A resolution to adjust payments in the 2024 budget to four elected officials, who were allegedly underpaid in 2023, has been tabled. According to the proposed resolution Mayor Crystal Herrmann was paid $37,456.04 in 2023 instead of $42,160.00; a difference of $4,703.96. Council members Tony Staton, Angela Griffin and Gina Thomas-Littlejohn are listed as being paid $1,100.00 in 2023 instead of the annual $1,200.00; a difference of $100.00. Council members are paid $100.00 per month no matter how many meetings are held.
According to City Hall Office Manager Jennifer Hill, because these were the new members starting January 1, 2023 they weren't able to get into the direct deposit system until February.
"So the people that came in new for 2023 are missing a payment," Hill said. "So legislative audits that have been in order to correct this, that we would need to amend the budget to allow for this increase so that we could pay (council members) Tony Staton, Gina Littlejohn, Angela Griffin, and the mayor their underpayments that they were underpaid for."
Council Member Juanita Wilson made the motion to table the resolution until the council can see bank statements from 2023 showing there is a 12th deposit missing.
Hill explained, "I would just say that I got this (dollar amounts) off the W-2s, so these were the W-2s that everybody got this year and everybody got last year that went through your bank."
"Well, still we need to take a look till next month and from your bank to prove," Wilson said. "We need proof, in writing."
In a roll call vote council members voting "Yes" to table until the next regular meeting were Joy Gray, Joe Pollard, Mitchell W. Smith, Harold Timmerman, and Juanita Wilson. Council members voting "No" were Angela Griffin and Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn. Council Member Tony Staton was absent and counted as a "No" vote.
Let's talk
Raising rent
Alexander currently rents three locations; the pavilion and gazebo in the City Park and Community Center #1 (Old City Hall) on Main Street in north Alexander. Under the current fee structure the City either barely breaks even or loses money completely. It's $75.00 to rent the pavilion but $50.00 of that is the deposit, which is refunded. The city keeps $25. Renting the Gazebo is $200.00 but $100.00 of that is the deposit, which again is returned to the renter. The City keeps the remaining $100.00. There's a $50.00 deposit to rent Community Center #1 plus a fee of $8.00 per hour. According to Herrmann after returning that deposit the City has barely nothing left. No matter what Alexander rents to the public there's a cost.
"What's going on is when somebody rents the pavilion for $25, we have our city (employee) and we have to come out on that day and clean it," Herrmann said. "And so then we incur overtime for one of our parks department employees.
Besides having to pay the employee any overtime incurred, there's the cost of refunding the $50.00 deposit. All of which must come from the $25.00 Alexander keeps.
"So this $25 on top of the office work, because now we also have to process a refund check through the whole computer system and print out a check and mail it at that point," she explained. "So what I'm trying to express is it's either we have to raise the rent or don't charge a rent. Because right now it's cost us money to rent it."
While the current $100.00 rental fee for the gazebo leaves the City a little cushion to pay for the cost of returning the refund and pay the City employee, Community Center #1 runs in the negative according to Herrmann when you include the additional utilities of heating and cooling the other two locations don't have.
The Mayor's new proposed rates for the Pavilion, Gazebo and Community Center #1 are $150.00 each; $50.00 of that is the refundable deposit. The City keeps the remaining $100.00.
Herrmann is also proposing opening up Community Center #2 for renting. If approved the upfront fee will be $200.00; $50.00 of that is the refundable deposit. The City keeps the remaining $150.00.
Community Center #2 is the long metal building near Highway 111 on the property of the former Alexander Human Development Center. It has served as the Alexander Voting Center for the past two General Elections and primaries.
It's expected there will be an ordinance establishing these rental fees ready for the May council meeting.
Amending the Zoning Ordinance
Questioning Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck about the Mixed-Use Residential District (R-2. MU) zoning Herrmann asked, "[A]nybody could put in a duplex at this point?"
"If it's (the lot) at least eight thousand square feet and 60 feet wide in the front," Huck said.
Herrmann expressed concern that too many duplexes in south Alexander will overburden the Saline County Water Works Sanitary Sewer system. Especially the sewer portion. Alexander does not operate its own water and sewer system.
Herrmann said, "[I]f a large portion of that side of the community (south Alexander) ends up pulling off the mobile homes and putting in duplexes it's going to double the services."
"[U]nder our zoning in order to amend the zoning ordinance we have to essentially follow the same process as a rezoning issue," Huck explained.
To rezone property the planning commission sets a date for a public hearing. A legal notice is published in a newspaper and residents/property owners within 300 feet of the property must be notified by mail.
Huck noted the city can't mail notices to everyone but legal notices can be posted at the five usual places in Alexander the same as meeting announcements. He did say the city must send notices to the two school districts (Bryant and Pulaski County Special School District) notifying them of the public hearing.
Huck also suggested that amending the zoning ordinance would require by default rezoning the lot at Alton Dr. and South Alexander Rd. to Single-Family/Duplex Residential District (R-1.SFD) since it's already been approved. Also, he said there's a lot at 13518 3rd Street (Hwy. 111), "[P]assing as a duplex ... built in 1983" that will have to be rezoned as well.
The current zoning ordinance was approved by the Alexander City Council in 2019. It replaced a zoning ordinance in effect since 1980.
Other ordinance issues
In the definition section of the Alexander Zoning Ordinance a mobile home is defined as, "A single-family unit fabricated prior to enactment of the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, June 15, 1976, transported after fabrication on its own wheels and with towing tongue to an approved lot. Traditionally, the wheels and towing tongue could not be removed." A manufactured home is defined as, "A dwelling unit fabricated on or after June 15, 1976, at a site other than the site intended for occupancy and transported to the site for occupancy."
In the zoning ordinance, and other ordinances, "Mobile Homes" are not allowed to be setup in Alexander. Also, "Manufactured Homes" cannot be older than 20 years the year they are setup in the city.
Some sample animal control ordinances were provided for review. It was noted hiring someone for animal control without an ordinance to enforce wouldn't be practical. Council Member Joy Gray was given the task of reviewing the sample ordinance. During the Mayor's report earlier in the meeting Herrmann said one applicant for the code enforcement/animal control officer position has been interviewed with two more scheduled.
In October 2019 the Alexander City Council passed an ordinance establishing locations to post, "[N]otice for meetings, ordinances, and other matters." The locations are Alexander City Hall, Alexander Post Office, Hess Gas Station, Elmo's Grocery, Citgo Flash Market Gas Station (on the I-30 Frontage Road), and the Dollar General Store.
Since the passing of the ordinance the Hess Gas Station was purchased by SQRL and has been closed for renovation about one year, the Citgo is now a Mobil and the corporate office for Dollar General turned down former Mayor Paul Mitchell's request to allow the public postings. The minimum legal requirement is five locations.
Mayor Herrmann says they have been posting at the two Circle K gas stations; one at the Highway 5 and North Alexander Rd. intersection and the second at Highway 111 and Cornerstone Road. The goal is to have a new ordinance by the May meeting that will establish Alexander City Hall, Alexander Post Office, the Mobil Station (on the I-30 Frontage Road), Elmo's Grocery, and the two Circle Ks as posting locations. An attempt will be made to add Dollar General and the Saline County Water Works Sanitary Sewer Public Utilities Board office (E. Azalea and South Alexander Road) to the list of authorized posting locations.
Council Member Angela Griffin suggested installing a weather proof bulletin board somewhere in the city park. This will allow for the posting of various types of public information.
Mayor's Report
Grant application deadline met
"I don't know the percentage, but we've got a chance of a block grant of $500,000," Herrmann said.
Shot Clinic
"We have a $5 coupon at the office," Herrmann said. "It's $15 (fee) as is, but we do have some $5 coupons at City Hall," reducing the shot fee to $10.00.
Saline County Library in the park
Herrmann said, "They'll have the kid day at the park with the petting zoo and bounce houses and everything else coming."
Alexander can apply for Brownfield grant
"We got the green light that we can, we do qualify to apply to get a removal grant," Herrmann said.
She said the main holdup was Brownfield officials determining whether or not the City was responsible for the vandalism and fire damage to the building. Ultimately the decision was made that Alexander was not responsible for the damage.
The grant program is funded by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the EPA website, "A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant."
Herrmann said testing of the grounds and hospital still needs to be done. It was scheduled for last year but the Mayor said there were complications with the bid for the testing.
Municipal election petitions available May 9
Next Meeting