Residents of North Auburn are not happy about their internet service options.
Jay Green of The Preserve subdivision in North Auburn spoke to the Auburn City Council on behalf of his neighbors at the Sept. 23, council meeting.
Green told the council cable providers do not serve that area of Auburn, and residents must access the internet through clogged DSL lines or cell phone companies that offer limited data plans.
There were three areas, Green told the council, the lack of internet troubled residents: educationally, socially and economically.
"The text book is going the way of the dodo bird, and a lot of our kids have to use the internet to do their work." Green said.
Deployed members of the military who want to Skype or FaceTime with their family members who live in the neighborhood often cannot because of poor service.
People in the neighborhood who work from home only have reliable access when their neighbors aren't home, according to Green.
"We need some guidance; we need some help; we need the Internet." Green said.
City Manager Charles Duggan told the council the city has been in contact with Charter and Wow, and he is pushing them to expand their service.
"We've been in contact with (the cable companies), and we've done maps and everything," Duggan said. "We're hoping we're going to get some movement in the northwest part of town early next year."
Before the City Council meeting, the Auburn Public Safety Department displayed its new Ford Utility Police Interceptor.
Public Safety Director Bill James said the new SUV's give officers more room for their gear and provides more visibility than the Chevrolet Caprices the Police Division has used in the past.
Auburn switched to this new police version of a Ford Explorer after Chevrolet stopped producing a police version of the Caprice, according to David Dorton, director of Public Affairs for Auburn.
"When you consider the vest, the belt and the gun in addition to the equipment in the car the extra room makes a difference for the officers," Dorton said.
Police officers are happy with the new vehicle, according to James.
"Typically, (officers) don't want to get in the front of the line for a new vehicle, but our guys want to get in this one," James said.
Other items approved at the City Council meeting:
- Appointed Sharlene McDaniel to a four year term on the Lee County Youth Development Center Board of Directors.
- Approved a reimbursement for $174,060 to Alabama Power for relocation of power lines on Opelika Road from North Gay and North Ross Streets as part of the Renew Opelika Road project.
- Established a "No Parking" zone on 636 West Glenn Ave.
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