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Council approves downtown street closure for Ferguson Chapel weekend service
Summary
Council approved closing Fourth Street and Avenue for Ferguson Chapel Church’s weekend gathering; police and fire chiefs worked with organizers to ensure emergency access will be staffed.
The Opelika City Council on June 17 approved a temporary street closure for Ferguson Chapel Church’s weekend gathering in downtown Opelika.
The presiding officer described the plan: "The Ferguson Chapel Church is hosting a weekend of, their congregations coming together at at at their church. And so they were needing to close Fourth Street and Avenue you see. And they will they will have them closed, but they'll also have them manned. So if emergency vehicle need to get through, they're gonna be able to," the presiding officer said, noting staff and church representatives coordinated to ensure public safety.
Council members discussed the item in light of prior concerns raised when the fire and police chiefs were out of town; staff said both chiefs later reviewed the closure plan and were comfortable that it would not create a public‑safety issue. Councilman Allen and church representatives met with the mayor in advance; a council member apologized to the church for the delay in bringing the matter back to the council.
The council voted to remove the item from the table and then approve the street closure; staff said the closure would be staffed Friday, Saturday and until 1 a.m. Sunday to allow emergency access. The measure was approved by roll call.
