The City Commission voted 5–0 on July 23 to authorize the interim city manager to piggyback the City of Miami invitation to bid (IFB 1115382) with H & R Paving Inc. for milling and resurfacing a stretch of Alabama Avenue between Northwest 20th Avenue and Northwest 27th Avenue for an amount not to exceed $278,700.

Why it matters: The work addresses a high-traffic arterial in northern Opelika and uses CITT (transportation) funding. Commissioners expressed concern that future underground work or heavy-truck activity could shorten pavement life, and urged enforcement of truck parking and loading practices to protect the investment.

Key details
- Scope: mill and resurfacing of Alabama Avenue (NW 20th Ave to NW 27th Ave); amount not to exceed $278,700.
- Funding: staff indicated the project is funded from CITT transportation allocations earmarked for resurfacing and street repairs.
- Duration/schedule: staff presented the project as a priority and said the work would proceed in the current phase of resurfacing projects; no immediate plans for disruptive excavation in that segment were reported.

Commissioner concerns and staff responses
- Commissioner Santiago asked whether city drainage or utility work would require reopening the road. City staff said there were no planned excavations for that stretch and that the city also is undertaking stormwater maintenance work across the city.
- Vice Mayor Kelly and other commissioners argued the city should enforce parking and unloading rules for heavy trucks that accelerate pavement deterioration.

Action and next steps
- The resolution authorizing the piggyback and expenditure passed 5–0. The Public Works/CIP division will schedule the work, coordinate traffic control and report back when the contract is executed and scheduling is set.

Ending
- Commissioners asked staff to monitor and enforce commercial loading and truck parking rules along Alabama Avenue to protect the resurfacing investment.