Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting and Work Session - October 7, 2025
Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting and Work Session - October 7, 2025
The Baldwin County Commission met on October 7, 2025, beginning with a pre-meeting work session at 9:00 AM and the regular meeting at 10:00 AM. The meeting included presentations, recognitions, adoption of consent agenda with amendments, a $30,000 donation for park improvements, and a public comment on river access safety.
Work Session Discussion
- Employment Contract Amendment (CA6): Commissioner Underwood proposed and received support to amend CA6 to extend severance for appointed contract employees terminated with cause from one month to three months, and for the county to pay the difference between COBRA premiums and the employee's previous contribution so the employee pays no more than when employed. The change was added to the consent agenda.
- Senior Staff Report – Parks Master Plan: County Administrator Frank reported on the updated master plan for Bicentennial Park and Live Oak Landing, highlighting expansion of the veterans memorial, improved parking for large events, and new recreational amenities (playground, pickleball courts, kayak launches) as future phased improvements.
Consent Calendar
- Approved with modifications: CA6 amended as above; CM1 (resolution for fund distribution) replaced with revised attachment; C05 pulled at developer's request; GA1 (court reporter salary supplement) added to consent. All other consent items were approved as listed, including:
- Annexation notifications, special event permits, reappointments, contingency fee agreements, bid awards, grant acceptances, road acceptance, and personnel hires.
- Excluded from consent: GA2 (Monetary Donation from Fly High Goose Foundation) moved to Other Staff Recommendations.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Recognition of Shirley Magie: District Attorney Robert Wilters and Chief Prosecutor Patrick Doggett commended Mr. Shirley Magie, a Baldwin County Sheriff's Office maintenance employee, for serving as a Haitian Creole interpreter in a murder trial. Mr. Magie translated for investigators and witnesses, enabling a successful prosecution. The commission expressed gratitude for his service and discussed adding him to the state's certified interpreter list.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation: October 2025 was proclaimed Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Ryan Irvin, Executive Director of The Lighthouse, spoke about the prevalence of domestic violence (affecting more than 10 million Americans annually, one in three have witnessed an incident) and encouraged community support. Commissioners highlighted resources for victims.
- Employees of the Quarter – 3rd Quarter 2025: Four employees were honored: Debbie King (Custodial) – noted for 12 nominations; Crystal Rice (Sales, Use & License Tax) – nominated by entire department, recently earned government certified tax analyst certificate; Tracy Kayson (Highway Department Right-of-Way Mapping Coordinator) – praised for training and communication; Donald Prim (Highway Department Operator/CDL Trainer) – trained 10 individuals to obtain CDLs.
Other Staff Recommendations
- Monetary Donation from Fly High Goose Foundation: Amber and Kelly Watson presented a $30,000 donation for playground enhancements at Live Oak Landing Park in memory of their son Goose. The commission accepted the donation unanimously and thanked the foundation for its community support.
Public Comments
- James – River Access and Emergency Response: A resident and first responder described a boating accident on the Alabama River in August 2025 where the victim experienced a two-hour delay before receiving advanced medical care due to inaccessible river access points. He requested the commission negotiate with the landowner at Dixie Landing to create a public boat launch and recreation area to improve emergency response times. Commissioner Underwood noted the North Baldwin Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue squad is equipped and encouraged fire departments to coordinate with them.
Commissioner Comments
- Chairman Charles Gruber thanked staff and recognized old-time days event at Bicentennial Park (over 5,000 attendees) and upcoming Christmas lights.
- Commissioner Ball thanked employees and noted the successful rescue of a missing child at Mars Beach by sheriff’s department; he intends to recognize the department at the November meeting.
- Commissioner Underwood expressed gratitude for staff and community partnerships.
- Commissioner McKenzie highlighted the solid waste recycling program rollout and his appointment to chair the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission for the next year.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with amendments (CA6 severance changes, CM1 revised attachment, GA1 added, C05 removed).
- Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month adopted unanimously.
- Donation of $30,000 accepted from Fly High Goose Foundation for Live Oak Landing playground.
- All presentations and recognitions were acknowledged.
- No formal action taken on public comment; discussion noted for potential follow-up.
Meeting Transcript
It's nine o'clock. I've asked Commissioner Underwood to do the invocation and Commissioner Ball to do the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. If you would bow your heads with me, please. Dear Lord, we come to you today and we just thank you for everything that you do for us, Lord. We just lift you up and glorify your name. And Lord, we just ask that you be with us today, the commission body and our employees, that you would help us to uh make good, wise decisions for the people of Ballin County. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Allegiance to the flag and the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, I know God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Commissioners. Thank you. All right. On the uh consent of items, we've had administration. We've got um seven items. Uh on CA6. CA it's the um amendment to the employment contracts for uh appointed employees. Um I I don't have an issue with the request that's in the agenda. I'm having issue here with a hair getting in my hair. Um I would like to make a request that the commissioners um while we're updating this contracts to um extend the um the severance that's in there instead of it only being one month if you are uh terminated with cause to be three months. I've been thinking about that, and I had someone approach me and tell me that not an employee, no one that works here, okay. But uh said that that's really tight, one month, and it's very, very hard for somebody uh to pick up and and um even get hired again somewhere else within a month, and I think three months would be uh something that I would like to suggest. And I would also like to suggest that that um we include in that uh uh I believe the research has said that I asked Didra to do this for me, um that they would be covered by our insurance, but they can't stay on the county's group insurance once you're terminated. Um, but the COBAR would kick in and that the county would um pay the the amount that would equal so that the the person wouldn't have to pay any more than they were already paying as an employee. So, like I mean, like if COBA's a thousand dollars and they're paying 300 out of their pocket, the county would pick up the other 700 as part of the contract. I don't know how to write all that in there, but um and this is absolutely no, there is nothing um on the horizon as far as I'm concerned. I am absolutely thrilled with the employees that we have. I wish they would all be here forever, but I think that it is um I think we've gotten to a point now where uh when um seven years ago and I walked into the commission office, we didn't know what we were dealing with as far as the structure of the organizational chart. Well, I I'm speak for myself, I didn't. Um, and I think we've come a long way. Um, not to quote a Virginia Slim's commercial, but we've come a long way, baby. And um I think it's time and I would like to request for the commissioners to include those two things, which would be extend if you were terminated with calls, three months severance, plus you would pay no more for your COBRA insurance than you're paying currently, and the county would. I mean, for your if you're a participant in the county's group insurance policy. So open to discussion, or if you guys like it, I'd love it, but whatever. No, I'd like to say something, and I really appreciate you bringing this up because I remember bringing it up before in the past, and I think it's a great idea. Um, so I have no problem with it. It is added consent. Yeah, I think if we can we just well just wait, Skip. You got anything you would like to say? Okay, Commissioner Ball, are you good with it? I was added to consent. To the CA6 item, just add that language to without cause. Without cause. If you get terminated with nothing. That's right. That's the way okay. That's the way it's it's in there right now. We're only changing the with cause.
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