The growth of Baldwin County and its strain on infrastructure are not novel issues. Local officials have been tackling them for years. However, 2023 brought new issues and resolutions, especially on …
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The growth of Baldwin County and its strain on infrastructure are not novel issues. Local officials have been tackling them for years. However, 2023 brought new issues and resolutions, especially on the Eastern Shore.
The kickoff was a Fairhope City Council meeting on Sept. 11. Members of the Faith, Family, Freedom Coalition of Baldwin County requested to remove, relocate or sequester a list of approximately 12 (which grew to approximately 50) books from the Fairhope Public Library. Many of the books touch on LGBTQ+ topics, sexual education or mature topics and are shelved in the teen library.
That meeting featured over 20 residents speaking during the open discussion period. Some were there to speak against the library, the staff and books, while others were there in support of the library and parents' rights to choose what their children and teenagers can read. After several council meetings, the debate moved to the Fairhope Public Library Board meeting, where the leader of the Faith, Family, Freedom Coalition, Brian Dasinger, admitted he had not read any of the books he repeatedly requested council and the library board read and remove. He said he relied on the same website used in a dozen other states' book-banning debates, www.booklooks.org. The book debate currently lies in wait as the library leadership reads each of the books that have been submitted for reconsideration.
Fairhope's iconic clock corner has seen major changes in 2023.
Luis Valencia, a watch repairman and resident of Fairhope, was tired of seeing the broken clockface, so he volunteered his services. Valencia took his Rolex training and got Fairhope back on time.
Then, the corner finally got an official name in July: Gaston Plaza. The name honors one of the founding families that also operated Gaston Ford Motor Company on the corner.
Finally, the corner got a makeover and is now a park area. During the renovation, the traffic signals received an upgrade to include pedestrian crossing signals.
The stifling heat and rainless summer brought drought conditions across the region and water shortages in the city of Fairhope. Residents were limited on water use for much of the summer. One solution Fairhope completed was a connection to the Daphne water system. The agreement allows each city to pull water in emergencies. The city also has approved the drilling of more wells to increase capacity.
In Fairhope's French Quarter, two stray cats named Fancy and Marble have become community icons over the past 10 years.
Local establishments like The Happy Olive have taken on the responsibility of caring for Marble, establishing a Marble Fund for vet care and food. Similarly, Fancy, a black Maine Coon, found a home near Panini Pete's, with community members ensuring her well-being.
These stories highlight the broader issue of how to care for and deal with an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 stray cats in Baldwin County. Organizations like the Baldwin County Humane Society advocate for trap-neuter-return programs to promote the health of these cats and prevent them from becoming a nuisance in the community.
All three cities on the Eastern Shore have worked on infrastructure upgrades to parks, roads and utilities with more planned for 2024.
Spanish Fort has several road improvements in process or on the calendar and tackled littering issues.
Daphne has been working on improvements to Bayfront Park, with some upgrades completed in 2023 but more are planned. Daphne also passed several road improvements that will begin in early 2024.
In Fairhope, city council approved over $42 million for utility system upgrades in the 2024 budget. Residents will also see the development of the Triangle Park area in Fairhope.
