BY MICHELLE KEY
PUBLISHER
Tim Aja, the newest Opelika council member, was sworn in before Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Aja’s daughter, Anna, assisted in the ceremony by holding the Bible for her father.
Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller issued a proclamation declaring January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month to Kathy Guthrie, the founder of Worthy2, an organization dedicated to advocating for victims and survivors of sex trafficking..
This year, Opelika joined the Trafficking-Free Zone initiative which focuses on reducing the demand — the number of buyers — for sex-trafficked victims. This program is initiated with community members and leaders, law enforcement, businesses and schools.
Guthrie and Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey will be working closely together with the Child Trafficking Solutions Project, which sponsors the TFZ initiative. TFZ promotes community awareness and human trafficking training for law enforcement, first responders and other city employees.
Fuller also issued a proclamation to the Lee County Remembrance Project in honor of their work in bringing awareness to the crimes against four Black men that were victims of racial terror lynching in Lee County. A historical marker was placed in downtown Opelika in June of last year.
OTHER BUSINESS:
– The mayor announced that he was reappointing Lucinda Cannon to the Opelika Planning Commission for a new term that will end on Feb. 15, 2028.
– The council held a public hearing to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 160.2 acres located at North Uniroyal Road and Ridge Road. The ordinance was later introduced for its first reading.
– The council approved a contract for purchase of GameTime playground equipment and repair services.
– The council approved the purchase of eight CT4021 charging stations.
– The council voted to accept a proposal from Sain and Associates for the design of the pedestrian/bicycle upgrades on Waverly Parkway.
– The council voted to approve a collection services agreement with Online Information Services for Opelika Power Services.
– The council approved a request for a downtown bicycle race on Feb. 27.
– The council approved a quote from CDW Government for Fire Eye Security, software, licenses and services.
The next city council meeting will be on Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.