BY DANIEL SCHMIDT FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — At its regular meeting on March 4, the Auburn City Council approved a $276,327 contract with Gonzalez-Strength and Associates for surveying, engineering and landscape architecture services to complete the Auburn Softball Complex and Wire Road Soccer Complex Artificial Turf Project.
Also at the meeting, ahead of a $395.3 million capital investment to expand facilities into Auburn, the council approved a nearly $40.5 million tax abatement amendment and joinder agreement with Core Scientific and AUBix.
In other action, the council approved a request from Baumhower’s for the city to waive $2,616 in penalties after the restaurant failed to pay its June 2024 sales taxes on time.
The council approved a restaurant retail liquor alcohol license for Angus Steakhouse, which is located at 1212 Gatewood Drive in Suites B1 and B2.
The council approved an $81,000 contract with Fifth Asset for a three-year contract renewal for debt management and lease accounting software.
The council approved a $73,314 contract with Stivers Ford Lincoln to purchase a Ford F-550 for the Public Works Department, which City Manager Megan Crouch said will be used to simultaneously transport multiple pieces of heavy equipment to worksites across Auburn, diversify its fleet and make storm damage responses more efficient. Ward 2 Council Member Kelley Griswold, who has long opposed expanding the city’s fleet, voted against the purchase.
The council approved a $61,060 contract with DC Group to replace uninterruptible power supply system batteries at various city facilities.
The council approved a $43,543 contract with Innovative Interfaces for the annual renewal of maintenance and support for the Polaris Integrated Library System used by the Auburn Public Library.
The council accepted a public easement from the Industrial Development Board located in the Auburn Industrial Park at 1500 Pumphrey Ave.
The council accepted a sewer easement located at 328 and 334 Nolocco Drive.
The council appointed Amy Carvajal and Kate Ham to the Commercial Development Authority. Their terms begin on March 16 and end on March 15, 2029.
The council appointed Dana Camp, Robert Compton, Kirk Iverson, Cheryl McGee and Hunter Smith to the Metropolitan Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Committee. Their terms begin on March 9 and end on March 8, 2029.
The council announced a vacancy on the Library Board. That term will begin on April 15 and end on April 14, 2029. The council will make that appointment at its April 1 meeting.
The council announced two vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission. Those terms begin on April 21 and end on April 20, 2028. The council will make those appointments at its April 1 meeting.
