AUBURN, Ala.- The Auburn City Council took the following actions at its second November meeting:

Approved a contract for renovations to the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. The council approved a contract of $4.6 million for renovations and additions to the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. The center will receive a partial renovation to meet ADA regulations and reconfigure offices and storage areas. An additional 10,000 square foot facility will include a multi-purpose room, dance studio and ceramics studio. Moving the ceramics studio from Dean Road Recreation Center to Jan Dempsey will free up space for therapeutics programming at Dean Road.

Approved a contract to collect aerial photography of the city. The council approved a professional services agreement to collect aerial photography of the city, which provides Auburn with geographical data used to produce elevation models, hydrography, building footprints and street layouts. The aerial photography is used extensively to locate, identify and measure assets to aid in the City’s growth, infrastructure and Public Safety efforts. The city’s goal is to conduct an aerial photography project at least every three years, and it has been three years since the last project.

Authorized the distribution of ARPA funds to East Alabama Health. The City Council approved allocating $3.3 million of American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to East Alabama Healthcare Authority (EAH). During the COVID-19 pandemic, EAH hired contract medical staff due to staffing shortages and challenges in the healthcare industry in response to the pandemic. Contract staffing has cost EAH an estimated $15 million since March 3, 2021. EAH requested $3.3 million, or 20% of the City’s SLFRF which will assist EAH in offsetting a large amount of unreimbursed contract staff expenses. This percentage is in line with other neighboring communities providing recovering funds to EAH.

The council also:

• Announced a vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The term begins Dec. 21, 2022 and ends Nov. 30, 2026. An appointment will be made on Dec. 20. Those interested may apply online at auburnalabama.org/boards.
• Approved the purchase of 624 carts for garbage collection as well as 624 recycling carts for a total cost of $78,903.04. The carts will be used as replacements for carts damaged beyond repair as well as for new residences.

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 Dec. 6, 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.