OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – February 4, 2025

County Commission — Tuesday, February 4, 2025
BodyBaldwin County, Alabama
SessionCounty Commission
DateTuesday, February 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

I asked um Brian Peacock to do the invocation and I'll do the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:11

Let's pray.

0:13

Gracious Heavenly Father, first of all, we thank you for all of your many blessings, Lord God.

0:17

We thank you for this beautiful day.

0:19

We thank you, Lord God, for this county.

0:20

We thank you, Lord God, for allowing us to serve others.

0:23

We pray as we go into this meeting, Lord God, that you allow us to keep our minds open, Lord God.

0:29

Allow us to discuss the business of the county, Lord Father, and we give you all the glory and honor for today and everything that you provide for us in Jesus' name.

0:38

We pray.

0:38

Amen.

0:38

Amen.

0:39

Thank you, man.

0:40

I pledge allegiance to apply how the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God.

0:51

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:55

Thank you.

1:02

All right.

1:04

We're going to start on the consent stuff.

1:06

They got a administration.

1:09

Five items.

1:22

I'm good for those.

1:24

Something I wanted to ask too.

1:25

Uh sometimes we have individuals that come into the meetings that are here for some of these cases.

1:31

Is there anybody here that's um Florida Alcohol License case?

1:37

Anyone here for any of these?

1:39

If y'all are here for any of these cases and you hear us do a consent on it, uh that means you're free to go if you want to after after before the real meeting starts.

1:47

So just making sure.

1:50

Thank you, Commissioner.

1:51

Absolutely.

1:52

I'm good.

1:53

You're good.

1:54

I'm good with it.

1:54

I'm good with that.

1:55

Yeah, I don't see anybody here from 911.

1:57

I was gonna ask them that while I said that we change the address, but it's okay.

2:00

We'll be doing probably something they've been working on.

2:04

All right, we're good with those.

2:17

I'm good.

2:18

Goodness, we're getting some vehicles.

2:19

I'm fine.

2:20

Yeah, it's got a replacement attachment, resolution letter.

2:23

Did an FTA updated to reflect current year model of transit?

2:27

Mini bus.

2:30

That's just interesting that we're getting something from somewhere like that.

2:34

Yeah.

2:36

Can be accounting.

2:37

Yeah, usually it's the other way around.

2:40

All right, everybody's good.

2:42

I'm good.

2:43

All right.

2:44

Budget and purchasing.

2:45

We got three items.

2:52

I'm fine.

2:56

We have to go here.

2:57

Yeah.

2:58

Yep.

3:02

CK1, got one item under um urgency management.

3:05

I'm good.

3:06

Good.

3:07

Good here.

3:10

Highway, CO1.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████11%
Emergency Management██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Volunteer Recognition█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Flood Mitigation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – February 4, 2025

The Baldwin County Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the County Commission Meeting Chambers in Bay Minette. The meeting began at 10:00 AM and adjourned at 10:44 AM. The Commission addressed a consent agenda containing numerous routine items, recognized volunteers and employees for the 2024 Christmas Drive-through Lights Show, and received the FY 2024 Year End Review presentation. Commissioner requests led to the addition of a new emergency closure resolution and discussion of improved notification procedures for security incidents.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved consent agenda with the addition of Resolution #2025-075, which repeals Resolution #2023-161 and authorizes the Commission Chairman to close county facilities when the health and safety of citizens and employees are in imminent danger, but only after an attempt to convene an emergency meeting of the full Commission. If a quorum cannot be assembled, the Chairman may act alone.
  • CA1: Approved issuance of a Special Events Retail Alcohol License (140 licenses) to Fort Morgan Oyster Festival, Inc. for February 22–23, 2025, contingent on health department permit.
  • CA2: Acknowledged E-911 address change for Courthouse Annex II from 175 Courthouse Square to 304 Courthouse Square, Bay Minette.
  • CA3: Approved use of Scenic Highway 98 and County Road 1 for the 20th Annual Tour de L.A.D.R. bike ride on April 5, 2025.
  • CA4: Approved use of County Roads 64, 69, 62, and 71 for Rosinton School’s 19th Annual 5K Armadillo Dash on March 1, 2025.
  • CA5: Adopted revised Policy 8.1 on authority to pay bills and issue checks.
  • CD1: Adopted Resolution #2025-072 authorizing acceptance of three public transit vehicles from Escambia County, Florida, and assumption of Federal Transit Administration interest.
  • CE1: Approved Change Order #2 ($6,554.00) with Lower Alabama Heating, Cooling & Refrigeration, LLC for two new 70‑ton air-cooled chiller units at the Central Annex II in Robertsdale.
  • CE2: Approved specifications for competitive bid WG25‑12 for fence installation and repair on county right-of-ways.
  • CE3: Adopted Resolution #2025‑074 amending FY2025 budget to allocate $25,897.20 for purchase and installation of one Rapiscan 918CX X‑Ray System at the Baldwin County Courthouse.
  • CK1: Extended Master Services Agreement with Everbridge, Inc. for mass notification (AlertBaldwin) for 12 months through January 2, 2026, and authorized payment of $52,328.61 to Software House International.
  • CO1: Waived Policy 9.10, approved Volkert, Inc. for right-of-way acquisition services (fees not to exceed $282,000) and allocated $4,000,000 from Capital Project Fund for Baldwin Beach Express II right-of-way acquisition.
  • CR1: Approved promotion of Amanda Thweatt from Emergency Management Specialist (grade 309, $24.51/hour) to Logistics Division Manager (grade S313, $55,057.60 annually), effective no sooner than February 10, 2025.
  • CS1: Appointed Mr. Greg D. Benjamin as an alternate member of Board of Adjustment #1 (Planning District 4 Designee) for a three‑year term expiring February 4, 2028.
  • Resolution #2025‑075 (added at meeting): Adopted to repeal Resolution #2023‑161 and establish a new procedure for emergency closure of county facilities. The Chairman must first attempt to call an emergency meeting with at least one hour’s public notice; if a quorum cannot be achieved, the Chairman may unilaterally close facilities for safety reasons.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided comments during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

  • Commissioner Requests
    • Commissioner Underwood requested that senior staff provide brief reports at work sessions on activities across county departments, especially those not regularly heard from. County Administrator Rendleman and Engineer Lundy agreed to develop a rotation, limiting presentations to five minutes each, and to schedule them during lighter agenda meetings.
    • Commissioner Ball introduced Resolution #2025‑075 (discussed above). He explained it restores the practice of the full Commission voting on emergency closures, while allowing the Chairman to act if a quorum is unavailable. The resolution was supported by all commissioners and added to the consent agenda.
    • Chairman McKenzie raised the need for a formal procedure to notify commissioners, elected officials, and stakeholders in the event of bomb threats or other security incidents at county facilities. He noted that during a recent bomb threat, communication was delayed. He plans to call a meeting with all stakeholders after the investigation is complete.
  • Presentation – Recognition of Volunteers and Employees (2024 Christmas Drive-through Lights Show)
    • Felisha Anderson, Director of Archives/Special Historic Projects, presented a video and recognized 14 organizations, 91 volunteers, 18 Baldwin County Commission employees, and 5 Sheriff’s Office employees. The event attracted 5,914 out-of-town visitors and 9,267 local guests. Sponsors included local businesses and elected officials. Commissioners thanked all participants.
  • Presentation – FY 2024 Year End Review
    • County Engineer Frank Lundy presented a video showcasing major accomplishments of 2024 and a preview of 2025 projects, aligned with the Commission’s strategic plan. He credited Chris Welch (CIS) and Shannon Spivey for their work on the video.
  • Work Session Executive Session
    • Prior to the regular meeting, the Commission held a work session at 9:00 AM and unanimously voted to enter executive session at 9:22 AM to discuss pending litigation and legal options. The work session did not reconvene.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved (including Resolution #2025‑075) unanimously (4‑0).
  • Adoption of minutes from January 28, 2025, regular meeting approved unanimously (4‑0).
  • Payment of bills (BA1) approved unanimously (4‑0).
  • All consent items individually noted as approved via the consent agenda vote.
  • Commissioner directives: Staff to develop rotation for senior staff reports at work sessions; Chairman McKenzie to organize a stakeholder meeting on bomb threat notification protocols after the investigation concludes.
  • Next meeting: The next regular meeting is scheduled for (not stated, but typically weekly).
  • Adjournment: Motion by Commissioner Underwood, seconded, and meeting adjourned at 10:44 AM.

Meeting Transcript

I asked um Brian Peacock to do the invocation and I'll do the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, first of all, we thank you for all of your many blessings, Lord God. We thank you for this beautiful day. We thank you, Lord God, for this county. We thank you, Lord God, for allowing us to serve others. We pray as we go into this meeting, Lord God, that you allow us to keep our minds open, Lord God. Allow us to discuss the business of the county, Lord Father, and we give you all the glory and honor for today and everything that you provide for us in Jesus' name. We pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you, man. I pledge allegiance to apply how the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right. We're going to start on the consent stuff. They got a administration. Five items. I'm good for those. Something I wanted to ask too. Uh sometimes we have individuals that come into the meetings that are here for some of these cases. Is there anybody here that's um Florida Alcohol License case? Anyone here for any of these? If y'all are here for any of these cases and you hear us do a consent on it, uh that means you're free to go if you want to after after before the real meeting starts. So just making sure. Thank you, Commissioner. Absolutely. I'm good. You're good. I'm good with it. I'm good with that. Yeah, I don't see anybody here from 911. I was gonna ask them that while I said that we change the address, but it's okay. We'll be doing probably something they've been working on. All right, we're good with those. I'm good. Goodness, we're getting some vehicles. I'm fine. Yeah, it's got a replacement attachment, resolution letter. Did an FTA updated to reflect current year model of transit? Mini bus. That's just interesting that we're getting something from somewhere like that. Yeah. Can be accounting. Yeah, usually it's the other way around. All right, everybody's good. I'm good. All right. Budget and purchasing.

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