LOXLEY, Alabama — Employees of the town of Loxley will be getting a little more money, thanks to the approval of raises by the Loxley Town Council at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 12.
By unanimous vote, the council approved 3 percent cost of living raises for the town’s approximately 65 employees. Council member Lee Wilson was not present for the April 12 meeting.
Cost of Living Adjustment (C.O.L.A.) raises are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. According to information provided at the meeting, the figures increased 2.5 percent for the 12 months ending January 2020, the largest 12-month increase since 2018.
The council also the hiring of a full-time employee for the Parks & Recreation Department and voted to move a part-time library employee to full-time (27 hours a week).
The council also discussed plans to hire a full-time employee for the Loxley Civic Center, approving a measure to strip and wax the floors at the Civic Center at a cost of $2,275.
Activities director Tina Harris, who is responsible for scheduling rentals at the Civic Center, said plans are underway for re-opening the Civic Center after it was closed to public activities last year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Harris said her hope was to get the work done to strip and wax the floors before the Civic Center opens for its first event, the town of Loxley’s Summer Youth Program, which is set to begin June 1 and run for five weeks, ending July 2.
The annual program, which is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 12, was cancelled last year because of COVID-19 restrictions. Registration began April 13 and is limited to 50 campers.
Registration costs $150 per child ($125 for each additional child within a family group), and includes all art and craft supplies, special events, daily snack, teachers and any additional items. Breakfast will be offered for $1 per day. Lunch will be provided for $2 per day.
The camp runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with extended care is offered (no later than 5 p.m.) for $5 per hour.
Application packets can be downloaded at townofloxley.org or picked up at the Civic Center. For more information call 251-964-7733.
Baldwin County Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood also address the council about the Don’t Drop It On Alabama Spring Clean Up campaign during the month of April.
Clean-up materials are provided at no cost to participants and include large trash bags, recycle bags and participation forms.
Supplies can be picked up at local landfills, including the MacBride Landfill, located at 14200 County Road 64 in Loxley.
“This is something that is a collaborative countywide effort, but it is also something that I have personally been pushing for some time,” Underwood said. “We appreciate the support and efforts of all the residents to clean up Baldwin County.”
Trash collected in the bags provided will be weighed and reported to Alabama PALS to track the event’s success. Forms specifying the general location where trash was collected should be turned in with the trash to the landfill locations.
For more information contact Amy Galemore at Baldwin County Solid Waste, agalemore@baldwincountyal.gov or call 251-972-6878.
Residents Mark and Holly Crawford also addressed the council with concerns over trash collecting in a drainage ditch and running onto their property on Highway 49, near the Aldi construction site.
They also expressed concerns over speeding along the highway.
Officials said while there are plans to pave the highway near the Aldi site, there have been no specific plans to address drainage issues.
Both utilities and police department employees would look into the concerns, said Mayor Richard Teal.
Also on April 12, the council:
