BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
AUBURN —
The Auburn City Council approved several items relating to the new Boykin Community Center during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
The Boykin-Donahue Campus Project is a large city project to add a multi-cultural center, a splash pad, recreation center and more to the to the current Boykin Community Center.
The council approved a lighting services agreement with Alabama Power Company for the Boykin-Donahue Campus Project for over $112,000.
The lighting agreement will place permanent lighting on the new campus and pathway lighting between the new section and the old section.
The council also amended the professional services agreement with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture for the Boykin-Donahue Campus Cultural Center Project for over $27,900.
This amended agreement included additional funds because of changes inc classroom sizes, restrooms and more, said City Manager Megan Crouch. Essentially the amount increased in design costs but it will lower construction costs.
Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said that the idea for the cultural center came from a local resident back when Anders was first elected to this position in 2018.
“This idea was to create this school house [a Rosenwald House] and use it as a center for education, recognition and there could be some historical, kind of museum qualities to it as well,” Anders said. “… But I never thought we’d be looking at a million dollars to build this.”
The cost of the project for the cultural center is just over a million.
Anders said his original vision was this could be a community project, rather than using a contractor with a high price tag.
The mayor asked if there was a chance of stepping back to look at the price tag or re-evaluate.
“Can we talk about this even more?” he asked. He did clarify though that he was still on board for the project, despite concerns.
Crouch said that while yes, it can be discussed, the council is contractually obligated to pay McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.
Ward 1 Council Member Connie Fitch Taylor expressed disagreement with Anders’ concerns.
She asked why the cost was not taken into account sooner. Anders said he never thought there would be a contractor and it would be a community project.
“I’m getting a little sensitive about this, simply because, this is something that has already been put out there to the community, everybody’s excited about it,” she said.
The design of the project wouldn’t change, just how labor and materials are acquired.
Anders’ vision of a community project is how Hickory Dickory Park was built, Crouch said.
Even if the project had the full green light as of Tuesday night, it could be two months before things begin, the city said.
Crouch said she’d like to talk further about the project during the biennial budget discussions.
The council also approved a professional services agreement with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture for the Boykin-Donahue Campus Recycling Center Project for over $33,900.
Finally, the commission amended the professional services agreement with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture for the Boykin-Donahue Campus Public Library Project for over $429,200.
OTHER BUSINESS:
– The council announced a vacancy on the Lee County Youth Development Center.
– The council approved a concurrence for INICS Battery Solutions Corp for 2585 Innovation Drive in Auburn Technology Park West and a tax abatement.
– The council approved a contract with Bill & Sons Body Shop Inc. for repairs to police patrol vehicle No. 104 due to a traffic collision for over $23,600.
– The council approved the amendment of a facility encroachment agreement with CSX Transportation Inc. for the Will Buechner Parkway Project for over $7,600.
– The council approved a construction agreement with CSX Transportation,Inc. for the Will Buechner Parkway Project for over $42,800.
– The council approved a contract with Cutting Edge Lawn Service LLC. H.C. Morgan WPCF for the Steam Bank Stabilization Project Tree and Shrub Installation for over $77,300.
– The council approved the purchase of 1,652 steam mitigation credits from Broadview Mitigation Bank (BMB) through Headwaters LLC for the Boykin-Donahue Campus Project for $247,800.
– The council approved the purchase of traffic separator devices for Cox Road from Impact Recovery Systems for over $25,000.
– The council approved the purchase of two 2023 Dodge Chargers for the Police Department – Detective Section from Stivers Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for over $78,900.
– The council approved a contract with Terracon Consultants Inc. for the Public Safety Training Facility – Phase 2 Classroom Building Project for $18,200.
– The council approved three board nominations for the Board of Equalization.
– The council approved the establishment of “school speed limit sign assemblies” for Woodland Pines Elementary School.
– The council amended the city code, article IV, Section 3-70 to add manufacturer as a license type category and set the annual manufacturer license fee to $1,500.
– The commission approved a manufacturer alcohol beverage license for ABW Auburn LLC doing business as New Realm Brewing Company for 207 S. College St.
– The commission approved a tax abatement for Seohan Auto USA Corporation located at 2590 Innovation Drive in the Auburn Technology Park West.
– The commission approved a commercial development agreement with Friendship Foods Inc. Country’s BBQ.
– The commission approved a contract with TRP Construction Group, LLC for the FY 23 Streets Restriping Project for $250,000.