City council could issue bonds for dam repair

The city of Auburn is taking its first few steps along a path that could end with the rehabilitation of the State Dam.

The city council heard the first reading of an ordinance that if eventually passed will authorize $1.95 million in serial bonds for structural rehabilitation to the dam. The ordinance, which will take four of five councilors' votes to pass, is one of a number of measures that must be in place for improvements to begin, Auburn Corporation John Rossi said after the meeting.

Rossi said the city would not begin selling bonds for the project for quite some time if the measure is passed. But the amount needs to be authorized for the city to receive a $300,000 grant for improvements from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.