Alexander Council chooses new ward boundaries

With only two options to choose from, the Alexander City Council selected the least disruptive choice for the new ward boundary lines. Labeled “Alternative 2” this option keeps two existing council members in each ward. However, two of the council members will be in different wards.

During his monthly report to the council, Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck presented council members with two options. While the wards in “Alternative 1” meet the population goal it leaves Ward-2 with one existing council member and gives Ward-3 three council members. “Alternative 2” provides two existing council members per ward, but Ward-2 Council Member Juanita Wilson will now be in Ward-4 and Ward-4 Council Member Lonny Chapman will be in Ward-2.

The new ward maps were drawn by Metroplan based on the 2020 census. With the city’s new population number of 3,385, up from the 2010 count of 2,901, the goal is to have 846 residents per ward plus or minus five-percent. That allows for a range of 804 to 888 residents per ward. According to the census Ward-1 currently has 1,001 residents, Ward-2 has 1,214, Ward-3 has 570, and Ward-4 has an even 600 residents.

The new ward map also solves a problem with the current ward map and Kelli Place. The current map was established after the annexation of Woodland Hills in 2006. Unbeknownst to many at the time, when the map was drawn Alexander and Little Rock were in disagreement as to the location of the city boundary line that crosses Kelli Place. In 2006 about one-third of the east end of Kelli Pl. was in Little Rock, not Alexander. Before the 2010 census the line was established at the end of Kelli Place. The change is reflected in the new ward map.

The ordinance that will establish the new ward boundaries is being reviewed by the city attorney. The map will be altered as an attachment to the ordinance and is expected to be on the council’s November agenda.

In other actions at the October 18 meeting;

Zoning ordinance gets second reading

A zoning ordinance to rezone property, owned by My Ample Storage, met the same fate as it did at the September meeting. It was given its second public reading and must now wait for the council’s November meeting for final approval. The ordinance will change the zoning designation of a 1.73-acre piece of property, located along Highway 5, from Open Space/Recreational to Highway Commercial.

At the September meeting the council would have normally voted to suspend the required second and third readings and move to final approval at the same meeting. That, however, requires a “yes” vote of two-thirds of the council; in this case six. There were only five council members present.

The same issue occurred at the October 18 meeting. Only five council members were present. A motion was made and seconded to read the ordinance by title. That is allowed providing there has been at least one full reading of an ordinance.

Council approves purchase of asphalt roller and salt spreaders

Council members approved the purchase of a 1985 Dresser Asphalt Roller for the street department. The roller was sold by auction through the Department of Commerce Governmental Affairs in North Little Rock. The city was the high-bidder at $5,715.00. With taxes and other charges the final cost is $7,040.16. At the request of Mayor Paul Mitchell the council appropriated $8,000.00 to cover other incidentals such as adding city decals to the roller.

Mitchell said he will be coming back one more time this year to get permission to buy two salt and sand spreaders before winter. He said the current spreaders are in no condition to be used another winter and can’t be repaired. Council members decided to appropriate $10,000.00 for the future purchase of salt and sand spreaders.

Alexander joins opioid lawsuit

The Alexander Council voted to join the State of Arkansas in two opioid lawsuits. One is with McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen (“the distributors”) and the other is against Johnson & Johnson.

According to a letter sent by the Arkansas Municipal League, “With the preliminary work done, we are moving to the next step—which is signing-on to these two settlements expected to bring roughly $220 million to Arkansas over the next several years. The State, the counties, and the cities and towns will collectively strategize and decide how best to utilize these settlement dollars to make the greatest impact in ending this horrible epidemic.”

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, November 15 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.