BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — An incumbent Auburn Historic Preservation Commission member’s nomination drew opposition during Tuesday’s city council meeting, with one council member claiming his past conduct failed to meet minimum standards.
Yet despite that initial opposition, the council voted 5 to 3 to appoint Nick Hayes, who previously served one partial term and one full term on the commission, to a second full term despite some initial pushback. Ward 1 Council Member Connie Fitch Taylor, Ward 2 Council Member Kelley Griswold and Ward 8 Council Member Tommy Dawson voted against the measure, which included another appointment to the commission.
Griswold was the lone council member who explicitly spoke out against the appointment, citing an incident around the time of the Auburn-Georgia football game last year.
According to Griswold, a home Hayes owns displayed a sign with vulgar language ahead of that contest between the two longtime rivals. He then claimed Hayes told a concerned citizen “Freedom of speech, War Eagle,” after they pressed him about the sign.
“While we want to protect free speech, we also need to maintain decency. This occurrence was not meeting minimum standards,” Griswold said. “When we appoint a board or commission member, they represent us — the council — and also the citizenry of Auburn. And while we usually reappoint members, it is also an opportunity for a course correction if needed.”
Other council members then defended Hayes, stating he himself had not displayed the sign and that established council precedent typically appoints incumbents to second terms on city boards and commissions.
Ward 3 Council Member Beth Witten said tenants who lived at the property were the ones who displayed the vulgar sign and that Hayes should not be held liable for their actions. She also said the council should focus on his past term on the commission when deciding whether to appoint him to another term.
“I would like to call into question has he made any votes or had any actions within his role on the commission that have been a detriment to the commission or to the city? And I would probably say the answer is no,” Witten said.
Ward 6 Council Member Bob Parsons struck a similar tone.
“What I am more interested in and supportive of is precedent, and the precedent that this council has adopted over the course of my tenure here has ensured that people who are running for a second term get the opportunity for that second term,” Parsons said.
The council also appointed Dan Bush to his first term on the commission. According to the staff directory for Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Bush currently serves as the college’s senior major gift officer.
Hayes’ and Bush’s three-year terms begin on April 21 and end on April 20, 2027.
OTHER BUSINESS:
- The council approved two ordinances enacting the annual renewal of existing ad valorem property taxes and authorizing the Lee County Revenue Commissioner to assess and collect those taxes. Those two taxes include 16 total mills for educational purposes.
- The council approved a resolution authorizing the city to implement the Community Development Block Grant 2024 Annual Action Plan and accompanying funding recommendations. Documents show city officials expect to receive $693,457 in federal funding and generate $100,000 from the Affordable Housing and Housing Rehabilitation Loan programs. That revenue will help fund program administration, housing, public improvements and infrastructure, economic development and public service activities.
- The council appointed David Hinston to the Downtown Design Review Committee. His six-year term begins on April 18 and ends on April 17, 2030. Hinson previously served one full term on the committee.
- The council appointed Marcia Boosinger to the Public Library Board. Her four-year term begins on April 15 and ends on April 14, 2028. Boosinger previously served one full term on the board.
- The council appointed Doris Ann Hutchinson to the Cemetery Advisory Board. Her four-year term begins on April 15 and ends on April 14, 2028. This is Hutchinson’s first term on the board.
- The council approved a $67,468 development agreement with Arrowhead AL Homes LLC for improvements along Beehive Road. Those improvements include widening and improving Beehive Road to complement the city’s future street improvements.
- The council approved a $105,576 parking lease agreement with First Baptist Church of Auburn that allows city employees to use 38 parking spaces during weekday business hours. The three-year agreement begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30, 2027.
- The council approved the purchase of a 2023 Ford Explorer from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $37,458. That vehicle replaces a recently totaled vehicle and will be used for revenue enforcement, administrative duties and training related travel.
- The council approved an agreement with CAAM Real‐Estate LLC to accept various public easements. That agreement includes a redivision of a lot located near the southeast corner of the intersection of Miracle Road and Sarah Lane.
- The council approved an agreement with Catbird LLC to accept public drainage, utility and sidewalk lighting easements at 120 S. Ross St. That agreement includes the redivision of several lots in the Cedar Crest Subdivision.
- The council approved an agreement with James Fukai, Mary Alice Fukai and Alice Bell to accept a sanitary sewer easement at 1104 S. Gay St.
- The council approved a $14,330 agreement with River Bank & Trust to accept a statutory warranty deed for the North Dean Road and East University Drive intersection improvements project. That agreement acquires the right-of-way located along the east side of North Dean Road north of East University Drive.
- The council approved an agreement with Sharon Stitch to accept public right‐of‐way, drainage and utility easements at 2042 Bonny Glen Road.
- The council approved two special retail alcohol beverage licenses for Aramark Educational Services LLC doing business as Jordan Hare Stadium and Neville Arena.
- The council approved an alcohol beverage license for Greenawalt Hospitality LLC doing business as B and B AU Student Activities Center. That license covers a one-day event on April 20 where beer, wine and liquor will be served.