Alexander police chief wants department-operated shooting range

Police Chief Timothy Preator submitted a request to the Alexander city council to build a shooting range for department use. Preator said the issue is scheduling and costs.

“So, right now, if I want to do any kind of firearm training with anybody, I've got to beg, borrow and steal to get a range to shoot,” Preator said. “And when I do get a range, if I get it through the county (Saline County), you have to pay for it, which is money coming out of our budget.”

Preator’s plan involves using the area behind the pond on the former Alexander Human Development property, along Highway 111. The original plan was to pile mounds of dirt, forming a berm, behind the target area. After discussing the pros and cons of the plan it was decided to extend the dirt mounds to the sides to not only catch any stray bullets but to redirect the sound of gunfire upwards.

What concerns Council Member Angela Griffin is that the direction of the shooting will be towards the Meadows Edge Subdivision.

“The reason why I'm saying because my house is right here and when the kids are out all the time,” Griffin said. “And so, you know, with the sound of the guns and all that, I'm just a little concerned.”

Another issue discussed at the June 16 meeting was the possibility of someone walking through the woods and into firing range. It was decided a fence would be installed before anyone could reach the berms.

At the end it was decided council members would survey their constituents to get a feel for the public’s reaction. And, the results are already in. According to insiders, Meadow’s Edge residents don’t like the idea of being downrange from flying bullets. Reports are the plan has been scrubbed.

In other actions at the June 16 council meeting;

Two ordinances get second reading

Two ordinances discussed at the May council meeting, where they also received the required first public reading, received their second reading at the June meeting. One ordinance sets a dollar amount for tracking fixed assets. The second establishes protocol for purchases above $20,000.00.

The only proposed ordinance amended at the May meeting was the ordinance controlling fixed assets. In the original version, the ordinance set a dollar amount of $2,500.00, or higher, for an asset to appear on the fixed asset list.

Council Member Christopher Prowse thought $2,500.00 was too high to begin tracking fixed assets. It was decided to lower it to $1,500.00.

Since then Prowse discovered a needed correction. The word “curfew” was accidentally left over from the writing of another ordinance establishing a curfew in Alexander. The curfew ordinance was adopted in May. City Attorney Chris Madison said it will be removed for the July meeting.

The ordinance not only establishes the $1,500.00 amount to track fixed assets, it requires the council be provided an annual report of items removed from the asset list. It does not require council members be provided an annual copy of the current asset list.

Council members also approved the second reading of an ordinance that increases the dollar amount to require bids for a purchase from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00. It gives the mayor “exclusive power” to award or reject bids and establishes approval of the budget as approval of all purchases listed as a line item in the budget.

Part time firefighter new code enforcement officer

Mayor Crystal Herrmann announced the hiring of part time firefighter Joshua Dodson as the new code enforcement/animal control officer. Herrmann said he will be available during the daytime, depending on his schedule.

While familiarizing himself with city ordinances Dodson told council members, “I have started to give out warnings to more problematic properties for things such as dogs at large, trash, they've had vehicles and a few things with the issue of building permits.”

Herrmann did note an education campaign has begun concerning issues such as keeping properties clean and the need for building permits. For those who get city postings on Facebook, you may have noticed a reminder of these requirements.

She is also asking anyone who has an immediate issue that’s dog related to call the police department. They will continue to assist animal control.

Dodson is now the third person to hold the position of code enforcement/animal control officer. The first code enforcement/animal control officer was Dan Wyatt. He began around April 29, 2024. He resigned sometime between the August and September, 2024 council meetings. Jamie Jordan was hired January, 2025. She resigned sometime after the March, 2025 council meeting.

Mayor talking to FEMA

Mayor Crystal Herrmann reported on her recent discussions with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She has begun the process of applying for aide based on damage from the storms that hit Arkansas in April.

“We have started the FEMA process,” Herrmann said. “I've had multiple FEMA meetings. It started off in Pulaski County. And then we had our FEMA representatives came (sic) in. The ones that are going to be working with us to be a whole application process on their recovery for the storms that we have (sic) in April.”

Herrmann said a meeting with FEMA representatives was scheduled for Tuesday, June 17.

“We'll be going around the city and looking at the different sites,” Herrmann explained. “But, if there was damages, then we'd go over our list. All the hours worked by all of our staff during that time of break.”

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, July 21, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Zero input from Alexander residents at public hearing; Timing of hearing questioned

A public hearing was held Monday evening (June 16) prior to the Alexander City Council’s monthly meeting. The hearing is required when submitting a grant request for the FUN Park Grant program.

The grant is provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism. This application is for Fiscal Year 2026.

It funds 100-percent of a project with no matching funds needed by the city. The grant will be used to replace the playground equipment in the City Park.

What was unusual about this hearing is its timing. This is the third year Alexander will apply for the grant. The first two were in 2023 and 2024, for the 2024/2025 fiscal years.

The process followed in the past was to have the hearings before the council adopts the resolution that gives the mayor approval to submit the grant application. This year the resolution was adopted at the May council meeting.

At the June hearing Council Member Juanita Wilson questioned the legality of having the public hearing after passing the resolution.

“We're … (doing) it backwards,” Wilson said.

“But we are ... legal,” Mayor Crystal Herrmann replied.

Another break from past norms was the absence of Leanne Poole. Poole is a representative from the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program (ACEDP). ACEDP aides Alexander in submitting grant requests.

When asked by this reporter about her absence City Treasurer Jennifer Hill responded, “They had other arrangements and couldn't make it tonight. There's a lot of grants going on.”

The purpose of the public hearings are to identify Alexander's needs. This year no one attended the hearing to offer any additional suggestions.

In 2023 and 2024 Alexander scored 32 out of 32 points to qualify. However, Alexander was not selected to receive a portion of the limited funds. Only a handful of applicants are eventually chosen out of the multitude of applications.

Herrmann did say this year’s application was submitted early.

Alexander Mayor schedules public hearing for FUN Grant; Council meeting follows

Alexander Mayor Crystal Herrmann has scheduled a public hearing to receive input concerning a grant request. The FUN Park Grant will be used to replace the playground equipment at the City Park.

The public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 PM on Monday, June 16. The regular June council meeting will begin at 6:00 PM. Both meetings will be held in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall), 15605 Alexander Road, Alexander, Arkansas.

In a press release Herrmann said, “We welcome you to come provide your comments to identify potential outdoor park and recreational needs and priorities for 2026 for the City of Alexander. All persons, especially ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, youth and special interest groups are invited and encouraged to attend and participate.”

The hearing is required when submitting a grant request for the FUN Park Grant program. The grant is provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism. This application is for Fiscal Year 2026.

This will be the third attempt at receiving a FUN Park Grant. Despite scoring 32 out of 32 points to qualify, Alexander was not selected to receive a portion of the limited funds. Only a handful of applicants are eventually chosen out of the multitude of applications.

For those unable to attend the public hearing, the mayor has provided other options to make your opinions known. You may phone city hall at (501) 455-2585. Written comments may be submitted to the City of Alexander, P.O. Box 610, Alexander, AR 72002. Comments may also be E-mailed to Mayor Herrmann, at mayor@cityofalexander.org.

The council has already approved the resolution for the FUN Park Grant at the May council meeting. Normally that’s done after the public hearing. A do-over is not listed on the June agenda.

There are, however, three agenda items for the June 16 council meeting. Under Old Business are the “Ordinance establishing a dollar amount for a fixed asset” and an “Ordinance establishing the procurement process and dollar limitation for Mayor to spend.” Both received their first public reading at the May council meeting. Under New Business is an item described as “Shooting range discussion.” This item is submitted by Police Chief Tim Preator.

Alexander resident wants an extra day to celebrate Independence Day

South Alexander resident Scott Chaloner approached city council members with a request to extend the time fireworks can be displayed an extra day. His reasoning. Independence Day is on Friday this year.

“I've been putting on fireworks for 20 years in the city,” Chaloner began. “Even before we were in the city, you (sic) never had a problem.”

“Even with the city pass ordinance (sic), the only time I received the citation was last year,” Chaloner continued. “And that's fine. I had no problem paying that citation.”

Chaloner lives in the Don Parker Dr. area of south Alexander.

The ordinance allows for the discharging of fireworks from 12:00 PM (Noon) until 10:00 PM on July 3 and July 4. The ordinance was adopted June 17, 2019.

“The fourth falls on a Friday this year,” Chaloner continued. “I have my parties on Saturday. We have kids, adults, neighbors, people just show up. They have a good time. The year before last, we were not aware of the ordinance, but we were in violation of it when the fire department showed up.”

By 2023 the ordinance had been in effect for five years.

“[M]ost of us work on the fourth,” He said.

“So I'm here to ask y'all just for one amendment,” Chaloner said. “And that's to give us, ... that Saturday (after July 4) under the same timeline.”

Council Member Angela Griffin asked, “So if it falls on a Monday, then that Saturday, four days later?”

“Well, technically on that, we would probably have it on that Saturday before,” Chaloner responded. “[B]ut we're still going to be in violation of the ordinance because the ordinance only says you can shoot on the third and the fourth.”

Council Member Joy Gray recounted a conversation she and Chaloner had after the April council meeting when he requested to be on the May agenda.

Gray asked Chaloner in April, “What about if you have such a big event with so many people, why don't we just let you sponsor an event in the park for the whole city? And you said no. Why did you not want to do it in the park?”

“Because you're not allowed smoking,” Chaloner responded in May. “You're not allowed drinking.”

“No,” Gray said. “We do not allow smoking and alcohol in the city park, which according to you, it's only going to be a two hour event, which if you cannot go two hours without smoking or drinking, that's a separate issue.”

Gray noted that Alexander is the only city in the area that allows fireworks.

“We're it. We're the only one,” she said.

“My argument today is we're not a city the size of Bryant,” Chaloner responded.

“It doesn't matter,” Gray snapped. “We're a city with a mayor and a city council and we make these rules and ordinances.”

Gray suggested the celebration be moved out of the city and into an unpopulated area of an unnamed county. She also noted Chaloner has an entire year to plan how to deal with the calendar.

“[I]t's not a big deal to go rent a cabin on a river out in some county and blow up everything and blow up,” Gray said. “So we cannot write an amendment to a city ordinance because it inconveniences people.

“We're on a 365 day calendar from the time of the Fourth of July happens from the Fifth forward,” she continued. “You've got 365 days to decide where you would want to go blow stuff up that isn't within the city.”

“So I think to amend an ordinance, we can't amend an ordinance every time it's inconvenient for someone in the city or else we would never have an ordinance,” Gray said.

“I don't really think you use a word inconvenience because we're not asking for an inconvenience,” Chaloner explained. “It's not, we're not saying it's inconvenient. It's on the, it's on the, we're just asking for a Saturday. That's all we're asking for.”

Mayor Crystal Herrmann chimed in, “I have had multiple citizens actually call me about the fireworks and they were in favor to move it to the Saturday past the Fourth because they felt like it would give them more time ... (inaudible cross talk).”

Gray offered a proposal.

“The only thing the people in the City of Alexander get is the Saturday after the 4th of July,” Gray said. “You can shoot it from 7 to 10, period. Anything outside of those times is an absolute no.”

The mayor suggested council members consult their constituents and report back to her with their results. In order for the amendment to be in effect by July 4 it must be adopted at the June meeting.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, June 16, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023

Time Elapsed

2 years, 1 Month, 2 weeks

Safety, Playground, Street Light Grants; All approved with few rants

The Alexander City Council approved three resolutions giving Mayor Crystal Herrmann permission to apply for three grants. One will fund a, “Safety Study and Active Transportation Plan.” The second is another attempt at receiving a grant to replace the playground equipment in the City Park. And, the third grant will fund replacing all city street lights with LED bulbs.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) receives and distributes Federal Funding for the Federal-aid Transportation Alternatives Program and the Recreational Trails Program. The grants are available at 80% Federal participation and 20% local match. If approved Alexander’s share will be $10,000.00 for the $50,000.00 grant.

According to the application form, the Safety Study and Active Transportation Plan will be based on engineering studies of the physical condition of city streets, where sidewalks are needed and bus stop safety. There will also be public meetings to get input from local residents concerning there desires for trails and other transportation needs.

Council Member Juanita Wilson pointed out that the city’s Master Development Plan does cover sidewalks and trails as needed improvements. Information was gathered using written surveys, public input provided at two public meetings, traffic counts and other statistics.

“This is actually an assessment where they come through the whole entire city and they'll (ArDOT) assess our safest routes,” Herrmann said. “They'll assess the safe streets and they'll come through and inform us where we're out as far as traffic counts. This will help us for bus stop safety improvements, pedestrian improvements, and it will help give us a guideline on where we need to improve, and it will also give us a baseline as far as grants that we can move forward with applying and looking for funds for those improvements.”

Besides needing a Master Development Plan, to replace the one written in 1982, writing it is a requirement under the current contract with the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA). The LRWRA provides sewer service in north Alexander. Also required is approval of the plan from LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors. Alexander officials have been waiting for that approval since April, 2023.

This study would certainly have been one of the next steps after the plan is approved, in order to begin implementation of the plan. Because of that Wilson thinks the city is getting ahead of itself.

“I just know that there was already something about that in the Master Development Plan,” Wilson said. “It hasn't been done by ... the city of Little Rock, which they're supposed to be doing. So, you know, we may be jumping ahead of ourselves.”

“No, I don't believe this is the same thing, Ms. Wilson,” Herrmann responded. “I understand what you're saying, but this is actually through ArDOT, and they will come out and assess the traffic, the healthiness of the safety of the roads, like the bus stops, the kids, and we actually had a child make contact on one of the city streets.”

The resolution was approved with a voice vote. There were no objections.

Will the third time be the charm?

This will be the third time Alexander has attempted to receive a grant under the FUN Park grant program. If approved, the grant will be used to replace the playground equipment in the City Park.

Alexander first applied for a FUN Park grant in 2023 for the 2024 grant distribution. The city met all the criteria to receive the grant, scoring 32 out of 32 points. Unfortunately, Alexander was not at the top of the list when it came time to disburse the limited funds. Mayor Crystal Herrmann told council members at the time only five grant requests were approved.

The same thing happened when Alexander applied in 2024 for the 2025 disbursement of FUN grant funds. Again Alexander was denied after scoring 32 out of 32 points.

The FUN Park grant is provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The grant funds 100-percent of a project with no matching funds provided by the city.

The resolution was approved with a voice vote. There were no objections.

City applies for grant to fund LED streetlights

Council members adopted a resolution that allows the city to take advantage of a grant that will fund converting existing streetlight bulbs to LED bulbs. The grant program is funded through the Environmental Protection Agency and is administered in Central Arkansas by Metroplan.

The $25,509.00 grant will be distributed over two years. Street lights are installed, maintained and powered by Entergy.

At the February council meeting Mayor Herrmann said, “It would be a $12,000 a year savings (in monthly fees) if we get this grant. And our city will be a lot brighter.”

At the May 19 meeting Herrmann said Entergy is replacing existing bulbs with LEDs when they go out.

“So as it sets right now with the bulbs, we have to wait for them to burn out before we can get it upgraded to LED with no cost,” she said. “This grant supplies the funds for them to come through and upgrade all the bulbs in one contract.”

The resolution was approved with a voice vote. There were no objections.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, June 16, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

Alexander’s proposed purchasing ordinance based on the honor system

The Alexander City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that will increase the dollar amount to require bids for a purchase from $10,000.00 to $20,000.00. It also gives the mayor “exclusive power” to award or reject bids and establishes approval of the budget as approval of all purchases listed as a line item in the budget.

The ordinance states, “The approval by the City Council of the annual budget shall amount to an appropriation of funds, which are lawfully applicable to the items therein contained, Expenditures shall he made only from funds previously appropriated by the council and only for the purposes set forth in such appropriation.”

As for when bids are required the ordinance continues, “On all purchases over twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), no less than three (3) bids shall be received. In cases where three (3) bids are not obtainable, the

Mayor shall document the reasons therefore, except in emergency situations where such bids are not obtainable.”

In Section 2 it states, “The Mayor or the Mayor’s duly authorized representative shall have exclusive power to award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder, but may reject any and all bids received.”

This new ordinance is replacing another ordinance, adopted during former Mayor Paul Mitchell’s administration, that can’t be located in city hall. Council Member Joy Gray remembers voting on the previous ordinance.

“I don't know where it went (the ordinance being replaced), but I know I did not imagine probably (20)17, (20)18,” Gray began. “We did vote on the previous mayor (proposed ordinance). We raised it from 5 (thousand) to 10 (thousand). ... At that time, I (the mayor) had to get the three bids. Correct. And then, not only did he have to get the bids, though, but then he brought the bids to council, and the council made the decision, and it didn't have to be the lowest (bid), but if it's not the lowest, you have to have an explanation.”

“That is a common practice with the city, but it is a common practice with cities, and that keeps council for being bogged down with the necessary things,” said Mayor Crystal Herrmann. “If the department and myself, we plan ahead, and we know with our budget, we're forecasting in that next year.”

“Now, if there is an emergency or something breaks down or something that's expensive, absolutely,” the Mayor continued. “We're going to put it on the agenda. If it's outside of our line (items) that y'all have not approved, we will be bringing it to council for approval to purchase.”

But that’s not required in the ordinance. Nor does it explain what to do if the budgeted line item appropriation is less than the bids.

The fire department recently purchased a new brush truck, replacing the old one. In the fire department’s 2025 budget there is a line item under expenses labeled “Vehicle Purchase” with the purchase amount of $69,276.27. The line item is budgeted for $40,000.00. There was not a request made to the council to amend the budget prior to the purchase. That line item has yet to be amended.

Three public readings of a proposed ordinance are required under state law. Instead of adopting the ordinance at the May 19 meeting, council members opted to have the first reading to allow for a month to consider the proposal. The ordinance will be on the June agenda.

How much is an asset worth?

On a similar note, council members were presented with an ordinance that establishes a process to track fixed assets. The proposed ordinance sets a dollar amount of $2,500.00 for an asset to appear on the Fixed Asset list.

This is another ordinance that can’t be found at city hall. Mayor Herrmann contacted Arkansas Legislative Audit who did have a copy of an ordinance establishing a policy for tracking fixed assets. Unfortunately, it was adopted in 1998. It set the minimum dollar amount to appear on the asset list at $500.00 and a time limit of five years for remaining on the list.

Council Member Chris Prowse thinks $2,500.00 is too high.

“I do think this amount is way too high,” Prowse said.

Herrmann explained, “[T]he problem with the $500, when you go to do the asset list, it's a lot.”

“So $500.00 is unacceptable,” Prowse said. “I think $1,500 is more reasonable because $2,499.00, the walkout door, nobody even knowing what happened.”

Council members voted to change the dollar amount to $1,500.00. They also agreed to a first reading allowing a month to amend the ordinance.

The ordinance allows an asset to remain on the list until its value drops below the $2,500.00 (now $1,500.00) instead of the five year limit. It also requires the council be provided an annual report of items removed from the asset list. It does not require council members be provided an annual copy of the current asset list.

Herrmann did mention that department heads are tracking what she referred to as “the smalls.” Assets that are under the dollar amount to appear on the asset list will be tracked on a separate list.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, June 16, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023.

Time Elapsed

2 years, 1 Month, 2 weeks

Alexander’s juvenile curfew ordinance adopted in time for summer

The Alexander City Council was able to adopt an ordinance establishing a curfew for minors. But, not before taking a deep dive into the finer points of the proposed ordinance; including how to handle juveniles who can’t be controlled by their parents.

The issue was brought up by Council Member Chris Prowse who asked, “What remedies do we have for parents where the child is a lot bigger and more aggressive than the parent? And, they can't contain the child. So what remedies do we have for them? Instead of just fining them.”

Police Chief Timothy Preator stepped up to explain what happens on domestic calls involving a minor.

“If we get over there, there's, a lot of that goes to the court system,” Chief Preator began. “Our hands are tied whenever it comes to juveniles on a whole lot of things.”

“If we respond over there and say it's a domestic issue or a juvenile has hit its parents or something like that,” Preator continued. “I have to call the on-call juvenile worker and go hey, this kid just punched mom in the mouth. What do you want me to do? At that point normally they say bring them on to juvenile. We'll escort them up there? The juvenile officers then take over that whole thing.”

“As far as an out of control youth, you know, that's just not listening to, not doing all the things that they're supposed to do, once again, our hands are tide,” Preator said. “But, 99% of everything that can happen will go through court once they get into the system. They get the defense petition in order. There's things like C-SIB, this is some big student training program. It's out of Camp Robinson. You've got the Arkansas National Guard needs challenge program. It's out of Camp Robinson. And then there are both the parent military style programs for at risk teens. The programs do work.”

“But as far as on our end, only thing we can do is get there to control the situation,” he said. “Make sure that everything's calm. There's no physical disturbance. Is there anything of that nature? And then we do a process call DHS or juvenile or whoever it may be.”

Back to juveniles who are out past curfew; Chief Preator said anyone who sees a juvenile vandalizing property should contact the police immediately rather than calling the mayor or a council member the next day.

The non-emergency number for the Saline County Sheriff's Office is 501-303-5648. That number goes directly to dispatch without using 911. Preator did emphasize to still call 911 for a real emergency.

The proposed ordinance establishing a juvenile curfew sets the age of a minor as anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years old. The time of curfew will be set, ”[D]uring the period ending at 5:00 A.M. and beginning;

(a) At 12:00 Midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, and

(b) 11:00 P.M. on all other nights.”

Exceptions include;

“(a) When accompanied by a parent of such minor.

(b) When accompanied by an adult, at least 21 years of age, who is not the parent and who is authorized by a parent of such minor, …

(c) When engaging in the duties of bona fide employment or traveling directly, without undue delay or detour from home to the place of employment, or from the place of employment to the home.

(d) When the minor is in a motor vehicle for the purpose of interstate travel, either through, beginning or ending in the City of Alexander, Arkansas.”

Under penalties; 

“(a) If, after the warning notice pursuant to Section 5 of the first violation by a juvenile, a parent violates Section 6 (in connection with a second violation by the juvenile), this shall be treated as a first offense by the parent. For parental offenses, a parent may be fined not less than $100.00 (corrected) nor more than $500.00.

(b) Any juvenile who shall violate any of the provision of the curfew ordinance more than three times shall be reported by the Police Department to the Juvenile Authorities as a juvenile in need of supervision and the Police Department shall refer the matter to the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney and/or the Arkansas Department of Human Services and/or other appropriate authorities.”

Prowse asked about fining a parent who has a child that insists on breaking curfew.

“I just want to make sure that we, you know, we don't compound the situation, because the kids, the kids that I'm talking about, they're bigger and meaner than their single mother,” Prowse said. “And so, of course, we're going to get them, but then we're going to fine the mother. And then fining the mother puts her in financial difficulty.”

City Attorney Chris Madison explained that it’s the court that determines whether someone is fined. Not the city.

“So, the court, so what this does is it gives you the officers' tools to deal with folks,” Madison said. “So, one, you try to catch the folks as they're becoming delinquent and problematic. The one you're talking about, it imposes the fines, but the court themselves are the ones that are going to make that determination.”

Madison said, “And this is a way that the parents themselves can come to court and ask them this, but they come to court on this and uses the tools to say, I need help.”

The ordinance had its first public reading at the April council meeting. At the May 19 meeting Council Member Juanita Wilson made a motion to only have the second reading allowing another month to get any additional questions answered. It was noted since school ends this week, having only a second reading will leave the city without a curfew during the first month of summer. The motion and second failed.

A second motion was made to have the second and third readings. That motion passed. Ordinances are required to have three public readings but that requirement can be overturned by a two-thirds vote.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The $100,000 fine has been corrected to $100.00.)

Curfew, Fixed Assets & Purchasing Process; Three of several agenda items for Alexander May meeting

The agenda for the May meeting of the Alexander City Council has been released. It includes one item under Old Business and six items under New Business.

The ordinance establishing a curfew will receive a second reading and is expected to be adopted. At the April meeting the council agreed to have a first reading to give City Attorney Chris Madison time to make some formatting changes. The ordinance was submitted by Police Chief Timothy Preator.

Under New Business there are two ordinances, three resolutions and one item for discussion. The ordinances concern establishing a dollar amount for a fixed asset to appear on the Fixed Asset List and establishing the procurement process and dollar limitation for Mayor to spend without council approval. The resolutions are to apply for an 80/20 Safety Plan/Transportation plan grant, apply for the FUN parks grant a third time and to apply for a grant to replace the street lights with LED lights.

The discussion item concerns a request to amend the current fireworks ordinance. The request came at the end of the April meeting by city resident Scott Chaloner. Chaloner wants to extend the time fireworks can be displayed.

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

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023

Time Elapsed

2 years, 1 month, 4 days

Alexander Mayor wants a smaller shovel; Size matters

Alexander Mayor Crystal Herrmann is shopping for a smaller excavator. She says there are ditches that don’t need the wide excavator.

“There are some other ditches and areas in our city,” Herrmann said. “I believe that we can benefit from a smaller excavator.”

She has bids for new excavators, but has seen used equipment more reasonably priced with low hours of use.

“I've gotten quotes from new ones,” Herrmann continued. “My thought was that I actually researched some new or used ones. Some of them only had 300 hours on them. They were well under this price ($60,000).”

Her problem is once she finds a good buy, Herrmann still needs council approval due to the cost being above the limit that allows her to purchase items without council approval.

“I was just wondering if council, what your thoughts are and if this is something we could consider giving me permission to look for a newer used unit that's under $60,000,” Herrmann said. “It's hard to shop for a used unit and then have to wait to council (meeting) and then come back and ask for permission because things sell quickly.”

“I did see a unit that we missed out on,” she continued. “It was $55,000 and it had less than 300 hours or less.”

“Well, so the older one, the bucket is so large,” Herrman said. “We've got a lot of culvert replacements coming up. Some of them are smaller culverts. They will have to over dig.”

One suggestion was to buy a narrower bucket for the existing excavator. Herrmann said time is also an issue getting the large excavator to where it’s needed.

“It's the weight of that unit,” she said. “You have to put it on the large trailer and you have to pull it with the dump truck. The smaller unit, we could put it on the smaller trailer and they can pull it with their city (pickup) truck. It takes, I want to say about at least 35 minutes to mobilize with that large unit just to get from one location to the other.”

Council Member Joy Gray explained why the council needs to approve this purchase.

“Because right now she (the mayor) can only make up to $5,000 expenditure without approval,” Gray said. “Anything over that we have to say yes to. So we would just set a cap on the dollar amount and say, in that way, if she were to come across one that was 50 grand that only had, you know, 300 hours on it, she could just make the purchase because we've already said yes.”

Because equipment from the street department is also used to work on park property the purchase will be made using funds from both accounts.

Council Member Chris Prowse made the motion to, “get a used one no more than 60 thousand.” It was second by Council Member Juanita Wilson. All voted Aye.

How did the fire department acquire a new truck?

While they were on the subject of buying equipment, Wilson wanted to know how the fire department purchased a new truck. The truck is white with black trim, a crew cab and a toolbox bed.

Herrmann asked Fire Chief Ryan McCormick to explain how the truck was purchased.

“We sold a fire truck last year (2024), $30,000, which also gave us the money we put down, which I said in the meeting that we were put down towards a brush truck, with the ability to get money for that,” McCormick said. “The other part is in your budgeting, we have a line item. A vehicle acquisition was $40,000. $40,000 plus $30,000 equals $70,000. The pickup truck was $68,000 that we purchased underneath that line item, which you guys approved for the budget.”

In the fire department’s 2024 budget there is a line item under expenses labeled “Vehicle payment” with a dollar amount of $69,346.43. After the meeting McCormick claimed having that line item allowed the purchase of the truck, bypassing submitting three advertised bids to the city council and allowing council members to accept one of the bids.

From the reports portion of the April 21 meeting

Mayor says park is for the birds and bats

Mayor Herrmann wants to make the city park more inviting to birds and bats. With the help of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission she is developing a plan to install an area dedicated to pollination plus bat boxes and wood duck boxes.

“I had a meeting this past week with the Arkansas Game and Fish,” Herrmann told council members. “[W]e are looking to use about an acre of the backside of the park to plant pollinators and do a natural walking (trail). That would also include bat boxes and some wood duck boxes.”

“I don't know if the citizens realize it but we have about 143 different species of birds in the back of the park along with some wood ducks,” Herrmann continued. “It would be a nice addition to the park. It will look rough the first year because you have to do a burning off and clear the grass that's there but then we come back in with the seeds. So it takes about three years to be fully mature when it gets really full. I think once it's all from there it would be a really nice addition.”

Restoring creek bank an ongoing process

Work on slowing erosion caused by Crooked Creek through the city is continuing. Herrmann reported an extension is being requested due to the rainy season.

“On our bank restoration, we are actively still in the middle of that process,” Herrmann said. “My meeting with Mr. Norden, he suggested that we ask for an extension to get past the rainy season.”

Herrmann has been working with Aaron Norden, the Region III Stream Habitat Coordinator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In 2024 over 100 trees were planted along the creek banks.

Mayor reports on progress of HDC hospital building

Herrmann provided council members a summary of a letter received from Arkansas Environmental Quality (AEQ). The letter is a report on the progress of applying for a Brownfield grant.

“I had a letter from A.E.Q.,” Herrmann began. “We are on Phase-2 for the Central Arkansas Development District and that means once they're done with the Phase-2, and that's completed, then they can pass the property back to the city and then the process has to start over again.”

Alexander has been trying to qualify for a Brownfield grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The grant is used to fund the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Buildings like the former tuberculosis hospital, located on the grounds of the former Alexander Human Development Center (HDC) along Highway 111, can qualify for a grant if it contains hazardous materials such as asbestos.

To accomplish this, on August 22, 2024, the Alexander City Council temporarily gave up ownership of the hospital building to the Central Arkansas Development District in order to conduct the required environmental assessment. An environmental assessment should have been done by the State of Arkansas Development Disabilities Services Board prior to deeding the 65.69-acre property to the city. Council members were told a municipality can't qualify for grants to conduct an environmental assessment. But, a state agency can.

The goal is to have the building demolished to prepare the site for commercial development. But that can’t happen if there are hazardous materials that shouldn’t be allowed to become airborne.

“So then the city will go through Phase-1 and Phase-2 and then I believe at that point we will be able to move forward to a redevelopment plan, which will qualify us for the cleanup grant,” Herrmann said. “They believe that we will make it through the whole process by the time of the November deadline for the (Brownfield) grant.”

Sewage and storm water

Mayor Herrmann reported there are two engineering studies underway. One is a “sewer limitation study” while the other is a storm water study. The storm water study began before the massive multi-day storm that moved through Arkansas in April.

The Hess mess

Since early 2023 the Hess Gas Station, on E. 1^st Street, has been closed. The process of transforming it into a SQRL station began, but suddenly stopped when SQRL started having financial problems throughout its chain of stations.

The property is owned by CRH II LLC out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Apparently the owner is looking for a new use for the property.

“I did have a gentleman actually reach out to me today that wants to come in the next couple of weeks and visit about ideas for the use of the property and see what the city thinks,” Herrmann said. “I think he was basically considering like a food truck vendor lot ... where you could set up multiple food trucks.”

Clean-up continued long after storms left area

The effects of the Biblical size storms, that moved through Arkansas in April, were being dealt with long after they left the state. Mayor Herrmann thanked street and park staff along with police, fire and Saline County for providing aid where it was needed.

“The guys have been working diligently,” Herrmann said. “The fountain (in the park) will randomly be turned on and off with the winds. They did get it cleaned out. We still have probably another day or two working with the trees and the branches.”

“We'd like to extend the thanks to (Saline County) Judge (Matt) Brumley for opening up a countywide burn site for us to take all of the debris because it kept us from having to do days and months of burning in the city's limits. So I appreciate that.”

“I appreciate all the hard work,” she said. “I'm sure the people, I mean, just all of the first-responders, the PD, everybody just performed wonderful together.”

Substitute provides March police report

In place of absent Police Chief Timothy Preator, Sergeant Alan Tyhurst gave the March police report.

“So our March numbers are, we have the 27 calls for service,” Sergeant Tyhurst began. “We've done 34 reports. We've got 109 checks, 103 citations, 105 warnings, warrants served is 21. We've had 5 DW(I) arrests, 2 felony drug arrests, 3 felony arrests, and 5 misdemeanor arrests.”

Heroes become victims

Unless you live in those areas of Alexander that overlook the valley, many portions of the city had some experience with flooding during the four days of torrential April storms. Even areas that normally don’t experience significant, if any, flooding had problems.

“We responded to 98 emergency response calls,” Fire Chief Ryan McCormick began his monthly report to the city council. “Our historic flooding, obviously, there was over 20 homes in our city that were either destroyed or damaged by trees or by water. We made 20 water rescues between 5 o'clock in the morning, the day it was flooding, into 9 o'clock in the morning.”

“And then, Conway Fire Department assisted us and made an additional 10 rescues,” he continued. “Then we went out that evening and assisted the county (Saline County) on another water rescue on South Sardis Road.”

The Central Firehouse, along South Alexander Road, has had problems for years with flowing water washing away dirt under the foundation along the north wall. And, the April rains didn’t disappoint to make the situation worse. Besides increasing the erosion on the outside, flood waters also entered the building.

“We did have damage in our fire station because of the flooding,” McCormick said. “It was a river that came during the middle of the night. Washed out quite a bit of the bank, continuing to the back. And also, the foundation in the backside of the building is a huge and sort of run right now from a washout to a collapsed out of it. We're still looking to be a way to facilitate that. But there is a huge problem. And we need to be concerned about the safety of the firemen that stay there and occupy the building.”

“It flooded the kitchen, it flooded the offices downstairs, you can't get into the back,” McCormick explained. “We weren't able to do anything. We tried to prevent that during the day before it was with sandbags, but we were out doing rescues. And we couldn't do anything about that. And we came back to the water at the station.”

After Mayor Herrmann mentioned there was “15 to 20 inches in the yard,” McCormick cited the Weather Channel saying, “[T]hey had 19.6 inches in Alexander what the Weather Channel had.”

Herrmann also noted she had flooding inside her house, which is next to the fire house.

Lost another one

In 12 months the City of Alexander has hired and lost two code enforcement/animal control officers. Mayor Herrmann announced the vacancy during the April 21 council meeting and said she is accepting resumes for the position.

The first code enforcement/animal control officer was Dan Wyatt. He began around April 29, 2024. He resigned sometime between the August and September, 2024 council meetings.

Jamie Jordan was hired January, 2025. She resigned sometime after the March council meeting.

Anyone interested can contact the mayor at mayor@cityofalexander.org or call (501) 455-2585. Address for the Alexander Municipal Complex is 15605 Alexander Road. The mailing address is P.O. Box 610, Alexander, AR 72002.

Financial report

City Treasurer Jennifer Hill gave the end-of-the-month fund balances report.

“So, for March, your general fund is at $1,627,401.07,” Hill began. “Your police department is at $143,644.73. Fires at $339,547.23. Parks is at $226,764.77. Streets is at $271,182.76. Payroll is $43,937.31. And the events/donations is $637.60.”

Next Meeting

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

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023

Time Elapsed

2 years, 2 weeks, 4 days

Alexander increases speeding fine; Juvenile curfew gets first reading

The Alexander City Council adopted an ordinance that increases the fine for speeding. Another ordinance, establishing a curfew for minors, received a first reading.

Before voting on the “Safe Driving Ordinance” City Attorney Chris Madison explained the changes made to the previous ordinance and how writing tickets under a city ordinance, instead of the state speeding law, benefits Alexander.

“So what this is, is, there's an ordinance in place that actually increases the fines for that and it defines the unsafe driving more clearly,” Madison said. “What happens is the officer can write it (speeding ticket) as a city ordinance violation or they can write it as a state traffic violation. If they write it as a city ordinance violation, (and) the court defines guilty, more money stays with the city. If they do it as a state traffic violation, the city gets money from it, but other money goes to the state and that one (ticket) goes on your driving record where the city ordinance is kind of (an) option to be able to keep it here without necessarily affecting someone's driving records.”

Under the proposed Safe Driving Ordinance anyone found guilty of operating, “[A] motor vehicle in an unsafe manner shall … be subject to a fine not less than ... one-hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and not to exceed three-hundred dollars ($300.00).”

The ordinance was adopted in a unanimous vote during the April 21 council meeting. Council members voted to override the required three public readings to enact the ordinance immediately. That was not the case with the curfew ordinance.

A second ordinance, establishing a city curfew, received a first reading, rather than being adopted immediately. Madison asked for time to make some formatting changes. The ordinance was submitted by Police Chief Timothy Preator.

“I have several phone calls and concerns about the teenagers and the kids,” City Mayor Crystal Herrmann said. “I think it'll help, especially in our subdivision Meadow's Edge, because we can get people coming late at night. We've had homes, they, people running doorbells.”

The proposed ordinance establishing a juvenile curfew sets the age of a minor as anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years old. The time of curfew will be set, ”[D]uring the period ending at 5:00 A.M. and beginning (a) At 12:00 Midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, and (b) 11:00 P.M. on all other nights.”

Exceptions include, “(a) When accompanied by a parent of such minor. (b) When accompanied by an adult, at least 21 years of age, who is not the parent and who is authorized by a parent of such minor, … (c) When engaging in the duties of bona fide employment or traveling directly, without undue delay or detour from home to the place of employment, or from the place of employment to the home. (d) When the minor is in a motor vehicle for the purpose of interstate travel, either through, beginning or ending in the City of Alexander, Arkansas.”

The ordinance is expected to be adopted at the May council meeting.

Also at the April 21 council meeting;

Announcements

Saline County Library hosting Reading Challenge, 

Library box Out of Order

Mayor Herrmann announced the, “Saline County Library will be hosting the Reading Challenge.”

The Reading Challenge will be held in the city park Saturday, May 10 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon. There will also be bounce houses, a petting zoo and other activities.

Herrmann also reported the Saline County Library box is still Out of Order. The computerized box is in front of city hall and can be used to request and receive books and other items from the Saline County Library System.

Unfortunately, like all things that are run by computer, it needs an upgrade. Herrmann said there’s only one company in the United States that can do the repair. The mayor said if the existing box can’t be upgraded library officials are considering installing a new unit.

Monthly food bank

Herrmann reminded everyone the monthly food bank is Tuesday, April 29th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The mobile food bank sets up at the Community Center #2 located on the former Human Development Center property along Highway 111.

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

City of Alexander Master Development Plan Submitted to Little Rock for approval April, 2023

Time Elapsed

2 years, 2 weeks, 2 days

Vacant property next to Dollar General rezoned Highway Commercial; But, was it legal?

In its new role as Planning Commission, Alexander City Council members held their first rezoning hearing before the regular April city council meeting. The purpose of the hearing was to receive public input on the request by property owners Robert and Jessica Burnett to rezone the large, undeveloped area next to and behind the Dollar General store and Post Office from Agriculture-1 (AG-1) to Highway Commercial (HC).

The rezoning request involves two areas zoned AG-1, Tract-A and a portion of Tract-B. (See graphic) The Burnett’s hired a surveyor who researched both Tract-A and Tract-B. It was discovered that Tract-B had some how shrunk from its original 5.5 acres to its current 0.75 acre shown on the Pulaski County GIS plat map. That’s the smaller area in the graphic zoned HC. When Alexander adopted its current zoning map it was based on Pulaski County’s GIS map, causing the split zoning.

During the hearing Jessica Burnett said, “We've been working with some investors so far, but we can't go any further without rezoning.”

Mayor Crystal Herrmann said, “So, ultimately, the goal is to bring some businesses in.”

The Burnetts are also dealing with an encroachment issue with the cement plant that borders Tract-A. Jessica Burnett said two of their parking lots need to be moved. Once that is done the Burnetts will submit the corrected survey to Pulaski County for correction of the GIS map.

There’s more to Tract-A than the 38 acres in Alexander. The property extends east into Little Rock providing a total of around 44 acres.

“If all this goes through, it's worked out, we are going to petition Little Rock to add, let us annex, the rest of the (property)” into Alexander, Jessica Burnett said. “Just because it will be easier having it all in one city versus split between the two.”

She added that response times for first responders will be shorter being in Alexander.

Ultimately, no one presented any opposition to the rezoning. After the council transitioned into its April 21 council meeting, the rezoning ordinance was unanimously adopted by all eight of the council members.

Crossing the Ts and dotting the Is

According to the City of Alexander’s zoning regulations, those requesting to rezone property must perform three steps prior to the public hearing. All three steps involve public notification of a requested zoning change.

One is to publish a legal notice, “[I]n a newspaper of general circulation in Alexander. The notice shall be published at the applicant’s expense and shall give the time and place of the hearing and the proposed change.”

The second is to, “[I]nform all owners of land, by certified letter, return receipt requested, which lies within 300 feet of the land for which the zoning change is requested of the time, date, and place of the public hearing and the proposed change in zoning designation.

The third states, “The applicant shall procure signs from the City, for the purpose of posting the property proposed for a change in zoning.” … “The signs shall be posted along the frontage abutting any street at an interval of one hundred (100) feet.”

As stated on the rezoning application form, Alexander is to collect the application fee of, “$150.00 plus $7.50 per public hearing sign as required.” The fee for the signs is not refundable, but the signs must be returned to city hall.

The Burnetts did publish the legal notice in the Democrat-Gazette and mail out the proper letters to property owners. Prior to the public hearing the signs were not visible along the property frontage. During a lull in the proceedings this reporter asked Jessica Burnett if the city provided them signs. She said, “No.”

What happens next? What does the new City Council/Planning Commission do with this? We shall wait and see.

Rezoning hearing precedes Alexander April council meeting

Before the Alexander City Council’s April 21 regular meeting, in its new role as Planning Commission, council members will hold their first rezoning hearing. The hearing is in response to an application to rezone the large, undeveloped area next to and behind the Dollar General and Post Office from Agriculture-1 (AG-1) to Highway Commercial (HC). What are known as Tract-A and Tract-B (See graphic) are owned by Robert and Jessica Burnett. For more details click HERE.

The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 5:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The regular April 21 meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held at 6:00 PM following the rezoning hearing. At that time the council will be able to vote on the rezoning request.

Listed on the agenda, under New Business, are the following items;

“Ordinance for Rezone of property on Alexander Rd.,”

“Ordinance amending Safe Driving Ordinance,”

“Ordinance for Juvenile curfew,” and

“Equipment discussion.”

Under the proposed Safe Driving Ordinance anyone found guilty of operating, “[A] motor vehicle in an unsafe manner shall … be subject to a fine not less than ... one-hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and not to exceed three-hundred dollars ($300.00).”

The proposed ordinance establishing a juvenile curfew sets the age of a minor as anyone who has not reached the age of 18 years old. The time of curfew will be set, ”[D]uring the period ending at 5:00 A.M. and beginning (a) At 12:00 Midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, and (b) 11:00 P.M. on all other nights.”

Exceptions include, “(a) When accompanied by a parent of such minor. (b) When accompanied by an adult, at least 21 years of age, who is not the parent and who is authorized by a parent of such minor, … (c) When engaging in the duties of bona fide (sic) employment or traveling directly, without undue delay or detour from home to the place of employment, or from the place of employment to the home. (d) When the minor is in a motor vehicle for the purpose of interstate travel, either through, beginning or ending in the City of Alexander, Arkansas.”

Under the category of “Equipment discussion” the council is being asked for permission to purchase a “[N]ew or gently used smaller excavator.” Three bids for a new excavator have been received ranging from $67,000 to $85,140.

Alexander Council to hold first public hearing as planning commission

At the Alexander City Council’s March meeting, an ordinance was adopted in a five to three vote eliminating the planning commission and assigning all the duties of a planning commission to the city council. Before the council’s April 21 regular meeting, the new and improved Alexander Council/Planning Commission will hold its first public hearing. The hearing is in response to an application to rezone the large, undeveloped area next to and behind the Dollar General and Post Office.

However, this isn’t your ordinary rezoning request. First, the rezoning comes before selling the property to a developer. So, there are no development plans to coincide with the requested zoning. Second, one portion of the rezoning is to correct an error made by Pulaski County some time in the past.

What are known as Tract-A and Tract-B (See graphic) are owned by Robert and Jessica Burnett. If their names sound familiar it’s because they recently served on the Alexander Police Department until they were fired by Mayor Crystal Herrmann. (Article)

There was some doubt as to the accuracy of the boundary lines of Tract-B shown by the Pulaski County online plats map. The Burnett’s hired a surveyor who researched both Tract-A and Tract-B. It was discovered that Tract-B had some how shrunk from what should have been 5.5-acres to its current 0.75-acre.

That caused an inaccuracy in the city’s new zoning map when it was adopted in 2019. Based on the Pulaski County map, the Alexander Zoning Map shows only the 0.75-acre lot and is zoned Highway Commercial. The 0.75-acre lot is next to Dollar General.

According to the survey the remainder of the 5.5-acres wraps around and goes behind both Dollar General and the Post Office. There is speculation that sometime between selling two lots for the Post Office and another lot for the Dollar General, that corner was reduced back to the 1982 layout creating the 0.75-acre lot.

The problem now is there is no tangible proof the remainder of the 5.5-acre lot was also zoned commercial, even though Pulaski County has the 0.75-acre piece marked as Commercial Vacant. To resolve this problem the Burnetts have filed to rezone the over 38-acre Tract-A and the remaining portion of Tract-B from Agriculture-1 to Highway Commercial.

The public hearing is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 5:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Anyone wishing to comment on the rezoning, or just watch the spectacle, may attend the hearing.

The regular April 21 meeting of the Alexander City Council will be held at 6:00 PM following the rezoning hearing. At that time the council will be able to vote on the rezoning request.

Nothing new, without a place to send the poo

OPINION

In order for anything to be built it requires two things; a source of clean drinking water and a method of disposing the wastewater. In north Alexander, there is plenty of drinking water but a limitation on wastewater disposal.

The city does not provide any water or sewer services. Instead, it relies on the kindness of strangers. In the case of north Alexander drinking water is provided by Central Arkansas Water. Water disposal is provided by the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA).

North Alexander is comprised of Pulaski County and the edge of Saline County.

In the 2018 contract, between Alexander and LRWRA, the city was required to write a new zoning ordinance and a new comprehensive master development plan. At the time the last zoning ordinance and master plan was approved in 1982.

Construction of the new Meadow’s Edge subdivision was nearing an end. There were expectations more development was coming; especially since requests for city zoning regulations were frequent and 1982 zoning requirements were inadequate for growth in the new century.

The very first thing the now defunct Alexander Planning Commission did was tackle writing not only new zoning regulations, but also a document entitled Subdivision Rules and Regulations and a zoning map. All three were approved by the city council in 2019.

With the help of Metroplan and a citizens advisory committee; the planning commission conducted surveys and public meetings to gather input from city residents. A wish list from the public was combined with historical data and growth projections allowing Metroplan to produce a comprehensive master development plan named On Track For A Better Tomorrow.

As required, the plan was sent to the Little Rock Planning Department in April, 2023 to start the approval process. In September it was approved by Little Rock planning and forwarded to LRWRA. And there it sits.

If the promised resolution approving the master plan had been written and approved by LRWRA, it would have been sent to the Little Rock City Board of Directors for final approval. Obviously, they were unprepared to fulfill their side of the bargain.

Near the end of 2024, Alexander City Attorney Chris Madison began talking to the LRWRA attorney about writing a new contract, leaving out the requirements in the 2018 version. However, Madison had some doubts about just removing the zoning and master plan requirements and leaving the rest of the language as-is. He said that language left unanswered questions.

The expectation was to have a new contract ready to present to both the LRWRA and the Alexander City Council by January or February 2025. It is now the end of March and there are no signs of a contract.

Under the 2018 contract, no new sewer connections will be allowed in north Alexander until LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors signs off on the Alexander master plan. A new church was allowed to be built, at the intersection of Cornerstone and Hwy. 111, with approval from the LRWRA. Considering a church adds very little to a sewer system LRWRA permitted the connection.

The big problem is more development is coming to north Alexander. The open field between Dollar General and Crooked Creek is being offered to commercial developers. But, without access to the LRWRA sewer system there will be no development. No increase in sales tax revenue. Nothing to attract other types of growth.

Unfortunately, there’s a balancing act connecting to the LRWRA system. Alexander is limited to 750 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) Per Day. The city is currently at around 300. There is also a limit to the number of sewer connections. I don’t have numbers on that.

The point is we must be careful with commercial development. We can’t have businesses that will add significantly to the GPM. We can’t have laundromats or restaurants that require washing plates, glasses and coffee cups. Fast food with throw-away containers and stores that only need water for the restrooms are preferable.

Growth promotes growth. And, while Alexander cannot grow in physical size, because it’s land-locked, it can develop the open space available.

But, if I didn’t know better it seems someone wants to keep Alexander the way it is. Someone wants to slow down the progress. You do what you’re told and suddenly there’s no hurry.

“We need some time to read this little plan of yours, Missy. We’ll get back to you in a year or two.”

LRWRA knew this was coming and they did nothing to prepare. They had no idea how they were going to accept what they asked for and remove it from the contract.

And, what business was it of theirs anyway. Why should they care about our zoning regulations or if we have a master plan or not. That contract should have never been signed. Why should a big city get to tell a little city what to do.

If they can’t solve this problem now Alexander needs to see them in court. Either that or we need to start shopping for our own sewer plant.

It has now been one year, 11 Months, two weeks, and two days. The clock is ticking. See left column.