Auburn Council Tables Downtown Holiday Lighting, Advances Golf Car Ordinance

Residents, business owners and property owners packed the meeting of the Auburn City Council Monday night to discuss a proposed downtown holiday lighting project that supporters say could beautify Auburn and attract visitors, while critics urged caution over costs and liability concerns.
The proposal would install coordinated lighting along Auburn’s downtown corridor using redevelopment funds administered through the Auburn Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA).
After public comment and council discussion, council members voted to table the project for another month to gather more detailed cost estimates and clarify insurance and infrastructure questions.
Downtown business owner Lindsay Maas, owner of Crunchy Bits and co-owner of Honeybee Coffee, said the project would help create a welcoming atmosphere for travelers and tourists passing through town.
“One resounding thing we hear is that Auburn is such a pretty town, but what’s with all these buildings down here?” she said. “We need people looking out their windows and saying, ‘Yes, this is somewhere I want to stop.’”
Property owner Christina Hatcher also spoke in favor of the project, describing the lighting initiative as a long-term investment in Auburn’s future.
“We are stewards of these businesses and these properties now, but we’re also supposed to be thinking about how that impacts the future of this town,” Hatcher said. “I think this is a good investment.”
Hatcher said the downtown corridor serves as Auburn’s public face for visitors traveling through the community and that coordinated lighting would create a more unified appearance.
While many speakers voiced support for the concept, several residents urged the council to slow down and fully examine the financial and legal details before approving the project.
Chuck Hall, owner of property at 916 Central Ave., spoke in opposition to the project.
“I don’t want something hung on my building, and I don’t want the cost or liability associated with it,” Hall said.
Property owner Ruth Heywood said the city needed to be “transparent” about the full cost of installation, electrical work and ongoing maintenance before moving forward.
“I don’t want to see this fail by not being prepared,” Heywood said.
Heywood indicated her position on lighting should be at the decision of property owners & installed per property, as she says is recommended by BPW & licensed electricians. This places a cost on each owner.  Heywood said she is totally opposed to being told by the chamber manager as to what days she can turn her lights on and feels that should be at the owner’s discretion. Heywood also challenged the chamber’s current estimate presented, saying, “as it is, it does not cover all costs.”
Other questions raised during the meeting included how the lighting would be attached to historic buildings, whether all property owners had agreed to participate and who would assume liability if damage occurred.
Clark said the estimated cost of the project currently stands at approximately $105,000, including installation of lights bid at roughly $72,ooo and electrical work guested at $33,000.
City staff said the plan would use shared power sources among participating buildings to avoid dramatically increasing costs.
“We identified 16 buildings that would serve as power sources,” Leslie Clark, executive director of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, said during the discussion. “The businesses we’ve talked to have said they’re willing to cover the electricity costs.”
CRA representative Katy Billings said a city-led like this would fall under previously approved downtown streetscaping and beautification efforts funded through tax increment financing, as outlined in a redevelopment plan approved by the council about 18 months ago.
Council members ultimately voted to table the proposal until additional details can be gathered, including more precise electrical estimates and clarification on liability issues.
Golf car ordinance narrowly advances
The council also approved the first reading of proposed Ordinance 04-26 regulating golf cars on city streets after renewed public interest in the issue after appearing to have taken a backseat for several months based on comments by Councilman Shawn Clark. He indicated the issue was raised months ago with no action.
Mayor Chris Erickson broke a tie vote to pass it and later said the proposed regulation is similar to what is already in place for utility terrain vehicles.
The ordinance will require two additional readings before it can take effect.
Consent agenda and other business
The consent agenda passed and included approval of the city’s financial report and the addition of Alexander Valdivia-Tejeda to the Auburn Volunteer Fire Department. Valdivia-Tejeda indicated on the application that they are a corporal with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services in Tecumseh.
In other business, the council approved an updated animal impound agreement with Nemaha Valley Veterinary Service.
A regional hazard mitigation plan from the Nemaha Natural Resources District, which is required for FEMA disaster funding eligibility was adopted by council.
Members approved a $10,000 construction grant for Luke Andrews for property in Auburn. 
The council also approved the final pay application for MC Wells on the J Street culvert project, as well as payment of an invoice from the Southeast Nebraska Development District for construction management services.
Additional discussion included questions about maintenance at Rotary Lake. A community-led cleanup effort was started because the lake has not yet been treated.
Council member Tom Clark said the property is owned by the Nemaha County Agricultural Society, which has not yet signed a maintenance agreement with the city despite two being proposed.
Council members also asked Leslie Clark about the timeline for completion of Auburn’s “Good of the Hive” mural at 11th and J street. Clark said the artist is expected to return next week to complete the mural.
The meeting adjourned with the next council meeting scheduled for June 8 at 7 p.m. at Auburn City Hall.