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Bay Minette City Council approves package of resolutions, waives facility fees and seeks federal funding
Summary
At its March 23 meeting the Bay Minette City Council approved routine minutes and $385,296.88 in revised accounts payable and unanimously passed a series of resolutions authorizing fleet agreements, waiving facility fees for community events, and submitting two congressionally directed spending requests; one resolution drew a single abstention.
Bay Minette Mayor Joshua O. Brown presided over the City Council’s March 23 meeting, where council members approved routine minutes, cleared $385,296.88 in revised accounts payable and passed a package of resolutions authorizing agreements, fee waivers and federal funding requests.
The council voted to authorize the mayor to execute agreements with Enterprise Fleet Management and approved multiple license-fee waivers to support local events and organizations, including a gala for the North Baldwin Infirmary, a Juneteenth celebration hosted by the Mutual Aid Benevolent Association, use of the Carol Hodgson Arena for an FFA pro rodeo, the Bay Minette Elementary School PTO’s end-of-year event, and a slate of free public events organized by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at Blackburn Park.
A single item drew a recorded abstention. Resolution 0326-07, which would waive fees for the Mutual Aid Benevolent Association’s Juneteenth event at the Douglasville School of Arts and Recreation Pavilion on June 20, 2026, passed with five ayes (Mayor Joshua O. Brown; Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; Councilmembers Mike Phillips, Matt Franklin and Tyrone Thompson) and one abstention from Councilmember Chris Norman, Sr.
The council also authorized and ratified submission of two congressionally directed spending appropriation requests: one seeking funds for two small business innovation and incubator hubs, and another seeking funding for construction of a fire station. Both measures passed unanimously.
Councilmembers approved a $1,000 sponsorship with Leadership Baldwin County for the Clays for A’s program, to be paid from contingency and apportioned as follows: Mayor $250; District 1 $75; District 2 $250; District 3 $250; District 4 $75; District 5 $100.
Votes at a glance - Approval of Minutes (March 2, 2026): Motion by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; seconded by Councilmember Chris Norman, Sr.; outcome: unanimous approval. - Revised Accounts Payable ($385,296.88): Motion by Councilmember Mike Phillips; seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-02 (Enterprise Fleet Management agreements): Motion by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; seconded by Councilmember Mike Phillips; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-06 (waive fees — North Baldwin Infirmary, John F. Rhodes Civic Center, Apr. 30–May 2, 2026): Motion by Councilmember Matt Franklin; seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-07 (waive fees — Mutual Aid Benevolent Association, Douglasville Pavilion, Jun. 20, 2026): Motion by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; seconded by Councilmember Matt Franklin; outcome: approved (5 ayes, 1 abstention by Councilmember Chris Norman, Sr.). - Resolution 0326-08 (waive fees — Baldwin County Board of Education/Elberta High School, Carol Hodgson Arena, Oct. 23–24, 2026): Motion by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-09 (waive fees — Bay Minette Elementary School PTO, Holly Hills Municipal Golf Course Clubhouse, May 21, 2026): Motion by Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; seconded by Councilmember Mike Phillips; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-10 (waive fees — Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office events at Blackburn Park, multiple dates): Motion by Councilmember Matt Franklin; seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-11 (waive fee — Restoration Church, Blackburn Park, Apr. 11, 2026): Motion by Councilmember Chris Norman, Sr.; seconded by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-12 (congressionally directed spending request — two small business incubator hubs): Motion by Mayor Pro Tempore Pete Sellers; seconded by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-13 (congressionally directed spending request — construction of a fire station): Motion by Councilmember Matt Franklin; seconded by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; outcome: unanimous approval. - Resolution 0326-14 (Leadership Baldwin County sponsorship, $1,000 from contingency, apportioned by seats): Motion by Councilmember Tyrone Thompson; seconded by Councilmember Mike Phillips; outcome: unanimous approval.
Why it matters: The approved fee waivers clear municipal costs for local nonprofits, schools and law-enforcement–led community events, enabling those groups to use city facilities without rental charges; the congressionally directed spending requests signal the city’s pursuit of external capital for small-business supports and a new fire station. The accounts-payable approval clears nearly $385,300 in city obligations.
What’s next: The meeting adjourned after announcements that paving is complete on several local streets and that striping will begin soon. The council did not schedule additional votes at the March 23 session; the submitted federal funding requests will proceed through the appropriation process outside the council’s direct vote.
