LOXLEY — Loxley Police Chief Mike Murphy told council members Monday that he had received the “job opportunity of a lifetime,” as he announced his resignation at Monday night’s council meeting at Loxley Town Hall.

“It has been an honor and a priviledge to serve the people of Loxley,” Murphy said. “I am very thankful for all that you have done for me and my family.”

Murphy, whose resignation becomes effective Sept. 21, was hired to fill the top position at the Loxley Police Department in March, following the resignation of Cliff Yetter in November.

Yetter served as acting chief until Murphy was hired. Al Adkins was fired as assistant chief in January. No comment was made Monday about a recent law suit filed against the town by Adkins.

Murphy, 38, graduated from Southwest Alabama Police Academy in Bay Minette. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., in 1998. In 2002, he graduated from the 10-week Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff and Command, thus becoming only the fourth person from Alabama do so.

Murphy earned an associate degree from Faulkner State Junior College and a bachelor’s degree from Troy State University. He also holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Troy State University.

In other business Monday, the town council approved a contract with the Baldwin County Commission regarding the review of subdivisions in the unincorporated areas of the county lying outside the municipalities’ planning jurisdiction and not lying inside the planning jurisdiction of any other municipality in Baldwin County.

The agreement was passed unanimously, despite expressed opposition by council members.

“I don’t like it,” said council member Richard Teal, “but I just don’t know what else to do.”

The agreement was based on an agreement passed by the County Commission and the City of Daphne in 1991. Under the terms of the agreement:

— “The municipality’s planning jurisdiction shall include all land located inside its corporate limits and all land lying within five miles of its corporate limits and not located in any other municipality.

— “The municipality will exercise review authority over all subdivision developments within the area described … above.

— “The municipality will submit a copy of each plat approved within its extraterritorial planning jurisdiction to the county engineer for his approval as required in Section 11-52-30 of the Code of Alabama, prior to such plat being filed for recording with the Judge of Probate of Baldwin County. The more strict requirements, whether of the municipality or of the county, must be complied with by the developer.

— “The Commission will exercise review authority through the Baldwin County Planning Commission over all subdivision developments lying outside the municipality’s planning jurisdiction described … above, and not lying inside the planning jurisdiction of any other municipality in Baldwin County.

— “Upon execution of agreements between the Commission and each municipality in Baldwin County, the Commission will have prepared a map delineating the respective planning jurisdictions of the Commission and each municipality in Baldwin County, which map shall be incorporated into this agreement to become a part of it.

— “A copy of this agreement, including the map delineating the respective planning jurisdictions of the Commission and the County municipalities for the exercise of subdivision development controls shall be kept on file by the Commission and the municipality and shall be filed with the Judge of Probate of Baldwin County.”

It was also stated that the agreement could be modified or amended by mutual action of the Commission and the municipality.

“This is something that we have to do, otherwise we’re going to end up in a fight with the County Commission and that is something we don’t want,” Teal said.

In other business Monday night the council:

— Approved amendments to the town’s Zoning Ordinance.

— Approved an agreement to cover the cost of a one-time lump sum payment to eligible employees under the Retiree Act. Employees eligible for the payment, which totals $2,212, include Carol Middleton, $438; I.A. Kuklo, $342; Thomas W. Hudson, $303; Clifford Yetter, $230; Paulette Stanton, $166; Robert M. Meigs, $304; and James Edward Wilson, $429.

— Renewed its contract with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce at a cost of $4,200 annually or $350 per month.

— Purchased a full-page ad in the Central Baldwin Chamber magazine at a cost of $1,900.

— Agreed to contract with Goodwyn, Mills & Caywood for landscaping and irrigation design for the interchange at Interstate 10 and Highway 59 in Loxley.

— Voted to appoint Mildred Bertagnolli, Shirley Phillips and Evelyn Driskell to the committee for the Baldwin County Historical Bicentennial Celebration.

— Met briefly in executive session with the town’s attorney to discuss litigation.

— Voted to set a public hearing for Monday Oct. 8 to consider a request from Kasey Childress to rezone property located on South Holley Street from R-1A (residential, single family) to B-1, commercial-local business.

— Voted to set a public hearing for Monday, Oct. 8 to consider a request from Adam and Tonyia Cooley to rezone property located on South Holley Street from R-1A to B-1.

— Voted to set a public hearing for Monday, Oct. 8 to consider a request from Benny and Madeline Darby to rezone property located off Highway 59 North in Loxley from A-O (agriculture, open space) to M-1 (industrial-light industry).