Baldwin County Commission members tabled a proposal that would have moved forward on five road projects across the county after concerns from some of the commissioners.

The proposal, which would have seen $55 million in promised BP settlement funds and an additional $35.8 million from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), was removed from the consent agenda because two of the commissioners expressed they had some reservations with moving forward.

The proposal concerned U.S. Highway 31 from Westminster Drive to Highway 181, Highway 181 from County Road 64 to 104, Highway 181 from 104 to County Road 32, State Route 180 west of the Foley Beach Express and State Route 180 east of the Beach Express.

Commissioner Frank Burt said he had numerous concerns about the potential agreement.

“There’s the fact that the county would be entering into an agreement for some projects that are completely within the boundary of some of the cities,” Burt said. “The projects in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are within their limits, and the project in Spanish Fort is entirely inside Spanish Fort. The cities could enter into the agreement rather than the county. “

Burt said he also took issue with the county highway department possibly being asked to take some of the work that ALDOT would require.

Burt said he had no objections to signing an agreement for the Highway 181 expansion because that road is largely in the county’s territory.

“That was something we had already agreed to more than a decade ago,” Burt said. “We continue to be led around by ALDOT that they’re going to finish that road and they never have,” Burt said. “In my opinion, ALDOT agreements aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”

Commission Chairman Chris Elliott said while he understands a certain frustration with ALDOT on past promises, he felt this agreement would be a good way to move forward on actually doing something on these roads.

“What this does is lay out the sources of funds and the priority of the projects,” Elliott said. “This gives us a chance to get an additional $35.8 million out of ALDOT over and above the BP funds we were promised. It gives us a chance to complete every major road issue in the county, issues that the county and the mayors across the county have agreed to do.”

Elliott added that the county would not be on the hook for any additional funding.

“There’s no money actually coming from the county with this agreement,” Elliott said. “If approved, the source of funding for the amount would come from the Restore Council.”

The commission will likely take the agreement back up at their next work session.