BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery expressed her opposition of three bills currently under consideration by the Alabama Senate during Monday’s regular City Council meeting.

The first of those bills is SB357, which was introduced to the Senate on Feb. 23. According to information provided by Tillery, the bill would prohibit municipalities in Baldwin County from exercising “any police jurisdiction or any zoning, planning, subdivision or other land use jurisdiction beyond the corporate limits of the municipality.”

Tillery told the council that current state law allows cities to provide services up to 3 miles beyond its corporate borders, and the passing of SB357 would limit city revenue.

“The utility money we receive from EMC, Alabama Power, we would lose,” she said in the work session.

The mayor added that Bay Minette would not be the only Baldwin County city affected.

“It can and will directly affect every municipality,” Tillery said.

The second of the three bills Tillery discussed Monday was SB385, which was introduced to the Senate on March 1. The bill would “require prior to any purchase, lease or acquisition of land (in Baldwin County) or any sale, lease or other conveyance of land … the land or any interest in the land would be subject to an appraisal by a real-estate appraiser licensed in this state.”

“What we’re looking at with this is economic-development restriction,” Tillery told the council.

The final bill Tillery discussed with the council also focused on economic development. SB384, which was also introduced to the Senate on March 1, would mean that government agencies would be required to have land appraised before its sale and that the purchase price could not exceed that appraisal.

Tillery told the council that she would meet with leaders with the other 13 municipalities this week, and plans would be made to oppose the bills at the state level.

“Our research reveals that these proposed bills will affect our revenues, jobs, growth potential through annexation, environmental issues and future economic development,” she said via email following Monday’s meeting.

The Mayors’ Association met Tuesday, after which Tillery provided results via email.

“We have met and are working together diligently with Senators Pittman and Keahy along with our Baldwin Representatives and county commissioners to encourage and support economic development activities in all incorporated areas and throughout the county,” she said. “We are unified and joined in our efforts to see all our cities prosper through industrial development, job growth, wise planning, environmental awareness and revenue growth."

During Monday’s work session, Tillery told the council that putting the three bills into effect would begin with passing in the state Senate.

“After the Senate, they’ll have to be put on the ballot for public vote,” she said.