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

Celebrate the world of GIS this November

The City of Auburn will hold a GIS Day celebration on Nov. 17, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Boykin Community Center Auditorium, with collaborators from the City of Opelika, Auburn University, and Lee County Mapping & GIS. The event will highlight innovative applications of geographic information system (GIS) technology in analysis, visualization, gaining insights into geospatial data, and thought leadership in the field of local government and academic research.

GIS Day was first observed in 1999 by Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of the GIS software company Esri. The explosion of geospatial technology since then has expanded that idea into a global event that shows how geography and the real-world applications of GIS are making a difference in business, government and society. The day is a chance for organizations to share their accomplishments and inspire others to discover and use GIS.

Both the City of Auburn and the City of Opelika have received awards at the state and national level for their uses of GIS technology. Auburn University uses GIS within many of its programs, including its Department of Geosciences within the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

"GIS Day is an excellent way to share the potential of this technology with the community," said Stephanie Thompson, the City of Auburn’s GIS coordinator. "We look forward to showcasing how each of our organizations currently use GIS to serve our residents while also discussing the many different ways it can be utilized in professional and academic settings."

The City of Auburn will be one of hundreds of organizations hosting in-person and virtual gatherings worldwide that will celebrate the impactful work of GIS professionals and serve to ignite the imagination of the future innovators who will further advance global progress using GIS.

For more information on how the City of Auburn is innovating through the application of GIS, visit auburnalabama.org/maps.

Giving back: Auburn’s boards and commissions

Community involvement is a huge part of how your local government operates. We rely on your voice for guidance, gathering input through things like our biennial Citizen Survey or public input meetings. Another vital piece of this engagement puzzle is the 22 boards and commissions that help us make decisions. These entities are made up of 122 individuals that serve in a variety of roles from advisors to decision makers to members of independent boards that serve Auburn or even the larger Lee County community.

As the policy-making body comprised of elected officials, the Auburn City Council is familiar to most residents. But each appointed board and commission plays a key role in guiding the community. The Board of Education, Water Works Board of the City of Auburn and a few others operate independently from the City Council. The Planning Commission makes recommendations to the City Council on some matters and is the final authority on others. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board works with the Parks and Recreation director, the city manager and the council to shape, oversee and promote recreation programs throughout Auburn. Some boards have a very specific focus like the Historic Preservation Commission, while others are multi-government agencies independent from the City like the Lee County Youth Development Center Board of Directors.

What do these bodies have in common? You. Our residents, with their diverse educational backgrounds, life experiences and talents, serve on these boards and commission and help guide the way many areas of your local government operate. You have a chance to play a part in making Auburn an even better place. You live here, and you can serve here.

So how do you take a step toward investing in your community? Upcoming vacancies are announced at City Council meetings, here in Open Line, through our eNotifier email and text alert system, on our social media accounts and online at auburnalabama.org/boards.

If there’s a specific board on your mind, you can find information for each board and commission, including the names of current members and when their terms expire, also at auburnalabama.org/boards. Keep in mind that most bodies have some requirements for their members, which are outlined online as well. Once there’s an opening that matches your interests, you can fill out an application through our online portal at auburnalabama.org/boards.

Upcoming Opportunities

Ready to serve? Two vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be announced at the Oct. 3 Auburn City Council meeting. Applications will open on Oct. 4, and appointments will be made at the Nov. 7 City Council meeting. Visit auburnalabama.org/boards for more information about the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and to apply.

Drowsy Driving Awareness Week

This November, Auburn Public Safety wants to remind you to sleep first and drive alert! Nov. 5-11 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, encouraging each of us to prioritize sleep and to only drive when you are alert and refreshed.

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2022 survey, 6 in 10 drivers have driven a car when they were so tired that they had trouble keeping their eyes open. While it may not seem risky, driving drowsy is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. Drowsy drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen the drowsier the driver.

Watch for these eight drowsy driving warning signs:

• Finding it hard to focus on the road, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids.
• Starting to daydream, wandering eyes and having disconnected thoughts.
• Having trouble remembering the last few miles driven.
• Missing an exit or ignoring traffic signs.
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes.
• Finding it hard to keep your head up or nodding off.
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating or hitting a shoulder rumble strip.
• Feeling restless and irritable or becoming aggravated with common annoyances such as sitting in traffic.

If you notice these warning signs for drowsy driving, pull over to a safe place and get some rest, stretch, or drink a caffeinated beverage. Continue driving when you feel alert and refreshed.

State of the City Address

The Auburn community is invited to join Mayor Ron Anders as he reflects on Auburn's challenges and successes at the fourth annual State of the City Address. The event will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the event will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Auburn residents will get a glimpse of what their local government has been up to in 2023, and Mayor Anders will conclude the evening by presenting the 2023 Mayor's Lamplighter Awards that recognize the efforts six community members have made to make Auburn even brighter.

The event is free and open to the public. Those unable to attend in person may watch the livestream on Facebook and YouTube. The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center is located at 910 S. College St.

2023 Veterans Day Ceremony

You’re invited to honor those who have served our country at the 2022 Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial located at the northeast corner of Ross Street and Glenn Avenue.

Attendees are encouraged to park at Felton Little Park, the East Glenn Avenue Municipal Parking Lot and at the Douglas J. Watson Municipal Complex. Accessible parking will be available on Ross Street between Glenn Avenue and Harper Avenue, which will be closed to through traffic during the ceremony. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the City Council Chamber at 141 N. Ross St.

November holiday closures & schedules

Most City facilities will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 23 and 24, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Downtown parking will be free on both holidays. Public Safety services, including police, fire and communications will remain on their regular schedules. Garbage, trash and recycling pickup routes will run as usual during the week of Veterans Day but will be adjusted as follows during Thanksgiving week:

Monday, Nov. 20: No change
Tuesday, Nov. 21: No change
Wednesday, Nov. 22: No change
Thursday, Nov. 23: HOLIDAY
Friday, Nov. 24: Thursday’s route

The Auburn Public Library will be closed on Nov. 10, 11, 23 and 24 and will close at 6 p.m. on Nov. 22. Book drops will remain open, and the online collection of e-books, e-audiobooks and digital magazines are always available.

2023 Holiday Art Sale

The 17th annual Holiday Art Sale will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Auburn Parks and Recreation Campus on Opelika Road. Local artists will sell paintings, pottery, stained glass, photography, cards, jewelry, hats, scarves and much more!

For more information about this year's event, contact Art Education Specialist Emillie Dombrowski at (334) 501-2944.

Letters to Santa

Auburn Parks and Recreation is excited to bring back the annual Letters to Santa program this holiday season! Children will have the opportunity to send letters to Santa at the North Pole beginning Monday, Nov. 20.

Letters can be dropped in the special mailboxes located at the Harris Center (425 Perry St.) and at the Boykin Community Center (400 Boykin St.). Santa will reply with a letter mailed directly to your home. Please make sure to include the child’s name and a return address. All letters to Santa must be dropped in the mailboxes by Thursday, Dec. 14, to give Santa enough time to reply before Christmas. No postage necessary.

This is a wonderful opportunity to create a magical moment with your child as they address their own letter to Santa himself!