OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Meeting: Work Session and Regular Meeting - August 20, 2024

County Commission — Tuesday, August 20, 2024
BodyBaldwin County, Alabama
SessionCounty Commission
DateTuesday, August 20, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:05:33

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

We want to welcome you to the um uh August 20th, 2024 work session.

0:10

We have I have asked Commissioner Gruber if he will lead us in the invocation, followed by the pledge will be led by Commissioner McKenzie.

0:17

Thank you.

0:18

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to be here today.

0:23

As we attend to the business of Baldwin County Commission.

0:30

Thank you for all that you have done for us, and thank you for everything that you possibly will do for us.

0:38

Please watch out for our people who uh work in public safety, our men and women and the military, all our workers because they are the strength of this world.

0:55

In God's name we pray.

0:57

Amen.

0:57

Amen.

0:58

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance.

1:00

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:08

One nation under God in the individual with liberty and justice for all.

1:18

Okay, so we are on the work session agenda, and the first item there is the review of items and setting of the consent agenda.

1:28

So we will start with the administration section.

1:32

Are there any questions about any of the administrative items?

1:37

We have three.

1:41

I'm good.

1:42

All right.

1:43

All right, I hear all rights.

1:45

Okay, so we'll go on to budget and purchasing, and we have a slew of budgeting purchasing items.

1:51

And by the way, our want to express our condolences to Miss Wanda Gauntney on the loss of her mother.

1:58

I believe the services are this morning.

2:01

Any questions about all of these items?

2:03

It looks like we're getting some of the ARPA monies actually spent.

2:08

Looks good here.

2:09

Looks good.

2:09

Yeah.

2:10

All right.

2:11

Moving right along, and we have um building inspection.

2:16

We have the coastal program contractual agreement, which is a yearly thing that we have.

2:20

Any questions about that?

2:22

We do have Mr.

2:22

Harper in the house.

2:25

Good.

2:28

Okay.

2:28

Everybody study their agenda.

2:30

All right.

2:31

Then we have CIS, always good to get rid of that junk.

2:34

Thank you.

2:35

Okay.

2:36

Then elected officials.

2:38

We have the sheriff's office and two items.

2:41

Any any uh questions about any of that?

2:45

Those are pretty much renewal agreements.

2:46

Okay.

2:48

All right.

2:50

Good there.

2:50

All right, and then we have the EMA department.

2:54

Any questions with that?

2:56

I think we did that last year.

2:58

Can we do that?

2:59

Or we've done that already.

3:00

Okay.

3:01

Good.

3:02

All right, moving right along.

3:03

We go to grants.

3:05

And any questions about we have the ARPA funds and then we have the CDBGDR item on there.

3:16

Any questions about that?

3:18

I've got a question on the uh grant stuff.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████28%
Personnel Matters██████████████████████22%
Zoning███████████████15%
Public Safety███████████11%
Volunteer Recognition████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Grants Management████4%
Master Planning███3%
Pending Litigation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Meeting: Work Session and Regular Meeting - August 20, 2024

The Baldwin County Commission held its pre-meeting work session at 8:30 AM and regular meeting at 10:00 AM on August 20, 2024, at the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse. All four commissioners were present. The work session included a review of agenda items, a discussion of the Coroner's office feasibility study, and an executive session. The regular meeting covered adoption of minutes, consent agenda approval, employee presentations, public hearings on rezoning, public comments, and commissioner remarks.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted minutes of the August 5, 2024, Special (Budget Deliberations) Meeting; August 6, 2024, Regular Meeting; and August 12, 2024, Special (Budget Deliberations) Meeting. All passed unanimously (4-0).
  • Approved payment of bills and distribution of taxes listed in the Baldwin County Accounts Payable Payments. Passed unanimously.
  • Approved the Consent Agenda, which included the following items among others:
    • Absentee Election Duties: Authorized contracts for Paula Long and Lisa Morgan at $75.00 per day worked for the 2024 General Election period (September 11 to November 12, 2024).
    • Annual Advertising Contract with Gulf Coast Media: Rates of $14.00 per column inch for legal display and $0.41 per word, effective September 2, 2024 to September 2, 2025.
    • Resolution #2024-154: Commending Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack on his retirement.
    • Bid awards: Generator for Sheriff's Training Facility (Power Systems of MS, LLC); Pressure Washing (Creek Clean, LLC); Industrial Fittings (Bay Side Rubber & Products, Inc.); Scrap Metal Recycling (Atmore Recycling, LLC); Disaster Debris Monitoring extension (Thompson Consulting Services, LLC); Construction of Mental Health Holding Cells (Tindle Construction, LLC, $3,900,000, 240 days); Permanent Repair for Severe Weather Event (C. Thornton, Inc., $1,073,194.50, 130 working days); Drainage Improvements Change Order #1 ($28,947.59); HVAC for Board of Education Building (Tindle Construction, $609,200, 90 working days after materials received); HVAC for Fairhope Satellite Courthouse (Tindle Construction, $560,500, 90 working days after materials received).
    • Coastal Program Agreement with ADEM: $38,500 for fiscal year 2024-2025.
    • Sale of 53 tablets and miscellaneous radios via GovDeals.com.
    • Sheriff's Office agreements: Community Traffic Safety Program grant participation and renewal of Intergovernmental Support Agreement with NAS Whiting Field for EVOC training.
    • Mutual Aid Agreement with ASPCA for disaster response.
    • Resolution #2024-149: Allocation of an additional $674,496.99 in ARPA funds for mental health cells at the Sheriff's Correction Facility and Juvenile Detention Center.
    • Resolution #2024-150: Approving CDBG-DR Language Access Plan for Limited English Proficiency Persons.
    • Release of Maintenance Bond for Magnolia Shores, Phase 2 ($162,435.00).
    • Adoption of FY 2024 Transportation Plan Amendment and FY 2025 Transportation Plan.
    • Approval of standard on-call contracts for engineering, landscape architecture, and planning services.
    • Personnel actions: Employment of Jolie Rider (Administrative Support Specialist II, $17.35/hr), Christopher Bradley (Design Technician II, $25.00/hr), Kaitlyn Skivers (Probate Customer Service Specialist I, $16.54/hr); Promotion of William Kenser (Operator Technician III, $20.69/hr); Updated position description for Engineering Technician III.
    • Consultant contract with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. for review of Subdivision Regulations regarding utility requirements (36-month term).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • During public hearing for Case Z24-25 (Frank Property Rezoning), Margaret Woerner requested the Commission enforce existing zoning to protect the rural atmosphere and maintain low-density on Warner Road.
  • Dwayne Smith with Anchor Engineering, on behalf of the applicant, stated the rezoning request is for the least density residential zoning (RSF-1), and that if the project moves forward, traffic study and drainage requirements would be adhered to.
  • During regular public comments, Paul Ripp discussed the investigative process of the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit, noted that 10 unarmed individuals have been killed in the last 15 years in association with the Sheriff's Department, and urged the Commission to hold a special election to replace the retiring Sheriff and to create a solution for handling investigations involving loss of life.

Discussion Items

  • Coroner's Office Feasibility Study (Work Session): Dr. Brian Pierce presented an updated cost analysis from Adams Stewart Architects. The proposed building design was reduced from 7,200 to 5,600 square feet by removing the autopsy space, resulting in a cost increase from approximately $5 million to $6 million. The property considered is adjacent to the current Coroner's office.
  • ARPA Funds Update (Work Session): County Administrator Roger Rendleman reported that all ARPA funds must be obligated by the end of 2024 and expended by the end of 2026. He noted that the county is in "good position" but faces competition for architect services and time constraints.
  • Gateway Project Update (Work Session): A staff member reported that Gateway is under contract with a vendor to develop a master plan. Milestone dates are behind but the period of performance remains within reason. An amendment to milestone dates may be needed.
  • Donation Boxes for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (Work Session): Commissioner Ball announced that donation boxes for supplies will be placed in satellite courthouses in September at no cost to the county, with items distributed to women's and children's hospitals.
  • Employee Recognition (Regular Meeting): Deidra Hanak, Personnel Director, and department heads presented Employees of the Quarter for the 2nd quarter of 2024: Amy Williams (Probate Office - retiring after 25 years), Jason Kuehl (CIS Department), James Allen (Highway Department), and Joshua Chiasson (Highway Department). Each was recognized for exceptional service, including public commendations and acts of kindness.
  • Rezoning Case Z24-22 (Lipscomb Property): Senior Planner Celena Boykin presented a request to rezone 6.5 acres from B-2 (Neighborhood Business) to RSF-2 (Residential Single-Family). Staff and Planning Commission recommended approval. No public speakers. Commission approved Resolution #2024-141 unanimously.
  • Rezoning Case Z24-25 (Frank Property): Senior Planner Celena Boykin presented a request to rezone 78 acres from RA (Rural Agricultural) to RSF-1 (Single-Family). Staff and Planning Commission recommended denial due to incompatibility with development pattern and rural future land use. Public comments were heard. Commission denied the request unanimously.
  • Hazmat Exercise Announcement (Regular Meeting): Tom Tyler, EMA Director, announced a full-scale hazardous materials exercise scheduled for August 22, 2024, involving Baldwin County EMA, 911, Sheriff's Office, local fire departments, and the Local Emergency Planning Committee. A press release would be issued to inform the public.

Key Outcomes

  • Approval of Minutes: All three sets of minutes (August 5, 6, and 12, 2024) were adopted unanimously.
  • Consent Agenda Approved: The entire consent agenda was approved by a 4-0 vote.
  • Rezoning Case Z24-22 Approved: Resolution #2024-141 passed unanimously to rezone 6.5 acres from B-2 to RSF-2.
  • Rezoning Case Z24-25 Denied: Motion to deny the rezoning request passed unanimously.
  • Executive Session (Work Session): At 8:42 AM, a motion to adjourn into executive session to discuss pending litigation and real property matters passed unanimously (4-0). The work session did not reconvene.
  • Regular Meeting Adjourned: The regular meeting adjourned at 10:52 AM on a motion by Commissioner McKenzie.

Meeting Transcript

We want to welcome you to the um uh August 20th, 2024 work session. We have I have asked Commissioner Gruber if he will lead us in the invocation, followed by the pledge will be led by Commissioner McKenzie. Thank you. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to be here today. As we attend to the business of Baldwin County Commission. Thank you for all that you have done for us, and thank you for everything that you possibly will do for us. Please watch out for our people who uh work in public safety, our men and women and the military, all our workers because they are the strength of this world. In God's name we pray. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God in the individual with liberty and justice for all. Okay, so we are on the work session agenda, and the first item there is the review of items and setting of the consent agenda. So we will start with the administration section. Are there any questions about any of the administrative items? We have three. I'm good. All right. All right, I hear all rights. Okay, so we'll go on to budget and purchasing, and we have a slew of budgeting purchasing items. And by the way, our want to express our condolences to Miss Wanda Gauntney on the loss of her mother. I believe the services are this morning. Any questions about all of these items? It looks like we're getting some of the ARPA monies actually spent. Looks good here. Looks good. Yeah. All right. Moving right along, and we have um building inspection. We have the coastal program contractual agreement, which is a yearly thing that we have. Any questions about that? We do have Mr. Harper in the house. Good. Okay. Everybody study their agenda. All right. Then we have CIS, always good to get rid of that junk. Thank you. Okay. Then elected officials. We have the sheriff's office and two items. Any any uh questions about any of that? Those are pretty much renewal agreements. Okay. All right. Good there. All right, and then we have the EMA department. Any questions with that?

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