Loxley council approves agreements for engineering services

LOXLEY, Alabama — The Loxley Town Council approved agreements at its meeting Monday, Nov. 9 with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood Inc. for a pair of grant projects scheduled for the town.

First the council approved a contract for services for the designing and planning for the construction of sidewalks along Magnolia Street.

The project will be funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation as a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant.

The council approved the contract with a lump sum payment in the amount of $35,000, which would not be part of the total grant project, which is estimated at just under $300,000.

The council also approved a contract for services for preparation of plans and specifications for construction of an access road in the Loxley Industrial Park in order to serve ALDI.

Improvements will include the pavement and widening of the road, along with the installation of turn lanes.

In July, ALDI, one of America’s fastest growing retailers, serving millions of customers across the country each month, announced plans to construct its 26^th regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley.

According to a press release issued in July, the 564,000-square-foot warehouse will have prime access to Interstate 10 and Alabama 59. The facility is projected to serve more than 8 million customers and more than 80 ALDI stores in southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, as well as in Louisiana, which will mark the company’s presence in 38 states.

The new Loxley facility, in line with ALDI distribution centers and warehouses across the country, will feature full LED lighting and a roof-mounted solar system, which will run the bulk of the energy-efficient refrigeration.

Additionally, ALDI consulted industry experts to ensure the new facility offers a modern layout designed specifically for ALDI, and Loxley will be the first ALDI facility with a cross-docking system to further optimize efficiency.

ALDI includes more than 2,000 stores across 36 states also announcing in July the installation of a new store in Foley.

The council approved the contract with a lump sum payment in the amount of $105,000. Construction of the highway is part of a nearly $800,000 grant project.

Also on Nov. 9, the council:

• Renewed the town’s banner sponsorship with the Central Baldwin Middle School basketball program.
• Selected a Business of the Year for the town, which will be announced as part of the Central Baldwin Chamber’s Annual Banquet in January.
• Adopted the 2021 Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday ordinance.
• Adopted a resolution for the reimbursement of taxes collected in error at Dollar General in Loxley.
• Approved a contract for vegetation management with Jerdan Services.
• Approved a contract for exploratory well drilling with Johnson Drilling.
• Approved the purchase of a garbage truck for the Public Works Department at a cost of $237,787.97.
• Approved an agreement for consulting services with Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc. for the town’s water and sewer service at a cost of $24,440.
• Renewed contract services with Stone Crosby P.C. for legal services with the town.
• Approved payment of $27,583.25 with the Creel Company Inc., the fourth installment of a grant project to replace a screw pump at the town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The payment is part of a USDA Rural Development Grant project.