By Shawn Kirkpatrick
Opelika Observer

The Opelika City Council handled a full agenda Tuesday night.
Allen Harris of Bailey-Harris Construction presented the city with eight duplicate National Association of Homebuilder Awards that were given to The Springs of Mill Lakes subdivision in Auburn and Opelika. The four gold and four silver awards honor excellence in building design, marketing and lifestyles in housing for area senior adults.
Detective Brandon Hutto of the Opelika Police Department was named Officer of the Quarter for his work in the largest identity fraud case ever encountered by the OPD. Two men were arrested while trying to buy a car using stolen identities last December. After a search warrant was executed, three more people were arrested. Hutto and his team also found close to 150 stolen identity records, social security numbers, stolen lap top computers, remote deposit check scanner and blank credit/debit cards.
The council approved a project agreement with THF/MRP Tiger Town, LLC, for two retail buildings at a cost of $6.3 million. Almost 50 retail and service jobs will be available after the projects are finished.
The council also approved tax exemptions for Mando America Corp. and Pharmavite, LLC’s projects for 10 years. Mando will be investing more than $10 million and Pharmavite $5.6 million for expansion projects. More than 25 jobs will be created.
The Alabama Department of Transportation and the city approved money for the construction of a new bridge at Cunningham Drive. The project will cost more than one million dollars. The federal government will cover 80 percent of the cost, the city will pay $352,228.54
In other business, the council:
– approved a request by Prayer Force United for a walk March 17
-approved a request by the Community Foundation of East Alabama for a Unity Stampede April 28
-approved a request by Opelika Main Street for annual events in the first half of 2018
– approved an Autism 5K Walk-Run April 7
-approved a demolition of property located at 1106 Magnolia St.
– approved an agreement with the school board for 2018 Freedom Celebration
– approved an application for a recycling grant through ADEM
awarded bids for the purchasing of octagonal poles and printer maintenance
– approved expense reports from various departments
– approved the Morris Ave. Land Addition project
-approved a contract with Robinson Paving for Hamilton Place improvements
-approved a special-use permit by AT&T for property located at 1051 Douglas St.
– reappointed Jayne Gunter, Patsy Parker, Ronnie Ware and Ronnie Wilson to the Opelika Industrial Development Authority board, with their terms expiring March 8, 2022.