By Michelle Key
Publisher
The Opelika City Council denied Cracker Barrel’s application for a retail liquor and beer license last Tuesday night. The vote was tied 2-2 as Ward 1 Councilmember George Allen was not present for the meeting. With a tie vote, the application was denied. Ward 2 and Ward 3 councilmembers Erica Norris and Robert Lofton were the nay votes with Wards 4 and 5 councilmembers Eddie Smith and Todd Rauch voting yes.
Neither Lofton or Norris were able to be reached for comment regarding their vote against the application.
In other business, the council voted to:
– approve a resolution for the demolition of 203 Raintree St.
– approve a resolution for the demolition of 513 Ave. C.
– approve a resolution to amend the zoning ordinance and map for the rezoning of 6.23 acres located in the 2000 Block of Cunningham Drive.
– approve a bid to purchase uniforms for the fire department.
– approve a bid to purchase flood lights and mounting adapters for Opelika Power Services.
– approve a resolution for tax abatements and exemptions for the Mando America Corporation.
– approve the installation of electronic school speed zone warning signs.
– approve a contract for required cancer insurance for firefighters.
– approve the resolution for the construction of a balcony on the building owned by Cannon Real Estate Holdings, LLC, located at 100 S. 8th St. in downtown Opelika.
– approve reappointment of Honorable John Wesley McCollum, Jr. as the municipal judge and M. Joanne Camp as the public defender for the municipal court for two-year terms beginning Jan. 2, 2021.
– approve the annual appropriation contract with the Opelika Chamber of Commerce for $65,000.
Rauch abstained from voting on this resolution due to his wife’s position as the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.
– approve an appropriation to AO Discover for $500.
– approve an appropriation to the Dream Day Foundation for $2,500.
– approve the reappointment of Sutricia Johnson to the LRCOG / MPO Citizen Advisory Committee for a term ending Jan. 1, 2023.
– approved the reappointment of Ken Ridley to the LRCOG / MPO Citizen Advisory Committee for a term ending Jan. 1, 2023.
The Opelika City Council meets the first and third Tuesday nights of every month. The next scheduled meeting is Jan. 5, 2021, and will be held at the municipal court building located at 300 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Opelika. Work sessions are held prior to the 7 p.m. meetings and all meetings are livestreamed to the city’s YouTube channel. The public is welcome to attend or view online.