Commissioner Joe Davis discusses State of the County

By Jessica Vaughn
Posted 9/9/21

FOLEY - County Commissioner Joe Davis discussed the State of the County during the Thursday, Aug. 26 South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Leadership Series. The event marked the first time a …

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Commissioner Joe Davis discusses State of the County

Posted

FOLEY - County Commissioner Joe Davis discussed the State of the County during the Thursday, Aug. 26 South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Leadership Series. The event marked the first time a presentation of this nature has been made, and Davis said he would like to continue addressing the state of the county during future events.

“What we’re going to talk about is what I refer to as paradise,” said Davis, speaking of Baldwin County. “One of the things that we’re pushing for is the ability for the fastest growing counties, there’s about five of us, we need the chance to sit down with the sitting governor … to talk about the unique things that the growing counties have going on.”

Within the last few years, Davis said the county has released a ten-year strategic plan that is not cast in stone, but rather will grow and adapt moving forward. Along with implementing the strategic plan, Baldwin County has recently got an upgraded branding.

“We’ve got a story to tell, and first we’ve got to tell it in the county, because so many of our people are new, but then we also have to tell it in other places like Montgomery and Washington,” said Davis.

According to surveys conducted during the process, 49.75 percent of survey participants have lived in Baldwin County for more than 20 years, while 25.41 percent of participants have lived in Baldwin County their entire life. Of those surveyed, 13.76 percent felt Baldwin County was crowded. The increased growth in Baldwin County is one of the main points of the county’s strategic plan, which focuses on growth and infrastructure balance, public safety, economic prosperity and workforce, protecting the natural environment and county government.

Davis said with the population growing, key issues to be addressed include improved internet service throughout the county, communication between the county and municipalities on individual community needs and improved connectivity and roadways. A project he hopes to see come to fruition is the Baldwin Beach Express Two, which would provide a way to get motorists to Buc-ee’s due north to I-65. Another project Davis wants to see expand involves using the county’s BRATS system to get workers back and forth between work and their lodgings.

Despite COVID-19 and Hurricane Sally’s devastation last year, Davis says many of the county’s nature parks and waterways are being improved upon, something that will continue in the future.

“We know that COVID has changed virtually everything we do and sometimes how we do it, but we have the resolve, just like you do, to let’s figure out how to make things go forward,” said Davis. “Because as we get bigger, doggonit we’re going to get better, and we’re going to have the people that live here enjoy it, and we’re going to have more people come and visit with us.

“It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be part of making paradise even better,” he said. “This is paradise, and it’s paradise because of all of us working together … I hope you understand that [the commissioners] don’t have the answers, we want to hear from you, and we try to develop plans and strategies based on information, good information, and we are genuinely trying to get better as we get bigger.”

For more information, visit https://baldwincountyal.gov. For upcoming South Baldwin Chamber events, visit www.southbaldwinchamber.com.