By Alison James
Associate Editor
Opelika’s new cable and Internet service will include a channel featuring local programming after Tuesday’s city council vote.
“This will give us the opportunity to work with a company who will be providing local programs,” explained Opelika Power Services’ Director David Horton. “They will be filming Bulldogs on Fridays and parades and things such as that, giving us an opportunity to provide local programming to our citizens.”
The approved agreement between the city and Community Network Television, is a three-year contract.The channel will not cost the city anything extra, since “CNT of Opelika acknowledges that its only compensation shall be from advertising revenue and other revenue that is generated as a result of its own efforts,” the agreement reads.
On the agenda for a first reading at Tuesday’s meeting was the ordinance to amend Section 2.2 of the zoning ordinance to dictate the rules, restrictions and guidelines for brewpubs and micro-distilleries, in light of interest in opening such an establishment from Jimmy and Johnny Sharp.
“We did not have a definition for a micro-distillery or a brewpub,” said Opelika Planning Commission Director Jerry Kelley.
The council also:
ω Reappointed John Pruitt to another term on the Opelika Housing Authority
ω Assessed costs for weed abatements at 201 N. 22nd Street, 706 Geneva Street, 1109 Magnolia Street, 408 Westwood Street and 1624 3rd Avenue.
ω Approved expense reports from various departments.
ω Awarded annual appropriation contracts to the Opelika Downtown Redevelopment Authority, East Alabama Healthcare Authority, East Alabama Services for the Elderly, Lee County Youth Development Center and the Opelika Industrial Development Authority.
ω Created an agreement with Quantum of Auburn LLC for radio advertising for OPS.
ω Contracted with Blackwater Technologies, Inc. for fire alarm monitoring for OPS.
ω Agreed to the purchase of new safety railing for the 10th Street bridge.
ω Designated Keystone Bank as an official city depository.
ω Held off voting on two agreements involving compliance with Federal Fair Housing Law because of the government shutdown
ω Gave a special appropriation to the Arts Association of East Alabama.
ω Reappointed Henrietta Thomas to the Lee County Youth Development Board and Shirley Carter to the Library Board.
ω Appointed Cathy Long to the seat on the Library Board being vacated by Lynn Slocum.
ω Granted a request from the Opelika Chamber of Commerce to hold its 2013 Christmas parade at 10 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 7.
ω Allowed Wasabi Japanese restaurant’s request for retail liquor and beer on premise licenses and Thompson Pinnacle Holdings, Inc.’s request for a beer and wine wholesale license.
ω Held first reading for an amendment to the zoning ordinance to rezone 312 and 314 Samford Ave. from a multi-family district to an institutional district, which would permit usage for offices.
ω Approved awarding of three bids for Opelika Power Services projects.
ω Approved a service contract with Schneider Electric in the amount of $13.6 thousand.