Council approves equipment purchases, contracts and a flood ordinance; rezoning for 12.24 acres introduced

The Opelika City Council approved a series of resolutions and ordinance actions at its regular meeting, including purchases for public safety and public works, a bridge-repair contract, a recycling contract and adoption of a revised flood-damage prevention ordinance intended to maintain the city's ability to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Resolutions and notable actions approved by roll call included:

- Ratification of a contract to Hedman Construction Company Inc. in the amount of $286,000 to repair Spring Villa Bridge (Resolution 1). - Approval of a travel expense report for municipal court employee Naja Gunn in the amount of $82.26 (Resolution 2). - Authorization for the police department to purchase in-car camera systems and body cameras from Motorola Solutions for $42,290 (Resolution 3). - Authorization for the police department to purchase two-way radios and related equipment from Motorola Solutions for $47,002.18 (Resolution 4). - Authorization to purchase police vehicle upfit packages from Lighting by Haines for $116,756.30 (Resolution 5). - Authorization for Power Services to purchase two 2025 Ford F-350 SuperCab trucks from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $168,046 (Resolution 6). - Authorization to enter a recycling contract with Pratt Recycling Inc.; recycling fee in the contract: $115.50 (Resolution 7). - A special appropriation of $1,250 to the JW Darden Foundation Inc. to support the Darden Wellness Center (Resolution 8).

Council members voted to adopt a revised flood-damage prevention ordinance after suspending the rules so the city would remain eligible to offer flood insurance. "This ordinance... allows us to sell flood insurance," a council member said during discussion; the council voted to suspend rules and approve the ordinance in the same meeting to meet program deadlines.

The council also approved the purchase of five Chevy Tahoes for the city fleet. Staff presented the bid recommendation in both the work session and the regular meeting; the work-session presentation listed the recommended bid at $249,573 while the regular meeting record lists the award amount as $243,573. The council voted to award the bid to Donahoe Chevrolet as the low, responsive bidder in the formal meeting. (See clarifying details for the intra-meeting discrepancy in the two reported amounts.)

Finally, an ordinance was introduced for first reading to rezone about 12.24 acres along Lake Condie Road from R-3 to a PUD as an extension of the Hidden Lake Subdivision; the staff summary said the tract would yield about 19 single-family homes if approved.

Except where noted, motions recorded in the minutes were approved by roll call. The transcript records roll-call approvals for the listed resolutions; the city clerk recorded "Aye" responses and the items carried as presented.