Temporary use: Construction material laydown area at Auburn Water Works Board (8 months) — approved; vote tally not specified. - Land use: Road-service (golf-cart sales) at 453 Opelika Road — approved; vote tally not specified. - Land use: Conditional use for industrial property at 2471 Innovation Drive (DK Dynamics) — approved; vote tally not specified. - Land use: Subdivision amenity for Tiger Crossett (clubhouse and pool) — approved; vote tally not specified. - Land use: Expansion of commercial development at 2240 East University Drive (adds two residential units) — approved; vote tally not specified. - Support: Industrial road-access grant application with ALDOT via Auburn Industrial Development Board — supported; vote tally not specified. - Contract modification: Barge Design Solutions, Northwest lift station and force main project — approved; vote tally not specified. - Contract: James Pavin, FY25 roadway patch project (nearly $300,000) — approved; vote tally not specified.

The council did not provide detailed vote counts or maker/second information in the meeting record provided. Mayor Ron Anders said the Historic Preservation Commission appointments were delayed because two incumbents had not been able to reapply and that their applications would be considered at the April 15 meeting.

The council packet and meeting materials contain diagrams and locations for the approved parking restrictions and additional project details; members of the public with questions were directed to the city manager’s office or their council representative.

The council meeting also included routine recognitions and mayoral announcements that were presented without formal council action.