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

Approved a funding agreement for the redevelopment of Ridgecrest Apartments. The City Council approved a funding commitment to the Auburn Housing Authority (AHA) to help facilitate the redevelopment of the Ridgecrest Apartments, originally constructed in 1971. City funding of $1.8 million will be sourced from Community Development Block Grant funding and other state and federal funding, as well as the City’s general fund. The City’s commitment assists the AHA in their application to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority to secure funding for the $20.2 million project and is contingent upon that additional funding being secured.

Announced vacancies for six local boards. The city manager announced upcoming vacancies for the following boards: Water Works Board, Downtown Design Review Committee, Historic Preservation Commission, Auburn Public Library Board, Cemetery Advisory Board and the Board of Education. The Water Works Board vacancy will be appointed on March 19, while the other board vacancies will be appointed at council meetings in April. For more information or to apply, visit auburnalabama.org/boards.

Authorized temporary downtown street closings and entertainment district events for 2024. The council authorized a schedule related to street closings and the invocation of the entertainment district for downtown community events that will occur throughout the upcoming year.

The council also:

• Approved a tax abatement for Leehwa America, Inc. in connection to the acquisition of new equipment needed for the expansion of the company’s existing location in the Auburn Technology Park South. Leehwa America, Inc. anticipates hiring 24 new employees over the next two years with a capital investment of about $5.37 million. No education, hospital and children’s home taxes are abated.
• Accepted maintenance of approximately 4.92 miles of streets previously maintained by Lee County. The Code of Alabama requires that the City of Auburn assume the maintenance of streets from Lee County when property is annexed on both sides of a street.

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 the second Tuesday in March, March 12, at 6 p.m., due to Auburn City Schools spring break. The meeting will take place in the Council Chamber, located at 141 N. Ross St. in the Public Safety Building.