Baldwin County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Baldwin County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Escambia County hurricane debris in Baldwin landfills
Baldwin will take up to 500,000 cubic yards of Florida hurricane construction debris through December, spread across three landfills, at a special handling rate. One commissioner worried about using up local landfill space.
Hurricane Isaias recovery and employee admin leave
The commission lifted the local emergency, adopted the hazard mitigation plan, and fixed confusion over whether employees who worked during storm prep would also get admin leave.
Gulf Coast Farm agrihood rezoning
The county accepted a notice of intent to request a planning and zoning referendum for Planning District 2, a step toward potentially extending zoning there.
County Road 55/54 roundabout and Eastern Shore Trail
Engineering design for the CR 55/54 roundabout and the Eastern Shore Trail Extension both moved forward on the consent agenda.
County Road 64 School Zone Speed Limit
The speed limit on County Road 64 will step down from 45 to 35 mph ahead of the new school's 25-mph zone, making the gradual slowdown safer for drivers and kids.
Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Baldwin County. The Lighthouse serves over 1,500 people a year with shelter, crisis lines, and court advocacy — and leaders asked everyone to spread the word that help exists.
Floodplain Ordinance Amendment
A small but important fix: mobile homes in mapped flood zones must now build to the actual flood elevation plus one foot, instead of just three feet above ground. This restores the county's CRS flood-insurance discount credit.
PFAS contamination near Navy airfield
A Harden Lane resident said the Navy tested everyone's water, found PFAS from firefighting foam at the airfield, and residents now use Culligan filters — plus complaints about snakes and coyotes from unkempt Navy land.
Harden Lane and County Road 36 flooding
Neighbors near the Harden Fields subdivision described chronic flooding — kids reaching the school bus by canoe, driveways washing out during Hurricane Sally, and unaddressed culvert requests. The engineer pledged a ditch inspection within days.
Morgan Property Rezoning Near Fish River
A family's 153-acre former farm near Fish River was rezoned for a roughly 138-lot subdivision after the developer scaled back from 344 lots. Neighbors worry about flooding and runoff into Fish River.
Animal Shelter Volunteer Program Concerns
A former volunteer alleged safety and management problems at the Baldwin County Animal Shelter and asked commissioners to intervene on humane care standards and a dog day-out program.
ATRIP II Safety Project at Highway 181 and CR 32
Commissioners picked the congested 181/32 intersection near Barnwell — with heavy school and commuter traffic — for the county's state road grant application, passing over Blakeley State Park's entrance request.
Broadband and Cellular Coverage Gaps in District 2
A 250-foot tower off John Oliver Road should finally fix a Verizon dead zone stretching toward Bay Minette; the landowner hosting it spoke in support.
Magnolia Springs coordination on Weeks Bay watershed development
Five new rainfall and river-elevation monitoring stations are in place on the Magnolia and Styx Rivers, funded by Mobile Bay NEP, plus a new stormwater design and review tool with training set for February 12.
Heritage oak tree protection
Residents say a 300-400-year-old oak near the McCarty Springs site could be killed by drainage cuts or driveway construction. The applicant's surveyor said there are no plans to remove it, but the county has no authority to protect it in an unzoned area.
Sheriff's Office commendations for crime-solving and water rescues
Deputies were honored for solving 11 vehicle break-ins, a major sex abuse case, and 22 water rescues at Fort Morgan during a dangerous surf event. The county's geo-fenced reverse 911 system helped close the beach and likely saved lives.
Jace Waters Foundation opioid recovery facility funding
Chairman Ball is pushing to direct roughly $500,000 of the $575,000 request in opioid settlement funds to a recovery facility on High Note Glass Road for men completing addiction treatment. The state AG says whether it must be a physical building is a local call.
GoMESA environmental and outdoor project funding
Baldwin County and coastal Alabama are in line for $52 million in federal GoMESA money for environmental and outdoor recreation projects. Think better parks, conservation work, and coastal upgrades near you. It’s federal funding, so it could improve local amenities without a new local tax hike being mentioned.
Volunteer fire department disaster assistance agreements
New agreements with 30 volunteer fire departments and three search and rescue squads replace the 2023 versions, running 36 months.
Rebuild Alabama Act gas tax benefit questioned
Commissioners discussed how the 2019 state gas tax hike hasn't boosted Baldwin County much because it's a 'donor county' — most collections flow to less populated counties under the state formula. They want data added to budget materials so the public can see what the county actually gets back.
FY 2027 Rebuild Alabama road and bridge projects
The Commission adopted its FY 2027 transportation plan with six projects, including resurfacing on Pine Grove Road, Lottie Road, County Road 24, and a bridge replacement on Scenic Highway 98 over Point Clear Creek.
National Purple Heart Day Recognition
Baldwin County is honoring Purple Heart recipients with a proclamation and a big event August 7 at the Daphne Civic Center, drawing recipients from across the country. It's a chance for the community, including youth groups and local JROTC, to honor wounded veterans.
Loss of a Local Iconic Restaurant
A Baldwin County restaurant operating since 1986 burned down last week. Commissioner McKenzie noted the owner, Eugene Overstreet, is a Purple Heart recipient, and a GoFundMe exists for employees who lost their jobs.
One-time retiree lump sum payments
Retired sheriff's deputies and county employees who retired before October 1, 2025 will get a one-time bonus payment in October — $34,219 for sheriff's retirees and $90,463 for commission retirees.
County Road 65 paving and Hinote Glass Road intersection work
The commission awarded a $2.7 million CDBG-DR grant-funded contract to grade, drain, base and pave County Road 65, and approved a $50,001 change order for intersection improvements at Hinote Glass Road and Highway 59 due to unsuitable soil.
$10 Million Disaster Line of Credit
The county adopted a $10 million revolving line of credit to cover immediate cash needs after a hurricane or major storm, staying at zero unless used. Officials called it an insurance policy against cash-flow gaps while waiting on FEMA reimbursement.
30 CUBED rebranding to Connecting Communities Collectively (C3)
The county wants to extend its popular cost-share road program with cities, putting up another $30 million for a $120 million total partnership. It's one tool in the funding toolbox, and cities would still bring matching projects.
County Road 19 RV park access variance
Buyers of a Bon Secour property wanted to build a low-density RV park but couldn't meet the new 60-foot flag lot rule with their existing 50-foot access. The commission said no — the developer can instead donate the strip to the county and build a real road.
Expiring city planning jurisdiction agreements
The county won't renew its subdivision review agreements with Loxley, Magnolia Springs, and Somerdale, meaning those cities will stop reviewing subdivisions in their planning jurisdictions. County staff say the old agreements create double fees and confusion now that county rules are tougher than most cities'.
Coroner's office facility needs
Chairman Ball asked budget staff to consider a dedicated coroner's office facility, saying the county's growth demands it and the current facility is inadequate for a mass-casualty event.
Accept for Maintenance (AFM) road policy review
Commissioner Underwood wants the county's road takeover policy revised, calling the current process a false sense of hope for people on roughly 290 private roads. The engineer noted most counties don't have such a policy and that it conflicts with the county's connectivity-focused strategic plan.
Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes are swarming Baldwin County’s Eastern Shore, and residents are fed up enough to call it a nightmare. The pressure is now on local officials to ramp up spraying and mosquito-control efforts. If you live, work, or spend time outdoors there, this is about comfort, outdoor plans, and possibly public health.
Preserving public water access to Mobile Bay
The commission denied a request to vacate a 6.7-foot unopened right-of-way to Mobile Bay, keeping it as public access under county policy — even though it's unmarked and unmaintained. Commissioner Gruber raised the possibility of maintaining such accesses in the future.
Beach Express name retention for 911 addressing
The state is renaming the Beach Express as Highway 161, which would have forced address changes for residents and businesses. Two resolutions keep the local names for addressing purposes, so nobody's address changes.
Odor complaints from Loxley metal recycling facility
Commissioner Fletcher flagged a persistent unpleasant smell along the road near the light-industrial metal recycling operation in Loxley. Staff noted the facility operates under a conditional use permit with landscape buffers that are still maturing.
Excessive lighting at County Road 55/24 boat and RV storage
A commissioner says a boat/RV storage facility at County Road 55 and 24 has lights so bright they look like a landing beacon visible from more than a mile away, near the landfill. Staff agreed to follow up and check the county's lighting standards.
Three-acre PUD minimum and commercial open-space rules
Two cases exposed friction in county rules: commercial storage projects keep needing variances from an open-space requirement never meant for them, and the three-acre minimum for PUD-style development blocked the Roberts project. Staff acknowledged the open-space rule is a known flaw needing correction.
Protestant Pantry North Project food distribution facility
The county signed a letter of support for a new food distribution facility and resource center in Stockton — a boost for food security in north Baldwin.
Density concerns at the Silverhill boundary
The Coburn rezoning case exposed tension between county development and Silverhill's effort to limit density outside its limits while it writes a comprehensive plan. The case was tabled so the parties can negotiate.
ARPA spending deadline
The county has spent over $43 million in ARPA funds and has about $1.9 million and seven months left to finish water towers, courthouse HVAC, and road projects before the December 31, 2026 deadline — unspent money goes back to the treasury.
Beach safety and rip current awareness
Two candidates for office proposed requiring rental properties and hotels to document that visitors received beach-safety education. The county noted its existing BEach SAFE campaign, new beach access markers funded by a federal grant, and a surf-alert texting program.
Opioid Settlement Funding Program
The commission formally adopted its opioid settlement funding program, directing how settlement dollars will be used in the county.
Primary Elections Sample Ballots
Baldwin County has posted sample ballots for the 2026 Republican and Democratic primaries, so voters can see exactly who and what will be on their ballot before Election Day. If you care about local decisions, this is your chance to check your races and get ready to vote.
Grass Road drainage and fire protection in Point Clear
Residents near the Robin's Place subdivision say a culvert under Grass Road has been blocked for decades, pooling water in yards, and the area's only fire hydrant is hard to reach. The commission approved the subdivision with conditions and noted the county may clear the culvert.
Watershed monitoring and stormwater tools
County staff rolled out an online low-impact development evaluation tool and standardized stormwater forms to make reviews consistent and cut back-and-forth with engineers. They also added river gauges so new development can be tested against basin-wide stormwater models.
Stormwater runoff near Kanofflin subdivision
A neighboring horse owner says the property already floods her land and worries the four-lot subdivision will make it worse, plus she fears liability if new neighbors approach her livestock. Staff said the large lots won't meaningfully increase runoff.
Drainage and private road maintenance in Lillian (Barocco Road)
Neighbors of the Highland Ridge subdivision say Barocco Road, a private road, floods and goes unmaintained, and they worry more development will worsen runoff toward Emmanuel Bayou. Staff noted the new lots front County Road 91, not Barocco Road.
Pedestrian safety along County Road 3 near Point Clear Golf Club
A Point Clear resident asked the commission to consider sidewalks or walkways along County Road 3, where there is no shoulder and heavy new traffic is expected from the 123-lot golf club development. County regulations currently don't require external pedestrian connections.
Library Courier Service Agreement Overhaul
The county replaced its old intergovernmental library agreements with a new memorandum of understanding so the courier service that shuttles books between libraries can continue. Small libraries rely heavily on Fairhope and Foley collections, and materials from other collections must follow the receiving library's policies.
Dollar General pedestrian access
The approved Dollar General near Rawls Road and Highway 59 has no sidewalk connection to the new subdivision across Rawls Road. Commissioner Gruber criticized the county's inconsistent sidewalk requirements as bad planning for walkability.