Alexander council approves Phase-1 preliminary design of Meadows Edge

The subdivision is being built on a former cattle
farm along Highway 111 (South Alexander Road).
The approximate 200-acre farm is divided by the
highway with the largest portion on the west side.
The L-shaped section fronts Highway 111 on the
north end and Brookwood Road on the south.

After a presentation given by the developer and engineer of the proposed Meadows Edge Subdivision, the Alexander City Council gave its approval to continue the design of Phase-1 of the project. Developer Rick Ferguson and engineer Joe White are on a tight time schedule. They want to have some homes available for purchase in time for the 2016 opening of the new FedEx distribution center. They're expecting employees will want to live near the facility being built at Alexander and Vimy Ridge roads.

Project Engineer Joe White described the subdivision to those attending the February 23 council meeting. He said the lots will be approximately 60 feet wide and 120 to 130 feet deep. Each phase will have 50 to 60 lots with Phase-1 starting at 60. The ultimate goal is to have up to 300 homes. He estimated the entire subdivision could take four to five years to complete.

There will be more than homes, streets and sidewalks in Meadows Edge. White said, "There's a lot of green space that we're leaving alone, a lot of creeks. We're doing it for several reasons, one we want a neighborhood that's ... green, we want to leave the creeks natural and make it pretty, and that's what our goal is."

Later the developer Rick Ferguson added, "What we like to do is go in and cut in little trails, try to keep kids off the streets and into the woods."

White's second reason for leaving the green areas essentially undisturbed is of a more practical nature. He said the plan has been reviewed by a firm familiar with the Army Corps of Engineers waterway requirements. He said, "With this layout we will not need a Corps permit."

The single-family homes are expected to fall into the $150,000 to $175,000 price range. Most of them will be one-level with three or four bedrooms.

Mayor Paul Mitchell asked what happens if it's discovered a change to the plat that's been approved is needed? Ferguson said all changes must be approved by the council.

The next step is to present a completed, detailed plat of Phase-1 to the planning commission for approval as quickly as possible. White said, "By the time you put the streets and utilities in Phase-1, you're six months down the road."

The reason the council has been performing the duties of a planning commission is because the council is still in the process of establishing a new commission and selecting its members. All eight aldermen voted to adopt the Phase-1 preliminary plan.

Mayor Paul Mitchell is expecting to have a workshop meeting next week so the aldermen can interview those who have submitted resumes for the planning commission and the vacant treasurer's position. A second meeting will then be held to appoint commission members and a treasurer.

Adopting the Phase-1 preliminary plan was contingent on the adoption of the Saline County Subdivision Rules and Regulations. All eight aldermen also voted to adopt the regulations to be used by the city. The city will use the regulations as the standards future subdivisions must meet before they can be built within the Alexander city limits.

The developers of Meadows Edge voluntarily decided to use the county's regulations when a city version wasn't available. The subdivision regulations include requirements such as the plat submission process; suitability of the land for development; and construction standards for streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, water, and sewer lines.

In other business;

Credit cards coming to city hall?

Council members also heard from Randy Atkisson with Hartland Payment Systems. Hartland is the fifth largest credit card processing company in the country.

Currently, any financial transactions processed at city hall must be cash only. Atkisson said fines and fees will be able to be paid by credit card either at city hall or on-line. He estimated the cost for processing each payment at 2.5% to 3.5% of the amount charged to the credit card, depending on volume. Atkisson added that the city could charge a convenience fee to pay for using a credit card.

Mayor Mitchell said he's thought about selling burn permits on-line. "We've got to try to bring us up into the 21st-Century," he said.

Council members requested information about the company's services in a written form so the proposal can be considered at a later meeting.

Interviewing for new fire chief

During the reports section of the meeting Mitchell said he's interviewing individuals to replace the fire chief. Currently the fire chief and firefighters also serve with the Chrystal Hill Fire Department.

Mitchell was informed by one of the aldermen the fire command vehicle is being used by the Alexander fire chief to drive to and from Chrystal Hill. "I will put a stop to that," he said.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held Monday, March 16, 6 pm in city hall. Regular meetings are held the third Monday of the month. The public is invited to attend.