Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 11/11/2026
Item Status: New
From: Roger H. Rendleman, County Administrator
Submitted by: Anu Gary, Commission Administrative Director
______________________________________________________________________
ITEM TITLE
Title
Designations and Appointments of Commissioners to Various Boards
End
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
The boards and committees listed below require Commissioner representation based on divisional assignments established by the Commission. Certain assignments rotate annually in alignment with the transition of the Chairmanship.
Related to appointments of Commissioners to various boards during the 2026-2030 term of the Baldwin County Commission, take the following actions:
Commissioner Richard Cox (District 1)
1) Appoint Richard Cox to the following boards as Industrial and Civic Division Commissioner, for a period of two years (November 11, 2026, through November 7, 2028):
•Economic Development Alliance Board
•The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County, Alabama, Inc.
2) Appoint Richard Cox to the following board as District 1 Commissioner, for his term of office (November 11, 2026, through November 5, 2030):
•Waste Siting Board
Commissioner Angelo Fermo (District 2)
1) Appoint Angelo Fermo to the following boards for his term of office as District 2 Commissioner (November 11, 2026, through November 5, 2030):
•Waste Siting Board
•Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization
Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood (District 3)
1) Appoint Billie Jo Underwood to the following boards for her term of office as District 3 Commissioner (November 11, 2026, through November 5, 2030):
•Waste Siting Board
•Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization
Commissioner John Harris (District 4)
1) Appoint John Harris to the following boards as Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission, for a period of one year (November 11, 2026, through November 2, 2027):
•Baldwin County Department of Archives and History Advisory Board
•Baldwin County Pretrial Release and Community Corrections Board
•Historic Blakeley Authority
•South Alabama Rural Planning Organization
2) Appoint John Harris to the following board as District 4 Commissioner, for his term of office (November 11, 2026, through November 5, 2030):
•Waste Siting Board
3) Acknowledge John Harris as a member of the following boards as District 4 Commissioner, for his term of office (November 11, 2026, through November 5, 2030):
•Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)
•Fort Morgan Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee
4) Acknowledge John Harris as a member of the following board as Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission, for a period of one year (November 11, 2026, through November 2, 2027):
•Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC)
The boards and committees listed below do not require the appointment of a specific Commissioner. The Baldwin County Commission determines and approves Commissioner representation on these boards and committees.
Related to appointments of Commissioners to various boards during the 2026-2030 term of the Baldwin County Commission, take the following actions:
1) Appoint TBD to the following board, for the term of office as Commissioner (November 11, 2026, to November 5, 2030) or term TBD:
•Baldwin County Courthouse Security Committee
2) Appoint TBD as a member to the following board, for the term of office as Commissioner (November 11, 2026, to November 5, 2030) or term TBD:
•Baldwin County Stepping Up Initiative Committee
3) Appoint TBD to the following board, for the term of office as Commissioner (November 11, 2026, to November 5, 2030):
•Community Action Agency of South Alabama
4) Appoint TBD as a member, and TBD as member (Appoint at least one, but no more than two members) to the following board, for the term of office as Commissioner (November 11, 2026, to November 5, 2030):
•Gulf Coast Resource, Conservation and Development Council (RC&D)
5) Appoint TBD for term TBD, to the following board as Executive Committee Co-chair:
•Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
6) Appoint TBD to the following board, for the term of office as Commissioner (November 11, 2026, to November 5, 2030):
•South Alabama Regional Planning Commission
7) Appoint TBD to the following board, for a three-year term (November 11, 2026 through November 6, 2029) as Ex-Officio non-voting member:
•The Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort Foundation, Inc. .End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Alabama general law, Baldwin County local law, and other governing instruments require the Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission to serve on certain boards as the Commission’s representative during their term as Chairman. Each November, during the first regular meeting, these annual board assignments rotate in alignment with the transition of the Chairmanship. Commissioners also serve on additional boards based on statutory requirements or Commission preference.
Below is a summary of each board, along with any applicable statutory requirements.
Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council AGCRC
Appointment requirement: Chairman of Baldwin County Commission serves as one of the 10 board members. The Baldwin County Commission is not authorized to appoint anyone to this board.
Board Summary: The main purpose of the AGCRC is to oversee and direct funds from the RESTORE Act to help restore and protect the environment and economy of Alabama’s Gulf Coast following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. AGCRC is tasked with deciding how to spend a substantial portion of the civil penalties paid by companies involved in the oil spill to benefit Alabama’s natural resources and coastal communities.
Baldwin County Courthouse Security Committee
Appointment requirement: Baldwin County Commissioner (Term of Office).
Board Summary: The goal of the Committee is to prevent or control problems that might arise in courthouses such as verbal abuse, disorderly conduct, physical violence, demonstrations, theft, fire, bomb threats, sabotage, prisoner escapes, kidnapping, assassinations, stalking, and hostage situations. The BCC appointed its first Commissioner-member to the Committee on November 5, 2018, by Commission action.
Baldwin County Department of Archives and History Advisory Board
Appointment requirement: Chairman of Baldwin County Commission or designee of Baldwin County Commission.
Board Summary: The Advisory Board meets as needed. The Archives Director provides members with periodic updates on records preservation, consulting them for guidance as needed.
Statutory Authority: Act No. 98-579, as amended by Act No. 2000-275 (specifically Section 7).
Baldwin County Pretrial Release and Community Corrections Board
Appointment requirement: Chairman of Baldwin County Commission (must rotate annually).
Board Summary: The Pretrial Release Program allows non-violent offenders to avoid traditional incarceration and instead serve their sentences in the community under strict supervision while remaining employed.
Statutory Authority: Act No. 2005-135, Implementation instrument: BCC Resolution #2007-124 (July 19, 2007).
Baldwin County Stepping Up Initiative Committee
Appointment requirement: No requirements, member and alternate to be appointed (Can be County Commissioner, Supervisor or Manager).
Board Summary: Created by BCC on June 4, 2019, at the recommendation of the Sheriff, for the purpose of reviewing data and providing recommendations to the Sheriff and BCC to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in the BC Corrections Center and municipal jails.
Community Action Agency of South Alabama
Appointment requirement: Baldwin County Commission appoints one (1) member, Public Sector Representative (For the term of elected/appointed office).
Board Summary: In 1964, Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act establishing and funding Community Action Agencies and Programs. The Agency has a tripartite board structure consisting of elected public officials, private sector representatives, and especially low-income residents, designated to promote the participation of the entire community in the reduction or elimination of poverty.
Statutory Authority: Ala. Code Section 11-96-1
Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
Appointment requirement: The two (2) Baldwin County Commissioners appointed to this Board represent County Commission Districts 2 and 3. The County Engineer serves as Administrator of the MPO.
Board Summary: The primary purpose of the MPO is to encourage and facilitate team work among local governments on the Eastern Shore (Baldwin County and the Cities of Daphne, Fairhope, Loxley, and Spanish Fort) in matters relating to transportation planning.
Statutory Authority: Created August 2012 by the Federal Highway Administration, Governor of Alabama, and ALDOT. The creation of the MPO Board and its activities are requirements of United States Code USC 23 section 134.
Economic Development Alliance Board
Appointment requirement: The Industrial and Civic Division Commissioner serves as the Commission representative to the Board of Directors of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Inc. as a non-voting member.
Board Summary: Baldwin Alliance is a coalition of public and private leaders working together to drive sustainable economic growth in Baldwin County. Board created by BCC on November 2, 1993. The Board’s Articles of Incorporation amendment and current Bylaws were created July 8, 2004.
Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)
Appointment requirement: The One (1) Baldwin County Commissioner whose residency county commission district comprises the Lillian community (District 4) serves on the board. Consists of membership from Escambia County (FL), City of Pensacola (FL), Santa Rosa County (FL), City of Gulf Breeze (FL), City of Milton (FL) and Baldwin County (AL).
Statutory Authority: 1974 Federal Highway Act and 1992 Federal Aid Highway Act
Fort Morgan Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee
Appointment requirement: The District 4 Commissioner serves as a non-voting member.
Board Summary: The purpose of the advisory committee is to make recommendation to the Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Commission concerning any proposed changes to zoning ordinances or regulations or the master plan, or variances thereto, related to the Fort Morgan Zoning District
Gulf Coast Resource, Conservation and Development Council
Appointment requirement: The Council shall consist of at least one, and no more than two, representatives from each Council sponsor.
Board Summary: The purpose of the Council is to provide local leadership in developing and carrying out a plan for conservation education, natural resource conservation, and community development within the project area comprising of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and Baldwin, Escambia, and Mobile Counties in Alabama.
Historic Blakeley Authority
Appointment requirement: Chairman of Baldwin County Commission or Commissioner chosen by Baldwin County Commission.
Board Summary: The Board operates and maintains the Historic Blakeley State Park in Baldwin County, Alabama.
Statutory Authority: Ala. Code Section 41-10-171
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
Appointment requirement: The Government Network Committee is led by two permanent Co-chairs: one appointed County Commissioner from Mobile County and one from Baldwin County.
Board Summary: In 1987, the U.S. Congress created the National Estuary Program (NEP) through amendments to the Clean Water Act to identify, restore, and protect estuaries of national significance. MBNEP (est. 1995) works directly with local governments to plan and implement projects that improve water quality, restore habitat, reduce flood risk, and expand public access to the coast.
Statutory Authority: Section 320 of the Clean Water Act of 1987
South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC)
Appointment requirement: County Commissioner from each member County appointed at the discretion of each County Commission (for the term of office).
Board Summary: SARPC is a regional planning and development commission organized consistent with Ala. Code Title 11, Chapter 85, Article 4.
South Alabama Rural Planning Organization
Appointment requirement: Baldwin County Commission designates the Chairman to the Policy Committee of the RPO for service during the respective term of office as Chairman. Any member of the policy committee must be a Baldwin County Commissioner.
Board Summary: RPO seeks to establish a transportation planning process in the rural areas of South Alabama comprising the areas of Mobile, Baldwin, and Escambia Counties, which are not included in the Mobile County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s study area.
The Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort Foundation, Inc.
Appointment requirement: Baldwin County Commissioner (3-year term).
Board Summary: Non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, established October 4, 2013. The Board of Directors voted on September 15, 2015, to invite four local government officials as Ex Officio Directors, non-voting members.
The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County, Alabama, Inc.
Appointment requirement: The Industrial and Civic Division Commissioner serves on the board.
Board Summary: The Authority is a public, nonprofit corporation responsible for the collection, disposal, and utilization of solid waste in unincorporated areas of Baldwin County, Alabama.
Waste Siting Board
Appointment requirement: Each Commissioner is appointed for the 4-year term.
Board Summary: The Waste Siting Board accomplishes, implements and performs the directives of the Baldwin County Solid Waste Plan which exercises the authority, that a governing body may assign territories and approve or disapprove disposal sites in its jurisdiction in accordance with the plan approved for its jurisdiction.
Statutory Authority: through Ala. Code Section 22-27-48(a)
Previous Commission action/date: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: N/A
Budget line item(s) to be used: N/A
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
N/A
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? N/A
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: N/A
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Administration Department
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed):
1) Admin staff - Correspondence to the boards/organizations informing them of the appointments. Verify and update contact information for each board before sending correspondence.
2) Administration: 1) Enter appointments/resignations in boards app, have verified; 2) Use board checklist to update contact information in boards app if applicable 3) Send notification email. Update Boards List and upload to BCAP.
3) Anu Gary - Notify each Commissioner and their Admin. Assistant of board appointments - Each Assistant to contact the boards/organizations and share Commissioner’s email/other contact info as appropriate in order to coordinate scheduling meetings or other calendar/invites for each board/committee or distribution of relevant information for the Commissioner.
Additional instructions/notes: N/A