Permits, Fences, Inspections discussed

Four members of the Alexander City Council and Mayor Crystal Herrmann discussed three topics at a workshop held Thursday, April 2. Council members present were Joy Gray, Angela Griffin, Amy Lyons, and Christopher Prowse. No one from the general public attended the workshop.

Discussed were the posting of permits, the construction of fences and inspections.

How to post permits

Problem – Currently, posting permits is already required but there are no standards as to how and where to post a permit so it is visible.

“Because people right now either put it like up on the porch or in the window or they don't have it posted at all,” Herrmann said. “And then if they do have their permit, they're really upset that somebody in the field (police) didn't automatically know they had their permit.”

Police officers are now watching for code violations, including construction activity. The Mayor will be purchasing what’s called outdoor real estate brochure boxes to be used to hold permits. They have legs that can be pushed into the ground.

It was agreed this added requirement can be amended to the existing permit fee ordinance, which was adopted in 2020. It will include instructions to place the box at the end of the driveway.

Council members agreed on a $50 deposit. Herrmann suggested keeping a “percentage” of the deposit for processing costs. Five dollars was mentioned.

Building a fence will cost you more than just the fence

Problem – Under the current permit fee structure the ordinance states, “Fence Over 6 (six) Feet High … $25.” It does not require a permit for all fence construction. There’s no approval process to show the new fence is within the property lines and underground utilities are located. Acceptable fencing material is also not specified.

“And now having active code enforcement through with the (police) officers, we can have them (property owner) stake it like we do with their storage buildings,” Herrmann said. “We tell them to stake it out where it's gonna be and then we can have somebody drop on, you can confirm that it's not in the utilities (easement) but it's within reasonable setbacks.”

Besides where to build a fence, what material to use is also a concern. Herrmann says she’s been getting complaints about one property that has wooden pallets being used as a fence.

“And these examples I'm giving are actually being used in the city, the pallets,” Herrmann said. “I do get complaints about the pallets. Also another fence. There's also another fence that's old roofing panels.”

Council Member Joy Gray suggested keeping it “simple,” while allowing for multiple types of fence styles.

“I think if you keep it simple and you know, wood, chain link or what's the vinyl?” Gray said. “[B]ut you have to verify that it's on your property.”

Later Gray clarified when she said “wood” she meant wood specifically designed to build fences.

“And if we want to put a height, whatever, I don't have strong feelings about that,” Gray continued. “But I mean, I don't think we need to get into like POA (Property Owners Association) level of rules”

When all of these requirements are included in an ordinance, property owners will have to bare the additional cost of a survey of the property and providing a drawing showing the property lines, utility easements and location of the new fence. The repairing of a fence will not be included.

Herrmann noted that having a police officer deliver the final notice for compliance is getting more reaction than a code enforcement officer was getting. She said one homeowner, whose house is nearly completed, came in for the permit when an officer hand-delivered the threat of legal action. The penalty for not having a permit is double the cost of the permit if received prior to beginning construction.

Inspections to be done by third-party

Problem – The City of Alexander does not have its own building inspector. Under current zoning, utility companies are responsible for inspections prior to making any connections. In every zoning category it states, “Inspection shall be made as required by each authority having jurisdiction during the construction of all ... units to be located within the City of Alexander or within subdivisions regulated by the City.” Mayor Herrmann wants new construction inspected by a third-party paid for by the developer or property owner.

“So as of right now that you know larger cities actually have staff that go in and do the various phases of construction (inspections),” Herrmann began. “Smaller cities, which I know of Shannon Hills, Bauxite, multiple other small cities use third-party inspectors that the permit holder is responsible for the fee for their inspections.”

Aside from inspecting used manufactured homes before allowing them to be brought into Alexander and inspecting lot lines and setback requirements, Herrmann says it’s up to utilities to satisfy themselves of a proper connection.

“Because as of right now we tell the homeowners when they come in that they have to get their own inspections but the city has nothing to do with their inspections unless it's a (used) mobile home that's fixing to be pulled into the city,” Herrmann said. “[T]here's no inspection other than checking, we'll have them stake out their setbacks for the hall or the building or whatever but there's no other inspections. So if Entergy is okay with it they will just plug them in and if the water department feels free they'll just cut the water on but that doesn't mean it was properly built.”

One problem mentioned was a lack of proper compaction of the earth, for the new structure or manufactured home, to keep from sinking. In many cases a bulldozer is used to do some “compacting” but no testing is done for consistency.

“So from start to finish they'll have the various inspections that they'll need to get passed by the inspector,” Herrmann continued. “And do we issue the occupancy (permit)? Yes. So once all of this comes through that it's cleaning clear then we can issue (occupancy permit).”

It’s expected, to make this change, the zoning ordinance will have to be amended to include the requirement of an independent building inspector paid for by the owner of the building permit.

Permits to be discussed at Alexander Council workshop

The Alexander City Council will discuss the need for additional permits at a workshop scheduled for this Thursday. The workshop is for discussion and informational purposes only. Voting is not permitted during a workshop.

At the February meeting Mayor Crystal Herrmann expressed her concern that permits are not required to build or improve a porch. Her fear is the porch will turn into a sun room with someone living in it.

At the March council meeting she brought up the lack of standards and permit requirement for constructing any fence. As of now the only time a permit for a fence is needed is if the fence is over six feet tall.

Current zoning only states when a six-foot privacy fence, or wall, is required; usually to separate commercial from residential areas. There are no specific standards for fencing or walls aside from blocking the view.

Herrmann wants to set standards controlling the type of building material used and placement of a new fence.

Herrmann said, “So there's things such as we need to stake them out, you know, make sure they're not installing on an easement or utility easement or on the neighbors property.”

“And, we have different materials going up through the city,” Herrmann continued. “We've got some people using some metal-roaching panels for fence, some people using pallets for fences. We've got some non-privacy fences, we have some chain link fences, and we have some that are not maintained.”

What may be her most controversial statement is wanting Alexander to have one type of fence.

“And I will be leaning on y'all to make the fence,” Herrmann said. “What style would y'all like the city to be the same all the way through?”

The workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 6PM in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The workshop is open to the public.

Cottage rental fee decided

The Alexander City Council has decided how much to charge city employees who are living in the cottages on the former Human Development Center (HDC) property. They are located in the southeast corner of the property along Highway 111.

Mayor Crystal Herrmann presented council members several rental comparisons. One is from the 2020 Census. Another were figures from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The third is rent being charged for apartments in Little Rock and Alexander.

About the census average Herrmann said, “And you'll see the average Alexander City estimate of rent is $1,000. But it also has a margin plus or minus of $371.”

That sets the range from $629.00 to $1,371.00.

“I thought HUD would be another really good tool…,” Herrmann said. “On HUD, they had for our market one bedroom units, area's average around $1,116, while two bedroom units added around $50.06.

“But the low income apartments in nearby Little Rock/Alexander area show $725 to $886 per one bedroom unit,” she continued. “So we have the complexes over here” (near the railroad tracks). “Two bedroom is 900 and something dollars.”

Age was another consideration. It’s been estimated the cottages were built around 1950. Council members settled on $450 per month for a one bathroom cottage and $500 for the two bathroom cottages. Renters are currently paying $100 per month.

Auditors with the Department of Legislative Audit have expressed concerns that a low $100 per month will require the city to account for the remaining value of the rent as a fringe benefit on W2 forms. It would then be taxed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Employees will now have two options.

1-They can continue to pay the $100 and claim the fringe benefit at the end of the year on their W2, or

2-They can pay the new higher monthly rate.

What started out as a way to provide low cost security for the former HDC property and give city employees a way to live in Alexander without a major cost to them, turned into a discussion over fringe benefits and taxes. The plan was first adopted when former Mayor Paul Mitchell was in office.

In 2022 the former HDC property was being vandalized after Pathfinders, Inc. moved to a new location outside Alexander. Pathfinders provided specialized services to those with physical and mental needs. The cottages were used to house the patients.

With no one on the property at night, vandalism began to become an expensive problem. Mitchell decided it would be beneficial to allow city employees, who live outside Alexander, to live in the cottages in exchange for providing both security and keeping the grass mowed in the cottage area. At the time, no city employees lived in Alexander.

This arrangement also provides the extra advantage of having city employees nearby in case of emergencies. The cottages are occupied by either police officers or firefighters.

Renters were first required to pay only $1 per year as a token. Utilities were also provided. In an attempt to satisfy the fringe benefit issue the rent was increased to $100 per month. Renters also now pay for electricity and gas as a way to save the city those costs plus to force the renters to be more frugal. Water and sewer are included in the rent.

In other news

Mayor wants fence requirements

Last month it was wanting permits to build porches. At the March council meeting Mayor Crystal Herrmann brings up the lack of standards and permit requirement for constructing any fence. As of now the only time a permit for a fence is needed is if the fence is seven feet high or taller.

Current zoning only states when a six-foot privacy fence, or wall, is required; usually to separate commercial from residential areas. There are no specific standards for fencing or walls.

“We have a fence permit, but there's nothing that goes into any detail about the fences,” Herrmann said. “So there's things such as we need to stake them out, you know, make sure they're not installing on an easement or utility easement or on the neighbors property.”

“And, we have different materials going up through the city,” Herrmann continued. “We've got some people using some metal-roaching panels for fence, some people using pallets for fences. We've got some non-privacy fences, we have some chain link fences, and we have some that are not maintained. So we do want to have an ordinance that addresses maintenance of the fence, if it's half falling down, put placements.

Herrmann also wants to mandate what type of fence residents will have.

“Just several different options when it comes to fences,” she continued. “And I will be leaning on y'all to make the fence. What style would y'all like the city to be the same all the way through? I think it's a lot of decisions. I think right now what we have is basically it states no 8 foot fences in the front.”

Two New Business items adopted

Two items under New Business were adopted by the Alexander City Council. One is a resolution to publish the 2025 Financial Statement. The second is an ordinance giving the police department permission to sell two police cars.

The financial statement is a final version of the 2025 budget, which includes the changes adopted at the February council meeting. The police cars are both 2019 Dodge Chargers.

Citywide yard sale and Farmers Market proposed

Mayor Crystal Herrmann proposed having a citywide yard sale as a way to allow residents to unburden themselves of excess items they no longer need. Council Member Joy Gray has been working on bringing a farmers market to Alexander.

Besides the when, Herrmann offered several options as to the how.

“It seems to be pretty successful in Shannon Hills when they do it,” Herrmann said. “So I thought it could be a really good way to help offload extra items that folks might have. I mean, we could even open up the big community center. We can open up the big parking lot. And they can have them in their personal yards. We can post where they can email in or call or come by and tell us they're address and they're going to be on the list for the citywide yard sale. Maybe do like a city map.”

Gray has been talking to the Saline County Extension Service to bring a farmers market to Alexander.

“Yes. So, I talked to the cooperative extension in Saline County,” Gray began. “They actually are the people that would work with that to be clear. I was grateful with (sic) them. I'm not trying to organize them to do the vendors to do this and do that, but if there's a group of people, like a co-op or an aggregate of folks that are producing in the spring and want to sell stuff and need a space, we have both the park and or the community center. And so, if there's people with fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, that kind of stuff, eggs, whatever that one and two, so the lady is going to reach out to her contact.”

Whether the farmers market begins this year or next Gray said her contact at the extension service agrees the area needs a third location.

“I said, if you can't use this year, maybe at least for the matter of next year,” Gray said. [B]ut she seems excited to have another space because Benton has a farmers market and the (sic) Little Rock has a farmers market. And that's kind of it.”

Council meets new officer

Police Chief Preator introduced Officer Taylor Bledsoe to council members. Bledsoe is the newest member of the department filling one of two vacancies. Preator said she will soon be entering the police academy.

Tornado siren ready

The tornado siren at the firehouse is functioning again. The monthly test was canceled due to tornado-like weather. The repairs were paid for by the city even though the siren is owned by Saline County. The county decided they are going to an app method of emergency warnings rather than maintain a siren system everyone can hear.

Master Gardener plant sale coming to Alexander

Council Member Joy Gray announced the date and time for the Master Gardener Plant Sale. It is scheduled for Saturday, April 18^th, from 8 AM to 12 PM in the Community Center #2 building at the former Human Development Center along Hwy. 111 in South Alexander.

Being in line before 8 is suggested.

“And from what I understand, you need to be there at 8 AM,” Gray said.

Next Meeting

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