Alexander police chief wants department-operated shooting range

Police Chief Timothy Preator submitted a request to the Alexander city council to build a shooting range for department use. Preator said the issue is scheduling and costs.

“So, right now, if I want to do any kind of firearm training with anybody, I've got to beg, borrow and steal to get a range to shoot,” Preator said. “And when I do get a range, if I get it through the county (Saline County), you have to pay for it, which is money coming out of our budget.”

Preator’s plan involves using the area behind the pond on the former Alexander Human Development property, along Highway 111. The original plan was to pile mounds of dirt, forming a berm, behind the target area. After discussing the pros and cons of the plan it was decided to extend the dirt mounds to the sides to not only catch any stray bullets but to redirect the sound of gunfire upwards.

What concerns Council Member Angela Griffin is that the direction of the shooting will be towards the Meadows Edge Subdivision.

“The reason why I'm saying because my house is right here and when the kids are out all the time,” Griffin said. “And so, you know, with the sound of the guns and all that, I'm just a little concerned.”

Another issue discussed at the June 16 meeting was the possibility of someone walking through the woods and into firing range. It was decided a fence would be installed before anyone could reach the berms.

At the end it was decided council members would survey their constituents to get a feel for the public’s reaction. And, the results are already in. According to insiders, Meadow’s Edge residents don’t like the idea of being downrange from flying bullets. Reports are the plan has been scrubbed.

In other actions at the June 16 council meeting;

Two ordinances get second reading

Two ordinances discussed at the May council meeting, where they also received the required first public reading, received their second reading at the June meeting. One ordinance sets a dollar amount for tracking fixed assets. The second establishes protocol for purchases above $20,000.00.

The only proposed ordinance amended at the May meeting was the ordinance controlling fixed assets. In the original version, the ordinance set a dollar amount of $2,500.00, or higher, for an asset to appear on the fixed asset list.

Council Member Christopher Prowse thought $2,500.00 was too high to begin tracking fixed assets. It was decided to lower it to $1,500.00.

Since then Prowse discovered a needed correction. The word “curfew” was accidentally left over from the writing of another ordinance establishing a curfew in Alexander. The curfew ordinance was adopted in May. City Attorney Chris Madison said it will be removed for the July meeting.

The ordinance not only establishes the $1,500.00 amount to track fixed assets, it requires the council be provided an annual report of items removed from the asset list. It does not require council members be provided an annual copy of the current asset list.

Council members also approved the second reading of an ordinance that increases the dollar amount to require bids for a purchase from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00. It gives the mayor “exclusive power” to award or reject bids and establishes approval of the budget as approval of all purchases listed as a line item in the budget.

Part time firefighter new code enforcement officer

Mayor Crystal Herrmann announced the hiring of part time firefighter Joshua Dodson as the new code enforcement/animal control officer. Herrmann said he will be available during the daytime, depending on his schedule.

While familiarizing himself with city ordinances Dodson told council members, “I have started to give out warnings to more problematic properties for things such as dogs at large, trash, they've had vehicles and a few things with the issue of building permits.”

Herrmann did note an education campaign has begun concerning issues such as keeping properties clean and the need for building permits. For those who get city postings on Facebook, you may have noticed a reminder of these requirements.

She is also asking anyone who has an immediate issue that’s dog related to call the police department. They will continue to assist animal control.

Dodson is now the third person to hold the position of code enforcement/animal control officer. The first code enforcement/animal control officer was Dan Wyatt. He began around April 29, 2024. He resigned sometime between the August and September, 2024 council meetings. Jamie Jordan was hired January, 2025. She resigned sometime after the March, 2025 council meeting.

Mayor talking to FEMA

Mayor Crystal Herrmann reported on her recent discussions with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She has begun the process of applying for aide based on damage from the storms that hit Arkansas in April.

“We have started the FEMA process,” Herrmann said. “I've had multiple FEMA meetings. It started off in Pulaski County. And then we had our FEMA representatives came (sic) in. The ones that are going to be working with us to be a whole application process on their recovery for the storms that we have (sic) in April.”

Herrmann said a meeting with FEMA representatives was scheduled for Tuesday, June 17.

“We'll be going around the city and looking at the different sites,” Herrmann explained. “But, if there was damages, then we'd go over our list. All the hours worked by all of our staff during that time of break.”

Next Meeting

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

Zero input from Alexander residents at public hearing; Timing of hearing questioned

A public hearing was held Monday evening (June 16) prior to the Alexander City Council’s monthly meeting. The hearing is required when submitting a grant request for the FUN Park Grant program.

The grant is provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism. This application is for Fiscal Year 2026.

It funds 100-percent of a project with no matching funds needed by the city. The grant will be used to replace the playground equipment in the City Park.

What was unusual about this hearing is its timing. This is the third year Alexander will apply for the grant. The first two were in 2023 and 2024, for the 2024/2025 fiscal years.

The process followed in the past was to have the hearings before the council adopts the resolution that gives the mayor approval to submit the grant application. This year the resolution was adopted at the May council meeting.

At the June hearing Council Member Juanita Wilson questioned the legality of having the public hearing after passing the resolution.

“We're … (doing) it backwards,” Wilson said.

“But we are ... legal,” Mayor Crystal Herrmann replied.

Another break from past norms was the absence of Leanne Poole. Poole is a representative from the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program (ACEDP). ACEDP aides Alexander in submitting grant requests.

When asked by this reporter about her absence City Treasurer Jennifer Hill responded, “They had other arrangements and couldn't make it tonight. There's a lot of grants going on.”

The purpose of the public hearings are to identify Alexander's needs. This year no one attended the hearing to offer any additional suggestions.

In 2023 and 2024 Alexander scored 32 out of 32 points to qualify. However, Alexander was not selected to receive a portion of the limited funds. Only a handful of applicants are eventually chosen out of the multitude of applications.

Herrmann did say this year’s application was submitted early.

Alexander Mayor schedules public hearing for FUN Grant; Council meeting follows

Alexander Mayor Crystal Herrmann has scheduled a public hearing to receive input concerning a grant request. The FUN Park Grant will be used to replace the playground equipment at the City Park.

The public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 PM on Monday, June 16. The regular June council meeting will begin at 6:00 PM. Both meetings will be held in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall), 15605 Alexander Road, Alexander, Arkansas.

In a press release Herrmann said, “We welcome you to come provide your comments to identify potential outdoor park and recreational needs and priorities for 2026 for the City of Alexander. All persons, especially ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, youth and special interest groups are invited and encouraged to attend and participate.”

The hearing is required when submitting a grant request for the FUN Park Grant program. The grant is provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism. This application is for Fiscal Year 2026.

This will be the third attempt at receiving a FUN Park Grant. Despite scoring 32 out of 32 points to qualify, Alexander was not selected to receive a portion of the limited funds. Only a handful of applicants are eventually chosen out of the multitude of applications.

For those unable to attend the public hearing, the mayor has provided other options to make your opinions known. You may phone city hall at (501) 455-2585. Written comments may be submitted to the City of Alexander, P.O. Box 610, Alexander, AR 72002. Comments may also be E-mailed to Mayor Herrmann, at mayor@cityofalexander.org.

The council has already approved the resolution for the FUN Park Grant at the May council meeting. Normally that’s done after the public hearing. A do-over is not listed on the June agenda.

There are, however, three agenda items for the June 16 council meeting. Under Old Business are the “Ordinance establishing a dollar amount for a fixed asset” and an “Ordinance establishing the procurement process and dollar limitation for Mayor to spend.” Both received their first public reading at the May council meeting. Under New Business is an item described as “Shooting range discussion.” This item is submitted by Police Chief Tim Preator.