Make her wish come true; Candidates wanted

OPINION

It isn't often someone running either to be elected, or re-elected, to an office asks, even begs, for competition. But that's exactly what's happening in the race for Alexander's Ward-2, Position-1 seat on the city council.

At the April 15 council meeting, Council Member Joy Gray used the allotted three minutes, during the public comment section of the agenda, to encourage citizens to run in the upcoming November 5 election. She even supported someone to run against herself.

"Run against me. I don't care at this point," Gray said. "If you're interested and you're tired of watching me bang my head and you're tired of watching things not get done just for petty shenanigans reasons, run for office."

Near the end of the June 17 council meeting she was at it again. Obviously, having at least two choices for each position is good for democracy. Gray says anyone can serve on the council.

"So, we need people who are wanting to get involved, you can do it," Gray said. "Do not be sitting there thinking that you can't do it. Don't for a second think that you're not qualified or not smart enough or not capable. If you are 18, you are a registered voter and you live in the city limits of Alexander, that is literally all it takes. Okay, you can be 19 and reasonably literate."

Gray then explained further how to get on the ballot.

"So, go down there (Saline County Clerk's Office) and get a petition," she urged. "Ten people have to sign it. Ten registered voters in the city have to sign it. And then by Noon on August 7th, you go turn it in. And they will count it up and make sure that these (signatures) are all valid."

It's best to get more in case you have a bad signature, or two.

Gray first ran for office in November 2016. She defeated Incumbent Stephanie Beck 310 to 244. She was then sworn-in January 1, 2017.

In the 2018 General Election none of the eight council members were opposed, automatically giving them another two-year term. In 2020, again, all sitting council members were unopposed. In 2022, however, there was some opposition to a portion of the council. Gray was one of five on the ballot unopposed, giving her a third free ride to another term.

Alexander residents currently serving on the city council are Joe Pollard (Ward-1; Pos-1), Mitchell W. Smith (Ward-1; Pos-2), Joy Gray (Ward-2; Pos-1), Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn (Ward-2; Pos-2), Harold Timmerman (Ward-3; Pos-1), Tony Staton (Ward-3; Pos-2), Angela Griffin (Ward-4; Pos-1), and Juanita Wilson (Ward-4; Pos-2).

Six council members who are known to have taken out a petition are Joe Pollard, Mitchell W. Smith, Joy Gray, Harold Timmerman, Angela Griffin, and Juanita Wilson.

Two council members have not acquired a petition. One is Tony Staton. The second is Gina R. Thomas-Littlejohn who is running as a Democrat for representative in the Arkansas State House. Under state law she can not run for, or serve in, two elected positions. Therefore, the Ward-2; Pos-2 council seat is definitely available.

So what's up with Council Member Gray? Since this term began January 1, 2023, Gray seems to have forgotten everything that happened during her first six years on the council.

The current Alexander Planning Commission was formed in 2017, Gray's first year on the council. The first three commission members weren't appointed until 2018. Before 2022 a fourth member was added, while the final fifth member was appointed in 2022.

Through the years anyone wanting to remain on the planning commission was reappointed to another three-year term. In 2023 planning commission members Tonya Prowes and Stephanie Beck were reappointed through this same process. In 2024 when it was brought to the attention of council members that another planning member agreed to be appointed for another term, this suddenly became a new concept for Council Member Gray.

Gray asked, "I don't have any recollection of, do people on the planning commission just decide they stay? Does the planning commission not advertise that position being opened? So do we just automatically rubber stamp people?"

The idea is anyone who wants to remain on the planning commission allows the city to keep experienced individuals. But that's not the issue. The fact that she voted on several reappointment requests, including two 12 months earlier, and didn't remember must say something about her. Although, I don't know what.

And this isn't the first instance. When the city acquired a new mayor and half of the council was replaced in the 2022 General Election the expectation was Gray, who was the younger of the other remaining incumbents, would be able to guide the newbies through the process of things like approving ordinances and other aspects of a meeting. After all she had six years of experience. No such luck. Apparently during those previous six years she went home after each meeting and had her brain wiped clean. She didn't remember a thing.

Is her plea for competition in the next election a cry for help, as in, 'Get me out of here.' Rather than not seeking re-election because conditions are so unbearable, would she rather lose an election than be labeled a quitter? Or, is it the other older incumbents she wants to get rid of while she stays put? Only she knows the real reason.

Let's make her wish come true. Gray lives in St. Joseph's Glen. If you look at the ward map below Ward-2 begins in Pulaski County and covers St. Joseph's Glen south to the western half of Meadow's Edge.

Anyone living in Ward-2 can run for both the Position-1 and Position-2 seats. Gray is the incumbent for Position-1. As stated above, Gina R. Thomas-Littlejohn (Ward-2; Pos-2) is running as a Democrat for representative in the Arkansas State House and cannot run for re-election to her council seat.

To run for a position on the city council you must be a registered voter and file your petition based on the ward you live in and either position one or two, depending on which incumbent you want to unseat. See the map below to find your ward.

When gathering signatures anyone who lives in Alexander and is a registered voter can sign your petition. You are not limited to signatures from voters in your ward. On election day all Alexander voters will be able to vote for all council seats with two or more candidates.

The other two offices to appear on the ballot are city recorder and city treasurer. To file for these two positions you must live in the city limits of Alexander and be a registered voter.

Currently, Sharon Bankhead serves as the city recorder. It is unknown if she has taken out a petition. The office of city treasurer is vacant. Former City Treasurer JoAn Churchill resigned effective December 31, 2023. Both positions are four-year terms.

Residents living in both the Pulaski and Saline county portions of Alexander may pick up the petitions for these elected positions at the Saline County Clerk's office; 215 North Main Street, Suite 9; Benton, Arkansas. Offices are open 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday. For more information call 501-303-5630.

The first opportunity to return a completed petition to the County Clerk's Office is Noon on Wednesday, July 31. The deadline to submit a petition is Noon on Wednesday, August 7.

New Animal Control Ordinance gets first reading; Hurry up and wait

The Alexander City Council was able to agree to one reading of a proposed new animal control ordinance. Since the ordinance did not include an emergency clause, which would allow the ordinance to go into effect immediately, Council Member Juanita Wilson asked if the plan was to have the required three public readings at three separate meetings.

"And this is actually just the first reading, right?" Wilson asked.

"Depends on your motion," responded City Attorney Chris Madison.

"There's no emergency clause in (ordinance), so it has to be the first (of) three (readings)," Wilson said. "We'll have to bring them up the next three months to get it done."

Under state law an ordinance is required to have three public readings at three public meetings before a vote to pass the ordinance can be taken. The law can be superseded by a two-thirds vote of the council, which would allow the vote to pass the ordinance all in one meeting.

In the past, ordinances have been approved by suspending the three-readings requirement, when a two-thirds vote is possible, then approving the emergency clause, which also requires a two-thirds vote. The assumption being if skipping the three-reading requirement is necessary then having the ordinance go into effect immediately is also necessary.

"The law does not require you to have an emergency clause to adopt it," Madison said. "If you have a true emergency where you need to get it done, you can suspend the rules, read up the title for the second, third time, and then adopt (the ordinance) and adopt the emergency clause."

Alexander's Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer Daniel Wyatt wants to begin enforcing the new animal control requirements.

"And this will allow me to actually regulate the things that are happening," Wyatt said. "All of the things regarding the animal shelter, that will obviously take effect once we have the animal shelter. But at least for now, there are clear, cut, and defined regulations that I'll be able to enforce within the city."

Before votes were taken, there was a discussion concerning one of the proposed legal requirements when having a dog. The discussion was kicked-off by Council Member Joe Pollard.

"Did I hear you say you can't have a dog chained up?" Pollard asked. "Did I hear y 'all say that?"

Council Member Joy Gray said, "You can't just leave it on a chain and let it die, Joe."

Wyatt explained, "Well, if you're wanting to keep it confined, obviously it's an enclosure, a pen, or a yard, you can have it on a tether, instead of just, it can't be (tied to) a stationary object, is all it is."

City Recorder Sharon Bankhead jumped in, "If you're going to control it (dog), a lot of people do have the dogs tied up. (They) Try to control them from running loose."

To clarify the proposal Gray said, "So, just so everybody's clear, we wouldn't be suspending, we wouldn't be adding an emergency clause, we would just be suspending the rules and going ahead and getting three readings by title only done tonight."

Explaining what happens if the council suspends the three readings and then approves the ordinance without an emergency clause Madison said, "If you adopt the ordinance afterwards, then this ordinance would go into effect on the 31st day after (passage)."

Voting "Yes" to suspend the required three readings were Joy Gray, Angela Griffin, Joe Pollard, and Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn. Voting "No" was Juanita Wilson. Absent council members Mitchell W. Smith, Tony Staton and Harold Timmerman were also counted as "No" votes making the total votes four to four. If there had been five "Yes" votes Mayor Herrmann would have been able to cast the sixth vote to make the needed two-thirds.

A second motion for a single reading of the ordinance by title only, passed five to three. The only "No" votes were from the three absent council members. Only a simple majority was needed.

Other business at the July 15 meeting included:

New Stormwater Regulations

After a failure to pass two motions to publicly read the ordinance that will establish the proposed "Recommendation for Amendment to Stormwater Regulations" as law, it was automatically tabled until the August 19 council meeting. The new regulations are based on the Hot Springs storm water regulations.

At the June 17 council meeting the proposed regulations were provided to council members. What was provided was a copy of the Hot Springs regulations with Hot Springs still in the document. Council members were not provided a corrected version for the July 15 meeting.

When approved the new regulations will replace the existing regulations approved in October, 2020. Alexander's Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer Daniel Wyatt explained the main differences between the existing regulations and what's being proposed.

Wyatt began with, "[A]dding the permits and fee schedule," as the main key missing from the existing regulations. He expects the requirement of a permit, to replace a driveway culvert, will give the city the opportunity to provide the specifications to properly install a driveway culvert.

Wyatt also noted problems are caused when a property owner, "[D]idn't put a culvert in or they fill in a ditch. So now they're neighbors are flooding or their own property is flooding."

Council Member Juanita Wilson says she's getting questions from residents about the new regulations and wants to be more informed before approving the ordinance.

"[P]eople ask me questions and I want to be able to answer them," Wilson said.

Wilson made a motion to have a single reading at the July 15 meeting. No one seconded the motion.

There was then a motion and second to suspend the requirement to have three readings of the ordinance. That motion failed in a four to four vote. Voting "Yes" were Joy Gray, Angela Griffin, Joe Pollard, and Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn. Voting "No" was Juanita Wilson. Absent council members Mitchell W. Smith, Tony Staton and Harold Timmerman were also counted as "No" votes making the total votes four to four. The issue was then tabled until the August meeting.

Property owner not present

Council members had to skip one agenda item. An offer to sell the City the property at 15420 Alexander Road was to be presented to the council. Mayor Herrmann said the property owner wasn't present at the meeting so the issue was tabled.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday August 19, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Insistent Alexander Council Member saves City $4,903.96

After a three-month review of Alexander's payments to elected officials, City Attorney Chris Madison has determined the City only owes Council Member Angela Griffin $100; which is much less than the original request submitted at the April council meeting. If not for the insistence of Council Member Juanita Wilson wanting to see proof of the underpayments, the City would have over-paid $4,903.96 to the mayor and two council members.

According to the resolution to amend the 2024 budget, proposed at the April meeting, Mayor Crystal Herrmann was paid $37,456.04 in 2023 instead of $42,160.00; a difference of $4,703.96. Council members Tony Staton, Angela Griffin and Gina Thomas-Littlejohn are listed as being paid $1,100.00 in 2023 instead of the annual $1,200.00; a difference of $100.00.

Office Manager Jennifer Hill explained at the April council meeting, "I would just say that I got this (dollar amounts) off the W-2s, so these were the W-2s that everybody got this year and everybody got last year that went through your bank."

"Well, still we need to take a look till next month and from your bank to prove," Wilson said. "We need proof, in writing."

At the April meeting Wilson made the motion to table the resolution until the council can see bank statements from 2023 showing there is a 12th deposit missing. The motion passed five to three with Angela Griffin and Gina Thomas-Littlejohn voting "No" and the absence of Tony Staton counting as a "No" vote.

At the May 20 council meeting it was decided a disinterested third-party needed to review financial documents to determine where Alexander stands as far as payments to the mayor and council members. Madison was "directed" by council members to review financial documents and report on his findings at the June 17 council meeting. At the June meeting Madison asked for another month to complete the audit of payments.

At both the June and July meetings Madison noted that payments to council members are inconsistent as far as when the payments are made and when they are receive by council members. According to Madison payments for December generally are received by council members in early January, while the January payment arrives at the end of the month. In 2024 Griffin was the only council member who did not receive the December, 2023 payment in January, 2024.

The proposed resolution to amend the 2024 budget states, "Council member Griffin was underpaid for services provided during Fiscal 2023, that other Council members were paid an additional payment in January of 2024, and that it is just and necessary that Council Member Griffin be compensated an additional $100 with the next Council member pay cycle to remedy the error."

The resolution also explains the missing payments to Mayor Crystal Herrmann. It turns out the Mayor was paid in full in 2023 and all this angst was caused by a misreading of the W-2.

"[T]he underpayment to the Office of Mayor was based upon review of the W-2 issued to the Mayor which showed a total payment of $37,456.04 when the salary for the Office of Mayor is $42,160, thus creating the apparent deficiency," the resolution states. "[W]hen reviewing only the W-2 issued to Mayor Herrmann for 2023 the salary wages and benefits for total compensation does not account for pre-tax deductions which are taken from the top line salary amount."

As it turns out, however, Mayor Herrmann is owed $810. The mayor's position is paid $1,620 for a two-week pay period. Because the fiscal year follows the calendar year the last week of December, 2022 was the first half of a pay period that ended the first week of 2023.

According to the resolution, "[T]he January 13, 2023 payroll, began its workweek on December 25, 2022 and ended on January 7, 2023, thus splitting the pay period between the end of December and the beginning of January, which also split the Fiscal years between 2022 and 2023."

For whatever reason Mitchell was paid for the first week of 2023 instead of Herrmann.

"[P]ayroll records show that on January 13, 2023, Mayor Herrmann was issued $810 for the first pay period of January 2023," the resolution states. "[P]ayroll records showed that on January 13, 2023, the former Mayor (Paul) Mitchell was issued $810 during January 2023."

Madison told council members the financial inconsistencies were detected during the 2023 legislative audit. In an E-mail sent by Stephanie Simmowy, Staff Auditor for Arkansas Legislative Audit; it is recommended the city council approve a resolution amending the 2024 budget to pay Mayor Herrmann the $810. The plan is to pay Herrmann after Mitchell returns the over-payment to the city.

Council members to be paid the first half of the month

In order to solve the issue of when council members receive their monthly $100 payments, a resolution was approved at the July 15 council meeting which designates elected officials who are paid once a month, "[S]hall be paid the monthly salary due for that month on the first payday of the City of Alexander for which full-time employees of the City of Alexander receive their pay in that month."

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday August 19, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Alexander Master Development Plan won't be approved until 2025

Alexander must now wait until early 2025 for Little Rock's final approval on its proposed Master Development Plan submitted in April 2023. Releasing Alexander of a requirement by Little Rock to write the plan will require approval of a new contract between Alexander and the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA).

During the planning commission's July 9 meeting, Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck reported receiving an E-mail, from LRWRA by way of a local developer, that provides an update on the future of the Master Development Plan. Currently, Alexander City Attorney Chris Madison is working with an LRWRA attorney to write a new contract between Alexander and the LRWRA, which provides sewer service to the Pulaski County area of the city.

The current contract, approved in 2018, required Alexander to develop a new zoning ordinance and a new master plan. The new zoning ordinance was passed in 2019 replacing zoning regulations that had been in effect since 1982. This new master plan will also replace a plan that was approved in 1982.

According to the E-mail, "Once they are complete the agreement documents will have to go to our commission (LRWRA) for approval. At the earliest, it would go to our commission at the January 17th commission meeting. Once our commission approves of the agreement, it must go to the City of Little Rock BOD (Board of Directors) for approval."

At the same time the Alexander City Council must approve the contract. Once both sides sign the contract the Master Development Plan can go to the planning commission and city council for final approval.

The Master Development 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 plan was developed through surveys and public meetings.

Also during the July 9 planning commission meeting:

Planning commission members discussed proposals to amend zoning regulations by adding a sentence to the definition of "Recreational Vehicle" to make clear that an RV cannot be used as a residence and to remove the term "Duplex (site-built)" in reference to the zoning category "Mixed-Use Residential District (R-2. MU)." A proposed ordinance was given to City Attorney Chris Madison to review and edit before being presented to the city council for approval.

Removing "Duplex (site-built)" from the R-2. MU zone will grandfather two parcels. One in north Alexander at 13518 3rd St. (Hwy 111) and in south Alexander at 15405 S. Alexander Road.

Budget, Animal Control and Stormwater Drainage on Alexander Agenda

The Alexander City Council is expected to finalize an ongoing budget issue. The council is expected to vote on, "A Resolution amending the 2024 budget and year end fiscal report." The budget amendment is expected to correct alleged underpayments made to Mayor Crystal Herrmann, council members Tony Staton, Angela Griffin and Gina Thomas-Littlejohn in 2023

Two ordinances are listed under New Business. One is an, "Ordinance repealing all Animal Control Ordinances and adopting the Animal Control regulations of 2024." The second is, "An Ordinance repealing Ord 2-10-19-01 and adopting the Stormwater Discharge Regulations of 2024."

Two discussion items are listed under New Business. One is a, "Resolution discussion regarding payment of Council." The second is an offer to the City to purchase 15420 Alexander Road.

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday July 15, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Alexander awarded nearly $100,000 Trails for Life grant

The City of Alexander has been awarded a grant to build a 1/8-mile walking trail in the City Park. The $96,990 grant will be used to fund a six-foot wide trail, benches and engineering design. The grant will cover 100-percent of the cost of a trail that will encircle the park's playground. (See proposed trail design below.)

Funding for the grant program was acquired from Arkansas's Tobacco Settlement Fund and funneled through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. This is part of reviving the Great Strides program, which was stopped in 2017.

The city council approved applying for the grant in 2023. The $500,000 set-aside for the Trails for Life grant program was able to fund a total of seven grant submissions, including Alexander's.

Mayor Crystal Herrmann was presented with a check by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders at a ceremony in Little Rock Wednesday, July 10. Also present were council members Angela Griffin and Joy Gray.

Alexander Park Trail Site Plan

Alexander Planning Commission to meet Tuesday, July 9

The Alexander Planning Commission will discuss amending the city's zoning regulations at its regular July meeting. The changes to be discussed involve amending the definition of "Recreational Vehicle" and removing "Duplex (site-built)" from the zoning category "Mixed-Use Residential District (R-2. MU)." Also on the agenda is a discussion of "Driveway Standards and Repair Permits."

The meeting will be held Tuesday, July 9, 6:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The meeting is open to the public.

Saline County Water and Sewer sends partial response to Alexander's FOIA request

The Saline County Waterworks and Sanitary Sewer Public Facilities Board (SCWWSS) has sent a partial response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request sent in May by the City of Alexander. The FOIA request was prompted by the facility board's refusal to repair non-functioning fire hydrants and the sudden cutting off of new water and sewer connections in South Alexander.

Since the FOIA request was sent the SCWWSS has decided to continue approving new connections until it receives a report from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. The reason for the suspension of new connections was the expectation that the sewer plant has reached maximum capacity.

The FOIA request was introduced to the council at the May 20 meeting by Council Member Juanita Wilson. The main goal of the request is to determine how a bond, issued 10 to 20 years ago to upgrade the sewer plant, was used and why the sewer plant is now, allegedly, at capacity. The FOIA request also asks for financial information to determine revenue and spending practices.

SCWWSS provides water and sewer service to South Alexander; formerly known as Woodland Hills prior to its annexation into Alexander in 2006. Besides the possibility of stunting the growth of South Alexander, due to an over-burdened sewer plant, for several years city officials have been having a tug-of-war over who is responsible for the maintenance of fire hydrants.

Wilson explained what Alexander's previous fire chief (Mark Ridgeway) was told when he wanted to test the fire hydrants.

"Our former fire chief tried time after time to get them (SCWWSS) to let him inspect them" (fire hydrants), Wilson said. "They never would because they said they belonged to this water department. Now they're saying they go up to the city."

According to Fire Chief Ryan McCormick, of the 107 fire hydrants in South Alexander, "Ten do not work" and "[T]hirty-four have zero (water) pressure."

Access to working fire hydrants is one piece of the calculation used to determine the fire department's ISO rating. The ISO rating is used to set home insurance rates.

A written summary, based on the FOIA information received, was provided to council members by Wilson and Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck. Information and documents requested by the FOIA request includes names of board members and board officers, board meeting schedule, annual budgets for the fiscal years 2020 to 2024, end-of-the-year bank statements for the calendar years 2020 to 2023 and the most recent available bank statement for 2024, signed minutes of all regular and special meetings held in calendar years 2020 to 2024. Last minutes provided were for the June 17, 2023 meeting. This leaves minutes between August, 2023 to at least February, 2024.

Two sentences in the February 11, 2023 meeting minutes provides a different spin on who should maintain the fire hydrants. "There is $8000 in the Construction account set aside for fire plugs. It was money left over from the 2012 bond construction project." Huck speculated that 12 years ago the board at the time seemed to be taking responsibility for the fire hydrants.

One set of documents requested was, "Copies of all documentation concerning all bond issues or loans." While these documents weren't provided, copies of the budgets from 2020 to 2024 show an annual six-figure payment being made on an Arkansas Natural Resources Commission loan. What it was used for is currently unknown.

The first question in the FOIA request was for the, "Names of board members." The response included the names of four current board members, two board members who resigned for health reasons and one vacancy. Question two asked for, "the names of board officers."

Board members include Faye McKeon (Chair), William (Bill) Reagan (Vice-Chair) and Andrea Bearden is listed as both Secretary and Treasurer. The fourth board member is Tim Coots. According to the response this leaves three vacant seats.

"So the current person who's in charge is the widow of the last person that was in charge," Council Member Joy Gray said. "They have been absolutely egregious in their behavior for the last, however many years, absolutely unhinged at a few different points. They have not ever been cooperative or even basically decent. But why are we worried about it now? Like they've been horrible for 20 years. Why is it a problem?"

"Well, because they're trying to stunt our growth for starters," Huck said.

The response from SCWWSS included the expiration of term dates. One of the vacant positions' term expired January 1, 2024. The board seat held by Tim Coots expires February 1, 2025. The seat held by William (Bill) Reagan expires January 1, 2026. Positions held by Faye McKeon, Andrea Bearden and one vacant seat expire February 1, 2027. Finally, the term for the third vacant seat expires December 1, 2027.

Huck explained to council members that the board was established with five seats, not seven. In 1987 the Saline County Quorum Court passed an ordinance establishing the SCWWSS and appointing, "The initial members of the Board, each of whom is a qualified elector residing in the County." The ordinance then names five local residents and assigns each a starting term of one to five years. That established a cycle of having a new five-year term beginning each year.

Gray said, "I don't think it's illegal to have more. I think you can't have less."

City Attorney Chris Madison said, "But we'll look into that."

There are three major questions in the FOIA request that have not been answered. They are, "Copies of all documentation concerning all bond issues or loans used to improve, repair, or upgrade the water system, the underground sewer system, or the sewage processing plant located at 16750 Brookwood Road, Copies of the schedule of all fees charged by SCWWSS including permits, new connections, re-connection, and water and sewer rates," and "Records reflecting the addresses of all properties owned, or used by, Saline County Water Works Sanitary Sewer Public Utilities."

The Public Facility Board meetings are every two months, the third Saturday of the month at 10:00 am in the office at 15250 Hwy 111, Alexander. The meetings are held in February, April, June, August, October, and December.

Department Reports

Police Department

Calls down, Citations up

Police Chief Robert Burnett told council members the 764 calls responded to in May were down from normal, probably due to the wet weather.

"[T]hat was actually down, by a couple of hundreds, actually," Burnett said. "[P]robably due to all the rain we've had in the last couple of weeks, months. Normally, we run about 900 calls a month."

Citations, on the other and, were up for May.

"It was ... 409 for last month," Burnett said. "[T]hat's actually up quite a bit."

"[W]e have a couple of the active shooter training at Bauxite Elementary School," Burnett continued. "They do, we train with all the different agencies over there. So, we can ... cross train with them."

Cameras and a free truck

Assistant Police Chief Jessica Burnett provided a report on the purchase of cameras through a grant. One camera will be used to monitor the City Park in real-time while the second is able to capture license plates.

"We did get the first grant ... which is the local law enforcement block grant," Assistant Police Chief Burnett said. "It was for $7,400."

"The first one will be a combo camera, which is a live view", she said. "We will put that at the park and it is a 360 degree pan tilt zoom. We can pull video and still photos from that."

Assistant Police Chief Burnett said the second camera is stationary and will be mounted at, "East Azalea and Highway 111 because that's where a lot of our traffic comes in from outside the city. And that will read license plates."

"It will give the officers on duty live alerts if it comes across a solo vehicle, a solo license plate, a vehicle attached to a wanted person, anything to that nature," she said. "And then the officers can also put (out) an alert saying we have a hit and run and we have a partial flight and we know a vehicle description."

In 2018, 2020 and 2022 the same individual was arrested during traffic stops, instigated by the Alexander Police Department, and then arrested on drug related charges. According to Assistant Police Chief Burnett each time he negotiated a guilty plea in exchange for the loss of the vehicle involved in the traffic stop.

During the 2022 stop he was driving a 2019 Ford F-350 pickup truck. Through the prosecutor's office the truck was awarded to the police department which at the time of seizure, according to Burnett, was valued at $90,000.

"So we will need to keep that for police use for the chief's vehicle," she told council members. "So that saved us $55,000 on the cost of a new Tahoe along with the $80,000 current appraisal (of the 2019 Ford F-350). It was a total of $145,000 in savings and investment for the police department."

Fire Department

Testing, Training, Teaching and Hiring

Fire Chief Ryan McCormick reported to council members on the department's activities since the May council meeting. It was a month of preparing for an ISO inspection, special training, classes and filling one vacancy.

"So we have been busy over the past month along with a lot of training," McCormick said. "Hose testing ..., over 12,000 feet of hose testing to comply with ISO. That all passed. We didn't have anything that failed."

"ISO is our insurance rating for the city," continued McCormick. "They are coming to town at the end of the month (June) for our new update, going through our policies to make sure we keep an ISO 2."

An ISO 1 is the highest score.

"And then the water system is still going to be a part of that problem," he said. "My goal is that we keep an ISO 2."

The water system in question is the Saline County Water Works Sanitary Sewer (SCWWSS) Public Facilities Board, which serves the Saline County portion of Alexander (excluding the St. Joseph's Glen and Meadow's Edge subdivisions). At the May council meeting McCormick reported that 10 fire hydrants are not working and several more have very low water pressure.

Since the annexation of what was Woodland Hills, now all of South Alexander, in 2006 SCWWSS management would not allow the fire department to test the fire hydrants as part of the ISO requirements. Now that fire hydrants are either not working at all, or are causing a reduction in water pressure, SCWWSS expects Alexander to pay for the repairs.

Central Arkansas Water (CAW) serves the Pulaski County portion of Alexander. Even though CAW maintains its fire hydrants McCormick told council members the city receives only one ISO rating. Decisions made by SCWWSS affects the entire city when it comes to determining the ISO rating.

"We also spent over 400 hours this past month in just training," McCormick said. "We've had four guys, actually two guys that just did a, it's called a certification for, natural certification for core rescue."

"It's a part of the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) team that we have, that we have involved in state activation," McCormick continued. "It also has training that we do in-house that helps us to be more advanced in our skills for rope rescues, technical rescues, confined space, ditches, those kind of things, trenches."

McCormick has taken on the role of teacher to continue additional training and certification, without the added cost.

"I'm teaching our department two different national certifications," McCormick said. "It's called Instructor 1 and Officer 1, Officer Development Program. It's a 40 hour class for Instructor 1 and 40 hour class for Officer 1. And that helps them (fire fighters) for their professional development and also for their continuing education."

"I'm excited that we have one opening, the opening for firefighter for our department, McCormick said. "And it's the first time we've ever put applications out and did it, actually going through a true hiring process."

McCormick told council members 24 applicants responded. They were given a 100 question test and he expected to select someone before the end of June.

Code Enforcement/Animal Control

Residents complying with cleanup

Whether the timing was right, or it's just a case of that personal touch and charm, Code Enforcement Officer Daniel Wyatt has been able to make progress on the cleaning up of various properties.

"I've started a long, slow, grueling process of talking to as many people as I can in the city, letting them know that there's a lot of violations going on," Wyatt said during the June 17 council meeting. "There's a lot of progress on some of these vacant buildings. I've had, I think, six or seven people completely remove a building or remove a trailer that's been vacant for, you know, 10 years."

"Not a whole lot of problems," Wyatt continued. "Everyone's been pretty cordial. So, super happy to see, because I'm just willing to work with people. It's gonna take a lot of time for them to fix some of these properties."

Wyatt explained how residents can now go to the Alexander website to review ordinances and report violations. (Click HERE.)

"You can click on code enforcement and it'll have a little website where you can, residents can report violations on whatever in the city," Wyatt said. "And I've put on there ordinances that are most, you know, relevant right now."

Animal Control takes time to build

Animal control is going to take a little longer. Wyatt said an attempt is being made to renovate a building into a shelter at the former Human Development Center.

"With the help of the streets department, we have (been) trying to get a building cleaned up behind the development center that we're trying to save a lot of money and kind of trying to make that into a little shelter so that we can actually start housing some animals that need to be picked up," he said.

Wyatt said the best he can do for now is to try and locate the owner of any stray dogs. A new animal control ordinance was to be introduced at the June council meeting but it wasn't ready.

Mayor's Report

Grant update and Food Pantry

Mayor Crystal Herrmann has discovered there's more to receiving a grant than just qualifying. While Alexander may have a building that qualifies as a toxic hazard, that's only one part in qualifying for a Brownfield Grant.

Earlier this year, at the April 15 council meeting, Herrmann announced the city has qualified to apply for a Brownfield Grant. The EPA funded grant will be used to remove hazardous contamination, mostly asbestos, from the former tuberculosis hospital allowing it to be demolished safely. The hospital building is located on the grounds of the former State-run and owned Alexander Human Development Center along Hwy. 111.

But now, Alexander is required to demonstrate how the State of Arkansas transferred ownership of the 65.69-acre property to the City. During its February 2018 meeting the council approved an ordinance accepting the state’s offer to take ownership of the Human Development Center. The former hospital and property were abandoned after Arkansas moved clients to a more homelike environment.

While the city has all the documentation needed to prove the property belongs to Alexander, according to Herrmann the EPA wants more.

"Originally, we thought, well, we just qualify," Herrmann said. "But they (EPA) wanted specific governmental functions from the state to the city. I can only supply what the city side of things."

"But I think we also have to do some research on the state side," she continued. "So we're just trying to clarify our eligibility."

The Indian Springs Baptist Church is operating a food pantry out of the Alexander Community Center #2. It's located on the grounds of the former Alexander Human Development Center.

"They do a large food pantry," Mayor Herrmann said. "They came over this past month (May). The next six months, they're going to have a food pantry at the large community center the last Tuesday of every month."

Next Meeting

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