The Alabaster City Council has gone on record against the location of an opiate replacement treatment center in Alabaster.

Robert White, director of North West Alabama Treatment Center has filed a letter of intent with the State Health Planning and Development Agency to open a methadone clinic in Alabaster.

During Monday night’s regular City Council meeting, the Alabaster Council unanimously approved a resolution expressing &uot;our overwhelming and very strong opposition to the location of an opiate replacement treatment program which would have 100-200 participants who would literally invade this residential community on a periodic basis for the sole purpose of treating those with problems concerning drugs such as heroin with all of the attendant serious concerns that this town’s mother and fathers have expressed over the forced introduction of this type of treatment facility into the community.

&uot;The mayor is directed to provide a copy of this resolution to the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Robert White, President of the North West Alabama Treatment Center and to Robby Owens, Shelby County district attorney.&uot;

A venture group wants to develop more property in the I-65/U.S. 231 area.

A representative from Tuscaloosa Venture Development LLC told the city council his group has 38 acres in the U.S. Highway 31 and Interstate 65 area in which they would like to create an economic enterprise zone.

John Ingram said the group would like to see the property developed into a shopping center.

He said the property includes interstate frontage as well as land along U.S. Highway 31.

In other business, the Alabaster City Council gave Alabaster Mayor David Frings a vote of confidence to move forward with efforts to construct a veterans’ memorial for Alabaster’s Veterans Park.

A sketch of a proposed memorial shows granite monoliths for each branch of service and a center monolith.

Names would not be inscribed on the monoliths but residents would be allowed to purchase bricks for steps in honor or in memory of veterans.

Councilmember Bob Hicks agreed to help establish a fund-raiser for the project.

In personnel matters, the council agreed to fund the new position of fire inspector for the city to make sure that existing structures meet fire codes.

While Frings said there should be enough funds in the budget for the position, he said it would represent a maximum annual hit to the budget of $4,200.

On a vote of 6-1 with Councilmember Jerry Workman casting the lone &uot;no&uot; vote, the council combined two jobs now being done by Kenneth Hill into the position of Environmental Services Director.

Hill supervises the wastewater plant and distribution plant. The action moves Hill from Pay Grade 22 to Pay Grade 27, Step 4 an increase of $2,584.48 to the sewer budget this year.

While Workman agreed that Hill has been doing two jobs, he questioned making adjustments to positions in a &uot;piece-mill&uot; manner.

The council set a public hearing for Jan. 3 for an amendment to the pay scale ordinance.

The change includes a 5 percent cost of living adjustment for employees and adjustments to the beginning salaries for police and firefighters.

In other matters the council:

* Approved a re-zoning request for about one care of land from R-3 residential to B-3 business for Michael D. South. The property is on Kent Dairy Road next to a daycare.

Citizens, who were assured they would receive engineering study results, expressed drainage concerns.

* Approved a new alcoholic beverage ordinance that clarifies violations and penalties for violations of the ordinance.

* Changed the date of the next council meeting from Jan. l7 to Jan. 18 for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

* Authorized the mayor to negotiate the purchase of a building adjacent to the sewer treatment plant.

* Approved a retail beer and table wine license (off premises only) for Med Center Shell at 718 First Street North.

* Approved a contract with the Purchase Association of Central Alabama (PACA) at $2,800 per year in order to take advantage of savings on stationary, phone services, cars etc.

* Approved appointments to the Business and Marketing Committee including Stephen Poplin, Jennifer Cairns, Greg Wood, LeAnn Rigney, Vic Smith, Melanie Siow, Linda Hill, David Grousky, James Jones, Earl Vandergrifft and Isnascio Guajardo.