Board: Auburn City Council

Met: Monday night

Storm water project

Issue: During heavy storms, water powering into combined sewers can overflow the system, sending raw sewage into the Androscoggin River. Like other cities nationwide, Auburn is in the middle of a federally mandated 15-year effort to separate storm and sanitary sewers.

So far, the city has separated about half of the city’s combined sewer systems.

The scoop: Federal funds, part of the American Rehabilitation and Recovery Act, will help pay for separating one of the biggest projects on the city’s to-do list, the Perryville neighborhood east of Pettengill Park. That includes Turner, Summer, Winter and Whitney streets from Center Street northwest to Mayfield Road.

The Auburn Sewer District received a $689,293 grant and a $1.66 million no interest loan to pay for the work, saving the city about $1.6 million.

Up next: Councilors accepted the federal money at their meeting Monday. Work is scheduled to begin before April ends.

Police hiring

Issue: A U.S. Department of Justice community policing grant will pay to hire three police officers for three years, as long as the city agrees to pay the officers’ salaries in the fourth year.

The scoop: Police Chief Phil Crowell said he hopes to fill one vacant position and hire two additional officers to help with crime prevention, patrol and investigation. Those salaries would be paid from a $568,000 grant for three years. The city would have to agree to pay about $68,000 per officer beginning in the fourth year, about $204,900.

Up next: Councilors agreed. Crowell said his department is applying for another $61,930 federal grant that targets violent crime prevention and serious offenders.

Drug bust money

Issue: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency shares proceeds from drug busts with the other police agencies involved.

The scoop: Councilors on Monday accepted a share of $2,720.51 in seizures stemming from two arrests last fall. The money will go to Auburn police.

April meetings

Issue: Councilors usually have their regular meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month. This month, Patriots Day will force them to reschedule the April 20 meeting.

The scoop: Councilors will meet on April 27 to handle regular business. They also scheduled a special meeting on April 15 to review the warrant for the Auburn School Department’s budget validation referendum.

Liquor licenses

Issue: Local restaurants and bars must reapply for liquor licenses and amusement permits each year. Liquor licenses let them serve alcohol; amusement permits let them play music, have a DJ or karaoke, or have games on site.

The scoop: Councilors approved liquor licenses for The Falls, 2 Great Falls Plaza, Prospect Hill Golf Course, 694 South Main St., and Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli, 624 Turner St.