Opelika council approves multiple demolition orders; resident disputes demolition and a $10,114.06 assessment at 509 First Ave.

Opelika City Council voted on a set of demolition authorizations and approved an assessment of $10,114.06 against the property at 509 First Avenue following a public hearing during which the property owner said the demolition was not carried out in accordance with notices she received.

During the public hearing Loretta Winnatt, who gave her address as 11090 Woodruff Road, Fairburn, Georgia, said her property at 509 First Avenue was demolished April 1 by L and L Hauling and Backhoe and that she received notices that referenced only removal of the front porch, not demolition of the entire building. "There was never a resolution issued by the city of Opelika to demolish the whole building," Winnatt said. She also told the council she received a cost notice signed by a person she identified as Bill May, whom she described as a code compliance officer rather than the official building inspector and said she had not been given the building inspector’s signature.

Winnatt described how the contractor left a gully on the property, reported concerns the sewer line may not have been capped, and said salvage or demolition procedures left the site in a condition that she described as problematic. The mayoral designee limited Winnatt’s public comment to the allotted time and noted she could return later during agenda‑related public comment.

Council agenda materials included resolutions authorizing demolition or cost assessments at multiple addresses (including 103 Avenue B, 2602 Lafayette Parkway, 2404 Old Columbus Road and 509 First Avenue). During the meeting the council considered Resolution No. 12, authorizing an assessment in the amount of $10,114.06 against 509 First Avenue; a roll call on that resolution was recorded with the clerk stating "Motion carries 4 ayes, 1 nay." The meeting record lists recorded aye votes including "Miss Gravel," "Nate," "Gray," and "Mister Smith" during the roll call, and the clerk announced the motion carried 4–1.

City staff and the clerk opened the public hearings for each demolition item and stated no public comments had been received for some addresses; Winnatt was the only speaker to contest the 509 First Avenue demolition at the public hearing portion reflected in the record. She said she had filed an insurance claim with the contractor’s general liability carrier and requested follow‑up from the city.

The council enacted the other demolition resolutions on the agenda by roll call as part of routine business. Staff identified the administrative process as one in which the proceeds from sale or salvage of materials are applied to the demolition cost, consistent with the notices Winnatt quoted; Winnatt disputed that the full building demolition matched the language of the notices she received.

The council did not announce additional remediation actions during the meeting; Winnatt said she would return to speak again and staff were asked to follow up on the concerns raised during her comments.