Auburn Names 2011 Business of the Year

Community and Southern Bank was named Auburn's 2011 Business of the Year at the city council's business meeting July 7.

"Thank you for being a business in our community, and thank you for your community support," said Janet Jeanes with Auburn's Downtown Development Authority.

The bank, located on Main Street, received a plaque and a lawn sign to display as an award.

The previous day, employees from the bank had donated prizes to the library for winners in their children's summer reading program.

"I'm not permitted to tell what the prizes are, but I wish I was a child," Manager Connie Ross said.

"Working in Auburn is just awesome. I encourage all businesses to get involved with their community," she said. 

Other business: 

• The council voted to change the number of municipal court days each month from three to two. One day will be for arraignments and the other will be a trial date. Doing so will save the city an estimated $17,000 in court costs.
• The council approved engineering services and a request for proposal for a stormwater project at 206 Sue Lane. This was listed as a high priority project due to uncontrollable flooding and the danger to property. Costs will come from the city's stormwater fund.
• Revised job descriptions for city jobs were approved. Job qualifications and duties were clarified and added, which will give the city a standard when hiring new employees. 
• The council approved applying for the GMA Health Promotion Grant. Last year the city received $3,000, which was used to host a health fair for city employees with screenings and flu shots. 
• The council approved building inspector Ray Campbell's contract, which adds a new $45 charge for a second inspection done on the same day. Previously there was no charge for this second inspection. 
• Additional funds were approved to go toward the Parks Mill Park project to achieve and maintain soil erosion control standards at state levels. Pittman Construction will receive $4,000, and SoilTek Solutions will receive $1,600 for the work.
• The council approved removing distance restrictions on restaurants wishing to serve beer and wine. Previously a business needed to be at least 300 feet from any school, park or church. The new change reflects state law. 
• Fees for zoning and appeals will decrease to $450. Currently, Auburn charges $750, with each process costing the city about $465. Only one such application has been filed in the last three years. 
• The council voted to further discuss plans for the Fourth Avenue and Mount Moriah Road streetscape design at its next workshop meeting. Current plans include a 6-foot sidewalk with canopies and decorative lampposts. 
• The council adopted a plan for an off-site computer server system.  The Virtual Office Advantage will eliminate the need to have actual computers in most city departments. The cost for the system is $72,384 for the first year. The 13 computers the city will no longer need will be donated to the library. 
• Police Chief Paul Nadeau informed the council that Corporal Tony Lafreniere, Auburn's canine narcotics officer, made 13 felony arrests for the month. "He's been working hard, and he needs to be noted for that," Nadeau said.
• About 15,000 people attended Auburn's Independence Day celebration. "In a very short period of time, we had businesses that did between $2,000 and $3,000 worth of business in a two-hour time period," Mayor Linda Blechinger said.

Auburn's City Council will hold its monthly workshop meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 21.