Tabled... Tabled... Tabled

The Alexander City Council tabled three agenda items to be dealt with at a future meeting. The three items are a request by a developer to approve a connection to the Little Rock sewer system, selecting a bid to install a fire alarm system at city hall and approving the lone bid to repair the water fountain at the City Park. The council meeting was held Monday, April 17.

The Cottages at Meadow’s Edge Tabled

Michael Grobmyer, of OneHealth Real Estate in Little Rock, spoke to council members asking for permission to connect the proposed subdivision to the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority's (LRWRA) sewer system, which serves North Alexander. The contract between Alexander and the LRWRA requires Alexander to approve the connection as part of the process to get approval from LRWRA.

Grobmyer says before he begins drawing plans for the subdivision he wants to verify the city will approve the connection. He doesn't want to spend the time and money making plans and then learn later the council won't approve the connection to the LRWRA system.

Part of the council's calculation in that decision involves a maximum limit on how much sewage flow LRWRA is allowing Alexander. The maximum amount is 750 Gallons Per Minute per day. Currently, North Alexander is producing 300GPM.

St. Joseph's Glen has already been approved to transfer its connection from a privately operated sewer plant to the LRWRA lines. Making the switch has been held up by legal issues, but once the connection is made it is estimated to add another 139GPM, increasing the 300GPM to 439GPM. That leaves 311GPM to finish developing the rest of North Alexander and connect the proposed development to the system.

The Cottages at Meadow’s Edge (the current working title) will consist of two-story townhouses built across Highway 111 from the entrance to Meadow's Edge. The plan is for 150 rental units; grouped into buildings consisting of two to five attached units.

"What we're proposing is 150 town homes," Grobmyer said. "So it's not apartments, it's not section eight. ...

It is not government housing. It is market rate product that we plan to build. To develop, to hold long term as an investment to provide a rental, a nice rental product for this community."

The first option for the sewer connection is to connect to a sewer line that runs along Highway 111 between the former Alexander Human Development Center and the LRWRA lines. The issue there is it must be inspected first to determine if it can be used. If it passes inspection Grobmyer said LRWRA will accept ownership and maintain the line.

"Little Rock Water Reclamation would be the group that would service the sewer and would actually own the sewer and who our development would actually pay to for the sewer service," Grobmyer said.

At this point Grobmyer asked who he needed to talk to from St. Joseph's Glen concerning a possible second option. Ironically, Chris and Tonya Prowse were present at the council meeting. They have both been involved in getting the subdivision connected to the LRWRA system.

Speaking to the Prowses, Grobmyer said, "Our option B would be we have the ability to gravity feed with our pump station through St. Joseph's Glenn to where you all ultimately are going to have to put your own pump station in and your new service line that runs up by the railroad to tie into the new (connection), I think it's a twelve inch line, in the city."

"If we were to split that cost with you all for the pump station and for the main that you all have to build to tie onto, is that something that you all would be open to?" he asked.

Tonya Prowse explained that St. Joseph's Glen's original plan was to connect to the same sewer line that's along Highway 111.

"We were told that we could not" (by LRWRA), she said.

They then developed a second path which takes their new sewer line along the railroad tracks to the LRWRA sewer line at Vine Street in North Alexander, doubling the cost.

Prowse said, "So it's kind of upsetting that you (Grobmyer) could possibly get the green light over us because the distance is much shorter" (to Highway 111).

Council members voted to table the issue again to give Grobmyer and St. Joseph's Glen representatives time to discuss which option to pursue. It was noted a special meeting can be scheduled before the next regular May meeting if necessary.

Fire Alarm System Quotes Tabled

The Alexander City Council was presented with three bids to install a fire alarm system at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Because council members hadn't had time to study the bids the issue was tabled until the next meeting.

The bids range from $9,800.00 to $12,625.00. To add complexity to the issue, apparently each vendor was allowed to decide what the building needs and how many of each item is needed. So, it's not a straight forward comparison.

American Fire Protection Group, Inc., from North Little Rock, has the high bid of $12,625.00 for the alarm system, $325.00 for five fire extinguishers and one year of monitoring for $660.00. Bid specifications include,

1 - Fire Alarm Control Panel;

1 - Wireless Communicator;

20 - Smoke Detectors;

5 - Pull Stations;

6 - Heat Detectors;

6 - Horn/Strobe Notification Devices, Ceiling Mount;

9 - Strobe Only Notification Devices, Ceiling Mount;

Batteries;

Lot of FPLP Cable;

Program and Testing;

5 - 2.5lb Fire Extinguishers; and

1 Year of Monitoring.

Alarmtec Systems, in Sherwood, has the second lowest bid at $11,000.00. Bid specifications include,

1 - Notifier Addressable Fire Alarm Control Panel with Digital Communicator;

1 - Remote Annunciator;

10 - Smoke Detectors;

3 - Pull Stations;

5 - Horn/Strobe Notification Devices, Wall Mount;

6 - Strobe Only Notification Devices, Wall Mount; and

1 lot - Labor, Cable, Programming and Testing.

State Systems, Inc., in Conway, is the low bidder at $9,800.00 for the, "Installation of an EST Fire Alarm System w/ Monitoring. Cellular Monitoring Charge Per Year Following $500.00." Bid specifications include,

8 - Addressable Smoke Detectors;

2 - Addressable Heat Detectors;

10 - Standard Smoke Base;

6 - Ceiling Horn/Strobe;

4 - Ceiling Strobe;

2 - Duct Detector;

2 - Addressable Relay Module;

3 - Address Pull Station;

1 - Addressable Fire Panel;

1 - Remote Annunciator;

1 - Programming;

1 - Testing/Certification; and

1 - Training.

Quote to Repair Fountain in City Park Tabled

The water fountain in Alexander City Park needs to be repaired. The two issues concerning council members and Mayor Crystal Herrmann is not only the cost of the repairs by a lone bidder, but whether the city has to wait on the final resolution as to who owns the property on which the fountain sits.

Anyone following the saga of the city park knows there is a dispute over ownership of the eastern end near Highway 111. After the city made improvements to that end of the park, which includes not only the fountain but the gazebo and lights, Little Rock resident David Jacks claimed it is his property. A title search indicated after the property was donated to the city by its previous owner, the eastern end may have been accidentally sold to Jacks. Hence, the confusion by city officials.

Former Mayor Paul Mitchell first attempted to settle the dispute, but most of the negotiating was between Mitchell and himself, since Jacks refused to respond to any offers. Based on two independent assessments, Mitchell offered Jacks $68,000.00 for the 2.13-acre parcel near the end of 2022.

Jacks did finally contact Herrmann, after she became Mayor in January, and at the March council meeting both Herrmann and Attorney Lana Fraser, who is handling the case for the city, updated the council on a proposal by Jacks. Essentially, he was willing to accept the $68,000.00 offer if he could also have it documented as a donation for tax purposes. Herrmann said she told him he can't donate the property to the city and be paid the $68,000.00.

As of the April 17 council meeting there has been no response from Jacks after the city filed an Eminent Domain case in Saline County Circuit Court on March 22. Along with the filing the city deposited a $68,000.00 check with the Circuit Court.

Council Member Juanita Wilson presented council members and Herrmann with an Email from Fraser explaining that the city has ownership of the property.

"She sent it to me today and it shows that we have possession of the park," Wilson said. "(A)ll we're waiting on now, they're waiting on now, is for him to answer the subpoenas and we are able to go ahead and get the repair work done."

According to the filing posted on Arkansas Judicial, Judge Brent D. Houston, 22nd Circuit, Division 3, has already made a ruling on the Eminent Domain claim.

His ruling states, "After the City deposits $68,000 into the registry of the Court, the City and its agents or contractors may take immediate possession of the property described in the City of Alexander’s Complaint filed on March 22, 2023, and may enter upon the lands in controversy and proceed with its operation, construction, maintenance, and ensure safety for the public park. Ark. Code Ann. §18-15-303(b)(2)."

Based on the Email from Fraser, Wilson said Jacks has not responded to the court's subpoenas.

"If he doesn't do that (respond) by Wednesday (April 19), they're going to send a process server to him," Wilson said. "If he doesn't answer that, then they will turn it back over to the judge and the judge will then adjudicate what he will get out of the money."

According to Wilson the question is no longer whether the city owns the property, the question now is whether Jacks wants the $68,000.000, or does he want nothing.

As for repairing the fountain, finding someone in Arkansas who works with marble, and can make it waterproof, is not easy. The fountain must be disassembled, the repairs made, and then reassembled making it watertight.

Wilson said she and council members Harold Timmerman and Tony Staton contacted several marble installers and only one is equipped to repair a marble fountain.

"And basically, there are a lot of people that install marble and tiles but not a lot of people that repair something like that," Wilson said.

McElroy Tops and Floors from Benton submitted a bid of $47,000.00. Wilson said that does not include the cost of materials.

"And then what they're going to do, I was told, is to have us pay for the materials over at ... Daltile in North Little Rock, which they will give us their discount so we don't have to pay taxes to McElroy," Wilson said. "And then we just go pick up the materials that we're ordering with a check. And then that will discount the cost to us anywhere from two hundred and Fifty dollars to three hundred and fifty dollars more."

"I wish you would have visited with me a little bit because we have a department head," Mayor Crystal Herrmann said. "I could have had Dave (Durham) work on quotes for this and I could have visited with you. I actually did years of waterproofing historical restorations and included fountains all over the country."

"So I wish I would have had time to visit with you about this because if this is something that we could do in-house, we could save the city a lot of money," Herrmann said.

"We can't do it in-house," Wilson said.

"We do have the capability to do it in-house," Herrmann responded. "We have equipment and we have employees."

"And David has already agreed to do part of the work to help us," Wilson replied. "That's what's saving us."

"And it's still going to cost us this much," Herrmann said in shock.

Days after the meeting Wilson explained that the street department has the equipment to lift and move the marble sections. The equipment will be used to help McElroy dismantle and reassemble the fountain.

Unlike other projects, funding the repair of the fountain is not an issue. The Parks and Recreation Department is financed through a dedicated quarter-cent city sales-and-use tax. When the ownership of the property became an issue, former Mayor Paul Mitchell stopped all planned improvement projects until it was solved. Since then, the account has been accumulating unspent revenue.

Council members voted to table the quote allowing time for more study.

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

Four streets removed from repaving list

The Alexander City Council approved removing four streets, scheduled to be repaved, in order to reduce the cost of a bid to apply a new layer of asphalt to 16 streets. Removing the streets will bring the cost closer to the original estimate.

During the April 17 council meeting Street Department Superintendent David Durham reported on how the city can reduce the cost of the bid to bring it closer to the original estimate. The estimate was $324,465.00. The low bid from Cranford Construction is $380,525.58. The high bid from Redstone was over $400,000.00.

Durham pointed to the growth of inflation between the time the estimate was calculated to the time the bid was let as being one of the main reasons for the estimate being so high.

"Well, with the price of everything going up, the low bid, when they let the bids out the first of last month, the low bid came in $380,000," Durham said.

Durham proposed removing Cactus Cove saving $13,268.85, Violet Cove saving $13,537.97, Sunflower Cove saving $13,333.88, and A.C. Wallace saving $14,422.36. That brings the cost down to $325,962.52, which is still $1,517.52 over the original estimate. That leaves Main Street (Ward-1); Mountain Cove (Ward-2); Spruce Drive, Iris Cove, Tulip Cove, Dahlia Cove, Daisy Cove, Shirley Drive, and Ashlee Cove (Ward-3); Holley Drive (Wards-3 & 4); and Kent Circle and Valley Cove (Ward-4) to be repaved.

Another issue for this project is that A.C. Wallace isn't ready. Besides paving it from E. 1st Street to E. 4th Street, the plan also includes widening the street from E. 2nd Street to 3rd Street (Hwy. 111). Durham said the fire hydrant on the corner at Hwy. 111 needs to be moved to allow for the street to be widened. That has to be done by Central Arkansas Water on their timetable. Also, the other three streets removed from the list are still good enough and can be kept usable with simple maintenance.

"So time wise, due to constraints, we can't get it (A.C. Wallace) widened (in time) in order to get this part of it in there," Durham said. "(T)he other streets can be maintained. They're still in fair condition, and we can still continue maintaining those for the next couple of years."

Durham did offer the hope that once A.C. Wallace is prepared to be paved, and the city funds are available, it and the other three streets could be paved by a smaller contractor without having to wait another three years.

Both council members Harold Timmerman and Juanita Wilson wanted to proceed with the bid quote to do all the streets but for different reasons. Timmerman is afraid the future quote to do the remaining four streets might be higher than the current bid. Wilson is already hearing from residents who are afraid their street will be cut from the list.

"Now, if we wait until the next time," Timmerman said, "the price might double between now and then."

"They very well could," Durham said.

"So why should we wait until then and double the price when we've already found the people?" Timmerman concluded.

"I'm already getting flashback from people that say you all promised us, and now you're going to cut these streets," Wilson said. "So let's pay them the 80,000 that we owe them and go on and fix their streets."

Alexander was approved last year for a $300,000.00 grant as part of the State Aid City Streets program. Cities are offered access to this program as part of a gasoline tax passed by voters to upgrade interstate and state highways along with city and county streets and roads. A city or county is allowed to submit a request every three years.

City Treasurer JoAn Churchill jumped in expressing concerns that the General Fund may not be able to take-on the added expense of another $56,000.00. Since January 3, when city hall reopened for the new year, there have been operating issues with the financing software (Center Point). Everything from not being able to sign-in to not being able to print. Because of these problems Churchill hasn't been able to printout monthly financial statements.

"I'll be here at 08:00 in the morning" (to try to get into the system), Churchill said.

For now Churchill recommended paying the additional $25,962.52. She knows that money is available.

Council members approved the adjusted bid of $325,962.52. A check for $25,962.52 has been sent to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).

The repaving of the 12 streets can begin anytime this year. In the mean time, Durham and the street department crew will be making repairs to those streets, such as replacing any broken culverts, to prepare them for paving.

Earlier in the discussion Mayor Crystal Herrmann laid out in general terms an idea to work on the streets between the years the ArDOT grant becomes available.

"I'm hoping to set of goals that we're not just depending on overlay," Herrmann said. "I'm hoping in the near future as we start looking at budgets, that maybe we can plan some more street repairs in between just the overlay funds because it's honestly needed between the ditches and the culverts. We need to try to definitely squeeze some things in, in between that or we're going to constantly be desperate on other streets."

This idea sounds similar to what Alexander has been doing since 2011. During his first year as Mayor, Paul Mitchell, with approval from the city council, used Street Fund revenue to give a new overlay to Evergreen Drive and Pine Manor Road. While he was mayor from 2015 through 2022 another 22 streets were improved using a combination of city funds, State Aid City Streets funds and Cares Act funds.

2015 – (State Aid City Streets and Street Fund) Autumn Cove, Magnolia Glen (from the intersection of Autumn Cove to the cul-de-sac), Brookwood Road, Cornerstone, Kelli Place, and 2^nd Street (from Highway 111 to Main Street).

2017 – (Street Fund) North Alexander Road (between Highway 5 and the I-30 Interchange), 1^st Street (from Highway 111 to Main Street), South Alexander Road (from the end of Highway 111 to the city limit), West Azalea (from the intersection of South Alexander Road to the Kathy Drive/Brookwood Road intersection), Redwood Lane (between West Azalea and Don Parker Drive), Brookwood Road (from Redwood Lane to Don Parker Drive), Birch Drive from West Azalea to Dogwood Ranchette Drive, and approximately 310 feet from the end of East Azalea Drive to connect with Skyline Drive in Shannon Hills.

2019 – (State Aid City Streets and Street Fund) A.C. Wallace (between the railroad tracks and city park), E. 4^th Street, Jason Drive, Kent Drive, Alton Drive, Regency Drive, and Lindsey Drive.

2021 – (Cares Act Funds) Rosewood Lane and East Azalea (from South Alexander Rd. to the Shannon Hills entrance).

2022 – (General Fund/Street Fund) Alexander Road (between Third Street and Fourth Street), sections of Cornerstone Road and the section of Brookwood Rd. (between the rail road tracks and Shobe Road). The city is still waiting for Cranford Construction to complete the Brookwood Rd. overlay.

That's 36 streets out of the 80 streets Alexander maintains. That leaves 44 streets, which includes Meadow's Edge nine new streets. The 80 number does not include the streets in St. Joseph's Glen which are not maintained by the city.

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

Alexander Council Members to hear subdivision proposal, presented with scaled down street bid and fire alarm proposal

The Alexander City Council seems to be returning to short agendas. While this month's agenda has only five items listed, some will invoke lengthy discussions.

Under Old Business council members will return to the issue of approving a sewer connection for a proposed subdivision of 150 townhouse units. The issue was tabled at the February council meeting while Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck was recounting a meeting the commission had with the development's engineer Michael Grobmyer. Council members decided they wanted Grobmyer to attend a council meeting and provide drawings.

The proposed subdivision, tentatively entitled "The Cottages at Meadow's Edge," will be built across from the entrance to Meadow's Edge along Highway 111. The city council must approve the subdivision connecting to the sewer line operated by the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA). The LRWRA provides sewer service to North Alexander. The council must approve the connection before the LRWRA will consider allowing the connection.

Under New Business council members will decide whether to accept a scaled down version of a street paving bid provided by the Arkansas Department of Transportation. At last month's meeting a low bid of over $380,000 was received. Original estimates were in the $325,000 range. Under the state program $300,000 of the cost will be paid for by Arkansas while the remainder will be funded by Alexander.

Also on the agenda under New Business is bids to install a fire alarm system at city hall, hiring a City Attorney and repairing the fountain in the City Park.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is April 17 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom in the Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.

Alexander Master Development Plan ready for next step

In the past two years the City of Alexander Planning Commission has conducted a public survey, two public meetings (one at the City Park and the other at the Community Center #2) plus several regular planning meetings to receive public input and discuss the composition of the new Comprehensive Master Development Plan. Apparently, there's nothing else to say since those who were present at the April 11 public hearing had no comments or questions. The public hearing was held during the planning commission's regular April meeting.

The new plan will be used by current and future city leaders to act as a guide concerning residential and commercial growth in the City of Alexander. The current Master Development Plan was adopted in 1982.

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck did offer one addition to the end of the text portion of the plan. Since the plan is essentially a list of suggestions as to how Alexander should develop in the future and what improvements will help make the city more attractive to outsiders, three of those ideas have already been accomplished and one is an ongoing process. Huck proposed to add a section entitled, "Suggested Improvements Completed." The completed improvements in the list are,

• "All traffic and street signs have been installed in Meadow's Edge,

• "Alexander Community Center #2 has been established on the former Human Development Center property,

• "'Newer manufactured homes' is dealt with in the zoning ordinances approved in 2019. No manufactured home is allowed to be older than 20-years in the year it is installed, and

• "Ditches and culverts are being cleaned and replaced when needed."

The new section will be added to the plan.

This process, however, isn't finished. Because Alexander has a contract with the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority to provide sewer service to North Alexander, the proposed plan needs the blessing of Little rock authorities. First it will be sent to the Little Rock Planning Department. If there are no objections to the plan the planning department will present it to the Little Rock Board of Directors for approval.

If all goes well Huck expects the proposed Master Development Plan could be back in the hands of the planning commission by its regular July meeting. At that time the planning commission can then vote to recommend the city council adopt the plan.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander Planning Commission will be held Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.

Easter comes early to Alexander

The Easter Bunny came early to Alexander. Thanks to the Alexander American Legion Post 28, children were given a one-day head start on receiving the usual fare of Easter goodies. Most of the eggs were filled with the usual candy, but there was the occasional cash surprise.

The Easter Egg hunt was held at the Post on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The children were divided into groups by age. Children ages one to three went first followed by those who were four to ten.

When arriving children were greeted by members of the Alexander

Fire/Rescue Department and Police Department with fire helmets,

coloring books and other assorted goodies.

City vehicles were on-hand for viewing.

American Legion member Willie Burton is not the 

Easter Bunny, but he does know how to distribute

Easter Eggs effortlessly.

The sun was shining and the wind kept the flags fluttering.

With some help the one to three year olds went first.

Then the four to ten year olds cleaned up.

Easter Bunny resting up for the big day.

City of Alexander Schedules Public Hearing on Master Development Plan

The Alexander Planning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing on its final version of the city's new Comprehensive Master Development Plan. The Public Hearing will be held during the planning commission's regular April meeting on Tuesday, April 11. The meeting will be held at 6:30PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall).

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input from residents, business and property owners concerning the future growth of the city. This Public Hearing is one of several steps taken to receive public input.

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck said, "In 2021 a public survey was taken followed by two public meetings. This version of the Plan is the culmination of that public input."

If any comments made during the Public Hearing warrant it, edits will be made to the Master Development Plan. The plan will eventually go to the planning commission, at a future meeting, to vote on a recommendation that the city council adopt the plan.

Huck explained the plan will be used by current and future city leaders to act as a guide concerning residential and commercial growth in the City of Alexander. The current Master Development Plan was adopted in 1982.

A PDF version of the plan will be E-mailed to anyone by sending a request to alexanderpcchair@gmail.com.