Alexander council delays development decision

Due to the lack of requested documents, members of the Alexander City Council decided to hold-off on any decisions concerning the Alexander Human Development Center (AHDC) property until requested information is made available. As it turns out developer Benjamin Handford and Engineer Bill Hope, Jr., of Hope Consulting in Benton, did E-mail Mayor Paul Mitchell files of the requested documents.

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck said he received the files but Mitchell said he didn’t remember getting that E-mail. Subsequently copies were not provided in the council members’ meeting packets.

Handford has proposed developing the former state-run facility, located along Highway 111 in South Alexander, for both commercial and residential use. The residential plans include renovating the former Tuberculosis Hospital into apartments and building multi-family housing units in the area west of the building. The remainder of the property will be commercial under his plan.

Mitchell has proposed deeding the property to a developer who is willing to extend Brookwood Road, where it turns to connect to West Azalea, through the former AHDC property to Highway 111. In the documents this exchange is referred to as the “Purchase.” The documents include an appraisal of the property, a cost estimate to build the new section of Brookwood Road, a “Purchase and Sale Agreement,” a “Mayoral Certification” accepting the agreement, and an ordinance finalizing the deeding of the property.

A key portion of the agreement is a guarantee the Brookwood Road extension will be completed. Toward that end the agreement includes placing the estimated cost of road construction ($423,279.00) into escrow. As sections of the road are completed an equal dollar amount will be withdrawn from the escrow account.

Both Handford and Hope expressed the need to have documentation that the council is willing to accept this proposal before they can proceed with the next step. Both Mitchell and Council Member Joy Gray apologized for the delay. The expectation is the information provided in the documents will answer everyone’s questions and this issue can be settled at the December meeting.

Proposed route of the Brookwood Road extension and
development layout.

The only other agenda item involve approving a resolution that updates the employee manual to match current policies. Police Chief Robert Burnett explained to council members the changes being made to the policy manual are already in effect.

The changes include establishing when overtime begins for the various types of employees. The standard 40 hours applies to “non-uniformed employees.” Overtime for police officers begins at 43 hours and overtime for firefighters begins at 53 hours.

Other changes include establishing a two-week pay period for all city employees. Also, the retirement and health plans have been added to the section involving payroll deductions.

The resolution passed on a voice vote. Council members present were Joe Pollard, Joy Gray, Juanita Wilson, Harold Timmerman, Dan Church, and Lonny Chapman. Absent were Elizabeth Bland and Jeff Watson.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, December 16 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.