Opelika — The Opelika City Council on Nov. 18 voted to approve a $389,000 professional services quote from Critical Insights Consulting for work tied to the Opelika Police Department and the Opelika City School System. The resolution, moved and seconded by council members during the meeting, passed with four ayes and one abstention.

The measure had been removed from the consent agenda and renumbered as Resolution 1 before formal consideration. A council member presenting the item said the purchase is intended to provide professional services for the police department and the city school system; Mayor Eddie Smith was listed as the sponsor of the quote. The roll call on the motion recorded four votes in favor and one abstention, and the council announced the motion carried 4 ayes, 1 abstain.

The approval followed standard procedures: the item was discussed briefly on the meeting floor and then called for a roll call vote with no extended public discussion recorded. The resolution authorizes staff to proceed with the contracted services as described in the quote presented to council.

The action is separate from an ordinance introduced later in the meeting concerning rezoning at 1401 Speedway Drive, which the council set up as a first reading. No timeline or implementation schedule for the Critical Insights contract was given during the meeting, and department staff indicated financial statements for the month were delayed by an ongoing audit.

What happens next: Council documents or the city clerk’s office should record the final contract and any scope-of-work specifics; the resolution passed at the meeting authorizes staff to move forward with the vendor under the terms presented to council.