Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for earlier coverage of this week’s city council meeting, including a data center moratorium and array of public safety measures click here or here.
Auburn celebrated a historic high school sports season, sold a city-owned home and closed out two water projects that finished under budget during Thursday’s City Council meeting.
Officials also approved the auction of two retired Fire Department vehicles and warned residents that tax and water bills could arrive later than usual because of changes in the U.S. Postal Service’s regional sorting process.
The council opened the meeting by honoring the Auburn High School boys cross-country and track and field program.
The Maroons won sectional championships during all three seasons — cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track — for the first time in school history.
Mayor James Giannettino Jr. proclaimed July 9 Auburn High School Maroons Track and Field and Cross Country Day.
Coaches credited the athletes’ work ethic and willingness to compete in events where the team previously lacked depth.
“Our motto was, ‘These workouts are terrible, but we really like winning,’” coach Kristin Garland said.
Coach Bill Gabak said the athletes exceeded what the coaching staff asked of them and came together as a team. He said coaches also transported athletes and arranged indoor practices at Onondaga Community College so they could prepare on the same type of surface used in competition.
“This is a big thing for Auburn track and field to be recognized by the city of Auburn,” Gabak said.
The council later approved the sale of 10 Nelson St. to Rosa Morales for $28,000.
City Manager Jennifer Haines said it was Auburn’s second attempt to sell the property after an earlier deal did not move forward.
“We’re excited that Ms. Morales is planning to make this her primary residence,” Haines said.
The property will be transferred through a quitclaim deed. Morales will be responsible for title and closing costs, including the survey, abstract, transfer tax and any required environmental review.
The purchase agreement also requires the buyer to obtain all necessary permits to renovate the property within 30 days after closing.
Council members approved the sale of a 1993 Spartan-Saulsbury fire pumper and a 2015 Ford Taurus through auction.
Fire Chief Mark Fritz said both vehicles had exceeded their useful service life. The Taurus was previously used by the Police Department before being transferred to the Fire Department.
Fritz said the city asked other departments whether they could use the car, but none expressed interest.
He also said the Fire Department removed equipment and usable parts from the pumper before recommending it for sale. The truck does not have a similar vehicle remaining in the city fleet, limiting the value of keeping it for spare parts.
Fritz estimated the Taurus could bring roughly $1,500 to $2,000 at auction. He said the 33-year-old pumper’s value was harder to predict.
The council also closed capital accounts for improvements at the water filtration plant and an Owasco Lake stream corridor assessment.
Both projects were completed under budget.
The city will return $1,017.19 from the stream corridor project and $117,509.34 from the filtration plant project to the Water Fund. Excess money associated with the filtration project will also be used to reduce borrowing.
Haines recognized Comptroller Mary Beth Leeson, Capital Projects Director Seth Jensen and other staff members for completing the work and closing the accounts.
“It’s very important for us to clean these things up,” Haines said.
Residents may see delays receiving city tax and water bills through the mail.
Haines said city tax bills were delivered to the Auburn Post Office on June 30. The local office previously sorted much of its bulk mail, but staffing changes now require items to be transported to Syracuse and then Rochester.
Mail intended for the Syracuse region is sorted in Rochester, returned to Syracuse, organized by delivery route and then sent back to Auburn.
The process can take five to seven business days, Haines said. The July Fourth holiday added another delay.
The Auburn Post Office had not received the tax bills back for local delivery as of Thursday.
Residents can view or pay their tax bills through the city’s online payment system.
Water bills were delivered to the post office July 8 and are also expected to arrive later than usual. Those bills are dated July 7 and are due July 27.
Residents can sign up for email delivery or use the city’s water customer portal to view bills and make payments.
Haines also announced that the Casey Park pool would open Friday and operate from 1 to 6 p.m. Fridays through Tuesdays for four weeks. The pool will remain closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.
About 530 children registered for Auburn’s summer recreation program, with daily attendance ranging from about 150 to 225 during its first two weeks.
The council ended the public portion of the meeting and entered executive session to discuss a property sale, collective bargaining, personnel matters and the possible employment of a corporation.
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