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Serious concerns have emerged in Alexander City as residents contend with skyrocketing utility costs, questionable infrastructure decisions, and persistent water quality problems—all under the leadership of Mayor Curtis “Woody” Baird, who also serves as superintendent of utilities.
Escalating Utility Costs
In 2021, Mayor Baird introduced a sweeping plan that dramatically increased sewer fees. Base sewer charges doubled overnight, rising from $10 to $20, while usage rates surged from $6.34 to $12.68 per 1,000 gallons. For the average household, this amounted to an additional $420 annually for sewer services alone. But the increases didn’t stop there. Under Baird’s plan, sewer rates will climb by 7 percent annually through 2026, leading to a 162 percent total increase.
Residents say the impact has been devastating. A March 2022 WAKA report featured homeowners reporting unusual spikes in their utility bills. Many claimed they were paying double or triple their typical costs for electricity, water, gas, and sewer services. Some residents now shell out between $200 to $300 a month for sewage alone—an unsustainable burden for many in a community where wages have failed to keep pace.
City Council President Audrey Colvin has witnessed the struggle firsthand, even monitoring her own mother’s utilities due to her fixed income. “I’ve seen how difficult this is for so many,” Colvin said at the time, encouraging residents to visit City Hall if they noticed significant increases so the city could help determine the cause.
Failed Infrastructure Projects
At the center of the controversy lies a failed infrastructure project that residents say has saddled them with financial burdens and little to show for it. In 2022, Alexander City borrowed $9 million for a $14 million sewer pipeline project, pitched as an economic game-changer. The pipeline was intended to service a new industrial site that promised to attract businesses, jobs, and revenue.
Instead, by May 2023, Mayor Baird admitted that the company tied to the project had run out of capital. The anticipated industry and economic growth never materialized, leaving the city with millions in debt—debt now being passed on to taxpayers.
Water Quality Concerns
The financial strain is compounded by ongoing water quality issues that have plagued Alexander City since 2020. Residents have reported discolored, foul-smelling water flowing through their taps. Christy Smith, a local homeowner, described her alarming experience to the Alexander City Outlook. “It smelled like raw sewage and looked like red mud,” Smith said, adding, “It’s a crying shame we have these outrageous prices, and we don’t have drinking water.”
Despite repeated assurances from Mayor Baird and city officials that the water leaving the treatment plant is safe, skepticism remains high. Officials have attributed the discoloration to manganese buildup in aging pipes, environmental factors like thunderstorms, and low water turnover in certain neighborhoods. However, residents like Smith feel these explanations fall short of addressing the root problems—especially as utility costs continue to climb.
“We’re paying hundreds of dollars for utilities,” Smith said, “but the water that comes through our taps isn’t fit for a dog.”
Leadership Under Scrutiny
As superintendent of utilities, Mayor Baird receives a $15,000 annual stipend in addition to his mayoral salary, making him directly responsible for overseeing and improving the city’s utilities. With spiraling costs, deteriorating infrastructure, and undrinkable water, many residents are now questioning the leadership’s ability to deliver results.
One frustrated resident summed up the sentiment: “What are we paying for?”
While some improvements are in the works—like the recent $500,000 grant from Governor Kay Ivey to upgrade downtown water lines—trust in local government remains strained. Residents are demanding accountability and solutions to ensure their money is being used effectively to address these long-standing problems.
For now, the people of Alexander City remain burdened by rising costs, poor water quality, and unanswered questions. As frustrations boil over, the calls for leadership to address the crisis grow louder.
