Baldwin County, Alabama News and Discussion
September 22nd, 2009 — County Government, Elberta
Baldwin County officials bought property for a new park and boat launch on Wolf Creek with public funds for public enjoyment.
Now they want to get the most out of the site without its becoming a public nuisance to nearby residents.
With that in mind, a town hall-style meeting has been scheduled for 7 tonight at the Miflin Community Center, 24163 Miflin Road in Elberta
September 18th, 2009 — Bay Minette, County Government
Economic developers could have “an announcement of great importance” Thursday at an annual meeting in Gulf Shores, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance President Robert Ingram wrote in a newsletter this week. The development could involve a newly certified industrial “megasite” in north Baldwin County, but so far those involved remain tight-lipped.
Ingram said any of three separate projects could be announced Thursday, but would not confirm that any of them are tied to a Bay Minette tract the alliance has acquired rights to purchase.
The alliance signed options Sept. 11 on 3,000 acres on the northeastern edge of the city, Ingram said. One large parcel is owned by an investment group, he said, while another collection of parcels is family-owned
September 16th, 2009 — County Government
Baldwin County commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve a nearly $149 million overall budget that officials said is down 10 percent from the previous year, but still fully staffs critical positions like law enforcement.
It continues a two-year trend of belt-tightening that has seen the county’s spending plans decline from $204 million in 2007-08.
Commissioner Wayne Gruenloh said the document represents a lot of work throughout the year, not just in the months leading to the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year. Key to that process, commissioners said, was a monthly update on the county’s financial situation by Budget Di rector Ron Cink
September 15th, 2009 — County Government
When Baldwin County commissioners vote today on a new fiscal year budget, it won’t hit quite as hard as it did about a year ago, even though economic and real estate woes continue, officials said.
That is because monitoring and measures instituted at the first signs of the financial crisis in 2008 have continued, Commission Chairman Ed Bishop said.
“Economic conditions continue to be weak and the commission projects declines in certain revenues. Throughout 2008-09 the commission and elected officials took actions to decrease operational costs, including a hiring freeze. This hiring freeze will continue in FY 2010 with the exception of a few positions recognized within this budget,” a presentation on the proposed new budget reads
September 8th, 2009 — County Government
Baldwin County commissioners have been asked to help buy what’s described as the largest remaining undivided native woodland and wetland area in south Baldwin County, which includes large swath of maritime forest
The Conservation Fund and Weeks Bay Foundation have negotiated the purchase of nearly 850 acres on Baldwin County 1 along Bon Secour Bay for $2.5 million, representatives of those groups said.
Baldwin County may join effort to buy, preserve savanna, maritime forest
Spend, spend, spend…
September 4th, 2009 — County Government
Deputy Coroner Stan Vinson will serve as interim coroner of Baldwin County until a candidate can be chosen to serve the year left in the term of Jim Small, who died Aug. 27.
Vinson has served as a deputy coroner for 16 years under Small, who was elected in 2006, and his predecessor, the late Huey Mack Sr. The current term of office for the position expires in 2010.
Vinson was named to the interim position by Probate Judge Adrian Johns, according to Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Jr., the son of the former coroner
September 4th, 2009 — Bay Minette, County Government, Loxley
Baldwin County commissioners have put money where their hopes are for a new highway connecting Interstates 10 and 65 just east of Loxley and Bay Minette.
Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to contract with Volkert & Associates for an environmental impact assessment of a proposed extension of Baldwin County 83 from a planned I-10 interchange in Rosinton nearly 21 miles north to I-65. The contract authorizes spending up to $450,000.
Last summer, the state Department of Transportation began surveying a proposed corridor for such a connector several miles to the east, near the Florida-Alabama line
September 1st, 2009 — County Government, Robertsdale
Robertsdale
Baldwin County Fair
Sept. 24-Oct. 3
Baldwin County Arena
251-947-3247
September 1st, 2009 — County Government
Baldwin County commissioners voted 3-1 this morning to approve an ordinance with criminal penalties governing hours and conduct at parks and other public sites.
The ordinance bans activities like overnight camping, solicitation, hunting, fishing with bloody fish parts, alcohol use and setting off fireworks. It sets schedules for using county-owned sites at one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, but states that boat launches will be open at all hours.
The ordinance can be viewed at www.co.baldwin.al.us by clicking on “Review Park Ordinance Draft.”
August 27th, 2009 — County Government
Baldwin County Coroner James “Jim” Small, 68, passed away at 12:25 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center
August 27th, 2009 — County Government
Baldwin County officials said they believe the latest amendments to a proposed ordinance controlling the use of parks, boat launches and other public sites will overcome con cerns expressed by area fishermen and hunters.
Commissioners again pulled back the draft rules and regulations last week after running into opposition from dozens of residents who feared the new ordinance’s provisions requiring permits for special events and setting hours for parks would inhibit use of boat launches.
A constitutional amendment passed by Baldwin voters last November allowed commissioners to enact criminal penalties for the first time to control hours and activities at sites including Marlow Ferry, Mullet Point Park, Cliff’s Landing, Mary Ann Nelson Park and Seminole Boat Launch
August 26th, 2009 — County Government
Baldwin County Coroner Jim Small has been hospitalized at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center and was listed in critical condition, apparently having contracted an infection during back surgery he underwent earlier this month.
Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack Jr., who is a close friend of Small’s, said Tuesday afternoon that Small was admitted to the Foley hospital Sunday, about two weeks after his back operation
August 26th, 2009 — County Government
The Federal Emergency Management Agency says reimbursements to Baldwin County for hurricane cleanup costs were excessive, and wants millions of dollars returned.
An Office of Inspector General report in December examined debris collection and disposal after Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It said nearly $7.7 million in reimbursements for disposal costs at landfills was excessive, and challenged $1.6 million for stump removal and $1.1 million in interest.
A letter from FEMA to county officials last week reduced the disallowed disposal costs to about $3.5 million and cut the interest to about $656,000.
August 19th, 2009 — County Government
Facing a wave of criticism and questions from area hunters and fishermen, Bald win County commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to table a proposed new ordinance governing activities and schedules at county-owned parks and other public properties.
With more than 30 people attending that portion of the meeting — and after nearly an hour and 15 minutes of discussion — commissioners said they and staff members will take more time to fine-tune proposed regulations that would be the county’s first with criminal penalties.
The document sets schedules for using county-owned sites at one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, but singles out boat launches to be open at all hours unless otherwise posted. Boat ramps covered include Cliff’s Landing, Mullet Point Park and Marlow Ferry
August 11th, 2009 — County Government
A need for more space and privacy at the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office led to the facility’s relocation from the Baldwin County Central Annex on Palmer Street to Baldwin County 54 in Robertsdale on July 23.
He said that the new office was worth the wait because he has room for additional offices, a facility to examine and store bodies and a conference room that doubles as a place for families to grieve in private.
Small works with three other people in the coroner’s office. He said that this building has enough space that Deputy Coroner Stan Vinson and Rod Steade and Donna Taylor, an office assistant, all get their own space.
