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Baldwin County recognizes 12 recipients with 2025 environmental stewardship awards; commission adopts resolution
Summary
The Environmental Advisory Committee presented its 2025 stewardship awards to 12 individuals and organizations and the commission voted to adopt a resolution recognizing the awards and the committee.
The Baldwin County Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) presented its 2025 Environmental Stewardship Awards to 12 recipients on Wednesday, and the county commission adopted a resolution recognizing the awards and the committee’s work.
Tom Schmitz read the committee’s resolution describing the awards’ purpose: to recognize citizens, businesses and agencies that “illustrate sound environmental principles” and to encourage stewardship of Baldwin County’s natural resources. The committee said it reestablished in 2021 and regularly reviews regulations and nominates local projects that protect water quality and natural habitats.
Recipients included organizations and individuals across several categories: Outdoors/Forestry (Quality Forestry), small business (Streamlined Environmental), education program (Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium), education teacher (Charlotte Roberts), nonprofit (Alabama Coastal Foundation), agriculture/conservation programs (NRCS programs / local conservation initiatives), government employee (Mark Wetzel of 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center), individual citizen (Ben Raines), student initiative (Mason Hobgood), Baldwin County Solid Waste Authority (for opening a regional materials-recovery facility), Cleverton Farms (conservation of 400 acres through the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust) and a special memorial recognition for the late Casey Fulford for farmland-protection work.
Tom Schmitz and EAC Chair Brett Garr presented plaques while commissioners and staff acknowledged the volunteers and winners. Commissioners praised the committee’s focus on water-quality monitoring and local conservation efforts; the commission noted county cooperation on projects such as dirt-road improvements and recycling initiatives.
Commissioner Underwood moved to adopt the EAC resolution recognizing the award recipients and the committee; Commissioner Gruber seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the commission approved the resolution by voice vote.
The EAC said the committee’s recent activities include submitting an annual report to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) requesting additional water-quality monitoring sites in Baldwin County and coordinating with Mobile Bay National Estuary Program partners.
