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Baldwin County Commission proclaims observance weeks, honors retired staff and environmental stewards, and names Fair Housing Month
Summary
At its April 21 meeting the Baldwin County Commission proclaimed National Correctional Officers Week (May 3–9) and Law Enforcement Memorial Week (May 10–16), adopted a retirement resolution honoring Katherine 'Kitty' Jordan Barksdale, presented Environmental Stewardship Awards to multiple local recipients, and proclaimed April 2026 as Fair Housing Month.
The Baldwin County Commission used its April 21 meeting to recognize public servants and community environmental work.
Correctional and law enforcement observances: The commission proclaimed May 3–9, 2026 as National Correctional Officers Week and May 10–16, 2026 as Law Enforcement Memorial Week in Baldwin County. The proclamations noted the Bow(—)win County Sheriff's Office (transcript spelling inconsistent; county corrected to Baldwin County) employs approximately 190 correctional officers, oversees about 600 inmates daily, and processes roughly 13,600 bookings annually (figures as stated during the presentation). The commission read the names of deputies lost in the line of duty and invited the public to a May 12 memorial in Robertsdale; the sheriff and commissioners offered remarks of appreciation and remembrance. Both proclamations passed on voice votes.
Retirement: Commissioners adopted Resolution 2026‑071 honoring Katherine 'Kitty' Jordan Barksdale for more than 30 years of service as a civil support specialist with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office. Barksdale spoke briefly, and commissioners and sheriff praised her service before approving the resolution.
Environmental awards: Planning & Zoning staff presented the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Awards. Recipients announced included Neil Underwood Farms (agriculture), the Alabama Forestry Commission (forestry), Gulf Coast Eco Center (education), Justice Manning (Master Environmental volunteer), the Town of Magnolia Springs and its Magnolia River Water Watch Task Force (government agency), Dr. William E. Puckett (Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee), Lisa Mason Sanders (citizen), Hydro LLC/John Curry (small business), the Nature Conservancy and the City of Orange Beach (lower Purito Island restoration project), and Roberta Swan (special recognition) for her leadership at the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program. The commission approved the awards as a group.
Fair Housing: The commission proclaimed April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in Baldwin County, citing Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (the Fair Housing Act) and recognizing local realtor efforts to educate the public and support equal housing opportunities.
Why it matters: The proclamations and awards publicly acknowledge public‑safety personnel, longtime county employees, and local conservation efforts; the awards also highlight multi‑jurisdictional restoration projects and partnerships that influence regional environmental planning.
