The following articles appeared in the September 2023 print edition of Open Line.

Combatting Litter: Being part of the solution, not the problem.

#DYK there are 50 billion pieces of litter on the ground in the U.S.? According to a 2020 study by Keep America Beautiful, there are 24 billion pieces of litter along roadways and 26 billion along waterways. That means if everyone in the U.S. picked up 152 pieces of litter, we'd be litter free until someone littered again.

The City conducts litter patrols six days a week, cleaning an average of 20 miles of roadway weekly. But we need your help to keep it from getting there in the first place! Here are some tips to help Keep Auburn Beautiful:

• Set an example by not littering; keep a bag in your car to dispose of trash rather than tossing it out the window.
• Keep your yard clean of things that can blow into the street and become litter.
• Securely tie garbage bags and close the lid of your garbage and recycling carts so loose items won’t fall out and become litter.
• When you visit a park or other public place, please leave it the way you found it. Better yet, go the extra mile by helping to pick up litter you may find on the ground.

Remember, we’re all responsible for keeping our community clean. You can make a difference!

Fall Sundown Concert Series

Join Auburn Parks and Recreation for music in the park this September! The Fall Sundown Concert series will take place at Kiesel Park on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 from 5:30-7 p.m. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a great concert! Concessions will be available for purchase.

Dogs are welcome on a leash. Kiesel Park is located at 520 Chadwick Lane. To keep up with performers, weather delays, or cancellations, make sure to follow @COAParksAndRec on Facebook and Instagram.

Board & commission vacancies

One vacancy on the Lee County Youth Development Center Board of Directors will be announced at the Aug. 1 Auburn City Council meeting. Applications will be open Aug. 2-28, and the City Council will make an appointment at its Sept. 5 meeting. Applications and more information about the board are available at auburnalabama.org/boards.

How to report a noise complaint

Need to report a noise complaint? Contact the Auburn Police Division’s non-emergency line, 334-501-3100, day or night. Callers have the option to meet with officers or remain anonymous — please do not call the Tip Line with noise complaints.

Once the call is received, an officer will patrol the area to determine the source of the noise and take appropriate action. Typically, officers will make initial contact with offenders and offer them a warning. However, second or subsequent complaints may result in additional action.

A better way to get rid of your used cooking oil

Over the years, we’ve kept more than 16,500 gallons of used cooking oil and grease out of the City’s sewer system through our Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) Recycling program. And you can help us collect even more!

Our Water Resource Management Department began the FOG Recycling program in 2009 to bring awareness to and reduce the harmful effects of improper disposal of grease and used cooking oil. Remember — oil should never be poured down the drain. Even if it is poured slowly down the drain with hot water, this will eventually cause problems with your plumbing and the City’s sewer system as a whole.

Through the program, you can responsibly recycle used grease and oil by picking up a free container from the Recycling Drop-Off Center at 365-A N. Donahue Drive. Once the container is full, bring it back to the drop-off center to be properly disposed. A grease renderer turns the recycled oils into raw materials that can be used in animal feeds, pet food and industrial formulations.

For more information, visit auburnalabama.org/water-resource-management/fog-recycling or contact the Water Resource Management Department at (334) 501-3060 or webwtrswr@auburnalabama.org.

Dog Days of Summer: Dog Pool Party

Treat your furry friends to a day in the water! Pups are welcome at Samford Pool on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for a Dog Pool Party. Water-loving dogs are invited to swim and fetch in the pool, enjoy tasty treats and strut their stuff in a doggie swimsuit contest.

Samford Pool is located at 465 Wrights Mill Road in Auburn. Only dogs will be allowed in the pool during this time, and dog park rules will apply.

Tailgates & Turkeys Fall Reading Challenge

The Tailgates & Turkeys Fall Reading Challenge is back! The challenge: Read 1,000 minutes from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 to be entered in the grand prize drawing. Prizes will be awarded in four age categories. Register for the challenge by downloading the Beanstack Tracker app to any smartphone or tablet or by visiting auburn.beanstack.org.

Labor Day holiday schedules

Most City facilities will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day. Public Safety services including police, fire and communications will remain on their regular schedules. Garbage, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day throughout the week.

The Auburn Public Library’s book drops will remain open, and the online collection of e-books, e-audiobooks and digital magazines is always available at auburnalabama.org/library. Find info about Parks and Recreation facility hours at auburnalabama.org/parks.

Downtown parking will be free except for the Wright Street Parking Deck.

Sign up for a library card this September

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month! Library cards offer so much more than just the ability to check out a book. Through access to technology, media resources and educational programs, a library card can give students the tools to succeed in the classroom and provide people of all ages and abilities opportunities to pursue their dreams and passions.

This September, the Auburn Public Library (APL) will celebrate Library Card Sign-up with activities, including:

• Tailgate Raffle – All library visitors who register for a new APL card or possess an existing APL card may enter a prize drawing for one of two Tailgate Prize Packages.
• National Library Card Sign-up Event at Boykin – The Auburn Public Library will celebrate National Library Card Sign-up Month at the Boykin Community Center on Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 5-6:30 p.m. All are invited to enjoy activities, games and refreshments from 5-6 p.m. Mayor Ron Anders will present a proclamation for Library Card Sign-up Month, and the event will close with a Puppet Show from 6-6:30 p.m.

The Auburn Public Library, along with libraries everywhere, continues to adapt and expand services to meet the evolving needs of our community. To sign up for a library card or to learn more about the library’s resources and programs, visit auburnalabama.org/library.

Door-to-door soliciting in Auburn

Ever wonder if that door-to-door salesperson is permitted? Under section 16-29 of the Auburn City Code, a solicitor must be registered with the City of Auburn before showing up at your front door. Each registered solicitor must have a photo ID permit badge as evidence of having registered with the City’s Revenue Office.

Solicitors are given the following guidelines by which to abide while they are conducting business in Auburn:

• If any home or neighborhood displays a “No Soliciting” placard, solicitors must discontinue any efforts to solicit and may not leave any literature concerning the solicitation at that residence or in that neighborhood.
• Any solicitor who is asked to leave any residence by the occupant shall immediately and peacefully depart.
• Every solicitor shall carry a permit in plain sight while soliciting within City limits. The same shall be visible about the body of said solicitor so as to be seen by any police officer or by any person who is solicited.

Solicitation is permitted during the following hours only:

• September through May: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• June through August: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sundays year-round: Noon to 6 p.m.
• No door-to-door solicitation shall be conducted on City holidays.