LOXLEY, Ala. — With grants, bills, and a school sales tax holiday, and other ordinances to consider, members of Loxley’s Town Council had their work cut out for them last Monday. Council member Derek G. Middleton was absent.

Much of the council’s meeting was taken with a proposal.

A proposed smoking ordinance was tabled for the work session April 28 when Councilman Lloyd J. Keuler noticed that proposed rules would affect businesses with three people, and owner and two employees, rather than businesses with three or more employees.

“And of course, chewing tobacco grosses everyone else out,” commented Councilor Katherine Q. Breeden.

It was decided to have Town Attorney Shawn Alves rework the ordinance. Alves has worked on the ordinance since the council took up the matter a few weeks ago.

Council members also discussed the construction of a footbridge over the ditch on the Civic Center grounds that would keep visitors, especially Strawberry Festival visitors from having to jump over a water-filled ditch.

Robert “Sandy” Dolittle and Randy Horne, officers of the Circle K corporation, were on hand to see the council give uniamious final approval to a retail beer and table wine license to the store on Highway 59.

“This is a corporate owned store,” said Horne, who was eager to bring word of the council’s action to officials in Montgomery.

“Will there be a deli,” asked Breeden.

Dolittle explained that a deli and other goodies will come as business in the store picks up.

A cost of living ordinance for town employees generated the most Council discussion.

“You know me, I like two and a half per cent increases, said Mayor Billy Middleton.

Richard L. Teal disagreed, citing the cost of gasoline and the increase in the general cost of living. “I am thinking of five or six percent,” he countered.

Breeden also said she would be in favor of five per cent. “We have to consider the cost of living,” she said

Some dissent came from the other side of the dais.

“I’m a tightwad,” quipped Lloyd Keuler.

“What is allowed in the budget,” asked Wallace A. “Walley” Sabin.

In the end Teal moved a five per cent increase, which was approved uniamiously by the council.

The council also approved ordinance 2008-08, calling for a sales tax holiday. The council appeared hesitant to approve it until Mayor Middleton explained that this was a sales tax holiday for school clothes,computers, and supplies. The holiday will begin at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1 and end at midnight Aug. 3.

The Loxley Public Library received animus permission to use a $3,000 state grant to purchase four new computers, including headphones, word processing software, and virus protection software.

“Well, they spent that right quick,” quipped Mayor Middleton.

The council also approved spending $250 to purchase awards at the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Academic Excellence Banquet, which will be held May 6.

“I don’t think we have ever done this before,” said Mayor Billy Middleton.

No matter. The council voted unanimously to pay the money to the CBCC.

The council also voted to annex two parcels, one owned by Emily N. Cannan near Interstate 10 subject to existing easements. The second parcel is the Loxley Commerce Center, near Truck Route 17.

The council also approved an agreement with C.A. Crisler for the use of three trained police dogs, Alyxx, a male Belgian maligns police dog, Torak, a male Belgian maligns trained for narcotics work, and Dixxye, a female Belgian maligns who is to be cross-trained as a narcotics detector and passive tracking dog. The fee is $1 per dog and other good an valuable considerations. The town will provide all routine and emergency veterinary care food, training, usage supplies, training expenses, certification expenses, rectification expenses, and other expenses concerning the dogs’ maintenance.

— The Council passed ordinance 2008-9 which adopted the International Building Code of 2006, the International Gas Code of 2006, and the 2006 editions of the International plumbing code, residential code, fire code, and electric code for the town.

— The council also voted to pay the Blackmon Insurance Agency $88,898 to cover the town’s vehicles and other assets. There is a $1,000 deductible on all property losses and a $500 deductible on equipment losses. A $100,000 wind and hail deductible remains.

J. Lynn Blackmon advised the Council that, “This price also includes the five additional cars the town has added.”

— The Council also passed uniamiously an agreement to pay the American Red Cross $1,000 to fund the position of Baldwin County Disaster Response Coordinator.

— The Council passed a consulting agreement between the town and Bradley S. Pitt for consulting services for the natural gas distribution system.

— The Council also voted to cover the cost of replacing the carpet in the town’s batting cage.