Baldwin County Commission Regular - workshop

I'll get commissioner Underwood to lead us in the invocation, and commissioner McKenzie will lead us in the pledge of allegiance today. So if y'all would stand.

Good morning. Good morning. If everyone would please bow their heads with me. Dear gracious heavenly father, we thank you for this day, Lord. We just thank you for everything that you do for us here in this wonderful country we live in and this special place we call Baldwin County. Lord, we just ask you to be with us this morning as we conduct the work session for the Baldwin County Commission meeting that's following this meeting, Lord. We just ask you to be with us. Help us make the best and most right decisions according to your will. In Jesus' precious name, we pray. Amen. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag

of The United States Of America

Thank you all. Welcome to the two Tuesday, May 5 pre meeting work session. Today, we'll be doing a few things. We'll be adopting our consent agenda and and going over a few other internal matters. And, I will let you know, a lot of people here today maybe have signed up to speak, and I will let you know when the time for that takes place.

First of all, we are gonna review the items on our consent agenda. Commissioners, we have our administrative item CA one through CA four. Are y'all okay with those?

I have reviewed those and I consent. Okay.

Yeah. I'm good with them.

Our budget and purchasing items, it's the shortest list I've ever seen. So I'm good with those.

Yes. That's great.

CIS? I'm good. Y'all got any questions? I think we got Adam here that can answer those. Alright.

Yeah. I'm good with those.

I'm good.

Skip, how are you doing now? Good. Alright. Number, CN one through CN three or from our grants department?

Good to go. Brian, will you come up do you mind coming up? I've asked Roger, but I just wanna make sure I'm clear on CN one. No, I'm sorry, Roger. I didn't ask you about that one. I was asked you the other one. But can you explain CN one to me?

Yes, sir. So we are allocating funding out of the interest accounts to various projects that are eligible for those funds. And the local assistance and travel consistency funds are also available to use for eligible projects.

Alright. Thank you. Yes, You're welcome.

Yeah. That's that was from early on with the ARPA money. It was basically two $50,000 allotments that were supposed to help with administration, but you could use them like revenue replacement. So we've been utilizing it for needs that we've had.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Roger. Thank you, Brian.

Just just real quick, commissioners. If staff would help us get some chairs from the back, we'll need some some chairs from people that are standing up. I don't know where we keep the extras, but they're somewhere back there. Thank you, guys. Next up, we have our highway items.

I'm good.

Good to go.

But I did wanna make a note about how good that c 05 is. That's great.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah. I'm good with that.

Alright. Personnel department.

I'm good.

Good to go. Okay. Yep.

Hey, Brian. I wanted to go where's where's he at? Did he already is he helping with chairs? Oh, yeah. Okay. Did you wanna ask him? That was a note. Roger, can you help what's the one about the that had the coroner's office in there, the on the grants side? What's what's that about?

I know it's some operational funding. I can't remember exactly what it's for, but some operational funding for

the Brian, come in for just a second. I want you to going back to one of your items. Yes, sir. CN three what's what's that about? The coroner's office.

The they're requesting funding, and it's through the NRC Soil Conservation District

Okay. Eligible item. Okay. I just I remember talking to you about looking out some stuff for them, and I didn't know if this was part of that.

Pre preceding that.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir. We're letting everybody and we'll get let everybody get seated, before we get going. And, we're at our public comment section of the meeting. So I'm gonna give you just a few guidelines on how public comments work. You're gonna come up to this podium right here, speak into the microphone, and you're gonna identify yourself, state your name and where you live.

And then we're gonna of course, I know y'all are gonna stay stay on topic. That's not gonna be hard to do. So be respectful to others. Avoid interrupting, making personal attacks, using inflammatory language, things like that. It's not gonna be tolerated in the building.

Avoid excessive gestures, loud outbursts, disruptive behavior, part of it. Be factual, based on the comments base your comments on actual information and personal experience, and be concise where you stick to the allocated time for speaking, and avoid reveling. You know, there's a lot of people signing up to speak on the same topic. All all part of the group. Not everybody's gonna get, you know, three minutes, to speak for each individual.

Okay? And there will be a timer set. And after the three minutes, the next person will have the opportunity to speak. So first, I'll go in the order that I see it on my my screen. The first speaker is actually two people, Janet Applesby and Roy Browning with Coastal Water Safety.

My name is Janet Appleby. I am the, District 32 candidate for Alabama State Senate. Roy Browning is the District 3 candidate for county commissioner. I live in Gulf Shores. He lives in Robertsdale.

I have a proposal for you in regard to coastal water safety. Something that has been weighing heavily on our hearts is when I have looked for a means to educate visitors to our county, particularly the south part of the county, there is no comprehensive education to keep them safe. I was at the beach less than two weeks ago approached by a young man who asked what the flags meant. I think we should at least have a a mechanism to educate visitors. I heard a proposal.

We have a proposal that we we think is relatively low cost that would do that would do this. And the proposal is this. Every renter, motel, bed and breakfast, someone who rents their house to a guest, to our county, gives them a water safety information sheet, k, and keeps on file, the paper file or scan, where this visitor has signed another copy of the sheet so that we have proof that they've been provided education. Okay? Relatively low cost.

Mister Brown and and I are willing to head a committee that would draft a a form for your approval that would inform people this is how to have a good vacation here.

Alright. We appreciate it. And what we'll do is whatever form you have, you get it to our staff. Our staff will get it to our legal counsel, and we will see if we can even adopt such form. Right now, Fort Morgan is the only beach that we could have access to and control as a county commission. We don't have anything to do with Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. And Fort Morgan is a at your own risk Beach. And most every single condominium complex, Airbnb, bed and breakfast, rental down there do provide beach safety information to their clients at the time of check-in, and it's posted inside the condominiums and everything down there. So everything's done, and we actually have a proclamation at this meeting coming up at 10:00.

We're

it's beach safety week. So I appreciate y'all's concern. Whatever you have drawn up, just get it to our staff. Mhmm. You know? And, we will get it to our attorney and and look over to see if it's something that we can adopt or or look at.

So

Mister chairman, I just wanna our our emergency management agency director is here, and I know that they're very highly involved in when the beach safe, campaign was initiated. And if I'm not mistaken, I'm I'm looking at them for a nod or whatever, that it, it channels through the, the CBB, the Convention and Visitors Bureau. And I'm not one that rents down at the beach, so I don't haven't been inside a condo in a long, long time. I can't afford it, actually. But, anyways, they post all these things, and there is the beach safe campaign going on.

And I would encourage you to actually reach out. Are you familiar with the beach safe campaign? No.

But I I will get in touch with them

Tom that just stood up is our our EMA director, and our communications person here at the county was a 100% in the EMA department. She's now with she's raising her hand, Jessica, over there. So I I would just encourage you to to reach out to them. There's a lot of work in this arena already been done. Right.

And the county commission actually reached out to our our congressman Moore, and he, awarded us a grant that is going to, put very visible they're in the design process right now. Please, staff, if I say anything that's not right, please raise your hand and correct me. But I I try to stay up to date with it, but I let them do their jobs. That's what we hire them to do. And so, the the beach markers that, congressman Moore's office has looked out for Baldwin County and and got us some money to do this on the beach access points in Fort Morgan.

All of the other, beaches do not belong to Baldwin County. They belong to a municipality, either Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. And then, so the important thing about because we're really concerned with the undertow. You know? I mean, anywhere else, you know, there's all kinds of waterways, but I think what most people don't know about, they aren't from here, if they've never been in in those kind of situations is is what we always called it was the undertow and, growing up.

But it kinda helps you understand the the safety aspect of that. But, these beach markers will be they're in design process right now, and they'll be very highly visible so that if there is someone in distress, when they call emergency operations 911 or whoever they call, they can let the first responders know that I'm at point five or whatever. Because a lot of times when people call, they don't know where they're at. And so this is another avenue with that being in the unincorporated area of the county where that there's not, the active lifeguards and things like that. So please sometimes it's just the right hand.

I know what the left hand doing when you might be with a different organization, but there is a lot of money being spent on this and a lot already happening. But but like commissioner Ball said, please reach out. But these guys would probably be our point people at the county Mhmm. And, they serve the people, so reach out to them. But thank you for being here today and bringing this to our attention.

Thank you.

Sure. One more thing I wanna, say. I had compiled some statistics from the National Weather Service, which keeps a graph of surf fatalities. Now it's not specific to Alabama, but I've made available a sheet of paper in that back corner and out here on this table. Anybody who would like me to email them that's the websites so that you can look at those statistics, I'd be happy to share those with you. And and thank you for, letting us be heard.

You're welcome. Thank you. Alright. Next up is, Douglas Duncan.

Hello, commission. I'm here, of course, on the moratorium on the solar. I am probably the most experienced with solar as I did build all three that we have for the project that have already been built. I've managed the apprenticeship program. So from Department of Labor and IRS all the way down to boots on ground, I know everything there is to do with it.

The it's not the ones that are built, they of course, Pine Gate Renewables built them. Chapter 11, they are no longer owned by Pine Gate Renewables, so NoFar USA bought them. Alright. When it comes to the apprenticeship program, it definitely it is let's see. The cybersecurity of everything that's going on when it comes to this is ridiculous.

I have everything from the Impress system that's with the dome technology to the flock down in Gulf Shores. I have all of that. So if anybody here would like all that information, just get with me after this or whatever, and I'll give it to whoever needs it. That's that's all I need.

Alright. Thank you.

Thank you.

Alright. Next up is Diana Dean.

Thank you for allowing me to speak. I run a a retreat, an art retreat called River House Workshop, which is right up on the boundary of the 2,900 acre proposed area where they're to put solar panels in Tensaw. And I am speaking. I wasn't going to say anything, but I I want to encourage you to take do the moratorium and take a look at the repercussions of what will happen when we have those panels up there on the river. My connection to this place is through my family, the Till family.

I bought the land from my cousins. It was my grandfather Jacob R. Till's land and I have spent twelve years developing it, building the land, build excuse me, building the buildings, buying the land, and landscaping it, installing programs, getting staff, and developing a community where people can come to make handmade things. Obviously going off in a totally different direction from technology because I think that's what we all need, and I'm myself an artist. So I want to encourage you to take a moratorium and look at what you're doing, allowing this to happen up in North Baldwin County where it's a beautiful recreational area.

It's very important historically. And this is not the right kind of development for the area. Thank you.

Thank you. Next up is John Hillman.

Good morning. Good morning. Thank you for letting me speak. And, I'm again, I'm gonna touch on the same thing, the moratorium. It doesn't seem to me, and I apologize if I'm wrong, but there's a real sense of urgency for this. And we need this because we have to know what's gonna happen, what's going on. We need an engineering company to study this. We need a hundred and eighty days to get this right. That's all I got to say.

Yes, sir. Thank you. John Murphy?

I'm John Murphy from Stockton, and I've had opportunity to talk to you. I know some of you. Again, you've, appreciate the time. Appreciate the opportunity. Couple things I wanna tell you, and I always try to tell you something a little bit different because I believe this is a thing that we have to be educated on, and it's gonna be on the solar sites that are going in. One thing I think is really important is if you look at this, we have a situation where the Stockton site by itself is 4,500 acres. They said they're gonna build solar panels on about 2,000 acres of it. That's 700,000 industrial panels. Now we also found out there's two more sites up there. So we've gone now from 4,500 acres that there's gonna be a total solar sites up there of 11,000 acres.

The other reason that this 4,500 acre site is is important to know especially with the Silicon Ranch project is if you look, and and I really encourage you to do so, the 4,500 acre project will be the biggest one they've ever done. Matter of fact, with the exception of one other one, it's at least double the size of any other one they've done. And if you start looking at the other locations in Georgia and if you start looking in Tennessee where they've had problems, everywhere they go there's issues. And it's not just issues with the public because the public by far does not want this. But when you look at it, there's road damage.

There's enough mud on the roads that they've had serious concern about accidents. That was last week. They've had to go in and do sediment runoff. The sediment runoff is one of the biggest things you'll hear here because they're close to the rivers and all the streams and everything that we're trying to face and work with. I really, really hope that y'all look at each one of these and base some decisions here because to most of us, it's just common sense. We shouldn't do it. I mean, it's it's too big of a problem for us. And the moratorium is gonna be something that we need to have some time so everybody can look at this and understand it. And I believe the more you look at it, the more you're gonna realize the same thing we have. Please educate yourselves on it.

And I'm certainly not saying you're not, but, I mean, know everything you can before we go forward with any part of this project on my side or theirs. The thing I always wanna tell you is, you know, do your own homework. You don't have to trust me. But I appreciate your time. If there's anything else we can do, thank you.

Thanks, John. Catherine Harrington.

I'm from Birmingham, but my heart lives here. I grew up in Robertsdale and spent most of my early life trumping around the Delta. So I'm here because I love Delta, and I love all the people that live here. I'm here to ask you today, as you know, a letter was sent to the commission and to the county attorney requesting a moratorium on consideration of any permit application on industrial level solar projects for at least ninety days. I think it's important to consider that for you to consider that today and to vote on it today.

I know that your county attorney has sent a letter asking for an attorney general's opinion. And usually, takes at least ninety days to get that. So what we are asking is that you don't wait ninety days or a hundred and eighty days or whatever it might take for the attorney general to issue that opinion because it is so essential that the county have guardrails in place and that you, with your planning commission, your engineer, and other experts can identify what you need to do to protect the county from this unprecedented development, and it is unprecedented. Never in this state have we had such a development. I've looked at all of the ordinances that that you have for our our planning staff to use.

And one of the big concerns, of course, is what if there is noncompliance? What if there is a permit issued? And then you have 4,500 acres or 2,000 acres in which this company is not complying with the site plan that was approved by your planning department, your engineer, and you. And I I will say that their track record for sites this large or not even this large is not good. I'm sure you've heard of the $135,000,000 verdict that a jury issued in Georgia against this company and their contractors as a result of damage to a neighboring property and business.

As was pointed out by the solar company, they did settle this for a lesser amount, but the amount of a $135,000,000 will tell you how the jury felt about the behavior of this company toward the adjoining landowner. Also, I will point out that the judge allowed this case to go to the jury on punitive damages. And why? Because the judge found the evidence satisfied the requirement to allow the jury to consider it because the conduct of the company was not just negligent, but willful wanton neglect of their duty to the adjoining property owner. Also, one other example I will share with you is in Cumberland Springs, Georgia.

Their county supervisor said, and I'm quoting, they have been in noncompliance, and this is Solar Ranch. They have been in noncompliance with our final site site plan since the day they started the project. They want me to tell them exactly what plans places to fix and how to fix them. And then when I tell them, they just move the goalpost. We asked them to attend a meeting with the community to discuss these problems, and they did not bother to show up. So we have issues.

I'm gonna have to ask you to give me about thirty seconds to wrap it up.

Yes. Yes, ma'am. I I am. We have issues, and the county needs to consider those issues now and not wait thirty thirty days to or ninety days or a hundred and eighty days to get busy and get the ordinances in place. You need to protect our county.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Lowe.

Hey. I wanna apologize for my phone.

That's okay.

My son has a emergency override.

I am Elizabeth Lowe. I am from Montgomery, Alabama.

If you don't mind, will you talk yes, ma'am.

I hate these things. Alright. I'm Elizabeth Lowe. I'm from Montgomery, Alabama. I wanna I want to speak separately.

First, I would like to speak on behalf of the Snowden Volunteer Fire Department. I have a letter from my chief about solar. We have a solar site, and it's actually less than a mile from my house. And he wanted he cannot be here, so he wanted me to address y'all today so that y'all would know what type of issues y'all will be facing. And I can he sent pictures with we've had two fires at the site.

On the first fire, when they were called out when we're called out, it was someone that's did not speak English. They cannot tell us anything. And the person that was the site manager, they were in Prattville, which is forty five minutes away. And when he got there, he started screaming for our firefighters to get out of the area. Get out. Out. Out. Out. You're gonna get electrocuted. Get away. Get away. Don't put water on it. Y'all gonna get killed. Y'all gonna get killed. Get out.

So this is what we had another fire. So our first fire was on the nineteenth. Our other one, it was on November 4. This is the letter for him. This is from him.

Black Bear Solar Farm highlights. Black Bear Solar Farm never contacted Snowden volunteer fire on any premeasures for any possible fires. There were no training on how to handle fires around the solar panels on farm site. Grass fires, 08/19/2023, Snowden responded to a grass fire of approximate 1.5 acres. 11/04/2023, Snowden responded to a grass fire of approximately three acres.

We were then told not to put water on the panels and not to cross the cable bridges due to possible damaging wire installation protected protecting 1,500 volt DC. Fire chief Perkins was told the site manager lived in Prattville, Alabama. The site manager said he would respond and be able to shut the panels down. Classes offered 12/22/2025, Black Bear then offered a solar form operation class, had nothing to do with responding to any fire suppression, issues with firefighting. Distance, a 175 feet from cable bridge to the edge of the panel.

We have to walk around to get in between the panels to fight the fire. Do not use water. Do not drag hoses. Do not cross the wiring bridges. Dealt dealt the panel set hundreds of feet apart.

Minimum access by our brush trucks, cannot turn panels off during the day, time, hours, only from transformers to grid. We have no real understanding of the toxins that are released in the smoke as it's burning. Montgomery County Volunteer Association along with Alabama forestry representatives have advised Snowden Volunteer Fire Department not to go beyond the property fence entering the solar farm. Snowden Volunteer Fire Department chief Lee Perkins. So if there's you for reading that letter,

and that was the time. So I appreciate that, and I appreciate y'all's knowledge from the Montgomery area on what's going on there.

Well, it's just the fact that you're gonna have if you have this, you're gonna have firefighters going in. But we've been told we not to even go in and try to

fight this. I understand what you're saying. And and and we don't have anything yet, so I I don't know what I haven't heard about what you just said, and I'll study up on fires at solar farms. So I've never never heard of that aspect, but that's just a good addition to the discussion today. So thank you so much.

Alright. And there on my behalf, what I would like to speak on.

I can't time's up for you, and we're gonna go on to the next person. Everybody has three minutes to speak. So Valerie Page James.

Good morning. My name is Valerie Page James.

Good morning.

I have relatives, the pages that

are Mhmm.

From Bay Minette. So this is partly family for me. I am from Montgomery, Alabama as well. You are asking for information and studies. I am happy to give you as much as you want.

Part of this is with the wetlands and the problems they have with wetlands. California has stopped their even starting it hasn't mandated because there's no studies to know what causes from wetlands. I don't know what you are doing as far as if you're making these decisions, but my suggestion with the, people that are here is to go federal. Let the federal come in and look into this to see what is going on to make sure that it is proper. It is an and or if you want the state to do it or if you want the federal to get involved. My recognition is to get the federal involved immediately. The studies that we have, we can go on for

every to hand them to are those copies?

These are ones the that I have. I'd be happy to show you.

So are are they for us?

I can let you have them.

So I'll I'll

The same one that I have, the study that I have is partial, but you can look into it. And this is one because I ran out of paper to print it, but they're very

bad. So be happy to take it, and I'll make copies for the other commissioners.

But this is, Milton's Institute that goes into very much detail

Okay.

With the issues that you will have. I also have the problems. When she was talking about, we weren't sure about what is there and toxicity. I can give you the solar panels are so clean. Why do they have product set down with so much problems with so much toxic waste?

I have assessment of toxicity test for photovoltaic panels. I have what is actually in the panels that is released and the problems that are carcinogenic causing the and what would cause as far as lungs and all the issues that you have. I have more of this. I have the key substances solar panels that are in there, toxic chemical and solar panels. I have the overall view of the panel composition.

It depends on where they're made. That's a good question that you need to ask if it is from China. If they tell you that they are produced in The here in The United States, no. They are sent over, and they are put together in The United States, Auburn. Leaching via weak spots in the photo modules.

So I have all of these things, things that you need to look at. Some of the things that we brought up when we were having issues with the solar in Montgomery is is the company going to bond? Are they gonna set up a bond so if there's any damage that they will make sure that it's paid for? You need to look into this. You will need to find out what their plans are.

You've heard about the being sued, and this is something that you have to look at to consider. Somebody coming in, you need to find out if they're going to reuse them or if they're going to put them in landfills and look at twenty fifty and find out how much leaching goes into the soil and land. Our questions that we have, what we were asking them, are they going to test the water before? Are they gonna continue to test the water to see if there's leaching? Are they going to test the soil to see if there's leaching?

That is something that you would have to require them to do because they're not going to do that on their own. And that's something that you need to do as far as federal getting that involved to make sure.

They will start area to

come to this. Yes. Omnicore of engineers. Find out if they have even notified them or if you have notified them to look into it to make sure that they are doing it correctly. This is something that you don't play with. This is something that people in New York are having issues with. These are places now that people are different states. I believe there's 26 states now that are not allowing them to come in. So you have to be you are now here. My question to you is how many have signed nondisclosures?

So we're not taking question answers.

So But I'm you need to ask these people about nondisclosures.

That. They've already addressed that at a a meeting that we had here, a town hall meeting. So

And it's very important to do that. Because if you are sitting there signing nondisclosures, anybody that is in the state or the county or anybody that's signing nondisclosures

There's no nondisclosure act. None of that's up here.

We haven't even Don't bring that up, please. We haven't seen any permits or anything. So we we don't even have a site yet.

You don't even have an application.

Yeah. But I have to look to look and see to find out.

We are looking at everything. And I appreciate

I I really appreciate your time, and this is is up for now. So, I've gotta move on to my next speaker. We have a 10:00 meeting we gotta get to, so I want everybody to be able to speak. And I'm being, for those of y'all that know, I'm being very gracious on extending the time limits on everybody who's running out of time. So I don't want people to leave out of here saying I'm cutting people off because that'll be the first Facebook post today. So, that's a lie.

You're right.

Next up is Brett Brent Henson. Excuse me. Brent?

I'm I'm here, but I'll I'll pass.

Gonna pass? Okay. I might get this wrong. Stephanie Rowland or Stephanie Rowland? Rowland. Row okay.

I'll speak

as fast as I can. Good morning, commissioner

Good morning.

Commissioners, and thank you for the opportunity. My name is Stephanie Rollin. I am a business owner in Baldwin County, and together, me and my husband, a tribal member of the Porch Creek Indians, we own a little more than 500 acres on Boatyard Lake at Fort Mims. Our property directly connects to the proposed 2,900 acre solar farm in North Tensaw. I stand before you today not just as a landowner, but as someone who carries a deep responsibility for this place, this land, and this Tensile.

My husband has been come to this river his entire life as many of you probably have, as many Creek families still do. It is more than a place that is connection. It is where they fish, where they hunt, where they gather, and where they return. It is home. When we chose to invest here, to build here, and to settle here, it was not simply because of the beauty.

It was because of what this land holds. A land that we've held very privately, but we have we feel compelled to educate this commission on what this land app actually represents, not only for Native Americans, but for Baldwin County and early settlers. It's something more far more than meaningful. Our property has been studied, documented, and for formally recognized for its cultural and historical significance in the Smithsonian Trinolomeal system. It is recorded as the Pine Log Creek 1 B A 462.

It is also recognized under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. It is identified as a protohistoric mound complex and one of the most important native American Spanish contact sites in the Southeastern United States with connections to Maavia. Archaeologists, universities, and the Porch Creek Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office have wallworked and studied this land, the same land connected to the 2,900 acres. They are they've doc what they've documented is extraordinary. Artifacts are not rare here.

They're abundant. Pottery tools, cultural materials from native communities alongside since sixteenth century Spanish art of artifacts are here. There are five documented Indian mounds here. There are burial sites here. There are ancestral remains here. It's sacred ground. And what becomes absolutely clear when you understand this land is this, history does not stop at a fence line. If burial mounds and artifacts exist on our tract of land, everything we know tells us the adjoining land is part of the same connected cultural landscape. This is its ancestral ground of the Forge Creek people, descendants of the Mississippians, the mound builders. But this land also tells the story of those who came after it, tells the story of how this region became what it is today.

Early settlers came along the river and the Federal Road building homes, farms, and communities that shaped this region. Creeks, mixed bloods, early American families worked and raised their children here alongside early American settlers and African Americans who have deep roots in this area as well. On the very land being considered for this 2,900 acre solar development, the equivalent of over 2,200 football fields stood the Pierce Brothers School at Fort Pierce, established in 1799, the very first public school in Alabama. It was known as the Blab School because of the many languages spoken there, Muskogee, French, English, and Spanish, different backgrounds, different colors, cultures, one place, one early community taking shape. From this same ground came Alexander McGilvery, who helped shape the future of the Creek Nation, and David Mennack, who rose from this landscape to become the first Native American graduate at West Point.

The southwestern boundaries of this area is the original Creek Confederacy, and the Federal Road actually runs through here. This land is the site of the Fort Mims massacre. You can look from the solar form they're proposing and see Fort Mims, a place that still carries the weight of what happened there. This is shared history, native and settler alike. This land has not only held history, it shaped it.

We purchased our property in 2019 with full knowledge of what it contains, the artifacts, the mounds, the history, the cultural significance. And I wanna be clear, this land was protected long before we ever owned it. For decades, centuries, non native land owners preserved it, protected it, and chose not to disturb it. They understood its significance. They understood its history, and because of that, it still stands today.

When we purchased the land, we made a commitment to the previous owner, doctor Booth, that we would do the same, that we would protect it, that we would not disturb it, we would not develop it, that we would be good stewards of something that does not belong just to us, but to this entire community. Families still live here, and this is why this moment matters. Because this land, this same connected and living landscape is now being considered for a 2,900 acre solar farm. As a landowner, I cannot separate what is on my property from the land that is connected to it. Stewardship does not stop at a fence line.

Once large scale industrial development enters a landscape like this, the impact is permanent. You cannot preserve one piece of land and while protecting everything around it, you cannot protect history and isolation when it exists as a connected whole. The Tensile holds many stories, native, settler, family, community, and all these stories matter. So I ask you as commissioners to truly consider what's at stake. This is not just land to be used because it's available.

It is not just acreage to be developed because it's convenient. This is a cultural landscape. This is sacred ground. It is shared history that still exists right here in this place, and once it's disturbed, it's gone. Recognize what this land is, respect what it holds, and protect it while you still can. And I'll close with this. William Rutherford, known as Red Eagle, walked this very land and was educated on Fort Pierce where they're proposing these 2,900 acres of solar farms. When history tested him, he made a choice that defined his legacy. When asked why he chose to Fort Mims, his answer was clear. I stood with my people, And this is what we're asking you to do.

Stand with your people of Baldwin County.

Thank you, miss Rolland.

Thank you.

Alright. Last up, we have Brandy Robinson.

Good morning. Good morning. I'm Brandy Robinson, and I'm

here to speak

on behalf of myself and my family who collectively represent Bay Minette, Stapleton, Pine Grove, Crossroads, Hurricane, Tensaw, Foley. You get the idea. But you've heard everyone here speak about, you know, the hundred and eighty day moratorium for the solar project. I'd like to also petition you to consider just a general hundred and eighty day moratorium on any projects that are unprecedented in the county, data centers, carbon sequestration, large scale solar projects. Thank you for

your time. K. That's all of the speakers that have signed up to speak. Got about five minutes left. If if if somebody that didn't sign up to speak wants to speak, you would you would have three minutes to get that out, and then we're gonna take a break before our meeting.

And and and remember, we have do do have a 10:00 regular meeting, that will take place where there's no more public speaking after this meeting's over with. So just, just giving you a heads up if y'all can either stick around for a very quick, meeting or or, you know, once this meeting's over with, you're free to go. Miss Georgine, did you wanna say something?

Thank you for letting me fill the gap. I'm Georgine Conner, and I'm from Stockton, Alabama. I'm president of the Stockton Heritage Association. I can you've heard from many people. There are hundreds more. This is so important. Yeah. We love Baldwin County. You love Baldwin County. The moratorium is the right thing to do on every level, every level. Do the right thing. We truly are asking you. We need your help. We're a race against time. We need to be prepared. You need to be prepared. Please do this for us.

Right. Yes, ma'am.

Mister mister chairman?

Hang on. Just I was gonna I was gonna say just a a few things, and, Brad can back me up on this. So at the last meeting that we had, we had a group, with Megan that came and, had found out the new information about the possibility of the moratorium. We're we're bound under our state statute to do some things, and, we're limited. So we have asked our attorney to do the due diligence on behalf of the Baldwin County Commission to to do what any good steward would do before you make a a knee jerk decision that could wind up in frivolous lawsuits that cost taxpayers dollars.

So we asked our attorney to seek an AG's opinion for it, and, that's that's our step next step, and that's we're gonna do at today's meeting. We have a resolution ready to go. It's it's a sense of urgency. I I don't think the the AG is gonna drag it out a hundred and eighty days, three months, or whatever y'all were saying because it's coming from us, the the body of the county commission in an important situation. We're not gonna vote on a moratorium today.

It's not on our agenda. And so we're we're voting to, send it off for attorney general's opinion so we know what we're doing because this is the first time, in all of our history of Baldwin County to have to deal with the soul reform and or all over the place. So we're we're taking the right measures needed, I have full faith in the attorney that we pay, that he's doing the right thing in the best interest of not only us, but of y'all as well. So I just wanted to make that statement because there's been a a statement made that we need to, enact the moratorium today, and that's not that's not gonna happen. Commissioner Underwood.

Yes. I just wanted to, since this crowd has gathered here today, and I've never really addressed you guys as a body of folks that come in here about your situation with solar, I wanted you to know that first of all, I think you guys know our limitations. And but I wanted to tell you about a situation that happened in August 2022. It's not isolated that solar is in North Baldwin. I, I live in Central Baldwin, and on that big map back there in the corner, the area that says District 3, there was a a company.

I don't remember the name. I have no idea. They came and asked for a tax incentive on the land, and they wanted to put in it was around 1,800 acres right on Highway 90 between Elsinore and Seminole. I believe it was around the area where the Kaiser Farm is. It has the egg farm up there, if any of you guys who are all from Baldwin County know where I'm talking about.

And so when they walked in the door, they only came into my office, and Robert Stale had a meeting and said that, you know, we'd like to ask you for a a tax incentive for what they're asking for was abatement of property taxes and, I would assume, personal property taxes, which is the equipment tax on what's which you put stuff out there. And I said, well, before you say anything, I said, number one, this part of the county is no different. Well, I didn't tell them that. I I said this is an unzoned, unincorporated Baldwin County, exactly what you guys are looking at. Huge power grids running through there.

If you drive between Robertsdale and Pensacola, you will see the big power lines that go across there. Okay? So those are the things that I refer to as the unintended consequences to electricity that we are enjoying as we sit here right now. We have lights. We have air conditioning. We have modern, amenities. I mean, you can choose to live without those, but most people do not. But I will say that whenever that was when they looked at me and asked me that question, first thing I said was you can build it in an unincorporated, unzoned area of the county. Now nobody was looking at wetlands there. It's just pasture land.

Okay? And it's not flat. It's got some rolling hills in there, not steep or anything. And I said, but don't ask me for a tax abatement. I said, because you're not bringing me any reason to give you a tax abatement. You're not bringing jobs that will improve the quality of life of our citizens. And so they said, well, any improvement over this, farmland, in taxes would bring more money to the county. And I said no. They said this would bring a lot more money in taxes. And I said, anything you put on here besides farmland is gonna bring more taxes.

And I don't remember the dollar amount, but it was just a few thousand dollars that might have been being paid in current use property taxes. Everybody in the room, let me know if you understand what current use property taxes are. If you don't, you need to know what that is because that means you pay a very, very, very, very low rate based on timberland and farmland. My husband's a farmer, a working farmer, not just someone who has farmland that's not farmed. We are a small farmer. Okay? And and I'm a CPA by trade, so I understand tax is pretty good. Okay? And I'm a very detailed person. And whenever I told him that anything you put on that land is gonna bring in more taxes than current use, they they were kinda shocked that maybe I knew that.

And I said, you know, anybody, you build a building, you build anything, we're gonna get more money off of that because it improves the value of the property if it's no longer being used as farms. So I just wanna let you know that that there was never heard from them again because they were asking for a tax incentive. It never came before I believe these guys are sitting here now. I don't think you guys ever had that company come before y'all, but they just came to, you know, the the area I was in. What's being proposed in North Baldwin County right now, nobody's asking us for tax incentives, but, we're very limited in in in what we can actually do.

We hear you. Matter of fact, I'm a descendant of William Weatherford, one of his illegitimate children. So I'm, I've got Indian blood running through my veins as we speak. I'm mixed up with a lot of other things as most people are that that are in in the Indian or whatever realm, You know? But my DNA, I did the whatever you do, the ancestry thing, and it it points right back to the Cherokee Nation right here along the all of that stuff.

But, I'm not getting a check from anybody. I just work hard as an American. But I just wanted you guys to know that that that you have my word, and I believe the word of everybody up here that we do not want this, and we are not incentivizing anything, and we're doing everything that we can by what's called the law. And I I don't know if this was important to for you to hear that, but it is the truth. And I'm a person that speaks the truth, and a lot of times, people don't like to hear the truth, but that is what it is. So thank you for listening to me, and thank you, chairman, for allowing me to speak.

Thank you. There any commissioner request?

I forgot. I had something I forgot.

Well, think about it. I'll let you go on next. Senior staff reports. Alright. County attorney report. Okay. Meetings adjourned. Regular meeting. Today, we're gonna call out my friend, pastor Jason Hughes with Southside Baptist Church to lead us in an invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance by commissioner Gruber. Join me in prayer.

Lord God, we love you and thank you for being here with us today. We pray over each person that comes up and speaks that whatever is said brings glory to you, God, that we do things in a civil Christ like manner, and that your will be done whatever it may be here in this county and in this city. We give you praise and glory in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Please join me in a pledge. 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, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you all.

Thank you, pastor. Thank you, commissioner Green. Alright, commission. We have, adoption of the minutes from April 21.

Mister chairman, I'll make a motion that we, approve the minutes from 04/21/2026 regular meeting.

I'll second it.

I have a motion by commissioner Gruber, second by commissioner Underwood to adopt the minutes. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes. Commissioner Gruber is now going to pay the bills.

Alright. Mister chairman, I'll make a motion that we pay the bills, and and this report includes 806 invoices and distributions totaling $20,301,109.97.

I'll second it.

We got a motion and a second to pay our bills. Any further discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes.

Mister chairman, I also I wanna, make a motion that we ratify, ratification of, internal payments as allowed by policy number 8.1. And this report includes 59 invoices and distributions totaling $6,398,870.85.

I'll second it.

And a motion and a second to item b a two, the ratification of interim payments as allowed by policy 8.1. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes. Next up, we have our consent items. Before we consent, I do wanna bring to the attention that, on item c o five, the the light at 104 In Saint Michael Way. I think we have some a board member here or some board members that, may want to say something about this before we vote on it. If you would, you you can come up to the podium. I'll allow you to speak if you want to. I I think it I don't I don't think there's anything negative. So

I'll just be real brief.

Yes,

sir. Thank you. Good morning, chairman Ball, vice chairman Gruger, commissioner McKenzie, and commissioner Underwood. My name is Michael Druen, and I have the privilege of serving as the president of Saint Michael Catholics advisory board. On behalf of our 350 roughly students and their families, thank you for taking the lead on this important safety issue and for partnering with the Alabama Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 104 and Saint Michael Way.

The timing of this decision and having this traffic signal possibly in place by the fall cannot be overstated. Saint Michael is a young school, just ten years old, serving families from across Baldwin County. While we are currently at capacity, we continue to grow and invest in our campus. As our campus continues to develop, this traffic signal is this vital piece of infrastructure that ensures the safety of our students, families, and the visitors. Thank you for your support and for your commitment to keeping the students of Baldwin County safe. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. I can't believe it's been ten years already.

That's cool.

Ten years. God.

Well, mister chairman, I just wanna say that we were we've been looking at this, I know, for eight years. And, you know, with that being a state road, we don't have the final say. And so we've been asking for it, and that's why the county's the county spent a lot of money connecting this is Saint Michael's Way now, is that what it's called? It used to be Dick Dick Dick Dick Dick Dick guess Dick I always think about it as being Dick Higbee Road. But, you know, made that investment so that there would be another way in and out to get to there without being on a dirt road.

So we really appreciate that that Aldott has finally seen the need as well. So we've been on board. We just have to get them on board too.

Hopefully, it'll be ready by the fall. So Commissioners, we got a consent agenda to adopt.

I'll make a motion we approve our consent agenda.

And I'll second it.

Alright. We have a motion and a second to adopt our consent agenda. Any further discussion? Alright. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Okay. Alright. Now we're up to our, presentations. We have, item d a one that, commissioner Gruber is gonna present proclamation of older Americans month. There's no no bias there. I'll let the youngest one of the bunch do this for us. No.

Any of us too young. I'll be members of AARP now.

Morning, everyone. It's my privilege this morning to do this proclamation for May 26 as Older Americans Month in Baldwin County, Alabama. Whereas, May is Older American Month at a time of for us to recognize and honor older adults and their eminent infew influence on every facet of American society. And whereas through their wealth of life experience and wisdom, older adults join our younger generations and carry forward abundant cultural and historical, and whereas all Americans improve our community through intergenerational relationships, community service, and civil engagement. And whereas communities benefit when people of all ages, abilities, and background have the opportunity to participate and live independently.

And whereas, Baldwin County must ensure that older Americans have the resources and support needed to stay involved in their communities, reflecting on commitment to the senior population. And whereas, we call upon all residents to join in recognizing the contribution of our older citizens and pro promoting programs and activities that foster connection and support of older adults. And now, therefore, we proclaimed by the Baldwin County Commission in regular session assembled that with older with deepest respect and admiration, we hereby proclaim May 2026 is Older American Month in Baldwin County, Alabama and encourage everyone to take time in May to honor old Americans and professionals, family members, citizens who care for them. Thank you.

You

so very much.

Good morning. Morning. The thing for Older Americans month this year is champion your health. And as I was thinking about it, I always try to get someone that resembles this champion your health. And I could think of no other person than Yolanda Parnell who works for the county commission through the council on aging. She has worked at the school board for over twenty years. She retired, and then she kept her grandkids. And that was, I think, a job probably harder than working at the school for twenty years. And then she left there and decided to come to work with us. And she has been with the county commission, the council on aging for over ten years.

And Yolanda is our backbone at the council on aging and will work circles around us. You see her at the central annex in the back hallway. She goes and gets groceries for those that cannot drive and cannot ride rats. She does two ceramic husses. She pours all the molds.

She's our program support specialist. She does all of our hurricane calls in June. She is kind of our mother hen and backbone at the Council on Aging to keep us going. And so when I read it was champion your health, I think every senior citizen needs to take responsibility for their health and to keep going and be a champion for those others out there that that need that little push. So, thank you, Yolanda, for accepting this proclamation on all the seniors or for all the seniors in Baldwin County.

Thank you. Thank you. You.

Thank you. Please.

What a great proclamation. I would like to encourage anybody that's watching this meeting that's a senior citizen and need some resources and help or anybody in the county that needs resources and help with with anything to go and visit our Council on Aging Building in in Robertsdale. It's on Palmer Street in Central in our Central Annex location. And Kelly and her staff do a amazing job on helping the public over there, and the services that they provide is unprecedented. I've never seen it in another county anything like what we do here, and we're very fortunate to have Kelly and her team on board and the services they provide.

Like I said, they help so many people out. I was visiting with Kelly not too long ago, the amount of people that come in and out of there looking for assistance, I mean, her phone rang every, you know, five seconds, it seemed like, for somebody needing a little bit of help. And she I'd say, take the call, and she'd sit there and talk to these people in just a way that I would wanna be talked to, you know, if I was on the other end of that phone. And it's just one of those unseen and unrecognized programs that's attached to our umbrella that nobody really knows about. And the message is out there.

So if you're listening to this today and need some help on retirement stuff, Social Security checks, Medicare, Medicaid, all that kind of stuff, go. You might need some secondary insurance. Go see the counseling agent, and they'll help you out. And and and guess what? It's free. Am I right, Kelly? Does does it cost money? I don't think it does. That's the best part about it. So, commissioners, y'all don't wanna say anything else about Older Americans Day? No. Or what? I

do. I do.

I do.

Okay. Commissioner Underwood.

I I just wanna say that I didn't know much about the Council on Aging. I knew a little bit about it because of my other job, and I had clients that would say they had visited you guys. And and sometimes I'd be like, you qualify for that? You got an awful lot of stock. And they're like, well, it's based on my taxable income and stuff. You know? And so I was like, well, that's good. But, I've only seen that one time. I told somebody that. But, it's amazing how people sometimes think that it's just for it's not just low income.

It's not it it's for people who need help. And, last week, I was invited to come to the, American Legion Foley post ninety nine's one hundredth anniversary, which is another amazing story. But one of my classmates from Foley High School class of '85, shout out, go lines. Van Hubbard's the commander there now, and he got up and gave a little speech, and he was talking about how he always thought the American Legion was just a smoky old bar where people went and got drunk that were veterans. And I think there's a lot of people might have had that connotation.

But, anyways, he said, when I joined finally and people were telling me about it, he said, I found out this is where you can get help for veterans. And he said, all types of help, and and they focus strictly mainly on veterans. But this you guys have helped even my own family connect to the veterans through Council on Aging, and it was such a godsend. And those were things that even though that that is out there and it is available, a lot of times people don't know how to connect to it. And so I have really, really shouted it from the rooftop anytime I'm anywhere about, well, wait a minute. You don't have to be a veteran, but they can connect you to these sources. They give you the information. They'll write it down on a piece of paper. They'll give you the phone number. They'll do this.

So I tell people a lot of times the same thing about the county commission. Just call us. If it's not us, maybe we can connect you to the the entity that can help you, and and maybe they can help you, but at least you'll know that that's the organization where the authorities lie or whatever. So you guys are the one area of this county that we get so much love letters, and we appreciate that because in a world of hate and meanness and all that kind of stuff, you guys are a light, and thank you so much. Thank you for being here today.

Kelly, I just wanna say thank you for what you do. You know, when I used to come by there all the time, it was it was a blessing to see the the the older generation in there making ceramics and to say hello and and the crafts that y'all do. So thank you for what you do for the citizens of Baldwin County. Thank you.

Alrighty. Commissioners, we need a motion.

Mister chairman, I'll make a motion, that we proclaim May as the older American want.

And I'll second it.

Alright. Got a, motion by commissioner Gruber, second by commissioner Underwood to approve item d a one, older Americans month, May 2026. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Alright. Alright. Next up is item d a two. Commissioner Underwood will be presenting the Baldwin County Beach Safe Week proclamation. We have our EMA director, Tom Tyler, will be joining her.

Alright.

Well, I know that the work session's not livestreamed, but we already kinda talked about being safe already. Wasn't even really thinking about the fact that it was one of the presentations, so I'm gonna read the proclamation. Proclaiming the week of May 2026 as beach safe week in Baldwin County, Alabama. Whereas the beautiful coastal and inland beaches of Baldwin County represent a world renowned recreational resource. And whereas the Baldwin County residents and guests alike are drawn to these beaches by the millions each year for water and beach activities, and whereas the aquatic environment has dangers, particularly rip currents that can be effectively managed through public awareness and the vigilance of professional lifeguards, and whereas for the reasons of public safety, an annual reminder of the joys and hazards associated with the aquatic environments is appropriate at the commencement of the busy summer beach season.

And whereas Baldwin County residents and guests alike are encouraged to check weather and surf conditions daily, sign up for daily surf condition text alerts, know their limitations, swim near a lifeguard, know and heed the beach warning flags, learn how to escape a rip current, and know what to do when someone else is in danger. And whereas the Baldwin County Commission recognizes the seven days prior to Memorial Day each year as beach safe week in conjunction with the National Beach Safety Week and urges all residents and guests to enjoy themselves at the beach this year while taking appropriate measures to protect themselves and their families. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Baldwin County Commission regular session assembled that the week of May 2026 is hereby set aside as beach safe week in Baldwin County, Alabama, and the Baldwin County Commission joins Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism and the coastal area fire departments and the coastal area search and rescue departments in their collective efforts to provide beach safety awareness throughout Baldwin County. And just a note before I give Tom an opportunity to say a few words is in the word beach, the letters b e, the first two letters are letters they focus on with the with the, I guess, the logo the logo, whereas be safe, not just beach safe, but be beach safe.

And I know they had a lot of time hard time coming out with what would catch, and, hopefully, the this slogan means a lot. And since we were you know, sometimes those text messages can get ignored when you sign up for them for all kinds of things come through, but, hopefully, people will sign up for these text alerts and when people don't know. But this is our EMA director. Tom, would you please say a few words about this?

Absolutely. Thank you, commissioner. First of all, it's a very huge privilege to be up here to accept this on behalf of our Be Safe campaign. I wish the rest of our partners could be here because that's really a success story of what collaboration looks like, what it should look like. We have our federal partners from the National Weather Service, our state partners with Aliyah, and then all of our local partners.

And I swear if Porch Creek had property on the coastline, they'd be part of it too. That's right. And we cover the the travel territories as well. But I really appreciate the fifth paragraph in this. That basically reads just like what our information campaign says, And I especially like to reiterate the part about the sign up for local surf alerts by texting 888777 and use AL beaches in the keyword to sign up for those alerts.

We'd really like for our local residents to help us spread the word to our visitors that sign up for those alerts, then when you leave, you press stop, you know, text up. And then you don't have to get them because our whole goal is to send every family home intact and planning their next vacation to Baldwin County, not dealing with some kind of tragedy or something that just shouldn't happen. And, so it's really incumbent on those of us who live here and interact ordinarily with our our guests and and our visitors to help educate them on what those beach flags mean and how they can keep themselves safe and how they can watch after their families and know understand the the dangers of rip currents because they are the number one weather related killer on the Northern Gulf Coast outnumbering our hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, all of that combined. So it's a very serious measure that we're trying to make incremental changes to. And as you saw from the first speaker that we had in the in the workstation, we still got a lot of work to do.

You know, TV and and newspapers only go so far. There's so many proliferated ways that people get information now. So it it take it's really going to be a community effort to make this work.

Tom, I just wanted to ask you. If you would, tell that number one more time to text.

Yes, sir. It's a text 888777 and type in A L Beaches. Just spell it out. A L Beaches to 888777 to sign up for those daily text alerts about surf conditions.

So I get that every day. And if you're a planner and wanna go down to the beach, it's very good to have because it's got so much more information on it than just the wind and surf. It'll have the jellyfish report. You know, purple flags means that there are jellyfish everywhere, so it's not gonna probably be a fun day to get in the water. But but, you know, we don't have a flag system down at our Fort Morgan beaches to my knowledge. So if you pay attention to the flag systems on the public beaches, it's gonna go for that beach as well. So that surf report is gonna help you, all throughout the coastline. So it's very good to have. I wake up to it every single morning. I think it hits my phone at 08:00 in the morning well before you could plan your day.

I encourage you to go back and rewatch the meeting if you didn't remember that number because I think it's 3 and 3. So and AL Beaches, just send it a text and then stop when you wanna quit getting them. But it's it's it's it's something that we put together. I remember when we first started doing this text based system, and I thought it was, you know, I like looking at it every morning time. So it it keeps us up to speed on on planning a day there. So good good job on this. Starting we're get a picture?

Okay. Yep.

Commissioners, does anybody else wanna say anything?

Yeah, I just wanna say this, Tom, and I can't remember when it was. Was it last month or the month before when we had the meeting down there at the fire department with all your staff and all the partners involved? That was very nice, you know, that y'all put this on for safety, beach safety. And I've learned a lot from that. So thank you for putting that out there and and and and teaching everybody, you know, what's what's going on. So thank you.

Yes, sir. I'm glad you're able to see the level of cooperation we have among all those layers of, of government and nongovernmental entities that all have a common goal in trying to keep our visitors safe. So thank you for your support in

fitting that, man. Was very nice. I think

another thing, Tom, that that that people realize that every everybody wants to be a hero in a situation. Mhmm. We have our sheriff's department definitely out there patrolling those beaches, not for crimes and stuff, but they're they're part of this beach safe crew, and and and they're out there, and they're doing their job. And if they have to, they will go out and rescue somebody. But when everybody else who thinks they can swim and who thinks that they can, do this, and even the best trained lifeguards sometimes don't make it in these tough surf conditions.

You know, and when you've got 15 to 20 people out there trying to save one life, you may have fourteen, fifteen more people in trouble just as well as the one that was in trouble to start with. So always read up on your your surf reports and stuff. And if it says not to get in the water, I know you spent a lot of money to go down there and vacation. That means not to get in the water. So it is it's unswimmable. I've I've I've experienced it before, and it's it's tough to to battle that undertow. And It is. And, I mean, you just need to pay attention. And and and and we have old saying when the waters flood, we need to come up with one for swimming, but turn around, don't drown if you see water over the road. But I don't know what we may maybe come up with a catchy beach safe slogan if we We

already have one. It's called know before you go.

Know before you go.

That's good. Okay. That's a good one.

That's a real good one.

Right.

I I remember I I was and you said it too, undertow. That was what and they call it rip current now. I don't know why they don't still use undertow because it it'll take you under. And and it's like my mom, when we were little kids, she did not like us to go to the beach with other people, you know, because she was afraid that we would drown. And I remember her telling me, just stand there.

Don't move. Just stand there and watch how it just sucks you out even when it's not any really, really bad rip currents going on. And and and and when you're not used to that, but when you're born and raised here and you of course, now, so many people only hardly ever go there. I can't tell you when I've been to the beach, but everybody else gets to enjoy it now. Anyhow, it it is a powerful force of nature that people do not realize until you've experienced it, and so it it can it can take your life in a heartbeat. So thank you.

Commissioner McKenzie, you were you already said something. Commissioner Gruen?

Yes. I just you know, we had this awareness, you know, of the for the beach safety. And I just noticed yesterday that the sheriff's department added a new tool from Right. To their thing as well. It's a drone. And I watched it on their little news clip, and I tell you what, that thing is something else, you know, if, you know, you can get people to using it, you know. But it's it's it's something

that without risking other lives.

Yep. Yes,

sir. Something Proud to support them and those efforts down there. So alright. Commissioners, need a motion.

Mister chairman, I'll make a motion, that, we proclaim Baldwin County Beach Safe Week as from May 18, to the twenty fifth and twenty twenty six.

I'll second it.

Got a motion and a second to adopt item b a two that's proclaiming Baldwin County Beach Safe Week, May eighteenth through twenty fifth. Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Next up, we've got commissioner McKenzie. He is gonna be, dealing with proclamation with Children's Mental Health Awareness Week.

It's an honor to do this, read this proclamation, so thank you. Proclaiming the week of May 2026 as Children's Mental Health Awareness Week in Baldwin County, Alabama. Whereas mental health is a fundamental aspect of overall health and well-being influencing the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities, and children's mental health awareness week is recognized nationally during the first full week of May, May 3 to the ninth twenty twenty six. With awareness this year focusing on the critical theme of beyond the screen, education, prevention, connection, highlighting the balance between technology and healthy child development. And whereas the initiative addresses rises concerns regarding anxiety, depression, and social media impacts on children and youth, and whereas we recognize that fostering healthy children development in the digital age requires a proactive approach to prevention and a commitment to nurturing real world connections beyond the scene the screen.

And whereas early intervention and positive behavioral supports are vital vital to strengthening the families and helping children, youth reach their full potential. And whereas our community is committed to promoting awareness, fostering connections, and supporting initiatives that advance mental health for all residents, particularly our youngest members, Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the Baldwin County Commission in regular session assembled that we do hereby proclaim the week of May 3 to the ninth twenty twenty six as Jane as Children's Mental Health Awareness Week in Baldwin County, Alabama, and call upon our community to encourage and support the mental wellness of children, youth, and families. So thank you. You wanna say?

Just a little bit if you

don't mind. Please.

First of all, I really wanna thank all all of you commissioners for all of your support. AltaPoint absolutely recognizes your commitment to the well-being of Baldwin County. And this highlights the mental health component, particularly with the youth. And with all the digital and the social media now, it's it's heightened all of those conditions that we've got to pay attention to. And in general, mental health affects everybody no matter who you are, particularly your youth.

And because mental health is a very hard conversation to have for most, it's so important for us to make sure people understand it's part of physical health as well, and it's gonna be addressed just like physical health, just like obesity and diabetes. And so once we come to that realization and the negativity is dropped, either doors are open so people who are silently suffering are able to access care more easily. And we know that the earlier that you receive care, the better the impact overall. And then we see the improvement in the school performance. We see families strengthen.

We see the community become more resilient. So you know all of this, but I've just got to highlight that for the most. Let's continue that conversation, and let's continue to make our communities and our counties a place where mental health is prioritized. It's discussed. It's understood. It's respected. So thank you so

much. Thank you. You. I think we're gonna get a picture. Alright.

Commission, do y'all wanna say anything about childhood mental health awareness month?

Week. Just thank you for all to point and for what y'all do. You know? It is when I was reading that, it's just I remember my daughters growing up with a with a cell phone in their hand and and keeping it there in a long period of times, and that just I kept saying, get off of it. Let's go do something. And so I see what what goes on now. And so thank you for and and the commission for recognizing that. So thank you.

Go ahead.

Well, you know, there's a lot of things being talked about these days that didn't used to be talked about, and people don't need to have the fear to talk about those things. And and, I think with from not long ago, I was at the NAMI thing for, National Alliance of Mental Illness, and their color is green. So I wore green on purpose today, and I know that that's a color for mental illness month. And, when I bought this shirt a few years ago at Dillard's, I didn't realize I'd wear it so much for for that reason, but, it's come in handy to help talk about it and to let people know that you're not alone and you have help available. But you you can't just sit back and you gotta go to it.

You know, my mom always said, have not if you ask not, and it's one of those kind of things is you really do have to seek help. And and with children, a lot of times, it it falls on the schools and people to recognize some of this thing because people people don't wanna they don't wanna, they don't want their child to have a problem. They wanna ignore things. But I I my hats off to people who do realize that they do need help, and some things can be helped, and then they never have problems again, I think. I don't know.

I'm not clinical. You know that. But it just I am thankful that it's out there more. And I was talking to somebody, and they said, you know, when you got somebody even in your family that's got mental illness, sometimes you need to know how to you need help to know how to deal with that. And we see that a lot with with with people with the the disorders that come along with mental illness.

And so thank you for being here today, Robin, and and for what AltaPoint does. A lot of people talk negatively about different things, and they just don't know a lot of times what what they're talking about. And I encourage people to get information in that world of, mass deception that we live in and and and AI. I mean, you can I was talking to a lady in between a while ago? You can you can believe anything if you're gullible, and people need to really make sure that they they get out there and get the right information and are not believing just whatever pops up on their their their social media page or whatever and and get the help.

So I'm glad that we're able to recognize that and hope that it will help somebody out there who will stand up and get the help they need.

Yep. I just like to say thank you to AltaPoint, you know. Y'all do a good job with, these mental health of, of our children and adults in Baldwin County, you know, it's something that it's been going on for a long long time and, you know, if you all go back and remember when they had the mental institutions, the Bryce Hospital and all of those, you know, you know, it was kind of put out of sight of people, you know. Somebody had something, he just put them right there right away and now it's not that way anymore. It's now it's more staying within the homes and everything else and trying to keep them within society and which helps them a little bit trying to readapt.

So it's very important that we do a lot of stuff and technology today is great as it is. It has hurt a lot of our children with constantly on the the cell phone in the hands and they're watching their TVs with games and everything else that they do and it just corrupts their minds a little bit. So, but that's technology. So thank you, Alberto, for much what y'all do.

I I'd tell you, just noticing what you notice being as old as we all are up here on this stage, we grew up in the day and time, and most people sit out here can reference this, you grew up in a day and time where you got in trouble for not coming inside. Your parents were hollering for you, it'd be like, Sam, 08:00 at night, and you're out somewhere in the woods, and you've been outside for fifteen hours, and nobody's checked on you, and all of a sudden it's time to come in to eat some supper, and you get in trouble for not coming inside. There'd be punishment. And that's what's happened. That's that changed the phones, the games.

It has changed this world for for for the worst because our kids aren't getting outside anymore. They're they're gonna go they're gonna stay at home all summer long in the house, play video games, stay on their phones when you need to be outside playing. I mean, I could ask a if I went and asked a fifth grader how to build a fort, they wouldn't know what I'm talking about, unless you live here in in the North Bong area. But, you know, building forts and playing on slippy slides and playing in a water hose and making mud pies and all that kind of stuff was our our way of having fun back in the days, and there's not many people that have childhood mental health problems back then. And all of a sudden, now you just see an overwhelmingly, increasingly amount of childhood mental health, which is sad that children are already starting their lives off on medicines for mental illnesses that will transfer into adulthood.

So definitely, technology has kinda taken over, but I just wanted to give that little spiel because I remember my childhood vividly. And and staying out late was fun, as a kid. Barefooted, not worried about a thing. That's right. Alright. So we got some other staff recommendations. We need to make We got an addenda item, GA one.

Do you mind if I make the motion to approve the

I thought we did that. We didn't do that. Not sure. Go ahead.

I'll make that motion. I'll make a motion that we, proclaim proclamation for children mental, health awareness week.

I'll second it.

Yep. Got a motion and a second to, adopt proclamation for childhood children's mental health awareness week, May 3 through the ninth. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Okay. Now we're on item, g a one. The sales and use tax license inspection department request for leave.

I'll make that motion.

I'll second.

Got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Anything else I need to do, Roger? Okay. Press questions. How will I get up with you after the meeting? Commissioner comments? I'm on can I start today?

Go ahead. You're the chairman.

I'm just asking y'all permission. So, so, technically, today is, our last meeting that we will have before our general, primary elections that are coming up in May. Whatever happens, happens. You'll still have to deal with us until November. But it's kind of a historical day because, you know, this is the last, meeting that we will have before an election.

And, just just asking for the public's, prayers for everybody that that sits up here, that's, that's seeking offices in other places and seeking the same offices. It's a lot to do up here. And, you know, so I just wanted to, make that. And I appreciate the staff, for helping us out. Last night, there was a little thing here, a form type, thing between, me and mister Cox, and our staff did a really good job of setting up, the building for us, and I wanna thank y'all for that.

Thank you for, putting together the agenda packet today. I know it's a lot of work. I I don't know I was gonna, you know, start by just thanking everybody involved in in putting all these little pieces of paper together for us because it's a lot more than this. We say it every single meeting, I think. I don't know how many pages, you know, thousand pages goes into this, meeting, so, or more. And, our staff doesn't want a job, our administration staff. So, Roger leads a great crew over there with everybody. So and they're right here in this building. I think Memorial Day

is coming up.

When is that? Twenty fifth.

Twenty fifth. Okay. So we'll have another meeting for then.

Yeah.

Alright. Whoever whoever's next?

I'll I'll go next. Thanks to staff. Thanks to the county employees for what they're doing, especially right now during this time when there's a lot of political signs out there in the county hot I mean, the roadways. So thank them for picking them up and and and not tearing up their county equipment. I'd I'd be remiss if I didn't say this. I'll be in trouble if I don't. It's National Teacher Appreciation Day. To all the teachers out there, thank you for what they do. Y'all know that my wife's a school teacher, and I'm very proud of her. This to the citizens that came up today to talk about the solar farm and what they're what they mean, it it it means a lot when they come up here and and talk and tell us what they how they feel.

And I wish the citizens in Baldwin County would get more involved when it comes to things when it affects them. There's a lot of things I've noticed in these four years, and August would be four years I've been on the county commission. A lot of citizens don't get involved. They don't wanna say anything or get involved. But if they get involved and we can hear them, we know what's going on, or how they feel. So I just wanna say thank you, to the citizens that came out. And again, thank you all and the commission, thank you very much.

I guess we'll go next since we're going

in order this time and echo what both Jeff commissioner Ball and commissioner McKenzie have said. But Jeff can't say that it's all been said because he said it first. I get to say that. He's already said all that about the upcoming election, and and Matt said some other stuff. I'll try to add something that I've, to to bounce off of what commissioner McKenzie said. Please contact us. No matter what, we're here in the commission now. And if there's a a situation that's come up, you don't have to wait till there's a a new commission sitting up here. We're here to to to talk to you. There's some things we can do, some things we can't do.

But I was questioned recently as to why we, run at large as far as why are your commissioners let's put it this way. This is why are the commissioners elected at large in Baldwin County versus other counties? Well, first of all, counties can be they can adopt different, you know, local legislative acts. So they can I think it has to be constitutional amendment or something which people get to vote on sometimes, and sometimes it's the legislature that does it? But there's a lot of history behind that, and I love to talk about it because I have spent a lot of time learning what has happened over the years, and and it's more than I will say here.

But there's something I wanna mention. If you look at a map of Baldwin County, and I know people watching this will not see the big map that's leaning against the wall in the back back there, but it shows the whole county, and and that map is taller than I am. So it must be about eight foot tall. I don't know. And I'm not nearly I'm not even six foot, but maybe with heels. But it shows a a ribbon that goes across there which represents I 10. We now have 10 local legislative delegation members that represent Baldwin County. I ask people all the time how many local legislative members we have? They they all know, and it's not it's not pop quiz. People need to know these things.

They need to know who represents Baldwin County. And when you see that line that goes across Baldwin County, kind of, it's not directly East West, but it goes from the East West directions. There are 10 local legislative members, which consists of seven state representatives and three state senators. That's where the authority, in addition to the rest of the state legislature, that the county commission gets. How many live North Of I 10?

This was pointed out to me. Not one of those 10 people live North Of I 10 in the, the boundaries of Baldwin County. Five live below I 10, which consists of senator Elliott, representative Gibbons, representative Fiddler, representative Francis Hope Jones, and representative Matt Simpson. The other five that represent and and have a lot of say in what happens in Baldwin County live outside of Baldwin County. Doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with that because they are voted in based on, you know, population.

Their districts have to be equal, one vote, one person, and, the county commission is not elected that way. If we were elected that way, you could run the risk of some of the less populated areas of Baldwin County, such as North Baldwin County and the East part of my jurisdiction, having nobody that lived in your area represented it. But if you look at the county commission map, it has the geographic boundaries in there that where you have to live, but you have to run it large so that I care about what happens in Stockton. I care about what happens in Fort Morgan. I care about what happens in in Orange Beach.

Otherwise, you might just concern yourself with what happens just in your district. And I will have to say that if North Bowen County thinks that this county commission has not spent the most money anywhere, we've spent the most money helping North Bowen as far as like, you know, add new vertical construction and with activities and things, we collectively look at and weigh out the needs. So, therefore, you know, these people have a say so. You're you you can say who you elect. You get to elect somebody if you live at Little River, you get to vote for somebody who lives in Alberta and vice versa.

You know? I I live in some I live in the unincorporated area of the county of, Summerdale. But if you looked on that map and you knew where our houses were, we are equally separated out across this county based on that map. And I think that a lot of times, people don't know what they don't know, but they can know it if they will look for the answers. It's out there.

And I've talked to he's dead and gone. I miss him so much because he was full of that institutional knowledge, which was Steve McMillan. He helped me understand a lot of that kind of stuff because I didn't understand it. I didn't understand why man, it'd a whole lot easier if you didn't have to spend all that money campaigning from one end to the other. But at the same time, you get represented a whole lot better in a county that has a very skewed population.

Most of the population that exist in Baldwin County is along the Eastern Shore. So it is what it is. Nothing's gonna change that without a a legislative act, but get to know who your people are and know that you run the risk of not even having anybody that lives in your area if you have to go by, population. I hope that's been a little bit informative. I see people actually paying attention to me in this room. That's impressive. But anyhow, I talk a lot sometimes, but I have I have a lot of knowledge that I'd be happy to share with people if they wanna just contact me. Thank you so Look. He had a timer. I'm just kidding. No. That was his phone. Thank you all so much. And I thank our staff. I try to give shout outs to you guys everywhere because we would be nothing without you.

And if you read any of the stuff that's been out there, I've tried to mention how wonderful our staff is. And regardless of who sits up here after this election, of course, I know we'll be here till November, but it won't be the end of the world because we got the best staff in the whole wide world in my opinion. Thank you.

I just like to thank the staff for getting everything, together for our meeting today. And, you know, the older American ones, you know, the the mental health, the children's, you know, stuff, We those are all important things that happened in Baldwin County. You know, we have a lot going on right now, and then I know the people that came here this morning about the moratorium. But we had to do what we have to do to make sure that we stay out of lawsuits because lawsuits cost us money. And there's no sense wasting money on a lawsuit when we don't have to.

You know, we can we can we can make this work, you know, if we do it the right way. So and I think we are in the right heading in the right direction on this. As you all know, I'm not seeking reelection and but, you know, this is still important to me until November. But, you know, there's a lot going on in this county and has a lot happened now in many many years that this commission has been organized. So just remember, you know, that we're doing what we can and, you know, to make sure that we stay within the law and and do what's right for our citizens of Baldwin County.

Thank you very much.

Alright. Anybody else? Alright. I'm gonna adjourn this meeting.