Entries Tagged 'County Government' ↓

Commissioner Frank Burt questions voter registration of citizen/blogger with questions

From the PR article:

Burt voiced frustration that questions about the contract “didn’t get raised in workshop discussions” and blamed “blogs and e-mails that have come through” for shaking commissioner support.

One such blogger, Ian Walters of Daphne, sent an e-mail last week opposing hiring lobbyists. In answer, Burt forwarded the e-mail to Assistant County Administrator David Brewer asking, “Have you determined if Mr. Ian Walters is a registered voter in Baldwin County? Or, is it perhaps possible that he may just be another unhappy resident blogger with too much leisure time?” The forwarded e-mail went to numerous people including the Press-Register.

Asked Tuesday if commissioners directed staff to research Walters’ voting status and why, Burt responded that he sent the e-mail, and it was widely distributed. He said it was “just a question I asked of staff. I did not direct staff to research anything and Mr. Walters answered it himself. He ought to be a very happy man.”

View the emails here

Many look forward to Burt’s response to the requested “public explanation of why I should be treated any differently than any other resident in the County”

Proposed contract with former congressman leads to sharp debate for Baldwin County commissioners

Sharp exchanges and split votes marked Tuesday’s meeting as commissioners put off approving a $100,000 lobbying contract with former U.S. Rep. Sonny Callahan’s firm and voted to solicit new bids for debris removal.

The debate started early in the meeting with Callahan present when Commissioner Bob James questioned “the money we are spending for lobbyists” given the likelihood of return on the investment in a time of severe government cutbacks

Proposed contract with former congressman leads to sharp debate for Baldwin County commissioners

Baldwin departments talk reorganization, relocation

In a work session that lasted more than six hours Tuesday, commissioners heard department heads outline reorganization plans and suggest relocating dozens of workers

“I don’t understand why we’re doing every department here,” said Commissioner Tucker Dorsey at one point in the talks. “I’m ready for personnel (issues) to be behind us.”

The only move commissioners agreed on was a plan to consolidate offices for accountants working in Clerk/Treasurer Kim Creech’s department. Under the plan, all of the employees will move into the Annex I building in Bay Minette. The workers are currently stationed at various locations in the county seat.

Baldwin departments talk reorganization, relocation

Baldwin County wilderness program for wayward girls turning a profit

During its first couple of years, it appeared that the Baldwin County-run Girls Wilderness Program might not make it out of the woods financially. But now, the alternative sentencing program seems to be gaining solid footing, according to officials

The program aimed at helping teenage girls who end up before a judge for uncontrollable or illegal behavior began in March 2007. But by the end of its first year, the program was more than $800,000 in debt and saw a loss of $1.7 million the following year

Management changes and a system of Medicaid billing for the rehabilitation services provided helped the program turn a profit, making nearly $100,000 last year

Baldwin County wilderness program for wayward girls turning a profit

Paycheck Controversy at Baldwin Co. District Attorney Office

Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon is defending her decision to cut some salaries and lay off three employees.

Alabama law allows Dixon to make changes to the amount of money her workers make, but some employees say they were not properly warned how drastic the changes would be.

One employee says her yearly salary was cut by $18,000 which is about $600 dollars a paycheck. She also told LOCAL 15 News she did not learn about the cut until payday.

Paycheck Controversy at Baldwin Co. District Attorney Office

Four employees received raises rather than cuts. Their increases ranged from $1,275 to $5,500 annually, according to state records.

Baldwin County DA employees learned of salary cuts when receiving paychecks

Baldwin County prepares for bids on Lillian public boat launch on Perdido Bay

After years of effort to secure a county boat launch in the Lillian area, commissioners said last week they expect to seek bids on building the facility

Plans call for a gravel parking area and paved launch with docks, a pier and recreational areas on Perdido Bay south of U.S. 98, according to county records. Officials secured $500,000 in BP PLC grant funds to help pay for the construction. Dredging near the launch site is included in the plan, records show.

The BP money was intended to help local governments respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill or to upgrade response capabilities for any future disasters, commissioners said, so some of the money originally marked for oil boom was changed to the Lillian construction project last year.

Baldwin County prepares for bids on Lillian public boat launch on Perdido Bay

Who’s picking up $408.11 lunch tab?

The lunch lasted less than an hour, but Baldwin County officials have been working for days to figure out how to pay the $408.11 meal tab from a meeting with new Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper, according to a series of e-mails forwarded to the Press-Register.

Who’s picking up $408.11 lunch tab?

Controversial Baldwin County service road loses support of state representative

A controversial service road project near the intersection of Baldwin 13 and Interstate 10 “is off the table,” Rep. Randy Davis, R-Daphne, said in an e-mail Friday.

“He didn’t say that last night,” said Daphne Councilman Gus Palumbo, an outspoken opponent of the proposed service road that would link two Spanish Fort retail centers. “He was not well-received.”

Controversial Baldwin County service road loses support of state representative

Complaint against Trip Pittman closed by Alabama Ethics Commission

A Fairhope man who alleged in an ethics complaint that state Sen. Lee “Trip” Pittman used his office for personal gain filed a subsequent complaint against the state Ethics Commission itself.

Complaint against Trip Pittman closed by Alabama Ethics Commission

Nothing to see here…move along.

Trip Pittman says boom work was legal, but he wouldn’t do it again

State Sen. Trip Pittman said Tuesday he believes that he did nothing wrong in accepting a $639,000 oil boom contract with Fairhope while he had oversight of dividing up Baldwin County’s share of the BP PLC grant money. But he said that he would not do it again.

“I probably should have recused myself and tasked someone else with that responsibility,” Pittman, R-Montrose, told members of the Press-Register Editorial Board.

Trip Pittman says boom work was legal, but he wouldn’t do it again

If you have to tell people something you did is actually legal, it’s probably questionable at best.

Baldwin County hires lawyers for BP claims

Representatives from four law firms hired Tuesday by the County Commission will meet Thursday with BP PLC lawyers about Baldwin claims for damages from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The commission voted 3-1 to hire the firms of Riley and Jackson of Birmingham, Frederick Kuykendall III of Fairhope, Johnston Druhan of Mobile and Blackburn and Conner of Bay Minette to represent the county

Commissioner Robert “Bob” James voted against the motion.

Baldwin County hires lawyers for BP claims

Devil statue is mine — and it seems cursed, former Baldwin County DA says

Among the personal items that former Baldwin County District Attorney David Whetstone left behind after leaving office in 2006, easily the most curious was a wooden statue of a devil.

Current District Attorney Hallie Dixon said last week that her staff found the statue along with boxes marked as Whetstone’s personal belongings in a storage area.

Devil statue is mine — and it seems cursed, former Baldwin County DA says

Call Glynnis! We need some prayin’! :)

Hallie Dixon, Judy Newcomb clash over state of Baldwin County DA’s office

New Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon said Wednesday that she has asked for a state audit of her office’s finances and may ask for an independent investigation of the “mess” left by her predecessor.

Meanwhile, former District Attorney Judy Newcomb said Dixon’s complaints were “drama” meant to divert attention from the murder case against ex-Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine.

“It distracts people from holding her accountable for not doing her job,” she said.

Hallie Dixon, Judy Newcomb clash over state of Baldwin County DA’s office

Stephen Nodine’s attorneys want retrial moved; DA says she won’t file ‘knee-jerk response’

Hallie Dixon says she is victim of ‘sabotage’ in Baldwin DA’s office

Baldwin Cops Respond To DA Dixon’s Allegation

Pittman/James Ethics Complaint

Here is the full content of the ethics complaint against State Senator Lee “Trip” Pittman and County Commissioner Robert E. “Bob” James.

Please note the file is over 47 Mb so will take some time to download.

If you can’t wait that long, here is an abridged version of 7Mb.

Pittman/James Ethics Complaint

Dixon meets with Angel Downs’ family

Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon met with the family of Angel Downs on Friday and is having her staff comb through the case file to determine if there will be a new murder trial for Stephen Nodine.

Baldwin County District Attorny Hallie Dixon meets with Angel Downs’ family