With only half of the Alexander City Council present, it was decided to table a complaint against the city's Planning Commission Chairman until the matter can be discussed at a work session. A date for the work session was not scheduled.
At the October council meeting, City Attorney Chris Madison was given the task of investigating accusations concerning Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck. The complaint was sent to Mayor Herrmann and was dated October 11, one day after the planning commission's October meeting.
The letter was sent by Chris Prowse, husband of Planning Commission Member Tonya Prowse. According to the planning commission's sign-in sheet Chris Prowse was not at the meeting.
The complaint references a comment made by Huck to Prowse as everyone was leaving the Alexander courtroom after the planning commission meeting had ended. The comment was in reference to her misunderstanding of the proposed location of a cell tower to be built along Brookwood Road, which was the primary agenda item for the October 10 meeting. The property is the location of the Saline County Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer Public Facilities Board's sewage treatment plant.
While Huck was summarizing the documents given to commission members before introducing Vertical Bridge representative Tracy Gill, Prowse jumped in and said they would have to access the St. Joseph's Glen sewer plant area by going through the subdivision from Highway 111, not Brookwood Road. Prowse lives in St. Joseph's Glen.
A second argument was started, after the meeting, when Prowes accused Huck of referencing the St. Joseph's Glen sewer plant. Huck never mentioned St. Joseph's Glen.
While everyone was leaving the meeting Huck said, "Maybe I'll learn to speak female before the next meeting." This was the only complaint concerning the October meeting mentioned in the letter.
Huck has been on the planning commission since this current commission was established in 2017. Prowse was appointed in 2018.
Madison began his verbal report by explaining the interview process. He said Assistant Police Chief Jessica Burnett interviewed Prowse and other witnesses who attended the meeting. After that Madison interviewed Huck. Madison said Huck also provided an audio recording of the meeting.
"The findings are ... that there was some expletive, or an expletive, said during the meeting," Madison said. "And, he did make a comment to the effect of the next meeting."
"In my conversations with Mr. Huck, he recognized, after some questioning about that how, someone could see that as an offensive and inappropriate and recognizes that his role as a member of the Planning Commission, he represents the city," Madison continued. "It has to be a way that represents the city effectively."
"But he admitted to the statements that were made during it (the meeting)," Madison said. "So in essence, those things were said and done, which brings you to the next question of what, if anything, the council wants to do about it."
"So I know this was one incident, but this is not necessarily the only," Council Member Joy Gray began. "It's just the only one that's been investigated."
"And I have been on the council," she continued. "I got elected in 16 (began first term in 2017). And I've asked for years why behavior in this meeting and in other meetings has been allowed to continue and go on. I think there's just a general atmosphere of disrespect. I think there is a blatant sexism."
"So I also see his online behavior," Gray continued. "He does act like he speaks on behalf of the city as a private citizen."
"He also is a journalist (air quotes) fulfilling a role, which I feel like as it may not be illegal, but it is certainly a potential to be trying to be a journalist, giving the insights, group on things that go on and out of danger, but it would also be a city official," she added.
Huck is editor and reporter for The Alexandrian blog site and Facebook page. The blog site started in February 2013. The Facebook page was established September, 2014. Huck began attending meetings January 2015. He was also a council member from November 2006 to the summer of 2011.
"So these are all things that I have concerned with," Gray said. "His behavior of generally pretending like he speaks for the city, also being sexist. I am sure, the Venn diagram of people that are sexist and racist is usually just a circle. So none of that would shock me."
"But he's done a lot for the city," said Council Member Joe Pollard.
"And you know what? It's 2023," Gray responded. "And we are past the time of, well, they do a lot, and they're terrible, but they do a lot. We're past that."
"So I am comfortable if we wanted to have a work group meeting like we've had before, where we discuss all of our options so that everybody understands everything," Gray proposed. "I would be comfortable doing that so that we don't feel like we just did it today."
Later in the discussion, Pollard questioned the accuracy of the charge. Prowse was present at the meeting and during the Public Comment portion of the agenda she addressed Pollard's concerns.
"And Joe, I know that you don't think it's true but it, but it is," Prowse said. "I mean if he's already admitted, there was witnesses."
Removing Huck can't come soon enough for Gray.
"I would be fine doing it today," she said. "I would be fine doing it 10 meetings ago. I'd be fine doing it five, six, seven years ago."
In other action during the Nov. 20 council meeting:
Attorney ordinance gets first reading
Two-thirds of the eight-member council is six. Only four members were present. The mayor is allowed to make the quorum, which is five, if one more person is needed. Council members present were Joy Gray, Angela Griffin, Joe Pollard, and Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn. Absent were Mitchell W. Smith, Tony Staton, Harold Timmerman, and Juanita Wilson. Three were sick and one was out of town.
The ordinance will make a second appearance at the December council meeting. If at least six members are present it should be approved and in effect that night.
Jail Cost Sharing Agreement approved
The monthly cost for the calendar year 2024 will be $2,527.85 monthly; $30,334.20 annually. That's up from 2023's monthly cost of $1,730.25; $20,763.00 annually. Mayor Crystal Herrmann said the cost for 2024 is based on the actual cost for housing Alexander's inmates in 2023.
Under the new agreement the city will still be charging a fee of $20, "[T]o be paid by each defendant upon conviction, plea of guilty, plea of nolo contendere, or bond forfeiture for all misdemeanors, traffic violations, or other first or second-class fines, to defray the cost of incarcerating City Inmates."
Council receives proposed 2024 budget
"I just wanted to go on record that we are supplying (you) the proposed 2024 budget," Herrmann said. "It's nothing that we have to discuss (now), because y'all haven't had your eyes on it."
"So next meeting, we'll look at that and discuss it," she continued. "You can ask any questions. And, even before the meeting, if you have any questions, you're more than welcome to come in."
Two agenda items tabled for legal review
The new proposed lease agreement adds the requirement that tenants pay for the electric and gas utilities. This will apply to both the homes being rented by city employees and the large building being occupied by the American Legion Post 28. All buildings are located on the property formerly known as the Alexander Human Development Center.
Madison wants to review the "Ordinance Amending the 2022 Payroll Budget" to determine if it will close out the entire 2022 budget, or if the ordinance needs to be rewritten.
Reports:
Fire Department Lost two, Gained two
"We did have two firefighters that quit this past month," McCormick said. "And we did hiring and testing for that and hired ... two firefighters. "And, both of them were certified, so we don't have to take any of them to fire Academy."
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training to start soon.
"Also, we were planning to send several more members to EMT school," McCormick reported. "That starts in January. That's something big that I believe in for medical side (of rescue)."
"Also, real quick, we just put on three members (on) the US&R (National Urban Search & Rescue) team, United States," McCormick said. "It's all a search and rescue among all that team as well as the statewide, nationwide field."
Police Chief out of town
"So we had total calls 304 (for October)," she said.
Where is the city treasurer?
During the first half of 2023 the accounting system was, for the most part, not functioning. Churchill attended meetings providing updates on the progress of repairs and whatever accounting information she could provide. Since the accounting system is now, allegedly, back online Churchill has missed the last two or three meetings.
Griffin asked if Churchill is performing her other duties. Office Manager Jennifer Hill responded that Churchill has been performing her duties as they relate to city hall.
City Attorney Chris Madison said he will research the minimum duties required to be performed by a city treasurer.
According to the guidelines established in the document "Organization of City Council 2023," which is approved every January by the council, the section relating to the duties of the "Treasurer and/or Bookkeeper" allows for either the treasurer and or bookkeeper to attend council meetings. Subsection "5" states in-part, "The treasurer and/or bookkeeper shall attend all Council meetings."
Crooked Creek erosion, Stocking the pond, Fall Fest winners announced
"We visited Crooked Creek down all the way down ... where the (rail) road crossing is (at Brookwood Road)," Herrmann said. "We've had some calls and concerns about erosion and things going on over there."
Herrman said two suggestions are to, "[D]esignate a certain amount of that bank to a no-mow zone and bring in some plants that have a deep rooted system."
Herrmann said the plants will be provided by AGFC.
Herrmann and Norden then moved to the city park to discuss the erosion problems with Crooked Creek there.
"He's been working on a plan and drawings for us," she said. "And with those drawings and his assistance, we can turn around and apply that for a grant application that's going to open up in the spring (2024) for a grant opportunity to help address that erosion on the banks."
Herrmann and Norden also visited the pond, located on the south end of the former Human Development Center property along Highway 111. The pond area has been designated a city park and is being prepared to stock fish.
"The park department has installed a spillway to the pond," Herrmann said. "They repurposed the railroad concrete crossings to install a spillway to help capture more rainwater. We've actually gained like a foot so far up the bank in water."
Herrmann also met with Marcus Jackson, also from AGFC, which has a pond stocking program. The goal is to be able to have fish in the pond, but the biologists have to give their approval or recommendations.
Herrmann said, "He (Jackson) is visiting with the biologists and we're all supposed to have a meeting."
Herrmann gave an update on the city's application to the FUN Park grant. The grant is provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
"We actually scored 37 out of 37 on the park application," Herrmann said. "We're moving on up in the grant application process. That's good. That's the best we could do."
The grant will be used to replace the playground equipment in the City Park. The FUN Park grant funds 100-percent of a project with no matching funds provided by the city.
Mayor Herrmann reported the city has made it to Phase II in the Brownfields Grant application process. If approved, the grant will be used to remove the former tuberculosis hospital and any contamination such as asbestos. The hospital is located on the former Human Development Center property along Highway 111 in South Alexander.
"They're going to do soil sampling," she said. "They're just going to test everything under the sun out there."
A date for the testing has not been set.
The grant program is funded by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). According to the EPA website, "A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant."
The property was deeded to Alexander by the state. The goal has always been to develop the property into a retail/commercial center. But, the hospital has always been the road block even before it caught fire a few years ago burning the fourth floor and roof.
Entergy has donated $1,000 toward Alexander's Christmas in the Park event. Herrmann said the donation will be used to rent a horse and carriage to provide rides around the park.
"So, I'm excited, Herrmann said. "We're planning on December 9th from 4 to 7. Have a hot cocoa and cookies with a carriage drive for the kids."
During the Fall Fest held in October visitors were allowed to vote on their favorite police officer, firefighter and council member. Called the Citizen's Choice Award, Mayor Herrmann announced the winners at the November 20 council meeting. The winners are Police Srgt. Breana Green, Firefighter Conner Roberts and Council Member Angela Griffin.