[February 16, 2011] Opelika taps AEG Services for smart grid consulting [Opelika-Auburn News, Ala.] Tweet (Opelika-Auburn News (AL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 16--Opelika is getting some help with its smart grid fiber optic network. The Opelika City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night allowing the city to enter into an agreement with Atlantic Engineering Group Services LLC for consulting and project management assistance for the smart grid project. Opelika will pay no more than $40,000 for AEG Services' assistance, which is for the initial phases of the project only. The council also approved a tax abatement for Mando America Corp., which operates a manufacturing facility in the city's Northeast Industrial Park. Mando has announced plans for expansion by purchasing approximately $15 million worth of equipment and adding about 28 new jobs. The abatement will exempt Mando from paying all state and local non-education property taxes for 10 years. Mando's Opelika facility employs about 500 people and represents an economic investment of about $116 million. The council delayed action on a resolution that would allow City Attorney Guy Gunter to proceed with court action against six property owners. The Opelika Historic Preservation Commission has sent multiple letters to each property owner notifying them that their properties don't conform to the city's Historic Preservation Ordinance, with some of the cases dating back to 2008. However, city council President Eddie Smith suggested delaying action on the resolution until March 22 in order to give each property owner more time to make the adjustments. "We are just trying to send a message to these six property owners ... (that) they need to get it done," Smith said. Five of the cases involve owners who have failed to provide maintenance or repair to their structures, while the other property owner made unauthorized material changes to the property. Mayor Gary Fuller, appearing in a motorized scooter, made his first city council appearance since breaking his leg Feb. 3. Fuller slipped on an ice-covered step while leaving his home for the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center. "I'm grateful my injuries weren't worse than they were," he said. Fuller said he was touched by the response from the community after his injury. In other news, the city council: --Approved a $34,045 bid from Tactical Technologies Inc. for five pole cameras and software for undercover surveillance for the Opelika Police Department; --Authorized a demolition at 715 Martin Luther King Blvd.; --Authorized a demolition at 1624 Third Ave.; --Approved an application from El Patron Mexican Grill for retail liquor and retail beer on premise licenses; --Recognized Craig Vickers and Joshua Combs as the Opelika Police Department's January officers of the month; --Recognized Opelika Middle School student Kevin Lazenby as the winner of the Lee County Spelling Bee; --Recognized Opelika High School seniors Rachel Cason and Allison Lazenby as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program; --Recognized OMS eighth-grader Henrietta Rogers for the publication of her first book, "Love Hates;" --Recognized all of the Teachers of the Year in Opelika City Schools; --Re-appointed Shirley Flora to a new three-year term on the Board of Zoning Adjustments ending Feb. 11, 2014; --Re-appointed Brian Kriel to a new three-year term on the Property Maintenance Board of Appeals ending March 16, 2014; --Re-appointed Carlton Hunley to a new six-year term on the Medical Clinic Board ending March 2, 2017; and --Approved an ordinance pushing the March 15 city council meeting back to March 22. On March 15, city council members will be in Washington for the National League of Cities Congressional Conference. To see more of the Opelika-Auburn News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.oanow.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Opelika-Auburn News, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]