Alexander Planning Commission re-established, two members appointed, three more needed

The Alexander City Council has re-established the city’s planning commission after dissolving it in April. At the council’s June 19 meeting Mayor Paul Mitchell then appointed Ward-2 Alderwoman Juanita Wilson and former Ward-3 Alderman Michael Huck to fill two of the five vacant planning commission seats. Mitchell is still accepting resumes from any city resident wishing to serve on the commission.

Mitchell also said he wanted to appoint Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway to the planning commission. However, it is understood that state law limits a planning commission’s membership to one-third by any elected or appointed member of the city. Since one-third of five is one Alderwoman Juanita Wilson will serve as that member. If Ridgeway can’t serve directly as a member of the planning commission Mitchel said he will appoint him as a liaison to the commission.

The ordinance establishing the current five-member planning commission was passed in November, 2014. It established two temporary one-year terms, two temporary two-year terms and one three-year term. When the temporary terms expired they converted to three-year terms establishing a staggered appointment calendar.

When the ordinance was approved Michelle Hobbs was mayor. Later in November she was defeated by Mitchell in a runoff election. He was sworn-in January 1, 2015 to a four-year term.

The ordinance required the city council to make the first appointments. While not stated in the ordinance, after those initial appointments filling any vacancies falls to the mayor.

The three-year term, the two two-year terms and one of the one-year terms were filled at a special meeting April 6, 2015. Huck had volunteered to serve on the planning commission but was not appointed by the council in a seven to one vote. At the regular May meeting the council filled the remaining vacancy.

Using April 6, 2015 as a starting point the two one-year terms expired April 6, 2016. Their next expiration year is 2019. Wilson and Huck were appointed by Mitchell to complete these two terms. He still needs to fill the vacancies for the original two two-year terms, which now expire in 2020, and the one three-year term, which expires in 2018.

During the first two years of the original appointments two of the planning commission members resigned. Mitchell did not fill those vacancies. In April, 2016 and 2017 the appointment of two other members expired. Mitchell did not reappoint the individuals holding those two seats, but by state law they remained appointed until replaced. When the council approved to, “Dissolve the planning commission and re-establish it at a later date,” during the April, 2017 meeting, that action removed all current members of the planning commission from their positions including the term that expires in 2018.

During the April meeting Mitchell said the last planning commission meeting was held around April of 2016. He said planning commissions are required to meet once every quarter.

During the June meeting Mitchell expressed the same sentiments he stated during the April meeting.

“They’ve gotten very little done,” Mitchell said.

At the April meeting Mitchell said he wants to appoint, “People who are really interested.”

The vote to re-establish the planning commission was seven to one. The only “No” vote was due to the absence of Ward-1 Alderwoman Elizabeth Bland who was out-of-state at the time. Anyone who is absent is counted as a “No” vote.

The only other business conducted during the June 19 meeting was a report on the distribution of free smoke detectors to City of Alexander residents. The city’s fire department is working with the Little Rock chapter of the Red Cross to provide the life-saving devices.

Red Cross representative Nora Hamdon told council members 103 smoke detectors have been provided and installed. Hamdon and a member of the City of Alexander Fire Department have been canvassing the city on Saturdays looking for anyone who doesn’t have at least two working smoke detectors. She said the Red Cross is providing a maximum of two per residence and installing them to be sure they are installed properly and put to use.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, July 17. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the City of Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.