During Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council approved a change to a current ordinance that would pave the way for murals and other public art within Auburn’s city limits.
Mayor Ron Anders also announced the official opening of a community health care clinic in the Boykin Community Center.
The move to allow for public art to be displayed on the sides of businesses and other buildings answered public criticism from previous meetings in the spring concerning the ordinance, which was in stark contrast with neighboring Opelika.
Services that the Boykin clinic will provide northwest Auburn include general health and wellness screenings, acute and urgent care services, chronic disease state management, psychosocial assessments, immunizations and a childhood wellness program.
Ward 3 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Beth Witten, who led a study group along with Ward 6 Councilman Bob Parsons, was pleased with the findings co-authored by the Auburn Planning Commission.
“Over the course of the last six to eight months, the study group met several times and I’m proud of the recommendations,” Witten said. “I think this is a great step in creating additional community and providing an avenue for art in our area.”
While he indicated his support for the change to the ordinance, Anders added a stipulation as midterm elections rapidly approach.
“I hope our community does the right thing,” Anders said. “This is not a time to be political, this is a time to hope that your vision for what you would want to have on the side of your building is something that elevates our community as a whole.”
The proposition to change the ordinance was approved by a vote of five to one. Ward 8 Councilman Tommy Dawson was the only council member to vote against the proposed change.
Council members Kelley Griswold, Steven Dixon and Jay Hovey were all absent from the proceedings.
The agreement between Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy and the College of Nursing, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and the City of Auburn will provide the clinic with multiple exam rooms, a full-time medical doctor and students and faculty members that will assist with operations.
While the Harrison College of Pharmacy will primarily run the clinic, the colleges of nursing, liberal arts, human sciences and education along with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine will also be involved.
Anders believed the creation of the facility would go a long way in ensuring a historically underserved portion of the city would have a positive impact and increase access to healthcare.
“This was the culmination of many years of planning,” Anders said. “This is going to allow our citizens that are underinsured or uninsured to have a location where they can go to get some basic primary healthcare. It’ll be critical to the needs of northwest Auburn.”
Ward 1 Councilwoman Connie Fitch Taylor, who represents northwest Auburn, was proud of the facility and what it meant to her ward after touring the facility Tuesday morning.
“I would like for everyone, especially those who need it, to take advantage of it,” Taylor said. “I didn’t envision it at first, but once I saw it, it hit me just where it needed to hit me at.”
The Auburn University Health Care and Education Clinic is currently open Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, patients can call 334-844-8911, email boykinc@auburn.edu or visit pharmacy.auburn.edu/boykin.\
The clinic is located at 400 Boykin St., Suite 700.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Daniel Schmidt, senior in journalism, is the assistant news editor for the Auburn Plainsman.
