OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – November 6, 2025

County Commission — Thursday, November 6, 2025
BodyBaldwin County, Alabama
SessionCounty Commission
DateThursday, November 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:11:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Good morning and uh welcome to our Thursday, November 6th pre-meeting work session.

0:11

I've asked um our CIS director Brian Peacock to say the info invocation, followed by uh Commissioner Gruber with the pledge.

0:19

Please write.

0:21

Join with me.

0:23

Gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, first of all, we thank you for the opportunity of opening our eyes this morning.

0:28

There are many that were not able to, Lord God, and we pray that you just comfort those families.

0:33

Lord God, we pray as we go into this work session, Father, that you just be with us to make decisions for this county.

0:39

I pray for each and every person that serves in a public capacity for our first responders, our military, Lord God, be with this day.

0:46

We give you all the glory in Jesus' name.

0:47

We pray.

0:48

Amen.

0:49

Please join me for your pledge.

0:52

I pledge with a flag in the United States of America.

0:56

And children will hold it for which it stands one nation.

1:02

Indivisible liberty and justice for all.

1:05

Thank you.

1:17

All right, so commissioners, we're gonna uh go through these items on our consent agenda, and when we get to a couple of them, I'll explain some things that are going on.

1:27

So the first one will be our administrative item CA1 and CA2 all the way to CA5.

1:36

I just want to say something about CA2.

1:38

It's in my uh the Barnwell community where I live, and I just want to commend Melissa Knowledge for what she has done in the last five years uh in the Barnwood community, restore that old community center.

1:50

Uh it was where a place where my dad walked to school when it was a dirt roads, and I'm just very proud of her for doing that in the Barnwell community.

1:58

So that's all I wanted to say on that.

2:00

Okay.

2:01

So is everybody good with those five items?

2:04

I'm good.

2:05

Good.

2:07

Yep.

2:08

And uh next, we've got archives and history, item CC one.

2:13

I'm good.

2:14

Okay.

2:15

C one.

2:16

Then we got of our our CE items, budget and persons, and we've still got item C7 that's pending legal review by the county attorney, but if we consent, that's contingent upon that.

2:27

So um 13 items.

2:30

I'm good.

2:32

Okay.

2:41

Good.

2:44

Matt.

2:44

Yeah, I'm good.

2:45

Thank you.

2:46

All right, uh EMA.

2:48

We got one item.

2:50

Yeah, yep.

2:52

All right, yep.

2:54

And we got our grants.

2:56

Um, we got item C and one with a replacement attachment.

3:00

Um, those have uh the contract with revisions from the attorney is attached to this.

3:07

Okay, I'm fine.

3:08

Yeah, I'm good.

3:10

All right.

3:10

Um we're gonna talk about all the highway items um today uh with the exception of C09 that's gonna be pulled for other staff.

3:19

Um as far as the others, do y'all consent on those?

3:25

Okay, yes.

3:27

Okay, uh, I would invite anybody uh that this is kind of unorthodox in a work session, but I'm gonna let whoever's here on um either for or against the item C09 to you have to come and take the podium and speak um right there.

3:53

And just if you don't mind, state your name and your address and that kind of stuff for us.

3:58

Yeah, my name is Josh Reagan.

3:59

My address is 26875 Mateo Road.

4:03

It's Robert Style, Mau.

4:04

It's actually an Elsinore butt.

4:06

Okay, so uh neighbors wanting to cut down four trees on uh public on county property, and I'm gonna oppose it because it's gonna open up a whole slew of other things.

4:26

She's it's gonna it's down in the bottom.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Child Welfare██████████████████████22%
Procedural█████████████13%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Active Transportation█████5%
Government Structure████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – November 6, 2025

The Baldwin County Commission held a pre-meeting work session at 9:00 AM and a regular meeting at 10:00 AM on November 6, 2025, at the Baldwin County Administration Building in Bay Minette, Alabama. All four commissioners were present. The meeting included recognition of law enforcement for child rescue operations, approval of a consent agenda with modifications, public comments on child welfare, and adoption of a 30 Cubed roadway improvement agreement with the City of Robertsdale.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes (October 21, 2025 regular meeting): Approved 4-0.
  • Payment of Bills (26-0125): Approved 4-0.
  • Ratification of Interim Payments (26-0124): Approved 4-0.
  • Consent Agenda (Items CA1–CA5, CC1, CE1–CE13, CJ1–CJ3, CK1, CN1, CO1–CO8, CO10, CP1, CQ1, CR1–CR7, GA1, GA2): Approved 4-0 after pulling Item CO9 (Mateja Road license agreement) and adding Addendum Items GA1 (Employment Contract for Legislative Delegation Clerk) and GA2 (Tax Abatement Acknowledgment for Segers Aero Corporation and Elpizo Corporation).

Presentations

  • Recognition of Sheriff’s Office and Partner Agencies for Child Rescue – Sheriff Anthony Lowery highlighted two cases: (1) On September 28, 2025, K9 Deputy Artie (bloodhound) and Deputy Joseph Hughes located a missing 6-year-old autistic child on Old Robinson Road, saving the child’s life. (2) A 3-year-old girl was abducted from Orange Beach on September 22, 2025, taken to Mexico. Through coordination with federal agencies (HSI, FBI, US Marshals) and elected officials (Senator Chris Elliott, Senator Katie Britt, Representative Barry Moore), the child was recovered on October 4, 2025. The commission recognized multiple personnel and partners.
  • Recognition of Mayor Robert A. Wills – Outgoing Mayor of Bay Minette was honored for 13 years of distinguished public service. Commissioners praised his contributions to the community and the county.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dan Armstrong (Vice President, General Galvez Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution) requested the Commission support installation of commemorative historical signage along Interstate 10 recognizing American Revolutionary War battle sites in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. The Commission directed County Engineer Frank Lundy to coordinate a letter of support and research funding.
  • James Fuson, Yancey Burnett, Melissa Hera, Jessica Saxton, Cody Harrison, Kristen Bankster, Chantel Harrison – Multiple speakers expressed concerns about the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources (DHR) child welfare practices. Allegations included wrongful removal of children, lack of due process, placement in foster care rather than with relatives, and perverse financial incentives (Title IV-E funding). Attorney Yancey Burnett reported winning 85% of his DHR cases and returning nine children to families that week. Family advocate Melissa Hera described police assisting DHR without warrants. Civil rights advocate Jessica Saxton served the Commission with affidavits of criminal conspiracy against three judges, citing federal law. Cody Harrison read a public notice alleging state laws violate the U.S. Constitution. Kristen Bankster and Chantel Harrison shared personal stories of fighting to regain custody. County Administrator Roger Rendleman clarified that DHR is a state agency; the county provides office space but no funding. Commissioner Underwood advised speakers to contact state legislators for change.

Discussion Items

  • Work Session – Item CO9 (Mateja Road License Agreement) – The item was pulled after public opposition from Josh Riggan, Karen Baker, and Charlie Riggan, who cited increased traffic, safety hazards for children, and potential for vehicles getting stuck in a wet bottom. County Engineer Frank Lundy explained the request was to remove a few trees from an unopened right-of-way for farm equipment access. Discussion revealed an existing gate and fence across the public right-of-way, which is illegal. The item was removed from the agenda and will be revisited at the November 18, 2025 meeting.
  • Commissioner Request – Rails to Trails – Commissioner Underwood proposed exploring the L&N Railroad line (Foley to Bay Minette) for a “Rails to Trails” designation. County Engineer Lundy agreed to provide a map of available right-of-way sections. The Commission voted to have staff study feasibility.
  • Senior Staff Report – National Walk and Roll to School Day – Jessica Mayo, MPO Transportation Planner, reported 13 participating schools in 2025 (up from 7 in 2022, an 86% increase), with an estimated 130 students per school. The event was held October 8, 2025. Commissioners thanked her and discussed encouraging schools to build in walkable neighborhoods.
  • FO1 – 30 Cubed Program with City of Robertsdale – County Engineer Lundy presented the sixth project under the 30 Cubed program (30 million county, 30 million municipal funding by 2030). The project will add turn lanes and pedestrian crossing signals at Palmer Street (County Road 65) and Alabama Highway 104. Mayor Ruthie Campbell thanked the Commission for the partnership. The motion passed 4-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Approved with modifications (CO9 removed, GA1 & GA2 added).
  • FO1 (30 Cubed Agreement with Robertsdale) approved 4-0.
  • CO9 (Mateja Road) deferred to November 18, 2025 meeting.
  • Rails to Trails study authorized; staff to provide map and feasibility analysis.
  • Historical signage support directed to County Engineer for coordination and funding search.
  • Executive Session held during work session (9:36 AM) for real property discussions; not reconvened.
  • Meeting adjourned at 11:37 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning and uh welcome to our Thursday, November 6th pre-meeting work session. I've asked um our CIS director Brian Peacock to say the info invocation, followed by uh Commissioner Gruber with the pledge. Please write. Join with me. Gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, first of all, we thank you for the opportunity of opening our eyes this morning. There are many that were not able to, Lord God, and we pray that you just comfort those families. Lord God, we pray as we go into this work session, Father, that you just be with us to make decisions for this county. I pray for each and every person that serves in a public capacity for our first responders, our military, Lord God, be with this day. We give you all the glory in Jesus' name. We pray. Amen. Please join me for your pledge. I pledge with a flag in the United States of America. And children will hold it for which it stands one nation. Indivisible liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right, so commissioners, we're gonna uh go through these items on our consent agenda, and when we get to a couple of them, I'll explain some things that are going on. So the first one will be our administrative item CA1 and CA2 all the way to CA5. I just want to say something about CA2. It's in my uh the Barnwell community where I live, and I just want to commend Melissa Knowledge for what she has done in the last five years uh in the Barnwood community, restore that old community center. Uh it was where a place where my dad walked to school when it was a dirt roads, and I'm just very proud of her for doing that in the Barnwell community. So that's all I wanted to say on that. Okay. So is everybody good with those five items? I'm good. Good. Yep. And uh next, we've got archives and history, item CC one. I'm good. Okay. C one. Then we got of our our CE items, budget and persons, and we've still got item C7 that's pending legal review by the county attorney, but if we consent, that's contingent upon that. So um 13 items. I'm good. Okay. Good. Matt. Yeah, I'm good. Thank you. All right, uh EMA. We got one item. Yeah, yep. All right, yep. And we got our grants. Um, we got item C and one with a replacement attachment. Um, those have uh the contract with revisions from the attorney is attached to this. Okay, I'm fine. Yeah, I'm good. All right. Um we're gonna talk about all the highway items um today uh with the exception of C09 that's gonna be pulled for other staff.

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