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.
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