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

Annexed 9.16 acres for a Public Safety Training Center. The City Council approved the annexation of 9.16 acres of land located at 7384 U.S. Highway 280 W. The land was previously used by the State of Alabama for a rest area and is now owned by the City of Auburn. The City plans to build a Public Safety Training Center on the property that will give the City space to train recruits, provide continuing education for Fire and Police and host certification courses for regional training partners.

Authorized the purchase of equipment for Soccer Complex expansion. The council authorized the purchase of 11 Euro Club goals in varying sizes, 20 portable benches, three pairs of futsal quick goals and seven sets of corner flags for a total of $72,598.59. The new equipment will be used in the expansion of the Auburn Soccer Complex, a project that is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023. The project will include additional fields, a 56,000-square-foot enclosed soccer/multipurpose complex, a family pavilion with restrooms, pedestrian trails and an additional restroom on the south end of the park.

Approved a tax abatement for ADS-TEC Energy. A tax abatement was approved for an electric vehicle charging station manufacturer opening its first U.S. location in Auburn. The company, ADS-TEC Energy plans to invest $8 million and create about 180 jobs. The tax abatement includes non-educational ad valorem taxes and sales and use taxes on new taxes generated by the industry. Education, hospital and children’s home ad valorem and sales and use taxes are not abated.

The council also:

• Heard a presentation from City Finance Department staff members and a representative with the city attorney’s office regarding a proposed ordinance enabling a procedure to allow revocation of business licenses under certain circumstances. The council will consider the ordinance at its Jan. 17 meeting. More information and an FAQ regarding the proposal can be found in the Dec. 6 meeting ePacket at auburnalabama.org/agenda.
• Approved Blake Prestridge to serve on the Auburn City Schools Board of Education for an unexpired term that begins immediately and ends May 31, 2026. Prestridge will take the place of Terry Jenkins who recently resigned from the board.
• Approved the annexation and rezoning of 36.46 acres located on the north side of Shell Toomer Parkway between Automotive Boulevard and Canary Drive. The rezoning changed the property from Rural to Large Lot Residential District.

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 Jan. 3, 2023, in the Council Chamber, located at 141 N. Ross St. in the Public Safety Building at the corner of Ross Street and Magnolia Avenue.