When we heard the news this week that contractors working on Alabama’s governor’s beach mansion in Fort Morgan had constructed a 60-foot-long concrete wall on land that was a Baldwin County owned right of way, we couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.

The entire situation is indicative of how folks at the state level tend to treat the people of Baldwin County.

If the state wants to do something, like build a wall on our right of way, give us medians we don’t want in a major roadway, or conspire to close down a useful back road, they do it, without regard to our needs as the people who actually work and live in this county.

But when we genuinely need something, such as improvements to the state roads that crisscross our county, or more access to funds that were paid because of an oil spill that actually affected us here in Baldwin County, they ignore us or plead poverty.

We applaud our county commissioners for the stand they’re taking on this illegal construction and the Reaganesque entreaties asking the governor to remove the wall.

We agree with Commissioner Chris Elliott when he says that land belongs to the people of Baldwin County, providing access to a beach for local residents – and we hope they will stand firm and not allow such an affront to our property rights to exist.

The people of Baldwin County are good, hard-working people who contribute vast amounts of money to the state’s coffers. Our taxes pay for roads, schools and other vital needs for lower revenue-generating counties around the state. We know our role as a revenue generator for Alabama, and we’re proud to contribute as much as we do.

All we’re asking for is a certain amount of respect and recognition for the prosperity we bring the rest of Alabama.

Treat us the way you would like to be treated – listen to our needs, give us the help we ask for to continue the prosperity we all benefit from and respect our rights.

Alabama’s state motto has long been “We dare defend our rights,” and that’s exactly the spirit that our county commissioners are embodying in this fight.

So, in closing, we have but one statement to make:

Mr. Dr. Gov. Bentley, tear down your wall.

This editorial represents the collective opinion of the Gulf Coast Media Editorial Board, composed of editors and staff of the Gulf Coast Media family of newspapers. If you have questions or comments, or would like to send a letter to the editor for publication, please email our managing editor at cliff@gulfcoastmedia.com.