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.