Opelika to Lease, Install Safe Haven Baby Box

BY MICHELLE KEY
MICHELLE@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —
The Opelika City Council voted to approve the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box (SHBB) during Tuesday night’s city council meeting. The SHBB will be installed on the Opelika Fire Department premises, the address of which was not disclosed at this time. The agreement includes an initial payment of $12,000 with an annual payment of $300 for a period of five years.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller announced the reappointment of John T. Pruitt to the Opelika Housing Authority for a new term that will expire Oct.18, 2028.
Fuller also presented an “Atta Boy” award to Warren Warr for his superb customer service.
Ward 3 Council Member Tim Aja presented Dozier Smith T the Character Council Citizen of Excellent Character of the month award. October’s character trait of the month is integrity.
Fuller also presented Mu Sigma Omega, the local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority a proclamation declaring Oct. 17 as “Eradicating Period Poverty Day.”

• The council approved a request for a private club liquor license from the Auburn Opelika Lodge 1834 BPO Elks of USA doing business as (DBA) Auburn Opelika Elks Lodge 1834.
• The council voted to remove a request for a retail wine and retail beer off-premises alcohol license Sandalika 1971 Inc. DBA MLK Food Market from the agenda.
• The council approved a request for a downtown street closure from Red Clay Brewing for its Bike Night Event on Oct. 19.
• The council approved a request for a downtown street closure for the third annual Glow for Epilepsy Event on Nov. 5.
• The council approved a request for a downtown street closure from OPD and Opelika Kiwanis Club for a Chili and Grilled Cheese Cook-Off event to be held Nov. 18.
• The council held public hearings for five weed abatement assessments for:
  • 1733 1st Ave. in the amount of $201.26,
  • 504 S. 4th St. in the amount of $1101.26,
  • 814 Donald Ave. in the amount of $112.06,
  • 601 Morris Ave. in the amount of $208.35, and
  • 220 Vero Court in the amount of $169.93. The council later voted to approve all the assessments.
• The council approved expense reports from city employees.
• The council approved the purchase of GIS Mapping software with a three-year agreement in the amount of 119,100 to be paid over the three years.
• The council approved a resolution for the purchase of a subscription from Placer Labs Inc. for the analysis of aggregated customer demographics for a total of $75,000 to be paid over three years.
• The council approved a resolution for the purchase of a subscription from Vantiq Inc. for real-time, event-driven software for a term of five years for a cost of $110,000 per year.
• The council approved the purchase of a 2024 Ford F150 Responder Supercrew 4×4 Pickup for the Opelika Police Department (OPD), utilizing the state of Alabama contract No. T191L for the amount of a little more than $48,000.
• The council approved the purchase of ammunition for OPD utilizing the state of Alabama contract No. MA230000004087 for almost $91,000
• The council approved the purchase of 20 Survival Paths, one LIFEPAK 15 V4 Monitor/Defib Quick-Combo Kit and annual monitoring from Cardiac Solutions LLC not to exceed $161,629.85.
• The council approved the purchase of one 2025 International HV607 SBA 4×2 Crew Cab Chassis utilizing the state of Alabama contract No. MA230000004247 for the amount of just under $150,000. This vehicle will be purchased for the Public Works Department.
• The council approved the purchase of one PB Loader Model BC-4 Asphalt Patcher utilizing the Sourewell Contract No.080521-PBL for the amount of $262,284.
• The council approved the purchase of GameTime Playground Equipment for Shady Park using the Omnia Contract No. 2017001134 for the amount of nearly $67,000.
• The council approved the purchase of GameTime Playground Equipment for Floral Park using the Omnia Contract No. 2017001134 for just over $1.3 million.
• The council approved a change order for an increase of 109,470 for the Columbus Pkwy North Access Road project.
• The council approved a resolution for the denial of a package store application that was submitted on Sept. 11, 2023, by Tiger 1 Management Inc. DBA “On Point”. On Point submitted the application for a lounge retail liquor class two, package store license at 1405-A Geneva St. on the grounds that the location of the proposed package store is not zoned for such a business.
• The council approved a resolution for the denial of a package store application that was submitted on Aug. 1, 2023, by Shivriya Inc. DBA “Cheers Fine Wine and Spirits”. The company submitted the application for a lounge retail liquor class two, package store license at 1460 No. 2 Gateway Drive
• The council approved a resolution that was added to the agenda during the work sessino to deny the request for a retail wine and retail beer off-premises alcohol license by Sandalika 1971 Inc. DBA MLK Food Market located at 503 Martin Luther King Blvd.
  Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey spoke to council during the work session and notified the council that the business was found to have illegal gambling machines and alcohol for sale, without having the proper alcohol licenses.
• The council approved several annual appropriation contracts for fiscal year (FY) 2024 with community organizations as follows:
  • Alabama Cooperative Extension System for the amount of $12,500
  • ARC of the Chattahoochee Valley Inc for the amount of $2,000
  • Christian Care Ministries for the amount of $3,500
  • East Alabama Services for the Elderly for the amount of $9,000
  • Food Bank of East Alabama for the amount of $25,000
  • Museum of East Alabama for the amount of $30,500
  • One Voice Shelter Coalition for the amount of $7,500
  • Opelika Chamber of Commerce for the amount of $150,000
  • Opelika Downtown Redevelopment Authority for the amount of $6,000
  • Opelika Theatre Company for the amount of $5,000
  • Storybook Farm for the amount of $6,000
• The council tabled a resolution pertaining to the annual appropriation for The Arts Association of East Alabama for the amount of $25,000.
• The council voted to approve an ordinance for the amendment of the Zoning Ordinance & Map in order to rezone 197 acres of land in the 3400 block Anderson Road, from R-3 to a planned unit development.
• The council approved an ordinance to approve the leasing a portion of the building located at 1103 Glenn St. to Lee-Russell Council of Governments for a senior center for an amount of $500 a month.
• The council unanimously voted to not approve an ordinance to eliminate the railroad grade crossing located at Edwards Road.
• The council voted to reschedule the second regular meeting of the city council in November from Nov. 21 to Nov. 14 due to the Thanksgiving week holiday.