The following articles appeared in the February 2025 print edition of Open Line.

Apply to be a part of the 2025 Citizens' Academy

You’re invited to get a closer look at how your local government operates during the 2025 Auburn Citizens’ Academy. Connect with fellow community members while getting a behind-the-scenes view of things like the water treatment process, the ins and outs of our municipal court, our traffic control center and so much more!

Citizens’ Academy is a program that gives Auburn residents the opportunity to learn about each of the City’s departments through tours, presentations and conversations with those who help make Auburn the vibrant community you know it to be.

Applications and a program schedule will be available starting Feb. 3. The program will last from March to September with one session a month. Those who apply should be able to commit to attending the majority, if not all, of the sessions. Find more information and apply at auburnalabama.org/academies.

Reminder: Business license renewals due Feb. 18

Any business providing services or selling goods within Auburn city limits is required to have a City of Auburn business license, including home-based businesses and short-term rentals. City business licenses must be renewed by Feb. 18, 2025, to avoid late fees.

You can renew your business licenses by visiting auburnalabama.org and clicking the PAY icon.

If this is the first time you are using our Citizen Self Service portal, you must first register your account and contact the Revenue Office to link your business license account to your registered username (instructions are available online). If you cannot renew online, contact the Revenue Office at revenue@auburnalabama.org or (334) 501-7239 for further assistance.

For more information, visit auburnalabama.org/revenue/business-licenses.

Cold weather safety tips for pets

It's important to take care of your pets as the colder temperatures come to our area. Our Animal Control Division reminds you of the following tips to keep your pet healthy and comfortable in colder weather:

Provide Shelter: A well-constructed doghouse insulated with clean, dry bedding, such as straw, wood shavings or a blanket, will help keep your dog warm. Face the doghouse opening away from the direction that the wind normally blows to help hold in warmth and prevent rain infiltration. It's also a good idea to add a weather-resistant door flap. A flap can be purchased, or, in a pinch, a heavy-duty fabric, old vehicle mud flap or a piece of linoleum flooring will do.

Water: Make sure your pet always has access to fresh, clean water. Proper hydration is important to help your dog stay warm. It's also important to check water bowls often to make sure the water doesn't freeze over. To prevent lightweight bowls from tipping over, you can secure a bucket to a post or a tree, place the bucket inside of an old tire or dig a hole in the ground and place the bucket inside of it.

Food: Monitor your pet's diet. Animals expend more calories in colder months than warmer times of year to keep warm. You may need to increase your pet's daily amount of food to compensate.

Cold Sensitive Pets: Remember that colder temperatures may be harder on some pets than others. Short hair breeds, smaller breeds and dogs that are young or old are more susceptible to the cold and should be closely monitored while outdoors. If your dog is sensitive to the cold because of age, illness or breed, adjust winter care accommodations accordingly.

Hypothermia: Know the warning signs! Hypothermia is a potentially deadly condition where the body temperature falls below normal. Signs include shivering, lethargy and lack of coordination. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, immediately move the animal to a warm location and wrap it in a blanket. Contact a veterinarian while warming your pet.

If you have a concern about an animal, document what you see including the date, time, exact location, type of animal and as many other details as possible. Then contact the City of Auburn Animal Control Division at (334) 501-3090. After hours, please contact the Auburn Police Division at (334) 501-3100.

Daddy Daughter Date Night & Spring Programs registration

Auburn Parks and Recreation is bringing the fun this February with exciting events and registration opportunities for all ages!

Mark your calendars for the 35th annual Daddy Daughter Date Night on Feb. 7 and 8 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. This year's theme is the Black and White Ball, a special evening for dads and daughters (12 and under) to enjoy a night of dancing and memories. The event will take place at the new Lake Wilmore Community Center, with an alternate location at the Wire Road Soccer Complex indoor facility, if needed. Visit auburnal.myrec.com to check ticket availability — tickets must be purchased by Feb. 6.

February is also the month to register for Auburn’s spring programs, with multiple opportunities for families and adults to sign up for sports and recreational activities. Registration for spring programs along with summer youth camps and Therapeutics Camp will open on Feb. 3. Adult softball and kickball registration begins Feb. 4, youth volleyball registration starts on Feb. 6 and youth track registration opens Feb. 11.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of Auburn’s vibrant recreational community—secure your spot in these exciting programs and activities today!

Small cell structure regulations

Wireless network providers are currently constructing small cell wireless facilities in public rights of way throughout the city to improve cell coverage in densely populated areas. These structures look like poles with antennas or small equipment boxes on them, rather than largescale cell towers.

The Alabama state legislature gave providers the ability to construct such structures within the public right of way, allowing cities a limited timeframe to establish related regulations locally. In response, the City of Auburn adopted local standards in 2020 to both facilitate the improvement of wireless communications infrastructure and protect safety and aesthetics in local rights of way.

If you see small cell equipment being installed, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Small cell wireless facilities are typically installed in the right of way, which is publicly owned property encompassing roadways and sidewalks. It extends beyond those roads and sidewalks for a number of feet before private property lines begin. The exact measurement of the right of way depends on where you live within town. Small cell infrastructure is typically located in the back of the right of way, nearest to the actual property line where your yard or property begins.
• After installing a small cell structure, a provider is required to return the right of way to the condition it was in before any damage was done during work.
• To better fit into the aesthetic of our streets, these structures are not allowed to be more than 50 feet above the ground or more than 10% taller than adjacent structures.
• Only authorized companies — those with franchise agreements with the City of Auburn — are allowed to construct such structures, and before construction, a franchise must have an approved permit from the City.

If you notice one being installed near you and have any issues, please report it via Auburn FixIt! Learn more at auburnalabama.org/fixit.

2024 recap: 10 highlights from the year

From key infrastructure projects to grassroots planning initiatives, 2024 has given us a lot to celebrate. Here’s a look at 10 highlights from this year:

1. Welcoming new leaders. Three new department heads joined the City’s management team in 2024, including Parks and Recreation Director Alison Hall, Human Resources Director Elinda Dannar and Auburn Public Library Director Cynthia Ledbetter.
2. Auburn’s industries continue to thrive. Six companies in our technology parks expanded in 2024, and we’ve had three new companies come to Auburn, including Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Inc.; ILJIN America Corp; and Leehwa SCM, Inc. Together, Auburn industries have invested nearly $182 million in our community and brought in over 350 jobs this year.
3. Will Buechner Parkway opens. Named in honor of Auburn’s only fallen police officer, Will Buechner Parkway opened in January. The new road connects Martin Luther King Drive and Richland Road, enhancing connectivity in north Auburn. The project also included adding a traffic signal at Martin Luther King Drive and another at the intersection of Webster Road and Martin Luther King Drive.
4. Environmental Services and Public Works move to Wire Road. In January, Environmental Services and Public Works moved out of their old facilities on Donahue Drive to their new campus on Wire Road. Both departments had outgrown their former spaces, and the new facilities now give them room to grow.
5. Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center reopens bigger and better. In March, we celebrated the reopening of our community arts center after a major renovation and expansion project. The existing building (which first opened in 1999) was reconfigured to maximize space, and an 8,000-square-foot addition was constructed. The finished product includes a new home for our ceramics studio, a new art gallery, a new dance studio, a patio for outdoor art creation and more.
6. East University Drive gets an upgrade near Saugahatchee Road and Annalue Drive. We wrapped up work on traffic flow and safety improvements in the area in April. This project included new turn lanes, new traffic signal poles and a median at the intersection of Saugahatchee and East University to only allow right-in, right-out turns.
7. Martin Luther King Drive streetscape improvements finish. Work to enhance the streetscape along MLK Drive between Donahue Drive and Shug Jordan Parkway finished in April. The project included the addition of a 10-foot-wide multiuse path, pedestrian lighting, medians, landscaping and a new water main. The multiuse path connects to the path that was constructed between Shug Jordan Parkway and Webster Road in 2023, creating a 2-mile route from MLK Drive into downtown Auburn.
8. Lake Wilmore Community Center nearing completion. The City’s newest recreation center is expected to open within the new few months on Ogletree Road. It will include two full-sized basketball courts, activity rooms, a fitness room, an indoor walking track, 18 covered pickleball courts, a zero-entry pool and a lap pool. Work is also underway on four multi-purpose fields. The center will open in phases, beginning with the community center in early 2025. Keep an eye on auburnalabama.org/parks for updates.
9. Work continues on the Public Safety Training Center. Construction is wrapping up on a 12,000-square-foot multiuse classroom building. The building joins other elements of the new Public Safety Training Center located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and North College Street, including the classroom building and a drill tower. A search and rescue maze simulator and a burn building are under construction and are expected to finish in early 2025.
10. Construction of Ann Pearson Park begins. Named in honor of an Auburn native and historian, Ann Pearson Park will include trails, a pavilion and a play area on about 40 acres. The passive park is located on Shelton Mill Road between East University Drive and U.S. Highway 280 and is expected to open in spring 2025.