At its regular meeting last week, the Auburn City Council approved a number of resolutions that will provide funding to nonprofit organizations in support of projects aimed at expanding their services in the community.
Auburn University’s Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (KPNC), which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, is currently constructing a new Environmental Education Building. The Council approved the request for $200,000 in funding over a four-year period in installments of $50,000, starting in fiscal year 2025 and ending in fiscal year 2028.
Council members Beth Witten Kelley Griswold and Sonny Moreman expressed thanks for all KPNR does in the Auburn community.
Dean of College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment Janaki Alavalapati and Director of KPNC Michael Buckman addressed the Council during Citizens’ Communications. According to Alavalapati, the new education building will be made with cross-laminated timber panels, a new technology in the world of construction. The facility is set to open on December 6 of this year.
“We have a big classroom that is going to improve the quality of life of children in the environmental education activities,” said Alavalapati.
Buckman also expressed his gratitude toward the city for its continuous financial support of the preserve and its programming.
“Our goal is to instill a sense of stewardship towards nature for everyone, all ages, and this building will allow that to happen,” said Buckman.
The Council also approved funding for The Food Bank of East Alabama, which is seeking to build a new Community Market facility, which will be similar to a supermarket except everything is free. The planned market will be located at 1600 First Ave. in Opelika.
The Council approved funding of $100,000 from the city in two installments of $33,333 and one installment of $33,334, starting in fiscal year 2025 and ending fiscal year 2027.
Former Auburn Mayor Jan Dempsey spoke to the Council on behalf of the food bank. According to her, the food bank serves over seven counties, with the food and supplies coming from 168 partner agencies. She spoke about the efforts to build the original community market, which opened 21 years ago. Over 20 percent of Lee County is food insecure, she said, and the community market has become overrun with people in need, which is the reason for the new market. According to Dempsey, they have raised $1.3 million for the new market, with a fundraising goal of $3.5 million.
“I look forward to hearing what I hope will be a positive response for this council as it continues to support the community market,” said Dempsey.
Opelika’s East Alabama Health Center Foundation is planning to build a new Center for Mental Health. The Council approved $300,000 in funding over the course of three years, totaling $100,000 a year. The payments are set to begin this fiscal year 2025 and end fiscal year 2027.
Greg Nichols, executive vice president of East Alabama Medical Center, addressed the Council during Citizens’ Communications. According to Nichols, one in five Alabamians will face mental health issues in their lifetime. He said that many of the psychiatric patients at the medical center are university students struggling with the transition to college. The hospital is forced to hold some psychiatric patients in the emergency room for hours or days until they have enough room to place them on an in-patient ward, he said.
“We currently have 28 in-patient psychiatric beds at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, and we’re running an occupancy rate there (of) over 90 percent (at) all times,” said Nichols.
He added that the new Mental Health Center will have 40 beds as opposed to the 28 at the hospital. They also have a SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) program that can provide patients with schooling while they are in the ward. Also, there will be a new psychiatric residency program available to train new psychiatrists.
The Council also approved funding for the Mercy Medical Ministry, a nonprofit clinic for uninsured individuals to visit and receive the same level of care as they would at a normal doctor’s office. The Ministry relies on physicians and nurses to donate their time as volunteers at the clinic. The Council approved a contribution of $150,000 over three years in installments of $50,000, starting in fiscal year 2025 and ending fiscal year 2027. These funds will go towards the construction of a new facility on Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Mercy Medical held a groundbreaking for the facility last Friday.
Dr. Dell Crosby, founder and medical director of Mercy Medical Ministry, shared how the ministry helped the uninsured in the Auburn-Opelika area.
“We’ve been there 25 years. We serve those who are uninsured, have no insurance, and we have a large footprint in Auburn,” said Crosby.
He added that the Ministry had 2,400 visits in 2022, 3,000 visits in 2023, and is on track to have 4,500 visits this year. They have over 600 new patients at the clinic. According to Crosby, every patient admitted to East Alabama Medical Center without insurance is sent to Mercy to continue their care.
East Alabama has provided the organization with $600,000 worth of land in Opelika, which is where the new clinic will be located.
