Josephine, Ala. — The coast side community of Josephine is currently working to determine its future.

The Josephine Homeowner’s Association recognized that there had never been an official survey of the residents and their opinions about Josephine.

“We wanted to get a first time feeling for what the preference was of residents of this area as an unincorporated community,” said Mike Healy, member of the Josephine Homeowner’s Association.

With the worry of annexation into Orange Beach underlining the association’s concerns, they believed it was time to develop future plans for the coastal community.

“What started this is, we feel like as a board we need to help,” said Francie Pizitz, treasurer for the association. “We want to see what this whole community favors.”

Surveys were mailed out on April 1 to just under 400 property owners and homeowners, giving them five options to choose from concerning the status of Josephine.

Residents were asked to list five options, from most favored to least favored. The options were: annexation of Orange Beach, annexation into Elberta, annexation into Perdido Beach (if incorporated), incorporation into the Town of Josephine or continue as an unincorporated area of Baldwin County.

The area’s current unincorporated status has put the town into an identity crisis concerning municipalities and utilities. Power is provided by Baldwin EMC, water comes from Perdido Bay, sewer is controlled by the private company Baldwin County Sewer Service and police services come from the county and Orange Beach.

The homeowner’s association fears absorption with some of the surrounding communities. Healy said they are trapped between the high growth of Orange Beach and the agricultural setting of Elberta.

Surveys are still coming in, Friday is the last day they will accept them, and the overall opinion is already taking shape.

So far, about 23 percent of the possible returns have come in, and the trend shows that the residents favor either remaining an unincorporated area or incorporating into the Town of Josephine.

By a substantial amount, annexing into Orange Beach is the community’s least favored option. A leading cause for this is the rumor of the sewage treatment plant that may be built in the Josephine area if taken over by Orange Beach.

At the upcoming Spring Fling, there will be speakers from Perdido Beach to answer questions and help with concerns the residents have. Healy said that Perdido Beach is currently working to incorporate and are farther along in the process. The president and secretary of the Perdido Beach Organization, Robert Gross and Patsy Parker, will be on hand to offer guidance. Healy feels that having gone through the process already, the two speakers can offer advice on the option of incorporation.

The final results will be announced at the community’s Spring Fling event on Sunday April 20. The event will begin at 4 p.m. at the Josephine Volunteer Fire Department.