Voter registration ends October 16 to cast vote in sales tax referendum

(Headline edited 9/29/17 for those who take everything the wrong way.)

Anyone living in the City of Alexander, who is currently not a registered voter, has until Monday, October 16 to register if they want to vote on the city’s sales tax referendum. The referendum asks voters to approve a one-cent increase in the city sales tax, which can be used city-wide. The existing two-cent sales tax is limited to funding the police, fire and parks departments.

Residents living in the Saline County portion of Alexander can register at the Saline County Clerk’s office 215 North Main; Suite 9, Benton. Office hours are 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Anyone living in the Pulaski County portion of Alexander may use the Voter Registration Form provided at this link. You are instructed to print the form, fill it out in black ink and mail it before the October 16 deadline to:

ATTN: Voter Registration

P.O. Box 8111

Little Rock, Ar. 72203-8111.

Registered Alexander voters in Saline County may vote early at the: “Vote Here” Center, 221 North Main in Benton, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on the following dates.

• Tue, Nov 7 ‐ Thur, Nov 9
• Fri, Nov 10 (Closed for Veterans’ Day Holiday.)
• Mon, Nov 13 (Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 14.)

The Pulaski County Election Commission has not posted any information about the upcoming referendum, including early voting. All registered voters, in both counties, do have the option of voting by absentee ballot.

Decisions by both the Pulaski County Election Commission and the Saline County Clerk will affect where people vote on November 14. The Pulaski County Election Commission has decided Alexander voters in Pulaski County will vote at the same location as Saline County voters. The Saline County Clerk has decided to not hold the election at the usual location, the Saline County Water and Sewer office. Instead, officials from both Saline and Pulaski counties agreed to hold the election at the Pathfinder Human Resources Building 12B, Highway 111 South. The building is at the south end of the closed Human Development Center property, near the end of Highway 111.

Alexander Fire Department approved for FEMA grant

The City of Alexander Fire Department has been approved for a $106,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The main portion of the grant will fund the purchase of a system that removes vehicle exhaust through the use of a direct connection to each vehicle. The system automatically disconnects when the vehicle leaves the fire house. Other items to be purchased with the grant are a washer and dryer capable of cleaning the turnout gear and new fire hoses.

All items are for the Central Firehouse on South Alexander Road. Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway told council members at their September 18 meeting the department will have to pay for five-percent of each purchase. The money will come out of the 833 Fund, which can be used to finance equipment purchases. The funding is distributed to fire departments based on population and is paid for by a state tax on fire insurance companies.

The application for the grant was submitted in 2016. Ridgeway said the last FEMA grant received by Alexander was in 2007.

In an unrelated matter, council members accepted the low bid submitted by Jones Heating and Air of Benton to replace the heating and cooling system at the Central Firehouse. Ridgeway said the replacement is required after an inspection by the Occupation Safety and Health Administration. According to Ridgeway the area where the trucks are kept must be on a separate duct system from where the firefighters sleep to avoid possible carbon monoxide poisoning. Without this change the fire department will lose it’s 24/7 status.

The bid from Jones Heating and Air is $14,100 plus tax. Other bids submitted were from Middleton Heat and Air of Bryant for $15,723 plus tax and BR McGinty Mechanical Contractor of Bryant for $16,894 plus tax.

The motion to accept the low bid passed six to two. Present at the meeting were aldermen Joe Pollard, Juanita Wilson, Harold Timmerman, Dan Church, Melissa Ratliff and Jeff Watson. Absent were Elizabeth Bland and Joy Gray. Absent members are counted as a “No” vote.

Also at the September 18 meeting;

Council members approved a resolution that closes all city bank accounts at Arvest Bank and opens new accounts at First Security in Bryant. According to City Treasurer Kenneth Miller First Security doesn’t have as many fees as Arvest, so the move will save the city money. Also, the annual printout for the state auditors from Arvest does not include the name of the bank where First Security uses a watermark. As with the heating and cooling bid for the firehouse the vote was six to two.

Mayor Paul Mitchell reported the widening and repairing of Brookwood Road from Don Parker Drive to Redwood Lane is completed. That section of Brookwood, along with North Alexander Road between Highway 5 and the I-30 interchange, will be paved by Cranford Construction Company of North Little Rock.

This will complete a repaving project that also included 1^st Street from Highway 111 to Main Street (along Hess Extra Stop), South Alexander Road from the end of Highway 111 to the city limit, West Azalea from the intersection of South Alexander Road to Kathy Drive, Redwood Lane between West Azalea and Don Parker Drive, Birch Drive from West Azalea to Dogwood Ranchette Drive, and applying new pavement from the end of East Azalea Drive, for approximately 310 feet, to connect with Skyline Drive in Shannon Hills. Cranford submitted the lowest estimated bid of $200,672.56.

During the “Public Comment” portion of the meeting Pastor Kenneth Littlejohn announced he is organizing a “Prayer Walk” in Alexander beginning at 11 AM Saturday, October 7. He says he’s already received commitments from 200 to 300 people to attend the march. The march will be held in the northern section of Alexander and end at City Park. Pastor Littlejohn currently holds services on Sunday at the Old City Hall.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, October 16. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the Alexander City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander regular meeting Monday

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, September 18. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the City of Alexander City Hall on Highway 111 across from the post office. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander council lowers millage rate, accepts gift of property

During a hastily scheduled meeting, held Monday evening (Sept. 11), seven members of the Alexander City Council decided to set next year’s property tax rate at 3-mils and accept the gift of property from the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). The millage rate for next year’s tax collection must be set in September. According to Mayor Paul Mitchell DHS requires the city accept the offer before it officially decides to deed the abandoned Alexander Human Development Center to the city.

The reduction of the property tax from the maximum five-mils to three is being offered as a “Thank You” in expectation of voters approving an increase in the city sales tax from two-cents to three. The sales tax increase is expected to add around $432,000 to the general fund. If the sales tax increase fails the city could lose around $36,000 to the general fund due to the millage decrease. The referendum for the sales tax is set for November 14.

The offer from DHS to deed the Alexander Human Development Center property to the city was made public at the city’s February meeting. Mitchell has said having 65 acres owned by the city can be useful as a bargaining chip to attract a major development like a super market or strip mall. The property is located in Alexander along Highway 111.

According to Mitchell of the 65 acres 40 acres are leased by Pathfinder, Inc., which operates apartments for adults with special needs. The city will inherit the lease as well.

DHS has been trying to sell the property and buildings to developers since it was closed several years ago as the result of a state-wide lawsuit. To settle the suit residents were moved to apartment-like settings and the buildings have been vacant ever since.

Attending the meeting and voting “Yes” for both motions were Joe Pollard, Joy Gray, Juanita Wilson, Harold Timmerman, Dan Church, Melissa Ratliff, and Jeff Watson. Alderwoman Elizabeth Bland was out of state and was counted as a “No” vote.

FOOD, FUN, PRIZES, COSTUMES

(Submitted by JoAn Churchill, Office Manager)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 - 5:00 TO 8:00 PM

ALEXANDER POLICE DEPT. AND ALEXANDER FIRE DEPT. WILL BE HOSTING OUR SECOND ANNUAL ALEXANDER NIGHT OUT! BRING THE FAMILY AND JOIN US FOR A FUN NIGHT AT THE PARK. LAST YEAR WAS GREAT, THIS ONE PROMISES TO BE GREATER. MANY PLANS ARE ALREADY SET, MANY MORE IN THE PLANNING STAGE - SEE YOU THERE!