Auburn council approves routine purchases, 10 easements and several zoning items

Mayor Ron Anders summarized actions taken by the Auburn City Council at its Oct. 21 meeting, saying the council approved a series of routine but budgeted contracts and equipment purchases and moved forward on several zoning items.

The council approved an agreement with Barge Design Solutions for fiscal-year 2026 sewer-collection-system modeling services for $75,000. Council members also approved multiple equipment purchases identified as budgeted items, including a Bobcat R2-series compact excavator (listed at $129,000 in the meeting summary); support renewal and licensing for Dell VxRail (described as “almost a $100,000” item); a submersible pump rental for the Choctawala pump station from Hydro Services for $54,000; a Toro Sandpro Enfield machine for Parks and Recreation; two Chevrolet Colorado crew-cab pickup trucks for the fire department and a Ford Transit cargo van for Parks and Recreation; 15 sets of Globe Apparel turnout gear for the fire department; a 700-gallon Pipe Hunter jet trailer for Public Works; and four Laser X Series zero-turn mowers purchased from University Ace Hardware. The meeting summary described these as operating or replacement purchases occurring in the first month of the fiscal year.

The council approved 10 easements; the meeting packet contains the legal descriptions and supporting documents, the mayor’s summary said. The council also approved an ordinance establishing a severe weather preparedness sales-tax holiday from Feb. 20 through Feb. 22; the list of qualifying items will be posted on the City of Auburn website and with the Alabama Department of Revenue.

On traffic controls, the council approved traffic-control signs and devices on Grove Hill Road near Ogletree Elementary School and the Lake Wilmore Community Center.

Under zoning and conditional uses, council members approved a performance-residential townhome development at 397 Martin Avenue and approved a single accessory dwelling unit at 415 North Ross Street. The council denied a requested performance-residential multiple-unit development at 613 and 615 Laverne Avenue. The council approved the Country Club Cottages multiple-unit development on the west side of Country Club Drive off Opelika Road. The council also approved an annexation identified as the Young annexation, described as approximately 43 acres on the north side of Lee Road 23, south of the Shawaka Ridge subdivision; the annexation was approved with a rural designation.

Votes and specific roll-call tallies were not included in the mayor’s summary provided to the public. The mayor’s summary directs readers to the full council packet for supporting documents and detailed vote records.

Votes at a glance: The council’s summary lists the following formal actions as approved unless otherwise noted: agreement with Barge Design Solutions for sewer modeling ($75,000); purchase of a Bobcat R2-series compact excavator (listed at $129,000 in the summary); Dell VxRail support renewal (approx. $100,000); submersible pump rental for Choctawala pump station ($54,000); Toro Sandpro Enfield machine; two Chevrolet Colorado crew-cab pickups and a Ford Transit cargo van; 15 sets of turnout gear; 700-gallon Pipe Hunter jet trailer; four Laser X Series zero-turn mowers; approval of 10 easements; ordinance creating a severe weather preparedness sales-tax holiday (Feb. 20–22); traffic-control signs on Grove Hill Road; Young annexation (approx. 43 acres, rural designation); approval of 397 Martin Avenue townhome performance-residential use; approval of single ADU at 415 North Ross Street; denial of multiple-unit use at 613–615 Laverne Avenue; approval of Country Club Cottages multiple-unit performance residential development.

Questions about specific agenda items, purchase orders or vote tallies were directed to the city council office or found in the meeting packet.