County commission demands demolition of governor’s mansion wall

A newly constructed 60-foot security wall at the state governor’s mansion in Fort Morgan may soon be torn down, if Baldwin County commissioners have their way.

At their work session Tuesday morning in Fairhope, commissioners discussed the new addition to the gubernatorial property, as they were informed by County Engineer Cal Markert that the wall was built along part of the county’s right of way.

Commissioners said they had received complaints from residents in the area about their beach access being blocked off by the new construction.

“We don’t allow that kind of activity on the county’s right of ways,” Commissioner Chris Elliott said. “This commission has maintained a very hard line against vacating rights of way, especially close to the water like that.”

Commissioner Frank Burt questioned whether the contractors or the state had acquired the necessary permitting for such a construction, but no one was able to answer that question.

As it stands now, commissioners say they are not willing to budge on the issue and want the wall taken down as soon as possible.

“Tell them it’s coming down, and that’s it’s either your bulldozer or ours,” Elliott said.

Commission Chairman Tucker Dorsey agreed with his colleagues’ assessment of the situation and asked the county engineer’s office to reach out to the governor’s office to find a solution to the issue.

“With all of the funding for this coming from BP oil spill money, I’m actually surprised the north end of the state let the governor spend money to build even a wall down here,” Dorsey quipped.

Sources have said the governor’s office is attempting to negotiate a possible land swap with adjoining property owners and the homeowner’s association in the area.

“We have been working with the neighborhood association on the project. We are aware of the current issue with the project and will continue to work with the neighborhood association and the Baldwin County Commission on a reasonable resolution,” the governor’s office said, in a statement sent to Gulf Coast Media.

Even if the state reaches a deal with adjoining property owners, some county commissioners have said they still have no desire to see the structure remain on the county’s property.

“That right of way does not belong to the governor or the state of Alabama,” Elliott said. “It belongs to the people of Baldwin County and provides access to that beach, so we will continue to protect that.”