Alexander Council to hold first public hearing as planning commission

At the Alexander City Council’s March meeting, an ordinance was adopted in a five to three vote eliminating the planning commission and assigning all the duties of a planning commission to the city council. Before the council’s April 21 regular meeting, the new and improved Alexander Council/Planning Commission will hold its first public hearing. The hearing is in response to an application to rezone the large, undeveloped area next to and behind the Dollar General and Post Office.

However, this isn’t your ordinary rezoning request. First, the rezoning comes before selling the property to a developer. So, there are no development plans to coincide with the requested zoning. Second, one portion of the rezoning is to correct an error made by Pulaski County some time in the past.

What are known as Tract-A and Tract-B (See graphic) are owned by Robert and Jessica Burnett. If their names sound familiar it’s because they recently served on the Alexander Police Department until they were fired by Mayor Crystal Herrmann. (Article)

There was some doubt as to the accuracy of the boundary lines of Tract-B shown by the Pulaski County online plats map. The Burnett’s hired a surveyor who researched both Tract-A and Tract-B. It was discovered that Tract-B had some how shrunk from what should have been 5.5-acres to its current 0.75-acre.

That caused an inaccuracy in the city’s new zoning map when it was adopted in 2019. Based on the Pulaski County map, the Alexander Zoning Map shows only the 0.75-acre lot and is zoned Highway Commercial. The 0.75-acre lot is next to Dollar General.

According to the survey the remainder of the 5.5-acres wraps around and goes behind both Dollar General and the Post Office. There is speculation that sometime between selling two lots for the Post Office and another lot for the Dollar General, that corner was reduced back to the 1982 layout creating the 0.75-acre lot.

The problem now is there is no tangible proof the remainder of the 5.5-acre lot was also zoned commercial, even though Pulaski County has the 0.75-acre piece marked as Commercial Vacant. To resolve this problem the Burnetts have filed to rezone the over 38-acre Tract-A and the remaining portion of Tract-B from Agriculture-1 to Highway Commercial.

The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 5:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Anyone wishing to comment on the rezoning, or just watch the spectacle, may attend the hearing.

The regular April 21 meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held at 6:00 PM following the rezoning hearing. At that time the council will be able to vote on the rezoning request.

Nothing new, without a place to send the poo

OPINION

In order for anything to be built it requires two things; a source of clean drinking water and a method of disposing the wastewater. In north Alexander, there is plenty of drinking water but a limitation on wastewater disposal.

The city does not provide any water or sewer services. Instead, it relies on the kindness of strangers. In the case of north Alexander drinking water is provided by Central Arkansas Water. Water disposal is provided by the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA).

North Alexander is comprised of Pulaski County and the edge of Saline County.

In the 2018 contract, between Alexander and LRWRA, the city was required to write a new zoning ordinance and a new comprehensive master development plan. At the time the last zoning ordinance and master plan was approved in 1982.

Construction of the new Meadow’s Edge subdivision was nearing an end. There were expectations more development was coming; especially since requests for city zoning regulations were frequent and 1982 zoning requirements were inadequate for growth in the new century.

The very first thing the now defunct Alexander Planning Commission did was tackle writing not only new zoning regulations, but also a document entitled Subdivision Rules and Regulations and a zoning map. All three were approved by the city council in 2019.

With the help of Metroplan and a citizens advisory committee; the planning commission conducted surveys and public meetings to gather input from city residents. A wish list from the public was combined with historical data and growth projections allowing Metroplan to produce a comprehensive master development plan named On Track For A Better Tomorrow.

As required, the plan was sent to the Little Rock Planning Department in April, 2023 to start the approval process. In September it was approved by Little Rock planning and forwarded to LRWRA. And there it sits.

If the promised resolution approving the master plan had been written and approved by LRWRA, it would have been sent to the Little Rock City Board of Directors for final approval. Obviously, they were unprepared to fulfill their side of the bargain.

Near the end of 2024, Alexander City Attorney Chris Madison began talking to the LRWRA attorney about writing a new contract, leaving out the requirements in the 2018 version. However, Madison had some doubts about just removing the zoning and master plan requirements and leaving the rest of the language as-is. He said that language left unanswered questions.

The expectation was to have a new contract ready to present to both the LRWRA and the Alexander City Council by January or February 2025. It is now the end of March and there are no signs of a contract.

Under the 2018 contract, no new sewer connections will be allowed in north Alexander until LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors signs off on the Alexander master plan. A new church was allowed to be built, at the intersection of Cornerstone and Hwy. 111, with approval from the LRWRA. Considering a church adds very little to a sewer system LRWRA permitted the connection.

The big problem is more development is coming to north Alexander. The open field between Dollar General and Crooked Creek is being offered to commercial developers. But, without access to the LRWRA sewer system there will be no development. No increase in sales tax revenue. Nothing to attract other types of growth.

Unfortunately, there’s a balancing act connecting to the LRWRA system. Alexander is limited to 750 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) Per Day. The city is currently at around 300. There is also a limit to the number of sewer connections. I don’t have numbers on that.

The point is we must be careful with commercial development. We can’t have businesses that will add significantly to the GPM. We can’t have laundromats or restaurants that require washing plates, glasses and coffee cups. Fast food with throw-away containers and stores that only need water for the restrooms are preferable.

Growth promotes growth. And, while Alexander cannot grow in physical size, because it’s land-locked, it can develop the open space available.

But, if I didn’t know better it seems someone wants to keep Alexander the way it is. Someone wants to slow down the progress. You do what you’re told and suddenly there’s no hurry.

“We need some time to read this little plan of yours, Missy. We’ll get back to you in a year or two.”

LRWRA knew this was coming and they did nothing to prepare. They had no idea how they were going to accept what they asked for and remove it from the contract.

And, what business was it of theirs anyway. Why should they care about our zoning regulations or if we have a master plan or not. That contract should have never been signed. Why should a big city get to tell a little city what to do.

If they can’t solve this problem now Alexander needs to see them in court. Either that or we need to start shopping for our own sewer plant.

It has now been one year, 11 Months, two weeks, and two days. The clock is ticking. See left column.

Alexander Mayor gives second State of the City address; Monthly reports

For the second time in her first term, Mayor Crystal Herrmann delivered her State of the City address. She began by thanking and acknowledging elected officials, employees and city residents.

“I would like to start by saying and acknowledging all of our council members that have been supported, supported in the administration and all of our dedicated citizens,” she began. “I would like to publicly thank and appreciate all of our city staff and their hard work and dedication as well. That also includes services provided by our city attorney.”

Herrmann also recognized assistance provided by organizations outside the city.

“I would like to recognize the resources with Metroplan and the (Arkansas) Municipal League and the special thank you to my mayoral mentor Joe Smith,” Herrmann said. “He's been a very inspirational person assigned to me by Metroplan and He's been a very useful resource.”

Joe Smith represents Metroplan District-6, which includes Alexander.

Reflecting on her first year as mayor Herrmann said, “The first year was rocky with the body council support and the budget full of zeros and no ability to even sign into the city bank account and review the finances. But those days are behind us.”

Herrmann provided a review of city finances since becoming mayor.

“February of 2023,” she began. “Our general fund’s balance was $450,000. And, February of 2023. February of 2024. By then we were able to work on a budget. We lined out a budget. We ended up with $864,000 as our general funds balance. ... Today, February 2025 our city is sitting with $1.6 Million.”

“I would just like to say what an amazing accomplishment that that is and how proud I am of everyone that's been part of it,” Herrmann said. “And I do believe everybody did a wonderful job as far as staying inside the budget and not really had to use assist funds. Which is given our city an opportunity to save some funds or it's a good idea and it's best practice for our city to have six months of funds put back in the state of emergencies.”

Besides adding a city attorney that attends meetings and a code enforcement/animal control officer, more special events is on her list of accomplishments.

“We've also been able to add additional city events,” Herrmann said. “When I first took office, we had a backpack drive and we had the fall fest. We've able to add the Christmas at the Park. We've been able to add an additional out of school celebration and a back to school splash for the kids. With the networking of some of the, with the Saline County Library and the Indian Springs Baptist Church, we've also been able to add additional services such as a mobile food bank monthly. And then they also have joined in with our children's events too as well. So I'm very proud of that.”

Mayor Herrmann promised to continue to apply for grants and keep working on the ones in the pipeline.

“As mayor, I would say I appreciate this opportunity and I will continue to look and apply for grants to assist our city to move forward and continue the form of movement,” she said. “We are all working now on a Brownfield grant, which is it is a time-consuming thing.”

Brownfield grants are funded by the Environmental Protection Agency to cleanup hazardous waste sites. The city has applied for a grant to cleanup the old hospital at the former Human Development Center.

“I've had to remind myself daily that municipal is not fast,” Herrmann said. “I think the first conversation Mr. Madison and I had was deep breath mayor, municipal is slow. So some of these grants are slow. The seed is sown though and we've been really fortunate that the Central Arkansas Development District is assisting us with this process.”

Looking to the future Herrmann said, “We have multiple other grants that are out for (a) storm water study. And outside of just grants, we also satisfied this last budget for engineering and services. And some of those services we have, well and engineering, they're going to do a sewer impact study for our city. So we will understand what we're looking at with our challenges with our sewers and our water departments. And that will educate us on how we will work with the city development.”

During the regular reports section of the March 17 agenda:

Some park walking trail grant money still remains

Prior to giving her State of the City report, Mayor Herrmann had good news for the walking trail at the City park. There’s still money remaining of the $96,990 grant. This allows to add to the trail.

“So, right now, what we're looking at was adding a wing off of the trail to the gathering station with what we have benches and it's more circular design that leads towards future playground area,” Herrmann said. “And then if you go on along the trail, it's going to spread out into a half circle off the trail where we can install what musical instruments and we'll have a musical instrument section.”

“And then on the third section, for the addition, we can add a half circle and do some sensory boards,” she continued. “So, we're offering a lot of interactive wheelchair access and some help items.”

Despite plans for this walking trail through the playground appearing in four separate articles in The Alexandrian, including a diagram, Council Member Juanita Wilson says residents are “Unhappy” the trail will be close to children.

“I've had people call it in Wonky,” Wilson said. “And they are very unhappy about having that walking trail right next to all the benches and issues for children and toddlers will be because it will become,” an attraction to pedophiles.”

Council Member Joy Gray asked, “But okay, I just have to ask, how will a walking trail create or foster an atmosphere of pedophilia?”

“Because those kids will be out there playing and then there's a driveway and then mothers and children and toddlers,” Wilson responded. “If one toddler sees one over here and decides he wants to go play and takes a hike in a hurry.”

Mayor Herrmann reminded everyone, “We do have a very high resolution block camera installed at the park.”

She also noted all of this was known when the council approved the bid and design.

Police Department Report

Police Chief Timothy Preator provided council members with a quick and snappy report.

“Last month we answered 126 calls for service,” Chief Preator began. “We had 35 reports out of those 126 calls. We did 155 traffic stops. We had 92 of those, 155 order citations, 80 of them were warnings. We served 19 warrants. We had two DUI arrests, seven felony arrest, 17 misdemeanor arrest and did 1,251 extra patrols throughout the city.”

Fire/Rescue Report

Fire Chief Ryan McCormick gave his monthly report. Besides making fire calls firefighters continue to train.

“We had a little over 60 instances that we responded to this past month,” McCormick began. “We did do an in-house, a rope rescue operations, 40 hour class that saved several thousands of dollars by having to do an in-house.”

Code Enforcement/Animal Control Report

Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer Jaimie Jordan has been getting some practical experience.

“So I got my ride along with Bryant, code enforcement ... that was super educational,” Jordan said. “I got to sit in for court for the first time and (that) actually came in quite useful.”

She’s also moved forward on code enforcement clean-up.

“We started the process of getting three houses condemned,” Jordan said. “Letters have been sent out to property owners. They've got their 30 days to do something.”

“I've made contact with multiple property owners about their not being complied with code and progress as being made on those properties,” she said.

On the animal control side Jordan reported, “I have found two rescues that are willing to work with us as long as they have placement open, which is very good.”

“We had 13 animal control calls and one person was cited for unattended burning,” Jordan said.

Financial Report

City Treasurer Jennifer Hill provided the monthly on the fund balances ending in the month of February.

“So for the month of February, your general fund is at $1,616,226,” she began. “Your fire (fund) is at, or your police (fund) is at $131,121. The fire (fund) is at $332,290.99. Your park (fund) is at $217,609.86. Your streets (fund) is at $274,582.66. Your payroll (fund) is at $181,326.04.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, April 21, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.