By Jeff Devine, with contributions by Rachel R., Dale County Chronicle
OZARK — Speaking in his characteristic folksy style, Ozark Mayor Charles R. Ward addressed community members during Coffee and Conversation at the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, outlining the city’s financial outlook, economic development priorities, and the balance between managing daily operations and planning for the future.
Ward began the morning by welcoming those in attendance and introducing participants before discussing the work he has undertaken during his first several months in office.
“Regarding what I’ve been doing since being inaugurated, I have been doing a deep dive these last four months,” Ward said. “I’ve got a plan, but while I’m doing this deep dive the city is still operating. We are dealing with issues every day somewhere around the city, trying to balance what needs to be taken care of and working for the future. This sometimes gets kind of tricky.”
Ward added that his leadership philosophy is rooted in public service.
“I’ve got a philosophy, and it’s no secret — I believe in serving the people,” he said.
A major focus of the discussion centered on the city’s financial outlook. Ward explained that Ozark is currently experiencing stagnant revenues due to various factors, prompting city leaders to evaluate spending and plan conservatively for the future.
Ward said he asked department heads to focus on essential expenditures and to look for opportunities to reduce costs by 3%, if possible, and only if necessary in the future.
Ward also noted that he has been seeking guidance from state and local leaders as the city works to strengthen its financial position and pursue new growth opportunities.
“I have been meeting with a lot of mayors across the state, state legislators, and officials at the governor’s office and lieutenant governor’s office, really leaning on a lot of their expertise to help us grow this community,” Ward said.
Another key theme of the discussion was the importance of expanding Ozark’s economic base. Ward said the city values its relationship with nearby Fort Rucker but must also pursue long-term economic diversification to ensure financial stability.
“In Ozark, we love Fort Rucker. We are going to do everything in our power to keep Fort Rucker here,” Ward said. “We are going to court them and do what we need to do. But I want to diversify the City of Ozark. I want us to have enough businesses so that if, in a worst-case scenario, Fort Rucker were to close, it might hurt, but it would not kill us.”
Ward said the path toward that stability involves attracting a wider variety of employers and industries.
“To do that, you have to bring in different types of jobs, businesses, and corporations that can help Ozark grow and become more independent of Fort Rucker,” he said.
In recent days, some critics have posted negative comments on social media regarding Ward’s remarks, with the comments suggesting the city’s financial situation is more severe than described during the meeting.
Following the event, the Dale County Chronicle interviewed Ward to clarify his comments. The mayor said some of his statements had been taken out of context and emphasized that his goal is to manage the city’s finances cautiously to ensure long-term stability.
“I didn’t say the city was in trouble financially,” Ward told the Chronicle. “I was simply pointing out that we are taking measures to ensure Ozark has a bright future ahead of us and that our finances remain positive.”
Ward added that the city’s financial position today is largely comparable to where it stood at the end of the previous administration.
“The current city’s finances are essentially on the same level as they were at the end of the previous administration,” Ward said.
Ward also told the Chronicle that the city is actively working to attract new businesses and investment. He said he has been collaborating with Holly Smith of the Ozark Dale County Economic Development Corporation on several potential projects that could bring new employers to the community.
According to Ward, several companies are currently exploring the possibility of locating in Ozark, though details cannot yet be released.
“I’m so excited about these opportunities that I can taste it,” Ward said. “But I can’t release more information until the deals are finalized.”
The next Coffee and Conversation event will feature Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum on April 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. It will be hosted by the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce, located in the Holman House at 285 E. Broad Street. If you are interested in attending, RSVP by sending an email to [email protected] to ensure your spot is saved.
