Normally, letters of support for various projects get unanimous votes from the Baldwin County Commission, but earlier this week, such a letter supporting the proposed county boat launch project in Orange Beach received a lone nay vote.
Baldwin County Commission Chairman Frank Burt voted against the proposal, later citing several concerns with the project as his reasoning behind his vote.
“I absolutely support the need for a launch and for a place such as this one is, but most folks with boats wanted a launch where they could get out into the Gulf and go further out to fish,” Burt said. “They may enjoy going out in the canal, but if you look at the distance before they enter the Gulf - it’s quite a distance.”
Burt said he also had some concerns about environmental issues and general suitability for the proposed boat launch site, located on the north side of the Intracostal Waterway, slightly west of the toll bridge in Orange Beach.
At a meeting in May of this year, the commissioners unanimously approved signing a letter of intent to push forward the plan to develop the 44.5 acre facility, complete with 450 parking spaces, 12 boat ramps, two kayak launch sites, waterfront gazebos and other family-friendly site attractions.
Total costs for the facility will add up to almost $10.5 million, but county commissioners said they’d be looking at GOMESA funds allotted to the county and state to provide the funding for the project. GOMESA (or Gulf of Mexico Energy Securities Act) funds are money given to Gulf states for oil and gas drilling done off of their shores.
Commissioner Chris Elliott said he felt the project should continue to move forward and that other governmental bodies around the region were coalescing to show support for the project.
“Similar resolutions have been passed by neighboring municipalities,” Elliott said. “Foley passed one last night. The matter will also be taken up by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and we anticipate support from the mayor of Mobile and the Mobile County Commission to show support across Coastal Alabama.”
Elliott said the reasoning behind the regional support is that it will be one of the first large-scale projects for the region that will use GOMESA funds.
“This is a precedent setting project in that it will be the first large infusion of GOMESA funds in Coastal Alabama,” Elliott said. “We’re paving the way on that.”
Elliott also encouraged residents of Baldwin and Mobile counties to reach out to Gov. Ivey’s office and encourage her to allocate the funding for the project as soon as possible.
“This project is going to be something that will be a benefit to our entire region, so I hope we can get this continuing to move forward as quickly as possible,” Elliott said.
