AUBURN, Ala.- The Auburn City Council took the following actions at its first meeting of the new year:

Approved a public safety training tower. The City Council approved a contract with WHP Trainingtowers for the design, build and installation of a multi-story training tower at a cost of $347,903. The tower will be the first of several large-scale components at the Public Safety Training Center, which will be located at 7384 U.S. Highway 280 W. The tower will provide required training for both the Auburn Fire and Auburn Police departments' needs.

Heard a report on expenditures from the Rebuild Alabama Act. The council received and heard a report on expenditures from the Rebuild Alabama Act. The act’s gasoline tax provides infrastructure funding to the City and requires an annual reporting of how funds were expended. The council previously approved the 2022 transportation plan with details of how the revenues would be utilized. The City received $468,837.25 in gas tax revenues, which helped fund a portion of the cost of both the Renew Opelika Road Phase 4 and the Cox Road/Wire Road Roundabout projects.

Approved a license agreement for a new downtown tenant, Staks Pancake Kitchen. The council approved a grant of license for airspace with MT 25:35, LLC for mechanical equipment encroachment into airspace over property owned by the City of Auburn in downtown. A new tenant, Staks Pancake Kitchen, is working to occupy the former Fusion restaurant space at 145 E. Magnolia Ave., and the license was requested to allow for an upgraded exhaust system on the back of the Magnolia Plaza building adjacent to the Gay Street Parking Deck. Staff continues to work with the owner of the proposed new business to include an exhaust installation that is least intrusive to the public area.

The council also:

• Approved the purchase of an F-250 truck for the Parks and Recreation Department in the amount of $66,502. The purchase of this vehicle was previously approved, but the manufacturer canceled the previous order. The vehicle will be used for Parks and Recreation operations as a means to tow larger trailers and equipment.
• Appointed Laticia Khalif and Frost Rollins to the Board of Zoning Adjustment. A vacancy remains for the supernumerary position within the board. Those interested in applying can do so at auburnalabama.org/boards. An appointment will be made at the Jan. 17 meeting.

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. 17, 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.