Cottage rental fee decided

The Alexander City Council has decided how much to charge city employees who are living in the cottages on the former Human Development Center (HDC) property. They are located in the southeast corner of the property along Highway 111.

Mayor Crystal Herrmann presented council members several rental comparisons. One is from the 2020 Census. Another were figures from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The third is rent being charged for apartments in Little Rock and Alexander.

About the census average Herrmann said, “And you'll see the average Alexander City estimate of rent is $1,000. But it also has a margin plus or minus of $371.”

That sets the range from $629.00 to $1,371.00.

“I thought HUD would be another really good tool…,” Herrmann said. “On HUD, they had for our market one bedroom units, area's average around $1,116, while two bedroom units added around $50.06.

“But the low income apartments in nearby Little Rock/Alexander area show $725 to $886 per one bedroom unit,” she continued. “So we have the complexes over here” (near the railroad tracks). “Two bedroom is 900 and something dollars.”

Age was another consideration. It’s been estimated the cottages were built around 1950. Council members settled on $450 per month for a one bathroom cottage and $500 for the two bathroom cottages. Renters are currently paying $100 per month.

Auditors with the Department of Legislative Audit have expressed concerns that a low $100 per month will require the city to account for the remaining value of the rent as a fringe benefit on W2 forms. It would then be taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Employees will now have two options.

1-They can continue to pay the $100 and claim the fringe benefit at the end of the year on their W2, or

2-They can pay the new higher monthly rate.

What started out as a way to provide low cost security for the former HDC property and give city employees a way to live in Alexander without a major cost to them, turned into a discussion over fringe benefits and taxes. The plan was first adopted when former Mayor Paul Mitchell was in office.

In 2022 the former HDC property was being vandalized after Pathfinders, Inc. moved to a new location outside Alexander. Pathfinders provided specialized services to those with physical and mental needs. The cottages were used to house the patients.

With no one on the property at night, vandalism began to become an expensive problem. Mitchell decided it would be beneficial to allow city employees, who live outside Alexander, to live in the cottages in exchange for providing both security and keeping the grass mowed in the cottage area. At the time, no city employees lived in Alexander.

This arrangement also provides the extra advantage of having city employees nearby in case of emergencies. The cottages are occupied by either police officers or firefighters.

Renters were first required to pay only $1 per year as a token. Utilities were also provided. In an attempt to satisfy the fringe benefit issue the rent was increased to $100 per month. Renters also now pay for electricity and gas as a way to save the city those costs plus to force the renters to be more frugal. Water and sewer are included in the rent.

In other news

Mayor wants fence requirements

Last month it was wanting permits to build porches. At the March council meeting Mayor Crystal Herrmann brings up the lack of standards and permit requirement for constructing any fence. As of now the only time a permit for a fence is needed is if the fence is seven feet high or taller.

Current zoning only states when a six-foot privacy fence, or wall, is required; usually to separate commercial from residential areas. There are no specific standards for fencing or walls.

“We have a fence permit, but there's nothing that goes into any detail about the fences,” Herrmann said. “So there's things such as we need to stake them out, you know, make sure they're not installing on an easement or utility easement or on the neighbors property.”

“And, we have different materials going up through the city,” Herrmann continued. “We've got some people using some metal-roaching panels for fence, some people using pallets for fences. We've got some non-privacy fences, we have some chain link fences, and we have some that are not maintained. So we do want to have an ordinance that addresses maintenance of the fence, if it's half falling down, put placements.

Herrmann also wants to mandate what type of fence residents will have.

“Just several different options when it comes to fences,” she continued. “And I will be leaning on y'all to make the fence. What style would y'all like the city to be the same all the way through? I think it's a lot of decisions. I think right now what we have is basically it states no 8 foot fences in the front.”

Two New Business items adopted

Two items under New Business were adopted by the Alexander City Council. One is a resolution to publish the 2025 Financial Statement. The second is an ordinance giving the police department permission to sell two police cars.

The financial statement is a final version of the 2025 budget, which includes the changes adopted at the February council meeting. The police cars are both 2019 Dodge Chargers.

Citywide yard sale and Farmers Market proposed

Mayor Crystal Herrmann proposed having a citywide yard sale as a way to allow residents to unburden themselves of excess items they no longer need. Council Member Joy Gray has been working on bringing a farmers market to Alexander.

Besides the when, Herrmann offered several options as to the how.

“It seems to be pretty successful in Shannon Hills when they do it,” Herrmann said. “So I thought it could be a really good way to help offload extra items that folks might have. I mean, we could even open up the big community center. We can open up the big parking lot. And they can have them in their personal yards. We can post where they can email in or call or come by and tell us they're address and they're going to be on the list for the citywide yard sale. Maybe do like a city map.”

Gray has been talking to the Saline County Extension Service to bring a farmers market to Alexander.

“Yes. So, I talked to the cooperative extension in Saline County,” Gray began. “They actually are the people that would work with that to be clear. I was grateful with (sic) them. I'm not trying to organize them to do the vendors to do this and do that, but if there's a group of people, like a co-op or an aggregate of folks that are producing in the spring and want to sell stuff and need a space, we have both the park and or the community center. And so, if there's people with fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, that kind of stuff, eggs, whatever that one and two, so the lady is going to reach out to her contact.”

Whether the farmers market begins this year or next Gray said her contact at the extension service agrees the area needs a third location.

“I said, if you can't use this year, maybe at least for the matter of next year,” Gray said. [B]ut she seems excited to have another space because Benton has a farmers market and the (sic) Little Rock has a farmers market. And that's kind of it.”

Council meets new officer

Police Chief Preator introduced Officer Taylor Bledsoe to council members. Bledsoe is the newest member of the department filling one of two vacancies. Preator said she will soon be entering the police academy.

Tornado siren ready

The tornado siren at the firehouse is functioning again. The monthly test was canceled due to tornado-like weather. The repairs were paid for by the city even though the siren is owned by Saline County. The county decided they are going to an app method of emergency warnings rather than maintain a siren system everyone can hear.

Master Gardener plant sale coming to Alexander

Council Member Joy Gray announced the date and time for the Master Gardener Plant Sale. It is scheduled for Saturday, April 18^th, from 8 AM to 12 PM in the Community Center #2 building at the former Human Development Center along Hwy. 111 in South Alexander.

Being in line before 8 is suggested.

“And from what I understand, you need to be there at 8 AM,” Gray said.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, April 20, at 6:00 PM in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Alexander Mayor: The City of Alexander is in good financial standing

Alexander Mayor Crystal Herrmann provided a look at Alexander’s present and future in her annual State of the City address.

“The city of Alexander is in good financial standing and this administration has worked hard on transparency and reporting all accounts monthly,” Herrmann began. “So (I), appreciate the hard work that goes through that.”

Cleaning up the city is her next priority.

“We will continue to work on improvements in the department(s), but the one that stands out the most will be code enforcement and animal control this year,” Herrmann said. “It's really kind of building it from scratch.”

“I believe it's a good time for us to focus on what we have inside our city limits and the cleanliness,” Herrmann continued. “It will help our property values. I know there's been a lot of concerned citizens with a neighbor that might not be as clean... So, it will help our property value and the health and safety of the community.”

Herrmann sees education as the first step. “We are going to start with education and some outreach work. So, I guess the looking, we're going to start posting different ordinances that we do have for the permit process and encourage just getting the word out there... I'm just going to work with some different programs and see what we can publicize and just make the citizens aware of the different ordinances and such that we have.”

“It will be sometime before our city center is resolved (Human Development Center). And this is just a wonderful time for us to work on what we have in our city limits to make it great, to make it desirable,” she said. “So, as we work on this and we wait on the sewer (Saline County Water Works upgrades) to come through, then hopefully it's going to encourage new development and help set some examples and some guidelines... The baseline’s there, I think we can just do a little better.”

The “baseline” Herrmann referred to is Alexander’s natural assets.

“And we actually have a very beautiful natural city,” Herrmann said. “We have beautiful trees. We have a beautiful city. But on top of mountains, there's some beautiful views up there. But it gets taken, it gets less, you know, it's just a shame because if you have some a couple of places or a few residents that are not clean and they're not in itself, it's a health and safety hazard. You know, it just takes away from the beautiful things that we do have in our city to offer.”

Council Member Joe Pollard asked about a city-wide cleanup. Herrmann said she will be getting prices for dumpsters to bring to the council.

Alexander council meets Monday

Four items of interest are noted on the agenda for the March 16 council meeting. Two items under New Business include a resolution to publish the final 2025 Budget’s financial statement and an ordinance to sell two police cars. Also listed is a continuation of a discussion started at the February meeting concerning permits and the Mayor’s annual State of the City Address.

The Alexander City Council will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, March 16. The council meeting will begin at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall) on Highway 111. The meeting is open to the public.

The IRS always wants their share

What started out as a way to provide low cost security for the former Alexander Human Development Center (HDC) property and give city employees a way to live in Alexander without a major cost to them, may be considered income by the Internal Revenue Service. The plan was first adopted when former Mayor Paul Mitchell was in office.

In 2022 the former HDC property was being vandalized after Pathfinders, Inc. moved to a new location outside Alexander. Pathfinders provided specialized services to those with physical and mental needs.

The cottages were used to house the patients. They are located in the southeast corner of the property along Highway 111.

With no one on the property at night, vandalism began to become an expensive problem. Mitchell decided it would be beneficial to allow city employees, who live outside Alexander, to live in the cottages in exchange for providing both security and keeping the grass mowed. At the time, no city employees lived in Alexander.

Those living in the cottages generally worked for either the street or police departments. This arrangement provided the extra advantage of having city employees nearby in case of emergencies.

In the past, City Attorney Chris Madison has expressed concerns that a low $100 per month will require the city to account for the remaining value of the rent as a fringe benefit on W2 forms. It will then be taxed by the IRS. Council members were told employees can be given two options.

1-They claim the fringe benefit at the end of the year on their W2.

2-The council sets a rent amount that is high enough to not require a fringe benefit report on W2s.

Madison told council members a fair market value needs to be established. Hiring someone to perform that task is the next step.

The other item under New Business at the Feb. 17 meeting;

The Alexander City Council adopted a resolution that finalized the dollar amounts on numerous line items in the 2025 budget. Below is a list of the estimated and actual revenue and expenses for 2025.

General Fund Budget

Estimated Revenue - $1,519,092.53

Actual Revenue -        $3,701,194.16

Estimated Expense - $1,612,131.53

Actual Expense -        $1,366,613.43

Street Department Budget

Estimated Revenue - $350,400.00

Actual Revenue -        $498,917.15

Estimated Expense - $323,200.00

Actual Expense -        $342,541.38

Parks Department Budget

Estimated Revenue - $297,800.00

Actual Revenue -        $228,518.21

Estimated Expense - $292,000.00

Actual Expense -        $154,752.58

Police Department Budget

Estimated Revenue - $1,061,730.00

Actual Revenue -        $912,943.65

Estimated Expense - $1,051,972.00

Actual Expense -        $911,659.65

Fire Department Budget

Estimated Revenue - $1,201,400.00

Actual Revenue -        $1,030,389.15

Estimated Expense - $1,195,900.43

Actual Expense -        $1,056,622.78

Payroll Fund Budget

Estimated Revenue - $2,235,517.00

Actual Revenue -        $1,794,595.00

Estimated Expense - $2,231,517.00

Actual Expense -        $1,765,111.86

In other news

Mayor Crystal Herrmann gave a brief report on the city’s permitting system. She noted there is no permit requirement for building a porch. Her fear is the porch will turn into a sun room with someone living in it.

Also, permits aren’t being posted. With the police department now taking over code enforcement, Herrmann wants the officers to be able to drive past a property and know any observed construction has been approved. With that in mind the mayor has proposed the city provide posting boxes to be used to display the permit on the property.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, March 16, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Amending the 2025 budget; Discussing cottage rent

There are only two items listed under New Business on the Alexander City Council’s next meeting agenda.

One is the amending of the 2025 budget. An annual occurrence to establish actual revenue and expenses for the previous fiscal year.

The second item is a discussion of how to handle the rent paid by employees who live in the cottages on the former Human Development property. There is still the question of how it will affect their income taxes.

The Alexander City Council will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, February 17. The regular Monday meeting is moved due to the Presidents’ Day Federal and State Holiday on the 16^th. The council meeting will begin at 6:00 PM. It will be held in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall) on Highway 111.

I thought we did the hard part: New Master Development Plan on hold

OPINION/Editorial

When the last Alexander Planning Commission was created the main goals that needed to be accomplish at its inception was to establish new zoning regulations, a new zoning map and translate Saline County’s subdivision rules and regulations into a usable format for the city. We also needed a new master development plan.

The zoning and master plan Alexander had dated back to 1982. The city never had regulations for developers.

The new zoning, zoning map and development regulations were adopted by the city council in 2019. Then the planning commission set its sites on a new master development plan.

With the aid of Metroplan, the commission conducted an online survey and two public meetings. All designed to determine how local residents wanted Alexander to develop now and in the future.

Because the Pulaski County portion of Alexander gets its sewer service from the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA), the city was required to not only write a new master plan but to have it approved by the LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors. This requirement is in the 2018 contract between the two cities.

The plan began the approval process when it was submitted to the LRWRA in April, 2023. And, there it sits.

LRWRA officials couldn’t decide how to approve the plan in writing. When Alexander’s attorney stepped up in late 2023, it was decided to write a new contract, omitting the requirements for new zoning and a master plan. Simple right. Wrong.

Alexander’s attorney says the contract, in its current form, leaves open questions that should be spelled out in more detail. Approaching three years, the new contract is still being rewritten.

In the old days lawyers were paid by the word. Now they get paid by the hour. Makes me wonder.

At the January 20 council meeting Mayor Crystal Herrmann reported that both City Attorney Chris Madison and the attorney for the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority are still meeting to write a new contract. There is no estimate as to a completion timeline.

So, if you were wondering what happened to the master development plan, you didn’t miss anything. It’s still sitting in someone’s drawer in Little Rock waiting for final approval.

Delivering Christmas gifts was an “Inspiration;” Alexander Fire Chief says

While giving his monthly report, Fire Chief Ryan McCormick paused to commend everyone who took part in the distribution of Christmas gifts this past Christmas Eve. He especially gave kudos to Police Chief Timothy Preator for starting the process.

“[I]f you were to (sic) involve Christmas Eve with the delivery of the packages of the kids in Christmas, was something that was very, was very, ... There you go, that's a more inspiration.” McCormick began. “And I wanted to, there were so many people that had their hands in the ball with that, from shopping to doing the wrapping of the presents, to just being out there and trying to make it get some money donated and all that kind of stuff.”

“And then the evening, everybody showed up,” he continued. “Christmas Eve was pretty phenomenal, just seeing that group of folks on Christmas Eve just going out there and going through the city and seeing these kids and families who were just, that were just excited, you know, and for us,” McCormick said. “So I personally want to say thank you to everybody that will have (had) a hand in that, and also to (Police) Chief Preator for beginning that process.”

Preator began his report acknowledging McCormick’s comments.

“It really was amazing what you were able to put together with the Santa Claus,” Preator began. ... We had a great time and it couldn't be done without everybody. We had help from Ms. Jennifer (Hill), and my friend, my members, and Ms. Angela (Griffin) and everybody.

“When you pull around the corner, you see a house full of kids sitting in the front yard. It's cool,” Preator said. “There were kids that we touched that weren't going to get touched with a good Christmas, so it was awesome.”

In other news

Organization of City Council 2026

The Organization of City Council for 2026 was adopted. The only change was moving the December meeting from the 21^st to the 14^th.  City Attorney Chris Madison said he thought being that close to Christmas might cause a problem getting a quorum due to some council members possibly being absent because of the holiday.

Storm water study grant

A resolution to hire Hallf Engineering to do a storm water study in North Alexander was adopted. The area includes all streets east of the railroad tracks. They are 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, Kelli Place, Main Street, AC Wallace Avenue, Vine Street, and Elm Street. Mayor Herrmann said the reason it is limited to Pulaski County is because the grant is coming from the Pulaski County Hazards Prevention program. Application for the grant was submitted in 2023.

Don’t end the Federal Surplus program

A resolution requesting the Federal government not end the Federal Surplus program was adopted. Alexander is only one of several local government entities citing how the Federal Surplus program allows them to purchase equipment that would otherwise be out of reach for them due to cost.

Police Department takes over code enforcement

While patrolling the city, Alexander police officers will now be looking for code violations along with the more serious crime activities. Police Chief Preator said the change was made to allow Firefighter Joshua Dodson to concentrate on animal control rather than splitting his time between the two duties.

Next Meeting

Due to the Presidents’ Day Holiday, the next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Tuesday, February 17, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

After three years Alexander takes final step in Brownfield grant process

The City of Alexander has held its last public hearing in an attempt to receive around 3.5 million dollars in a Brownfield grant. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant will be used to raze the old hospital building on the former Human Development Center property.

Mayor Crystal Herrmann noted she began this process during her first month as mayor in January, 2023.

“It has taken us this long to get to the point where we qualify to apply,” Herrmann said. “There's been a lot of wonderful people that has helped us with this whole process. We've got ... the Central Arkansas Development District, that has assisted us, of course, with council’s approval.”

While no one suggested how the property should be developed, Herrmann was peppered with a barrage of questions. Responding to the various questions she said, “I don't know how many months it takes for them to release the awards. It will be within the 2026 window.” …

Concerning the future of the property Herrmann quoted the proposed master development plan. “It states mixed commercial residential.” …

The cleanup, “[W]ill stimulate some attention and maybe have some folks come forward more than to say, Hey, this is looking good. It's getting cleaned up. Hi, I'm a developer.”

Herrmann has been attempting to acquire a Brownfield grant in order to make the former HDC property safe for development. The grant program is funded by the EPA and is used to clean properties where the presence, or potential presence, of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant makes development difficult. The expectation is the hospital building contains asbestos, lead paint and potentially other unknown hazards.

Red box outlines the area 

involved in the grant 

application. The hospital is 

outlined in black.

Alexander Council meets Jan. 20; Public hearing before meeting

The Alexander City Council will hold its January meeting on Tuesday, January 20. The regular Monday meeting is moved due to the Martin Luther King Federal and State Holiday on the 19^th.

Prior to the council meeting a public hearing has been scheduled. The hearing is to receive input from the public on how to develop the former Human Development Center (HDC) property along Highway 111 in South Alexander. The public hearing is required as part of the process to receive a Brownfield Grant that will be used in the razing of the former HDC hospital building.

There are three action items on the council meeting agenda. They are:

1-The Organization of City Council for 2026 document;

2-A resolution to hire Hallf Engineering to do a storm water study in North Alexander; and

3-A resolution concerning taking part in the Federal Surplus program.

The public hearing will be held at 5:30 PM. The council meeting will begin at the usual time 6:00 PM. Both will be held at the courtroom in the Alexander Municipal Complex on Highway 111.

Where is Alexander’s Master Development Plan?

OPINION/EDITORIAL

After much work done by the former City of Alexander Planning Commission, and with the help of Metroplan, the new master development plan lies in limbo in the City of Little Rock. Why is no one in this administration pushing for its release?

Background:

The developing and writing of the new master development plan began in 2022. A new plan was needed not only because the current plan was approved in 1982, but because the contract (signed in 2018) with Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) requires a new zoning ordinance and master plan.

The previous zoning ordinance was also approved in 1982. The new zoning ordinance was adopted in 2019.

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 new plan was given the title “On Track for a Better Tomorrow.” The title is in recognition of Alexander’s days as a rail town. Get it; rail, track?

The existing contract also requires that LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors approve the plan. Apparently, the reason LRWRA gets to tell Alexander how to run its business is because the LRWRA provides sewer service to the Pulaski County portion of the city.

So, what’s the holdup? Apparently, the powers-to-be at LRWRA never considered how to remove these requirements from the contract once they were all met.

When Alexander’s city attorney got involved he and the attorney for LRWRA decided to write a new contract. Unfortunately, “Perry Mason” wasn’t happy with some of the wording of the current contract. It is now going on two years and nine months since the LRWRA received the proposed master plan and still no approval and no new contract.

And, to complicate matters, Mayor Crystal Herrmann unknowingly wants to reinvent the wheel when she asks for a new “zoning map” and public input. That work has already been done. That’s the purpose of the master development plan.

What she really is asking for is a revamped land use map. If the mayor and council are unhappy with the proposed land use map, change it before adopting the new master plan. There’s even a change I would like to make.

But, of course, it’s obvious the mayor hasn’t read the proposed master plan otherwise she wouldn’t be making these unnecessary proposals for public input meetings and new maps. If she wants to start some place give council members a copy of the plan and tell “Perry” to get moving on the new contract. It won’t be long before three years will have passed.