Woody Baird’s Platform & Achievements

---

Mayor Curtis “Woody” Baird has led Alexander City through one of its most transformative chapters in recent history. When he took office in November 2020, the city faced serious challenges: outdated infrastructure, a history of budget deficits, no bond rating, and four years of missed audits. Within four years, his administration turned it around—with measurable results:

• Delivered city employee pay raises after years without increases.

• Eliminated a 3–5 million dollar annual budget deficit that had plagued the city for over 20 years (completed FY2022).
   
• Brought all city audits up to date—catching up on 2016 through 2022; audits for 2023 and 2024 are currently underway.
   
• Restructured the city’s organizational chart for better communication and efficiency across departments.
   
• Stabilized a collapsing wastewater system and launched a five-year plan to fully fund and modernize it.
   
• Regained borrowing power by completing overdue audits and secured SRF loans for wastewater expansion.

• Modernizing the city’s utility systems, with 60 new AMI meters installed as of May 19, 2025. 

• Replaced the police fleet with 10 new vehicles.
   
• Finalized development deals with major businesses, including:
  • Chick-fil-A (2021)
  • Holiday Inn Express (2022)
  • Wharf Seafood (2022)
  • Scooters Coffee (2022)
  • Gateway Retail Center (2024)

• Acquired funding to replace 100-year-old water lines and improve downtown infrastructure.
   
• Negotiated major land swaps to support the new high school project.
    
• Installed new LED lighting and completed apron expansion at T.C. Russell Field, with FAA grant funding secured. Initiated the building of Fire Station #3 and upgrades to the AWOS system are also underway. (2024)
   
• Secured $5 million for the Coley Creek improvement plan.

• Secured a grant for the new 6th Street playground.
   
• Initiated and completed the city’s new five-year Comprehensive Plan (2024).
   
• Brought Lake Winds Golf back into profitability (2023).
   
• Completed the new Imagination Station community space (2023–2024).
   
• Finalized utility deal with Two Rivers Sawmill (2021).
   
• Led the relocation of City Hall to the New Municipal Facility building during the pandemic (2021).
   
• Maintained full city services through the COVID-19 pandemic and four severe weather events (2021–2022).
   
• Completed negotiations for three major new residential developments: White Oak Landing, Miner’s Cove, and Shiner’s Cove.
   
• Oversaw more than $25 million in grant funding awarded to Alexander City.
   
• Attracted major private investment, including developments by Russell Lands and Two Rivers.
   
• Delivered city employee pay raises after years without increases.
   
• Opened the new municipal complex and completed major projects to rebuild city facilities.
   
• Restored the city’s financial stability and established a foundation for future borrowing and growth.

Woody Baird’s leadership brought Alexander City out of crisis and into recovery—with real results. Now, he’s asking for your support to continue that momentum and finish what’s been started.