Date to begin repaving six Alexander streets unknown

According to City of Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell officials from the Arkansas Highway and transportation Department (AHTD) have not released an estimated start date to repave six city streets. The only information he was able to provide at the monthly October council meeting was the dollar amount of the bid accepted by AHTD, $235,217.49.

Mitchell provided aldermen a copy of an E-mail he received from AHTD. The only information provided is the dollar amount of the winning bid. Mitchell was asked the name of the contractor because that information was also not included in the E-mail. He didn’t know.

As reported last week, according to a bid summary report AHTD awarded the project to Redstone Construction Group, Inc. of Little Rock. The bid of $235,217.49 is below the $250,000.00 allowed Alexander by AHTD. The only other bid was from Cranford Construction, Co. of North Little Rock at $295,220.53. Apparently, Mitchell was not provided a copy of that report.

Alderwoman Andrea Bearden asked for the name of the contractor and who will be monitoring the quality of the work. According to Bearden there were some quality issues with a similar project in Lonoke. Mitchell said he would have to ask about the contractor and how AHTD handles the final approval on these projects.

The streets to be repaved are Autumn Cove and that portion of Magnolia Glen that intersects Autumn Cove in St. Joseph’s Glen, Brookwood Road from Don Parker to the railroad tracks, all of Cornerstone, Kelli Place, and a portion of 2^nd Street. The funding for this project is being provided by the State Aid City Streets program.

Mitchell told council members because the remainder of the $250,000 is less than 10-percent ($25,000) under the maximum the city can add streets to the project without further approval from AHTD. He said he would like to use the remaining $14,782.51 on Don Parker Drive from Brookwood Road to the area near Rosewood Lane.

“They’re going to be right there on Brookwood anyway,” Mitchell said. “Part of the school bus route is Don Parker.”

Mitchell said he’ll have to find out how much it will cost to add that section of Don Parker.

He also wants to know what the contractor will charge to pave the road and parking lot at the city park off Highway 111. It’s currently all rock which washes away. He told the council there’s plenty of money in the park fund and once he gets a quote he’ll bring it to the council for approval. The park fund receives dedicated revenue from a portion of a one-percent sales tax.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held Monday, October 19 at 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Lowest street bid comes in under budget; Monthly meeting Monday

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) has awarded the bid to repave six City of Alexander streets to Redstone Construction Group, Inc. of Little Rock. The bid of $235,217.49 is below the $250,000.00 allowed Alexander by AHTD. The only other bid was from Cranford Construction, Co. of North Little Rock at $295,220.53.

The bids were opened Wednesday, October 14. They were then approved at a meeting held the next day.

The streets to be repaved are Autumn Cove and that portion of Magnolia Glen that intersects Autumn Cove in St. Joseph’s Glen, Brookwood Road from Don Parker to the railroad tracks, all of Cornerstone, Kelli Place, and a portion of 2^nd Street. It’s unknown when the work will begin.

Because the remainder of the $250,000 is less $25,000.00 (10%) the city can add streets to the project without further approval from AHTD. Alexander can also add its own funding if needed.

The funding for this project is being provided by the State Aid City Streets program. Cities are being offered access to this program as part of a temporary gasoline tax extension passed by voters in November, 2011. Revenue from the tax is being used to upgrade interstate and state highways along with city and county streets and roads.

This may be the only topic of discussion at the next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council. The agenda only lists the regular reports along with “Old Business” and “New Business” with no specific items listed.

The meeting will be held Monday, October 19 at 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander council approves fire truck purchase

In a special meeting held Thursday evening (October 1), which lasted about nine minutes, the Alexander City Council approved the purchase of a used fire truck pumper at a cost of $22,500. An additional $1,000 was granted for the purchase of batteries and any other minor repairs. The vote was actually to approve adding the purchase to the fire department’s budget.

The truck is being purchased from the Federal Surplus Property in North Little Rock. It’s a 21-year-old former U.S. Navy fire truck with 77,000 miles.

This truck will replace the one repossessed in 2013. That truck was eventually sold and is still part of ongoing litigation over a combining of several lease-purchase agreements into one. For the past two years the fire department has had only one full-sized operational pumper to use during emergency calls.

Alderwoman Andrea Bearden asked Mayor Paul Mitchell if he had a plan to pay back the “$400,000 loan” if the city is ordered to pay it immediately, referring to the lawsuit.

“I’m trying to end the year with money still in the bank … in case something like that does come up,” Mitchell said. “We’re in the black.”

Bearden asked Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway for a list of what it will take to bring the fire truck up to standards and to bring the list to the next meeting. Ridgeway said the main items needed to be purchased are items that were in the old truck and never returned.

Present at the meeting and voting “Yes” were Bearden, Lonny Chapman, Dan Church, Andy Mullins, and Melissa Ratliff. Absent, which counted as “No” votes, were Stephanie Beck, Louis Hobbs and Jeff Watson.

Alexander mayor calls special meeting tonight

City of Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell has called a special meeting for tonight (Thursday, October 1). And, this meeting has nothing to do with St. Joseph’s Glen or streets.

The meeting has been scheduled to discuss and hopefully get approval to buy a fire truck. This truck will replace the one repossessed in 2013. That truck was eventually sold and is still part of ongoing litigation. For the past two years the fire department has had only one full-sized operational pumper to respond to emergency calls.

The meeting will be held at 6 PM in the city hall courtroom. The public is invited to attend.