Opelika Council approves street closures, contracts and budgets; hears resident plea on poverty and infrastructure

On Aug. 5 the Opelika City Council voted unanimously on a package of permits, contracts, personnel items and budgets, approving a transportation plan tied to the Rebuild Alabama Act, the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant annual action plan, a fiber connection contract to Albex Data Center and multiple agreements and change orders.

The votes matter because they authorize immediate spending and contracting for downtown events, infrastructure work and city services ahead of the next fiscal year and grant cycles.

The council unanimously approved three downtown event closures and a Veterans Day parade: a street closure for First Baptist Church’s fall festival on Oct. 26, 2025; a street closure for the Freedom Fest concert on Nov. 7, 2025; and a downtown Veterans Day parade on Nov. 8, 2025. All three motions passed on roll call with council members voting “aye.”

On alcohol and special-event licenses the council approved: an alcohol license for Auburn Hospitality Group LLC (doing business as the Element Hotel); a special-events retail license for Bridal LLC (doing business as the Bridal Whiskey Festival); and a more-than-30-days special retail license for R. S. Brown Enterprises LLC (doing business as The Bottling Plant Event Center). Each license passed on unanimous roll-call votes.

Procurement and contracts approved

- A contract to provide a fiber connection to Albex Data Center was awarded to Wow in the total amount of $214,200. City staff reported the bid opening was July 21, 2025; six vendors were solicited and two bids were received. The motion passed unanimously on roll call.

- A custodial services contract for city facilities was awarded to Cleaning Man LLC on the low bid meeting specifications. Staff said the bid opening was July 7, 2025; the solicitation was mailed to 11 vendors and five bids were received. The contract price is $2,175 per month for years one through three; additional services are billed at $18 per hour. The council approved the contract unanimously.

- A managed services contract with Temple Incorporated for traffic monitoring and technical assistance was approved; the firm will be compensated at $160 per hour. The motion passed unanimously.

Resolutions, change orders and budgets

- Resolution approving travel expense reports for Jeremy McCoy, Tara Young and Cindy Boyd — approved unanimously.

- Resolution to dispose of three surplus city vehicles (a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2017 Ford Explorer and a 2011 Ford truck) — approved unanimously.

- Three change orders were approved to adjust purchase prices and equipment for vehicles ordered from Stivers Ford Lincoln: a $845 change order for a 2025 Ford Transit 150 cargo van; a $995 change order for a 2025 Ford F-350 regular cab chassis cab; and a $4,935 change order for three 2025 Ford F-250 Super Cab pickup trucks. Each change order was adopted on unanimous vote.

- Resolution approving a managed services contract for traffic monitoring with Temple Incorporated at $160 per hour — approved unanimously.

- The council approved an engagement letter with Himmel, Wright, Hughley & Bowles for the city's next annual audit; the contract amount listed in the meeting packet is $112,000. The motion passed unanimously.

Transportation plan and right-of-way acquisition

- By resolution the council adopted the city’s transportation plan required under the Rebuild Alabama Act for the coming fiscal year. Staff said the city expects to receive “$1,295,000 and $91,295,090 from the legislature, to be used pursuant to the Rebuild Alabama Act,” and proposed to use the funds to resurface Gateway Drive from Society Hill Road to Marvin Parkway and to construct a shared-use path along that roadway. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll call. (See clarifying details about the transcript’s presentation of the two funding figures.)

- The council approved a resolution authorizing acquisition of approximately “one one-hundredth of an acre” of right-of-way from the Donald E. McConnell Trust for intersection improvements at Second Avenue and Tenth Street; the compensation listed is $1,000. The resolution passed unanimously.

CDBG budget and park utilities

- Resolution number 9 adopted the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget and annual action plan; staff listed an expected HUD allocation of $305,551. The council approved the plan unanimously.

- The council approved an electric services agreement and pole-attachment license with Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative to serve a new lodge and related facilities at Spring Villa Park; staff noted Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative serves the park. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Ordinance and appointments

- The council introduced (first reading) an ordinance to lease the railroad depot property at 1032 South Railroad Avenue to Envision Opelika Foundation; staff said the depot currently hosts three pre-K classes operated by Envision Opelika. The ordinance was presented for first reading.

- The council confirmed several reappointments: Erin Kovach (term exp. 08/19/2028) and Mark Grantham (term exp. 08/19/2028) to the Historic Preservation Commission; Cecil Morgan (term exp. 08/05/2031) and Mike Shannon (term exp. 08/05/2031) to the Celebrate Alabama Improvement District board. Each reappointment was approved by unanimous roll call.

Public comment

During the public-comment period, Billy U. Allen, who identified his address as 930 Bridal Trace, Stone Mountain, Georgia, urged the council to address poverty, flooding and neglected lots in Opelika. Allen summarized regional poverty-rate figures and said “I think that we can do better in Opelika,” adding that downtown infrastructure and flood issues and overgrown lots where houses once stood should receive sustained attention from city officials. His remarks were part of a public-comment block and did not lead to any immediate council action on the items he raised.

Meeting close

President Pro Tem Bridal Baker Norris presided in the absence of Council President Eddie Smith. The council adjourned after the votes; the meeting packet recorded no dissenting votes on the items acted upon.

Ending: The council’s next scheduled matters were not listed on the transcript excerpt provided.