The Baldwin County Association of Realtors kicked off a new information series, “Bagels and Briefs,” with an informative question and answer series Tuesday morning in Robertsdale.

County Commissioners Tucker Dorsey and Chris Elliott talked to the association members about a number of issues facing the county, including school funding, infrastructure needs and the county’s incredible amount of growth.

Dorsey said the county has seen a great amount of growth over the last 20 years and that residents should expect more to come.

“We are nothing like the 1990s here anymore,” Dorsey said. “We’re coming over the waterfall of being at the forefront of growth for this state and region, and it’s only going to continue. The word is out on Baldwin County - people know where we are, and they want to be here.”

Dorsey said he and the other commissioners have made diversifying the county’s economic development as one of their highest missions.

“We intend to build things,” Dorsey said. “That’s how you create wealth. The community can’t thrive on selling insurance and trading services around, and we know we’re a little too dependent on tourism here. That’s why we’ve worked hard to try to bring manufacturing and other good, high-paying jobs to this county.”

Dorsey pointed to the Megasite development as a prime example of Baldwin County having an opportunity in the making, as they wait to attract just the right business to the North Baldwin site.

“Conversations and relationships are being made every day about what could go on at that site,” Dorsey said. “While it’s been quiet there from a news standpoint, there will be a day that at least 4,000 people are going to be working there every day, and we think that day is going to be coming sooner rather than later.”

Elliott told the group some needed road improvements are finally in the pipeline for Baldwin County, as BP settlement funds and other ALDOT money will be used to make major long-awaited changes to several state roads.

“These are projects which are actually funded, which is a nice thing to have,” Elliott said. “We’ll be widening 31, making some needed changes on the beach roads and we’ll be widening 181 as far down as the money will allow us to go, with some needed intersection improvements at 181 and 104 that people have been asking for for a while.”

The commissioners also discussed their recent vote to continue the penny tax for the county’s schools, which drew applause and thank-yous from the crowd.

“We have to have them succeed,” Elliott said. “Having our county remain strong and prosperous depends on having great schools, so this was something we felt was imperative to do.”

Dorsey urged the group to get more involved with supporting and finding candidates for the school board and other local races.

“The truth of the matter is that we’ve got to start paying attention to the people running for things like the school board,” Dorsey said. “We have to get real quality people to run for those offices and start thinking about it running as a business, to make good decisions.”

Elliott echoed Dorsey’s sentiments.

“Find a candidate that has the aptitude to do the job, for whatever office they’re seeking,” Elliott said. “There are people out there that are screaming into the wind that are wholly unsuited for public office. Find someone who can figure out how to deal with the complex world we’re going with right now, someone who can build consensus so you can get a unanimous vote. Not only find that person, but advocate vigorously for that person. If you put one of those pitchfork torch guys in there, it’s not going to be good for Baldwin County and the bottom line.”