Alexander council approves $1.6 Million budget for 2019

The Alexander City Council approved a budget for 2019 totaling an estimated $1,623,115.00 in revenue for the general fund. Of that, $880,510.00 of sales tax revenue is transferred to the police, fire and parks departments leaving the general fund with $742,605.00. The budget was approved during the council’s December 17 meeting and goes into effect January 1, 2019.

Not quite half of the general fund’s revenue, $315,083.00, goes towards the salaries of city hall employees, elected officials and two retirement funds for all city employees. The amount for the retirement funds is $144,523.00. Also in the amount for salaries is $9,600.00 for the pension of former Mayor Shirley Johnson. There is a projected surplus for the general fund of $154,764.01.

Total expected revenue for the police department is $368,367.00. Most of that will come from the department’s share of a city one-cent sales tax totaling an estimated $285,225.00.

Expenses in the department are estimated at $349,296.00, Of that, $290,680.00 is for the salaries of eight officers (which includes the chief and assistant chief). There is an estimated surplus of $19,071.00.

Revenue for the fire department in 2019 is estimated at $548,691.00. Of that $495,290.00 will be generated by a one-cent city sales tax plus the department’s share of a second one-cent sales tax.

Expenses are estimated at $$548,325.00. The total amount for expenses includes salaries for ten firefighters (which includes the fire chief, assistant fire chief, etc.) estimated at $359,658.00. There is an estimated surplus of $366.00.

The parks department is expected to receive an estimated $134,854.00 in revenue for 2019. The department’s share of a city one-cent sales tax is expected to be at least $100,000.00. Besides revenue from park rental fees, another $26,254.00 will be transferred from the general fund to the park fund to repay an illegal transfer of funds, which occurred in 2014 during the Michelle Hobbs administration.

Expenses are estimated at $106,705.00. A salary of $33,800.00 has been set for the department’s only employee. There is an expected surplus of $28,149.00.

The street department is nearly totally funded by the city’s share of the state fuel tax, which is estimated to be $215,000.00 in 2019. After including property tax revenue from Pulaski and Saline counties and interest on income, the estimated revenue for the street department is $241,501.00.

Total expenses are expected to be $238,446.00, which includes $101,400.00 in salaries for the superintendent and two employees. There is an estimated surplus of $3,055.00.

The one dollar amount missing from the budget is the remaining carryover of unspent dollars left in the various department bank accounts. Those numbers won’t be known until the last bank statements for 2018 are posted. That means the 2018 budget could go through one more update either in January or February.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander police officer receives Life Saving Citation

Alexander Police Officer Matthew A. Wharton was presented with a Life Saving Citation by Assistant Police Chief Richard Harper during the city’s December council meeting. The citation recognizes Officer Wharton for actions he took at a traffic accident in June of 2018.

Harper read the citation during the presentation which describe an accident on June 27 between a car and motorcycle. The accident was at the south end of the Hwy 111/I-30 interchange during evening rush hour traffic. When Officer Wharton arrived the citation describes the scene as “Chaotic.”

Assistant Police Chief Richard Harper (L) presents
Life Saving Citation to Officer Matthew Wharton.

After he, “[W]orked to stabilize the scene,” before losing twilight, Officer Wharton assessed the injuries of the drivers and saw that, “The motorcycle operator had a compound fracture to his right leg that was bleeding at a life-threatening rate.”

Life Saving bar and medallion.

The citation credits Officer Wharton’s past experience as a United States Army Combat Medic with diagnosing, “[T]he seriousness of the wound and also that the man was drifting into shock.”

After moving the individual to a safer location Officer Wharton applied a tourniquet, “[E]ffectively stopping the extreme blood loss,” the citation states. “Officer Wharton’s immediate implementation of emergency training and presence of mind under extreme conditions undoubtedly saved the man’s life.”

Besides being presented with a citation Wharton also received the Life Saving bar and medallion.

(Photos provided by Alexander Police Department.)

Alexander American Legion bake sale Saturday

The Alexander American Legion Post 28-AR is having a bake sale Saturday, December 22 in the Alexander First Baptist Church parking lot. The bake sale will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM. The church is located at the intersection of Highway 111, Alexander Road and E. 3^rd Street.

2019 budget on Alexander agenda

The 2019 budget, for the City of Alexander, will be presented to council members along with a resolution that puts the budget into effect beginning January 1, 2019. The meeting is Monday, December 17 at 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Proposed zoning map presented to Alexander Planning Commission members

Members of the Alexander Planning Commission were able to review a printed version of the proposed new zoning map for the city. The map was provided by planning commission Chairman Michael Huck.

The map is color-coded dividing the city into various zones designating residential, commercial and industrial uses. Huck said he based the zone designations on a combination of how Pulaski and Saline counties have labeled the parcels for property taxation and how each parcel is currently being used. He also said he used the zone designations provided in the proposed new zoning ordinance currently under legal review.

As best as anyone can determine the city currently does not have a zoning map. In August, 2006 Woodland Hills, now known as south Alexander, was annexed into the city. Without a map to start with Huck said it makes this process even more difficult because instead of updating a current map the city has to create one.

While reviewing the map it was noted that two parcels being used for commercial purposes are labeled residential and agriculture by Saline County. The question was raised as to whether the mapping process can be used to essentially re-zone property based on its current use.

Earlier in the meeting Huck reported he is waiting for a legal opinion from the Arkansas Municipal League as to the process required to approve a new zoning ordinance and zoning map. He suggested the planning commission may have to hold a public hearing, in the same manner as a re-zoning hearing, so everyone in the city has a chance to review how their property will be zoned.

Also at the December 13 meeting Huck reported a request for information from a representative of Verizon Communications. According to Huck Verizon is considering placing a cell phone tower on property owned by Saline County Water and Sewer.

The next meeting of the Alexander Planning Commission is scheduled for 2 PM Thursday, December 27 in the courtroom at city hall. The purpose of the meeting is to approve by-laws and select officers for next year. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander Planning Commission special meeting December 13

The Alexander Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting for 6 PM on December 13 in the courtroom at city hall. A regular meeting was scheduled for Tuesday evening December 11 but could not be held due to the lack of a quorum. The public is invited to attend.

Because this is a special meeting commission members will be limited to discussing items listed on the agenda. Besides the usual report from the chairman and the discussion and approval of minutes, the only item listed under New Business is a presentation of a proposed zoning map.

Alexander’s new zoning map to be unveiled Tuesday

Alexander Planning Commission members will review a proposed new zoning map for the city at the regular Tuesday evening meeting. The map, once approved, will become part of the city’s proposed new zoning ordinance.

The next meeting of the Alexander Planning Commission is Tuesday, 6 PM, December 11 in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander American Legion Post says “Thank You” to city officials

There was a surprise waiting for City of Alexander council members and the mayor near the end of their November 19 meeting. Dale Mulkey, commander of the Alexander American Legion Post 28-Ar, presented commendation certificates to Mayor Paul Mitchell and council members in recognition for their support of the legion post.

“You’ve never turned us down,” Mulkey said before handing out the certificates.

The city council has allowed post members to use the city community center (old city hall) as a meeting place. In October they also allowed post members use of the city park to hold a fund raiser.

The post was founded by area veterans earlier this year and has already been granted its permanent charter Mulkey said at the council meeting. Both Mulkey and Alderman Harold Timmerman are founding members of the post, which has now reached a total of 25 members.

Construction to begin soon at two Alexander locations

Now that the Alexander city council has approved rezoning a 
one-acre lot in the original part of the city and approved construction plans in south Alexander, there will be a noticeable change in two of the city’s better-known vacant lots. In the area of the city where Alexander began, a long-time vacant lot surrounded by E. 1^st Street, A.C. Wallace Avenue and E. 2^nd Street will be the site of 14 two-bedroom apartments housed in three buildings. An office building at the southeast corner of E. Azalea and South Alexander Road will be the new home of RBD Construction/Hale Steel.

At the November 19 council meeting Jonathon Hope, of Hope Consulting, told council members construction on the apartment buildings is expected to begin in January. Robert Hale, of Hale Steel, said they have a plumber ready to begin. Once that’s completed the concrete floor will be poured.

A rezoning hearing for the property along A.C. Wallace Avenue was held by the Alexander Planning Commission Thursday, November 15. The hearing gave nearby residents the opportunity to comment as to whether the property should be rezoned from R-1 
Single-Family to R-2 Multi-Family. Only one person attended the hearing and said he had no objections.

At the hearing Hope explained the project will require new drainage and a waterline extended from E. 2^nd Street, along A.C. Wallace Avenue, to E. 1^st Street with a fire hydrant at the end. The three one-story buildings will include a five-unit building facing E. 1^st Street, a seven-unit building facing A.C. Wallace Avenue and a duplex will face E. 2^nd Street. There will be a parking area in front of each building.

After the public hearing the planning commission held a special meeting. It was at that meeting the commission members decided to recommend to the city council the rezoning of the one-acre lot from R-1 Single-Family to R-2 Multi-Family.

Also at the special meeting of the planning commission, Robert Hale presented the company’s office building proposal. The issue of whether the property was properly zoned was discussed.

In 2013 the city council, at that time, was presented with a request by Hale Steel to zone the back half “Industrial” and the front half “Commercial.” Hale Steel, known for the construction of steel buildings, proceeded to build a fabrication shop on the rear of the property at E. Azalea and South Alexander Road.

Planning commission member Juanita Wilson, who was on the council at the time and who is a member of the current city council, remembers voting to approve the request. However, as best as can be determined, that approval was never followed up with a zoning hearing or ordinance. And, as yet, the minutes of that meeting have not been found.

Even though a zoning ordinance was never brought to the 2013 council for approval, commission members decided to accept the vote of that city council as legitimate. Planning commission members voted to recommend to the city council that the office building plans be accepted and the council should give Mayor Paul Mitchell permission to sign-off on the building permit.

At the council meeting Hale said after RBD Construction and Hale Steel merged it was decided they need to all be in one office building. RBD currently leases office space in North Little Rock but when the construction of the new office building in Alexander is completed the entire company will move to one location.

Also at the November 19 council meeting;

A resolution amending the 2018 budget was approved. Interim Treasurer JoAn Churchill told council members there will be one more amendment needed at the end of the year when the last of the payroll is processed and the last of the year’s revenue from the state is received.

The council agreed to accept the offer of $8,000 to buy property across from the Alexander Central Fire Station on South Alexander Road. According to Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway the property in question has been an on-going issue with the city’s code enforcement officer. He also told council members once the property is cleaned the fire department can use it to conduct fire department related activities.

Council members gave the mayor permission to convert any hourly positions to salary where legally possible. Both Mayor Mitchell and Interim Treasurer JoAn Churchill told council members having more employees on salary will streamline the payroll process and make it easier to write a budget.

The next monthly meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held Monday, December 17, 6 PM, in the courtroom in city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.

Heavy agenda for Alexander City Council

The Alexander City Council will have a busy night at its next council meeting. Three action items and one item for discussion are scheduled for the Monday, November 19 meeting.

In the action category council members will be asked to approve a resolution amending the 2018 budget, approve the “Purchase of property next to Alexander Central Fire Station” and a rezoning ordinance. The only item labeled for discussion is, “Hourly to salary wages.”

One item on the agenda, that won’t be needed, concerns a proposed ordinance that was expected to be recommended by the city’s planning commission for council approval. At a special meeting held last Thursday (November 15) the planning commission discussed how to handle a building permit request by Hale Steel.

The company, known for its metal buildings, is ready to construct its permanent corporate offices at the southeast corner of E. Azalea and South Alexander Road. The question is whether the property was ever legally zoned commercial.

In 2013 the city council, at that time, was presented with a request by the company to zone the back half “Industrial” and the front half “Commercial.” Planning commission member Juanita Wilson, who was on the council at the time and who is a member of the current city council, remembers voting to approve the request. However, as best as can be determined, that approval was never followed up with a zoning hearing or ordinance. And, as yet, the minutes of that meeting have yet to uncovered.

In order to temporarily solve zoning issues in south Alexander, until a new zoning map can be drawn and approved, planning commission members, at the Thursday night special meeting, considered recommending the council approve an all-inclusive ordinance that would have zoned all of what was Woodland Hills based on the designs of its developer Charley Martin. That idea was scrapped in lieu of recognition of the 2013 vote as legitimate. Council members now will only be asked to approve the building plans and give the mayor permission to sign-off on the building permit.

The main purpose of the planning commission’s special meeting was as a follow-up to a rezoning hearing held that night. Commission members agreed to recommend the city council approve a one-acre lot, surrounded by E. 1^st Street, A.C. Wallace Street and E. 2^nd Street be rezoned from R-1 Single-Family to R-2 Multi-Family. Construction on the 14, two-bedroom apartments is expected to begin in January. The rezoning ordinance is listed above. (See article below for further information.)

The monthly meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held Monday, November 15, 6 PM, in the courtroom in city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.

Alexander Planning Commission sends rezoning ordinance to council, recommends construction of office building

During a special meeting the Alexander Planning Commission agreed to recommend to the city council that an ordinance be approved that will rezone a vacant lot from R-1 Single-Family to
R-2 Multi-Family. The one-acre property is surrounded by E. 1^st Street, E. 2^nd Street and A.C. Wallace Street.

Only one person who lives near the lot attended the public hearing, which was held prior to the planning commission meeting Thursday evening November 15. He had no objection to the rezoning.

The construction plans were presented by Jonathon Hope of Hope Consulting, Benton, representing Heritage Homes & Development of Central Arkansas. The plan is to build three one-story buildings that will provide a total of 14, two-bedroom, apartment units. A building with five-units will face E. 1^st Street, a seven-unit building will face A.C. Wallace Street and a duplex will face E. 2^nd Street. There will be a parking area in front of each building.

According to Hope, a new waterline will be connected to the existing line at E. 2^nd Street and extended along A.C. Wallace ending near E. 1^st Street. Besides providing water service to most of the apartments, the end of the waterline will include a fire hydrant. Drainage improvements are also included in their plans. Actual construction is expected to begin January.

Planning commission members also heard from Robert Hale of Hale Steel, which owns the property on the southeast corner of E. Azalea and South Alexander Road. Hale has applied for a building permit to construct an office building for the company. Currently, Hale Steel is leasing office space in North Little Rock.

Hale Steel is known for constructing steel buildings. In 2013 Hale built a fabrication shop on the rear of the property. With the addition of the office building the entire company will be in one location. Once the new building is in place Hale said they plan to build an entrance driveway off South Alexander Road for the trucks. They will then exit onto E. Azalea.

Street Superintendent David Durham attended the meeting to discuss drainage concerns. Durham said the street department already has plans to replace the culvert, which is under Alton Drive where it connects with South Alexander Road. Alton Drive is on the opposite side of the property from E. Azalea.

Planning commission members approved a recommendation to the city council that the building plans be accepted and the building permit be issued. The council’s next meeting is this Monday, November 19. It’s expected the mayor will sign the permit Tuesday.

The council meeting is at 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.

Alexander Planning Commission to hold rezoning hearing and Special Meeting this Thursday

The City of Alexander Planning Commission has scheduled a rezoning hearing for a nearly one-acre vacant lot in the old part of the city. The hearing is to allow residents to provide input on whether the lot at 13411 E. 1st Street should be rezoned from R-1 Single-Family to R-2 Multi-Family. The lot is in the block surrounded by E. 1^st Street, A.C. Wallace Street and E. 2^nd Street. Property owners within 300 feet of the property have been notified by mail of the rezoning request.

The development is being proposed by Heritage Homes & Development of Central Arkansas. The plan is to build three one-story buildings that will provide a total of 14 units. A five-unit apartment building will face E. 1^st Street, a seven-unit building will face A.C. Wallace Street and a duplex will face E. 2^nd Street.

The hearing is scheduled for this Thursday, November 15, 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. Jonathan Hope, of Hope Consulting in Benton, will give a presentation explaining the development and answer questions.

Following the hearing, or starting at 6:15 PM, the planning commission will discuss the rezoning proposal and whether to recommend to the city council if the rezoning request should be approved. Only the city council can approve rezoning property.

Another issue is also on the planning commission’s agenda for that meeting. Hale Steel is preparing to build offices at the corner of East Azalea and South Alexander Road. Robert Hale will be presenting drawings of the proposed development.

The plan is to place an office building on the front-half of the property, affectionately known by long-time residents as “The Pit.” The back-half already has a metal building, constructed in 2013, to store equipment. Hale Steel is known for the construction of metal buildings.

Hale Steel has submitted a building permit request to the city. However, there is a question concerning zoning.

When what is now known as South Alexander, formerly Woodland Hills, was annexed in 2006 the planning commission at the time, and Mayor Shirley Johnson, never followed up with a new zoning map to cover the expanded city.

Prior to the annexation Woodland Hills was under the control of Saline County. But, counties in Arkansas don’t establish zoning districts, therefore, there is no automatic transfer of zones from county control to municipal control.

One solution being presented to planning commission members is a proposed ordinance that would establish zoning districts, in what was Woodland Hills, based on the bill of assurance written for each piece of property by the developer Charley D. Martin. A bill of assurance covers many aspects as to how a developer wants the property he sells to be used in order to maintain the vision of the development. One of those design aspects is whether property is intended for residential or commercial use. The proposed ordinance has been sent to the city attorney for review.

The planning commission has been working on a new zoning ordinance that will replace the current regulations approved in 1982. A new zoning map will be included that will establish districts based on current use. The zoning ordinance was sent to the city attorney for legal review last month. Commissioners expect to begin working on the zoning map in December or February.

Many turned out for car show and fund raiser at Alexander Park

There was no shortage of both classic and modern cars to drool over at the car show Saturday. All types, makes and models filled the parking lot in the City of Alexander Park.

Four judges selected winners for first, second and third place in six categories. There was also a “People’s Choice” winner based on votes by everyone who purchased a ticket. Anyone buying a ticket also had a chance at winning a prize.

The event was sponsored by the Apostolic Christian Center in Benton. Besides the car show Jordan’s BBQ was there selling their famous barbecue and catfish. There was also a bake sale. All proceeds, including the purchase of food from Jordan’s, went to benefit Lifeline Ministries of Haiti and The Call of Benton, Arkansas.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I only know what the judges wrote down.)

Apostolic Christian Center fund raiser Nov. 3, Alexander City Park

Next Saturday, November 3, (from 10 AM to 2 PM) the Apostolic Christian Center is sponsoring a car show at the Alexander City Park. Besides classic cars there will be a Bake Sale, BBQ, Catfish, Kid Zone and more. All proceeds to benefit Lifeline Ministries of Haiti and The Call of Benton, Arkansas.

According to their flier anyone attending the event are also asked to, “Bring one (or more) package(s) of diapers or socks for The Call of Benton, Ar!”

For more information or questions contact Juanita Wilson 501-454-7079, or Rose Kincaid 501-940-7966.

To access Alexander City Park, turn onto Robert Evans Street, off Highway 111, between Dollar General and the Highway 111 bridge crossing Crooked Creek.

Alexander council meeting morphs into tour of property

(Edits are shown underlined.)

Their was expectations of a very short City of Alexander council meeting. With no minutes available of the previous meeting to review it was looking to be even shorter, albeit by about two minutes.

In his oral report to the city council, Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck told members the proposed new zoning ordinance has been sent to the city attorney for a legal review. Huck also said the commission is still waiting for the legal review of the new subdivision rules and regulations and the answer to two questions; all submitted to the attorney a few months ago. He added he has contacted someone at the Arkansas Municipal League looking for help, but has not had a response.

With all business on the agenda completed there was the expectation of an adjournment of the October 15 meeting, but Mayor Paul Mitchell had something else up his sleeve. Mitchell asked for a motion to “recess” so he can take council members on a tour of the recently acquired Human Development Center (HDC) property along Highway 111.

With a motion to recess made, seconded and approved we all toddled off in our respective vehicles to the HDC. Our first stop was the main building that resembles a hospital.

According to the Abandoned Arkansas website, the large brick building seen today was built in the late 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project. It was built as a tuberculosis treatment center for African-Americans. Eventually it was named “The McRae Memorial Tuberculosis Sanatorium for Negroes.”

As tuberculosis (TB) became a curable disease the need for sanatoriums dwindled. In 1968 the TB sanatorium in Alexander was converted into the Alexander Human Development Center. The Arkansas Department of Human Services was established to help individuals with developmental disabilities.

Before going into recess Mitchell said he had wanted to do this earlier in the summer but between full agendas and the heat there wasn’t a good time to do this. The tour began at the rear of the building on what would be considered the ground floor.

With the sun going down moving through the building required walking slowly and carefully. The floors felt as though you were walking on water-soaked carpet with a little mud thrown in as a bonus. It was slick. Eventually, I realized the muddy carpet was hung ceiling tile that became rain-soaked from the leaky roof and had fallen onto the floor.

The group took stairs up to the first floor. One of the first stops was a pair of open elevator shafts. As we walked from one end of the building to the other we could see a community kitchen, various sized empty rooms and lots of graffiti.

One of the council members asked about the intended future use of the four-story building. Mitchell said his goal is to first develop the open land into a shopping center. Then, with the additional sales tax revenue the city will be able to tear it down and develop that piece of the property. Recently local fire departments used it to practice fire fighting techniques.

Eventually everyone moved back to ground level and went onto the next, and last, building on the tour. When driving along Highway 111 you may notice a long metal building around 100 feet from the highway. In its heyday it served as a training area and a paper recycling center, including its own hydraulic press to form bales.

Currently known as Building-5, Mitchell says he would like to make it part of the parks department and turn it into a community center that can be rented for both small and large events. As you enter the front door there is a small room, which can be used for meetings. Behind that is a much larger area suitable for events such as wedding receptions.

He would also like to add a splash-pad outside and use the kitchen area to sell concessions. Installing a back-up generator would also allow the building to be used as a heating or cooling center when there’s a city-wide power outage during extreme weather.

The problem with all these plans is the lease with Pathfinders, Inc.. When the city agreed to take ownership of the property from Arkansas Human Development Services the state’s lease with Pathfinders went with the deal.

Pathfinders now provides the services the state once provided to the developmentally disabled. That service ended in 2011 after the state lost a lawsuit over conditions at the various Human Development Centers throughout the state.

The state turned over the program to Pathfinders which included being allowed to lease the Alexander property for $1 per year. In exchange Pathfinders is suppose to maintain the property and buildings, which also includes the driveway, parking lots and mowing the grass. Other than the grass Mitchell says Pathfinders is not living up to the lease. He wants to renegotiate the lease.

“They want to stop cutting the grass and they haven’t maintained the buildings,” he said. “I have them over a barrel.”

After the tour of Building-5 the meeting was called back into session in the small meeting room. The meeting was then adjourned.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is November 19 at 6 PM in the courtroom in city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Cecelia Timmerman takes 1st Place in chili cook-off

Cecelia Timmerman was awarded the 1^st Place Trophy and a Food Giant gift card for her chili recipe during the Alexander American Legion Chili Cook-off Saturday (October 20). Mayor Paul Mitchell judged the four entries.

The other contestants were Beverly Mulkey, who came in 2^nd; and Lori Chaloner who came in 3^rd. Mulkey entered two recipes.

Chaloner also won the People’s Choice Award. Anyone attending the all-you-can-eat cook-off was allowed to vote for their favorite chili.

The fund raising event was a combination chili cook-off contest, all-you-can-eat and bake sale for the Alexander American Legion Arkansas Post 28. Post members held their first meeting August 21, 2018. There are now 23 members. Anyone wanting to join may contact Harold Timmerman at (501) 847-4919.

Alexander American Legion chili cook-off, bake sale Saturday

This Saturday, October 20, the Alexander American Legion Arkansas Post 28 is having a chili cook-off and bake sale at the Alexander City Park. The event will be held from 4 to 8 PM. In case of rain it will be rescheduled for Sunday, October 21.

This is an All-You-Can-Eat fundraiser for the newly formed Legion Post. To take part in the eating it’s $10 per adult, 12 and under $5 each, 5 and under free.

The entrance fee for the chili cook-off is $10. Their will be a prize for the best chili. Anyone wanting to enter their chili in the contest contact Harold Timmerman at (501) 847-4919.

Won’t be much of a council meeting

Aside from the approval of minutes and a report from the planning commission, nothing else appears on the agenda for Monday’s Alexander council meeting. There are no items listed under “Old” or “New” business.

The next meeting is scheduled for this Monday, October 15, 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

14 Alexander employees receive awards at annual dinner

CORRECTION: Fire Department Captain Braden Hawkins's first name has been corrected to Robert.

At the Third Annual City of Alexander Mayor’s Awards Dinner 14 employees were either recognized for their work ethic during the past year or were publicly recognized for being promoted to a higher rank. Awards were handed out to staff of the fire, police and streets/park departments along with one member of the city hall staff and the mayor’s Employee of the Year award. The awards dinner was held Friday, October 5 at the First Baptist Church in Alexander.

Mayor Paul Mitchell

“[I] want to to tell each and every one of the city employees how much I appreciate each and everything that you do for the citizens of Alexander and the city,” Mayor Paul Mitchell said during his opening comments. “In the last three years and ten months we’ve come a long way and the credit goes to the employees that work here, that carry it out, myself and the council members that supply the needed funds to do what we need to do.”

One major change Mitchell noted is the retention of police officers. During this past year the city council has been able to add benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, and a retirement plan for all city employees. Mitchell said now instead of individuals joining the Alexander Police Department, getting their state training and experience, then moving on to a better situation in another city they are wanting to come here already trained.

“It (benefits) makes it a lot easier on our department heads to hire professional people,” he said.

Fire Department Awards

In his opening remarks Fire Chief Mark “Gator” Ridgeway, commenting on the city as a whole, said after being with the department for 12 years and through, “Several mayors and police chiefs this is the best crew we’ve had in a long time.” He continued by saying, “You can tell by the employees we have now and what’s being done in the city.”

Ridgeway then asked all of the firefighters present to come to the front of the hall. With the nine that were present plus the two firefighters who weren’t at the dinner, “We have 109 years of experience,” Ridgeway said.

“I’m very proud of who I have and the guys working for me,” he continued. “This is the first time in the history of the City of Alexander we have all of the firefighters that are employed by the city and the volunteers,” except one volunteer, “that are firefighter one and two.”

The first award was a 
certificate recognizing 
Firefighter John Acosta 
as the “Selfie King.” 
Ridgeway said he is also 
a recent graduate of the 
Arkansas Fire Academy.

Next, Firefighter Brad 
Noblett was presented 
with a certificate in 
recognition of his 
promotion to captain. Friend
Ridgeway said Noblett

has been with the department on the payroll since 2015 and was a cadet at the time.

“Plus he’s my stepson, son,” 
Ridgeway added. “He’s 
graduated rookie school 
this year, driver ops. 
Done everything 
we’ve asked him to 
do, and some we haven’t.”

Captain Braden Robert Hawkins received a certificate in recognition of his, “Valuable contributions” and “Dedication.” Ridgeway said 
he started with the department in 2010.

“The year I was gone in ‘14 he left right after me,” Ridgeway said. “When I come [sic] back he wanted to come back.”

Hawkins was promoted to the rank of captain in 2017.

Next up was Firefighter 
Jeffery Caple. He was 
also recognized with a 
certificate for his, 
“Valuable contributions” 
and “Dedication” to the 
Alexander Fire Department. 
He’s been with the department 
for three years.

Firefighter Jody Rounsaville 
was selected as Firefighter of 
the Year. Reading from the 
certificate Ridgeway said, 
“In recognition of your 
outstanding service in the 
Alexander Fire Department, 
Firefighter of the Year.”

“We’ve got a good group,” 
Ridgeway said. “They do a 
tremendous job day and 
night. We work 24 hours on, 48 hours off.”

Ridgeway then presented 
Mayor Mitchell with a 
Bass Pro gift card. “I want 
to thank you for your 
cooperation and support 
of the fire department and 
the city.”

After receiving the gift card Mitchell commented on Ridgeway’s recent achievement of getting the fire department’s ISO rating down to a two.

“That lowers your homeowner’s insurance for fire protection,” Mitchell said. “He’s actually working on trying to get down to that one.”

The nearest city rated ISO-1 is Little Rock.

Police Department Awards

Assistant Police Chief Richard Harper had the assignment of announcing the names of the recipients of two department awards; one a Service Commendation for Supervisor of the Year and, the other, Police Department Employee of the Year. Presenting the awards to the recipients was Police Chief Robert Burnett.

“First I'd like to thank all the family members and citizens that come out to support our police officers every day,” Harper said. “This police work is a low-paying job and kind of a dream that we all chase that wouldn't be possible without the family members supporting us.”

Harper said he and Chief Burnett had a difficult time selecting, “Employee of the Year.” There were many potential candidates.

“All of our officers did some amazing things that most of the citizens don't know about and some of their families probably don't know about,” Harper said. He then gave some examples.

“I watched officer Cain Maxheimer pull a woman out of a vehicle that was on fire and then (the vehicle) became fully engulfed after that,” Harper explained. “I watched him drag her across a field and start first aid.”

In relaying another instance Harper said, “I know that officer Wharton lifted a motorcycle wreck off a man and applied a tourniquet to his leg in an effort to save his life and he got a complaint for his trouble on that.”

“And in (an) odd twist of fate,” Harper continued, “He (Wharton) was at the fire department performing CPR trying to save another man's life when that same guy complained on [sic] him.” “But he's out there fighting the good fight.”

Citing another example Harper said, “Officer Hill has worked as many as three sexual assault cases at once, and one of them had three separate victims.” “That puts a lot of stress and strain on someone.”

“I know sergeant McKeever, I can't, I couldn't count up how many fugitives burglars and otherwise bad guys that we've had him sit up on,” Harper explained. “He's patiently waited for, stopped and arrested, and put in jail, on all of our warrants that we've ... got [sic].”

Recognizing the auxiliary officers Harper said, “I don't want to leave out our auxiliary officers that worked more than a thousand hours this year so that we can send our full-time officers to school. So that we can let our full-time officers be home with their family more. So, I appreciate that.”

Explaining the criteria for selecting “Supervisor of the Year” Harper said, “You couldn't look at just what amazing things they did. You had to look at and see who did the most for their fellow officer, who did the most for the community, who did the most to build the department up.”

"Sergeant Nicholas Johnson 
has become like the backbone 
of our police department," Harper continued. "He manages the code enforcement and yet 
he still has time to lend his valuable experience and advice to each and every one of us at the police department. I can't think of one officer in the department that he hasn't sat down with and helped with a personal or professional problem. For that reason he's our Supervisor of the Year."

“Rob (Chief Burnett) runs the police department but Nick is one of those people that makes the police department run,” Harper said. “So thank you for me, (you) make my job a lot easier.”

Moving on to the next award Assistant Police Chief Richard Harper said, “We have another officer that's done some great things for our citizens, but moreover he's done great things for his fellow officers. Every single officer, including myself and Rob (Chief Burnett), has approached this young man and asked him to cover a shift, or cover something for us, so we could either go to a school or be at home with our families. And, he's always been there for us. He's made himself invaluable to this police department.”

“Right now he's in the police academy and ... I'm having to tell him to say no to people because he's coming in and covering weekends for people,” Harper continued.

With a rousing round of applause from the audience Assistant Chief Harper introduced Officer Nick Salyers as, “Officer of the Year.” As noted under the photo the plaque says “Employee of the Year.”

The next two awards were on the personal level for Harper. “Lastly,” he said, “I just want to talk about officer stress. The stress that all the officers go through and any policeman will tell you that the stress they go through on the street is ever constant and it's hard, but it's not the most difficult stress that police officers deal with. The most difficult stress they deal with is the peer pressure from other officers, or the pressure from higher up, from their superiors.”

“I've been a police officer for 21 years,” Harper continued. “I've seen that stress take more lives than the other kind of stress. And, in that time I've worked for four mayors and eight police chiefs and I can tell you that I have never, I've never worked for anyone as supportive as these two men (Chief Burnett and Mayor Mitchell).”

“Not long ago I started at this police department,” Harper continued. “I worked for six months and was unexpectedly and involuntarily deployed to the East Africa. That one year turned into 14 or 15 months. That whole time I knew that my job was secure and that I was appreciated.”

In explaining the two matching wooden cases to Burnett and Mitchell Harper said, “These flags were flown over Camp Lomonnier in East Africa in support of several combat missions against a lot of really bad people. So, thank you for making sure that my family was safe and secure back here, while I was over there.”

“We can't do, as a city, the things that we need ... done without the support of JoAn Churchill and our

office employees,” Mayor Paul Mitchell said before moving on to presenting the Employee of the Year award. “They attend to all the day-to-day parts of work (to) make sure we have the funding to do what we need to do; to get all our bills paid, make sure that we can continue doing what we're doing. So, the office personnel is paramount in what we're able to do. So, we've got good talented people doing those jobs and I'd like to give JoAn a thumbs up for everything she does for the city and taxpayers of Alexander each and every day.”

The approximate 75 employees and family members attending the awards dinner gave her a round of applause.

Employee of the Year

Moving on to the Employee of the Year award Mitchell said, “I had some discussions with some of the department heads and who should receive that honor this year and I'd like to ask David Durham,” … to “Come on up.”

Durham is the superintendent of the Alexander Streets and Parks Department.

“We tried to keep it a secret,” Mitchell said. “I don't know if it worked or not.”

“It worked,” Durham replied.

Durham was hired about two years ago. He previously worked for the Saline County Highway Department.

“This man here has done wonders for our city,” Mitchell said. He began listing some of those improvements starting with the city park.

“He's helped carry that (park improvements) out,” Mitchell said. “(Durham) rented equipment, ... buried water lines, done all kinds of menial work.”

“He works with a small crew,” Mitchell continued. “Our street department, if you can really call it a street department three years ago it's really non-existent. When I was mayor and I come [sic] in we had two weed eaters and one running lawn mower. And, that was cutting all the grass throughout the city to parks.”

“David came in, saw the needs, assessed what we had, what we needed,” Mitchell said. “We have several weed eaters now, blowers and we've got [sic] three ... zero-turn (mowers). We've gotten a track hoe, we've gotten bigger larger tractor, with what they call a bat-wing mower; which is a bush hog that folds up on each end … street sweeper (and) dump truck”

“David has been locating this equipment that we need to be able to do the work that we need to be doing,” Mitchell continued.

On the day of the awards dinner, Friday October 5, the street department purchased a bucket truck, sometimes known as a cheery picker, from Federal Surplus.

“That's going to enable us to be able to get up in the trees and cut dead limbs that’s hanging over city

streets,” Mitchell explaining the potential uses of the bucket truck. “We certainly don't want things like that breaking off and going through somebody's windshield.”

Mitchell also mentioned the ability to hang Christmas decorations. “There's never been any here all the years I lived here.”

Mitchell emphasized now that the city has the equipment it needs there will be less jobs that, in the past, would have been contracted out. “It’s going to save us money,” he said.

“We all agreed that he was ... Employee of the Year, this year, for the City of Alexander because we have an actual working street department,” Mitchell said. “He's built it and he's still building and still working on it, there's more to come.”

Reading from the plaque Mitchell said, “Employee of the Year, Presented by Mayor Paul Mitchell, Awarded to David Durham, This fifth day of October, 2018.”

“Thank you David for everything you do,” he added.

“Thank you all very much,” Durham said. “I couldn't do what I do without a great city council. And, I really couldn't get accomplished what I do without my guys.”

“I've got four of us now,” he continued. “Two new guys that are working out pretty good, and I've got one guy that's kind of my right hand.”

Durham then proceeded to give special recognition to a long-time member of the street department. He asked Rod Chapman to come to the front.

Letter of Recognition

“I just wanted to give Rod just a little Letter of Recognition of appreciation of the job that he does for us in the city and the park,” Durham said. “He does a lot more. He's constantly watching. He sees stuff that nobody knows about. He stops in his own personal time and he'll pull limbs out of the road, pull a dog out of the road or what have you. Rod never hesitates to do it and I appreciate all he does for me and all he does for the city.”

The city council recently agreed to establish an employee position for the parks department. Chapman was allowed to transfer from the street department to parks. Until now the street department staff were the only ones available to maintain the park requiring them to track their time between streets and parks. With a dedicated park employee that will be less of a problem.

Award of Excellence

There was one more award to present. Although the person was not present City Hall Office Manager JoAn Churchill was asked by the mayor to proceed with the presentation.

“This is probably the last time you'll see me up here, Lord willing, I plan to retire one of these days,” Churchill said before proceeding with the award. “But I'll tell you what; these firemen, these policemen, these people in the office are like my own children and I love every one of you and I'm proud of every one of you. I've never worked with finer people and that includes the mayor.”

“My office staff,” she began. “There's two women, ... they do a great job. Jackie does accounts payable and she's an administrative assistant. Jaime (Myles) is our court clerk and she's the object of our,” presentation this evening.

“She's balanced the court accounts,” Churchill said in explaining the purpose of the award. “I believe, if I'm not mistaken, it’s the first time in history that it's been done.”

“When I came (here) five years ago the girls in the office told me that the bank account alone had, for the court, had not been looked at for six years and there's no way that that's ever gonna balance,” she continued. “But she did it.”

The plaque states, “City of Alexander, Award of Excellence, Presented by Joan [sic] Churchill, Awarded to Jaime Myles, This 5^th Day October 2018.” Included with the plaque is a copy of a letter from Virtual Justice.

The city uses their software to process court cases and track fine payments. Churchill stated that Virtual Justice, “Monitors everything she does.”

One of the results of Myles balancing the court accounts is the payment of overdue fines. The fine payments are divided between the police department, the general fund and the court fund; with the bulk going to the police department. That additional revenue has been useful in funding necessary improvements to the department.

Another copy of the letter will be sent to Arkansas Legislative Audit. The state annually audits the bookkeeping procedures of both municipal and county governmental bodies.

Churchill said the letter explains, “What she did, and it was an amazing accomplishment.”

“One of the things that I want to do before I leave is to have a good pure audit so that our report at the end of the year is what this community deserves,” Churchill said. “Every one of you are good at what you do and it's been an honor to work with everyone.”

The dinner was catered by Jordan’s Bar-B-Q and Catfish Catering. The menu consisted of chicken, catfish, fries, hush puppies, slaw, fried pies, and ice cream. Everyone went home stuffed.