Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 7/7/2026
Item Status: New
From: Dr. Brian Pierce, Coroner; Tara Hazelbaker, Director of Finance
Submitted by: Katrina Taylor, Grants Administrator
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ITEM TITLE
Title
Coroner’s Office - FY 2026 Homeland Security Grant Application
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STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Take the following actions:
1) Approve the submittal of the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Grant application to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) by staff on behalf of the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office, requesting $150,000.00 in federal funds, said funds to be used to construct the Southwest Alabama Regional Surge Morgue; and
2) Authorize the Chairman to sign any other documents related to this grant application.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Background: The Homeland Security Grant includes a suite of risk-based grants to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial efforts in preventing, protecting against, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from acts of terrorism and other threats. This grant provides grantees with the resources required to implement the National Preparedness System and work toward the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.
Project Description:
This project will equip and enable the Baldwin County Coroner with the ability to sustain a surge of decedents due to any type of mass fatality incident or event in the southwest region of Alabama. The Baldwin County Coroner currently has a maximum capacity of 16 decedents. Baldwin County Coroner’s Office also holds leadership positions in the SMORT (State Mortuary Operations Response Team) which covers the entire southwest region of the State of Alabama. Mobile County relies on the Alabama Department of Forensic Science facility for decedent storage. Unfortunately, the Mobile location of the Alabama Department of Forensic Science also holds the decedents for 12 other counties in the southern portion of the State and is at maximum capacity most of the time. This project will fund the purchase of a 30’ by 30’ cooled warehouse that could be used for decedent morgue surge and storage of current mass fatality enclosed trailer. The Baldwin County Commission will facilitate the grant and purchase of the newly constructed warehouse. This project will begin 11/1/2026 and end 9/30/2027 upon completion of the construction project. This surge morgue is designed to be a regional asset that can be relied upon for any decedent surge as both current facilities located in Baldwin and Mobile Counties are consistently at maximum capacity. Baldwin County is located between the City of Mobile, Alabama, and the City of Pensacola, Florida. Mobile, Alabama, is a port city and Pensacola, Florida, has a major military base. Both nearby cities have increased potential for terrorist threats. Baldwin County has experienced multiple incidents within the last 48 months where a deployable morgue could have been used. These incidents include two (2) different incidents involving a Navy plane crash, a large bus crash, and the effects of Covid. Pensacola has experienced an active shooter on the Navy base within the last 48 months. In addition, this surge morgue will be available to counties in the southwest region of the State of Alabama.
Previous Commission action/date: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: $150,000.00 in grant revenues
Budget line item(s) to be used: Fund 281 Federal Grants
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
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed): NOA email to:
cc: Roger H. Rendleman
Dr. Brian Pierce
Troy Dyess
Tara Hazelbaker
Christie Bezoari
Katrina Taylor
Shelby Middleton
Additional instructions/notes: N/A