BALDWIN COUNTY COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 3, 2008
BALDWIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
BAY MINETTE, ALABAMA

Members present were David E. Bishop, Charles F. Gruber, Wayne A. Gruenloh, and Frank Burt, Jr., Chairman.

Also present were Michael L. Thompson, County Administrator and J. Scott Barnett, Chief Counsel.

Commissioner Bishop said he had a conversation this week with Mr. Cox regarding the Service Road at Interstate 10 and Cypress Equities. It is Commissioner Bishop’s perception after talking with Mr. Cox that Mr. Cox believes that his part is done and he wants to go to Montgomery this month to push the project along. Mr. Cox is concerned that the City of Daphne is voting on their portion of it at their next meeting on January 7th and what is being done about the portion with Cypress Equities. Mr. Cox wants the Commission to do what they can to make sure this is moving. Commissioner Bishop asked Scott Barnett, Chief Legal Counsel, if he has heard about anything being done in that regard?

Mr. Barnett said he hasn’t had any detailed conversations with Cypress Equities attorneys. The other agreements with the other two parties involved are “hammered out” and Mr.Barnett expects the agreement with Cypress Equities to mirror those documents. Mr. Barnett received one of the draft agreements back from the City of Daphne’s attorney last night. The County is nearing completion of the legal documentation with County Engineer Markert’s help. Mr. Markert may be able to provide more details on the particular dealings with Cypress Equities.

Cal Markert, County Engineer appeared before the Commission and said he does not know if Cypress Equities has an agreement yet. Mr. Markert has talked to them a few times and their attorney was getting ready to get the agreement to Mr. Barnett. In the meantime, Mr. Barnett and Mr. Markert have worked out agreements with Timber Creek and hopefully the City of Daphne. Those two agreements will be brought to the Work Session next Tuesday. Mr. Markert has not received any negative feedback from Cypress Equities. Verbally they were ready to go; it was just a matter of getting their attorney to forward the documents to Mr. Barnett.

Mr. Barnett said the goal is to have all three documents the same. There are a few more technicalities dealing with the land in the Timber Creek section and now that the agreement has been received back from the City of Daphne, it can be submitted to Cypress Equities for their review. Hopefully, when Mr. Markert brings back the issue at the next Work Session, Mr. Barnett will have an update on the legal documentation.

Chairman Burt asked if Area 100 is already working on the portion of the road, in which Mr. Markert replied Area 100 crew is working on the Woodrow Lane section. The County crew will be building the section that is referred as the un-built section, which is a budgeted part of this project.