Three races on Alexander ballot; Early voting begins Monday

Alexander voters are being asked to choose two council members who will serve the next two-year term. In the Saline County portion of the city, voters are being asked to select their State Representative for District 81. The current office holders, in all three positions, are seeking re-election.

Early voting in Arkansas begins Monday, October 21. Alexander residents will be able to vote in different locations depending on whether they live in Pulaski or Saline counties. A list of early voting locations provided at end of article.

Only two Alexander council members on ballot

Two members of the Alexander City Council drew opposition in this year’s General Election. Incumbent Harold Timmerman is being opposed by Dan Bates. Timmerman represents Ward-3 Pos-1 on the council. Incumbent Juanita Wilson is being opposed by Trevis Bentley. Wilson represents Ward-4 Pos-2 on the council.

A questionnaire was Emailed, or sent by text, to the four candidates. Some of the answers came directly from the candidate, while others are based on answers from previous elections, or both.

Questions asked of all the candidates are:

How long have you lived at your current address?

Have you lived any place else in Alexander, or the area formerly known as Woodland Hills?

How long have you held your current position on the council?

Have you served on the council before? If so what Ward/Position? Have you ever held other similar elected positions before?

Are you employed, own/operate a business, or retired? (If employed provide the name of the company you work for and what you do. If you own a business provide name and location of business.)

If retired who was your previous employer/company and what did you do there? What in your employment history has been beneficial in serving in the office you currently hold?

For candidates who have never served on the council, this additional question was asked.

Why are you running for office?

The information provided below includes the city council seat, the ballot position of the candidate and how their name will appear on the ballot.

WARD-3 POSITION-1

Ballot Position #1

Daniel L. Bates

"I have lived in Alexander (Woodland Hills) for 37 years," Bates said. "I spent the first 3 years in Little Rock."

Describing his employment experience Bates said, "I work for Anderson Engineering Consultants Inc. (formally Anderson Engineering & Testing Company), now for over 40 years. I'm an Engineering Technician having worked in the field and laboratory (now just laboratory) inspecting & running tests on construction materials such as soils, concrete, asphalt, steel and geotechnical samples."

"This is the first time I have run for office," Bates said. "As I have gotten older and nearing retirement I felt it was time to start giving back to the community any support that I can."

Bates said he will be able to bring his work experience to the council. "I have a (sic) understanding of construction projects and can read civil / structural drawings and testing requirements which may be beneficial."

Ballot Position #2

Council Member Harold Timmerman

Harold Timmerman was first elected to the council in 2016 after defeating incumbent Andrea Bearden in a run-off election. He has served since January 1, 2017 and has been unopposed in subsequent elections until now.

Listing his past life experiences Timmerman said, “I earned my pilot’s license at the age of 12, by 17 I had over 5,000 hours flying as a crop duster, served in the Navy as a pilot for 30 years,” (combination active duty and reserve), “came out of Viet Nam as a Quad Ace (20 verified kills), was a law enforcement officer in North Carolina over 20 years, sports official (various sports) for 45 years, always been a busy person.”

Timmerman said, “I’ve lived in Alexander for 19 years, flying an airplane you need to make instant decisions, never late, honest and trustworthy."

[Information for this section is based on The Alexandrian election archives and has been updated.]

WARD-4 POSITION-2

Ballot Position #1

Juanita Wilson

Council Member Juanita Wilson has always lived at her current address since moving to Woodland Hills in July, 1978. At the request of a majority of property owners, Woodland Hills was annexed into the City of Alexander in August 2006.

For nearly 25 years Wilson was employed as an Over-The-Road truck driver and held a Commercial Driver’s License. She had to leave that job to take care of her ailing mother until she passed away about two years later in 1998. She began working in home health care in 2000 and eventually retired in 2016.

Wilson says her work experience has provided her, “[C]ommon sense, ability to work hard, and [I] put it all to use when I became a council member.”

Wilson defeated incumbent Andy Mullins in the 2012 election to represent Ward-2. Mullins was elected in 2010 and served from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012.

Wilson first took office on January 1, 2013. During the 2013/2014 term on the council, Wilson became a Certified Municipal Official under the Arkansas Municipal League program.

In the 2014 election Mullins took back his seat from Wilson. In the following 2016 election Wilson returned to defeat Mullins again.

Prior to being elected to the city council in 2012 Wilson had not held any other elected position. In 2018 she was appointed by Mayor Paul Mitchell to serve as the council’s voting representative on the Alexander Planning Commission.

Since January 1, 2015 Wilson has served on the council for the Ward-2 Position-2 seat. Because the 2020 Census showed wards were unevenly represented, the ward lines were redrawn. Wilson completed the 2021-2022 term serving in the Ward-4 Position-1 spot. In the 2022 General Election she ran for the Ward-2 Position-2 seat against April Cotton. She defeated Cotton and has served in the Ward-2 Position-2 seat since January 1, 2023.

Wilson says she wants to do what’s necessary to keep and attract good employees and provide additional services desired by residents, but everything has to be funded.

[Information for this section is based on The Alexandrian election archives and has been updated.]

Ballot Position #2

Trevis Bentley

[Did not respond to questionnaire.]

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 81

Ballot Position #1

City Council Member Gina Thomas-Littlejohn

Party-Democratic

Gina Thomas-Littlejohn is a resident of Alexander, Arkansas and has lived in the St. Joseph’s Glen Subdivision for the past 19 years.

Thomas-Littlejohn owns and operates a delivery business called “G Deliver-7.”

Prior to her running in the 2022 race for a seat on the Alexander City Council, Thomas-Littlejohn had never held an elected position. She defeated Incumbent Council Member Lonny Chapman.

During her run for the city council she touted her business experience as a plus for serving as a council member.

“I have a lot of management experience and I think with that experience it will help run the administration,” she said.

Before completing her first two-year term as a council member, Thomas-Littlejohn decided to not seek re-election but to run as a Democrat for State Representative in the predominately Republican District 81. Saline County is part of District 81.

[Information above, provided by The Alexandrian archives, has been updated. No additional information concerning this election has been provided by the candidate.]

Ballot Position #2

State Representative RJ Hawk

Party-Republican

RJ Hawk (R) is a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 81. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 13, 2025.

RJ Hawk was born in Midland, Texas. Hawk graduated from Athens High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of Central Arkansas in 2008. Hawk's career experience includes owning Hawk Media Solutions and working as a Realtor with Clark & Co. Besides his experience in Realty, as a radio talk show host, and a sideline reporter with the University of Central Arkansas; he has also been affiliated with the Bryant Chamber of Commerce.

In a statement released to The Alexandrian Hawk said, "For the past year and a half, I have either sponsored or co-sponsored bills that became law to reduce the state income tax as well as increase the homestead tax credit. All this was done without cutting one service to Arkansans. In return, this put more money in Arkansans pocket. When I was elected, I made a promise to cut wasteful spending, improve the safety of our communities and protect our individual liberties. In my first term, I followed through with all those promises."

"If re-elected I plan to continue serving the people of District 81 just as (I) have in this previous term, with action," Hawk continued. "We must continue to make our children a priority when it comes to their education and we have to continue to make it easier to run a business in our state. Another big priority for this next term is to create a reserve fund to help our communities, especially the towns in District 81, with the funds to keep up with their water infrastructure needs."

Hawk concluded, "On November 5th, I hope the people of District 81 vote for me to continue to serve them in Little Rock."

PULASKI COUNTY EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND TIMES:

MAIN EARLY VOTING LOCATION

Pulaski County Regional Building

501 W. Markham St., Little Rock

Dates and Time:

Monday, Oct. 21^st – Friday, Oct. 25^th ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ~

Monday, Oct. 28^th – Friday, Nov. 1^st ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ~

Saturdays Oct. 26^th and Nov. 2^nd ~ Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ~

Monday, Nov. 4^th ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ~

~ NO SUNDAY VOTING ~

ADDITIONAL EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

New location - Dunbar Recreation Center - 1001 W. 16th St, Little Rock;

John Gould Fletcher Library - 823 Buchanan St, Little Rock;

Jacksonville Community Center - 5 Municipal Dr, Jacksonville;

Dee Brown Library - 6325 Baseline Rd, Little Rock;

Adolphine Fletcher Terry Library - 2015 Napa Valley Dr, Little Rock;

Jess Odom Community Center - 1100 Edgewood Dr, Maumelle;

Roosevelt Thompson Library - 38 Rahling Cir, Little Rock;

Hillary Clinton Children’s Library - 4800 W 10th St, Little Rock;

First Christian Church of Sherwood - 2803 Kiehl Ave, Sherwood;

Sidney S. McMath Library - 2100 John Barrow Rd, Little Rock;

William F. Laman Library - 2801 Orange St, North Little Rock;

Shorter College - 604 N. Locust St, North Little Rock;

Dates and Time:

Monday, Oct. 21^st – Friday, Oct. 25^th ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ~

Monday, Oct. 28^th – Friday, Nov. 1^st ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ~

Saturdays, Oct. 26^th and Nov. 2^nd ~ Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ~

~ NO SUNDAY VOTING ~

~ NO VOTING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH AT THESE LOCATIONS ~

SALINE COUNTY EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND TIMES:

Benton Vote Center - 221 N. Main Street Benton

East End Baptist Church - 4701 East End Road Hensley

New Life Church - 4200 AR-5 Bryant

Owensville Baptist Church - 22000 AR-5, Lonsdale

Dates and Times:

Monday-Friday: Oct. 21st – 25th ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~

Monday-Friday: Oct. 28th – Nov. 1st ~ Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ~

Saturdays, Oct. 26^th and Nov. 2^nd ~ Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ~

NOTE: On Saturday, Nov. 2^nd the hours at East End Baptist Church will be 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

~ NO SUNDAY VOTING ~

Alexander Planning Commission sends two recommendations to city council

The Alexander Planning Commission has sent two recommendations to the city council, giving them the final say on two issues. One is the approval of a variance request for property at 14916 Regency Drive. The other is approval to allow the Bryant Church of Christ to begin construction, on a church at 100 Cornerstone Drive, before receiving approval for the sewer connection.

Property owner Heman E Montoya wants to take one large lot, divide it into two and build a single-family site-built home on each as rental units. The lot is located at 14916 Regency Drive in south Alexander. It sits at the corner of Regency Drive and Charles Street.

Under the proposal the width of the property will be divided into two; from 120-feet to 60-feet for each lot. Under Alexander zoning the minimum allowable frontage width is 60-feet.

However, the minimum lot size allowed is 8,000 square feet. Splitting the lot leaves one half with 6,916.5 square feet and the other will be 6,901.5 square feet.

Montoya has submitted a Variance Permit requesting a waiver on the 8,000 square feet minimum. The process includes sending notification letters to adjacent property owners, and residents, asking for, "written consent from any adjoining property owner affected."

At the October 8 Planning Commission meeting, Montoya reported that he received signed certified mail cards for some of the letters, which means the letters were picked up. The remaining letters were returned to Montoya. He did not receive any of the pre-written response letters declaring their approval or disapproval. This issue was tabled at a special September 10 meeting due to the delay in receiving the written responses.

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck reported he did receive one response given to him during the September 16 city council meeting. Huck said the way the pre-written letter was filled out, "I'm not exactly sure if she (property owner) read it correctly. [O]n the one hand she, she circled 'disapprove.' Okay, but where she should have written the address of his (Montoya's) property, she wrote her address."

Huck said he sent the letter to Montoya to give him the opportunity to discuss the variance with his neighbor.

Relaying to commission members what Montoya said in an Email exchange between himself and Montoya, Montoya said in the Email, "[S]he denied even sending the letter back disapproving."

Continuing to explain the conversation he had with his neighbor, Montoya said at the October meeting, "Well, I was like, could you write something down for me like give it to me in writing. And she just said, I can't do it right now. And I'll stop by city hall and talk to them either Friday or Monday."

"I asked her because I had talked to her husband before even all this (sending the letters)," Montoya continued. "That's why it surprised me. ... I sent the letter because he told me he didn't have any problem that when his wife got there, he would fill out the letter and send it back. But that they didn't have a problem with it."

Nothing had been received as of the October 8 meeting.

Since none of the adjacent property owners or neighbors submitted written approval or disapproval, Planning Commission members found themselves in a corner. They decided to proceed with the next step, sending the variance to the city council with a written recommendation to approve the variance.

In a roll call vote planning commission members Jennifer Plunkett, Juanita Wilson and Huck voted to recommend the city council approve the variance and post the public notice for 30-days. Council members Stephanie Beck and Tonya Prowse were absent.

If the council approves the variance, the posting of a public notice is required giving Alexander residents 30-days to respond. If no one submits written disapproval the variance goes into effect automatically. The city has five locations where public notices are posted; City Hall, the Post Office, the Mobil Station at I-30, Elmo's, and the Saline County Water and Sanitary Sewer Facilities Board Office at East Azalea and South Alexander Road.

Alexander Planning Commission members took another unusual step by voting to recommend the city council approve construction of a new church building and leave approval of the sewer connection until early 2025. The Bryant Church of Christ has purchased property at 100 Cornerstone Drive, across from the Circle K along Highway 111. The church currently rents a building at 9500 Highway 5.

The proposed building size is 60 feet by 90 feet. Inside construction plans include five classrooms, an office/audio video room, library/office/workroom, nursery, rest rooms, pastor room, dressing room, baptistry, preparation room, and a sanctuary with seating for 105. In front of the church is planned an asphalt paved parking lot with 22 regular parking spaces and three handicap parking spots. The front of the church will face Highway 111.

After reviewing the plans Fire Chief Ryan McCormick noted either missing information, or suggested additions to the construction plans. Requested improvements include adding a fire hydrant at the west driveway, widening the east driveway from a 20-feet radius to 25-feet, adding fire lane markings, placing an emergency key box at the front door, and include the use of panic hardware on exit doors. McCormick also asked for the width of hallways and the type of seating in the sanctuary to be included.

The main focus, however, concerned getting approval to connect the building to the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA). LRWRA provides sewer service to the Pulaski County portion of the city and that portion of Saline County, in north Alexander, along the Pulaski County line.

Normally, the city council would approve the construction of a building and the connection of the sewer line to the LRWRA system at the same time. A letter is then submitted to the LRWRA approving the requested sewer line connection. However, the current contract between Alexander and the LRWRA is keeping the city from approving new connections.

"The current contract required us (Alexander) to write new zoning and a master development plan," Huck explained. "We've done all of that. [T]he (current) contract says we can't do anything else (no new connections) until we" complete those two requirements.

Currently, City Attorney Chris Madison is negotiating a new contract with the LRWRA. The new contract will eliminate the zoning ordinance and master plan requirements and tighten other language in the current contract.

The expectation is a contract should be available for approval by January. It must be approved by the Alexander City Council, the LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors.

Church officials want to begin construction before winter begins.

"The council could ... approve the church being built, which would give city hall the authority to issue the building permits," Huck suggested.

The plan is to allow construction to proceed while the new contract is going through the writing and approval process. Huck said when the contract is in effect the planning commission can meet again and vote to recommend approval of the sewer connection.

In a roll call vote planning commission members Jennifer Plunkett, Juanita Wilson and Huck voted to recommend the city council approve construction of the church providing all of Fire Chief McCormick's concerns are met. Council members Stephanie Beck and Tonya Prowse were absent.

The Alexander City Council's next meeting is Monday, October 21 at 6:00 PM. Meetings are held in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall).

Alexander Fire Chief announces ISO rating

Alexander Fire Chief Ryan McCormick announced, through a September 23 Facebook posting, the department's latest ISO (International Organization for Standardization) rating. The rating is used for, among other things, setting home insurance rates.

In the posting McCormick said, "We are Excited (sic) to share that after working closely with ISO and it’s representatives, today we received our Class 2 ISO Rating."

"The fire department and it’s members have worked extremely hard over the last year to ensure we have accomplished the requirements to achieve this rating," McCormick continued. "The top Class for any fire department ISO rating, is a Class 1."

During the August council meeting McCormick provided an update on the annual ISO rating process.

"ISO came last month (July)," McCormick said. "We did all of our paperwork and went through all the processes that they were looking for. We're, we have a six month or so waiting time and they come back to tell us what our rating is again."

McCormick ended the posting stating, "We are extremely proud of this rating and will continue to strive to keep moving forward to ensure the best service and results for homeowners and business owners in our community."