Alexander Street Department’s purchase requests approved

The Alexander City Council approved the purchase of a used track-hoe, buying a bat wing mower and trading the current Mahindra tractor for a larger model. Both Mayor Paul Mitchell and Street Department Supervisor David Durham explained the two purchases to council members.

Track Hoe

Photo courtesy Paul Mitchell

The track hoe will allow the city to clean out ditches, clear the bank along Crooked Creek and clear property not maintained by the owner. Mitchell said the department plans to purchase a mower attachment that will go onto the end of the track hoe arm allowing the street department to mow banks that are along some city streets. The track hoe is equipped with a narrow bucket used for digging and cleaning ditches but a 48-inch wide bucket will also be purchased for larger jobs such as cleaning abandoned properties. The council approved the request for $37,750.

Durham noted that buying this type of equipment, “Eliminates outsourcing.” Mitchell added the city could pay, “$20,000 to someone else,” or pay a little more and the city can have its own equipment.

The tractor trade-in includes a bat-wing mower, which will allow the operator to mow ditches while the tractor remains on the street. Durham says this will speed up the mowing time along city streets from around three days down to about one to one-and-a-half days. The Mahindra the city has now, purchased in March 2017, can only use a bush hog which is the width of the tractor, limiting how much of a ditch can be mowed. The remainder is mowed with a weed eater.

Bat Wing

Photo courtesy Paul Mitchell

Both tractors, the current 38-horsepower owned by the city and the larger 75-horsepower being requested, have a front-end bucket loader. When the current tractor was purchased the street department didn’t have a dump truck. However, one was purchased a few months ago and now the smaller Mahindra can’t reach above the dump bed. The council approved the request of $33,168 for the tractor, bat wing and trade-in.

At the request of Mayor Mitchell, the council passed a third motion splitting the costs of both purchases between the street department fund and the park fund. Since the street department equipment is also used to maintain the park Mitchell said it would only be fair the park fund pay for some of the equipment.

During the reports section of the May 21 meeting;

Interim Treasurer JoAn Churchill received approval from council members to amend the employee manual by defining what constitutes a day when accumulating time for annual leave and sick leave. Employees start out earning one day per month of both annual and sick leave. The more years they stay with the city additional hours are added to the time earned monthly, she explained.

For both personal leave and sick leave a day for, “non-uniform (employees) is eight hours, … the police is twelve hours and currently the fire department is 13.36,” Churchill said.

She added there are 85 paid fire departments in the state using 14 hours as a day because, “they work 24-hour days.” This also provides the required minimum of 15 days.

The new paragraph will establish a day for non-uniform employees (office staff) as eight hours, police officers 12 hours and paid firefighters as 14 hours.

Another issue brought to the council’s attention by Churchill concerned hotel research gone awry. The Arkansas Municipal League’s January 2017 Winter Conference was held in Fort Smith. In September 2016 former City Treasurer Kenneth Miller was doing cost research for 11 hotel rooms. Ultimately, no one went but while researching the Hilton Hotel Churchill said he accidental clicked the reservation button.

“He immediately realized what he did and canceled it,” she said.

Hotel management, however, still wants the cancellation fee which Churchill says is the, “Cost of the room.”

After fighting it for over a year Churchill told council members the City is going to pay the $1,863. She added for future situations like this anyone needing a hotel room will make their own reservations.

Mayor Mitchell asked for a motion and vote to pay the cancellation fee so as to satisfy the state auditors. The motion passed.

Police Chief Robert Burnett reported to council members the department held a “Sniper school” in early May. He said it was attended by officers throughout the state. The classroom portion was held in a building donated by Pathfinders, Inc. located on the former Human Development Center property. The shooting portion was held at a shooting range.

Burnett also reported the Alexander Police Department is getting more recognition. He said the department is now on the Arkansas State Police Department’s rapid-response list and Saline County has used the city’s K-9 dog for drug searches.

Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway received approval to sell the department’s brush truck.

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck reported to council members the city’s subdivision rules and regulations are being reviewed by the city attorney. At a special meeting held May 8 the commission reviewed a proposed set of new zoning ordinances. He said changes have been made and they will be reviewed again at a regular meeting on June 12.

Before the meeting was adjourned Alderman Joe Pollard reported on some incidents he has witnessed at the city park. Some involved finding the gate unlocked after 10 PM and finding teens there after closing. During the day he said skateboarders and skaters are using the gazebo, as a skating area, which can damage the floor. He suggested posting signs.

Street and Park Superintendent David Durham said he has signs but he was waiting for everything to be completed. He said he will now post the signs.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, June 18. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the City of Alexander City Hall. The public is invited to attend.