Several residents gathered for the swearing in ceremony for Opp’s newly elected city council during Monday’s regular scheduled meeting at the Senior Activity Center.

Opp mayor H.D. Edgar used the opportunity to announce the possibility of new industry on the horizon for Opp in 2009.

“We have a new industry coming to Opp in 2009,” Edgar said. “The guy e-mailed me to let me know they were coming. He went on for the all the reasons why he was coming to Opp and at the very bottom he stated the main reason they were moving here from Reno, Nev. He said the main reason they were coming to Opp is because of the people. Not the mayor, not the council, but the people. The people of Opp make the town. We are public servants elected by you all. You appoint us to run the city and we do the best we can with guidance from you.”

Edgar said he could not discuss too many details surrounding the upcoming industry, but he did state that the company would employ approximately 45 people and would provide good wages for Opp residents.

The council made several appointments during Monday night’s meeting including Mickey Crew’s appointment as mayor pro tem for a second four-year term.

“I have had a ball doing this,” Crew said. “It has been a lot of fun for me. As you know no one ran against me so it puts a lot of burden on me to prove that I deserve this job. I don’t want anyone to believe for one minute that I am taking it for granted. We’ve had a good four years. We cannot solve all the problems that have been here for the last 30 years, but we have been chipping away at it. I think our town is a little cleaner. We are already doing some downtown redevelopment and some other things we are doing.”

Oren Stewart, who claimed the District 5 seat after a victory over Walter “Buddy” Pyron in October’s runoff election, publicly thanked voters for their support during the meeting.

“I consider it a high privilege to be able to serve on the city council for Opp,” he said. “I was a member previously and I enjoyed every minute of the four years that I served at that time. I have more free time now to serve and I look forward to serving these next four years. Any way that I can help anybody I will try. I am not going to promise anyone anything, but we are going to take a look at everything that comes up. If there is any way possible we can help, then we will.”

Scotty Short, who claimed the District 1 after defeating incumbent Bobby Ray Owens in August, echoed Stewart’s sentiment.

The council also appointed:

Eugenia Loggins as city prosecutor.

Connie Smith as city clerk.

Wesley Laird as city attorney.

Julie Moody as city judge.

Ronald Penn as public defender.

Carr, Riggs and Ingram as city auditors.

Mayor Edgar to the Southeast Alabama Gas Board.

Joey Williams as fire chief.

Don Childre as a FEMA agent.