Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting - July 21, 2026

The Baldwin County Commission held its regular meeting on July 21, 2026, at the Fairhope Satellite Courthouse, following a pre-meeting work session. Commissioners Ball, McKenzie, Underwood, and Gruber were present. The meeting included adoption of minutes, approval of bills and interim payments, a consent agenda with several items pulled for separate votes, public hearings on multiple rezoning requests, and other business.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Approved from the July 7, 2026 regular meeting.
• Payment of Bills (BA1): Approved – 608 invoices totaling $6,011,492.99.
• Ratification of Interim Payments (BA2): Approved – 87 invoices totaling $3,973,789.06.
• Consent Agenda: Adopted as set during the work session, with items CE6 (vehicle purchase), CF1 (Silverhill building agreement), and CF2 (Summerdale building agreement) pulled for separate votes. All other consent items were approved en bloc, including:
  • Acknowledgment of tax abatement for Terravanta Power Systems
  • Tourism grant acceptance
  • Numerous bids and contracts (pest control, printing, paint striping, road signs, Tahoe vehicle, sally port construction, courthouse renovation pre-qualification, intersection improvements, engineering services, annex renovations, corrections center addition, budget amendment)
  • Building regulation agreements with Silverhill and Summerdale (originally on consent, then pulled)
  • One-time lump sum for Sheriff's Office retirees
  • Emergency Operations Plan Flood Warning and Response Annex adoption
  • Revision of solid waste rate policy
  • $10 million line of credit for disaster liquidity
  • Multiple highway items (road acceptances, intergovernmental agreement, right-of-way license, contractor report, vehicle transfers)
  • Personnel items (insurance renewals, retiree payments, clinic agreement terminations, various hires and reclassifications)
  • Planning/zoning election results decree

Public Comments & Testimony

• Work Session (9:00 AM):
  • Brandon Carlson (Summerdale Town Councilman) – Expressed concern about unregulated development due to the termination of the building regulation agreement. Requested that Summerdale maintain control of building regulations until year-end to allow time to petition for zoning of District 18.
  • Randy Ferris (Mayor of Summerdale) – Announced an informal petition with 61 signatures to zone District 18. Asked for cooperation from the commission.
  • An unidentified citizen – Supported the petition, urging the commission to extend the agreement and allow citizens to vote on zoning.
• Regular Meeting Public Hearings:
  • Z26-20 (Smith property): Applicant spoke in favor, describing plans for a weekend market with food trucks and pop-up tents.
  • Z26-21 (Smith property): Applicant spoke in favor, planning contractor yards for construction-related equipment.
  • Z26-22 (Silverhill Enterprises): One speaker opposed, concerned about drainage from the proposed residential development.
  • Z26-23 (McKenzie property): Multiple neighbors spoke in opposition, citing a low smart growth score (4 out of 40), drainage problems, traffic concerns, and incompatibility with the surrounding rural character. One speaker supported the applicant's plan for low-density development.

Discussion Items

• Vehicle Purchase (CE6): Commissioner Ball expressed concern about the $77,000 cost for a new Tahoe for Commissioner Underwood, noting it was a part-time position and that the current vehicle had low mileage. He advocated deferring to the next commission. The item passed 3-1 with Ball dissenting.
• Building Regulation Agreements (CF1, CF2):
  • CF1 (Silverhill) – Approved unanimously.
  • CF2 (Summerdale) – Approved 3-1. Commissioner Ball objected to extending the agreement beyond December 31, 2026, preferring to let the next commission decide. The approved agreement covers only building construction regulation (police power), not planning.
• Solid Waste Rate Increase: Commissioner Underwood questioned the necessity of a 30% rate increase, citing ADEM tipping fee hikes. She worried about affordability for residents and the impact on recycling participation. Environmental Management Director noted the increase is the first since 2008 and that county rates remain competitive. Underwood also requested exploration of more durable garbage can vendors.
• Line of Credit (CM1): Finance Director Tara explained the $10 million revolving line of credit as an insurance policy for post-disaster cash flow, noting it would likely remain at zero balance unless a major storm hits.
• Tropical Storm Update: EMA Director Tom Toller reported a tropical storm warning for Baldwin County, with waves of 8-11 feet and a storm surge watch of 3-4 feet. He urged tourists to stay out of the water due to dangerous surf and potential double-red flags.
• Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Underwood shared insights from the NACo conference, emphasizing that counties should not offer incentives to data centers. Commissioners McKenzie and Ball urged boating safety after a fatal collision on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Key Outcomes

• Rezonings:
  • Z26-08 (Coburn): Tabled to September 15, 2026.
  • Z26-19 (Young): Approved unanimously (RA to RSFE).
  • Z26-20 (Smith, B4 commercial): Denied 3-1.
  • Z26-21 (Smith, M1 industrial): Denied 3-1.
  • Z26-22 (Silverhill Enterprises): Approved unanimously (RA to RSF1).
  • Z26-23 (McKenzie): Denied 2-0 (Commissioner McKenzie recused; motion by Underwood and Gruber).
• Planned Industrial Development (PID): Approved unanimously for a 75x75 ft building addition.
• Addenda:
  • GA1 (Sheriff's Byrne grant application) – Approved.
  • GA2 (Voting place name change) – Approved.
• Commissioner Recusal: Commissioner McKenzie recused from voting on Z26-23, noting a distant family relationship with the applicant.

Other Actions

• The pre-meeting work session included setting the consent agenda and receiving public comments.
• No executive session was held.
• Meetings adjourned after commissioner comments.