AUBURN, Ala.- The Auburn City Council took the following actions at its July 5, 2022, meeting:

Elected candidates with no opposition. The City Council approved the election of candidates with no opposition in the 2022 Municipal Election. Those included Mayor Ron Anders, Mayor Pro Tem and Ward 3 Councilwoman Beth Witten and Ward 8 Councilman Tommy Dawson. State law requires the council adopt a resolution and issue a certificate of election to each candidate having no opposition, indicating that they are duly election to their respective positions. The new terms begin in November.

Passed the FY2023 and 2024 Biennial Budget. The council adopted the biennial budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2022, and ending Sept. 30, 2023, and the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024. The council reviewed the budget over the course of three work sessions that were open to the public during the month of June, and postponed the vote from the June 21 meeting in order to allow the council and public further time to review the proposed document. The council adopted the budget with one amendment that increases the amount of funding the City provides to outside agencies by approximately $70,000 per year.

Authorized a contract renewal for federal representation seeking funding for City projects. The council authorized the continuation of services from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, which will act as a representative for the City in identifying and seeking federal funding for various City projects. The contract is $9,000 a month, or $108,000 annually. Through such services last year, the City was able to secure a $3 million appropriation to fund an expansion of the Auburn Center for Developing Industries.

The council also:

• Approved the purchase of a cardboard compactor as well as a solid waste compactor to be used by customers located near the Municipal Parking Deck downtown. The cardboard compactor will replace a cardboard trailer that is insufficient for the cardboard recycling needs in this area and would centralize cardboard recycling in this part of downtown. The waste compactor will replace a leased compactor, allowing for on-time emptying and repair when needed. The costs of the two compactors is $39,767.55 and $52,685.69, respectively.
• Approved a conditional use for a gas station on the southwest corner of Shelton Mill Road and Highway 280, with the addition of added buffer and fencing between the development and the neighborhood to the south as well as the deduction of a connection between the development and the adjacent neighborhood.

Meeting minutes and a video of the meeting will be posted at auburnalabama.org/agenda. Mayor Ron Anders’ recap of the meeting will be posted @CityofAuburnAL on social media. The next regular council meeting will be held on July 19, 2022, in the Council Chamber, located at 141 N. Ross St. in the Public Safety Building at the corner of Ross Street and Magnolia Avenue.