Tell City of Alexander officials what you want in the new Master Development Plan

The Alexander Planning Commission has set June 11 as the date for a public meeting to receive input from residents, business and property owners concerning the future growth of the city. The meeting will be held at the pavilion in the city park from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM; weather permitting.

“It will not be a typical meeting, but more similar to an open house.” according to Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck. “Visitors will be able to participate in the meeting anytime between 11:00 and 2:00.”

Before taking part in various activities designed to elicit responses from participants, they will be shown the results of a public survey taken in 2021. Attendees will then move from table to table participating in the discussion topic for that location. Categories include Vision, Transportation, Housing, Recreation, Employment, and Making it Happen.

Huck explained the public meeting is part of the process to write a new Master Development Plan for the city. The Master Development Plan will be used by current and future city leaders to act as a guide concerning residential and commercial growth in the City of Alexander. The current master development plan was approved in 1982.

One of the exercises involves having attendees design, “Alexander from scratch,” Huck said.

Visitors will be able to place zoning labels on a large map, to mark-off residential and business areas, as if Alexander is a blank canvas.

The opinions gathered at this public meeting will be combined with the 2021 survey results. Metroplan staff will then write a preliminary Master Development Plan.

A proposed final version will be presented at a future, more official, public hearing. Comments from the public hearing will be considered when writing the final version of the Master Development Plan. The plan will then go to the planning commission and then the city council for final approval.

Metroplan is a non-profit organization that helps cities and counties in Central Arkansas design and apply for grants involving transportation and other development projects. Writing a Master Development Plan is one step in that process.

Alexander’s Election Day polling locations

On Primary Election Day, May 24, Alexander voters are required to cast their ballots in one of two locations. The polling place for Alexander voters, living in Pulaski County, is in Mabelvale. Voters in the Saline County portion of the city will vote at the former Human Development Center along Hwy. 111 in South Alexander (Follow direction signs). The addresses are:

Pulaski County portion of Alexander:

First Missionary Baptist Church

10300 Mabelvale West Road, Mabelvale

Saline County portion of Alexander:

Former Human Development Center property

15115 Highway 111, Alexander

Polling Hours of Operation:
07:30 AM - 07:30 PM

Alexander Planning Commission Special Meeting Tuesday

The Alexander Planning Commission has scheduled a Special Meeting for Tuesday, May 24. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM and will be held in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall) on Hwy. 111 across from the post office. The public is invited to attend.

The only agenda item listed is, “Master Development Plan public input meeting; Pre-meeting preparation review.” This will be the planning commission’s last opportunity to meet before the Public Input Meeting being held as part of the process to write a master development plan. That meeting is scheduled for June 11, from 11 to 2, at the pavilion in the City Park.

Alexander Council approves paving bid for three streets

The Alexander City Council approved appropriating $48,000.00 to pave three city streets. The low-bid of $47,514.40 was submitted by Cranford Construction Company of Little Rock. A second bid of $76,260.00 was submitted by Red Stone of Little Rock. The streets to be paved are the section of Brookwood Rd. between the rail road tracks and Shobe Rd., Alexander Rd. between Third St. and Fourth St. and sections of Cornerstone Road.

Mayor Paul Mitchell told council members he wanted to take this opportunity to get these three areas repaved before the price increases. Construction companies will be submitting their annual bids for the cost of asphalt this summer. Cranford was awarded the contract for this area of the state last year, which applies to state, county and city projects. Mitchell said that’s why Cranford’s bid was much lower than Red Stone’s. With the increase in oil prices he expects next year’s bids to be higher.

Council member Juanita Wilson asked about the financial status of the street department fund. Mitchell said the money will be transferred from the general fund to the street fund in order to track it as street department spending.

Also at the May 16 meeting:

Bucket truck purchase approved

Council members approved the purchase of a 1995 International 4700 T444E with an Altec Platform (the bucket) for $8,000.00. At the same time they also approved selling the street department’s current bucket truck. The truck is being purchased from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Division of Federal Surplus Property.

According to Mayor Paul Mitchell this truck is 10 years newer than the current truck. It will also reach higher. He said there’s nothing wrong with the old truck except its age makes it difficult to easily get parts.

Second appraisal of park land

Mitchell told council members he is getting a second appraisal of the land that was thought to be part of the city park, but ownership is now in dispute. The area containing the water fountain and gazebo was thought to have been donated to the city when the improvements were made.

About three years ago the “owner” reclaimed the property. Mitchell and two city attorneys have tried to negotiate a solution but the owner refuses to respond. The appraisals are an attempt to determine the value of the property minus the improvements.

Meadow’s Edge update

Mitchell reported that speed limit signs will be erected in the Meadow’s Edge Subdivision soon. He also said he has been in contact with someone who should be able to get Entergy to speed up the process of installing the street lights in the Phase-3 portion of the subdivision.

Circle K close to opening

Mayor Mitchell said the Circle K, at Highway 5 and North Alexander Road, has passed its second safety inspection and should be opening soon. It’s taken over a year to build the convenience store/gas station due to the need to install a sewer line.

Candidate speaks to council

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting Tara Shephard (D) spoke about her running to represent District-79 in the Arkansas House of Representatives. The Pulaski County portion of Alexander is in District-79.

Among her many accomplishments she included her employment of over 20 years as the Compliance and Accreditation Manager at the Alexander Youth Service Center, a Correctional Auditor traveling the nation auditing jails and prisons and she is a suicide prevention trainer for the Community Advisory Board for the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Chapter. She is a former board member of the Little Rock School District, a member of the League of Women Voters and a former member of the American Association of University Women.

“I’m running because a few years ago my son was diagnosed with a chronic illness,” she said. “So I decided I not only wanted to fight for my child but other Arkansans that are dealing with chronic illnesses.”

Also appearing on the Democrat Primary ballot is Teresa Coney. No Republicans filed for this position. Who ever wins the Democrat Primary will win the General Election.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, June 20 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The public is invited to attend.

Street paving and bucket truck on Alexander agenda

The agenda for the next meeting of the Alexander City Council includes a request to spend “$48,000.00 for street overlay.” The agenda also includes a request to sell the street department’s current bucket truck and replace it with a “newer” bucket truck for $8,000.00.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, May 16, 6:00PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex across from the post office. The public is invited to attend.

2022 Primary early voting begins Monday, May 9

Early voting for the 2022 Arkansas Primary begins Monday, May 9. Listed below are early voting locations and the races with two or more candidates. Because Alexander is in two counties some races are listed based on the Pulaski County or Saline County portion of the city.

Locations:

Pulaski County

Monday-Friday (May 9-13 & 16-20) 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Saturday (May 14-21) 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Monday (May 23) 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Pulaski County Regional Center Only.)

DISTANCE FROM
ALEAXANDER CITY HALL

Dee Brown Library ~ 6.8 Miles – 7.2 Miles (Depending on route.)
6325 Baseline Rd, Little Rock

Sidney S. McMath Library ~ 9.1 – 9.6 Miles
2100 John Barrow Rd, Little Rock

Adolphine Fletcher Terry Library ~ 12.3 – 12.8 Miles
2015 Napa Valley Dr, Little Rock

Hillary Clinton Children’s Library ~ 13.3 – 13.8 Miles
4800 W 10 th St., Little Rock

John Gould Fletcher Library ~ 13.5 Miles
823 Buchanan St, Little Rock

Sue Cowan Williams Library ~ 13.8 – 14.9 Miles
1800 S Chester St, Little Rock

Roosevelt Thompson Library ~ 14.8 Miles
38 Rahling Cir, Little Rock

Pulaski County Regional Center ~ 15.7 Miles

501 W Markham St, Little Rock

William F. Laman Library ~ 17.9 Miles
2801 Orange St, North Little Rock

Jess Odom Community Center ~ 21.3 – 24.3 Miles
1100 Edgewood Dr, Maumelle

First Christian Church of Sherwood ~ 24.1 Miles
2803 Kiehl Ave, Sherwood

Bethel Baptist Church ~ 28 Miles
112 N Jeff Davis St, Jacksonville

Saline County

Monday-Friday (May 9-13 & 16-20) 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Saturday (May 14-21) 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Monday (May 23) 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Benton Vote Center

221 N. Main St.

Benton, Ar.

New Life Church

4200 Hwy. 5 N.

Bryant, Ar.

Owensville Baptist Church

22000 Ar. 5

Lonsdale, Ar.

The Well at East End

5085 W. Sawmill Rd.

Hensley, Ar.

The following primary races, with more than one candidate, will appear on the ballot as listed below.

U.S. Senate

Democrat

Jack Foster

Natalie James

Dan Whitfield

Republican

John Boozman (Incumbent)

Jake Bequette

Heath Loftis

Jan Morgan

U.S. House - District 2

Republican

French Hill (Incumbent)

Conrad Reynolds

Governor

Democrat

Anthony Bland

Chris Jones

Jay Martin

James Russell

Supha Xayprasith-Mays

Republican

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Doc Washburn

Lt. Governor

Republican

Chris Bequette

Greg Bledsoe

Jason Rapert

Leslie Rutledge

Doyle Webb

Joseph Wood

Attorney General

Republican

Tim Griffin

Leon Jones Jr.

Secretary of State

Democrat

Anna Beth Gorman

Joshua Price

Republican

John Thurston (Incumbent)

Eddie Joe Williams

Treasurer

Republican

Mark Lowery

Mathew Pitsch

State Senate

District 15 (Pulaski County portion of Alexander)

Democrat Fredrick Love is unopposed. No candidates filed for the Republican primary.

District 16 (Saline County portion of Alexander)

No candidates filed for the Democratic primary. Republican incumbent Kim Hammer is unopposed.

State House of Representatives

District 79 (Pulaski County portion of Alexander)

Democrat

Teresa Coney
Tara Shephard

No candidates filed for the Republican primary.

District 81 (Saline County portion of Alexander)

Republican

Walter Burgess
RJ Hawk

State Supreme Court (Non-Partisan)

Position 2

Robin Wynne (Incumbent)

Chris Carnahan

David Sterling

Position 6

Karen R. Baker (Incumbent)

Gunner DeLay

Arkansas Court of Appeals

District 6 Position 2

Stephanie Casady

Wendy Wood

Pulaski County Races

County Sheriff

Republican

Calvin Grogan

Paul D. “Blue” Keller

Pulaski County Quorum Court

District 7 (Pulaski County portion of Alexander)

Democrat

Anna Morshedi

Dianne Curry

Saline County Races

County Judge

Republican

Matt Brumley

Rick Long

Sheriff

Republican

James Tallent

Sheriff Rodney Wright

Collector

Republican

Jennifer Carter

David Gibson

Treasurer

Republican

County Tax Collector Holly Sanders

Ragan Kyzer

Thomas Burchfield

Bryant School District No. 25

40.8 Mill School Tax

The total tax rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax (the “Statewide Uniform Rate”) to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 40.8 mills includes 25.0 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 15.8 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 40.8 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

FOR Tax

AGAINST Tax