SILVERHILL, Alabama — The Town of Silverhill plans to step up enforcement of an animal control ordinance originally adopted in 2010.

At its meeting Monday night, the council voted unanimously to purchase material for a cage from Hagan Fence Co. in Robertsdale at a cost of $984.47 for use as a temporary housing facility for the animals.

At a previous meeting, the council also accepted the donation from local veterinarians of items used to help catch animals.

Ordinanace No. 393 was adopted Aug. 16, 2010, “amending and confirming as modified Ordinance No. 322, No. 269 and 176 regulating and pertaining to animals and fowls within the town of Silverhill and providing for the public health and safety,” according to an article published in the Aug. 18, 2010 edition of The Independent.

The ordinance provided provisions for tagging and registering dogs over three months old, issuing tags at a cost of $3 and setting fines of $25 for dogs found without a tag.

The ordinance also set fines for any dogs picked up within the town’s police jurisdiction from $10 per day for small animals to up to $100 per day for larger animals.

Officers from the town’s police department were delegated as animal control officers under the terms of the ordinance.

At Monday’s meeting Mayor Tim Wilson said Silverhill Police Chief Kim Wasdin had reported five dogs picked up over the last month.

Animals picked up during the week are taken to the Baldwin County Animal Shelter, but until now, there was no way to house animals picked up over the weekend when the animal shelter is closed. Now animals picked up on the weekend can be housed by the town and, if they are not picked up by Monday, they will then be transported to the animal shelter.

Under provisions of the ordinance, animals cannot be retrieved from either shelter until all fines are paid to the town.

The measure to purchase the cage facility passed unanimously at Monday’s meeting. Council member Mike Allegri was not present.

In other business Monday the council tabled a measure to renew its insurance for 2013 with Blackmon Insurance Agency, written with the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation.

Questions were raised during Monday’s meeting over renewing the policy on a one-year term versus a three-year term basis, citing that not all the terms in the policy were defined under both provisions.

Questions were also raised about the new Silverhill Community Center. Cost of the new building was added to the new policy, but content costs were not added in the new policy.

Under the terms of the policy, renewal must be made by April 25, but the council is not scheduled to meet again until May 6.

“If they will cover us until May, this could be put on the agenda for a vote at the next council meeting,” said Wilson. “If not, we will have to call a special meeting to vote on the matter.”

In other business Monday the council:

• Approved a request from Superintendent of Utilities Steve Williams to purchase a new Gator for the Utilities Department at a cost of $5,500, while adding the town’s existing Gator as surplus.

• Approved the purchase of a new air compressor for the Utilities Department at a cost of $1,200.

• Discussed contracting for spraying ditches within the town limits at a cost of $2,350. Wilson requested that a contract be drawn and presented at the next council meeting.

• Discussed the purchase and maintenance agreement for a new copy machine for use at town hall. Wilson said Town Clerk Patricia Bankester had received two quotes and is working on two more which will be presented for consideration at the council’s next meeting.