BY MICHELLE KEY
MICHELLE@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — Members of the Opelika Fire Department (OFD) and Opelika Police Department (OPD) were honored with Life Saver awards during Tuesday night’s Opelika City Council Meeting. OPD’s Sgt. Wade Foster and OFD’s Lt. Paramedic Henry Williford, Fire Sgt. Paramedic Michael Henderson, Fire Paramedic Tara Bonilla and probationary Fire Fighter Kirkland Pugh worked together to save the life of a woman that was found unresponsive without a pulse and who was not breathing on Jan. 24. Thanks to their efforts, the woman was resuscitated, transported to the hospital where she spent 16 days before being discharged.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller, OFD Chief Shane Boyd and OPD Chief Shane Healey were also honored by Cardiac Solutions for their work in making Opelika a Heartsafe Environment.
Also during the meeting the graduates of the 20 Under 20 Student Exploratory Program were recognized and a proclamation recognizing this week as Character Week in Opelika was read and presented to the Opelika Character Council.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
- The council approved a request for a street closure from Red Clay Brewing for a food truck event on April 11.
- The council approved a request for a street closure from Red Clay Brewing for a Bike Night event on April 18.
- The council approved a request for a street closure for the Bent Creek Neighborhood Block Picnic on April 27.
- The council approved expense reports from various city departments, and a resolution to designate certain items of city property as surplus and authorize its disposal.
- The council approved the purchase of a substation control building for an amount not to exceed $171,429.
- The council approved an amendment to a project agreement with VAH Investments LLC for a time extension to complete the project in which the developer agreed to construct a four-story approximately 69,783 square foot Mariott Element Hotel with 99 guest rooms, a 18-hole miniature golf course, a baseball/softball training facility, three volleyball courts, and a building with a clubhouse and restaurant. The date of completion is expected to be on or before July 1, 2025.
- The council approved a change order adding $44,290 to the project total, for the Veterans Parkway and Academy Drive roundabout project for the engineering department.
- The council approved a resolution to revise the job description and pay grade for the director of Environmental Services.
- The council held a public hearing and then voted to approve the demolition cost assessment for property located at 3807 Heritage Place for an amount of $17540.51.
- The council approved a special appropriation for Envision Opelika for the Opelika Character Council for the amount of $3,000.
- The council approved an ordinance to amend the Master Plan for the Brookstone Planned Unit Development (PUD) that had been tabled last month.
- The ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance and Map to rezone 1.24 acres located at 414 N. 10th St. remained tabled.
- The council introduced an ordinance for a petition to annex 2.05 acres of land located at 5400 US Hwy 431 North for its first reading.
- The council approved Jeffery Hilyer to the Water Works Board of the city of Opelika for a new term to expire May 4, 2030.