Mayor Paul Mitchell reported to council members he has spoken to David W. Jacks and offered him $68,000.00 for his property, which makes up the eastern end of Alexander City Park. The offer is based on two independent appraisals of the property, not including the improvements made by the city. Mitchell said Jacks is considering the offer.
The city had been mowing the grass on the eastern parcel for many years. As far as anyone knew it was city property. The eastern end of the park is the location of the gazebo, water fountain, lights and other improvements.
The various construction projects were done in phases from 2015 to around 2019. After they were completed Jacks contacted Mitchell asking why the city was building on his property. Since then Mitchell, and multiple city attorneys, have been negotiating with Jacks.
American Legion will move to former Pathfinder’s building
Alexander American Legion Post 28 has been given permission by the Alexander City Council to use Building-A located in the former Pathfinder’s complex. Building-A was used by Pathfinder’s, Inc. as an office.
The organization operated homes for adults, with physical and mental health issues, in the southeast corner of the former Alexander Human Development Center (HDC). They moved out when their lease expired in August, 2022.
Voters may remember Build-A being used as a polling place when Saline County stopped using the office of the Saline County Water Works Sanitary Sewer Public Utilities Board for elections. Voting has since been moved from Building-A to the Alexander Community Center #2, which is also on the former HDC property.
Until now the American Legion Post has been using Alexander Community Center #1 (Old City Hall) located on Main Street in the Pulaski County portion of Alexander. They have been sharing the building with a church that uses it to hold services.
Mayor Mitchell said using Building-A will allow the Post to permanently display items on the walls. Council Member Harold Timmerman, who is a member of the American Legion and past Commander, said they will be erecting flag poles in front of Building-A.
Also at the December 19 council meeting:
Alexander Council approves 2023 budget
The 2023 budget, approved by the city council, estimates revenue to the General Fund at $2,899,644.00. That’s a conservative estimate compared to 2022’s final revenue total of $3,044,484.00.
For the most part, revenue for the various departments goes into the General Fund first and then is distributed to the other funds. The city’s share of the state fuel tax, however, is deposited directly into the street fund by the state. The 2023 budget estimates that amount at $238,716.00. That would bring total estimated revenue for the city in 2023 at $3,138,360.00.
Second round of ARPA bonus pay approved
At the request of Mayor Paul Mitchell, the Alexander City Council approved bonus pay for city employees who qualify under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The first time ARPA funds were used for bonus pay was December 2021.
The bonus pay will be distributed to city employees who meet the following ARPA criteria.
1) An eligible worker is anyone, “[N]ecessary to maintain the continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructures;”
2) “Including any additional sectors added by the city’s chief executive,” and
3) “An eligible worker performing eligible work which means regular in-person interaction or regular physical handling of items that were handled by others.”
ARPA criteria also specifies payments will be made to current employees only, not to exceed $1,800.00. Payments will be based on the amount of eligible hours worked at $13 an hour up to a maximum of 140 hours.
Council seat declared vacant
The Ward-1 Position-2 council seat, formerly held by Elizabeth Bland, has been declared vacant by the Alexander City Council. Mayor Mitchell told council members he has received an E-mail from Bland stating she now lives in Little Rock.
Bland did not seek re-election in the November Municipal Elections and no one submitted a petition to run for that seat. The vacancy must be made public for a minimum of 30 days.
Anyone who lives in Ward-1, and is a registered voter, may submit a resume at the Alexander Municipal Complex requesting to be considered for the appointment.
Next Meeting
Due to a holiday falling on the third Monday in January, the next meeting of the Alexander City Council is the following Monday, January 23 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.
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