The Auburn City Council met on Monday, May 24 with all members present.
The meeting was opened at 5:00 p.m. After approval of the agenda, previous meeting minutes and monthly claims the members heard from city attorney Burt Fuller. Fuller reviewed a right-of-way permit drawn up for Century Tel Fiber Company II, informing the council persons that the name of the company currently holding the permit had changed, thus the need for the new permit. All members voted yea for issuing the permit.
The council next voted on Residential Demolition Bid Round #2. The demo project involves four different sites. Demo #2 is located at 2002 “J” Street owned by Dan Lunzmann; Demo #3 is located at 2006 “J” Street, owned by Dan Lunzmann; project #4 is located at 904 10th, owned by Mary & Gary LaBreck; and Demo #6 is located at 2417 “S” Street, owned by V. Anderson Estate.
Winkelman Construction was the only bidder on the demo project. The amount of the bid for the four sites was $37,400. Motion was made by Wittmann and seconded by Snyder to accept the bid amount. All members voted yea.
An Asbestos Inspection Contract was reviewed by councilman Wittmann. After a brief discussion was had, the contract was approved by a full vote of the council.
A Public Hearing was opened, shortly after 5:15, for the Neighborhood Stabilization Project - Demolition & Clearance #095-ND-38.  Few questions were brought up. The hearing last approximately seven minutes.
The council next approved three city patrons to two different boards.  The first appointment was to the Municipal Facilities Corporation. Members approved Nancy Fuller to that position. All members voted yea to appoint Fuller.
Bryan Kinneman and Khris Buckner were appointed to the City Recreation Committee. All voted yea.
At approximately 5:25 a public hearing was opened for the acquisition of Lots 106 and 107 that currently are owned by Sack Lumber in the Crestview Addition. Burt Fuller reviewed the purchase agreement, which has been signed by Sack Lumber.
City patron Dottie Holliday addressed the board about the land purchase. Holliday first asked council members if they knew the size of the lots to be purchased. None answered, but Mayor Engles gave an educated guess. Holliday’s next question was as to the timing of the purchase, “why now”? Mayor Engles again answered stating that the area had been developed to a point where the time was right to purchase the properties.
Dottie next asked if the monies had been budgeted to purchase the land. Councilman Snyder said that there were monies directly budgeted for the land, but that there were no monies set aside for immediate improvements.
Dottie then pointed out that currently the owner pays taxes on the properties, those revenues would be lost if the city purchased the ground.
Scott Kudrna then addressed the council. Kudrna asked if the property was currently being maintained by the city personnel. The council said that they were currently being mowed by the parks department. Scott pointed out concerns about vandalism, should the council decide to build restrooms at the facility. Kudrna asked if the city parks department was involved with the process of the purchase of the land. Mayor Engles said that they were, but that they hadn’t budgeted any monies to the site. The hearing then ended at 5:42 p.m.
Wittmann motioned that the city purchase said lots, Erickson seconded the motion. Erickson also added that the city could look into grant funding for shelters for the facility. Councilman Holtzman expressed that he thought over time that the site could be a great facility.
After a call for the vote, councilman Cristser was the only dissenting vote, with the motion passing 5-1.
The meeting then adjourned at 5:45. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, June 14 at 7 p.m.