Alexander Council meets Jan. 20; Public hearing before meeting

The Alexander City Council will hold its January meeting on Tuesday, January 20. The regular Monday meeting is moved due to the Martin Luther King Federal and State Holiday on the 19^th.

Prior to the council meeting a public hearing has been scheduled. The hearing is to receive input from the public on how to develop the former Human Development Center (HDC) property along Highway 111 in South Alexander. The public hearing is required as part of the process to receive a Brownfield Grant that will be used in the razing of the former HDC hospital building.

There are three action items on the council meeting agenda. They are:

1-The Organization of City Council for 2026 document;

2-A resolution to hire Hallf Engineering to do a storm water study in North Alexander; and

3-A resolution concerning taking part in the Federal Surplus program.

The public hearing will be held at 5:30 PM. The council meeting will begin at the usual time 6:00 PM. Both will be held at the courtroom in the Alexander Municipal Complex on Highway 111.

Where is Alexander’s Master Development Plan?

OPINION/EDITORIAL

After much work done by the former City of Alexander Planning Commission, and with the help of Metroplan, the new master development plan lies in limbo in the City of Little Rock. Why is no one in this administration pushing for its release?

Background:

The developing and writing of the new master development plan began in 2022. A new plan was needed not only because the current plan was approved in 1982, but because the contract (signed in 2018) with Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) requires a new zoning ordinance and master plan.

The previous zoning ordinance was also approved in 1982. The new zoning ordinance was adopted in 2019.

The master development plan will be used by current and future city leaders to act as a guide concerning residential and commercial growth in the City of Alexander.

The new plan was given the title “On Track for a Better Tomorrow.” The title is in recognition of Alexander’s days as a rail town. Get it; rail, track?

The existing contract also requires that LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors approve the plan. Apparently, the reason LRWRA gets to tell Alexander how to run its business is because the LRWRA provides sewer service to the Pulaski County portion of the city.

So, what’s the holdup? Apparently, the powers-to-be at LRWRA never considered how to remove these requirements from the contract once they were all met.

When Alexander’s city attorney got involved he and the attorney for LRWRA decided to write a new contract. Unfortunately, “Perry Mason” wasn’t happy with some of the wording of the current contract. It is now going on two years and nine months since the LRWRA received the proposed master plan and still no approval and no new contract.

And, to complicate matters, Mayor Crystal Herrmann unknowingly wants to reinvent the wheel when she asks for a new “zoning map” and public input. That work has already been done. That’s the purpose of the master development plan.

What she really is asking for is a revamped land use map. If the mayor and council are unhappy with the proposed land use map, change it before adopting the new master plan. There’s even a change I would like to make.

But, of course, it’s obvious the mayor hasn’t read the proposed master plan otherwise she wouldn’t be making these unnecessary proposals for public input meetings and new maps. If she wants to start some place give council members a copy of the plan and tell “Perry” to get moving on the new contract. It won’t be long before three years will have passed.

Time to brush up on Alexander's fireworks rules for New Year's Eve

If you plan to shoot fireworks in the City of Alexander to celebrate the new year there are some rules you need to know. The fireworks ordinance establishes the following rules.

When:

The ordinance allows for the discharging of fireworks from 12:00 PM (Noon) on December 31 until 1:00 AM January 1.

The use of fireworks:

“No parent, guardian, or custodian of any child under the age of majority shall knowingly permit or consent to the possession or discharge of fireworks by any child under the age of majority without proper supervision.” In Arkansas the age of majority is 18 years old.

The ordinance limits the discharging of fireworks, “on private property of the owner, by the owner and immediate family, when discharge is in a safe and sane manner.” “Safe and sane manner,” is defined as, “actions which do not endanger life, limb, or property of those in the area of the discharge.”

Fireworks may not, “be discharged within the boundaries of or within three hundred feet (300 ft.) of any public park owned or maintained by the city.” Also, fireworks may not be, “discharged upon any public street, alley, road, or right-of-way,” … “under or upon a motor vehicle, whether moving or not, or within three hundred feet (300 ft.) of any gas station, gas, oil, or propane storage facility, or other area which is highly flammable in nature.” Fireworks also may not be discharged if the Fire Chief has issued a burn ban due to drought or other conditions.

Clean up when finished:

The revelers are also required to clean-up the mess. The ordinance states, “Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association discharging fireworks under this ordinance shall, upon such discharge, be responsible for clean-up of the discharge site, including disposal of all discharged fireworks, all non-discharged or ‘dud’ fireworks, and the associated debris from the area in a safe manner.”

Fireworks defined:

The ordinance provides a definition of fireworks. Besides the legal and technical definition, examples of what constitutes fireworks is provided. The list includes, “sky rockets, roman candles, daygo bombs, blank cartridges, toy cannons, toy canes, or toy guns in which explosives other than toy paper caps are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them, firecracker, torpedoes, sparklers, or other fireworks of like construction, any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound, or any tablet or other device containing an explosive substance.”

Enforcement and penalties:

Police, fire and code enforcement officers are given the authority to enforce this ordinance. They also have the authority to, “seize, impound, remove, or cause to be removed, at the expense of the owner, all stocks of fireworks offered for sale, sold, or in the possession of any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association in violation of this chapter.”

Penalties start at, “a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a first time offense, a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a second offense, and a fine of not less than three hundred dollars ($300) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a third or subsequent offense. Each day of a violation constitutes a separate offense.”

The ordinance also covers payment for damages and the cost of any services provided. “Any damages caused or injuries sustained as a result of any violation of this chapter shall be ordered paid as restitution as part of any conviction for any violation,” it states. Also, “The court may order the reimbursement of costs of enforcement, investigation, fire suppression services, and overtime related to a violation upon conviction.”

Anyone living under a Home Owners Association or Property Owners Association should consult the organization for any additional requirements above and beyond the city ordinance.