The Baldwin County Commission has approved changes to hold work sessions and regular meetings on the same day.

Beginning Nov. 7, commission meetings will be held at 8:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Work sessions are held to discuss the regular meeting agenda and for the commission to set its consent agenda for each meeting.

Meetings on the first Tuesday of the month will be held at at the Baldwin County Administration Building in the County Commission Meeting Chambers at 322 Courthouse Square, Bay Minette. The work session and regular meetings on the third Tuesday of each month will be held at the Baldwin County Fairhope Satellite Courthouse in the County Commission Chambers on the second floor at 1100 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope.

With the annual rotation of chairmanship, outgoing Chairman Charles Skip Gruber (District 4) will be handing the gavel over to incoming Chairman Billie Jo Underwood (District 3) during the next commission meeting on Nov. 7.
“I want to welcome Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood as she takes the seat as chairman,” Gruber said in a news release.

Commissioner Underwood stated, “I am excited about the opportunity to serve as chairman for the next 12 months. By having a rotating chair, each commission member is given an opportunity to take on the additional daily leadership duties and the lead with interacting with the media, which is a beneficial experience. During my first term, I was chair from November 2019 until October 2020, and I can say it was an eventful year and I hope that this time there is no pandemic or major hurricane. I want to thank Commissioner Gruber for his leadership during this past year. It is very important to have a good relationship with your colleagues, and the county commission working together well."

“Thanks to the efficiency and effectiveness of the recent organizational restructure, I look forward to working with the County Administrator and County Engineer to meet the daily needs of the citizens of Baldwin County,” she said.

During Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood’s tenure as Chairman, Commissioner Matthew

McKenzie (District 2) will serve as Vice-Chairman.