Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell reminds everyone he's only been mayor "5 1/5 months"

City of Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell defended complaints about the lack of improvements in city hall operations and the condition of some residences by reminding everyone he's only been mayor since January 1. Bob McKeon, speaking as both a city resident and representing the Saline County Water and Sewer District (SCWSD), addressed the council and mayor about problems he had getting a Freedom of Information (FOI) request fulfilled, asked if mobile homes are being inspected before they are set-up in the city, what is being done about cleaning up South Alexander (formerly Woodland Hills), and asked about the progress of three theft of services complaints he filed with the police department on behalf of SCWSD.

On June 2 McKeon says he attempted to get a copy of the police report on the theft of services charge. One of the complaints involved water being shut-off for about two months at a city residence when someone installed a by-pass line around the water meter.

McKeon said Officer Gladness told him, "No citation was issued because no one was home at the time and no follow-up was done."

"Is that normal practice for the police department ... when all the evidence is there,” McKeon asked. “I did get the police report. It substantiated theft of services for $1,000 approximately, pictures attached and all that. His investigation was there, Mr. Gladness, that he discovered the by-pass ... as far as I know nothing has been done on that."

Later in the meeting Police Chief John Fenton arrived and updated McKeon on the progress of the investigations. According to Fenton one citation was issued to an individual who, “Went to jail on a separate offense.” He has been given a court date on the theft-of-services charge. Two other residents were also cited and given court dates.

When asked about restitution Fenton said, “Restitution is the responsibility of the water department.”

He added restitution will be awarded when they come to court. If they haven’t paid what they owe Fenton suggested the water department take them to small claims court.

Moving on to his FOI requests McKeon said he submitted them June 2. The requests were for ordinances concerning set-up and permits for mobile homes/manufactured housing.

McKeon said he checked back one week later and the ordinances still weren’t available. "They told me they did not have them. That's what JoAn said, that I took them with me and I didn't. Apparently, she put them in your (Mayor) box."

Mitchell, "I'll check on it."

"That's what we hear all the time Mayor, I'll check on it," McKeon said. “It is now the 15th, I have still not heard anything on the Freedom of Information (request). And the rule is I’m suppose to find something out when I ask for it.”

“There will be an informal something (training) about FOI,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell added there have been some changes in the law that went into effect this year and he needs to find out what they are. Alderwoman Andrea Bearden said one of the changes was changing the three-day notification period to upon request if the information is easily available.

Next on McKeon’s list was the inspection of mobile homes before and after they are setup. Besides the question as general information he also targeted Alderman Jeff Watson’s home as a current example.

McKeon asked, “Do you have a person in charge of setting up mobile homes, inspections?”

“Not officially, it’s whoever I can find at the moment,” Mitchell said. “Jeff Watson has been helping out.”

Bearden asked, “Do you have any experience in code (enforcement)?”

“Yes,” Watson answered.

“How much experience do you have in code,” Bearden continued?

“I have almost three years of experience … code enforcement and building inspections, setups (mobile home).” Watson replied.

After Mitchell returned the council’s attention to the previous topic, McKeon began passing out copies of city ordinances concerning fees and setup requirements for factory built homes. His handout also included photos of Watson’s mobile home. At the time of the meeting the home had been setup but wasn’t connected to utilities, including water or sewer.

Quoting from a section of the ordinance concerning used manufactured housing being moved into the city McKeon said, “All exterior siding shall be in place undamaged, loose or mildewed siding shall not be allowed.”

McKeon went on to say he requested the, “Inspection sheet where the fire department inspected that (Watson’s mobile home).”

Quoting again from a city ordinance he said, “Requiring inspections, before issuing any setup permits and or business license can be issued within the city.”

Alderman Church asked, “Where did these pictures come from?”

“They came from me,” McKeon said. While Ratliff and Church were asking about the validity of the photos he added, “I was there checking the sewer issue.”

“You’re not a code inspector so why are you taking pictures of his home,” Church asked? “It’s not even livable and it’s on his property.”

“Because it got setup without any kind of, if I had gotten an inspection sheet on it when I did ask for one,” McKeon replied.

“I don’t see where you have any right going on his property,” Church said. “Had he ordered any water connection hookup?”

“Yes he had, sewer and water,” McKeon responded.

With that Watson asked, “When did I order sewer and water?”

“You came down three different times, three different times,” McKeon said.

“I came down and asked for the price of it,” Watson replied.

“You also wanted to see where the main was at, you-all wanted to see where everything was at so you could setup,” McKeon responded. “But, that’s not why I was on it. We have a sewer main down there that gentleman took a dozer and dozed it. I didn’t take pictures of that but there was all kinds of trash and building material. But, I’ve got’em if you need to see them.”

When Church and others began to ask how they could see pictures he didn’t take Mitchell gaveled the meeting back to order.

Referring to the photos McKeon asked Mayor Mitchell, “Is that proper inspection for a setup inspector to do?”

“I would say no,” Mitchell said.

“Then why are we allowing stuff like that to come into our city, McKeon asked. “That ordinance was written to keep junk like that from coming into the city.”

“The pictures, that he has taken, is [sic] all from the moving of the trailer,” Watson explained. “We had an issue with it when we was [sic] moving it, it’s all been fixed. It is … no longer there.”

“But my question is, Mayor, the ordinance states it has to be inspected prior to being moved onto the property,” McKeon said.

“Yes sir, absolutely, no question about it,” Mitchell said.

“Was this inspected prior to,” interrupting McKeon Watson said, “Yes it was.”

“And, that was not on there prior to moving,” McKeon asked in disbelief?

“When we took the turns up here at the shooting range they dropped it off the side of the road,” Watson explained.

“That was sitting in the pit when they first brought it out, that was on the side,” McKeon said. “And, it mildewed and rotted out.”

“How much rain have we had in between now and then,” Watson asked. “That is not mildew that is tore [sic] out.”

McKeon then moved on to fire inspection. “The fire chief is suppose to inspect the property prior to it (mobile home) being put on,” he said. “Has that been done?

“Not that I’m aware of,” Mitchell replied.

The fire chief in question was replaced by current chief Mark Ridgeway.

“Why are ordinances that are passed in the city not being enforced,” McKeon asked?

 “We’ve got to make sure the people who are suppose to be doing it are enforcing them,” Mitchell said. “All I can say is I will look into it. I can’t catch everything that comes into the city.”

 “We (could) have lost our development; Meadows Edge because of the condition of the City of Alexander, period,” McKeon told the council. “They finally got some funding … they had to go out of state. We need to do something with the clean-up ordinances, the setup and inspection ordinances, whatever it takes.”

After McKeon finished and sat down Mitchell said, “I would like to remind everybody this administration has only been here five-and-a-half months. There is absolutely no way that any single one of us in this administration; police, fire, any of us can fix all these changes that were just put here and everything work perfectly.”

“You’ve got to give us some time to get people in place,” he continued. “Now, if there’s anybody in here that can do it any faster than five-and-a-half months please hold your hand up ‘cause I want to see it. You can sit up here and I’ll sit down there.”

With that McKeon’s hand went up and to that Mitchell said, “Yeah, I know you would buddy.”

“That’s the way it stands right now, everything is improving, it will get better,” Mitchell continued. “There will be people in place, qualified and trained to make sure all these items are taken care of. There’s a new chief of police, brought the fire chief back. Mark Ridgeway (Fire Chief) he’s working on the fire department. The police department, we’re working on it. We’re working on other things to bring this place around to where it needs to be, get it cleaned up, get these ordinances working like they’re suppose to; get these people trained so they know their job and know what they’re suppose to do.”

He went on to point out, “These people in the front office, also, have been here less than five-and-a-half months and they do not know it all. Anybody that don’t understand that I feel sorry for them ‘cause it is going to take time to do it.”

“It’s going to take each and every person in this city working along with us, supporting us, to help us get this done,” Mitchell said. “And, that’s support morally, that’s support financially, and helping us work with us to get this done otherwise it’s going to be the same old Alexander it’s always been.”

Mitchell also spoke of what could be considered Alexander’s biggest problem, its reputation.

“It’s difficult to try to get anybody to come to work for the Alexander Police Department that’s got any self-esteem,” he said. “They don’t want to work here it’s got such a bad reputation. The fire department’s the same issue.”

Three residential lots cleaned

Police Chief John Fenton’s oral report for May just happened to concern three lots that have now been cleaned by the residents. He showed aldermen photos of three lots; one with recreational vehicles, one with furniture in the front yard and one with couches. He said all of the items have been removed.

Fenton also showed council members a sample of what is being provided to each resident in violation of a city ordinance and explained how it’s being handled.

“What we’re doing is we’re giving them a red card (door hanger),” Fenton said. The red door hangar, “Tells them the (ordinance) they’re in violation of. And, we also provide them with a stapled copy of the ordinance that they violate with the section highlighted. We’re trying to give everybody a reasonable amount of time to clean-up their yard.”

Fenton credits the use of a, “Polite approach” in getting results.

“People were actually very pleased because we weren’t there just writing them a ticket,” he said.

Fire truck will not be returned

Mayor Mitchell reported to the council that a judge ruled the city will not have its repossessed fire truck returned. The ruling came during a hearing held May 18 in Mississippi. Both Mitchell and Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway had to miss the May monthly council meeting to attend the hearing.

Mitchell said the ruling was based on a $54,000.00 bond that was required by Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Tim Fox when Chicago financier Paul Anthony Graver defied two court orders to return the truck. The truck was sold to a company in Raleigh, Mississippi.

“He (judge) said he couldn’t see how the City of Alexander could be harmed in any way because we had the $54,000.00,” Mitchell said.

But, that’s only if the city wins its lawsuit against Graver. In March, 2013 Alexander Mayor Michelle Hobbs, without consulting the city council, stopped making the monthly payments claiming the lease-purchase agreement was illegal under the Arkansas Constitution, which restricts how cities can take on interest-paying debt. The 1999 Freightliner fire truck was repossessed later that year.

Planning Commission report

Planning Commission Chairman Bob McKeon gave a report on the June 9 meeting. He said commission members discussed, “future voluntary annexation (Forrest Hills Memorial Park, cemetery), future of the Human Development Center and also a GIS map of all parcels within the city. This includes the businesses, the residential and undeveloped properties as they are taxed.”

There was also a discussion concerning the opening of East Azalea through to Shannon Hills. It requires extending the pavement about 300 feet.

The proposal comes from not only residents in that section of Shannon Hills who want more direct access to South Alexander Road but police and fire departments as well. Alexander Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway told council members earlier in the meeting the trucks currently have to be driven over a longer and poorly maintained route to provide mutual aid to Shannon Hills.

Next meeting

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held Monday, July 20 in the courtroom in city hall. The meeting begins at 6 PM and the public is encouraged to attend.

I apologize for this article being late. There were too many special meetings and I had a long pre-summer honey-do list. And, the heat didn't help.