2024 Lamplighter Awards presented to community’s best and brightest
BY DAVID BELL
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Auburn Mayor Ron Anders delivered his sixth State of the City Address on Nov. 12, hosted by the Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University. The event was attended by local and state elected officials and was open to the public.
Anders thanked attendees for the roles they have played to help make the city of Auburn a better and safer place to live, raise a family, conduct business and receive a quality education.
“Your hard work on behalf of our community does not go unnoticed,” said Anders. “You are all part of what makes Auburn unique — a place that we are all proud to call home.”
Anders said the blueprint for growth in the city has been largely based on citizen surveys that have been conducted over past decades, which provided input on the types of amenities and infrastructure improvements people wanted most.
“We’ve taken that information and developed a plan that will lead us well into the future,” said Anders. “In addition, our local economy remains strong, supported by our citizens who invest in our growth by attending events and shopping at the local level.”
Anders provided highlights of the city’s achievements, including expansion of the Wire Road Soccer Complex, which hosts thousands of Auburn children each year. The project included a 57,000-square-foot indoor facility, three outdoor turf fields, additional parking, walking trails and picnic shelters. The complex also serves as the new voting site for Ward Eight.
“The Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center has also been renovated and expanded with an 8,000-square-foot addition that includes a dance studio, outdoor art areas and a ceramics studio,” Anders said. “We also improved the existing space to accommodate a lager exhibition area and enhanced theatre performance space.”
The mayor discussed construction of a new public safety training center for police and fire department personnel.
“This state-of-the-art facility will provide our first responders with the latest technology and equipment essential for keeping our community safe,” he said. “It will be located at the old rest stop on Highway 280 and will also serve as the new voting place for Ward Three.”
Anders said street and road improvements have remained a top priority this year, as evidenced by traffic and pedestrian enhancements along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Shug Jordan Parkway to Donahue Drive and East University Drive. Ongoing projects will include resurfacing and re-striping of streets throughout the city.
“A new roundabout will be constructed at Moores Mill Road and Society Hill Road that will greatly benefit commuters in that area. We expect construction to begin before next fall,” said Anders. “These projects will undoubtedly cause some delay in the movement of traffic around town, so I ask for your patience while they are in progress. Just keep in mind the decades of benefits that a few months of inconvenience will bring.”
He highlighted individual accomplishments of city departments over the past year.
“Our employees in every aspect of city government do a phenomenal job in keeping our community clean and safe,” he said. “We would not be able to enjoy an excellent quality of life without their outstanding service.
“For example, our city vehicles traveled more than three million miles to collect household trash, recyclables and debris from the roadsides, while our public works department did an excellent job of maintaining those vehicles,” he said. “Our water department treated billions of gallons of wastewater and worked to maintain the highest levels of safety in our drinking water. More than 10,000 people registered to participate in our parks and recreation programs, and we continue to host a variety of athletic events.”
Anders also commended the efforts of those who work to improve services for seniors and better housing for low-income families. He also recognized those working to provide library programs, boost economic development and foster public safety.
“We are especially proud of our public schools, which are among the top three in Alabama,” he said. “We also appreciate our private schools and the role they play in our community, and we are grateful for the longstanding partnership we’ve maintained with Auburn University — and it’s only getting stronger.
“Furthermore, the citizens of Auburn have been the key to our success — all the men and women who have rolled up their sleeves and dedicated themselves to making our community a better and more vibrant place to live,” Anders said. “I’m confident that the future of Auburn will be brighter and more prosperous as we move forward.”
