BY MICHELLE KEY
OPELIKA —
Brent Poteet, director of Opelika Power Services (OPS), requested that the Opelika City Council approve two ordinances to update the city codes pertaining to OPS during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
Poteet asked that the council suspend the normal rules requiring that such ordinance changes be introduced for first reading, followed by a second reading at a later meeting, and vote on the ordinances during Tuesday’s meeting.
He said that by doing so, it would allow additional time to complete software updates and customer notifications prior to the changes going into effect on Oct. 1, 2023.
The first ordinance adds Section 28-406.1 Entitled “Prepaid Service” as well as amending other parts of Section 28.
The second ordinance amends the OPS rates and charges.
The basic monthly charge for residential customers will be increasing to $21.50.
The entire ordinances will be published in the newspaper prior to the ordinances going into affect.
The council voted unanimously to approve both ordinances during the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
- The council approved a request for a downtown street closure from Red Clay Brewing for a Bike Night Event to be held Sept. 21.
- The council approved a request for a downtown street closure from the city of Opelika for the National Night Out Event on Oct. 3.
- The council approved a temporary request for a downtown street closure from EAMC for a Fall Festival on Nov. 11.
- The council held public hearings for weed abatement assessments for the following properties:
• 815 1st Ave. ($49.31)
• 2102 Long St. ($101.89)
• 615 MLK Blvd. ($140.28)
• 915 York Ave. ($116.26)
The council later voted to approved the assessments. - The council approved a bid from Stuart C. Irby Co. for pole rack mounted switched and fixed capacitor banks for OPS.
- The council approved expense reports from various departments and also approved the designation of city personal property — a 2009 Dodge Charger — as surplus and authorized its disposal.
- The council voted to approve the city budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The general fund budget is $93.2 million with an additonal $86.2 million in special revenue funds, capital project funds, and proprietary funds. The city-wide budget totals $179.4 million. The budget in its entirety can be found on the city’s website in the agenda packet for the Sept.5, 2023 meeting.
- The council voted to accept anAlabama Historical Commission Grant for renovations to G.W. Carver Hall. The funds from this grant are to be used to replace the roof. There is a second grant that the city plans to apply for to aid in the renovation of the building.
- The council voted to approve the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Consortium Agreement.
- The council voted to authorize an engagement letter with Keller and Heckman LLP relating to a fiber franchise agreement.
- The council approved a special appropriation for $50,000 to the Lee County Court Referral Program.
- The council voted to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone a 7,324 square foot lot, located at 1625 1st Ave., fromM-1 to C-2
- The council voted to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 4.18 acres located in the 1700 block of Oak Bowery Road, from R-1 to R-2.
The council introduced an order to approve an annexation petition by James M. Veasey Sr. and James M. Veasey Jr. to annex 5.2 acres located at 2822 Old Columbus Road for its first reading.
