After nearly 7 years in existence, Alexander Council disbands planning commission in split vote; Doubles their salary

CORRECTION 03/24/2025: The $37,456.04 stated above as Mayor Herrmann’s pay for 2023 was after taxes. Before taxes it was $42,160.00. Her pay for 2025 will be $48,120.00. That’s an increase of $5,960.00. See article here. https://thealexandrian2013.blogspot.com/2024/07/insistent-alexander-council-member.html.

Sorry for the confusion.

After a sometimes contentious back and forth over how much work the planning commission does, five City of Alexander Council members decided the commission was no longer needed because they can do it better. Mayor Crystal Herrmann claimed it’s all about efficiency.

“And, instead of a developer or a potential business wanting to move into the city, they don't have to wait three months for planning,” Herrmann claimed. “And, then get permission from planning just to turn around and add it to the next city council agenda to turn around and have city council (vote) on it anyways.”

Council Member Joy Gray added to the list of reasons why the five-member planning commission isn’t needed.

“And, just in case anyone in the audience is confused, we are a city of the second class, and we're not required to have a planning commission,” Gray explained. “So this is not something that we have to have.”

Council Member Joe Pollard was the most vocal in expressing his desire to keep the planning commission intact. Pollard doubts if the council can handle the extra work.

“We are not going to be able to do that,” Pollard said. “I don't want to get paid for that. I know, but we're not going to be able to do that job. We need to do this man (Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck).”

Pollard was referring to the second ordinance to be voted on later, which increases the monthly salary for council members from $100 to $200 for taking on the extra work as planning commission. This move will actually cost the city. Under state law planning commission members are not allowed to be paid.

“Mr. Pollard, anything that Mr. Huck brings to y'all, you all have to vote on for it to (move) foreword,” Herrmann said. “You're already voting on those same items.”

What Herrmann and Gray failed to mention was any needed public hearings and planning meetings with developers will now have to be conducted by the council members in their role as planning commissioners. Then later they would vote on the issue as council members.

Council Member Wayne Smith was concerned about losing someone who manages the process and knows the city requirements.

“It seems like he does the research and groundwork, that’s just the way I see it,” Smith said. 

Dismissing his concerns Herrmann said, “That is something that he looks up in the book, which we look up in the book. It's quick. We have resources that Metroplan. I assure you, I would not back this if it was not something that I thought would make it benefit to our city when it comes to somebody coming into the building (city hall).”

After newly elected Council Member Christopher Prowse made the motion to adopt the ordinance and Gray made the second a total of five voted “Yes” and three voted “No.” Voting “Yes” were Prowse, Gray, Daniel L. Bates, Angela Griffin, and Amy Lyons. Voting “No” were Pollard, Smith, and Juanita Wilson. Wilson was a member of the planning commission representing the city council.

If the ordinance had failed, council members would have had to make another decision. The terms of both Wilson and Huck would have expired April 6.

Members of the newly formed council/planning commission won’t have to wait long for their first gig. During what ended up being his last monthly report, Huck announced a planned development on 40-acres of property that sits between Don Parker drive and Lindsey Drive; fronted by Brookwood Road. The plan is to build patio homes.

Huck and Wilson held their positions since the now defunct planning commission was reinstated in 2017. They were appointed by former Mayor Paul Mitchell with approval of the sitting council at the time. With the addition of Tonya Prowse, wife of now Council Member Christopher Prowse, the planning commission held its first meeting in March, 2018. Later Stephanie Beck and Rodney Chapman were added. Chapman did not seek reappointment and was replaced by Jennifer Plunkett.

FACT CHECK

CLAIM:

The Alexander Planning Commission held only four meetings each year.

FALSE:

During its six years and 11 months of existence the Alexander Planning Commission held 37 regular meetings, 17 special meetings and 3 public hearings. A total of 57 meetings.

A planning commission is required to conduct a minimum of one meeting per quarter in a calendar year. With the Alexander City Council members taking on those duties they must now meet that same standard.

Other Ordinances approved

Ordinance adopting a pay rate for elected officials

This ordinance was originally listed first on the agenda. Because the purpose of the pay increase for council members was based on whether they would be taking over the duties of the planning commission, council members voted to amend the agenda placing the planning commission ordinance first and the pay ordinance second.

Under the pay ordinance council members’ monthly stipend was increased from $100 to $200 per month, or $1,200 to $2,400 annually. It has been $100 monthly since 2007.

The ordinance also set the mayor’s annual salary at $48,120. In 2023 the mayor was paid $37,456.04.

The ordinance also retained the recorder’s annual salary at the current $6,000.

Voting “Yes” were Prowse, Gray, Bates, Griffin, and Lyons. Voting “No” were Pollard, Smith, and Wilson.

Ordinance setting Vacation time use and payout

The ordinance establishes maximum vacation time that can be carried from one year to the next at 240 hours. This only applies to police officers.

In the past vacation time has been allowed to buildup causing a large financial payout when an officer leaves the force. It is suspected the accrued time was caused by having to fill vacancies in the scheduling of officers.

Voting “Yes” were Prowse, Gray, Bates, Griffin, and Lyons. Voting “No” were Pollard, Smith, and Wilson.

Resolution adopting the 2024 Financial statement

Every year the financial statement of the previous calendar year must be published in a local newspaper. It was passed unanimously.