CommunityLink

Eastern Shore, AL

Government

Life is good on the Eastern Shore, in part because local government is committed to serving residents and meeting their needs with efficient public services. Our family-friendly environment welcomes visitors and new neighbors to Baldwin County.

Baldwin County
Four county commissioners who are elected every four years govern Baldwin County. The county’s jurisdiction includes the following offices: County Clerk, Highways, Planning and Zoning, Emergency Management, Council on Aging, Parks, Communications Information Systems, and BRATS (Baldwin Rural Area Transportation System). Police protection for the county is provided by an elected sheriff and his deputies.

The Baldwin County Fire Chiefs Association sponsors a unique safety program for children — a Children’s Fire Safety House. The Safety House, a 22-foot trailer designed as a modern two-story house, is fully furnished. Through its hands-on learning environment, the children see the house’s theatrical smoke, discover the importance of a smoke alarm, and learn to use an emergency ladder that helps children (and adults) safely escape from a house during a fire. Local businesses and other safety agencies support the program by providing safety coloring books, brochures and other information for children and adults.

Fairhope
Fairhope’s city government is a council-mayor system comprised of a non-voting mayor and five council members. One council member serves as president of the council. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Fairhope owns its own utilities and, in this way, generates revenue for the community.

The Fairhope Fire Department, operated on an all-volunteer basis, has 43 firefighters who serve the community. The fire department has a Class 4 ISO rating with three fire stations and a training facility. The chief of police and 28 sworn officers protect the welfare of the citizens of Fairhope.

Daphne
Daphne’s council-mayor system of government is comprised of a full-time, non-voting mayor and seven council members elected by district. One council member serves as president of the council. The city council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month.

The city is proud to have three fire stations and 25 full-time salaried firefighters, as well as 15 volunteers. The department has a Class 4 ISO rating. The Daphne Fire Department also provides emergency medical services. Police protection for Daphne is provided by 47 sworn officers.

Spanish Fort
The city of Spanish Fort has a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected to a four-year term, and five council members are elected by districts. One council member serves as president of the council. The city council meetings take place on the first and third Mondays each month.

Thirteen sworn police officers and a volunteer fire department with 25 members and a Class 5 ISO rating serve the city of Spanish Fort.