Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – May 7, 2024

County Commission — Tuesday, May 7, 2024

BodyBaldwin County, Alabama

SessionCounty Commission

DateTuesday, May 7, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:35:35

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

It is now 10 a.m.

0:02

if you will find your way to your seats and uh we will welcome you to this May the 7th, 2024 regular meeting of the Baldwin County Commission.

0:14

And we have Pastor from Wasley Church here.

0:16

He will make your way to the podium.

0:18

You don't have to go too far.

0:19

And if everyone would please stand with us.

0:22

And then after that, I will ask Commissioner Ball to lead us in the pledge.

0:27

Thank you.

0:28

Good morning, everyone.

0:29

I'm Brandon Morrison from Loxley Church of God.

0:31

What a privilege it is to be here today to lead the invocation.

0:34

Hope you have a wonderful, blessed day today and uh fantastic meeting.

0:38

Let us pray.

0:39

Heavenly Father, Lord, we come to you this morning and we thank you so much for your love and your mercy and your guidance today.

0:45

God, I just pray uh over this meeting, ask that you be here, uh, that you reside over this meeting today.

0:51

I pray for these leaders, God, that you will inspire them today and bless them with very high levels of cooperation and communication.

0:59

And Lord, for every issue and every area of business that is conducted today, Father, I pray uh that your spirit guide them.

1:05

Uh, that this uh proceeding today will be blessed by your peace and by your presence, God.

1:09

And you bless our county, its businesses, its families, its churches.

1:13

God, in every effort to please you, let everything shine upon you and your light and your kingdom in this county today and always.

1:20

In Christ's name we pray.

1:22

Amen.

1:23

Amen.

1:24

Please join me in this way.

1:26

Pledge allegiance of the United States of America and to the Republic.

1:34

One nation, under God and liberty and justice for all.

1:39

Thank you.

1:44

Okay, so first item on our agenda is to adopt the minutes of the April 16th, 2024 regular meeting.

1:52

Do I hear a motion?

1:54

Make that motion.

1:54

Second.

1:55

All right, we have a motion and a second.

1:56

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

1:58

Aye.

1:59

Motion carries.

2:00

The next item we have is our um finance report.

2:05

We have item to pay the bills.

2:07

Commissioner McKenzie.

2:08

Uh Madam Chairman, make a motion that we approve our bills.

2:11

Second.

2:12

All right, we have a motion and a second to pay our bills.

2:14

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:17

Aye.

2:17

Motion carries.

2:18

The next item on the agenda is just a notification of interim payments approved by the clerk treasurer as allowed under policy 8.1, which leads us to our consent agenda.

2:29

And um note before the consent approval that we are adopting the consent agenda with replacement items CA1 and CE9 and the additional revision to item CE9 by removing the two um office pay raises off the the probate office pay raises off the agenda and with a replacement attachment on item C01.

2:49

Do I hear a motion to that effect?

2:51

So moving, Madam Chairman.

2:52

We have a motion.

2:53

Do I have a second?

2:54

Second.

2:54

All right, we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda with the items noted.

2:59

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

3:02

Aye.

3:03

Motion carries.

3:04

Brings us all the way down.

3:05

If any of you in the audience have picked up one of our agendas, that will bring us all the way down to the bottom of page four, which is our presentations, which I believe is what the majority of people are in here for today.

3:19

So it's always great to have people here.

3:23

We have lots of people here.

3:24

So the first um presentation we have, I believe Commissioner Ball will be presenting that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety█████████████████████████████29%

Mental Health Awareness█████████████████17%

Agriculture███████████████15%

Senior Services██████████10%

Procedural█████████9%

Water And Wastewater Management████████8%

Public Engagement█████5%

Religious Observance███3%

Education Funding██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – May 7, 2024

The Baldwin County Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM in Bay Minette, Alabama. Commissioners James E. Ball, Matthew P. McKenzie, and Billie Jo Underwood were present; Commissioner Charles F. Gruber was absent. County Administrator Roger Rendleman, County Engineer Frank Lundy, and County Attorney Brad Hicks also attended. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Brandon Morrison and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by approval of the April 16, 2024 minutes, report on bills paid, and the consent agenda. The bulk of the meeting featured six presentations including recognitions, proclamations, and an action item for a life jacket loaner program. All votes were unanimous (3–0) except where noted.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda (Items CA1–CR10) was approved as amended: replacement items CA1 (Foley tax abatement) and CE9 (FY2024 mid-year new requests, with Probate Office pay raises removed), a replacement attachment on CO1 (Beach Express Bridge termination agreement), and all other routine items including:
- Annexation notifications from Fairhope, Loxley, and Robertsdale
- Alcohol license transfers and issuances for Magnolia Speedway, Southern Grove Vineyards, Sams Gas, and Sams Gas and Package Store
- Board appointments to Ono Island Water, Perdido Bay Water, and Historic Development Commission
- Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department approval to use fire tax proceeds as collateral for a $767,218 loan to purchase a pumper truck
- Award of several construction contracts: Resurfacing Group #2 ($529,781.10 to Ammons & Blackmon), ERPR-9072 permanent repairs ($1,144,178.74 to Arrington Curb & Excavation), Drainage on County Road 11 ($1,977,851.68 to Arrington Curb & Excavation), The Launch at County Road 6 ($5,248,877.37 to McElhenney Construction)
- Mid-year budget adjustments (Resolutions #2024-112, #2024-114, #2024-115)
- Termination of auditing contract with City of Orange Beach
- Road acceptances (Park View Phase 1, Sherwood Highlands)
- RESTORE Act project designating County Road 20 extension and reallocation of $11,340,000
- Personnel hires and promotions across multiple departments
- Other items as listed in the official agenda

Presentations

Recognition of Gayland Gillikin, Sr. & Dedication of Interpretive Center (DA1): Commissioner Ball read a resolution honoring the late Mr. Gillikin for his decades of promoting fishing, founding the Faulkner State School of Fishing (largest continuing education class at the college), creating the World Champion Bowfin Tournament (largest freshwater tournament in Alabama in 1997), and establishing Cliffs Landing boat ramp. Chip Gillikin accepted on behalf of the family. County Engineer Frank Lundy noted he was the 1995 recipient of the Bowfin Scholarship. The Commission unanimously adopted Resolution #2024-113 dedicating the Interpretive Center at Live Oak Landing as the Gayland Gillikin Interpretive Center, and separately approved installing display cases for memorabilia donated by the Gillikin family.
Life Jacket Loaner Program (DA2): Corporal Jessie Peacock (ALEA Marine Patrol) presented the idea; students from North and South Baldwin Centers for Technology built the loaner boxes. Tony Rogers, Assistant Principal, highlighted the student-built boxes. The Commission unanimously approved: (1) authorizing the Parks Department to install boxes and supply life jackets at seven most used boat launches (Live Oak Landing, Cliffs Landing, Mullet Point Park, Seminole Boat Launch, The Launch at ICW, Lillian Boat Launch, Marlow Ferry); (2) authorizing the Parks Director to add more stations as needed. Donations of used life jackets will be accepted through the county website.
Proclamation – National Correctional Officers Week (DA3): Commissioner McKenzie read the proclamation (May 5–11, 2024). Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack accepted and noted the Correctional Center employs about 154 officers, oversees approximately 600 inmates daily, and processes about 13,600 bookings annually. Lieutenant Kim Klos was recognized as the most innovative corrections officer in the US by the National Sheriffs’ Association. Unanimously adopted.
Proclamation – National Law Enforcement Memorial Week (DA4): Commissioner McKenzie read the proclamation (May 12–18, 2024). Sheriff Mack accepted and recounted the April 19, 2024 rescue of three swimmers from Indiana by deputies and Fort Morgan Fire Department. The Commission unanimously adopted the proclamation.
Proclamation – Older Americans Month (DA5): Chairman Underwood read the proclamation (May 2024). Kelly Childress (Council on Aging Coordinator) and Theresa Johnson (Loxley SAIL Center) spoke about growth: the center grew from 15 to 35 daily participants, and 14 new homebound clients added. May 23, 2024 was designated Older Americans Day. Unanimously adopted.
Proclamation – Mental Health Awareness Month (DA6): Chairman Underwood read the proclamation (May 2024). Anna Hutcheson (NAMI Leadership Team Coordinator) described free support groups and educational classes. Chairman Underwood noted that she and Commissioner Ball participated in a state leadership group that helped pass Act 2024-193, giving probate judges more tools for commitment involving substance abuse, and promoted the “Stepping Up” initiative for mental health in jails. 988 crisis hotline was emphasized. Unanimously adopted.

Public Comments

No members of the public signed up to speak. A brief question from an attendee about alcohol license consideration was answered by pointing out the item was on the consent agenda.

Commissioner Comments

Commissioner McKenzie thanked staff, reminded of Mother’s Day, and congratulated graduates.
Commissioner Ball highlighted the North Baldwin Infirmary Gala and Dorothy White receiving the Liz Durier Lifetime Achievement Award, and the passage of mental health legislation.
Chairman Underwood praised county transparency and staff work.

Key Outcomes

All agenda items (consent calendar, presentations, and proclamations) were approved unanimously (3–0; Commissioner Gruber absent).
Specific actions from presentations:
- Resolution #2024-113 adopted and Interpretive Center named Gayland Gillikin Interpretive Center.
- Display cases approved for the Interpretive Center.
- Life jacket loaner program authorized at 7 boat launches initially, with expansion authority.
- Proclamations for Correctional Officers Week, Law Enforcement Memorial Week, Older Americans Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month adopted.
The meeting adjourned at 11:35 AM.

Meeting Transcript

It is now 10 a.m. if you will find your way to your seats and uh we will welcome you to this May the 7th, 2024 regular meeting of the Baldwin County Commission. And we have Pastor from Wasley Church here. He will make your way to the podium. You don't have to go too far. And if everyone would please stand with us. And then after that, I will ask Commissioner Ball to lead us in the pledge. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. I'm Brandon Morrison from Loxley Church of God. What a privilege it is to be here today to lead the invocation. Hope you have a wonderful, blessed day today and uh fantastic meeting. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, we come to you this morning and we thank you so much for your love and your mercy and your guidance today. God, I just pray uh over this meeting, ask that you be here, uh, that you reside over this meeting today. I pray for these leaders, God, that you will inspire them today and bless them with very high levels of cooperation and communication. And Lord, for every issue and every area of business that is conducted today, Father, I pray uh that your spirit guide them. Uh, that this uh proceeding today will be blessed by your peace and by your presence, God. And you bless our county, its businesses, its families, its churches. God, in every effort to please you, let everything shine upon you and your light and your kingdom in this county today and always. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen. Please join me in this way. Pledge allegiance of the United States of America and to the Republic. One nation, under God and liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Okay, so first item on our agenda is to adopt the minutes of the April 16th, 2024 regular meeting. Do I hear a motion? Make that motion. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. The next item we have is our um finance report. We have item to pay the bills. Commissioner McKenzie. Uh Madam Chairman, make a motion that we approve our bills. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second to pay our bills. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. The next item on the agenda is just a notification of interim payments approved by the clerk treasurer as allowed under policy 8.1, which leads us to our consent agenda. And um note before the consent approval that we are adopting the consent agenda with replacement items CA1 and CE9 and the additional revision to item CE9 by removing the two um office pay raises off the the probate office pay raises off the agenda and with a replacement attachment on item C01. Do I hear a motion to that effect? So moving, Madam Chairman. We have a motion. Do I have a second?

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com