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.

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.”

Alexander council considers allowing boxing club to use city building

The Alexander City Council heard a brief presentation from the owners of a boxing club. The non-profit A.F.B Arkansas Factor Boxing Club is located in Little Rock.

Club operators Marcos and Catherine Lopez are asking permission to use the metal building, formerly used by the American Legion Post 28, located at the former Human Development Center along Hwy. 111. The club caters to both teenagers and adults.

“We live here,” said Catherine Lopez. “We're very close, and he's (Marcos Lopez) been doing this for teenagers, and he's a coach.”

Lopez is the club’s only instructor.

Mayor Crystal Herrmann told council members this isn’t your usual activity that can use the larger Community Center #2.

“Because it is a boxing club, their items are so heavy and big and bulky, it really wouldn't work in our larger community center, because they wouldn't be able to just pick it up and put it away,” Herrmann said.

Council members gave City Attorney Chris Madison permission to explore the legal and any liability issues the city may incur.

In other news at the May 18 meeting

Permit amendment gets second reading

After approving a change in the list of the type of fencing material allowed to build a fence, the Alexander City Council had a second reading of the ordinance amending the city’s permit ordinance. The third and final reading is expected at the June meeting. The ordinance received its first public reading in April.

The amendment adds additional permits required for new fences, a road cut permit and regulations covering the rental and placement of permit boxes.

The cause of the delay in passage is concern over the description of the types of fence material to be allowed was too restrictive. The section describing allowed fencing materials states, “[W]ooden fencing materials and chain link.”

Council Member Christopher Prowes suggested adding the list of proposed fencing materials, provided to the council, in place of the original wood and chain link. That section will now include, “wood, chain link, aluminum, steel, vinyl (PVC), and stone/masonry.”

Will there be a gas station in South Alexander?

Mayor Crystal Herrmann reported to council members that a company has its eyes on the former Human Development Center property as a possible location for a gas station. She said they will only need a portion of the property along Hwy. 111. Any planning or construction is at least a year away.

City-wide yard sale Saturday

City of Alexander Community Yard Sale is Saturday, May 23, 2026. There are three ways to participate.

1. Set up a table at the Park or Community Center #2.

2. Have a sale at your house and get your address added to the map.

3. Donate your items for the City's Sale with proceeds going to the Parks Fund.

There is no fee to set up. Contact City Hall at 501-455-2585.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, June 15, at 6:00 PM in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.