BY MICHELLE KEY
MICHELLE@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — James Hughley was also recognized by Fuller and Ward 1 Council Member George Allen as the Character Council’s Citizen of Excellent Character for the month of January. This month’s character is loyalty which means a strong feeling of support or allegiance.
“I selected Mr. James Hughley because the Character Trait is loyality and I think he has demonstrated loyality all of his life,” Allen said.
Hughley is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He is a Purple Heart recipient, for injuries he received during his service.
The council and Fuller also delivered a proclamation to Kathryn Guthrie, the Founder of Worthy2, an organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking. The proclamation declared January to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
For more information on this, see the article on page B13.
Fuller announced the reappointment of Leigh Whatley to the Opelika Planning Commission for a new term that will end Feb. 15, 2030.
OTHER BUSINESS
- The council held a public hearing regarding the amendment of the zoning ordinance and map to rezone nearly 28,000 square feet of land located at 1016 and 1018 Alabama Ave., from a R-3, GC-P District (Low Density Residential, Gateway Corridor Primary District) to a C-2, GC-P District (Office/Retail, Gateway Corridor Primary District.)
- The council approved expense reports from various departments within the city.
- The council approved the purchase of scanning conversion services for police records from Business Systems & Consultants Inc. using the Sole Source contract in the amount of nearly $53,000.
- The council approved an agreement with John Randall Wilson, Architect, for architectural services in regard to the repairs to GW Carver Hall, located at 505 Martin Luther King Boulevard. The hourly rate of services will be $250 which will be paid from the 2023 Pass Grant.
- The council approved a worker’s compensation proposal for $226,465 from Marsh & McLennan Agency for worker’s compensation for the Human Resources Department.
- The council approved an annual appropriation contract for the fiscal year 2024 with The Arts Association of East Alabama (TAAEA) in the amount of $25,000.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $2,500 to the J. W. Darden Foundation for its 11th Annual Black-Tie Legacy Gala.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $2,500 to the Opelika Housing Authority for the 30th Annual Southeastern Regional Council (SERC) Martin Luther King Jr., (MLK) Basketball and Cheer Tournament that was recently held in Opelika.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $2,500 to the Sound Wall Music Initiative for the 5th Annual Songwriters Festival to be held in May.
- The council introduced for its first reading an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone nearly 28,000 square feet of land located at 1016 and 1018 Alabama Ave., from a R-3, GC-P District (Low Density Residential, Gateway Corridor Primary District) to a C-2, GC-P District (Office/Retail, Gateway Corridor Primary District.)
- The council introduced for its first reading a public right-of-way use agreement with Crown Castle Fiber LLC. Following its introduction, the council voted to suspend the rules and put the item on the agenda for consideration. The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance.
The ordinance will authorize the placement of the company’s fiber network, small wireless facilities, utility poles and associated components and accessory equipment within the public rights-of-way of the city for a fee of $5,000 payable to the city of Opelika within 30 days of approval.