The Baldwin County Board of Commissioners met Jan. 20 to discuss grants and listen to recognitions.
The board presented a Certificate of Recognition to the coaches and team members of the Middle Georgia Elite Bulldogs Football Team in honor of their victory in the 2025 Midsouth Atlanta Youth Football League Championship and the 2025 National Championships.
Baldwin County Fire Rescue Chief Phillip Adams recognized the people who helped wrap gifts for the annual toy drive. The drive allowed 410 children in the community to receive three free gifts each. The toy drive annually impacts up to 425 kids each year.
“The ladies I want to recognize help wrap these toys when our training room explodes around Christmas,” said Adams. “My deputy chief has been exceptional at making this as smooth as possible alongside each of these women.”
County Attorney Brandon Palmer presented the qualifying fees for 2026 elections, including county commission Districts 3, 4, and 5, the Baldwin County Board of Education Districts 1 and 5, and the state court judge. For county commission districts the fee is $180, for state court judges it is $1,071.42, and board of education seats are $180. Commissioners unanimously passed the fees.
Commissioners then unanimously authorized the 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant application to be submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation. County Manager Carlos Tobar stated the roads will be decided later in the year.
“This does not permit us to pave any particular road,” Commissioner Sammy Hall said. “This is a request for a lump sum.”
Commissioners moved into the discussion of several authorizations for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Grant, including three grants for the Dislocated Worker Program and one for the apprenticeship Expansion Fund Program Grant. These grants would be administered through June 30, 2026.
“The contract will expire in June and I would advise managing them through that, then notify the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Program that you are cancelling the contract that designates Baldwin County as the fiscal agent,” advised Tobar. “It is important for our county accounting staff to focus on Baldwin County.”
The county has been the fiscal agent for the program for about 25 years. Following discussion, commissioners approved servicing the grants and then discontinuing the contract in June following a 4-1 vote, with Chairman Kendrick Butts voting no.
In other news:
• Commissionersauthorized an agreement with MYDGolf, LLC for the design and construction of Little Fishing Creek Golf Course improvements. On Feb.
2, Baldwin County will open bids for construction and commissioners will vote Feb. 3 on the construction contract.
• Commissionersauthorized Butts to sign a letter for Habitat for Humanity's CHIP Grant application to fund the three Vincent Highway homes.
• Tobarannouncedthat Baldwin County’s University of Georgia Extension is building a community garden titled Unity Harvest Garden located 311 Linda Dr.
Extension is currently in need of volunteers to finish the garden and upon completion, extension will be teaching classes at the garden on how to can food and more.