PLACE Forum

Meetings & events this week:

TUESDAY, MAY 29 — LEE COUNTY COMMISSION  www.leeco.us
4:00 PM — work session;  6:00 PM — regular meeting
Held at the Lee County Courthouse, commission chamber, 215 S. 9^th St, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda includes:
a. Minutes of Commission Meeting May 14, 2007
b. Ratify and Approve Claims
c. Bid #22 Animal Transport Unit for Animal Control – Jack Marshall
8. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Question from ALDOT re traffic light at US 280/431 and Lee Road 379 – Neal Hall
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Annual Final Report of Litigations & Insolvencies – Oline Price
10. Discussion Items
11. Adjourn

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 7:00 PM – AUBURN BIKE COMMITTEE
Held in the conference room, Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St; open to all.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 8:00 to 3:45 – ADEM GROUNDWATER CONFERENCE
Held at the Gordon Persons Building, 40 N. Ripley Street, Mont. Registration required, but no fee charged.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management Groundwater Branch will host the 7th Annual Alabama Groundwater Conference. The conference will provide an opportunity for those studying and managing our groundwater resources to meet, exchange ideas, and discuss issues affecting Alabama’s groundwater resources. Conference details at http://auei.auburn.edu/pdf/07registrationflyer.pdf.

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — FARMER’S MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK
Held at AU’s Ag Heritage Park, corner of Samford Ave & S. Donahue Drive.
Look for everything from fresh strawberries and onions to honey and bedding plants at The Market at Ag Heritage Park. This is the final pre-season Market. The regular weekly season for the grower-only farmers’ market opens June 7 and will continue every Thursday through Aug. 30. For more details, contact Katie Jackson at smithcl@auburn.edu or 844-5887.

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 6:00 pm – KIESEL CONCERT FEATURING CATERPILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY
Held at Kiesel Park. Free admission; open to all.
Bring the family, a picnic, lawn chairs and enjoy the music of Caterpillars of the Community.

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 10:00 AM – ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION — Rulemaking Committee Meeting
Held in the Main Hearing Room, ADEM Building, 1400 Coliseum Blvd, Mont. Open to all.
Agenda:
1. Consideration of Minutes of Meeting Held on April 20, 2007**
2. Consideration of Petition to Amend ADEM Admin. Code Chap. 335-6-10, Appendix A (Reference Dose – Acrolein and Phenol), Petitioners – Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters, et al., EMC Rulemaking Petition 07-05 (NPDES-Related Matter) – The Committee will consider the Petition to Amend ADEM Admin. Code Chap. 335-6-10, Appendix A (Reference Dose – Acrolein and Phenol) and may adopt a recommendation to the full Environmental Management Commission regarding the Commission granting or denying this rulemaking petition.  This rulemaking petition seeks to have the Commission amend ADEM Admin. Code Chap. 335-6-10 Appendix A to conform two pollutants (Acrolein and Phenol) toxicity values to values published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Integrated Risk Information System database.
3. Consideration of Petition to Amend ADEM Admin. Code R. 335-6-10-.07 (Cancer Risk Level), Petitioners – Alabama League of Environmental Action Voters, et al., EMC Rulemaking Petition 07-04 (NPDES-Related Matter) – The Committee will consider the Petition to Amend ADEM Admin. Code R. 335-6-10-.07 (Cancer Risk Level) and may adopt a recommendation to the full Environmental Management Commission regarding the Commission granting or denying this rulemaking petition. This rulemaking petition seeks to have the Commission amend ADEM Admin. Code R. 335-6-10-.07 to reduce the maximum cancer risk level from exposure to individual carcinogenic pollutants in surface waters from (1 in 100,000) to (1 in 1,000,000).
4. Other Business
*The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.state.al.us, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.
**The Minutes for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website under EMC Information.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 11:30 AM – AUBURN TREE COMMISSION
Held in the Chamber of Commerce building conf room, 714 E Glenn; open to all.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 7:30 pm — SUNDILLA CONCERT: CLIFF EBERHARDT
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall (AUUF), 450 E. Thach Ave; open to all. Admission: $10; with student ID $8; children under 12 free (and welcomed; play area provided). Light refreshments provided free of charge; you may also bring your own food or beverage (beer/wine allowed). For more info, and to hear music clips of the Cliff Eberhardt, go to www.sundilla.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1 – REBUILDING TOGETHER WORK DAY
Rebuilding Together’s mission is to preserve and revitalize houses and communities, assuring that low-income homeowners, from the elderly and disabled to families with children, live in warmth, safety, and independence. In partnership with communities, our goal is to make a sustainable impact. http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/. For more information please contact Jackie Pinkard (334) 749-5264 ext.212 or jackie.pinkard@adss.alabama.gov.
Volunteering contact: Erin Stephens at Erin.Stephens@adss.alabama.gov
Sponsoring a home contact: Jackie Pinkard at Jackie.Pinkard@adss.alabama.gov
Submitting an application to be a Rebuilding Together Project House contact: Maria Davis at Maria.Davis@adss.alabama.gov

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Meetings this week:

THROUGH JUNE 8  – SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE AT LONGLEAF  Construction on the Donahue Drive Project is expected to continue through Friday, June 8, from 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily, and may warrant brief road closures during that time.  Barricades will be in place to alert motorists of any closure.  Motorists may use Longleaf Drive to get around the construction area.  Residents beyond the barricade should use a detour through Ferndale Drive, off of East University Drive.  Every attempt will be made to notify the public at least 24 hours in advance of any road closure.  For more information, please contact Bryan Wood in the Public Works Department at 501-3000. 

MONDAY, MAY 21 TO FRIDAY, MAY 25 — CITY OF AUBURN TRASH AMNESTY WEEK        During Auburn’s Trash Amnesty Week, fees are waived for the collection of oversized yard debris and other bulky waste from residential customers. – Collection to begin at 6 a.m. on your regularly-scheduled collection day. Place debris out for collection prior to that time.– No household garbage, hazardous waste, or other unacceptable waste should be left for collection with your debris. Only yard waste, appliances, bulky items, and other such waste should be placed for collection.– Debris should be placed at least 3 feet behind the curb, roadway, or sidewalk in front of your residence. – NO DEBRIS SHOULD BE PLACED in the roadway, on storm drains, near utility lines, on utility boxes such as water meters and phone boxes, or on vacant lots.– Limbs & other debris should be no longer tha 5 feet long.– Place wood debris (i.e., limbs & grass clippings) separate from metal items.Due to the large volumn of debris expected, there may be a delay in the collection schedule. Info: Environmental Services Dept 501-3080. http://www.auburnalabama.org/News/PressReleases/2007/ES-05-18-07-TrashAmnestyWeek.htm  

MONDAY, MAY 21 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 23  –  Wildlife Habitat Council Restoring Greenspace: Ecological Reuse of Contaminated Properties in EPA Region 4  http://www.wildlifehc.org/events/restoringgreenspace.cfm      Held at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel Atlanta.The Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) Restoring Greenspace conferences are designed to help participants strategize the necessary problem solving steps in making ecological enhancements a reality. These regional conferences provide training opportunities and present a first-hand look at innovative programs, new initiatives and case studies that highlight the incorporation of ecological reuse practices in site restoration in specific EPA regions.Key issues at the 2007 conference will range from environmental justice to wetlands and coastal concerns with breakout sessions focusing on integrating Natural Resources Damage Assessment with site cleanup and the long-term stewardship of managing site liability and institutional controls. Local field trips will feature examples of greenspace integration, including Atlantic Station, Clayton County Water Authority and Belt Line Initiative of The Trust for Public Land.Conference Objectives

• Identify ecological approaches to clean up and the costs and benefits of ecological reuse through case studies;
• Identify performance metrics for success in ecological restoration;
• Assess regulatory challenges to using ecological enhancements on contaminated properties;
• Evaluate approaches for obtaining constructive & meaningful stakeholder involvement; and
• Determine next steps for EPA Region 4 stakeholders to address issues surrounding the ecological reuse of contaminated properties.

Pre-Conference Workshops
For the first time, WHC will offer pre-conference workshops on May 21, 2007, with leading experts in the fields of ecological reuse and economic evaluation of contaminated sites and phytotechnologies. Both workshops and the conference will be offered for continuing education credits through the University of Georgia Fanning Institute. 

MONDAY MAY 21, 6:30 PM — LEE COUNTY CITIZENS’ COUNCIL    Held in the Commission Chambers, Lee County Courthouse, 215 S. 9th St, Opelika. Topic: analyzing the county structure and function of Lee County. In future, the group will meet every other Monday.  

MONDAY MAY 21 – FILM: IT’S A THICK BOOK     7:00 Social; 7:30 Film showing    Held in the city of Auburn meeting room 122 Tichenor Ave. Free & open to the public.It’s a Thick Book, sponsored by League of Women Voters of East Alabama, uses a catchy approach to explore the history  of Alabama’s current Constitution, compares it with other constitutions, and analyzes the consequences of its provisions, especially in the areas of home rule and tax policy.  Contributors include historians, local leaders, and tax experts. Discussion will follow.  

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 3:00 pm — OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION   Held at the Public Works Facility, 700 Fox Trail. Open to all. 

A.              PLATS (preliminary and prel. & final) – Public Hearing

1.                James D. Powell S/D, 2 lots, Woodland Street, Preliminary & Final approval
2.                Quantegy S/D, Resub of Parcel B, 2 lots, 2230 Marvyn Parkway, P/F approval
3.                Hamilton Gables S/D, 1 lot, Hamilton  Road, P/F approval
4.                D.W. Ward S/D, 1^st Revision, 2 lots, 1216 1^st Avenue, P/F approval
5.                Ray-Wright S/D, 2 lots, Shannon Court, P/F approval
6.                The Estates S/D, Redivision of Parcel 2, 2 lots, Academy Drive, P/F approval
7.                Pepperell Business Park, Resub of Parcel 9-5A, 3 lots, Pepperell Pkwy, P/F approval
8.                Cummings Estate S/D, 4 lots, Rocky Brook Road, P/F approval
9.                Julia Martin S/D, 2 lots, Lee Road 146, P/F approval (Tabled at April 24^th meeting) 

B.       FINAL PLAT APPROVAL

10.            Spring Hill Heights S/D, Block F, Resub of Lots 25-31, 4 lots, Spring Drive, Final approval
11.            Eagle Ridge S/D, 26 lots, Veterans Parkway, Final approval
12.            Hickory Grove S/D, 24 lots, Lee Road 152, Preliminary & Final approval 

C.      CONDITIONAL USE

13.            Bence-Morris Inc., 1419 2^nd Avenue, C-3, renovations to automobile dealership

D.       OTHER BUSINESS

14.      R & P Automotive LLC, (Payless Car Sales), 501 Columbus Pkwy, C-3, GC-2, extension  of one year time limit to use temporary mobile office until July 17^th  

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23 (through July 13) – PORTION OF SAMFORD AVENUE TO CLOSE   Auburn University will close a portion of Samford Avenue to thru traffic, including pedestrians, for roadway construction from Mell Street to Duncan Drive beginning Wednesday, May 23 and continuing through Friday, July 13.  Detour signs will be posted.  Citizens are encouraged to avoid the area unless it is absolutely necessary. For more info: contact Dave Roberson in the AU Facilities Division at 844-4810. 

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 6:00 pm — KIESEL CONCERT: BLUE 34    Held at Kiesel Park. Free & open to all. Bring family & friends, a picnic supper, lawn chairs and even the family dog.   

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 7:30 PM – GNU’S ROOM: WAYNE GREENHAW   Held at the Gnu’s Room on Gay (next to Amsterdam’s). Free & open to all; refreshments served. Wayne Greenhaw, a published novelist, non-fiction writer, playwright and poet, is this much featured artist. Free coffee, tea and dessert will be served. For further info: Tina Tatum 821-5550. 

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1:00 – 4:00 PM – CHEWUP / TOUR OF WARD’S FARM   Held at Mike Ward’s farm.Friends of Chewacla Creek & Uphapee Watershed/CHEWUP will host a visit to Mike Ward’s farm and his RV park and a tour Chewacla Creek below the city of Auburn’s Southside sewage treatment plant.  Directions at Ward’s website: www.BARWrvpark.com  (note: Along with being downstream of the sewage treatment plant, Ward’s farm adjoins the new Greens At Auburn project at Sandhill & S. College.)  

CITY OF AUBURN PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS / status reports  — For details of current projects, including photos, go to: www.auburnalabama.org/pubworks/weekly_status_reports.htm  —————————————————————————————————————American Planning Association Publishes Report on Decentralized Wastewater Treatment  —  The APA Planning Advisory Service recently released Planning Issues for On-Site and Decentralized Wastewater Treatment. The report shows why, ideally, planners, not engineers or sanitarians, should be coordinating community discussions about which areas should be sewered and which should be served by decentralized wastewater treatment to achieve community goals for growth, safer drinking water, and less pollution of natural resources. For details on the report and ordering information, please visit their web page http://www.planning.org/pas/reports.htm.  

Alabama Natural Heritage Program moves to Auburn University  –  The Alabama Natural Heritage Program (ALNHP) recently became a sub-program under the Auburn University’s Environmental Institute. The ALNHP was begun in January 1989 to identify significant natural “elements” (rare and endangered species and communities of species) and to help establish conservation priorities in Alabama. Natural heritage programs or conservation data centers are established in all 50 states, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Until recently, the ALNHP was administered under the Nature Conservancy. Its move to Auburn University builds on the existing collaborations between ALNHP staff and academic researchers throughout the State of Alabama. For more information about the ALNHP, please visit their webpage at www.alnhp.org.  

These two items courtesy of the AU Environmental Institute.  Check out their website at: http://auei.auburn.edu/

Thanks for your interest and support.

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Weather and Local Issues Heating Up

by Lisa Brouillette   (first published in Opelika-Auburn News; May 18, 2007)

“Water, water everywhere, and every drop fit to drink” could be the motto of local water conservation groups such as Save Our Saugahatchee (SOS), Friends of Chewacla Creek & Uphapee Watershed (ChewUp), and the AU-based Alabama Water Watch.

These groups don’t just talk, they act. For example, they are involved in proactive statewide efforts to improve water policy and insure a safe, adequate water supply — see details at AlabamaWaterAgenda.com. Considering the scarce rainfall lately, we all undertand the importance of a good water supply.

Members of these groups educate schoolchildren, the general public and government officials on ways to protect our water resources. They also painstakingly gather data on the health and purity (or lack thereof) of our local creeks.

Problems unearthed by their locally-collected data prompted an in-depth ADEM study of specific creeks in Lee County. That study, which documented high levels of what we laypersons might term ‘yucky stuff’ in the water, wasn’t conclusive as to all the sources of the problem pollutants. However, a further ADEM study to locate those sources will be conducted later this year.

Members also helped obtain a recent grant to SWaMP – the Saugahatchee Watershed Management Plan, a partnership between Alabama Water Watch and local governments and agencies. This funding will allow SWaMP to put their good ideas into action locally to reduce erosion and pollution.

Anyone interested in keeping our water clean and clear would do well to join and support these effective local groups. If you aren’t a joining type, consider a donation.

Want an extra punch for your donation? Buy tickets to the SOS fundraising raffle, open through May 28. The enticing prizes – generously donated by the restaurants involved — are dinner for two at either Auburn City Limits or the Yellowhammer Restaurant. For tickets, contact SOS president Wendy Seesock at 334-821-2299.

* * * * * *

A recurring source of local friction is incursion into existing residential neighborhoods by new development, particularly commercial development. This is made worse by the lack of adequate, accurate notification of adjacent owners.

Richland Road is a case in point. Although one developer may remove plans to put retail/commercial smack in the middle of existing, large-lot rural homes, that incompatible use is still possible on another nearby parcel.

On the other side of town, the Sunset Drive neighborhood and other homeowners on Cox Road are again facing massive changes from traffic increases and possible commercial uses near their homes. This is due to planned infrastructure and road expansion, and the development that will encourage. Involved are the connection of Cox Road with the proposed Outer Loop and the West Tech Park interchange, and the extension of Longleaf Drive to Cox Road.

A corollary note: watch Auburn’s mid-biennium adjustment, which will tweak the city’s 2007-08 budget, for large adjustments to accommodate projects not previously budgeted, especially those related to infrastructure, growth and development.

One major positive change on the local horizon: Auburn University will soon install its new president – Jay Gouge. Here’s hoping Dr. Gouge will bring AU the changes and leadership it so desperately needs.

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Welcome to the PLACE Forum blog.

You’ll find information, documents, opinions, lists of events and meetings focused on the Lee County region of Alabama. There will also be discussion of statewide and regional issues, and an occasional national item.

We’re just getting started with our blog, and will be adding content frequently.  Information is also posted at our old site  http://groups.msn.com/PLACEcoalition.

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