Subdivision request tabled; New PD position established

The Alexander City Council tabled a request to re-plat three lots down to two. The lots are located on the north side of 3^rd St. (Hwy 111) between Alexander Road, Main Street and an alley.

According to the written request the new owner, Zuleima Hernandez, wants to combine existing lots 7, 8 and 9 into two lots labeled 7R and 8R. There is also a variance request for an existing building, which is eight feet from a boundary line instead of the now required 20 feet.

Each of the existing three lots have homes located on them, however, zoning limits lots to one main structure each. Therefore, something will have to be done with the two homes to bring the new Lot 8R into compliance. The request states use of the subdivided properties will remain residential, but makes no mention of the plans for Lot 8R.

At the September 21 council meeting Mayor Crystal Herrmann reported on the public hearing held prior to the council meeting that night. Since posting the subdivision request and public hearing Herrmann said, “We had no worries. We had no complaints.”

They also had no one at the public hearing or council meeting who could answer questions about their plans. It’s for that reason the request has been tabled until October in hopes of getting a representative present who can answer questions.

Also at the September 21 meeting

Police Department needs a helper

The Alexander council approved Police Chief Timothy Preator’s request to change an unused police officer position to administrative assistant. Since the position is already in the budget it’s merely a change in labeling. That reduces the budgeted 11 officer positions down to 10.

Preator said he wants to hire a “civilian” but they will have to be trained and certified to access all the systems the other officers do without being an actual police officer.

“This civilian is not going to be just a regular run-of-the-middle person,” Preator said. “I'm going to have to send this person to ACIC (Arkansas Crime Information Center) certification schools because they can look at warrants, they can help with all the stuff that we've got there. We have an ACIC terminal in our building, and with that being said, like none of you guys can even go into my building unless one of us are there, unless you are an ACIC certified. So, I have to send this person to school, I'll have to send them to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) schools. … I can't just hire the cheapest person on the market and make it work.”

The position has already been posted on the department’s Facebook page. A description of the job includes; Public contact and non-emergency calls, Accurate records and report filing, Data entry and database management, Support command staff and operations, and Provide excellent citizen service. Requirements are Strong clerical and computer skills, Discretion and confidentiality, Background check and drug screen required, and Excellent communication skills. The application form is available at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall) across from the Post Office.

Police Department receives permission to sell golf cart

Council members approved an ordinance giving Police Chief Timothy Preator the authority to sell a golf cart that had been used to patrol city events. The battery powered golf cart is described as a 2009 RTEV, Inc. Ruff and Tuff Event Cart.

Preator said he wants to take whatever he gets for this golf cart and put it towards a newer model. He also mentioned possibly getting one with a gasoline engine.

You can call 501-274-4400 to contact Chief Preator however, it may already be sold. During the meeting a member of the Alexander America Legion said they may be interested in buying the golf cart.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, October 19, at 6:00 PM in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Public hearing to precede September Alexander council meeting

The Alexander City Council, serving in its role as planning commission, will have a public hearing prior to its regular September council meeting. The public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 PM on Monday, September 21. The council meeting will be held at 6:00 PM. Both the public hearing and council meeting will be held in the courtroom in the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall).

The public hearing concerns a request to subdivide property located on the north side of 3^rd St. (Hwy 111) between Alexander Road, Main Street and an alley. According to the written request the new owner, Zuleima Hernandez, wants to combine existing lots 7, 8 and 9 into two lots labeled 7R and 8R. There is also a variance request for an existing building which is eight feet from a boundary line instead of the now required 20 feet.

Each of the existing three lots have homes located on them. The request states use of the subdivided properties will remain residential.

This request is on the agenda for the council which follows the public hearing. The public is invited to attend both the public hearing and council meeting.

Also on the agenda is the, “2024 Legislative Audit Results (See article), Permission to change Police dept. positions, Ordinance to sell City property, and Resolution entering into a jail agreement for 2027” with Saline County. The jail agreement is an annual exercise to establish how much the city will be charged to house prisoners.

Arkansas Legislative Audit releases Alexander’s 2024 report; Accounting errors listed

The City of Alexander’s annual Legislative Audit report, for the calendar year 2024, has been published on the agency’s website. The audit is conducted annually by the State of Arkansas. The audit for 2024 was performed in 2025.

As stated in the report, the purpose of the annual audit, “(I)s to assist local government officials by promoting sound financial management and accountability of government resources. The Legislative Auditor reports on the fiscal affairs of local governments, as well as compliance with relevant state laws and observance of good business practices to provide accountability for tax dollars expended to support government operations.”

The report also states, “Management of the City is responsible for maintaining the financial records and complying with state laws and accepted accounting practices.”

The audit does not involve a financial reconciliation of the budget.

City officials listed in the report for 2024 are, “Mayor: Crystal Herrmann, Recorder: Sharon Bankhead, Treasurer: Vacant, District Court Clerk: Janet Guess, and Police Chief: Robert Burnett (resigned December 17, 2024).”

Anyone who follows news out of city hall knows Chief Burnett, and two other officers, were fired by Herrmann the Tuesday following the December 16, 2024 council meeting. Former treasurer JoAn Churchill resigned in December, 2023. This was Herrmann’s second year as mayor.

The report states, “During our evaluation, noncompliance with state law and accepted accounting practices was noted in the office of the Treasurer.”

The report states, “Accounting procedures for municipalities are set forth in Ark. Code Ann. §§ 14-59-101-14-59-119. The City was not in compliance with these Code sections and other accounting procedures as follows: Prenumbered receipts were not issued for all funds received. Cash receipts journals were not properly posted and reconciled with bank deposits. Monthly bank reconciliations were prepared but were not accurate. A detailed fixed asset listing was not maintained to include additions, deletions, and a control total. A similar finding was noted in the previous two reports.”

Since a bookkeeper is not listed, it is unknown who was maintaining Alexander’s accounts.

The 2024 audit report should be a topic of discussion at the council’s September 21 meeting.