LOXLEY, Alabama— The Loxley Town Council approved its annual 2 percent utility rate increase at its regular monthly council meeting on Sept. 12.
In December of 2013, after considering a 6 percent increase, which would have brought the town up-to-date on its utility rates, the council voted on a 4 percent rate increase after it was discovered that rates had not been increased since before 2010, despite increasing costs.
In 2010, the council adopted an ordinance requiring rates to be raised based on the Consumer Price Index, but officials discovered in 2013 that the rates had not increased since the ordinance was adopted.
Last year, the council adopted a proposal to increase the town’s rates to the nearest dollar amount. An amendment was also placed in the town’s ordinance to automatically increase the rates 2 percent each year.
Rate increases for 2016 include:

Water
• First 2,000 gallons or less, increase from $24 to $24.48 minimum monthly.
•First 2,000 gallons or less where the head of household is 65 or older, increase from $19 to $19.38 minimum monthly.
•Next 8,000 gallons, increase from $5 per 1,000 gallons to $5.10 per 1,000 gallons.
•More than 10,000 gallons, increase from $3.75 per 1,000 gallons to $3.85 per 1,000 gallons.

Sewer
•Residential: increase from $26 to $26.52 per month.
•Residential where head of household is 65 or older: Increase from $19 to $19.38 per month.
•Commercial or Industrial: 80 percent of monthly water bill, increase from a minimum of $27 to $27.54 per month.

Garbage
•Residential, single-family dwelling unit, limited to two garbage cans not to exceed 50 gallons or 50 pounds capacity each: Increase from $17 to $17.34 per month.
•Residential, single-family dwelling where head of household is 65 or older: Increase from $14 to $14.28 per month.
•Businesses: Limited to four garbage cans not to exceed 50 gallons capacity each. Increase from $20 to $20.40 per month. All businesses requiring more than four garbage cans shall retain the services of a private garbage service for all its garbage needs.
Electrical service for the town is provided in some areas by Riviera Utilities and in other areas by Baldwin EMC, who set the rates for their customers, Mayor Billy Middleton said.

In other business Sept. 12, the council once again tabled a proposed resolution adopting a moratorium accepting new roads for maintenance.
Concerns were expressed during a public hearing Aug. 8 by a representative from the former Golden Triangle PUD, saying the proposed moratorium could affect entitlements agreed upon when the council voted to split the planned unit development in 2012.
The town also received a letter expressing concerns over the proposed development, said Shawn Alves, the town’s legal counsel.
The council also approved minutes from a special meeting Aug. 29 certifying the election of Jeffrey Knight to the Place 2 council seat.
The Provisional Ballot Certification was returned from the Board of Registrar’s Office stating that no provisional ballots were cast. There were also no absentee ballots counted, leaving the total at 100 votes for Knight, the incumbent, to 57 votes for challenger William Ervin.
Mayor and all other council members were elected unopposed in the Aug. 23 election.
In other business Sept. 12 the council:
•Approved the submission of a USDA grant/loan application in the amount of $167,152 for the purchase of four new vehicles for the Loxley Police Department.
•Approved an ABC license application for a Ducks Unlimited fundraising event at the Loxley Civic Center.
•Approved the purchase of a 2008 Expedition for the town’s fire department at a cost of $12,000.
•Authorized the mayor to proceed with the purchase of property to allow for future expansion of the town’s sewage treatment plant.