[0:03] All right, good morning. We're going to get this work session started today. September 1st, pre-meeting work session. What we'll do from here is, we'll do our welcome and invitation. What we're going to do, Mr. Underwood, we'll give us the implication, Mr. Gruber, we'll do the pledge of allegiance. Please stand.

[0:28] Good morning. You'll please bow your heads. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day or we thank you for all the blessings that you

[0:36] bestow upon us here in this wonderful place we call Baldwin County in our home. Or we just ask you to be with us today as we conduct the business of

[0:44] Baldwin County in this work session. God us and direct us that your will will be done in Jesus name we pray in

[1:07] Thank you.

[1:09] Thank you.

[1:12] My commissioners will now go through our agenda and set our consent items.

[1:18] We've got one administrative item.

[1:24] I'm good.

[1:26] I'm fine with it.

[1:28] Yeah, I'm good with you.

[1:30] All right, we got an animal control item.

[1:34] Yes.

[1:36] Good deal.

[1:37] Okay.

[1:40] We've got a few items under oneless headline.

[1:44] Just a few.

[1:47] 10 to be exact.

[1:51] I'm fine.

[1:52] A lot of copy machine.

[1:55] Damn good.

[2:00] CIS.

[2:06] Yep.

[2:07] So when we do this item on the regular mean to wish say that there's a replacement item

[2:14] or you're just letting me know that there's a replacement item.

[2:17] Yes, yes.

[2:19] But, so we get on that when Council on Agent has been taken care of, the legal review has been done by the attorney.

[2:28] You all good with that?

[2:31] Yes.

[2:32] Try to party in a government agreement with housing prisoners, the correction center for payment, the city of Bamanette.

[2:41] Fine, that's an accounting.

[2:43] New county lobbies for alcohol license, I'm sure you'll throw all those in there.

[2:47] Yeah, I read all the email.

[2:50] Good.

[2:51] Yep.

[2:51] Well, I'm hanging out.

[2:55] Why not?

[2:58] A long time.

[3:01] All right.

[3:01] How are we?

[3:05] They only have one item.

[3:06] I'm good with it.

[3:09] Yeah, I'm good.

[3:11] Parks.

[3:14] We got our agreement to house the state trooper boats there.

[3:20] Yep.

[3:21] That has to cross country event.

[3:25] Personnel.

[3:30] I'm fine.

[3:46] I'm fine with that one, that's a good.

[3:55] All right.

[3:56] Did you get with a.

[3:57] Yeah.

[4:01] I

[4:04] don't know if it's going to be a good two.

[4:06] I shouldn't have said that, but.

[4:09] All right.

[4:11] Is there anybody here from the public that wishes to speak?

[4:16] I don't hear anybody commissioner requests.

[4:29] I don't forget.

[4:29] I was trying to just think it's something, but I just, you know, just don't request it.

[4:36] Just not don't do it.

[4:37] All right.

[4:39] We got a couple of senior staff reports that Rogers is going to bring us up the speed on.

[4:44] Yes, first we're going to have Katrina come forward regarding grants, discussing opioid

[4:48] set of funding requests from the Dope Teen Challenge of Alabama.

[4:55] Good morning Chairman and commissioners.

[4:56] Good morning.

[4:57] Good morning.

[4:58] an application for

[5:00] From the adult and teen challenge of Alabama located in Bamanet, they are requested $25,000 in opioid settlement funding to support their 12-month residential recovery program, which serves individuals from across Alabama.

[5:15] The program integrates work therapy, education, counseling, life skills, mentoring, and Christian discipline ship to support individuals experiencing substance-related life-controlling issues.

[5:28] The organization has provided residential recovery services in Alabama since 1977, demonstrating

[5:37] long-standing operational experience.

[5:41] The application formally requested $25,000, the budget categories include $5,000 for program

[5:48] staff, a life coach, $5,000 for student support, $5,000 for programs supplies, and $10,000

[5:56] for auto repairs.

[5:57] According to the correspondence provided, there are 2008 law and service vans experienced transmission failure.

[6:05] This vehicle is essential for their work therapy program that helps financially support the missionary.

[6:12] Regarding public health benefit, the application states that the residential program reduces repetitive interactions with the criminal justice system,

[6:22] improves employment readiness and support stable recovery, ultimately

[6:27] relieving pressure on county systems such as jails and emergency services.

[6:33] During the program review, the application had a strong alignment with eligible uses

[6:38] under the settlement guidelines in a clear community need for long-term recovery services.

[6:44] The direct benefit to county systems was assessed as moderate given that they are a statewide service.

[6:50] The recommendation, the application received 83 points exceeding the minimum threshold of 70.

[6:59] Based on the program alignment, scoring, and operational stability, the recommendation

[7:04] is for the commission to consider approval of the requested funds.

[7:09] Thank you.

[7:10] Thank you.

[7:12] How are you going to do that?

[7:15] Put it on the next meeting.

[7:16] I mean, if you're interested in moving forward, then yes, we'd put it together and put on the next agenda.

[7:21] Do we have any other ones that have a plot either?

[7:24] We have one other that we've passed from more financial information.

[7:29] They want to build a facility, but we do have some concerns about ongoing operations.

[7:35] And whether or not the viability of the program, given the amount that we're being asked is the fund.

[7:43] So we have that information.

[7:44] we'll get that to you. Adult teen challenge actually has a men's home in

[7:48] Bamanette. So they have a presence here in Baltimore County.

[7:51] That's what they know what she's saying. Well she said Alabama. Did you say

[7:54] the name of that?

[8:02] Right. Okay. So I mean I've been working with them for 30 years. It's one of the greatest

[8:08] programs there. The teen challenge starts at all because everybody thinks you have a

[8:14] They put a dope in there so you'll see them all around the community in that van what they might mainly do is cut grass and so you'll see them all over the

[8:24] Bamanette city of places and Bamanette where they're cutting grass for to help with the financial stability.

[8:30] It's been around like you said since 1977. So definitely a great project to consider.

[8:36] It's only $25,000, so it's not a huge, huge asset, so definitely, I'm sure they deal with people with opioid dependency as well, so do we need to make it easier on y'all would it be easier to wait till the next meeting or can we?

[8:55] Let's just we'll bring up to the next agenda. Just if we wanted to make sure you guys are good to move forward with that particular one.

[9:02] All right, and you've got yours and I also have an aspect to come kind of give you a little update on the

[9:10] this where she is as far as finalize in the budget for your consideration.

[9:17] Good morning.

[9:18] Good morning.

[9:19] Since we canceled yesterday's meeting, I just wanted to give you all free update of where we're at.

[9:24] I just want to thank you for your patience because after that first meeting we had to shift ears and go on a different direction and

[9:29] and learn a new way of budgeting,

[9:31] and that is a scenario version.

[9:33] So I appreciate your patience and letting us do that.

[9:36] On the 824 meeting,

[9:38] y'all provided a direction for the personnel changes

[9:40] that you wanted to see in the personnel approach,

[9:42] you wanted to implement it,

[9:44] and that's where it's taken the time from that meeting here

[9:46] forward to put it in place.

[9:48] We don't quite have the balance budget yet.

[9:51] There was three big steps that we had to implement,

[9:53] and that was number one was three and a half percent reduction

[9:57] of our operational costs.

[9:58] the other was the 40%

[10:00] Reduction of Critical Requirements. And we have had great relationships with the end and workings with both the elected officials and department has to get this done. It's better challenge. It's a lot of work. But we needed between the two of those $4.2 million reduced and what we actually got was $4.6. So we actually had an additional 9.5% reduction in the budget. And the final piece is our personnel. And that is still in progress.

[10:30] all of the sheriff's stuff has been uploaded and implemented.

[10:33] We got our last commission employee changes fraughty,

[10:36] and those have been worked on.

[10:37] Deja has worked herself silly trying to get that done

[10:40] and implement it because that is the final piece.

[10:43] And so this scenario approach was a little bit different,

[10:47] and it was great and theory on paper,

[10:49] and what we had to do is we had to come back and put that into practice.

[10:52] And that was first time we ever done that,

[10:53] like I said, it takes a little bit.

[10:55] But just as soon as we get the balance,

[10:58] the budget balance, I will send y'all a celebratory e-mail to

[11:01] let you know it's done and we'll move forward to the 9.15 meeting.

[11:05] Anybody have any questions?

[11:07] I just got a comment. I appreciate you being able to switch

[11:09] gears with you and Roger banging your heads together on short

[11:13] notice just to do something different because you know we don't

[11:16] always have to do it the same and we took a different approach

[11:19] this year and it worked out so I'm looking forward to seeing the

[11:23] celebratory e-mail for a balanced budget.

[11:25] I'm looking forward to sending that.

[11:27] The same thing, I just want to add this, you know, my text that I sent all the directors, you know, after we did that, I just want to say thank you to you and Roger for doing this and all the directors that had a, you know, the buckled down and do what they had to what we can do this for the county employees.

[11:43] Thank you.

[11:44] Definitely. Thank you.

[11:46] Good job. Good job.

[11:47] It's just learning to be flabble.

[11:50] That's it.

[11:52] All right, appreciate you.

[11:53] Thank you.

[11:57] Kenny attorney, you promised me we don't have anything to do.

[12:01] Nothing to do.

[12:03] All right.

[12:05] Got on.

[12:05] Everything.

[12:07] This meeting is over in 14 minutes.

[12:14] Yeah.

[12:14] So we have a great crowd this morning for Tuesday here in Babynette at our regular meeting.

[12:22] And if y'all don't mind, just make sure phones are on.

[12:25] I know everybody's got to still have a phone, but make sure someone vibrates.

[12:29] You'd always have to make sure mine is too

[12:33] So we're gonna get started today by the invocation by Steve Pettis with Bay of Assembly and

[12:39] Follow by the pledge of allegiance by our commissioner McKinsey

[12:44] Please rise

[12:49] Let's pray Heavenly Father. I'm so thankful for yet another day

[12:53] As we celebrate all of your goodness, we are mindful of the many many blessings upon our county

[13:01] upon our employees, upon our lives.

[13:04] Thank you for giving us the privilege to live

[13:07] in such a beautiful community.

[13:10] I pray, Father, that you would annoy our commissioners,

[13:14] Father, that you would annoy them to make wise decisions,

[13:19] and Father, that you would guide them and lead them

[13:21] to make those decisions that will better our community,

[13:25] our lives, and Father, when it's all said and done,

[13:29] we'll be careful to give you great praise and glory in your strong powerful name we pray. Amen.

[13:35] Amen. Please join me in the flag of the believe.

[13:38] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for

[14:05] We have three sets of minutes we need to adopt and we'll start with August 17th, 2026 special meeting budget deliberations.

[14:18] Mr Chairman, I'll make a motion that we adopt the August 17th, 2026 special meaning for the budget deliberation.

[14:27] I'll second.

[14:28] If we have a motion in a second to adopt the August 17th, 2026 minutes. Any further discussion?

[14:37] All right. All those in favour of sigma for saying aye.

[14:40] All right. Next up is the August 18th regular meeting.

[14:43] John, make a motion out. We approve the minutes from August 18th, 2026 for regular meeting.

[14:51] All right, I'll second that. Motion in a second. August in favor say aye.

[14:56] All right. August 24, 2026.

[15:00] I'm going to make a motion that we will adopt August 24, 2021, special meeting, but deliberation.

[15:07] Yeah, wait for me. I'll second that.

[15:09] Got a motion in a second. All those in favor say aye.

[15:13] Aye. All right. Next up, Commissioner Greenberg is going to pay the bills.

[15:16] All right. Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we pay the bills and this report includes

[15:24] seven hundred and ninety two invoices and distribution is totally more than six million five hundred and seventy three thousand eight hundred and twenty-four dollars and sixty-six cents

[15:38] Be

[15:38] Got a second. Oh, I'll second. Okay. Got. That's way no man. Got a wake up down there. All right. We got a motion in the second

[15:48] Right to pay the bills all those in favor say aye

[15:53] Mr. Chairman, I'm like a motion that we pay the ratification of interim payments as

[16:01] a lot by policy 8.1.

[16:04] And this in reporting includes 417 invoices on distribution, totaling 3,572,799,64 sets.

[16:15] And I'll second it.

[16:16] Motion in a second for item B-A-2.

[16:20] Any further discussion?

[16:21] All in favor, say aye.

[16:24] All right, commissioners, before we have our consent agenda

[16:27] that we took care of with the work session,

[16:30] we've got a note to CG1.

[16:33] There is a replacement item for that.

[16:36] Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we

[16:37] approve our consent agenda.

[16:39] That was discussed in the work session part of this meeting

[16:42] with a notation that item CG1 has a replacement item.

[16:48] I'll second the motion in a second to adopt our consent agenda, any further discussion.

[16:56] All those in favor say aye.

[16:58] Aye.

[16:58] All right.

[17:00] So we have adopted our consent agenda, which brings this down to our presentations.

[17:04] Share.

[17:09] Well, we hang on just a second.

[17:11] No, that's right.

[17:12] I'm good.

[17:14] I'm looking to something different on my page and says return to public comments, but

[17:17] we've already had that session.

[17:19] All right.

[17:19] All right. Well, certainly Mr. Chairman of County Commissioners, I appreciate being here before you today.

[17:25] We have several commendations that we want to present to the Commission and to the People of Ball in County.

[17:33] You know, I talk about all the time, the hard work that these men and women do out there on the street.

[17:37] This is an opportunity to recognize some of their efforts. So if I could get trace buzzby, Zach Johns, Zach Ellis, landing pick it and Charles Best to come forward first.

[17:47] We'll note here in the Sheriff's Office, if you're not sure the first name to save Zach or Jack or Jacob and you're going to get most of them.

[17:58] So, commissioners, these deputies here were involved in a situation in the early morning hours of June to 6, 2026.

[18:06] The Sheriff's Office had received 11 reports of breaking and entering a vehicles in one of our subdivisions.

[18:14] And while a break-in entering is not an uncommon call, the amount of tenacity that these

[18:21] deputies showed in pursuing the suspects all day long, they were able to affect the arrest

[18:27] on three juveniles in close the case, obviously breaking in or vehicle is one of the most common

[18:36] things that we have, but I will say they're the hardest to solve.

[18:39] And I will tell you that in my opinion, a lot of agencies, especially in the control of

[18:44] visions, would have turned this over to the investigators and left in worry about it.

[18:49] But I'm really proud to say that the work ethic of this patrol squad is second to

[18:54] none.

[18:55] And I want to give them accommodation for their efforts in solving these cases and keeping

[19:00] ball in county's neighborhood safe in ones that people want to live in.

[19:04] So with that, Chiefs are to give them.

[19:08] All right.

[19:08] Thank you for your work. If you'll come over here and stand, they've already got their ribbons

[19:17] for their uniforms.

[19:20] So, Jared Allen, if you could come forward,

[19:28] I will tell you, Commissioner,

[19:29] this is one of the worst ones that you see in law enforcement. This isn't right in an

[19:45] his instinct his law enforcement instinct kicked on he kicked in he realized that there was something wrong going on in this resonance and through his continued efforts in his beliefs he unraveled what I will be

[19:59] I

[20:00] We call one of the worst sex abuse cases to ever strike ball in county. The victim was absolutely brutalized in his efforts. We have two people in the ball in county jail that will never see the light of day for him.

[20:22] Obviously, I appreciate his efforts and everything that he's done. Next, if I could get Cody Plato and Chief Steiner to come from.

[20:34] Again, I talked a little bit about this.

[20:36] I feel like we talked every week for the past few weeks, right?

[20:40] So, we talked about our water rescues this year and we've done 62 water rescues.

[20:48] Well, this was back in July and some of you know this and a ton of Tyler and Mr.

[20:54] Lundier were involved in all this too, but essentially we had a storm system that was in

[21:00] off and it called several days of double red flags. But somehow that red double red flag was

[21:05] dropped too early and it became a crisis down there. Deputy Plateau had to enter the water to

[21:11] affect multiple rescues as did Chief Steiner and Assistant Chief Han. In total they did 22

[21:19] rescues that day alone. Two people had to be flown out for medical and two people taken by

[21:25] ambulance. When I talked to Chief diner, they were literally running out of equipment. We were able

[21:31] to get the beach clothes in a roundabout way through the systems that the county has purchased,

[21:37] the two have purchased. We were able to do a reverse 911 call basically for a geo-fenced

[21:42] area of Fort Morgan to ask people to get themselves out of the water. And it was a highly

[21:47] effective tool. And I think moving forward is something that we're going to use. But there's no doubt

[21:52] their efforts all three of them save lives that day. So again, I want to thank you for the

[21:58] system. I want to thank them for their bravery. We ask the day to be given the commendation as well.

[22:04] Thank you.

[22:22] I think they're going to stand in front and we're going to stand in the back.

[22:27] They'll put the big ones down.

[22:30] Don't let him stand. Just put the board. He's so sad in front of me.

[22:36] What's with you on the end?

[22:40] Don't worry, we're scared, we've seen you.

[22:54] I used to do that.

[22:55] I don't want to.

[22:58] That's it.

[22:59] Thank you guys.

[23:01] Here we go.

[23:05] You know, I just think clothes.

[23:06] I'd like to say I appreciate all the other different,

[23:08] you know, talk about a family atmosphere.

[23:10] They come up here and celebrate the successes.

[23:13] of their fellow deputy, so it means a lot to me, too.

[23:17] Yes, sir.

[23:17] Thank you, Sheriff.

[23:18] I'll start with Commissioner Gruber.

[23:21] I'm going to make any comments, Commissioner.

[23:23] Yeah.

[23:24] Thank you all for what y'all do, you know, breaking into people's houses and, you know,

[23:33] especially using all this, that's terrible, you know, and I'm glad those, they will never

[23:38] see daylight again, that's the best thing.

[23:40] But, you know, for the rescue or the folks down there in Fort Morgan, thank you all very much for what you do down there.

[23:49] You know, it's dangerous, and people don't take that into consideration when they come down here to vacation,

[23:57] but the golf is a different animal.

[24:00] It's not like you're a little backmaze and stuff.

[24:02] They can get very, very, very, very dangerous with the rip tide.

[24:07] And people just don't know how to contemplate with it.

[24:11] And, you know, we see many lives lost down in that area.

[24:14] And across the whole coast, you know, from that.

[24:17] But thank you all for what you're doing and protecting these citizens of London County.

[24:22] Absolutely.

[24:23] Dido everything, Commissioner Greber said.

[24:26] And it's always great to see who's actually doing these things that we hear about.

[24:32] know, we might read a name or we might say that a deputy was involved, but to see your faces

[24:37] and to know that you guys are actually the ones out there boots on the ground, that is

[24:41] so reassuring to us and I've always said that I have so thankful to be here in Ballon County

[24:46] where I still feel safe in Ballon County and it's because of people like you and it, you

[24:52] know, the one thing where the guy will never see or whoever will never see daylighting

[24:56] and that's fabulous, but you know, everybody, when, when,

[25:00] You get your car broken into or your home broken into. To me, that's just that that is I can't stand a thief.

[25:09] You know, I remember one time we had a guy work on our farm and he was he had some issues.

[25:16] Yeah, a little alcohol problems things like that. And but the farmer he had worked for before said he's not a thief.

[25:23] And he said he might drink a little bit but just tell him never to show up drunk and he never did show up drunk.

[25:28] but he had a little bit of alcohol issues,

[25:29] other than that he was not a thief

[25:31] and nobody wants to have a thief work for you.

[25:34] And so to catch a thief,

[25:36] you gotta be able to think like them sometimes

[25:38] and I know you guys aren't thieves,

[25:40] but thank you for whatever you did to pursue these guys,

[25:43] but you know that I'll move you to catch a thief,

[25:45] maybe you don't, you're too young,

[25:47] but you interested in all these.

[25:50] Let's get carry Grant and what are name princess,

[25:53] Kelly, but anyhow, Grace.

[25:55] But anyways, thank you guys.

[25:57] We appreciate you. And for the water rescue, I remember my mom always teaching us about how

[26:04] dangerous it was. And people just don't know how to respect, respect that. And we thank

[26:10] all that we have some mechanism in place, thankful that they worked. And that we're not here

[26:15] talking about someone who passed away. So thank you so much.

[26:22] Chair, thank you for doing this. And instead of the deputy, thank you for saving and protecting

[26:26] people out here in Baldwin County. So thank you from the bottom of my heart. Chief, thank

[26:30] you for what you've done to, you know, fire, fire being on the fire department. So thank you

[26:34] for what you do for the Baldwin County citizen. And so that's all I have to say. So thank you.

[26:41] Absolutely. Congratulations to everybody that received that. I know that this happens all the time,

[26:49] and y'all are just doing your job. And I always like staying sometimes here in the right place

[26:53] at the right time. It's always been said in the wrong place at the wrong time, but y'all

[26:57] got to be in a right place at the right time. Sometimes it's a wrong time, but you're

[27:00] there for a reason. And I can remember, Sheriff, when we had the SRO in one of our local

[27:07] community schools that uncovered a horrible sexual abuse case as well, just by being present

[27:13] at the school and noticing some things out of character. So the training that your

[27:23] to make cases out of it is phenomenal.

[27:26] And that's why I like support and what we support

[27:29] because we have such a good sheriff's office here.

[27:34] And just I can go on and on.

[27:36] I remember the day the sheriff called me as chairman,

[27:40] during the water rescues, I didn't hear a whole lot

[27:43] of panic in his voice.

[27:44] I just heard if we got to get something done in his voice.

[27:48] And I call EMA Director Tom Toler,

[27:50] they already had it figured out.

[27:52] And within the matter, I say of hours or so, I mean, that that had gone into a very stressful

[27:59] situation to subsided in, I think, for a couple of days, presiding after that, people

[28:06] kind of paid attention to, they were actually staying out of the water and thinking the

[28:11] sheriff's office and everybody for saying, you know, appreciate you all keeping the safe.

[28:16] So it wasn't a big backlash, like I thought it was going to be, you know, trying to tell

[28:20] people that spend a lot of money on vacation to stay out of the water down there, I mean,

[28:24] they're really willing, risking dying just because they spend eight grand on a condominium

[28:30] down there.

[28:31] So, chief, starter, I'm glad that that worked out for you, I hope you got some of your supplies

[28:36] back.

[28:37] However, that works out, and if chief, starter, still even here.

[28:41] All right, anyway, I was looking for supplies for you.

[28:44] I was going to run it down there if I had to, but I couldn't find what you needed.

[28:49] So, but it worked out, again, deputies, thank you for your service of what you do for

[28:57] Bowen County, y'all are one of the only main three reasons we always talk about quality

[29:04] of life here.

[29:05] Y'all are one of the top reasons that people like moving here and living here because of

[29:09] the safety and protection you provide this community and I've lived here my whole life

[29:14] and I've never felt safer, so I appreciate your leadership, Sheriff, and what you do, and thank you for everything.

[29:23] Thank you.

[29:24] We'll get one more round of applause.

[29:34] All right.

[29:39] I don't know what all these other people are.

[29:42] Careful.

[29:48] Oh, yeah.

[29:48] We got some.

[29:49] We're tired.

[29:51] Retires had the listen to him.

[30:00] Deeter, are you up next? All right.

[30:06] Good morning. Good morning. I am excited to be able to honor one of our

[30:10] precious county employees today on her retirement from the county after 19 years of service dedicated

[30:18] service. So I want to invite Ms. Lisa Hacker up here and her supervisors, Tara and Robin.

[30:30] Good

[30:31] morning. Good morning. Good morning. On behalf of team finance, I like to thank Lisa Hacker for

[30:36] years of service here. During her most recent year, she helps support team accounts payable helping

[30:43] to make things happen behind the scenes. So those bills that you approved to pay, this is

[30:48] a accounts payable and you'll see many of her colleagues out here in the audience coming out

[30:53] from behind the scenes to support her. So as we appreciate everything that you've done for us here

[31:03] retirement. We we see many good things for you and and we hope that's the case. We very much appreciate you. Thank you.

[31:17] Chairman commissioners. Lisa is been more than just employee and a co worker. She's been a friend and part of our work family and I pay. We do appreciate you, Lisa.

[31:32] Her presence is going to be missed in our office and just know that we all are going to be missing you.

[31:44] But we're right there where you work family and you know you can call us at any time for anything.

[31:50] Um,

[31:54] we, we wish you the best and your new chapter and I know that you're going to be into

[32:01] your craft.

[32:03] We know you loved don't cry us and you'll be traveling.

[32:06] We know you love your cruises and you'll be spending time with family, so thank you for everything

[32:12] that you've done.

[32:19] I say thank you for their kind words, um, it is a family, uh, been here 19 years and you have

[32:28] the best in the finance department and I can say that with our regard and a commissioner

[32:34] jab was saying thanks for putting up with me for two years I might have said the same

[32:40] but I appreciate y

[33:13] 'all

[33:22] I don't

[33:33] have to leave yet we might say something about Lisa's

[33:36] You may not want to hear.

[33:38] Come in.

[33:40] Yeah.

[33:41] Commissioner Grieber.

[33:43] Lisa, thank you so very much for your 19 years of service.

[33:49] You've seen a lot of changes within the last 18 years.

[33:53] And I appreciate what you do in finance and helping accounting me as good as it is.

[34:01] Thank you so very much.

[34:03] Congratulations, Lisa.

[34:05] I can't imagine when it's like to retire.

[34:08] I'm like, what was that maybe four-scope?

[34:11] He's at Mama, what's vacation?

[34:12] I'm like, what's retirement?

[34:14] So congratulations for all those who achieve that.

[34:17] Hope you have a wonderful time.

[34:20] Yeah, thank you, Ms. Knight.

[34:21] Thank you for what you've done for the county.

[34:23] Fresh one since my four years of being here.

[34:25] It's been a pleasure to work with you and your team.

[34:28] So thank you.

[34:29] Enjoy your retirement.

[34:30] Please, it goes by fast.

[34:32] And so y'all get some things and go traveling and get away from all the county for a little while.

[34:38] Thank you.

[34:38] Everybody in the county, probably knows Lisa, but now is male's wife.

[34:45] So, you know, if you don't, if you don't, just go back on our Facebook a couple of years and keep up with the

[34:50] the miraculous story that happened with their family.

[34:53] And I mean, it's just a testament of how God works and people's lives when prayers are answered.

[34:57] and I've never, I've, I've, I've personally,

[35:00] I've never really seen anything. I saw one other incident like this in my life with a gentleman in my church, that was not supposed to be here, but still here. And we believe in prayer. And that's what we're going to be doing for you, as you enjoy your retirement. I will tell you, we have a really good finance department. A lot of people don't understand that finance department keeps up with a lot of stuff, especially the four people that sit up here. Because sometimes we go out of town, we go away and they keep up with every little single thing that we do.

[35:29] And one time I got a email, I've never got an email from Ms. Lisa before, but I got one,

[35:35] and she wanted to know where a $4.25 cent parking meter thing in my field, I mean, a Montgomery

[35:43] that I had and I paid for on my app on my phone, and I had no idea how to print a receipt,

[35:48] but I think, Ms. Barbara figured it out, we worked it out and got the receipt printed out,

[35:52] but that's how tedious and well-prepared I found out as the department is.

[35:57] just they're crossing all the tees and dotting all the eyes and I really appreciate what you're

[36:02] doing and Lisa like stated earlier your shoes are going to be a big a feel and we're going

[36:09] to miss you and I won't be here in a couple more meetings but anyway you're going to do

[36:18] you're going to have fun in life enjoying your retirement just stay healthy and y'all are going

[36:25] to do great things. Appreciate you being here as well today, ma'am, and thank y'all so much.

[36:38] All righty,

[36:41] other staff recommendations.

[36:46] Any agenda?

[36:49] Press questions.

[36:53] Commissioner comments.

[36:58] I'll start. Okay. Again, I want to thank every one of the

[37:12] a great job in their job and I think that's all I want to really appreciate them and

[37:19] at least I want to thank her for her dedication for 19 years of service with Baltimore County.

[37:27] And one of the things I was going to thank you about, next week is Labor Day.

[37:33] So if you're all doing a travel, please be careful on the roads.

[37:38] if you do need your travel because we need you back so please please please please please be careful

[37:45] thank you thank you remind me you said Labor Day my birthday Sunday I'm turning 50

[37:53] nons oh yeah congratulations that's right I want to thank all the employees for all the

[38:07] criticism for things that you do because of decisions that are made by others and that

[38:12] they can't commission and other things like that and so it's not easy when people criticize

[38:18] the good work that you guys do and you know I just want you guys to know that it is

[38:25] not easy being in public service whether you're elected or whether you're appointed or whether

[38:30] you're one of the employees and I want to thank each and every one that in doers you know

[38:35] when you have something that you've done

[38:38] and you've accomplished and you know it's the right thing,

[38:41] you've done a good job and all that,

[38:43] and then to be criticized for it,

[38:45] that's hard sometimes, but I want you guys to know,

[38:49] it's only worse when you're elected,

[38:50] but at the same time, I want you guys to know

[38:52] that it does not go unnoticed by the real people out there

[38:56] who are true people who understand what it's like

[39:00] to know that we do have good roads,

[39:01] we do have good parts,

[39:04] We do have good facilities in this county and so I want to thank you guys for doing your job every day and and doing it when the professionalism and everything that you do

[39:14] So I don't really have anything else to say if I just told everybody my birthday Sunday, but

[39:20] So it's a holiday on Monday so there won't be any black balloons or anything not to tell would do that, but okay, thank you

[39:27] You want to cake. I'll go for me

[39:29] You might poison it

[39:32] I just want to say thanks to the staff getting this agenda together.

[39:36] I've already said enough for the retirees and recognition and for the deputies, so just

[39:41] want to say thank you to the staff for putting this together, so thank you.

[39:45] So they've said everything, and I'll just close it up.

[39:48] Again, Commissioner Underwood and Commissioner Grover covered the thanks to everybody, but

[39:54] they'll say at, you know, thanks to all the employees for putting

[40:00] And all this together for something that we seem to breeze through up here in just a few minutes. And we know how much time and labor goes into preparing these agenda items for each of us and all the departments that put to stuff in. And then the girls in the back that are sitting up front today that, you know, hardly ever get recognized except for just thank you. And all that kind of stuff. But they really do put a lot into something like this. And this agenda here could easily be, I don't know, I'm just throwing a number that 800 pages long.

[40:29] And we just got four little pages up here.

[40:32] So there's a lot that goes into it.

[40:34] And I'm glad we don't have the whole entire thing sitting

[40:36] in front of us.

[40:37] We have it on our computer.

[40:39] So if you still have a computer.

[40:42] But anyway, this is a good meeting.

[40:47] And I love these days when we, it's only

[40:50] in payment at where we have these peaceful meetings

[40:52] and good meetings.

[40:55] And we get fair hope in a couple of weeks, things change.

[40:58] So take advantage of the, of the, of the happy times and the good times and, and

[41:03] settle up for two weeks from now, because we're going to be in the thick of things.

[41:08] So, with that being said, I appreciate everything that everybody does for this organization,

[41:15] from the bottom of my heart, and I'm on a, I'm on a gavel of sound today.

Baldwin County Commission Regular on 2026-09-01 10:00 AM

Agenda

Transcript