City Council News | Nov. 5, 2024

Opelika to upgrade pay plans; estimated cost of $2.6 million

CONTRIBUTED BY MICHELLE KEY | PUBLISHER

OPELIKA — The Opelika City Council approved new pay plans for the city of Opelika. A compensation plan was recently finalized by Evergreen Solutions LLC. As a part of this study, Evergreen conducted employee market surveys, reviewed and analyzed current employee classifications, duties, compensations and position policies and evaluated feedback from department heads and supervisors.
Evergreen concluded that 128 classifications of jobs have average salaries below their respective market range and recommended that the compensation for all employees found to be below the minimum of the ranges in the new Pay Plans be raised to the minimum of the corresponding range.
The cost to implement the four new pay plans for fiscal year 2024-2025 is estimated to not exceed $2.6 million.
Mayor Gary Fuller and the city council issued a proclamation for Small Business Saturday to be held on Nov. 30. The proclamation was presented to Debbie Purves, owner of The Gallery.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• The council approved a request for a downtown street closure for Red Clay Brewing’s Overland Night Event on Nov. 21
• The council approved a request for a downtown street closure for Red Clay Brewing’s Food Truck Event on Nov. 22.
• The council approved a request for a downtown street closure for the Christmas Parade, SNOPELIKA and Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 6.
• The council approved a bid of nearly $186,000 from Truck Equipment Sales Inc. for one 2024 F-Series SD Truck with Crane for the Public Works Department.
• The council approved the expense reports from various departments.
• The council approved a resolution to designate city personal property surplus and authorize disposal.
• The council approved the purchase of office furniture for the IT Department from Alabama Office Supply for just under $62,000 using the state of AL Contract No. MA220000002789 and MA220000002808.
• The council approved a service agreement with Gartner Inc. which provides clients with access to research and advice about information technology and the functional responsibilities of specific IT roles. The annual fee of the full access and licenses is $80,400 for two years and $83,600 for the third year.
• The council approved the purchase of three 2025 Chevrolet Equinox LT SUVs from Donohoo Chevrolet for just over $86,000 using the state of AL Contract No. MA240000004920 for the Opelika Police Department (OPD).
• The council approved the purchase of one Model 600 Street Sweeper with Cab and Chassis from Tymco Inc. for $343,140 using the Sourcewell Contract No. 111522-TYM for Opelika Environmental Services.
• The council voted to accept the dedication of a right-of-way from Chapman H. LLC on Pepperell Parkway.
• The council voted to accept the dedication of a right-of-way from Four Seasons Federal Credit Union on Pepperell Parkway.
• The council voted to accept the dedication of a right-of-way from Opelika Equities on Pepperell Parkway.
• The council approved the third amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with CDG for Thomason Drive Extension Project. According to council agenda packet, the city wants to amend the scope of services as provided in the previous agreement dated April 18, 2021, to include Hi-Pack Drive Wetland/Stream Delineation, Hi-Pack Drive Geotechnical Services, Hi-Pack Drive Roadway Plans and Alignment Revisions and Thomason Drive Roadway Plans and Alignment Revisions. The change will cost approximately $81,700.
• The council approved Change Order No.1in the amount of nearly $79,000 for the South 10th Street and Avenue C Improvement Project.
• The council approved a contract in the amount of $6,500 for services with Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour of Opelika.
• The council approved an employment contract with Brent Poteet with Opelika Power Services.
• The council approved an integrated MHSA/EAP proposal from Behavioral Health Systems Inc.
• The council approved a right-of-way Acquisition and Development Agreement with Trinity Presbyterian Church.
• The council voted to authorize a Public Works Services Agreement with Inframark LLC. Inframark merged with ESG Operations Inc. This agreement will replace the original agreement with ESG.
• The council voted to consent to the deannexation of Lot 2-A of a redivision of Lot 3 in the Boulder Ridge Subdivsion.
• The council voted to establish compensation for Presiding Municipal Judge, Municipal Judge, Assistant City Prosecutors and Public Defender.
• The council approved a grant application for the 2024 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for OPD. The total grant amount is $18,542.
  The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $90,000 for fiscal year 2025 with Alabama Council on Human Relations (ACHR).
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract of just under $450,000 for fiscal year 2025 with East Alabama Healthcare Authority doing business as East Alabama EMS LLC.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $9,000 for fiscal year 2025 with East Alabama Services for the Elderly (EASE).
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $38,000 for fiscal year 2025 with Keep Opelika Beautiful.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $10,000 for fiscal year 2025 with One Voice Shelter Coalition.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $25,000 for fiscal year 2025 with Opelika First Class Pre-K Academy.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $60,000 for fiscal year 2025 with Opelika Main Street.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $6,000 for fiscal year 2025 with Opelika Redevelopment Authority.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $7,500 for fiscal year 2025 with Opelika Theater Company.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $7.500 for fiscal year 2025 with The Opelika Art Haus.
• The council approved a special appropriation contract in the amount of $10,375 for the purchase of decorative bricks to the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
• The council voted to purchase 24 ballistic vests for just over $55,000 from Gulf State Distributors for OPD.
• The council approved the annual appropriation contract for $5,000 for fiscal year 2025 with the J. W. Darden Foundation.
• The council approved the Brownsfield Assessment Coalition Grant memorandum of understanding (MOU) among various local agencies.
• The council voted to approve an ordinance to amend Chapter 26 of the City Code of Ordinances: Boundaries of the Downtown Entertainment District. This will temporarily expand the Entertainment District during the Saturday of the Victorian Front Porch Tour.
• The council voted to approve an ordinance to amend Chapter 26 of the City Code of Ordinances: Relating to OPD Wrecker Services and Rates.
• The council voted to appoint Morgan Vickers to the Lee Russell Council of Governments MPO Citizen Advisory Committee for a new term that expires Nov. 5, 2026.
• The council voted to reappoint Christie Hill to the Lee Russell Council of Governments MPO Citizen Advisory Committee for a new term that expires Nov. 5, 2026.

Auburn Council approves appropriations to nonprofits

BY DANIEL SCHMIDT | FOR THE OBSERVER

AUBURN — The Auburn City Council on Tuesday night doled out $750,000 in financial contributions to local nonprofit organizations and other entities focused on healthcare, food security and environmental education.
The recipients of those contributions are East Alabama Health’s Center for Mental Health, the Environmental Education Building at Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, the Food Bank of East Alabama’s community market and Mercy Medical Ministry.
The city will make those payments in equal installments over several years to avoid distributing lump sums simultaneously.

• East Alabama Health will receive $300,000, paid in three yearly installments of $100,000, to support the construction of a freestanding mental health center on its campus near the Spencer Cancer Center and Pinnacle Cardiovascular Associates.
• The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center at Auburn University will receive $200,000, paid in four yearly installments of $50,000, to support the construction of the Environmental Education Building.
• The Food Bank of East Alabama will receive $100,000, paid in three yearly installments of $33,333, for the new community market facility.
• Mercy Medical Ministry will receive $150,000, paid in three yearly installments of $50,000, for the construction of a new clinic.

In other news, the council also voted on other agenda items:

• The council approved a severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday that will exempt specified items, such as batteries, smoke detectors and plastic sheeting, from city’s 4% sales tax. That sales tax holiday will run from Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, through Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.
• The council voted to waive residential trash collection fees from March 10, 2025, through April 4, 2025.
• The council reappointed Lori Marine and Brian O’Neil to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Their four-year terms begin on Dec. 1 and end on Nov. 30, 2028.
• The council announced a vacancy on the Public Park and Recreation Board. Councilors will make that appointment at the Dec. 3 meeting. That six-year term will run from Dec. 19 until Dec. 18, 2030.
• The council approved the purchase of 16 2025 Dodge Durango Pursuit SUVs for the Police Department from Stivers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram for $730,768.
• The council approved the purchase of one T86 T4 Bobcat Compact Track Loader and attachments for the Public Works Department from Bobcat of Dothan for $131,934.
• The council approved an animal sheltering services agreement amendment with CARE Humane Society.
• The council approved the purchase of one John Deere 4066M Compact Utility Tractor for the Public Works Department from SunSouth for $41,068.
• The council approved the purchase of one John Deere 5075M Utility Tractor for the Public Works Department from SunSouth for $68,970.
• The council approved the purchase of seven Scott self-contained breathing apparatus masks and 10 air bottles for the Fire Department from Emergency Equipment Professionals for $65,085.
• The council approved the purchase of an OnBase record management software upgrade from Hyland Softward for $42,420.
• The council approved the purchase of an OnBase license renewal from Hyland Software for $99,410.
• The council approved a $153,522 contract with JLD Enterprises for an emergency culvert repair on Heard Avenue.
• The council approved the purchase of one 2025 Ford Explorer for the Information Technology Department from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $39,548.
  The council approved the purchase of two Ford F-150s for the Public Works Department from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $102,286.
  The council approved the purchase of two Ford F-250s for the Public Works Department from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $121,378.
  The council approved a contract with Van Horn Miller Entertainment, doing business as Deep South Apparel, to purchase apparel for the 2024-2025 Recreation sports league apparel. While it is unclear what the exact total final value of that contract is, council action is required for contracts worth more than $30,000.
  The council approved the migration of Kronos timekeeping software to UKG Kronos Systems, LLC platform.
  The council approved a tax abatement for Arkal Automotive USA. The value of that abatement is $553,197.
  The council approved a tax abatement extension for CSP Technologies. The value of that abatement was not immediately clear at Tuesday’s meeting.
  The council approved a franchise agreement with Troy Cablevision, Inc. and its affiliates doing business as C Spire.
  The council approved a special events retail ABC license for Aramark Educational Services, doing business as Plainsman Park.
  The council approved a retail liquor license for Quintessential Cigar Lounge.
  The council approved the annexation of the Farmville mixed use development, which encompasses 3.8 acres and is located at the southeast corner of East Farmville Road and US Highway 280.
  The council approved the rezoning of the Farmville mixed use development from rural to development district housing.
  The council approved the rezoning to apply the planned development district designation to 14.2 acres near the Farmville mixed use development in the development district housing zoning district.
  The council granted conditional use approval to the Farmville mixed use development for various nonresidential uses.
  The council accepted various public easements from Tiger Crossing at Longleaf Crossing, located on Downs Way at Logan Court.
  The council accepted public drainage easements from Clayton Properties Group in the Woodward Oaks Planned Development District located southwest of the Farmville Road and Miracle Road/Lee Road 83 intersection.
  The council accepted a public greenway easement from Coca-Cola Bottling Company United-Central at 419 West Veterans Boulevard.
  The council accepted a public utility easement from Jones Properties Auburn II for the Chick-Fil-A located at the intersection of East University Drive and Mall Parkway.
  The council accepted various easements from Samford Group Development at Donahue Park near the intersection of Pride Ave & North Donahue Drive.
  The council accepted public drainage and utility easements from Larry Wilson at 1021 Opelika Rd.