BY MICHELLE KEY
PUBLISHER
OPELIKA — Opelika City Council met on Thursday, Jan. 23 after postponing its regularly scheduled Tuesday night meeting after Winter Storm Enzo blanketed Opelika with approximately two and one-half inches of snow. During the rescheduled meeting Mayor Gary Fuller announced the reappointment of Sheldon Whittelsey to the Opelika Planning Commission for a new term that will end Feb. 15, 2031. During the meeting the council also voted to approve Morgan Vickers to the Opelika Redevelopment Authority for a term that will expire Aug. 7, 2028, and Davis Pemberton to the Lee Russell Council of Governments MPO Citizen Advisory Committee for a term that will expire Jan. 1, 2027.
Other business
- The council approved a request for a restaurant retail liquor, wine and beer on premise alcohol license for Casa Maria’s Bar and Grill and a retail wine and beer off-premise alcohol license for HP Opelika LLC doing business as M and M Grocery.
- The council approved a request for a downtown street closure for the Opelika Songwriters Festival to be held March 27.
- The council approved expense reports from various departments and approved the designation of one 2017 Chevy Tahoe as surplus and authorized the disposal of the vehicle.
- The council approved the purchase of Verkada Hardware such as cameras, door controllers, card readers and related equipment from AdaptToSolve, Inc., for Floral Park. The cost of the equipment is just over $34,056.
- The council approved the purchase of Cisco Meraki Wi-Fi enabled cameras from CDW Government LLC for a total cost of $67,341.30 for Floral Park.
- The council approved the purchase of Rubrik Cloud Vault and Cyber Recovery software for a term of one year for a total cost of $88,944.80.
- The council approved the purchase of Vertosoft Urban SDK software for a term of three years for a total cost of $89,258.31 to be paid in three annual installments.
- The council approved the purchase of one 2025 23-yard CollecStar automated side loader from GSP Marketing LLC in the total amount of $121,506.
- The council approved Change Order No. 1 in the amount of just under $20,000 for the G. W. Carver Hall Roofing Project.
- The council approved Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $178,422.50 for the Floral Park Renovations.
- The council approved Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $87,100 for the N. 7th Street Storm Drainage Updates Project.
- The council approved the termination of the lease agreement with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce for the property located at 601 Ave. A. The Chamber of Commerce has relocated its offices to 200 S. 6th St.
- The council approved the retirement of Police Service Dog Kilo and also approved the transfer of ownership of Kilo to Officer Grant Gow.
- The council approved a request for a refund of occupational taxes paid in error.
- The council approved a request for a refund of occupational taxes paid in error by Mike Hilyer.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $3,000 to the Greater Peace Community Development Corporation from Ward 4 Reserve Fund.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $3,000 to the J. W. Darden Foundation from Ward 4 Reserve Fund.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $3,000 to the Lee County Youth Development Center from Ward 4 Reserve Fund.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $3,000 to The Exodus Ranch from Ward 4 Reserve Fund.
- The council approved a special appropriation of $2,500 to The Sound Wall Music Initiative for the Sixth Annual Songwriters Festival.
- The council approved an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance & Map in order to rezone 12. 24 acres located in the 900 block of Lake Condy Road from R-3 to a planned unit development 900 Block Lake Condy Road, 12.24 Acres, from R-3 to a planned unit development.
