NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
     

Pursuant to Amendment No. 750 of the Alabama Constitution of 1901, as amended
             

Where: Baldwin County Commission Chambers

When: June 22, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.

What: Live Oak Campground – Proposed Lease Agreement for Store and Management Agreement for Campground Located at Live Oak Landing between the County Commission and WildNative LOL, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company
            

Pursuant to Amendment No. 750 of the Alabama Constitution of 1901, as amended, (“Amendment No. 750”), the County Commission (the “Commission”) of Baldwin County (the “County”) hereby provides notice to the public that the Commission will conduct an open public hearing during its regularly scheduled meeting on June 22, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. (the “Hearing”) in the Baldwin County Commission Chambers at 322 Courthouse Square in Bay Minette, Alabama in order to give interested citizens the opportunity to hear and be heard on the following matter to be considered by the Commission on such date:

 

The County has heretofore issued its $600,000 principal amount of General Obligation Taxable Warrant, Series 2016-A, dated the date of delivery (the “Warrant”), in order to finance the purchase, acquisition, construction and equipment of the public recreational boat launch and campground area known as “Live Oak Landing.”  The County has since operated Live Oak Landing but considers that the arrangement described below may be in its better interest, despite the benefits that WildNative will realize from the expenditure of the County’s funds.

 

WildNative LOL, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company(“WildNative”), has requested that the County consider entering into a “Lease Agreement for Store and Management Agreement for Campground Located at Live Oak Landing” (the “Agreement”), subject to any terms or conditions deemed necessary by the Commission, whereby WildNative will (1) lease from the County and operate a retail sales and rental store for services related to the operation of the campground, boat launch, kayak rentals, and other services provided at Live Oak Landing, and (2) manage and operate the Live Oak Landing Campground on behalf of the County.

 

The County will lease the on-site store to WildNative in exchange for the collection of boat launch fees and other fees or payments required by the Agreement to be paid to the County.   In addition, WildNative will provide management and maintenance services related to the store as set forth in the Agreement. 

 

WildNative will in return otherwise operate the store for its own profit and operate the campground on behalf of the County.  The various other duties, obligations, risks and requirements of the County and WildNative with respect to the operation of the Campground are more particularly described in the Agreement.

The initial term of the Agreement will be 3 years, but said Agreement will automatically renew for 2 additional 3 year terms (a total of 6 years) unless earlier terminated or not renewed by either party at their option upon 90 days’ notice, or as otherwise terminated as set forth in the Agreement.  If neither party terminates, the Agreement it will last for a total of 9 years.

 

The Commission will consider whether the expenditure of public funds in the form of the Warrant for Live Oak Landing and the execution of the Agreement will serve a valid and sufficient public purpose despite the financial benefits realized by WildNative, as presently contemplated by the Agreement.  The County believes that the public will benefit from this arrangement, because it is believed that the operation of Live Oak Landing pursuant to this arrangement will be improved resulting in more and better amenities and services.

 

This notice will be published in the Mobile Press-Register and the Gulf Coast Newspapers not less than 7 days prior to the date of the Hearing. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting and be heard.  Interested citizens may also submit prior written comments to the Clerk/Treasurer’s office.  A copy of the Agreement is also available for further public inspection and comment at the Clerk/Treasurer’s office.