Loxley introduces new council member, approves new committee assignments

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LOXLEY, Alabama — The Loxley Town Council introduced new member Chris McCall at its council meeting on Monday, Aug. 12, while approving new committee assignments for council members.

During a special meeting on July 29, McCall was appointed to fill the Place 4 council seat vacated by Richard Teal, who was sworn in as mayor on June 24 after being appointed to finish the term of longtime mayor Billy Middleton on June 10.

McCall was one of six candidates who had applied for the position. Others included Dr. Philip Dembowski, Aaron Kirkland, Beth Lovell, Randy Smith and Ronnie Babb.

Council member Kasey Childress was also appointed during the special council meeting to fill the mayor pro tem position and took his place at the Aug. 12 meeting next to Teal.

During the meeting, McCall was appointed to the Police Department Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee with Childress, and to the Beautification Committee with Council member Katherine Breeden.

Other committee assignment approved at the Aug. 12 meeting were:

•Fire Department: Lee Wilson and Jeff Knight.

•Building Department: Wilson and Childress.

•Public Works Department: Knight and Childress.

•Administrative Department: Knight and Breeden.

•Business License: Wilson and Knight.

•Health Department: Wilson and Breeden.

•Check Signing: Breeden and Childress.

Teal is the first new mayor in the town of Loxley in more than 30 years, following the passing of longtime Middleton on May 17 at the age of 78 following a brief but hard-fought battle with cancer.

Teal will finish Middleton’s term as mayor, while McCall will finish the Place 4 council seat, both of which run through 2020.

In other business Aug. 12, the council approved a pair of resolutions involving the Alabama Department of Transportation.

First, the council approved a resolution to allow ALDOT to relocate and place a traffic signal at the intersection of Alabama 59 and U.S. 90 (also known as Alabama 16).

ALDOT will pay about half of the cost of the project, Teal said. The Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Commission has agreed to pay half of the remaining cost, leaving the town to pay the rest, about $50,000, Teal said.

The town also approved a reimbursable agreement with ALDOT for the relocation of water and sanitary sewer utility facilities in the public rights of way at the intersection.

The project will be completed by the town using its own contractor with 100 percent of the cost of the project reimbursed by ALDOT.

Cost to complete the project is estimated at $78,000, plus cost for engineering, not to exceed $19,976, bringing the total cost of the project to $97,976.

In other business Aug. 12, the council:

•Approved a resolution declaring a public nuisance in the Ellgriff Addition to the Town of Loxley.

•Approved a resolution declaring a public nuisance at a property on Union Avenue East.

•Approved a request from Robertsdale High School football to place an ad on the pressbox at J.D. Sellars Stadium at a cost of $500.

•Approved proposed landscaping plans for the right-of-way behind the new Piggly Wiggly on South Cedar Street.

•Appointed Beth Lovell to fill a position on the Loxley Planning Commission.

•Authorized Teal to write a letter on behalf of the town to the Alabama Department of Transportation opposing the proposed toll on the Interstate 10 Bayway Bridge.

•Met in executive session with the town attorney to discuss and upcoming contract negotiation.