By Michelle Key
Editor
Mayor Gary Fuller and the Opelika City Council honored the 2018 Keep Opelika Beautiful Yard of the Year recipients and the Dixie Youth Ozone team at last week’s council meeting.
The Yard of the Year winners for each ward are as follows: Ward 1 – Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jones; Ward 2 – Byron Harris; Ward 3 – Ian & Emily Baas (and baby Waverly); Ward 4 – Bessie Jordan (Jordan was not in attendance) and Ward 5 – Joyce Delamar.
“We do love to honor those that work very hard in their yards. We believe it’s the domino effect; if one yard looks great, the yard next door wants to look good too,” said Tipi Miller, executive director of Keep Opelika Beautiful. “We would love to hear your nominations. We have so many worthy yards. That is a great thing.”
In other business, City Administrator Joey Motley informed the council that the city collected $25,751,121 in building permit fees during the month of August. There were 24 additional single family homes permitted during August, bringing the total for the year to 245. According to Motley, that is a record number of new single family homes for one year, and there is still one month left in the 2018 fiscal year.
In other business, the council:
• approved the request for Think Pink Walk Oct. 6
• approved the request for Life Chain 2018 Oct. 7
• approved the request for Prayer Force Walk Oct. 20
• approved K Food Mart Request Beer and Wine Off-Premise License
• approved a resolution to designate city personal property surplus and authorize disposal
• approved expense reports from various departments.
• approved a resolution to fund Emergency Repairs-Pipe Supports for the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $36,712.32
• approved several resolutions for weed abatement assessments
• approved a resolution for the annual renewal general liability insurance in the amount of $399,998
• approved a resolution for an engagement letter for auditing services to be provided by Barfield Murphy, Shank & Smith LLC for a fee of $85,000
• approved a resolution to adjust the scope of I-85 connector project. This resolution will remove the Oak Bowery and Morris Avenue corridors from the project and authorizes and directs the mayor and city staff to explore alternate routes to create a transportation loop from U.S. Highway 431 to U.S. Highway 280 North of Opelika
• approved a resolution for the renewal for broadband services with Charter Communications and OPS for the monthly amount of $1,799
• approved a resolution for the project agreement for Southside Opelika, LLC. According to this agreement, the city agrees to assist Southside Opelika LLC by providing a cash reimbursement in the amount of $92,287.50
• approved a resolution for a special appropriation for Sportsplex Health Fair in the amount of $3,000
• approved a resolution to move reserve current year discretionary balance for each council member
• approved a resolution for an agreement with ALDOT for 1st Ave. TAP Grant. The city’s portion of this project will cost $82,845.20
• approved a resolution for a project time extension for Hanwha for its tax exemption certificate until Aug. 31, 2019
• approved an ordinance for the Annexation of property at 465 Lee Road 174
• held the 1st reading of an ordinance to amend zoning ordinance and map, 1500 Block West Point Parkway, R-3 to PUD
• held the 1st reading of an ordinance to Amend City Code, Chapter 16, Add Article XVI, Truck Routes
• held the 1st reading of an ordinance to Amend City Code, Section 19-1, Offenses Under State Law; Penalties.
• approved several reappointments to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, the Lee County Youth Development Board and the Library Board.
The minutes and agenda from the city council meetings can accessed by the public at www.opelika-al.gov/129/Agendas-Minutes.
Adjacent photos were taken by Robert Noles.