OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – January 6, 2026

County Commission — Tuesday, January 6, 2026
BodyBaldwin County, Alabama
SessionCounty Commission
DateTuesday, January 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 35:15

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

All right, I'm gonna call this um pre-work pre-meeting mark session on January 6, 2026 into order.

0:11

Um I will um have I'm gonna have Brian Peacock do our invocation and followed by the pledge by Commissioner McKenzie.

0:23

Sorry to put you on the spot.

0:24

No, that's okay.

0:25

I appreciate the opportunity.

0:27

Bow with me as we pray.

0:29

Gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, what a wonderful uh new year that we've had to start.

0:34

Lord God, we thank you for the opportunity to come in.

0:36

Thank you, Lord God, for each and every public servant that is here today, Lord Father, and I pray that you bless each and every one of them.

0:42

Pray God that you would just give them the mindset to do business of the county, and I pray that you bless and keep each and every one that's been here in Jesus' name we pray.

0:50

Amen.

0:50

Amen.

0:51

Amen.

0:54

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible number team justice for all.

1:08

Thank y'all.

1:10

Sorry, Brad.

1:11

We started without our attorney, but I think we can get by with that today.

1:20

All right.

1:21

Um so I guess happy new year to everybody, right?

1:25

Yeah, welcome back.

1:26

I haven't been on this computer since Fair Hope.

1:29

Last meeting.

1:30

So I I forgot I even had pass codes and stuff.

1:34

So I'm I'm learning, relearning over again.

1:37

Hope everybody had a great holiday season.

1:40

We're getting back to work.

1:42

And uh so today we'll be uh setting our consent agenda and uh we have our administrative items CA1 through CA4.

1:54

Y'all had a chance to look over those, let me know how you feel.

2:06

Okay, well I mean I'm good.

2:08

Consent.

2:09

Yeah, I'm good.

2:10

I'm I'm happy that CA3 is on there, and we can get that.

2:13

So thank you.

2:15

All right, so we are all good with those.

2:19

Um we got an animal control, CB1.

2:25

Any questions for the CB?

2:28

Good.

2:28

No.

2:28

All right, good consent on that.

2:30

We have our two archives and history items.

2:35

I'm good.

2:37

Yeah, good with those.

2:39

Okay, and we've got Ms.

2:41

Wanda's items up, uh C E one all the way through CE14.

2:50

I've got a question on CE2.

2:52

Um, excuse me.

2:54

Yeah, C E2.

2:55

And um, I don't Elena's the only one here from the sheriff's office, but you might not know.

3:00

It's concerning a vehicle.

3:02

Um want to purchase a Jeep Nighthawk.

3:07

Do you know anything about it?

3:09

What where they were used at that's all right, I figured, yeah.

3:13

All right, but thank you.

3:14

That's all I have.

3:17

So are we good with those 14 items?

3:21

Yes.

3:22

Okay.

3:27

Yep.

3:28

All righty.

3:30

CIS.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████████40%
Community Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Historic Preservation████████████12%
Economic Development██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting – January 6, 2026

The Baldwin County Commission held its pre-meeting work session at 9:00 AM and regular meeting at 10:00 AM on January 6, 2026, in Bay Minette, Alabama. All four commissioners were present. The meeting focused on routine approvals, updates on disaster recovery grants, a proposed 4th grade poster contest for the nation's 250th anniversary, and Commissioner Gruber's announcement that he would not seek re-election.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Unanimously approved minutes of the December 16, 2025, regular meeting.
  • Payment of Bills (BA1): Approved payment of 755 invoices and distribution totaling $5,140,342.18.
  • Ratification of Interim Payments (BA2): Ratified 113 interim invoices and distribution totaling $10,277,772.94.
  • Consent Agenda: Approved as a block (items CA1–CA4, CB1, CC1–CC2, CE1–CE14, CH1, CJ1–CJ3, CK1, CM1, CN1–CN4, CO1–CO6, CR1–CR6). Key items include:
    • CA3: Agreement with AltaPointe Health for Assisted Outpatient Treatment / Crisis Response Team for $384,687.00 (one year, funded partly by opioid funds).
    • CA4: Purchase of real property adjacent to North Pine Street and West 1st Street in Bay Minette for $80,000.
    • CE1: Award of renovation bid for Central Annex Building in Robertsdale to RE Johnson General Contractors, $107,981.
    • CE8: Award of Lillian Recreation Center bid to Gibson Construction Services, $377,586.
    • CE14: Resolution #2026-037 amending the FY2026 budget.
    • CO3: Acceptance of roads in Tealwood Estates Phase 1 (Bluewing Drive, Redhead Lane, Tealwood Lane) and surety bond of $910,132.30.
    • CR1: Reappointment of Chief Thurston Bullock to the Personnel Appeals Board (three-year term).
    • CR3: Creation of four Senior Custodian positions.
    • CR4: Employment of Melinda Thomley as Accounts Payable Technician at $21.00/hour.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public comment period or public hearings.

Discussion Items

  • Pre‑Meeting Work Session (9:00 AM–9:12 AM):

    • Commissioner Underwood proposed a 4th grade poster contest to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States (“America 250”). She requested staff coordinate with the Archives and History Director and General Services Manager, and contact the Baldwin County Board of Education. The commission agreed to move forward.
    • Grants Director Brian Underwood noted that an update on Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) projects (CN1–CN4) would be presented at the January 20, 2026, meeting.

  • Regular Meeting – Commissioner Comments (after public hearings):

    • Commissioner Gruber announced he will not seek re-election in November 2026. He reflected on his 50 years of service to Baldwin County (30 years as an employee, 20 as an elected official) and highlighted major accomplishments: the Beach Express, the ICW bridge, Live Oak, the mega‑site (now hosting a $4 billion manufacturer), and improved bond ratings.
    • Commissioners Underwood and Ball praised the Bicentennial Park Christmas light display and thanked staff and volunteers.
    • The commission noted the passing of former Commissioner Clarence Bishop, Dennis Stasca, and Clarence Burke, and offered condolences.
    • Commissioner Ball asked for prayers for Archives Director Felicia (undergoing surgery on January 9) and for former staff member Cliff (hospitalized).

Key Outcomes

  • Votes: All motions passed unanimously (4‑0).
  • Next steps: Staff will develop the 4th grade poster contest details and coordinate with the school board; a CDBG‑DR update is scheduled for January 20, 2026; Commissioner Gruber will serve until November 2026.
  • Budget/financial: FY2026 budget amended; over $15 million in payments and interim payments approved; several equipment leases and purchases authorized.
  • Personnel: Promotions, new hires, and creation of positions approved.
  • Infrastructure: Road acceptances, vehicle transfers, and bid awards finalized.

Meeting Transcript

All right, I'm gonna call this um pre-work pre-meeting mark session on January 6, 2026 into order. Um I will um have I'm gonna have Brian Peacock do our invocation and followed by the pledge by Commissioner McKenzie. Sorry to put you on the spot. No, that's okay. I appreciate the opportunity. Bow with me as we pray. Gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, what a wonderful uh new year that we've had to start. Lord God, we thank you for the opportunity to come in. Thank you, Lord God, for each and every public servant that is here today, Lord Father, and I pray that you bless each and every one of them. Pray God that you would just give them the mindset to do business of the county, and I pray that you bless and keep each and every one that's been here in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible number team justice for all. Thank y'all. Sorry, Brad. We started without our attorney, but I think we can get by with that today. All right. Um so I guess happy new year to everybody, right? Yeah, welcome back. I haven't been on this computer since Fair Hope. Last meeting. So I I forgot I even had pass codes and stuff. So I'm I'm learning, relearning over again. Hope everybody had a great holiday season. We're getting back to work. And uh so today we'll be uh setting our consent agenda and uh we have our administrative items CA1 through CA4. Y'all had a chance to look over those, let me know how you feel. Okay, well I mean I'm good. Consent. Yeah, I'm good. I'm I'm happy that CA3 is on there, and we can get that. So thank you. All right, so we are all good with those. Um we got an animal control, CB1. Any questions for the CB? Good. No. All right, good consent on that. We have our two archives and history items. I'm good. Yeah, good with those. Okay, and we've got Ms. Wanda's items up, uh C E one all the way through CE14. I've got a question on CE2. Um, excuse me. Yeah, C E2. And um, I don't Elena's the only one here from the sheriff's office, but you might not know. It's concerning a vehicle. Um want to purchase a Jeep Nighthawk.

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