Developer eyes "The Pit" in Alexander for commercial development

Anyone who lives in the southern section of the City of Alexander is more than likely familiar with a vacant lot, at the intersection of East Azalea and South Alexander Road (end of Hwy. 111), affectionately known as "The Pit." That area is now being considered for commercial development.

A subdivision and zoning request was presented to the Alexander City Council at its August 19 regular meeting. The proposal would divide the 2.5-acre area into two lots. The front lot would be 1-acre zoned C-3 and the back would be 1.5-acres zoned I-2.

According to the city's zoning descriptions C-3 is a "General Commercial District" defined as, "Development of a broad range general sales and service uses." I-2 is labeled as "Light Industrial District" defined as, "Development of general industrial uses including light manufacturing and assembly."

The developer, Doug Woodall, told council members he plans to use the front lot for retail sales and the back lot for warehousing.

The area is surrounded on three sides by streets; South Alexander Road, East Azalea Drive and Alton Drive.

Alexander Council merges bank accounts

COMMENTARY by Concerned Citizens of Alexander

At the request of Mayor Michelle Hobbs the Alexander City Council approved merging six bank accounts into the General Fund account. While this may sound like a good idea, less accounts to track, the facts indicate something different.

One glaring result is the fire department accounts. The fire department's main and reserve accounts no longer exist. A department that was well managed is floundering, and has no financial stability to support its needs and projects.

This isn't the first time they have been raped like this. It has happened before according to previous fire department personnel. Additionally, the money is now going to projects that have commonly been acknowledged the city cannot afford. But if enough smoke screen is emitted, you cannot know what the facts are.

The decisions to take on another loan and merge six bank accounts into the general fund were made without seeing a financial report for four months and with no idea of the true financial condition of the city. The decision to merge the bank accounts may also be illegal.

In 2003 and 2005 the City of Alexander, when the population was 600, passed two one-cent sales tax referendums. One earmarked one-cent for the fire department and the other earmarked an additional 1/8-cent to the fire department, 5/8-cent to the police department and 2/8-cent to parks and recreation. 

After Woodland Hills was annexed into the city the new aldermen were told the bank accounts for fire, police and parks were required because the two referendums stated how the sales tax would be spent.  Because of that state law required separate bank accounts. Apparently our former city recorder has forgotten everything she knew when becoming mayor.

Camouflage is a red flag at step one. The bank merging is a smoke screen to keep you from knowing what is really going on.

Everyone gets a new car if you're an Alexander police officer

COMMENTARY: by Concerned Citizens of Alexander

Are you aware City of Alexander Mayor Michelle Hobbs is pushing through a debt we haven’t seen in years to supply the police force with all new cars?  After packing the council with her “cookie-cutter – yes people” they voted for the plan. 

And that's adding to a $350,000 loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that is still not paid off.  That loan includes our two newest police cars.  We are paying over $2,000 per month for that loan and now they are adding over $3,500 to that. 

A copy of the U.S.D.A. note can be obtained by any citizen through the Freedom of Information Act.  Just search online for an FOIA form and instructions.  They are required to answer within three (3) days, by both Federal and Arkansas law.

Did you know all City of Alexander police officers use police cars as their personal vehicles?  You can obtain a copy of the “Fleet gas bill” showing when and where each vehicle is refueled each month. See procedure underlined above.

So, why do we need seven new police cars?  Apparently becoming a City of Alexander police officer entitles you to a car to take home, no matter where you live.  Even though police cars are built for more extreme use than your average family car, what they are put through is still brutal.  Adding the additional mileage of personal use, or even just driving to and from an officer's home outside of Alexander, is just added unnecessary wear-and-tear.

As a point of interest; if you've ever wondered why you see Pulaski County Sheriff cars parked at city hall it's because they are not allowed to take them home if they live outside the county.  If it's good enough for the county, why not us? 

Granted, we do need new vehicles; perhaps a total fleet of four.  Since we generally have no more than two officers per shift they can each drive one car while the other two cool off from the previous shift.  HOWEVER, we need to get the previous ones paid for and we need to limit vehicle use to shift duty only.  That will instantly take the strain off our aging misused fleet.

If you agree, remember November 4, 2014.