LOXLEY — The Loxley Town Council handled several items of routine business as their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

Mayor Billy Middleton read a proclamation congratulating the town on its 50th anniversary of incoporation from the Baldwin County Commission. Middleton then presented the document to Katherine Breeden, who has been organizing the town’s celebration, so it can be on display during the celebration activities.

Of the celebration, Breeden said, “It’s so exciting. Today, I picked up the first telephone in Loxley. It’s going to be nice. We hope to make you proud.”

Loxley Police Chief Mike Murphy was asked by Middleton to give the council a brief report on how things are going at the police department. Murphy said he had heard complaints from the community about speeding on Highway 59 and had put additional officers on traffic detail on the highway.

“I commend them on the great job they did. We’ve had a lot of positive response from the community,” Murphy said. He also said he hopes to hold a two-day training session to cover courtroom testimony and basic interview and interrogation techniques in May.

“We need to have more training on how to testify before a jury,” he explained. He said retired FBI agents will come and conduct the training for the Loxley officers. “We can offer it to other agencies. We can have about 50 spots each day,” he said.

Murphy also praised his officers for a recent drug bust on County Road 64 and told the council things are going well in his department.

The council approved a cost of living raise for city employees. The vote was unanimous, with Derek Middleton abstaining. The mayor said the national average is 3.4 percent and Breeden suggested the council approve a 4 percent pay raise, which they did.

The council approved purchase of a battery backup and server for the municipal court, after the mayor asked Loxley Court Magistrate Kay Hicks to explain what the items would be used for in her department.

Hicks said her department is changing the system used for court records and that the items were necessary for the new system, which will enable the police department to view court cases, once it is in place, making their job easier.

The council could not agree on the amended agreement between the Baldwin County Commission and the town on the respective planning jurisdiction map.

Shaun Alves, the town’s attorney, who has been working on the revision for almost two years, said the final map was based upon changes recommended by the council.

“This affects the ability to control subdivisions in the county. By agreement with the county, it does not affect the town’s ability to annex or expand, it just states how the planning will be handled,” Alvez explained.

Derek Middleton said he was concerned about the border on the map because he had been under the impression that Loxley had the area all the way to the Fish River, which was not indicated on the map. He expressed concerns about Daphne annexing land Loxley might need.

The council did not vote on the matter but asked Alves to go back to the county and see if the proposed boundary could be changed.

In other business, the council

— Appointed Tommy Cannon and Morgan Ashurst III to the town’s planning board.

— Passed a resolution to cover an amendment to the ADECA-CDBG project to improve drainage on Holley Street.

— Agreed to purchase boots, gloves, hoods and radios for the Loxley Fire Department

— Approved sending Loxley Police officer Tony Lovall to a special training class in Birmingham in April.