LOXLEY, Ala. — The Loxley Town Council meeting Monday night proceeded like any other. There were bills to approve, a bid for a backhoe to be awarded and a resolution to apply for a Hazard Mitigation Grant. A lease agreement for three new police cruisers was approved. The council also heard of damage to city property during electrical storms earlier in the month. All members of the council were in attendance at the meeting.

But, council member Derek Middleton provided the surprise of the evening. He chose to read a prepared statement.

“Mayor, council, mother (Town Clerk Carol Middleton) and department heads, I’d like to say it’s been a pleasure working with you over the past nine years. And I am pleased with the accomplishments of the council and the departments. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I will be resigning this September 2009. I would like to thank you all for this opportunity and would like to wish each of you the best.”

The council was silent after the announcement.

“I have enjoyed it, and I think we have done a lot of good things for this town,” Middleton said, breaking the silence. “I think we are heading in the right direction in our departments.”

“The pleasure was ours,” said council member Kathrine Breeden.

After the meeting, Middleton said his resignation was due to “unforeseen circumstances,” and declined to comment further. Comments made on the council dais indicated that Middleton had his home “under contract.”

Middleton held “Place 5” on the council and ran in the last election with no opposition.

According to Mayor Billy Middleton, contacted after the meeting, the council will appoint a replacement to fill out the rest of Middleton’s term.

“I do have to look that up, but I think that is what will happen,” said the mayor.

Electrical storms earlier this month caused the town considerable trouble.

“We had some lightning that took out the electric motors at the wastewater treatment plant,” said Superintendent of Utilities Tommy Hudson. The storm took out “every electric motor” in the wastewater treatment plant. “It (the lightning) welded a chain to a gate at the wastewater treatment plant,” said Hudson.

There will be repair costs to fix the damage, and Hudson said that the town’s insurance would cover “most, but not all” of the repairs.

According to Loxley Chief of Police John Cason, an electrical storm also knocked out all the video equipment in the police station. While this damage is also covered by insurance, there is a $500 deductible .

In other business, the council:

— Awarded M & I Equipment Engine Co. a bid for a new backhoe loader for the utility department. Bids for the backhoe came in ranging from $58,136 to $69,808.

— Approved the application for a Hazard Mitigation Grant. The resolution authorizes Mayor Middleton to apply for up to $500,000 in grants to fund storm water improvements in the town. The town will be required to provide up to $125,000 in cash or in-kind work on the project.

— Approved payment of $55,219.31 in town bills.

— Approved spending over $89,000 over five years to purchase three new police cruisers for the town.