Alexander Mayor wants a smaller shovel; Size matters

Alexander Mayor Crystal Herrmann is shopping for a smaller excavator. She says there are ditches that don’t need the wide excavator.

“There are some other ditches and areas in our city,” Herrmann said. “I believe that we can benefit from a smaller excavator.”

She has bids for new excavators, but has seen used equipment more reasonably priced with low hours of use.

“I've gotten quotes from new ones,” Herrmann continued. “My thought was that I actually researched some new or used ones. Some of them only had 300 hours on them. They were well under this price ($60,000).”

Her problem is once she finds a good buy, Herrmann still needs council approval due to the cost being above the limit that allows her to purchase items without council approval.

“I was just wondering if council, what your thoughts are and if this is something we could consider giving me permission to look for a newer used unit that's under $60,000,” Herrmann said. “It's hard to shop for a used unit and then have to wait to council (meeting) and then come back and ask for permission because things sell quickly.”

“I did see a unit that we missed out on,” she continued. “It was $55,000 and it had less than 300 hours or less.”

“Well, so the older one, the bucket is so large,” Herrman said. “We've got a lot of culvert replacements coming up. Some of them are smaller culverts. They will have to over dig.”

One suggestion was to buy a narrower bucket for the existing excavator. Herrmann said time is also an issue getting the large excavator to where it’s needed.

“It's the weight of that unit,” she said. “You have to put it on the large trailer and you have to pull it with the dump truck. The smaller unit, we could put it on the smaller trailer and they can pull it with their city (pickup) truck. It takes, I want to say about at least 35 minutes to mobilize with that large unit just to get from one location to the other.”

Council Member Joy Gray explained why the council needs to approve this purchase.

“Because right now she (the mayor) can only make up to $5,000 expenditure without approval,” Gray said. “Anything over that we have to say yes to. So we would just set a cap on the dollar amount and say, in that way, if she were to come across one that was 50 grand that only had, you know, 300 hours on it, she could just make the purchase because we've already said yes.”

Because equipment from the street department is also used to work on park property the purchase will be made using funds from both accounts.

Council Member Chris Prowse made the motion to, “get a used one no more than 60 thousand.” It was second by Council Member Juanita Wilson. All voted Aye.

How did the fire department acquire a new truck?

While they were on the subject of buying equipment, Wilson wanted to know how the fire department purchased a new truck. The truck is white with black trim, a crew cab and a toolbox bed.

Herrmann asked Fire Chief Ryan McCormick to explain how the truck was purchased.

“We sold a fire truck last year (2024), $30,000, which also gave us the money we put down, which I said in the meeting that we were put down towards a brush truck, with the ability to get money for that,” McCormick said. “The other part is in your budgeting, we have a line item. A vehicle acquisition was $40,000. $40,000 plus $30,000 equals $70,000. The pickup truck was $68,000 that we purchased underneath that line item, which you guys approved for the budget.”

In the fire department’s 2024 budget there is a line item under expenses labeled “Vehicle payment” with a dollar amount of $69,346.43. After the meeting McCormick claimed having that line item allowed the purchase of the truck, bypassing submitting three advertised bids to the city council and allowing council members to accept one of the bids.

From the reports portion of the April 21 meeting

Mayor says park is for the birds and bats

Mayor Herrmann wants to make the city park more inviting to birds and bats. With the help of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission she is developing a plan to install an area dedicated to pollination plus bat boxes and wood duck boxes.

“I had a meeting this past week with the Arkansas Game and Fish,” Herrmann told council members. “[W]e are looking to use about an acre of the backside of the park to plant pollinators and do a natural walking (trail). That would also include bat boxes and some wood duck boxes.”

“I don't know if the citizens realize it but we have about 143 different species of birds in the back of the park along with some wood ducks,” Herrmann continued. “It would be a nice addition to the park. It will look rough the first year because you have to do a burning off and clear the grass that's there but then we come back in with the seeds. So it takes about three years to be fully mature when it gets really full. I think once it's all from there it would be a really nice addition.”

Restoring creek bank an ongoing process

Work on slowing erosion caused by Crooked Creek through the city is continuing. Herrmann reported an extension is being requested due to the rainy season.

“On our bank restoration, we are actively still in the middle of that process,” Herrmann said. “My meeting with Mr. Norden, he suggested that we ask for an extension to get past the rainy season.”

Herrmann has been working with Aaron Norden, the Region III Stream Habitat Coordinator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In 2024 over 100 trees were planted along the creek banks.

Mayor reports on progress of HDC hospital building

Herrmann provided council members a summary of a letter received from Arkansas Environmental Quality (AEQ). The letter is a report on the progress of applying for a Brownfield grant.

“I had a letter from A.E.Q.,” Herrmann began. “We are on Phase-2 for the Central Arkansas Development District and that means once they're done with the Phase-2, and that's completed, then they can pass the property back to the city and then the process has to start over again.”

Alexander has been trying to qualify for a Brownfield grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is used to fund the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Buildings like the former tuberculosis hospital, located on the grounds of the former Alexander Human Development Center (HDC) along Highway 111, can qualify for a grant if it contains hazardous materials such as asbestos.

To accomplish this, on August 22, 2024, the Alexander City Council temporarily gave up ownership of the hospital building to the Central Arkansas Development District in order to conduct the required environmental assessment. An environmental assessment should have been done by the State of Arkansas Development Disabilities Services Board prior to deeding the 65.69-acre property to the city. Council members were told a municipality can't qualify for grants to conduct an environmental assessment. But, a state agency can.

The goal is to have the building demolished to prepare the site for commercial development. But that can’t happen if there are hazardous materials that shouldn’t be allowed to become airborne.

“So then the city will go through Phase-1 and Phase-2 and then I believe at that point we will be able to move forward to a redevelopment plan, which will qualify us for the cleanup grant,” Herrmann said. “They believe that we will make it through the whole process by the time of the November deadline for the (Brownfield) grant.”

Sewage and storm water

Mayor Herrmann reported there are two engineering studies underway. One is a “sewer limitation study” while the other is a storm water study. The storm water study began before the massive multi-day storm that moved through Arkansas in April.

The Hess mess

Since early 2023 the Hess Gas Station, on E. 1^st Street, has been closed. The process of transforming it into a SQRL station began, but suddenly stopped when SQRL started having financial problems throughout its chain of stations.

The property is owned by CRH II LLC out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Apparently the owner is looking for a new use for the property.

“I did have a gentleman actually reach out to me today that wants to come in the next couple of weeks and visit about ideas for the use of the property and see what the city thinks,” Herrmann said. “I think he was basically considering like a food truck vendor lot ... where you could set up multiple food trucks.”

Clean-up continued long after storms left area

The effects of the Biblical size storms, that moved through Arkansas in April, were being dealt with long after they left the state. Mayor Herrmann thanked street and park staff along with police, fire and Saline County for providing aid where it was needed.

“The guys have been working diligently,” Herrmann said. “The fountain (in the park) will randomly be turned on and off with the winds. They did get it cleaned out. We still have probably another day or two working with the trees and the branches.”

“We'd like to extend the thanks to (Saline County) Judge (Matt) Brumley for opening up a countywide burn site for us to take all of the debris because it kept us from having to do days and months of burning in the city's limits. So I appreciate that.”

“I appreciate all the hard work,” she said. “I'm sure the people, I mean, just all of the first-responders, the PD, everybody just performed wonderful together.”

Substitute provides March police report

In place of absent Police Chief Timothy Preator, Sergeant Alan Tyhurst gave the March police report.

“So our March numbers are, we have the 27 calls for service,” Sergeant Tyhurst began. “We've done 34 reports. We've got 109 checks, 103 citations, 105 warnings, warrants served is 21. We've had 5 DW(I) arrests, 2 felony drug arrests, 3 felony arrests, and 5 misdemeanor arrests.”

Heroes become victims

Unless you live in those areas of Alexander that overlook the valley, many portions of the city had some experience with flooding during the four days of torrential April storms. Even areas that normally don’t experience significant, if any, flooding had problems.

“We responded to 98 emergency response calls,” Fire Chief Ryan McCormick began his monthly report to the city council. “Our historic flooding, obviously, there was over 20 homes in our city that were either destroyed or damaged by trees or by water. We made 20 water rescues between 5 o'clock in the morning, the day it was flooding, into 9 o'clock in the morning.”

“And then, Conway Fire Department assisted us and made an additional 10 rescues,” he continued. “Then we went out that evening and assisted the county (Saline County) on another water rescue on South Sardis Road.”

The Central Firehouse, along South Alexander Road, has had problems for years with flowing water washing away dirt under the foundation along the north wall. And, the April rains didn’t disappoint to make the situation worse. Besides increasing the erosion on the outside, flood waters also entered the building.

“We did have damage in our fire station because of the flooding,” McCormick said. “It was a river that came during the middle of the night. Washed out quite a bit of the bank, continuing to the back. And also, the foundation in the backside of the building is a huge and sort of run right now from a washout to a collapsed out of it. We're still looking to be a way to facilitate that. But there is a huge problem. And we need to be concerned about the safety of the firemen that stay there and occupy the building.”

“It flooded the kitchen, it flooded the offices downstairs, you can't get into the back,” McCormick explained. “We weren't able to do anything. We tried to prevent that during the day before it was with sandbags, but we were out doing rescues. And we couldn't do anything about that. And we came back to the water at the station.”

After Mayor Herrmann mentioned there was “15 to 20 inches in the yard,” McCormick cited the Weather Channel saying, “[T]hey had 19.6 inches in Alexander what the Weather Channel had.”

Herrmann also noted she had flooding inside her house, which is next to the fire house.

Lost another one

In 12 months the City of Alexander has hired and lost two code enforcement/animal control officers. Mayor Herrmann announced the vacancy during the April 21 council meeting and said she is accepting resumes for the position.

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 council meeting.

Anyone interested can contact the mayor at mayor@cityofalexander.org or call (501) 455-2585. Address for the Alexander Municipal Complex is 15605 Alexander Road. The mailing address is P.O. Box 610, Alexander, AR 72002.

Financial report

City Treasurer Jennifer Hill gave the end-of-the-month fund balances report.

“So, for March, your general fund is at $1,627,401.07,” Hill began. “Your police department is at $143,644.73. Fires at $339,547.23. Parks is at $226,764.77. Streets is at $271,182.76. Payroll is $43,937.31. And the events/donations is $637.60.”

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, May 19, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023

Time Elapsed

2 years, 2 weeks, 4 days

Alexander increases speeding fine; Juvenile curfew gets first reading

The Alexander City Council adopted an ordinance that increases the fine for speeding. Another ordinance, establishing a curfew for minors, received a first reading.

Before voting on the “Safe Driving Ordinance” City Attorney Chris Madison explained the changes made to the previous ordinance and how writing tickets under a city ordinance, instead of the state speeding law, benefits Alexander.

“So what this is, is, there's an ordinance in place that actually increases the fines for that and it defines the unsafe driving more clearly,” Madison said. “What happens is the officer can write it (speeding ticket) as a city ordinance violation or they can write it as a state traffic violation. If they write it as a city ordinance violation, (and) the court defines guilty, more money stays with the city. If they do it as a state traffic violation, the city gets money from it, but other money goes to the state and that one (ticket) goes on your driving record where the city ordinance is kind of (an) option to be able to keep it here without necessarily affecting someone's driving records.”

Under the proposed Safe Driving Ordinance anyone found guilty of operating, “[A] motor vehicle in an unsafe manner shall … be subject to a fine not less than ... one-hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and not to exceed three-hundred dollars ($300.00).”

The ordinance was adopted in a unanimous vote during the April 21 council meeting. Council members voted to override the required three public readings to enact the ordinance immediately. That was not the case with the curfew ordinance.

A second ordinance, establishing a city curfew, received a first reading, rather than being adopted immediately. Madison asked for time to make some formatting changes. The ordinance was submitted by Police Chief Timothy Preator.

“I have several phone calls and concerns about the teenagers and the kids,” City Mayor Crystal Herrmann said. “I think it'll help, especially in our subdivision Meadow's Edge, because we can get people coming late at night. We've had homes, they, people running doorbells.”

The proposed ordinance establishing a juvenile curfew sets the age of a minor as anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years old. The time of curfew will be set, ”[D]uring the period ending at 5:00 A.M. and beginning (a) At 12:00 Midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, and (b) 11:00 P.M. on all other nights.”

Exceptions include, “(a) When accompanied by a parent of such minor. (b) When accompanied by an adult, at least 21 years of age, who is not the parent and who is authorized by a parent of such minor, … (c) When engaging in the duties of bona fide employment or traveling directly, without undue delay or detour from home to the place of employment, or from the place of employment to the home. (d) When the minor is in a motor vehicle for the purpose of interstate travel, either through, beginning or ending in the City of Alexander, Arkansas.”

The ordinance is expected to be adopted at the May council meeting.

Also at the April 21 council meeting;

Announcements

Saline County Library hosting Reading Challenge, 

Library box Out of Order

Mayor Herrmann announced the, “Saline County Library will be hosting the Reading Challenge.”

The Reading Challenge will be held in the city park Saturday, May 10 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon. There will also be bounce houses, a petting zoo and other activities.

Herrmann also reported the Saline County Library box is still Out of Order. The computerized box is in front of city hall and can be used to request and receive books and other items from the Saline County Library System.

Unfortunately, like all things that are run by computer, it needs an upgrade. Herrmann said there’s only one company in the United States that can do the repair. The mayor said if the existing box can’t be upgraded library officials are considering installing a new unit.

Monthly food bank

Herrmann reminded everyone the monthly food bank is Tuesday, April 29th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The mobile food bank sets up at the Community Center #2 located on the former Human Development Center property along Highway 111.

Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, May 19, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023

Time Elapsed

2 years, 2 weeks, 2 days

Vacant property next to Dollar General rezoned Highway Commercial; But, was it legal?

In its new role as Planning Commission, Alexander City Council members held their first rezoning hearing before the regular April city council meeting. The purpose of the hearing was to receive public input on the request by property owners Robert and Jessica Burnett to rezone the large, undeveloped area next to and behind the Dollar General store and Post Office from Agriculture-1 (AG-1) to Highway Commercial (HC).

The rezoning request involves two areas zoned AG-1, Tract-A and a portion of Tract-B. (See graphic) 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 its original 5.5 acres to its current 0.75 acre shown on the Pulaski County GIS plat map. That’s the smaller area in the graphic zoned HC. When Alexander adopted its current zoning map it was based on Pulaski County’s GIS map, causing the split zoning.

During the hearing Jessica Burnett said, “We've been working with some investors so far, but we can't go any further without rezoning.”

Mayor Crystal Herrmann said, “So, ultimately, the goal is to bring some businesses in.”

The Burnetts are also dealing with an encroachment issue with the cement plant that borders Tract-A. Jessica Burnett said two of their parking lots need to be moved. Once that is done the Burnetts will submit the corrected survey to Pulaski County for correction of the GIS map.

There’s more to Tract-A than the 38 acres in Alexander. The property extends east into Little Rock providing a total of around 44 acres.

“If all this goes through, it's worked out, we are going to petition Little Rock to add, let us annex, the rest of the (property)” into Alexander, Jessica Burnett said. “Just because it will be easier having it all in one city versus split between the two.”

She added that response times for first responders will be shorter being in Alexander.

Ultimately, no one presented any opposition to the rezoning. After the council transitioned into its April 21 council meeting, the rezoning ordinance was unanimously adopted by all eight of the council members.

Crossing the Ts and dotting the Is

According to the City of Alexander’s zoning regulations, those requesting to rezone property must perform three steps prior to the public hearing. All three steps involve public notification of a requested zoning change.

One is to publish a legal notice, “[I]n a newspaper of general circulation in Alexander. The notice shall be published at the applicant’s expense and shall give the time and place of the hearing and the proposed change.”

The second is to, “[I]nform all owners of land, by certified letter, return receipt requested, which lies within 300 feet of the land for which the zoning change is requested of the time, date, and place of the public hearing and the proposed change in zoning designation.

The third states, “The applicant shall procure signs from the City, for the purpose of posting the property proposed for a change in zoning.” … “The signs shall be posted along the frontage abutting any street at an interval of one hundred (100) feet.”

As stated on the rezoning application form, Alexander is to collect the application fee of, “$150.00 plus $7.50 per public hearing sign as required.” The fee for the signs is not refundable, but the signs must be returned to city hall.

The Burnetts did publish the legal notice in the Democrat-Gazette and mail out the proper letters to property owners. Prior to the public hearing the signs were not visible along the property frontage. During a lull in the proceedings this reporter asked Jessica Burnett if the city provided them signs. She said, “No.”

What happens next? What does the new City Council/Planning Commission do with this? We shall wait and see.