The Baldwin County Board of Commissioners met Dec. 3 to approve the 2025 budget and discuss several contracts.
On Nov. 19, there was a public hearing to present the budget to commissioners and this hearing was made public to the community for review and input. There was no further input from commissioners or the public, so the budget recommended remained unchanged. The board unanimously adopted the 2025 budget resolution.
The board unanimously approved an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources for the Fishing Creek Trail extension.
“The grant is $200,000 to complete 0.75 miles of the Fishing Creek Trail,” said County Manager Carlos Tobar. “Once the department gives us the notice to proceed, we can bid the project out.”
The board also unanimously approved the T-Mobile Hometown Grant program that will contribute to Oconee Heights Park. According to the contract, the project will “build a park, including playground equipment, fostering local connections, enhancing outdoor spaces, and contributing to the long-term revitalization of a historically neglected area.”
The county received four bids for the Ballfield Lighting Contract. Georgia Power bid $723,060, Cornatzer & Associates Inc. bid $715,438, Graham Electric LLC. bid $542,220.24, and Qualite Sports Lighting bid $474,419 and Tobar recommended to go with Qualite Sports Lighting.
“References for Qualite Sports Lighting have been thoroughly checked and they did complete a job on a field at Georgia College … They have done a lot of projects in Georgia,” reported Tobar, when asked about the company’s credibility.
The recommendation was approved unanimously.
The county received a bid from Nicolasa’s Catering and Concessions, based in North Carolina, for the concession stand contract. They offered 30% of sales but Tobar stated he had difficulty checking references.
“This one had a lot of red flags and for that reason, I recommend you award the contract to Out of Parking from Jones County,” said Tobar. “I did check with Jason, the Jones County administrator, and he had rave reviews about the company.”
After discussion about Out of Parking’s credibility and giving Nicolasa’s Catering and Concessions a chance, Commissioner Kendrick Butts made a motion to approve Nicolasa’s Catering and Concessions. Nicolasa’s was approved by a 3-2 vote with Commissioner Sammy Hall and Chairman Johnny Westmoreland voting against the motion.
In other news, according to the county manager’s report, the county’s road paving work has been completed for this year.
Water line replacements are expected to be complete by spring of 2025.
Sewer line replacement and housing rehabilitation from a grant award will begin in January.
The Real Time Crime Center held its groundbreaking ceremony and is expected to be finished by March 31.
Bike Walk Baldwin received a grant for phase two of its trail and is expected to be complete by March 31 and the ballfield lights in that area are expected to be completed by that date as well.
Pickleball courts are also expected to be complete by March 31.
Closing the meeting, Tobar announced a public hearing will be held Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Chamber for the terminal apron expansion and lower ramp expansion at the Baldwin County Regional Airport.