MEETINGS, EVENTS & UPDATES THIS WEEK
CITY OF AUBURN WATER RATES TO INCREASE: Water Rates to Increase July 1, 2009 -
http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2009/wrm061109.asp
CONTINUING THROUGH TUESDAY, JUNE 30 —- 11TH ANNUAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION
Held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, Auburn Arts Association gallery. Free & open to all.
Come view this 11th annual juried art exhibition / competitive exhibition open to artists and craftspersons in Lee County.
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM — DR. MICHAEL IRWIN / SLEEP APNEA
Held at the Health Resource Center, 2027 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika. Â Part of the OLLI at Auburn Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series. Â Info: www.olliatauburn.org, or call the Outreach Program Office 334-844-5100.
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 6:00 - 8:00 pm CST — LEE COUNTY MASTER PLAN TOWN HALL MEETINGS
Held at: *Beauregard High School  and *Loachapoka High School
Open to all who live and/or work in Lee County. Open to those within cities and those in unincorporated areas of the county. *Attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you. All meetings will have the same agenda and will be two hours long.
Agenda: discuss previous input on the Lee County Master Plan, draft goals for the future and conceptual development map. In addition to growth and development, discussion will focus on the natural environment, transportation, parks & recreation housing and other aspect of our quality of life.
Public input will continue to guide the creation of this FIRST master plan for Lee County  The plan will have a strong focus on the unincorporated portions of the county. However, please note input is invited from those from within cities and from those in the unincorporated areas of the county.  More info: Wendy Swann, Governmental Relations Coordinator, Lee County Commission (334) 737-3674 or wswann@leeco.us.  www.leeco.us/masterplan/
Additional Lee County Master Plan town hall meetings this week:
Tuesday, June 16, 6:00 - 8:00 pm CST — *Beulah High School and *Lee County Courthouse Annex/Opelika (Old Johnson Gallery Building)
Thursday, June 18, 6:00 - 8:00 pm CST Â — *Smiths Station High School
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 3:00 - 6:00 PM — OPELIKA MAIN STREET FARMERS’ MARKET
Held on South Railroad Ave, downtown Opelika. Open to all.
This market is open every Tuesday through out the summer. Produce is grown by local farmers. Please call Velinda at 334.745.0466 or e-mail opelkamainst@aol.com for more information.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 6:00 - 8:00 pm CST — LEE COUNTY MASTER PLAN TOWN HALL MEETING
Held at: *Beulah High School and *Lee County Courthouse Annex/Opelika (Old Johnson Gallery Building)
Open to all who live and/or work in Lee County. Open to those within cities and those in unincorporated areas of the county.
Agenda: see details above, Monday, 6:00 pm, Lee County Master Plan Town Hall Meeting. www.leeco.us/masterplan/
Additional Lee County Master Plan meeting this week: Thursday, June 18, 6:00 - 8:00 pm CST Â — *Smiths Station High School
TUESDAY, JUNE 16 Â – OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL
6:35 pm - work session / 7:00 PM - regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika. Â Open to all. Agenda: www.opelika.org/
Work session agenda includes:
(1) - Â a. Â Resolution/agreement, Fire Dept. testing
(2) - Â a. Â Resolution/agreement with Opelika Housing Authority; Â b. Â General updates.
(3) -  Discuss/review CM agenda items of 6/16/09: a.  Remarks by Mayor;  b.  General business;  c  Bids;  d.  Resolutions;  e.  Ordinances;  f.  Board Appointments
(4) -  Discussion  …. City Council: a.  New / Old Business;  b.  Board appointments;  c.  Other City business.
Regular session agenda includes:
6) Â UNFINISHED BUSINESS Â -
7) Â REMARKS BY THE MAYOR - Â Gary Fuller
1. Â Building Inspection report for May 2009.
2. Â City Financial Summary for May 2009.
8.) CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS - (Limit comments to five minutes or less)
9) Â REPORT OF DISBURSEMENTS
10) COMMITTEE REPORTS
11) GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Â Public Hearing, project development agreement with Sonam Consulting.
2. Â Public Hearing, project development agreement with Event Center Downtown. (see details below*)
12) AWARDING OF BIDS
13) Â RESOLUTIONS
1. Â Refund of occupational license fees.
2. Â Special appropriation from Ward 1 to Covington Recreation Center for a flag and flagpole.
3. Â Development agreement with Sonam Consulting.
4. Â Development agreement with Event Center Downtown. (see details below*)
14) Â ORDINANCES
1. Â Amend Chapter 19 of City Code; display of vehicles, boats, trailers, campers, etc. 2nd Reading.
15) Â APPOINTMENTS
16) Â ADJOURN
* PUBLIC HEARING: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH EVENT CENTER DOWNTOWN LLC – Held during the regular Opelika City Council meeting. Agenda: including, but not limited to, consideration of the following:
1. Â Â Â The authorization by the City Council, pursuant to Amendment 642 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 of a resolution (the “resolution”) approving the execution and delivery of a Project Development Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the City and Event Center Downtown, LLC (the “Company”).
2. Â Â Â Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will acquire and renovate the building located at 614 North Railroad Avenue in the corporate limits of the City in accordance with plans and drawings submitted to the City. The Company will utilize the project as an event center in the downtown business district (the “Project”). Â In consideration of such obligation of the Company, the City will (i) make a cash grant to the Company in the amount of $40,000 to assist the Company in paving the parking lot for public use, (ii) waive all building, permitting and plan review fees required by the City for the Project, and (iii) waive the sewer assessment fee for the Project.
3. Â Â Â The City seeks to achieve, by undertaking its obligations pursuant to the Agreement and the Resolution, to promote the local economic development of the City by facilitating the acquisition and construction of the Project for the benefit of the general public and to increase employment in the City and to increase the tax and revenue base of the City.
4. Â Â Â The business entity to whom or for whose benefit the City proposes to grant public funds or thing of value is Event Center Downtown, LLC.
5. Â Â Â All interested persons may examine and review the Agreement and the Resolution, and make copies thereof at personal expense, at the offices of the City Clerk during normal business hours before and after the meeting referenced herein.
6. Â Â Â All interested persons shall have the opportunity to speak for or in opposition to the adoption of the Resolution and the Project Development Agreement at a public hearing held by the City Council on June 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
7. Â Â Â Further information in this notice can be obtained from the City Clerk at City Hall during normal business hours. [Opelika City Clerk, Opelika City Hall, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika, Alabama 36803; Phone: (334) 705-5110; Email: rshuman@ci.opelika.al.us; Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.]
** Changes to the zoning ordinance and annexation policy will be considered at this meeting.**
TUESDAY, JUNE 16 — AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
6:55 pm-Committee of the Whole / Â 7:00 pm - Regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet: Â www.auburnalabama.org/agenda
Committee of the Whole agenda includes:
3. BOARD AND COMMISSIONS. Nominations.
a. Indian Pines Recreation Authority. One Vacancy. Incumbent: Jim Hansen (has served one partial term). Four Year Term Expires June 20, 2013.
b. Cemeteries Advisory Board. One Vacancy. Resignation-Linda Silvern. Unexpired Term Ends February 4, 2012.
Regular meeting agenda includes:
7. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS.
8. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. City Manager Duggan.
9. ORDINANCES.
a. Zoning Ordinance. Text Amendments. Exempt Signs, Conditional Uses and Amendments & Effect of Conditional Use Approval. Planning Commission Recommendations. Public Hearing Required. Unanimous Consent Necessary.
b. Uniform Non-Traffic Citations. Amend Section 13-13 of the Code of the City of Auburn. Unanimous Consent Necessary.
10. RESOLUTIONS.
a. Industrial Development Board. Tax Abatements.
(1) Cumberland Plastic Systems, LLC. 229 Teague Court
(2) Donaldson Company, Inc. 246 Enterprise Drive
b. $9 Million Bonds. Special Five Mill Tax Fund. Bond Purchase Agreement. Frazer Lanier Company - Bond Underwriters.
c. Annexation Policy. Planning Commission Recommendation. Amend Annexation Policy Adopted by Resolution No. 07-328.
d. FBI National Academy. Advance Travel Funds for James Tatum. $2,500.
e. McIntyre Building Company. Gregory Forthofer (Authorized Representative). Subdivision Amenity-Swimming Pool and Restroom Facilities (Tuscany Hills Pool Amenity) in the Development District Housing (DDH) Zoning District. Property Located at 125 Tuscany Hills Drive. Conditional Use Approval. TABLED FROM JUNE 2, 2009 MEETING.
f. Contracts. Authorize Mayor and City Manager to Sign.
(1) $213,834. Public Works Department. FY09 Streets Restriping Project. Hornsby Striping Company, Inc.
(2) $144,770. Water Resource Management Department. Bent Creek West Sewer - Phase II (Segment C) Project. Jordan Excavating, Inc.
(3) $72,838.80. Public Safety Department. Purchase Twelve (12) Digital Multi-Band Radios. Motorola, Inc. State Contract T300.
g. Drainage and Utility Easements and Rights-of-Way. Acceptance. Stone Creek Subdivision, Phase One. Auburn Investments, LLC.
h. Vacate Right-of-Way.Old Auburn Tuskegee Highway. Property Located Behind War Eagle Supper Club, Econo Lodge, and Waffle House on South College Street. Quit Claim Deed. TABLED FROM JUNE 2, 2009 MEETING. Public Hearing Continued.
i. Bicycle Facility Naming Policy. Adoption.
j. Boards and Commissions. Appointments.
a. Indian Pines Recreation Authority. One Position. Four Year Term Expires June 20, 2013.
b. Cemeteries Advisory Board. One Position. Unexpired Term Ends February 4, 2012.
11. OTHER BUSINESS.
12. ADJOURNMENT.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Â — AUBURN BEAUTIFICATION COUNCIL
Held at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E. Glenn Ave. Â Open to all persons interested in keeping Auburn beautiful. Lunch is provided. Â http://www.auburnbeautification.org/
WEDNESDAYS, 5:30 - 7:00 PM — WEEKLY ECO HAPPY HOUR & GREEN DRINKS
Held in the back room of Zazu’s Eclectic Eatery (formerly Buffalo’s), E. Magnolia, downtown Auburn. Open to all.
This is a time and location for people to gather and discuss “Green”/”Eco”/sustainability-related issues while socializing at a locally-owned venue. Â Everyone from “professionals” to those who are just curious are welcome. This will be a child-friendly gathering for those with little ones (or even medium-sized ones), with a large space and table/floor space for them to play and still be in direct eyesight/earshot. Â Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 6:00 PM Â — LEE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
NEW MEETING PLACE! Â Now held at Auburn University Club. 1499 N. Donahue Road.
6:00 pm - buffet dinner ($11, tax & tip included)
6:50 pm -Speaker: Lindsay Waits - “Social Networking for Political Organizations.”
Lindsay Waits is a public relations professional and freelance writer, with contributions to East Alabama Living, Travel Host Chicagoland, and Lee Magazine. During last year’s campaign, she was Communications Director for the Alabama Democratic Party and spoke briefly to our group with Jim Spearman, Executive Director. Â Lindsay will speak to us about the use of the Internet and new networking techniques useful for the advancement of political goals. She is currently working in three areas - Outreach Director for Conservation Alabama, Co-owner of Destination Fitness, LLC, and Hospitality Instructor for Jacksonville State University. From 2006 to 2008 she was Director of Education for International Safe Travels Foundation. Â She has a B.S. in Psychology and Political Science from Jacksonville State and a Masters in Hospitality and Tourism from AU where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Eta Sigma Delta honor societies.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 9:00 am - ALABAMA HOME BUILDERS LICENSURE BOARD Â / Special called meeting
Held at 445 Herron Street, Mont. Open to all. Ph: 334-242-2230
Agenda: Investigative Committee Meeting
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 9:00 am - AUBURN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Held in the Auburn University Hotel & Dixon Conference Center, Ballroom B. 334-844-4866. Open to all.
Agenda: Committee Meetings and Meeting of the Board of Trustees
http://www.auburn.edu/administration/trustees/meetings.html
THURSDAY, JUNE 18 - FRIDAY, JUNE 19 Â – GOING GREEN: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Held at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. Â Go to http://www.auburn.edu/ecdi/green09.html to learn more about the course, view the agenda or register online using a check or credit card. The registration fee is $225.
Presented by AU’s Economic and Community Development Institute. During this course, leading economic and community-development experts will present innovative sustainability ideas and practices. Course topics will include sustainable community design, LEED-certified neighborhoods and the Alabama Clean Fuels Initiative. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and talk about the challenges, possibilities and potential of “going green.” The course curriculum is specifically targeted to meet the training and educational needs of economic developers, chamber of commerce officials, state and local elected officials and community leaders, utility company representatives, community and regional planners and sustainable development practitioner-scholars. This course is the second of three 2009 Alabama Prosperity Forum courses designed to focus on areas in which Alabama economic development professionals have expressed a desire for more training. Further questions about this new ECDI course can be directed to Allyson Martin at ahm0007@auburn.edu or 844-3685.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, NOON — OPELIKA LIBRARY SPEAKER SERIES / Inspirational speaker Sara DuBose
Held at the Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library, 200 S. 6th Street, Opelika. Â http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=435
Free & open to all. Â More info: 334.705.5380 or e-mail tcooper@ci.opelika.al.us
Brown bag lunch program. Feel free to bring your lunch; ice, cups & coffee provided.
Upcoming speaker: June 25 - Financial planner, Brenda Dozier.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 3:00 - 6:00 PM — AUBURN FARMERS’ MARKET AT AG HERITAGE PARK
Held at AU’s Ag Heritage Park, Samford Avenue. http://www.ag.auburn.edu/adm/comm/themarket/
The Auburn Farmer’s Market will be held Thursdays, 3:00 pm-6:00 pm, May 21-Aug. 27. Â Check out the farmers’ market, a seasonal market which gives local farmers and producers an opportunity to sell directly to their customers, and which gives us all a chance to buy fresh, tasty, locally produced food. Entrance is free, so if you haven’t been before, come and have a look! For more information and directions, visit the website here. (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/adm/comm/themarket/). For more info on the market, contact market manager Dani Carroll 334-749-3353 or carrodl@auburn.edu. [Note the market has moved from its previous location on Samford Ave across from the Athletic Complex to the greenspace on the opposite side of the park's pond, near the Alfa Farmers Pavilion. The entrance will be on Donahue Drive.]
THURSDAY, JUNE 18 , 4:00 pm - AUBURN WATER WORKS BOARD
Held in the Water Resource Management Conference Room, 1501 West Samford Avenue (Shug Jordan and West Samford). Info: 501-3060. The Board meets on the 1st Thursday after the 3rd Tuesday of each month. http://www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/
**Amendment to the zoning ordinance definition of “family” will be discussed at this meeting.**
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 4:00 pm-OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION / WORK SESSION
Held at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika Public Works bldg. Open to all. www.opelika.org
(The regular Opelika PC meeting will be held in the same location next Tuesday, June 23, 3:00 pm.)
Agenda includes:
A. Â Â Â PLATS (preliminary and prel. & final) - Public Hearing
1. Â Â Â Arrowhead S/D, Revision of Lot 26A, 2 lots, Lee Road 704, Ray Thomas, Preliminary and Final Approval
2. Â Â Â Teel S/D, 1st Addition, 2 lots, 447 Lee Road 265, Ken Teel, P/F Approval
3. Â Â Â Fox Run Development S/D, Resubdivision of Lands, 2 lots, Fox Run Parkway, Â Fox Run Development , LLC, P/F Approval
B. Â Â Â ADMINISTRATIVE PLAT - Ratify
4. Â Â Â T & D S/D, 2 lots, 550 Lee Road 117, William T. Pitts, Â Ratify
C. Â Â Â REZONING Â - Public Hearing
5. Â Â Â Hamilton Gables, Hamilton Road, 7 acres, from R-3 to PUD
6 Â Â Â Allan & Lisa Campfield, 1 lot (17,000 sf), R-3 to C-2, GC-1
D. Â Â AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE - Public Hearing
7. Â Â Â Section 2.2 Definitions - Family
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 4:30 PM — SPECIAL CALLED MEETING / OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION
Held at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika Public Works bldg. Open to all. www.opelika.org
Note: At a special called meeting official votes may be taken on agenda items. Agenda includes:
A. Â Â CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL
1. Â Â Solstice, Ltd., Century Boulevard, R-5, 56 unit duplex development. (Tabled at May 26th PC meeting).
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 5:00 - 8:00 PM —- JCSM FREE NIGHT WARHOL MOVIE / 13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Free & open to the public. www.jcsm.auburn.edu
As programming for the exhibition Polaroid Sketchbook: Photographs by Andy Warhol in the Permanent Collection, JCSM presents 13 Most Beautiful … Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests. Between 1964 and 1966, Andy Warhol shot nearly 500 short films he later called Screen Tests, beautiful and revealing portraits of hundreds of different individuals, from the famous to the anonymous. Â Warhol filmed the subjects on silent, black and white, 100-foot rolls of film. The resulting two-and-a-half-minute film reels were then screened in slow motion, resulting in a fascinating collection of four-minute portrait studies. Released in conjunction with The Andy Warhol Museum, 13 Most Beautiful…Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests features 13 of Warhol’s classic silent film portraits set to original music by songwriters Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 5:30 PM — NETWORKING / CITIZENS CONCERNED ABOUT NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE ETHICS REFORM
This is an excerpt from June 10, 2009, Opelika-Auburn News letter-to-the-editor by Frank Dillman, Notasulga: “Citizens wanting to network with other concerned citizens about the need of Legislative ethics reform are invited to Golden Corral restaurant at 2301 Birmingham Highway, Opelika, at 5:30 pm on June 18. Â Not a free dinner but the time spent with other concerned citizens may be a start of something.”
[PLACE editorial note: To see the full letter online, scroll down to the second letter at this link: http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/opinion/letters/article/letters_another_alternative_to_fossil_fuels_is_renewable_hardwood_trees/76517/.]
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 6:00 - 8:00 pm CST — LEE COUNTY MASTER PLAN TOWN HALL MEETING
Held at: *Smiths Station High School.
Open to all who live and/or work in Lee County. Open to those within cities and those in unincorporated areas of the county.
Agenda: see details above, Monday, 6:00 pm, Lee County Master Plan Town Hall Meeting. www.leeco.us/masterplan/
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 7:00 PM — SCIENCE CAFÉ AUBURN / At The Gnu’s Room www.thegnusroom.com
Held at The Gnu’s Room Bookstore & Coffee House, 414 S. Gay Street, Auburn. More info: Tina Tatum, tina@thegnusroom.com or 334-821- 5550.
Biologist Geoffrey Sorrell will be speaking on the topic Natural Landscapes and Overlooked Inhabitants of the Southeast. Sorrell works for Auburn University in association with the Department of Biology and the School of Forestry and Wildlife Science. His interests lie in restoration and maintenance of ecosystem integrity, fire ecology, and herpetology.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 Â – GOING GREEN: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
See details above, Thursday, June 18.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 9:00 am - AUBURN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Held in the Auburn University Hotel & Dixon Conference Center, Ballroom B. 334-844-4866. Open to all.
Agenda: Committee Meetings and Meeting of the Board of Trustees
http://www.auburn.edu/administration/trustees/meetings.html
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 11:00 am — ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Held in the Alabama Room (Main Hearing Room), ADEM Building, 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Mont. Ph: 334-271-7706. Open to the public.
Agenda includes:
1. Consideration of minutes of meeting held on April 17, 2009
2. Report from the Director
3. Report from the Commission Chair
4. Discussion and consideration of a proposal for development of a form for the evaluation of the Director - The Commission will discuss and consider a Proposal for Development of a Form for the Evaluation of the Director - March 15, 2009, from Auburn Montgomery, Center for Government, Robert T. Ashurst.
5. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code 335-6-8 Ground Water and Underground Injection Control Regulations - The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code 335-6-8, Ground Water and Underground Injection Control Regulations to provide clarification of permitting requirements for Class V wells; to prohibit discharges from a particular type of well; and, to revise public notice procedures for a Class V injection well general permit to be consistent with other ADEM Admin. Code division 335-6 public notice procedures for a general permit. Â The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on March 6, 2009, and extended the public comment period to May 18, 2009.
6. Chalkville, L.L.C. v. ADEM, EMC Docket No. 00-19 (NPDES-Related Matter) - The Commission will consider the “Joint Motion to Dismiss of Chalkville, L.L.C. and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management” in this appeal concerning ADEM Administrative Order 00-179-MNPS issued to Chalkville, L.L.C., Chalkville Commercial Development, Jefferson County, ALR103335.
7. John Jordan, Sr. d/b/a Alabama Recycling v. ADEM, EMC Docket No. 08-02 - The Commission will consider the “Recommendation of Hearing Officer” in this appeal concerning ADEM Administrative Order 08-047-AP issued on November 19, 2007, to John Jordan, Sr. and John Jordan, Jr. d/b/a Alabama Recycling, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Air Facility ID No. 209-0094.
8. Portersville Revival Group, Inc. v. ADEM, and Utilities Board of the City of Bayou La Batre, Intervenor, EMC Docket No. 09-01 (NPDES-Related Matter) - The Commission will consider the “Recommendation of Hearing Officer” in this appeal concerning ADEM’s issuance of NPDES Permit AL0078921 to Bayou La Batre Utilities Board proposed wastewater treatment plant.
9. Other business
10. Future business session
* The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.alabama.gov, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.
** The Minutes for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website under EMC Information.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1:00 PM — ADECA PUBLIC HEARING / ACHR-LEE COUNTY WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATION
Held at Opelika City Hall, 204 S. 7th Street, Opelika. Open to all. http://www.leeco.us/newsdetail175.html
ADECA will hold a public hearing to discuss the Alabama Council on Human Relations recent application to administer the Weatherization Assistance Program for Lee County. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 6:00 - 9:30 PM — SUMMERNIGHT: A CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS / Arts, crafts, poetry, children’s activities, food & entertainment
Held in downtown Auburn. Free to the public. Â (Rain date is Saturday, June 20.)
The City of Auburn, Auburn Arts Association, Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center and Downtown Auburn Merchants will host SummerNight 2009. This annual event is for local artists and musicians to display their talents, while offering the community a chance to enjoy an evening in the downtown area. Downtown merchants and restaurants will remain open after regular business hours. Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and shop, dine and enjoy the downtown atmosphere. Local artists will have their work on display and local musicians will entertain the public on Toomer’s Corner. This event will also include children’s activities earlier in the evening.  More info, including musical line-up, at  www.auburnsummernight.com; or contact Sara Hand at 501-2947 or at shand@auburnalabama.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 8:00 AM - NOON —- KEEP OPELIKA BEAUTIFUL SUMMER ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT
Held at Miles Thomas Field, off Rocky Brook Road, Opelika.
Opelika citizens are encouraged to participate in Keep Opelika Beautiful’s recycling event. Â KOB will partner with Creative Recycling (Palmetto, GA) to host this event. Â Items available for recycling include: TVs, computer screens, CD & DVD drives, scanners, kitchen appliances, video games, microwaves and cell phones. Â There is a $10 fee for disposal of a TV, but no charge for other items. Those with bulk items should contact Creative Recycling directly for pick-ups. For directions to the site, or a full list of items accepted for recycling, contact Keep Opelika Beautiful (KOB) 749-4970.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 9:00 — THE LAYMAN’S GROUP / Board of Directors Informational Breakfast meeting
Held at The Gnu’s Room, 414 S. Gay Street, Auburn. Â All interested in The Layman’s Group and participation on its board of directors are invited to attend. For more info go to http://www.thelaymangroup.org/board.htm or contact Doc Waller at 206-338-3930 or doc@thelaymangroup.org.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm — LEE COUNTY TOUR OF HOMES 2009
Also held on Sunday, June 21, 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Tours begin from the Auburn & Opelika Chambers of Commerce. Free & open to all. www.eawcr.com
The East Alabama Chapter of the Women’s Council of REALTORS® hosts this opportunity for the entire community to see what is being offered for sale in Lee County.  Homes will be open to the public, free of charge. Starting points for the Tour of Homes will be at the Auburn and Opelika Chambers of Commerce where tour viewers will receive a 2009 Tour of Homes publication and a map for the tour homes. The community will have the opportunity to view over 20 new homes and learn information on many of the area’s top builders. Proceeds from the 2009 Tour of Homes will help endow scholarship for a deserving female enrolled at Auburn University, pursuing a degree within the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. More info: contact chairman of the event, Sylvia Paul at 334-319-0491; email: smpaul@hughes.net
SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 5:00 PM - TRIBAL FUSION BELLYDANCE BY SERAPHINA
Held at The Gnu’s Room, 414 S. Gay Street, Auburn. Â www.thegnusroom.com
Local instructor, Seraphina, will be demonstrating Tribal Fusion Bellydance at The Gnu’s Room. This particular style of Bellydance, grew from American Tribal Style, and is now growing in popularity across the world. Â Tribal Fusion pulls influences from other dances including, but not limited to: hip hop, classical Indian, modern and Egyptian bellydance. Â Known as the “underworld of bellydance,” it offers a darker more folkloric approach to the art of *raqs sharqi.* Enjoy Seraphina’s performance followed by a quick lesson on some of the basic moves. Â Her newest project, a student performing troupe, will be introduced at this event. Â Come and meet the members of the premiere Tribal Fusion Bellydance troupe in Auburn!
SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 1:00 - 5:00 pm  — LEE COUNTY TOUR OF HOMES 2009
See details above, Saturday, June 20. www.eawcr.com
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Â JUNE 20
THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM - 2009 CULTURAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT / ADVANCING OUR CULTURAL IMPRINT www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Registration $20, includes lunch & other incidentals.
Registration deadline: June 20. Space is limited, so register early.
Registration, schedule & other details online at www.jcsm.auburn.edu/summit.
Join this gathering of representatives of Alabama’s cultural and educational entities; stay through lunch for informal networking and discussion. The 2009 Cultural Leadership Summit, “Advancing Our Cultural Imprint: A Conversation on Increasing Awareness and Building Effective Advocates for the Arts and Humanities in Our Great State,” will focus on the important role of the arts, history, and culture in generating a desirable quality of life in Alabama. The goal will be to explore how we can come together to support and showcase our crucial significance to economic development, improvement of human resources, and overall enrichment of the lives of the citizens of this state. In difficult economic times, cultural institutions too often find themselves being relegated to a secondary position as the state and individual communities struggle to deal with financial cutbacks. The reality is that in such hard times the role of educational and cultural entities becomes even more vital as a place for dialogue and learning. We not only provide programs for free or minimal cost, but we also provide learning experiences that empower people to set priorities and make decisions for our future.
RESERVATIONS OPEN NOW:
SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1:00 - 3:00 PM - RAIN BARREL WORKSHOP
Held at Kiesel Park, Auburn. Register via email to Tia Gonzalez gonzats@auburn.edu.
Participants will build and take home a completed rain barrel.
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CITY OF AUBURN PRESS RELEASES:
** Water Rates to Increase July 1, 2009 — http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2009/wrm061109.asp
** Auburn Named Top 10 Best Place to Live by US News & World Report — http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2009/ocm060909.asp
** Auburn Arts Association and City of Auburn to host SummerNight Downtown Art Walk Friday, June 19 (Revised 06/09/09) Â – http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2009/pr060309.asp
CITY OF AUBURN BOARD VACANCIES:
* Cemeteries Advisory Board — one vacancy will be announced & filled at the June 16 City Council meeting. (Resignation-Linda Silvern. Unexpired Term Ends February 4, 2012.)
* Indian Pines Recreation Authority - one vacancy will be filled at the June 16 City Council meeting. (Incumbent James R Hansen has served one full term & is eligible for reappointment.)
* Auburn Downtown Redevelopment Authority - three vacancies will be filled at the July 7 City Council meeting. (Incumbents Phillip Fretwell and Jim Douglas have served two full terms; incumbent Robert Poole has served one partial and one full term.)
* Greenspace Advisory Board - one vacancy will be filled at the August 4 City Council meeting. (Incumbent Cliff Webber has served one partial term & is eligible for reappointment.)
* Water Works Board - one vacancy will be filled at the August 4 City Council meeting. (Incumbent James Baird has served one partial term & is eligble for reappointment.)
Citizens interested in serving are encouraged to contact their City Council member, the entire City Council (coagbemail@auburnalabama.org) Â or notify the City Manager’s Office at webocm@auburnalabama.org or 501-7260. Information on the city’s boards and commissions, including current members and their terms, available online at http://www.auburnalabama.org/BoardsandCommissions/Boards.aspx.
CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/status.asp
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/status.asp
LEE COUNTY COMMISSION CONSIDERING GARBAGE DISPOSAL RATE INCREASE / PUBLIC HEARING JULY 13 www.leeco.us
The Lee County Commission will consider enacting a garbage fee disposal rate increase for citizens of Lee County currently using Lee County Convenience Centers, from $12 a month to $16 a month for residential users and from $24 a month to $48 a month for commercial users. (The current rate was set on Oct. 1, 1995.) Â The rate would then be adjusted yearly based upon the Consumer Price Index. A public hearing on the proposed rate increase will be held during the 6:00 pm, July 13, 2009, Lee County Commission meeting after which the County Commission will take action on the proposed increase. If enacted the rate increase would become effective Oct. 1, 2009 to be first collected starting Oct. 1, 2010.
LEE COUNTY FORMS ‘COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE’ FOR 2010 CENSUS
The 2010 Census is quickly approaching and to help spread the word about the Census’ importance, the Lee County Commission announces the formation of a Complete County Committee. The CCC will be comprised of citizens and public agencies and will assist with outreach efforts within the community. Having an accurate count of Lee County citizens is vital to federal funding the county may receive to assist with improving and expanding services. Â Interested citizens may contact Wendy Swann at 334-737-3674 or wswann@leeco.us for more information. www.leeco.us
WE SHOULD ADOPT ENERGY CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN ALL WE DO / DAVID NEWTON
Published June 8 as a letter-to-the-editor, Opelika-Auburn News; www.oanow.com.
In May, the Center for Naval Analysis released “Powering America’s Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security.” Among the conclusions was, “U.S. dependence on fossil fuels undermines economic stability, which is critical to national security.”
Also in May, the Union of Concerned Scientists asserted in The Climate 2030 Blueprint “we can build a competitive clean energy economy that will save consumers money and give our children a healthy future.”
In late May, some 500 CEOs and other business experts, at the World Business Summit on Climate Change, concluded there should be “immediate and substantial” reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and at least 50 percent reductions by mid-century.
These influential groups recognize that fossil fuels continue to cause serious security, economic, and environmental problems.
A concern in the Southeast has been the perceived lack of alternatives to fossil fuels, but the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy maintains that we have “sufficient renewable resources to comply with a strong RES” (Renewable Energy Standard). We, as consumers, should help by adopting energy conservation and efficiency in all of our activities.
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Thanks for your interest and support.
PLACE Forum
Email: placeforum@gmail.com
Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/
June 15, 2009
