Alexander voters in Saline County will vote in new location

Anyone living in Saline County, who will be voting in-person on November 3, and normally votes in the City of Alexander, will be casting their ballots in a new location. The polling place is still on the property of the former Alexander Human Development Center (HDC), just in a different building.

During the past few elections Saline County has been using one of the offices of Pathfinders, Inc. as a polling location. Pathfinders is at the southeast corner of the HDC property along Highway 111.

On November 3 voters will be directed by signs to a long metal building north of Pathfinders on the HDC property. Parking is available in front of the building. (See map.)

City of Alexander residents who live in Pulaski County will continue to vote at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 10300 Mabelvale West Rd. in Mabelvale. Polls are open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM.

Alexander council approves storm water ordinance and new police policies

 The Alexander City Council approved an ordinance establishing regulations controlling the discharging of storm water into the city’s storm water system. Another vote taken at the October 19 meeting established new policies and procedures for the police department.

The stated purpose of the “Stormwater Discharge Regulations” ordinance is, “To maintain and improve the quality of surface water and groundwater; To prevent the discharge of contaminated storm water runoff from industrial, commercial, residential, and construction sites …; To promote public awareness of the hazards involved in the improper discharge of hazardous substances …; To encourage recycling of used motor oil and safe disposal of other hazardous consumer products; To facilitate compliance with state and federal standards and permits by owners and operators of industrial and construction sites …; (and) To enable the City of Alexander, Arkansas to comply with all federal and state laws and regulations applicable to storm water discharges.”

Mayor Paul Mitchell said Street and Parks Department Superintendent David Durham is certified to enforce the regulations. Mitchell reminded council members the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality has been pushing Alexander to adopt these regulations for quite some time.

Council members also approved a resolution establishing a new police policies and procedures manual. This has also been in the works for awhile.

Mitchell noted the police department will now have policies and procedures that meet legal standards and that can be used to determine if any officer has violated established procedures. He said it will not only be of help when applying disciplinary actions, but in case a lawsuit is filed the city will have established policies to prove whether or not an officer was following protocol.

Other issues discussed at the October 19 council meeting;

Prior to the council voting on the storm water regulations ordinance and police policies resolution, Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck gave his monthly report. The first item was a recommendation by the planning commission concerning the “Stormwater Discharge Regulations” ordinance.

Huck noted since some of the regulations are “retroactive” the commission approved two recommendations. The first is that the, “[O]rdinance be sent to all businesses and ongoing development projects within the city.” Also, “[A] copy of the ‘Stormwater Discharge Regulations’ be provided to all developers submitting a proposal to develop property.” A signed copy of the recommendation was provided to council members.

Prior to taking the vote on the storm water regulations, Mayor Mitchell said he had also thought about providing copies of the regulations to anyone applying for a, “permit, or when they come to the planning commission, give them a copy at that time.”

Huck also reported to the council on the commission’s meeting with representatives from Metroplan. The planning commission is beginning the process of developing a comprehensive plan that will guide future commercial and residential growth within the city. The first step is for Metroplan to write a “Planning Development Report.” The request for that report must come from the mayor, which Mitchell said he had already accomplished.

The report will essentially list what services are currently available in Alexander and who controls them; electricity, telephone, water, sewer, cable tv, etc.. Huck noted because the city is in two counties some of those services will be provided by two separate entities.

Huck noted some time after the report is completed the planning commission will be scheduling public hearings to hear from residents as to what direction they think the city should move when it comes to attracting future development. Huck said the Metroplan representatives did say the city may have to make some changes to the zoning ordinance passed in 2019 in order to fulfill the goals of the comprehensive plan.

The mystery of a restaurant wanting to do business in Alexander has been solved. According to a phone call Huck received about two weeks before the October 13 planning commission meeting, unnamed individuals would like to place a restaurant on property near the intersection of Highway 111 and the on/off ramp to eastbound I-30. The restaurant will include a bar and private club.

Based on his phone conversation Huck said the restaurant and bar would be open to the public when the private club is closed. When the club is open to members the restaurant and bar would be closed to the general public. The purpose of the private club, among other things, will be to provide entertainment, “just shy of illegal” Huck said tongue-in-cheek.

Huck said the individual he spoke to, “wanted to find out if this would be approved before going through the hassle of drawing up plans.”

Huck explained to both the individual on the phone and council members that “Restaurant” is the only use, of the three, mentioned in the zoning regulations. Since “Bar” and “Private Club” are not listed as a legal use for any zoning category they will have to apply for a “Special Use Permit.” Actually, under current zoning it is referred to as a “Conditional Use Permit.”

Huck gave his E-mail address to the individual on the phone to pass on to someone who can answer his questions more completely. He also told the individual the date and time of the next planning meeting. He didn’t receive an E-mail but placed the topic on the agenda in case someone attended the meeting.

Huck told council members the only attendees at the commission meeting who wanted to discuss the restaurant were two property owners. “They are against it,” Huck said.

Huck emphasized there has been “no official request” to begin an approval process for this restaurant/bar/private club.

Council members were provided a status report concerning property, which is occupied by the eastern portion of the city park. That area of the park, containing the gazebo and a portion of the parking lot, is now being claimed by the property’s owner; David W. Jacks. City officials thought the property had been donated to the city prior to the current administration.

City attorney Victoria Leigh was at the council meeting and said they have been providing receipts, invoices and other information concerning the improvements made to the park in that area. She said Jacks’s attorney submitted Freedom of Information requests for those items.

“We’ll be able to get it worked out,” Leigh said.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, November 16 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.

Meadow’s Edge being used as a shortcut, city traffic increasing

Dr. Jesse Hargrove, president of the Meadow’s Edge Home Owners Association, spoke to the Alexander Planning Commission at its October 13 meeting. His comments were all traffic and growth related.

At the top of his list was the amount of traffic using Meadow’s Edge as a shortcut between Brookwood Road and Highway 111/South Alexander Road. Besides the extra traffic not related to people who live in Meadow’s Edge, speed is also an issue. Vehicles are traveling to fast for an area with children and asked about posting speed limit signs and police enforcing speed limits.

Besides the additional 300 plus homes added to the city by the Meadow’s Edge development, Hargrove pointed to growth outside the city that’s adding traffic on Highway 111. Additional homes are being built in the southern end of Shannon Hills. Highway 111 is this area’s main access to I-30.

Unfortunately, as commission members explained, some of these problems can’t be dealt with by the city; at least for now. In the case of speeding; that problem won’t be solved until Meadow’s Edge is completed and the city accepts responsibility for the streets. Currently the streets belong to the developer and they won’t be turned over to the city until Meadow’s Edge is completed and the streets meet city standards. Once that happens street maintenance and traffic control will be under city jurisdiction.

As for Meadow’s Edge being used as a shortcut, Hargrove was told the city does plan to extend Brookwood Road through what is now the former Human Development Center and connect it to Highway 111. But that won’t happen until a developer can be found willing to build the road extension in exchange for being given the property. A mostly commercial development is planned for that area.

In the case of improvements to Highway 111 and South Alexander Road, such as widening, that will fall to the state and Saline County. The Arkansas Department of Transportation is responsible for everything related to the highway, which runs from I-30 to the southern most end of the Human Development property. At that point it becomes South Alexander Road, which is maintained by the county. Whether these roads will be improved will depend on criteria established by the two government entities.

Wrapping up old business on Alexander agenda

 The Alexander City Council is expected to follow through on two items discussed during last month’s September 21 meeting. One is an ordinance controlling the discharge of storm water within the city and the other is a revised Alexander Police Department personnel manual.

An “Update” concerning the status of a dispute over property occupied by a portion of the city park is also on the agenda. The eastern end of the park, containing the gazebo and parking lot, is now being claimed by the property’s owner. City officials thought the property had been donated to the city.

The Monday, October 19 meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend. Social distancing and mask requirements are still in place.

Alexander Planning Commission hears from experts on planning the city's future

The Alexander Planning Commission met with two representatives from Metroplan to discuss the writing of a comprehensive development plan for the city. Hans Haustein, GIS (Geographic Information System) Planner and Performance Measure Coordinator; along with Bernadette Gunn Rhodes, Community Planner, explained the process city officials will go through to write a comprehensive plan.

The first step is for Metroplan to write a Planning Development Report. Haustein said the report will essentially list what services are currently available in Alexander and who controls them; electricity, telephone, water, sewer, cable tv, etc.. But, before that can begin an official request must come from Mayor Paul Mitchell. Since the meeting Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck has informed Mitchell of this requirement.

Once that is completed the planning commission will be scheduling public hearings to hear from residents as to what direction they think the city should move when it comes to attracting future development. Alexander is in a situation in which there are only a handful of acres, outside the current city boundaries, the city could annex. Haustein and Rhodes were told most of the new development will occur in undeveloped areas already in the city. Alexander is surrounded by Little Rock, Bryant and Shannon Hills.

After receiving input from residents, the city will be able to write a comprehensive development plan that can be used by both current and future city officials. The plan will also include a transportation map showing future needs for street improvements, new streets and other amenities such as sidewalks and trails.

As stated on its website Metroplan’s primary function “is to work with local governments, the state department of transportation, and local transit providers to determine transportation needs and funding priorities for federal transportation investments.” Metroplan is mostly known for its involvement in large projects such as the current widening of I-30 crossing the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock.

The website also notes that, “Metroplan also provides general planning, mapping, and technical assistance to local governments.” Alexander pays an annual fee to be a member of Metroplan, allowing the city to take advantage of its services.

Another item on the October 13 agenda involved a query concerning the placement of a restaurant, with a bar and private club, at the interstate ramp near the Citgo gas station. Chairman Huck explained he had received a phone call from Jeff Fuller asking about the feasibility of placing this type of establishment in Alexander.

Based on his conversation with Fuller, Huck said the restaurant and bar would be open to the general public but the club would be available for members only. As it was explained to Huck, the purpose of the club is to provide entertainment involving women dancing, but no nudity.

“It sounds like burlesque to me,” Huck said.

Huck went on to explain that the zoning ordinance covers restaurants but doesn’t say anything about bars or private clubs. He said he told Fuller they would have to apply for a Special Use Permit.

Huck said he told Fuller about the October meeting. Fuller said someone else would contact him, but since no one did he placed it on the agenda in case anyone attended the meeting to discuss the plan.

The description of the private club didn’t go over well with commission member Juanita Wilson, stating a definite, “No” at the idea. Commission members Tonya Prowse and Stephanie Beck agreed with Wilson.

Attending the meeting were Walter Burgess, owner of Power Technology, and Julie Fant, property owner of the warehouse area north of Cornerstone Road. Power Technology and the warehouses would be next to the restaurant location. Both Burgess and Fant expressed concerns about the proposed restaurant.

Burgess is concerned about an increase in crime quoting one statistic, involving a similar type of business, which showed a 60-percent increase in crime. When the private club closed, “Crime dropped 60-percent,” he said.

Fant expressed her concerns about what it would do for traffic at the end of the highway ramp and the moral implications. She asked if Alexander wanted to be known for having that type of business in the city.

“Where is our moral compass,” she asked.

She also noted that certain types of businesses have an “expected behavior” from its customers. The “expected behavior” from members of this type of private club is not something Alexander should want she said.

Planning commission to discuss master plan procedures

The Alexander Planning Commission will begin the process of developing a master plan for the city during its Tuesday, October 13 regular meeting. The commission has invited representatives from Metroplan to explain the process and aid in developing the plan.

A master plan lays out development goals for a city based on public input. The goals can include designating areas for either commercial or residential development and potential street development or improvements.

According to its website Metroplan’s primary function, “is to work with local governments, the state department of transportation, and local transit providers to determine transportation needs and funding priorities for federal transportation investments. Metroplan also provides general planning, mapping, and technical assistance to local governments."

Tuesday’s meeting is at 6:30 PM in the courtroom at city hall. Corona virus distancing rules will apply. The public is invited to attend.