By Michelle Key
Publisher
Mayor Gary Fuller and the Opelika City Council approved a resolution honoring the late Anne M. Grady during last week’s city council meeting.
Grady, who passed away on June 14, 2020, had served the Opelika community for the last 45 years. She was the city’s first female elected government official, and she served District 5 for three terms. She also served as the city council president during her last four years in office.
Grady was responsible for the inception of the county’s first Leadership Program in the mid-1980s and helped establish similar programs in other communities around the state. She served on several appointed board positions including the United Way Campaign Chair, Keep Opelika Beautiful, Department of Human Resources Board for Lee County, Opelika Planning Commission, Opelika Board of Zoning Adjustments and many others.
Gov. Bob Riley appointed Grady as a member to serve to promote the provisions of the U.S. Highway Beautification Act, and was named Woman of the Year in 1990 by the Opelika Professional and Business Women’s Club.
Grady was married to Dr. James D. Grady III who was the ‘love of her life.’ Together they had two daughters and four grandchildren.
Fuller and the city council issued the resolution to recognize with great admiration and appreciation the achievements and contributions that Grady made to the community and to extend their condolences to her family and friends.
Grady’s official portrait was presented to her husband during the meeting. Former Mayor of Opelika Barbara Patton spoke of Grady, saying, “Anne was a leader and she knew her job as city council president… she did the job well.”
In other business, the council
• approved a request by RS Brown Enterprises LLC. DBA Whistle Stop AB Wine and Beer for an on- and off-premise alcohol license
• held public hearings for weed abatements for the following properties then voted to approve the lien assessments on the same
– 9 Ave. B for the amount of $263.34
– Williamson Avenue for the amount of $213.24
– 3307 Arnold Ave. for the amount of $202.86
– 509 1st Ave. for the amount of $263.80
• held a public hearing for the rezoning of 25.7 acres at the corner of Waverly and Veterans Parkways
• approved a bid for a contract with South Dade Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Inc. for 2020 city-wide ADA improvement project
• approved the purchase of school safety signals for an amount not to exceed $103,945
• approved the purchase of a Fortinet security device maintenance agreement for a total amount of $16,369.26
• approved the purchase of a Cisco camera system for the Sportsplex for the total amount of $145,082.23
• approved and accepted a proposal from Ai-Media for real-time closed captioning and post transcript services to be utilized with the city’s video recording of public meetings of the City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment for an amount of $7,960
• approved and accepted a proposal from Tyler Technologies for a cyber security assessment and plan for the amount of $56,340
• approved a contract with Seely & Long Associates, Inc. for grant administration services
• approved a motion to retain Riley & Jackson, P.C. for litigation against manufacturers and distributors of opioids
• approved a resolution pertaining to street lights that are placed within the service areas for Alabama Power Company and Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative but are within the city limits of Opelika
• approved a change order for the Geneva Street Project for an additional $223,613.75
• approved a resolution to vacate a sanitary sewer easement
• approved Ordinance No. 011-20 to amend the Towne Lake Planned Unit Development (PUD) Master Plan
• approved Ordinance No. 012-20 to amend the Cannon Gate PUD Master Plan
• approved Ordinance No. 013-20 to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 6.6 acres of land located near Dale Avenue
• approved Ordinance No. 014-20 to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 2.87 acres of land located at 1402 Fitzpatrick Ave.
• approved Ordinance No. 015-20 to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 0.07 acres of land located at 1813 Old Columbus Road
• introduced for first reading an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 25.7 acres of land located at the corner of Waverly and Veterans Parkways
• introduced for first reading an ordinance requesting annexation of one lot located at 4002 Marvyn Parkway.
Opelika City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday nights of every month starting at 7 p.m. Work sessions are held prior to the council meetings with the time of the work sessions varying. Council meetings can be viewed live via the city’s YouTube channel, called Opelika City Gov. The public can attend the meetings in person, but social distancing is required so space may be limited. Agendas for both the work sessions and meetings can be found on the city’s website www.opelika-al.gov.
The next meeting will be held on July 21.