MUMBLINGS April 7, 2005

You all will agree that Baldwin County is experiencing rapid growth. Most will agree this brings on opportunities as well as problems.

While such growth is considered by most as progress and it does make for a good economy with many jobs available in a lot of categories. Some feel otherwise that such growth is not good.

It is hard to realize that some estimates indicate that Baldwin's population will be more than Mobile's by 2035 or at the latest 2057. In either case, this will be over 500,000 people as compared to today's population of about 170,000.

While problems do indicate opportunities, some of them are extensive and need attention.

As already mentioned here, two of the greatest in the county are our schools and transportation. Fortunately, our school officials are doing something about them and plan to repair and build $80 million worth of new buildings within the next 36 months.

Something is also being done about the horrible crowded road conditions in the county, but not nearly rapidly enough. This is a situation that unfortunately will grow worse before it gets better.

Another problem caused by this growth is that Baldwin has only four circuit judges; James Reid, Charles Partin, Robert Wilters Jr., and J. Langford Floyd and two district judges, Jody Bishop and Carmen Boesch. Boesch, is the juvenile judge and Bishop handles the misdemeanor offenses and small claims.

About three years ago, the legislature approved the addition of a fifth circuit judge, but the money has never been appropriated to make it possible. Our county is in serious shape as the present judges are way overworked and are behind. Even though they work hard, it is difficult for them to keep up with their hundreds of cases.

One of the most drastic problems in the county is the John David Whetstone District Attorney's office where he is short of funds. This makes it difficult for him to have a sufficient number of attorneys to prosecute the hundreds of offenders. He has six assistant attorneys.

When they get a little experience they go into private practice or some other work. The drug traffic is heavy because of our two interstates I-10 and I -65 being between Mobile and Pensacola.

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On the other side of the justice system is the Indigent Defense Commission of the county, which has some 20 lawyers standing by to defend those without sufficient financial ability to pay for their own. Each of our four circuit judges has three attorneys standing by and our district judges each has two.

Of course when you think about law enforcement, you think of the Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Jimmy Johnson and his helpers are doing a good job and are better financed than some other departments, but still have serious problems. A good example was given to me by his able assistant, Larry Milstid about the county inmates.

In 1987, the Corrections Center had a capacity of 120 inmates-now the capacity is 510 but the daily average now is 630. Obviously, this is.

The annual budget for this year is $12,256,577 with $5,409,577 for the Corrections Center and $7,116,673 for Enforcement. Of the 217 employees, 107 are at the Corrections Center and 110 with the Enforcement Division, which includes 75 deputies.

In addition, the cost of feeding the prisoners is $55,000 per month, which is paid from other sources.

While these problems are serious, fortunately our officials and citizens are typing hard to correct them.

See you again soon, I hope.