LOXLEY, Ala. — The Loxley Town Council met Monday evening with a relatively light agenda. All members of the council, with the exception of Derek G. Middleton were present.

The council unanimously approved an agreement with the Styx River Volunteer Fire Department regarding fire and emergency coverage in areas where the Styx River and Loxley Volunteer Fire Department’s responsibilities overlap.

“We can keep the way it is, if you want,” said Mayor Billy Middleton, “but it does mean double calls and double resources.”

According to the agreement, the problem has arisen because Loxley’s “ … municipal ad police jurisdiction have expanded due to annexation.”

Because both the Loxley and Styx River fire departments are dispatched through the Baldwin county E-911 service, both departments have been getting calls.

The agreement, which either department can terminate with 90 days notice, sets forth that the “Styx River Fire Department will continue to provide fire protection services to the Styx River Volunteer Fire Department’s Fire District, including the area overlapping Loxley’s police jurisdiction.”

According to the agreement, both departments will provide mutual aid to each other.

“If they need us, they will call us,” said Middleton.

“I have heard it to be ugly with other departments. I want to make sure both departments are happy with it,” said council member Richard L. Teal, asking representatives, “If a problem arises, please come to us.”

Members of the Loxley Volunteer Fire Department and Hubert C. Dunbar, the deputy chief and president of the Styx River Volunteer Fire Department’s board of directors indicated that they would do this. Dunbar was on hand to sign the agreement.

The town also approved giving funds to the H.I.P.P.Y. (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program. The program is designed to teach parents of preschool children how to teach their youngsters to be good learners.

Patti Bodenhamer, chair of the local H.I.P.P.Y group spoke to the council at their workshop meeting last month. She was not present at this meeting.

The council voted unanimously to give the program $1500

“Other communities have reported that it’s a successful program. The kids do better,” said council member Katherine Q. Breeden.

The council also passed an identity theft prevention ordinance.

Federal statues require entities such as Loxley's utilities department that bills after services are rendered to have such a policy, explained Town Attorney Shawn Alves.

Part of the ordinance reads, “Personal identifying information included in customer accounts is considered confidential and any request or demand for information

The new ordinance was crafted to work with established procedures,

“I tried to draft (the new rules) in such a way to work with the way municipal employees do things, and there will be no added employees,” said Alves, adding that he worked closely with Town Clerk Carol Middleton to craft the ordinance.

The ordinance passed unanimously.

In other action:

— The council approved payment of $25,801.22 in town bills.

— Approved the minutes of the Nov. 10 meeting.

— Awarded Minto Energy Corp. the gasoline and diesel fuel bid for the town. Minto, the town’s current supplier bid $1.9438 for diesel fuel and $1.6253 for gasoline.

— Appointed Robbie Edmond to the town’s Construction Board of Appeals. Edmond will begin his duties Jan. 2.

— Superintendent of Utilities Tommy Hudson announced that the town received a grant for 100 trees of different varieties . He said the trees will be used to replace those lost during storms.

“I want to thank Chad (Jordan of Goodwyn Mills and Cawood Inc., the town’s engineering firm) and his company for his help,” said Hudson.