The Auburn Beautification Commission is on its own.

The group recently became a non-profit organization, allowing it to accept tax-deductible donations and membership fees. Under its new designation, the commission has started working on three beautification projects within the city.

Commission Chairman Jim Kent said that the move allows the organization to be a little less political and a little more autonomous in its decisions and projects.

"That is not to say that we don't have a good partnership with the city," Kent said. "The city has already stepped up and helped us in a lot of areas."

The beautification commission was formed in September 2007 as an advisory organization for the city. However, the goal from the start was to branch off as its own organization, which allows the commission to apply for city grants, according to City Manager Mark Palesh. This way,

"It is a great, great group," said Palesh, who entertained the idea of a beautification project during budget talks in the spring of 2007. "Organizations like that make the job fun."

The commission is currently working on a project to improve the overall condition of Freedom Park at the corner of Dill Street and North Street. So far, volunteers have picked up litter and removed overgrown trees from the riverbed, Kent said.

"If you walk there today, it would be a whole lot different than if you walked down there in the fall," he said.

For the full report read Thursday's edition of The Citizen.