Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting - July 16, 2024

The Baldwin County Commission met on July 16, 2024, for a pre-meeting work session at 8:30 AM and a regular meeting at 10:00 AM at the Baldwin County Fairhope Satellite Courthouse. All four commissioners (James E. Ball, Matthew P. McKenzie, Billie Jo Underwood, Charles F. Gruber) were present. The meeting covered routine consent items, a strategic update from the Coroner's Office, a presentation on mental health initiatives in the Sheriff's Office, two public hearings on rezoning, and a public comment on federal environmental restrictions. Key decisions included approval of the Kroger opioid settlement resolution and approval of both rezoning requests with one dissenting vote on the Creekwood rezoning.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the Consent Agenda with modifications: added Addendum Item GA1 (Contract to Audit Federal Awards with State of Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts), noted Commissioner Underwood as nominee for ACCA Legislative Committee (Item CA6), and replaced attachment on CO3 (Rebuild Alabama FY2024 Contractor Report). All items passed unanimously.
• Consent items included: city annexation notification, alcohol license applications (Fermo's Cellar Door, Sassy Bass Liquor Store and Market Place, The Tin Top Restaurant), employment contract for Law Library Librarian Lynn Biles ($45,468 annually), cleaning service agreements for voting locations, BRATS grant amendments and applications, bid awards for road signs (Vulcan Signs), paint striping materials (Crown USA, Ennis-Flint, PPG), bottled water (Ladd Supply Co.), contract extension for human remains transport (Coastal Body Removal, $510.40 for Fort Mims event donation), Sherman Road drainage improvements (McElhenney Construction, $1,294,544.19), Novelis access roads (Newell Roadbuilders, $5,055,731.63), copy machine rentals, software support agreement with Delta Computer Systems, sale of surplus equipment, highway pothole repair, Sherman Road bridge inspection services (Thompson Engineering, up to $189,152), and personnel actions (employment, reclassifications, transfers).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing – Swinson Property Rezoning (Z24-15): No public speakers. The commission approved the rezoning of 3.96 acres from RSF-3 to B-3 (General Business) unanimously.
• Public Hearing – Creekwood LLC Property Rezoning (Z24-16):
  • Opposition: District 39 resident George Wood and Planning District 39 Advisory Committee member Hayley Gregorious spoke against the rezoning. They cited concerns about increased traffic, safety near J. Larry Newton Elementary School, and that the rezoning would undermine the recently adopted zoning provisions for the district. Gregorious noted that the planning commission voted 9-1 to deny the request due to traffic and density concerns, and that less than an acre of the 16 acres actually lies within the allowable quarter-mile radius plus 500 feet.
  • Support: Cathy Barnette of Dewberry Engineers, representing the applicant, argued that the rezoning is compatible with the district's provisions for high-intensity nodes, that only a portion of the larger parcel is being rezoned (resulting in about 12-13 additional lots), and that traffic studies show no change in level of service. She also noted that the adjacent Gaineswood subdivision was approved with RSF-4 density when the area was unzoned.
  • The commission approved the rezoning 3-1 (Commissioner McKenzie opposed).
• General Public Comment: Nate Lambert, a developer, expressed frustration with federal requirements (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) for the endangered beach mouse on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, which required donating two lots for every one developed. County Engineer Frank Lundy recommended he meet with Planning and Zoning staff for guidance.

Presentations

• Coroner's Office Strategic Plan Update: Dr. Brian Pierce presented the four-year strategic plan. Key points:
  • Baldwin County's functional population peaks at ~510,000 during summer months (July-September), 113% of residential population.
  • Coroner cases have increased 25% over 10 years; current facility is only 2,100 sq ft (recommended 5,000-10,000 sq ft based on national standards). A proposed 13,000 sq ft shared facility with sheriff's office was estimated at $5 million in 2022, now likely $7.5 million.
  • Overdoses have surpassed suicides as the #1 unnatural cause of death (46 overdose deaths fiscal year to date vs. 32 suicides). The office is using a Randox multi-stat analyzer to speed up drug surveillance – first county in Alabama to do so.
  • Body transports cost ~$700 each, about 200 per year ($140,000). A regional concept could reduce transports and serve Southwest Alabama.
  • Commissioners discussed funding challenges and asked Dr. Pierce to explore a smaller, phased facility.
• Sheriff's Office Mental Health Initiatives: Lieutenant Kim Klos, Mental Health Therapist Katrina Savage, and AltaPointe Coordinator Krista Thronson presented three initiatives:
  • Stepping Up Program: A jail-based program to identify and treat inmates with mental illness, launched July 2021. In first six months of 2024, 2,070 of 3,578 inmates received mental health treatment. The program ensures continuity of care with a 30-day supply of medication upon release.
  • Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): A 40-hour POST-certified training for law enforcement to recognize and de-escalate mental health crises. About 36 deputies trained so far. A crisis form is used to refer individuals to AltaPointe for follow-up. Over 100 CIT referrals have been made since March 2024.
  • Crisis Co-Response: Mental health professionals accompany deputies in the field. The programs are part of a "wraparound" service model.
  • Commissioners commended the programs and recognized Lieutenant Klos as the most innovative corrections officer in the nation.

Discussion Items

• Commissioner Request – Lodging Tax: Commissioner McKenzie raised the possibility of implementing a lodging tax in Baldwin County to fund public safety and the coroner's office. Commissioners agreed it is needed but would require state legislation. County Administrator noted that current lodging taxes only exist along the coast. The item was discussed but no formal vote was taken.
• Executive Session: The commission voted unanimously to enter executive session at 9:20 AM to discuss personnel and legal matters. The session lasted approximately 15 minutes, and the work session was not reconvened.
• Kroger Opioid Settlement (Addendum GA1): County attorney David Conner presented Resolution #2024-145 authorizing Baldwin County to join the state and other local governments in the Kroger Co. opioid settlement (total national settlement ~$1.2 billion). The commission approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the minutes of the July 2, 2024 regular meeting.
• Approved payment of bills and distribution of taxes.
• Approved the Consent Agenda with noted modifications (unanimous).
• Adopted Resolution #2024-145 for the Kroger opioid settlement (unanimous).
• Approved Swinson Property Rezoning (Z24-15) from RSF-3 to B-3 (unanimous).
• Approved Creekwood LLC Property Rezoning (Z24-16) from RSF-3 to RSF-4 (3-1; Commissioner McKenzie opposed).
• Approved various contracts, bids, personnel changes, and grant applications as part of the consent agenda.
• Directed Coroner's Office to explore a smaller facility design and revisit during budget discussions.
• Requested staff to work with legislators on potential lodging tax legislation.