AUBURN - The Auburn Board of Public Works is scheduled to meet April 19, which is the scheduled end of suspension for utility manager David Hunter.

The board met in special session on April 4 and unanimously voted to suspend Hunter. The board agenda also included appointing management responsibilities in his absence.

 The Wednesday meeting is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. at the 1600 O St. boardroom.

Auburn utilities has been in the public spotlight recently with a new water line being installed to provide water to the City of Peru and moves to regulate surface water in the Auburn wellhead protection area.

In 2008 the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services determined that Auburn’s drinking water is influenced by surface water and the Little Nemaha River.

The determination meant that the water treatment plant Auburn began to operate in 2011 had a higher level of water treatment than needed in most other Nebraska cities.

In August, the Auburn Board of Public Works announced financial incentives to farmers operating in the wellhead protection area to establish cover crops, buffer strips and use no-till practices.

Utilities Manager David Hunter said the goal was to slow soil erosion, improve soil health and reduce infiltration to runoff of nutrients to the groundwater and streams.

In January, the Auburn City Council met in a packed room  when an agenda item included changing the wellhead protection ordinance to give the city utility authority over surface water.

Omaha Attorney Vanessa Silke said the proposed change would not prohibit all surface water uses for irrigation, but would require a permit.

Jane Andrew has recently spoken at city council meetings in opposition to the change.

Most recently she said the board of public works has overstepped its authority in the past and may be doing so again in the current proposal.

News reports say the suspension followed a conversation between Hunter and board secretary Phil Shaw.