Alexander to seek appraisal of 3 lots for sale

The City of Alexander will be getting an appraisal of three lots currently owned by the Saline County Water Works and Sanitary Public Utilities Board (SCWW). Two of the lots have playground equipment and a basketball hoop. The third lot has trees. The lots are located between Birch Drive and Mathews Drive near West Azalea Drive.

The three lots as shown on
the Saline County GIS site.

During the discussion Mayor Crystal Herrmann said, “Well, we would have to have an appraisal before we could purchase it. So, if there was a dollar amount that y'all had in mind if you purchased it, we could make that offer and then get an appraisal.”

Council Member Joy Gray definitely wants an appraisal from a real estate appraiser, not a Realtor.

“So, what the Realtor wants and what an appraiser is going to say are two vastly different things,” Gray said. “And I need you to give me the appraiser number, not the Realtor (number).”

In an E-mail exchange, SCWW General Manager Jammie Reagan said, “We are still researching this topic.”

The park was established decades ago as part of a legal settlement with one of the developers of what eventually became the Woodland Hills Community. According to Saline County records, SCWW took ownership of the park in 1992. Woodland Hills was annexed into Alexander in 2006.

In other news at the June 15 meeting

New permit categories adopted

An ordinance, which will amend an existing ordinance establishing additional permit types and fees, received its third and final public reading by title and then was adopted by the Alexander City Council. For the past two months the council has been fine-tuning the description of what types of fences will be allowed in the city. This new permit category will only apply to either new fence construction, or replacing an old fence with a new one.

Acceptable fencing material will include standard wooden fence material, chain link, aluminum, steel, vinyl (PVC), and stone/masonry. The amendment also adds language which establishes a new type of permit for road cuts and a fee and regulations covering the rental and placement of permit boxes to display all permits.

The fence permit is $25.00. The road cut permit fee is $25.00 plus, “$10.00 a square foot for cut (This price includes asphalt/gravel replacement, man hours and equipment).” The permit box rental fee is $50.00. Upon returning the box to city hall $45.00 of the deposit will be refunded. The remaining $5.00 is a “non-refundable administrative fee.” It is required the permit box be placed on the left side at the end of the driveway.

Armed suspect was illegal immigrant

Police Chief Timothy Preator provided council members an update on an incident, which occurred in the parking lot of the Knollwood Mobile Home Park office on the morning of May 8, 2026. (See article here.) The incident involved 24 year old Alan Valenciano Hernandez who tried to pull a gun on an officer while attempting to arrest Valenciano Hernandez.

Preator said, “The subject over here was federally indicted and he was deported out of the country.”

To get Valenciano Hernandez to stop struggling, Preator used a pepper ball pistol hitting Valenciano Hernandez in the face injuring his right eye. Officers in the immediately vicinity were also covered with mist from the pepper ball.

While some officers were treated for over spray from the pepper ball Preator said, “One of the officers (said he) didn't have to get treated. And another one of the officers hurt his hand during the fight or struggle with the bad guy.”

Park report

The splash pad is open.

Sealed bids for property sale due June 26

Sealed bids are now being accepted to purchase the property located at 14805 Kent Drive, in Alexander, Arkansas. The property is owned by the city.

Sealed bids are required to be turned into City Hall no later than June 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM. The live bid opening will begin at 1:00 PM on July 6, 2026 at the Alexander City Hall. For more information contact Jennifer Hill at 501-455-2585.

Mayor Herrmann told council members the bids will be presented to them for inspection and approval.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, July 20, at 6:00 PM in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Alexander Council to discuss property purchase; Third and final reading for permit amendment

Alexander council members will be presented with a proposal to purchase three lots currently owned by Saline County Water Works and Sanitary Public Utilities Board (SCWW). The lots are the home of a park, located between Birch Drive and Mathews Drive.

Park between Birch and Mathews.

Photo from Google Maps.

The park was established decades ago as part of a legal settlement with one of the developers of what eventually became the Woodland Hills Community. According to Saline County records, SCWW took ownership of the park in 1992. A dollar amount for the purchase has not been provided.

Woodland Hills was annexed into Alexander in 2006.

Under Old Business; this is expected to be the third and final public reading, and adoption, of an ordinance which will amend an existing ordinance establishing additional permit types and fees. For the past two months the council has been fine-tuning the description of what types of fences will be allowed in the city. This new permit category will only apply to either new fence construction, or replacing an old fence with a new one.

Acceptable fencing material will include standard wooden fences, chain link, aluminum, steel, vinyl (PVC), and stone/masonry. The amendment also adds language which includes a permit requirement for a road cut and regulations covering the rental and placement of permit boxes to display permits.

The council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The public is welcomed.

Suspect wounded by pepper ball during struggle with Alexander Police

An individual was arrested after threatening a tow truck driver with a small handgun. Alexander Police officers responded to a 911 call from employees at the Knollwood Mobile Home Park office on the morning of May 8, 2026. The suspect has been identified as 24 year old Alan Valenciano Hernandez.

Alan Valenciano
Hernandez

According to a police report, filed by East End Towing driver Adam Kincer, Valenciano Hernandez allegedly “brandished a small pistol” when Kincer tried to tow one of his vehicles. Kincer stated he told Valenciano Hernandez “go talk to the office” about his cars being towed. Kincer says when Valenciano Hernandez walked away he called the Knollwood office to warn them Valenciano Hernandez was on his way and he was armed.

In her statement to police Knollwood employee Heather Weyler said, “I called East End Towing around 9:00 AM to tow 3 vehicles. This resident has been given multiple violations for registering and removing vehicles.”

Responding to the 911 call from a Knollwood employee, Alexander Police Officer Mendez arrived to the scene about 9:31 AM. In his Use of Force report Officer Mendez states, “I exited my patrol vehicle and drew my service pistol and issued verbal commands instructing Mr. Valenciano to turn away from me with his hands in the air.”

After Officer Mendez repeated the command several times, “Mr. Valenciano turned away with his hands in the air. I approached Mr. Valenciano to detain him when he reached into his right rear pocket, I quickly grabbed his hand to avoid him pulling anything out.”

It was at this point the struggle began.

“I attempted to take him to the ground to gain control,” Officer Mendez states in his report. “While I continued to gain control a bystander attempted to assist by holding one of Mr. Valenciano's arms. Sgt. Myers arrived shortly thereafter and assisted me using soft hand control techniques to subdue Mr. Valenciano.”

Police Chief Timothy Preator arrived while the officers were still trying to handcuff Valenciano.

“I yelled to the officers that I was deploying JPX pepper system,” Chief Preator states in his Use of Force report. “I discharged my JPX pepper system from approximately 4.5 to 5 feet way to the suspects facial area.”

“I pulled the suspect to the ground by his hair and he continued to resist arrest,” Chief Preator continued. “I performed knee strikes to the suspects rib area and gave verbal commands to stop fighting. The suspect was eventually taken into custody without further incident.”

Valenciano Hernandez was transported to UAMS for medical treatment to his eye and cleanup from the pepper ball. Officers, within proximity of the pepper ball when it was deployed, were treated at the scene and then transported to Saline Memorial for checkups.

Valenciano Hernandez was booked at the Saline County Detention Center on May 8 and released on May 19. He has been charged with one count of Resisting Arrest, one count of Refusal To Submit To Arrest, two counts of Battery - 2nd Degree, one count of Aggravated Assault, and one count of Carrying A Weapon.

While being searched by police, a Ruger .380 and four rounds of ammunition were allegedly discovered. According to one report the firearm and ammunition were transferred to the ATF in Little Rock “in a transfer of responsibility.” “The ATF has decided to move forward with a federal indictment on weapons charges.”