Auburn Hires New Police Officer

• Who met: Auburn City Council
• Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011
• Location: Auburn Municipal Court Chambers
• Who was present: Mayor Linda Blechinger, council members Donna Scouten, Dorissa Shackleford, Peggy Langley, and Robert Vogel, City Administrator Ron Griffith, City Clerk Rafael Avalos, Police Chief Paul Nadeau and City Planner Larry Lucas
• Top agenda items:

1. Auburn has hired a new police officer. Lt. Carl Maulder, who served with Gwinnett County's police department for 25 years, will be the new uniform patrol division commander. "He's a very well-qualified, very well-spoken, very humble man. We're just lucky to be able to employ him at our agency," Police Chief Paul Nadeau said. 
2. The city was awarded $300,000 in transportation enhancement project funds last week. Robert and Company Planning applied for the award on behalf of the city, and the money will go toward creating a downtown visitor's center, including nearby road improvements and sidewalks. "We're very excited about it," Mayor Linda Blechinger said.
3. The council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of 19 tasers for Auburn's police department at a total cost of $18,116.75. This will equip all sworn personnel with a Taser plus provide a spare. 
4. The council also voted to approve the Auburn Redevelopment Plan. The plan designates parts of Carter Road, Parks Mill and Main Street as blighted and Auburn Station, the Downtown District and Auburn Business Park as economically distressed. Approving this plan will allow the city to apply for grants with the state department, Internal Revenue Service and other federal agencies and give businesses special tax incentives which they did not qualify for without such a plan in place. 
5. The council approved a resolution declaring October 7 through 16, 2011, as American Craft Week. The week coincides with Auburnfest and is intended to be a celebration of hand-made crafts.

The Auburn City Council will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. June 16 at .