BAY MINETTE — Baldwin County Commissioners on Friday agreed to seek $850,000 in state grants for boom and other expenses related to the oil spill, and initiated a loss of tax revenue model to address compensation for millions of dollars lost primarily in the tourism industry and coastal businesses.

Commissioners also are seeking input from individuals, municipal, state and federal agencies for establishing a gate system for booms for water access.

The grant is separate from two, $3 million grants earlier received from the state for oil removal and compensation.

Commission chairman Charles “Skip” Gruber said the county panel will set upmeetings in the next few days involving all agencies who receive taxes collected by the county.

“We want to involve all 44 agencies, all elected officials, all aspects of government,” Gruber said. “It is better to do a big package rather than a bunch and some entities don’t have the staff to do it.”

Gruber urged commissioners to move swiftly before compensation numbers grow “really big and BP may say no, we need to litigate.”

Faced with summer budget hearings, county attorney Scott Barnett said the county’s financial officers may not have the time or specific expertise to process revenue claims. He suggested hiring a CPA firm with past dealings with BP.

“Claims are complicated,” Barnett said. “BP expects packets presented in a certain way.”

Gruber said BP would pay processing costs.

Commissioners also reviewed plans for establishing more than 20 boom gates to accommodate coastal recreational and commercial boat traffic. Boaters have complained that booms prevent water access.

Commissioners agreed to formulate worksheets to receive compensation for gate construction, and ask other municipalities and governmental agencies to coordinate gate openings.

In some areas, multiple boom has been placed by different agencies, Gruber said. If one agency installs gates and others don’t, water access will remain inaccessible.

“There are people here who want to protect the coastline,” Gruber said. “It seems to make sense to devise a plan to have people patrol boom, spot oil and work with the gates.

Commissioner David Bishop suggested training sessions for volunteers and property owners’ associations to help monitor for oil contamination and to man the gates.

Commissioners also must determine if the unified command will approve payment for gate placement and paid monitors to open and close the gates.

For more information about boom locations and other oil contamination topics, go to co.baldwin.al.us.