OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025

County Commission — Tuesday, August 5, 2025
BodyBaldwin County, Alabama
SessionCounty Commission
DateTuesday, August 5, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:03:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good morning, everybody.

0:06

Welcome to the work session.

0:09

Uh today is what uh sip um August the fifth, it's nine o'clock.

0:14

Pastor, would you like to come up from uh to do the work session uh prayer?

0:19

Then I asked Commissioner Ball to do the invocation, excuse me, the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:24

And this pastor is from Robertsdale First Assembly of God.

0:27

Well, thank you.

0:27

Thank you for the invitation.

0:29

Always enjoy praying.

0:31

Yes, sir.

0:31

Heavenly Father, we come to you today and declare your goodness and your mercy beyond anything we can imagine.

0:37

Thank you for these men and women who have accepted leadership roles to see that we're led in life in peace.

0:45

We pray that you'll give them wisdom and understanding in the in the affairs that they will discuss that the decisions that will have to be made, the openness that will have to be shared.

0:57

We ask now that you would guide and direct and orchestrate everything that needs to be done today.

1:02

And we'll be careful to give you the glory for the accomplishments in Jesus' name.

1:07

We pray.

1:08

Amen.

1:09

Amen.

1:09

Please join me in the pledge.

1:11

Pledge allegiance.

1:15

And to the Republic for which one nation.

1:21

And the liberty justice for all.

1:25

Thank you.

1:26

Thank you, Pastor.

1:28

Thank you, Commissioner Ball.

1:36

We'll go to the consent items.

1:39

Um items C07 has pulled at the request of the county engineers.

1:46

I just want y'all to be aware of that.

1:49

And then we do have an addendum item, GA1.

1:54

All right, on administration, we got uh three items.

2:03

I'm right.

2:12

We got three items.

2:15

I'm okay.

2:19

We got uh brats, we got two items.

2:23

Okay.

2:31

We've got uh 11 items.

2:38

Okay.

2:40

Yep.

2:43

Okay.

2:52

12.

2:52

Yes, 12 items.

2:54

Uh communication information services.

2:56

Uh there's two items.

2:57

Yep.

2:58

I'm okay with those two.

2:59

All right.

3:01

And we got uh elected officials.

3:03

We got two items.

3:04

I do have a question about um the opioid funds.

3:08

I'm okay with this item um moving forward, but I would like to ask the commission if we can come together as a commission, um, and that we make a decision on how we want to allocate our opioid funds in the future.

3:23

Uh again, I'm so made sure I don't have I don't have an issue with this particular, but we've been I've been asked, I I was thinking about this this morning.

3:31

Say something, it's gonna be taken the wrong way or whatever, but it needs to be said.

3:34

I could count on my fingers and toes how many people have asked us about this money.

3:40

And not that I need to count that way, but I was like, you know how many people have done this.

3:45

So I really feel like that if we don't come together and say either we're gonna you can be criticized for saying, well, we need to wait.

3:53

Um, what are we waiting on?

3:56

Then we need to determine if we need it to be for things like awareness, if it's for helping with treatment, if it's for helping with I don't know exactly what we can and can't use it for, and so I'm asking that we come together and have a plan in place because if you don't watch out, it'll get nickel and dimed, or there's groups coming forth wanting to take over the administration of this.

4:19

And I think that we have enough need.

4:21

We see how opioid addiction has hit everywhere.

4:26

I just got back from Philadelphia and it is horrible up there.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████25%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Opioid Funding████████████████████20%
Veterans Affairs████████████████████20%
Public Engagement██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Transportation Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – August 5, 2025

The Baldwin County Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Baldwin County Administration Building, Bay Minette, Alabama, following a pre-meeting work session that began at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned into executive session at 9:21 a.m. The regular meeting included approval of minutes, a consent agenda with modifications, a proclamation for National Purple Heart Day, recognition of Employees of the Quarter, and discussion on the allocation of opioid settlement funds. The meeting adjourned at 10:43 a.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of July 16, 2025 regular meeting were adopted unanimously.
  • Payment of bills and ratification of interim payments were approved unanimously.
  • CA1: Reappointments to the Baldwin County Board of Human Resources (Christi King, Dorothy Hemmert, Cindy Haber) for six-year terms.
  • CA2: Approval of a restaurant retail liquor license for B&E Hospitality LLC d/b/a Pub 6 in Gulf Shores.
  • CA3: Approval of the route and road closure for the Optimist Club of Perdido Bay's 39th Annual Labor Day Mullet Festival 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run on September 1, 2025.
  • CC1: Acceptance of a $7,800 tourism grant from the Alabama Tourism Department for Olde Time Days and Christmas Drive-Thru Light Shows at Bicentennial Park.
  • CC2: Reappointments (Mike Bunn, Alan Samry, Todd Thomas) and appointment (Gabriel Gold-Vukson) to the Baldwin County Historic Development Commission.
  • CC3: Authorization for Baldwin County High School to host Cross Country Championships at Bicentennial Park on October 16, 2025, with waiver of rental fee, contingent on insurance.
  • CD1, CD2: Adoption of revised FTA procurement procedures and updated Title VI program for BRATS.
  • CE1: Amendment No. 1 with EagleView for digital orthophoto acquisition for 2025 fall flyover ($297,390.12).
  • CE2: Award of resurfacing bid to HCL Contracting, LLC ($971,005.35).
  • CE3–CE8: Contract extensions and bid awards for pressure washing, industrial fittings, inmate property conveyor system, tax notice mailing, sand removal on Fort Morgan Peninsula, and hydraulic mulches.
  • CE9: Extension of contract with Sain Associates for Eastern Shore MPO 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan through August 5, 2026.
  • CE10: Award of quote to Sun Coast Builders, Inc. ($78,480) for two metal canopies in Bay Minette and Foley.
  • CE11: Approval of RFP for Voice Managed Services.
  • CE12: Adoption of Resolution #2025-157 amending the FY2025 budget.
  • CH1, CH2: Authorization for C Spire Business Service Agreement and sale of surplus equipment via GovDeals.
  • CJ1: Approval for Alabama Department of Revenue Property Tax Manager to use space in Fairhope Revenue Commission office.
  • CJ2: Approved as amended – use of $70,600 from Commission Contingency Fund (instead of opioid funds) for Sheriff's Office Opioid Awareness Campaign through iHeart Media.
  • CK1: Adoption of Baldwin County Pet-Friendly Shelter Operations Plan.
  • CM1: Approval of $3,662,327.71 repayment from General Fund to Oil & Gas Trust Fund.
  • CN1: Adoption of Resolution #2025-158 reallocating ARPA funds for public works projects (Foley Satellite Courthouse HVAC, drainage improvements on CR-68), with amounts ranging from $7,073 to $10,232.25.
  • CO1–CO5: Release of maintenance bond for The Estates at The Verandas, Phase 2; road acceptances and surety documents for Park View Phase 2, Dogwood Estates Phase 2, The Knoll, and Fairhope Falls West Phase 8 & 9.
  • CO6: Adoption of Resolution #2025-160 and agreement with ALDOT for cooperative maintenance of Eastern Shore Trail Extension along U.S. Highway 98.
  • CO7: Removed from agenda at request of County Engineer due to incorrect information.
  • CR1: Adoption of Policy #11.4 – Supplemental Insurance Provider Policy.
  • CR2–CR8: Personnel actions including employment (Donald Peterson, bus driver), leave of absence, promotions in EMA, Highway (Silverhill and Traffic Operations), Juvenile Detention Center, and Probate Office (reclassifications, promotions, demotion, employment).
  • GA1: Acceptance of withdrawal request from Dobson Sheet Metal & Roofing due to computer miscalculation (bid bond not forfeited) and award of roof replacement bid to E. Cornell Malone Corporation, the next lowest bidder.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • None.

Discussion Items

  • Opioid Settlement Funds Allocation (Item CJ2): During the work session, Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood expressed concern that the commission had not yet formulated a plan for opioid settlement funds. She noted numerous inquiries and urged the board to meet and decide how to divide funds among allowable uses (prevention, awareness, treatment, etc.). County Administrator Roger Rendleman outlined four broad funding buckets with complex rules. Commissioner Matthew P. McKenzie initially proposed tabling the item to allow for more discussion, but Underwood opposed tabling. The item was moved to Other Staff Recommendations for a separate vote. In the regular meeting, Underwood suggested funding the Sheriff's awareness campaign from the Commission Contingency Fund instead of opioid funds to preserve those funds for future planning. The commission agreed, and CJ2 was included in the consent agenda with that amendment. Commissioners committed to scheduling a meeting to develop an allocation framework.
  • AI Chatbot “Baldi”: Brian Peacock, CIS Director, reported on the soft launch of a generative AI chatbot on the county website in June. The chatbot had handled approximately 1,700 interactions with the public, crawling the county website to answer questions. It also supports SMS texting. A marketing campaign is planned. Commissioners expressed support.
  • Proclamation – National Purple Heart Day: Commissioner Underwood read a proclamation designating August 7, 2025, as National Purple Heart Day in Baldwin County. Dr. Andrew Del Gaudio, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) USMC and Commander of Chapter 2206, Military Order of the Purple Heart, spoke on the history of the Purple Heart and recognized veterans in attendance. The proclamation was adopted unanimously.
  • Employees of the Quarter: Diedra (from Personnel) presented certificates to five employees recognized for the 2nd Quarter 2025: John Harville (CIS), Joie Vickrey (Probate), Jessica Mayo (MPO/Transportation Planner), Logan Davis (Highway Department), and Bryan Conway (Highway Department). Supervisors highlighted their contributions.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Approved: All items approved unanimously with modifications: CO7 pulled, CJ2 funded from contingency, GA1 added.
  • Proclamation for National Purple Heart Day Adopted: Unanimous vote; August 7, 2025 declared National Purple Heart Day in Baldwin County.
  • Employees Recognized: Certificates awarded to five Employees of the Quarter.
  • Future Meeting on Opioid Funds: Commissioners directed staff to organize a meeting to create a comprehensive plan for opioid settlement fund allocation.
  • Adjournment: Regular meeting adjourned at 10:43 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the work session. Uh today is what uh sip um August the fifth, it's nine o'clock. Pastor, would you like to come up from uh to do the work session uh prayer? Then I asked Commissioner Ball to do the invocation, excuse me, the Pledge of Allegiance. And this pastor is from Robertsdale First Assembly of God. Well, thank you. Thank you for the invitation. Always enjoy praying. Yes, sir. Heavenly Father, we come to you today and declare your goodness and your mercy beyond anything we can imagine. Thank you for these men and women who have accepted leadership roles to see that we're led in life in peace. We pray that you'll give them wisdom and understanding in the in the affairs that they will discuss that the decisions that will have to be made, the openness that will have to be shared. We ask now that you would guide and direct and orchestrate everything that needs to be done today. And we'll be careful to give you the glory for the accomplishments in Jesus' name. We pray. Amen. Amen. Please join me in the pledge. Pledge allegiance. And to the Republic for which one nation. And the liberty justice for all. Thank you. Thank you, Pastor. Thank you, Commissioner Ball. We'll go to the consent items. Um items C07 has pulled at the request of the county engineers. I just want y'all to be aware of that. And then we do have an addendum item, GA1. All right, on administration, we got uh three items. I'm right. We got three items. I'm okay. We got uh brats, we got two items. Okay. We've got uh 11 items. Okay. Yep. Okay. 12. Yes, 12 items. Uh communication information services. Uh there's two items. Yep. I'm okay with those two. All right. And we got uh elected officials. We got two items. I do have a question about um the opioid funds. I'm okay with this item um moving forward, but I would like to ask the commission if we can come together as a commission, um, and that we make a decision on how we want to allocate our opioid funds in the future.

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