Mayor Woody Baird claims he has “a perfect record to run.” However, in Alexander City, where families pay close to $100 a month for 5,000 gallons of water, compared to just $36 nearby in Auburn, those words start to feel quite ironic.
Records show that an ordinance passed in September 2021 increased basic sewer fees from $10 to $20 and nearly doubled the charges from $6.34 to $12.68 per 1,000 gallons. This increase is further locked in at a maximum of 7% yearly until 2026, meaning residents can expect rising costs no matter what. In January 2025, another ordinance adjusted the city code concerning operational rates and debt costs, impacting industrial rates too.
By August, the implications of ordinance 2025-19 were clear. “The basis, adjustments, and allocation of sewerage fees depend on user classification (residential, commercial, industrial) and usage.” The city is mandated to periodically adjust fees to account for changes in maintenance costs, capital needs, debt obligations, and compliance expenses, automatically increasing these charges. Simply put, costs keep rising due to legislation.
This is how these regulations affect household budgets:
Families in Alexander City are paying more than twice, sometimes three times, what their nearby neighbors pay for similar water usage.
Unfortunately, they aren’t getting better service in return. Earlier this year, a resident named Karen Lee expressed her frustration, stating, “I don’t pay $100 a month for water I can’t drink.” Another individual complained that her tap water “smells like a swamp.” Residents have even brought cloudy water bottles to council meetings to illustrate the problem, and many families are forced to spend hundreds each month on bottled water to keep their children safe.
This frustration has led over 1,000 residents to sign a petition asking for help from Governor Kay Ivey, citing poor management, unsafe water, and unresponsive leadership. Instead of addressing the issue, the mayor’s office dismissed it as “not a single fact,” which speaks volumes more than any campaign slogan.
Meanwhile, the sewer department is facing a deficit of $2 million each year. Even with bills significantly higher than those of neighboring cities, the system continues to struggle financially. In June 2025, during what was described as a “heated discussion” by the Alexander City Outlook, the council voted to prevent scheduled 7% increases for 2025 and 2026. While this provided some temporary relief, it left a considerable gap in finances with no plan for resolution.
Baird’s most significant promise to remedy these issues crumbled dramatically. He had championed a $14 million sewer pipeline project, claiming it would drive industry and jobs to Alexander City. The city borrowed $9 million for this initiative, but soon after, the private partner faltered, and the project never came to fruition, leaving behind debt that families still have to pay.
This is what Baird’s “Perfect Record” looks like: a timeline that includes doubled rates and guaranteed auto-increases. By 2025, new ordinances reinforced automatic adjustments and the pipeline project had failed, while the council canceled hikes and the sewer department continued to report a $2 million deficit. All the families in the city saw was a mayor unwilling to face the repercussions of his decisions: skyrocketing bills and poor-quality water.
Leadership should be judged by results, not catchy phrases. The real outcomes should include access to clean water at reasonable prices, transparent debt accounting, and accountability for failed promises. By those criteria, families in Alexander City are paying more but getting less. Mayor Baird can maintain that it’s a “perfect record,” but whenever constituents open their bills, they’re confronted with the reality: increasing costs, deteriorating water quality, and ongoing debt. That’s the true record, and no amount of spin can change that.
