Community & Southern Bank named Auburn's Business of the Year

Representatives with the Community and Southern Bank were recognized by the Auburn Downtown Development Authority for being the city's Business of The Year on Thursday. The Auburn City Council unanimously approved the recognition prior to the presentation.
In other business, the council heard June reports from its head of staff, and Mayor Linda Blechinger thanked all of the city staff and council for its well-received 4th of July celebration. Blechinger said approximately 15,000 people attended,and local businesses received about $2-3,000 in a 2-hr time period.
In other action, the council unanimously approved the following items of new business:
·a change in the number of scheduled court dates per month from three court dates, to two, one for arraignment and one for trial.
·a recommendation to approve three revised contracts for court officials Judge G. Hammond Law, Mari Lee Chambers, solicitor, and Robert Piccarreto, public defender, which reduce costs by an estimated $17,000.
·a recommendation to approve engineering services for drainage improvements at 206 Sue Lane, at a total estimated cost of $3,990.
·a recommendation to approve the yearly review of job descriptions and newly added qualifications for all city positions.
·a recommendation to approve a health and wellness program for city employees in order to participate in a promotional grant for an undetermined amount for 2011.
·a recommendation to approve a revised contract for inspection services with Municipal Building Inspection Services North Inc., the city's current provider, to add a $45 fee for a second location during multiple inspections on the same day.
·a recommendation to approve reduction of zoning application fees for appeals and variances to $250.
·a recommendation to extend the city's agreement with IT provider VC3, out of Columbia, S.C., to include in order to upgrade its two city servers at an increase in contract fee of $21,000 per year.
·a recommendation to approve the donation of 13 surplus computers to the Auburn Library.
·a recommendation to approve the removal of distance requirements of alcohol sales for restaurants.
In other business, Councilwoman Dorissa Shackelford made a motion to backdoor a recommendation to approve a proposed concept for street scape improvements to Fourth Avenue until the next council workshop. The concept, proposed by city planner Larry Lucas, outlines plans for a $34,000 6-foot concrete sidewalk from the north side of Fourth Avenue from Mt. Moriah Road to Auburn-County Line Road, which includes ornamental trees and street lighting. Councilman Bob Vogel seconded the motion.
Of notable staff reports, Auburn Police Chief Paul Nadeau presented one of his officers, Cpl. Tony Lafreniere, who netted 13 felony arrests in a one month time period, and the Auburn Public Library reported that program attendance from May to June rose by 770 percent. The library saw 3,840 people attend its programs during that time.

Read the July 13 issue of the Barrow Journal for the full story.