Nov 03, 2026 Committee of the Whole

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WE'LL CALL TO ORDER TONIGHT'S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 AUBURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

[1. CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Anders.]

[2. MINUTES. October 20, 2026. ]

ANY OPPOSED? AND THOSE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. OKAY.

MISS WITTEN, A BIG NIGHT FOR YOU. BUILDING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS.

YES, SIR. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE POSTPONE THESE APPOINTMENTS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS. AND AS OF TODAY SOME OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COME IN DON'T FULFILL THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE REOPEN THAT AND TAKE THIS UP AT THE NEXT MEETING ON NOVEMBER THE 17TH.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? NO. SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME.

OKAY. IS THAT A WOULD YOU SAY IS THAT A MOTION? IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA ALREADY.

OKAY. SO BUT I IT NEEDS TO BE. IT WAS ON THE AGENDA THAT WAS POSTED.

IT WAS JUST REMOVED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THAT.

I HAD REACHED OUT TO MAYOR PRO TEM WITTEN TO LET HER KNOW.

AND SINCE YOU GUYS AN EMAIL THIS MORNING, BUT I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY PROPER TO HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO ALL WE NEED TO DO IS DISCUSS THIS.

WE CAN MOVE AHEAD. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY GOOD WITH THAT? WE'LL BRING THIS BACK UP ON THE 17TH. REOPEN THE PORTAL.

OKAY. TREE COMMISSION. YES, SIR. WE HAVE THREE VACANCY TERMS.

[3. TREE COMMISSION. Mayor Pro Tem Witten. ]

INCUMBENTS AND RANDALL HAS SERVED ONE FULL TERM.

I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ANN RANDALL FOR A SECOND FULL TERM.

SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR, MISS ANN RANDALL SERVING A SECOND TERM, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. IN THAT MOTION CARRIES.

SECOND VACANCY IS CURRENTLY HELD BY DOUGLAS HANKS.

ONE PARTIAL TERM. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE BOB PARKER FOR A FIRST FULL TERM.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND FOR BOB PARKER.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? MR. HANKS DID NOT REAPPLY.

EXCUSE ME. YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL CONFIRM THAT LATER IN THE AGENDA. AND ON THE THIRD VACANCY. ALICE BUCHANAN HAS SERVED TWO FULL TERMS. I WOULD ASK THAT WE SUSPEND OUR RULES AND NOMINATE ALICE BUCHANAN FOR A THIRD TERM.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND, TO REAPPOINT MISS ALICE BUCHANAN TO HER THIRD TERM.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. AND ONE COMMENT.

WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL APPLICANTS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. AND MISS BUCHANAN WILL BE CONFIRMED LATER ON IN THE AGENDA.

PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. YES, SIR.

[4. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. Mayor Pro Tem Witten. ]

INCUMBENT STACY GILES HAS FULFILLED TWO FULL TERMS. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE DEBBIE BAGWELL FOR A FIRST FULL TERM.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DEBBIE BAGWELL.

ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? I'M VERY EXCITED THAT DEBBIE WANTS TO DO THIS.

SHE FROM HER EDUCATION IS A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S.

SHE'S GOT DEGREES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION. SHE'S ALSO TAUGHT THROUGH HER CAREER.

AND I KNOW SHE'S VERY ACTIVE AT LAKE WILMORE.

AND I THINK SHE WOULD ADD A LOT TO OUR ADVISORY BOARD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND FOR DEBBIE BAGWELL. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CONFIRM THAT LATER ON IN THE AGENDA DISCUSSION TO NAME THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER.

[5. DISCUSSION TO NAME THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER. ]

I'LL READ YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHAT CAPTAIN BERKSHIRE DID.

CAPTAIN ROGER L BERKSHIRE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVING THROUGH A CAREER IN THE FIRE SERVICE.

HE WAS BORN IN SEPTEMBER 26TH, 1945, AND WAS EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF AUBURN AS A FIREMAN ON MARCH 1ST, 1967, MAKING HIM 21 YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN HIS CAREER.

HE ALSO ATTENDED AUBURN UNIVERSITY AND WOULD LATER GO ON TO GRADUATE IN 1971.

ROGER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PARAMEDICS TO WORK FOR THE CITY, ADDING HIM TO A SHORT LIST OF FIREMEN THAT PIONEERED EMS FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.

HE WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, EVENTUALLY LANDING AT THE RANK OF CAPTAIN. ON JANUARY 23RD, 1977, CAPTAIN BERKSHIRE BERKSHIRE RESPONDED TO A 911 CALL ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD FOR REPORTS OF A MAN DOWNED POWER LINES ON A POSSIBLE BURNING HOUSE. 12 OTHER FIREFIGHTERS WOULD RESPOND TO THE INCIDENT.

ON ARRIVAL, CAPTAIN BERKSHIRE LOCATED A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT IN DESPERATE NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION.

HE AND HIS CREW IMMEDIATELY GOT TO WORK, BEGINNING CPR ON THE PATIENT.

DURING THESE EFFORTS, CAPTAIN BERKSHIRE WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ENERGIZED METAL POLE,

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TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT. PLACING OTHERS ABOVE HIMSELF.

THE LEGACY HE LEFT US WAS SO MUCH DEEPER THAN THE CAUSE, HE ANSWERED.

LIVES HE TOUCHED ARE THE YEARS HE SERVED. WHAT HE GAVE US WAS A TRUE GIFT OF LIFE, A SACRIFICE THAT WOULD RESONATE WITH ANYONE THAT EARNS THE PRIVILEGE OF WEARING AN AUBURN UNIFORM THIS COMING JANUARY.

MARK 50 YEARS SINCE THE PASSING OF CAPTAIN ROGER L BROOKSHIER.

I THINK HE WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE TO NAME OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER, OUT ON 280 AFTER HE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

AND UNTIL YOU UNTIL YOU'RE IN THOSE SHOES, IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A MAN OR WOMAN GOES THROUGH.

THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSON. SO I JUST TO HIS FAMILY, I APPRECIATE LETTING US HAVE HIM TILL HE PASSED AWAY.

AND I JUST HOPE WE CAN. IT'LL MEAN SOMETHING TO THE FAMILY IF WE.

AND I'D LIKE TO DO IT IN JANUARY. HAVE IT APPROVED. WE CAN DO IT IN JANUARY, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

MEGAN. IT IS. IF IF I MAY COUNCILMAN DAWSON, WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF WE PUT THIS.

IF THE COUNCIL SO AGREES ON THE VERY NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

SO WE CAN GET PLAQUES AND THINGS ORDERED TO TRY TO MAKE THAT JANUARY.

YES, MA'AM. 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. WOULD YOU BE ALL RIGHT WITH THAT? WHATEVER WORKS. IF THAT WOULD. THAT WOULD GIVE STAFF THE AUTHORIZATION TO TO GET MOVING BECAUSE SOMETIMES SOME PLAQUES TAKE A WHILE. IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, YEAH.

SO IF YOU'D BE GOOD WITH THAT, IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE VERY ASKING US TO PUT THIS ON THE VERY NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 17TH, WE GLADLY GET IT READY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MATTHEWS AND FIRE CHIEF, FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN HELPING THIS TO HONOR HIM THE WAY WE SHOULD HAVE A LONG TIME AGO.

CHIEF. CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND BRINGING OUR ATTENTION TO THIS. ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS? I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUTTING ASKING THE STAFF TO PUT THIS ON OUR NEXT AGENDA.

THIS WILL APPEAR AS A RESOLUTION. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. TO APPROVE RENAMING THE THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER FOR CAPTAIN ROGER BROOKSHIRE.

IS EVERYBODY IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT? YES. YES, YES.

OKAY. SO, MISS CITY MANAGER, IF WE CAN HAVE THAT IN TWO WEEKS, THAT'D BE GREAT.

WILL DO, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK OF DIRECTOR MATTHEWS AND CHIEF KANE ON THAT.

THAT WAS A WELL WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF HIS EFFORT AND HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR READING THAT. OKAY. QUESTIONS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER? OKAY. CITY MANAGER ANYTHING FOR US.

[6. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA. City Manager Crouch. ]

THE ASPHALT PATCHING TRUCK NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA. THERE'S SOME CONFUSION ON THE PRICING SIDE THAT NEEDS TO GET CORRECTED, AND WE WILL BRING THAT BACK TO YOU IN TWO WEEKS.

SO THAT'S REMOVED. I PUT A REPLACEMENT RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA FOR ITEM TEN B ONE.

IT'S JUST SOME NUMBERS WERE TRANSPOSED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RESOLUTION THAT ARE NOT ANY DOLLAR AMOUNT THE CITY SPENDING.

IT'S JUST A NUMBER OF AN OUT OF THAT CONTRACT. AND I PUT A REPLACEMENT RESOLUTION THERE. AND THEN I'LL REMIND YOU THAT THE BUILDING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ITEM IS ALSO BEING REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND YOU HAVE A REVISED AGENDA.

OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. IS THERE A MOVE TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. AND AT THIS TIME I'LL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.