Alexander council approves preliminary rezoning along Hwy 111

NOTE: DQ/Sonic voting has been moved to top of right-hand column.

(Edited to include farm zoning. 10/31/17)

The Alexander City Council voted to rezone around 6.8-acres for commercial development and 51.53-acres as multi-family housing along Highway 111. The vote is only an interim step that will allow developers to begin selling the commercial area to potential businesses. An ordinance to rezone the property from farming to commercial and multi-family housing still has to be written and approved by the council.

The property was part of the original farmland purchased to develop the Meadow’s Edge subdivision along Highway 111. Rausch-Coleman of Little Rock is developing Meadow’s Edge and now wants to extend the development to the other side of the highway.

Rick Ferguson, representing Rausch-Coleman, explained the development plans to council members at their regular October 16 meeting. The plan is to develop a commercial area fronting Highway 111 (Above, shaded green). To the east and north of the businesses will be a gated complex of two-story, multi-family units (Shaded red). A third section, 4.59-acres south of the commercial area (Shaded red), is expected to be developed for one or two single-family homes. Ferguson said the water and sewer lines for the new development will go under the highway and connect to the Meadow’s Edge system.

Ferguson noted they are having no problems selling homes in Meadow’s Edge. Between the number of new homes in Meadow’s Edge and nearby St. Joseph’s Glen he said there are enough “Rooftops” to show business owners the commercial potential of the area.

“There’s a friend of mine that has a Dairy Queen franchise, he’d be a good candidate,” Ferguson said discussing potential occupants for the commercial section. “Or, Sonic … whoever gets there first,” he added; noting you usually don’t see both near each other.

At the time of the meeting development drawings weren’t available to answer some of the questions posed. Before taking questions Ferguson explained the topography of the 51-acre site doesn’t allow for single-family construction.

Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway questioned the height and spacing of the multi-family units. His concern was whether existing fire trucks could handle any fire. Ferguson assured Ridgeway the buildings would not be higher than two stories and that he can work with the engineer during the design phase to work out any of his concerns.

Alderwoman Joy Gray asked about the size of the apartments. Ferguson said the next step is to do a demographic study of the area to determine the need for one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Voting “Yes” for the interim rezoning approval were council members Joy Gray, Joe Pollard, Melissa Ratliff, Harold Timmerman, and Juanita Wilson. Council members Elizabeth Bland, Dan Church and Jeffery Watson were absent and counted as “No” votes.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, November 20. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the Alexander City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Voice your opinion at the top of the right-hand column; DQ or Sonic.

Alexander firefighters had busy Saturday; “Race for the Cure” and promoting fire safety

City of Alexander firefighters recently spent a Saturday in Little Rock supporting their wives or girlfriends during the “Race for the Cure” and later in the day promoting fire safety. Saturday morning, October 14, several of the department’s crew attended the 24^th annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Little Rock, which raises money to help fight cancer.

“We were invited by LRFD (Little Rock Fire Department) to attend the race and show support to all the ones that were in the race.”Alexander Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway said.

Ridgeway added the department was there, “Showing support (for the race participants) and Alexander city pride.”

This year the “Race” route started on the Little Rock side of the new Broadway Bridge, at Broadway and W. Second Street, returning runners and walkers from North Little Rock using the Main Street Bridge. The 2K Run/Walk ended in front of the Old State House on W. Second Street near the starting point. The 5K Competitive Run and the 5K Run/Walk ended on W. Capitol Avenue at S. Gaines Street.

Photo provided by Theresa Wilson Ridgeway.

In the photo are members of the Alexander Fire Department. From left to right are Firefighter John Acosta, Firefighter Dallas Ballard, Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway, Firefighter Joe Roundaville, Firefighter Brag Noblett, Firefighter Shelby Hawkins, and Captain Justin Potter. Five of the firefighters had either a girlfriend or wife participating in the race.

Meet Molly the Fire Safety Dog

Photo provided by Theresa Wilson Ridgeway.

After the race the crew set up at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library for Fire Safety Day. There they met Molly the Fire Safety Dog. Molly is from Clarksville, Arkansas and has her own Facebook page. (Click on Facebook.) October is fire safety month in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred October 8, 1871.

City of Alexander’s "National Night Out" Thursday evening

Thursday evening (October 26) the City of Alexander Police and Fire departments are hosting the Second Annual National Night Out (NNO). The event will be held in the city park, 15550 Robert Evens Road, from 5PM to 8PM. The public is invited to attend.

“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live”, according to the NNO website. “National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.”

Scheduled for this year’s event are goodie bags, dunk tank, bounce house, a fish tank containing Arkansas fish from Arkansas Game and Fish, face painting, raffles, food and drinks, a car show, community information and more. This will also give residents, who don’t frequent the park, a chance to see the many improvements made since last year.

Alexander council votes to save $9,000 annually

The Alexander City Council approved a resolution to end its relationship with Paychex on December 31, 2017. The resolution also authorizes contracting with Proliant, Inc. for payroll processing services beginning January 1, 2018.

The city hired Paychex in 2013 when Michelle Hobbs was mayor. Paychex has been processing the city’s payroll, which included determining and deducting payroll taxes, transferring the taxes to a special account and either printing checks or doing a direct deposit to an employee’s bank account. Since then issues about what Paychex can’t do, while costing the city around $12,000 per year, have ruffled some feathers at city hall.

As was learned at the council’s Monday, October 16 meeting one major issue has been Paychex’s inability to split payroll for street department employees when they work at the city park. Currently the street department staff does double-duty maintaining the city park. Because tax revenue from the state for the street fund can only be spent on streets and a portion of a city one-cent sales tax dedicated to parks and recreation can only be spent on parks and recreation, the hours worked by street department staff must be split depending on the number of hours worked between the street department and parks and recreation.

Proliant representative Kristy Hassman told council members, “The street (department) needs to pay the taxes when they (employees) work in the street department, parks (department) needs to pay it (taxes) when they work in parks; and Paychex couldn’t do that.”

Hassman said Proliant will set up separate accounts, “So those taxes can follow those wages.”

Another issue has been the printing of payroll checks. While many city employees have direct deposit there are some who are paid by a paper check. After the checks are printed by Paychex they are shipped to Alexander City Hall. If there are any errors the incorrect checks must be reprinted and shipped again. For the one-time cost of a $250 check printer, set up in City Hall, Proliant will print the checks directly to the printer eliminating the cost of shipping. The council also approved purchasing the printer and special anti-fraud check ink.

Proliant submitted a quote of $3,000 for one year of services. That will save the City about $9,000 per year. Proliant has been in business for about 20 years with headquarters in Atlanta and has an office in Little Rock.

In other action taken by the Alexander City Council;

Aldermen approved the Hazard Mitigation Plan submitted by Saline County. The 94-page, county-wide plan is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and covers a range of emergency preparedness. A portion of the plan covers items like providing safe-rooms in existing and new public buildings and having an emergency generator system for fire and police departments.

It also covers areas that have flooding problems. The only mention of the City of Alexander is the flooding along Brookwood Road near Crooked Creek. The solution, according to the plan, is to, “raise” Brookwood Road.

Council members approved a resolution amending the current 2017 budget. Mayor Paul Mitchell told council members the amended budget includes the various new spending the council has approved throughout the year. Bookkeeper JoAn Churchill said there should be one more amended budget in December to close out the year.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, November 20. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the Alexander City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

There will be two polling places for Special Election; voter registration ends today

(Benton Early Voting time corrected and last paragraph; 10-18-2017.)
Early information indicated all City of Alexander registered voters, who want to vote in the upcoming Special Election, would cast their ballots in Saline County including those who live in the Pulaski County section of the city. That, apparently, has changed. The Pulaski County Election Commission has announced voters in the Pulaski County portion of Alexander will vote at First Missionary Baptist, 10300 Mabelvale West, Little Rock.

Today is the last day to register to vote, in the Special Election, if you live in the Saline County portion of Alexander. You can register at the Saline County Clerk’s office, 215 North Main; Suite 9, Benton. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The voter registration deadline has passed for residents who have moved to Pulaski County from out-of-state or new voters. The Pulaski County Election Commission says if you have moved to Pulaski County from within the state you have until November 10 to register.

The Pulaski County Election Commission has also announced early voting information. Registered voters in the Pulaski County portion of Alexander may vote early at the main office; Pulaski County Regional Bldg, 501 W. Markham St., Little Rock from Tuesday, November 7 to Monday, November 13; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. The office will be closed Saturday and Sunday.

Two locations outside Little Rock are also being provided. One at the Jack Evans Senior Citizen Center, 2301 Thornhill Dr., Sherwood and the Jacksonville Community Center, 5 Municipal Dr., Jacksonville. They will be open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Tuesday, November 7 to Thursday, November 9.

Nothing has changed for Saline County voters who live in Alexander. Registered Alexander voters in Saline County may vote early at the “Vote Here” Center, 221 North Main in Benton, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on the following dates: Tuesday, Nov 7 to Thursday, Nov 9 and Monday, Nov 13. The “Vote Here” Center will be closed Friday, Nov 10 for the Veterans’ Day Holiday, which is on Saturday.

Alexander voters in Saline County will also still be voting at a new location. The Saline County Clerk decided not to hold the Special Election at the usual location, the Saline County Water and Sewer office. Instead, Alexander voters in Saline County will cast their ballots at the Pathfinder Human Resources Building 12B, Highway 111 South. The building is at the south end of the closed Human Development Center, near the end of Highway 111.

The Special Election is being held to ask voters for to approve a one-cent increase in the city sales tax, which can be used city-wide. The existing two-cent sales tax, approved in two separate elections, is limited to funding the police, fire and parks departments.

Alexander Council will consider replacing Paychex with Proliant

At Monday’s meeting of the Alexander City Council a resolution will be presented that will replace Paychex with Proliant. Paychex processes the city’s payroll, which includes not only printing the checks, but also calculating tax deductions and transferring the payroll taxes to a separate fund.

In an E-mail from Mayor Paul Mitchell he said Proliant, “does more and is cheaper.”

Also on the agenda is a resolution to amend the budget and, “Adopting County Flood Mitigation Resolution.”

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

Prayer Walk a success

The first Prayer Walk held in Alexander was a success by any standard. The weather was sunny and area residents were able to walk through the old part of the city, which ended at the city park. There everyone enjoyed good food and fellowship. The walk was last Saturday (October 7) and was organized by Pastor Kenneth and Gina Littlejohn.

Photo provided by
Mayor Paul Mitchell.

(Photo) Pastor Kenneth Littlejohn (left), Mayor Paul Mitchell (right) and some of the group walking along Highway 111 from City Hall to their first stop at First Baptist Church. They then wound their way to Old City Hall ending the Prayer Walk at City Park.

JoAn Churchill, Alexander’s Employee of the Year

JoAn Churchill was named the City of Alexander’s Employee of the Year at the second annual awards dinner. Churchill serves as Office Manager, Accountant and Executive Assistant to the Mayor. Mayor Paul Mitchell presented her with a diamond-shaped crystal plaque and certificate which reads, “In recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence.”

(Photo above) Mayor Paul Mitchell (R) presents 

Employee of the Year plaque and certificate to JoAn Churchill.

“I have her do a lot of stuff that’s not really in her realm,” Mitchell said. “She’s always there way after hours (off the time clock).”

Prior to the awards ceremony Mitchell said, “I can’t do what I do without you guys. You make it all happen.”

“The City of Alexander for the first time in many, many years … has the right people, at the right places, at the right time,” he said. “We can’t change overnight but we’re working on it.”

There were approximately 30 to 40 people in attendance at the ceremony held at the Alexander First Baptist Church Friday, September 29. The dinner was catered by Jordon’s and paid for by Mayor Mitchell.

Mitchell announced he will be retiring from AT&T November 2. He said he’ll be able to spend more time at city hall, “If my wife let’s me.”

(Photo Left) Mayor Paul Mitchell (R) presents Job Excellence plaque and certificate to Police Chief Robert Burnett.
“He has come in and taken this department to a really, really higher level,” Mitchell said of Burnett.

(Photo Right) Before presenting Fire Chief Mark “Gator” Ridgeway (L) with the Job Excellence plaque and certificate Mayor Mitchell praised Chief Ridgeway for the various improvements in the department including being rated for full-time operation. That makes Alexander the third city in Saline County rated to provide full-time service; Benton and Bryant being the other two. The certificate reads, “In recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence.”

(Photo Left) Mayor Paul Mitchell (R) presented a Job Excellence certificate to street department employee Rod Chapman. Mitchell complimented Chapman on his willingness to perform any task asked of him.

The certificate reads, “In recognition for outstanding achievement and excellence.”

Officer of the Year

(Photo Above) Police Chief Robert Burnett (L) presented Officer Jessica Hill with the Officer of the Year award. Chief Burnett said Officer Hill earned the award for, “taking on extra duties such as senior BAC (Arkansas State Standard Breathalyzer machine) operator, e-crash system administrator, K9 officer, FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests, planning of the annual National Night Out and more.”

Four

other officers

received awards

(Photo Above) Reserve Officer 

Nick Salyers received a 

Certificate of Appreciation award.

(Photo left) Police Chief Robert Burnett (L) presenting a Certificate of Appreciation 

award to Reserve Officer Justin Potter.

“In Appreciation for Outstanding Service to the City of Alexander Police Department,” the certificates state. “We recognize the personal sacrifices you encounter as a volunteer law enforcement officer. Your consistent superior performance above and beyond the call of duty, along with your contributions to the Alexander Police Department Patrol Division are greatly appreciated. Your devotion to the citizens and to the community is a great asset to this department.”

(Photo right) Police Chief Robert Burnett (L) presenting an Award of Excellence Service plaque to Officer Nick Johnson.

Chief Burnett said Officer Johnson, “was awarded for job excellence and his continued hard work getting the city up to code.”

(Photo left) Police Chief Robert Burnett (L) presenting an Award of Excellence Service plaque to Sgt. McKiever.

Chief Burnett said Sgt. McKiever received the award, “for taking over the responsibilities of Sgt. over the full time officers, the position of Sgt. over the reserve officers and handling the Assistant Chief duties while the Assistant Chief is on deployment.”

Three firefighters promoted

(Photo left) Fire Chief Ridgeway (L) presenting a Certificate of Promotion to Assistant Chief Noah Harrison.

(Photo below) Fire Chief Ridgeway (L) presenting a Certificate of Promotion to Captain Robert Hawkins.

All three certificates state, “In recognition of his demonstrated leadership and service.”

(Photo above) Fire Chief Ridgeway (L) 
presenting a Certificate of Promotion 
to Captain Justin Potter.

Surprise!

  

In a surprise presentation JoAn Churchill (L) presented Alderwoman Juanita Wilson with a gift in appreciation for the time she donates at city hall; filling-in doing various tasks when someone isn’t available.