Where is Alexander’s Master Development Plan?

OPINION/EDITORIAL

After much work done by the former City of Alexander Planning Commission, and with the help of Metroplan, the new master development plan lies in limbo in the City of Little Rock. Why is no one in this administration pushing for its release?

Background:

The developing and writing of the new master development plan began in 2022. A new plan was needed not only because the current plan was approved in 1982, but because the contract (signed in 2018) with Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) requires a new zoning ordinance and master plan.

The previous zoning ordinance was also approved in 1982. The new zoning ordinance was adopted in 2019.

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 new plan was given the title “On Track for a Better Tomorrow.” The title is in recognition of Alexander’s days as a rail town. Get it; rail, track?

The existing contract also requires that LRWRA and the Little Rock Board of Directors approve the plan. Apparently, the reason LRWRA gets to tell Alexander how to run its business is because the LRWRA provides sewer service to the Pulaski County portion of the city.

So, what’s the holdup? Apparently, the powers-to-be at LRWRA never considered how to remove these requirements from the contract once they were all met.

When Alexander’s city attorney got involved he and the attorney for LRWRA decided to write a new contract. Unfortunately, “Perry Mason” wasn’t happy with some of the wording of the current contract. It is now going on two years and nine months since the LRWRA received the proposed master plan and still no approval and no new contract.

And, to complicate matters, Mayor Crystal Herrmann unknowingly wants to reinvent the wheel when she asks for a new “zoning map” and public input. That work has already been done. That’s the purpose of the master development plan.

What she really is asking for is a revamped land use map. If the mayor and council are unhappy with the proposed land use map, change it before adopting the new master plan. There’s even a change I would like to make.

But, of course, it’s obvious the mayor hasn’t read the proposed master plan otherwise she wouldn’t be making these unnecessary proposals for public input meetings and new maps. If she wants to start some place give council members a copy of the plan and tell “Perry” to get moving on the new contract. It won’t be long before three years will have passed.

Time to brush up on Alexander's fireworks rules for New Year's Eve

If you plan to shoot fireworks in the City of Alexander to celebrate the new year there are some rules you need to know. The fireworks ordinance establishes the following rules.

When:

The ordinance allows for the discharging of fireworks from 12:00 PM (Noon) on December 31 until 1:00 AM January 1.

The use of fireworks:

“No parent, guardian, or custodian of any child under the age of majority shall knowingly permit or consent to the possession or discharge of fireworks by any child under the age of majority without proper supervision.” In Arkansas the age of majority is 18 years old.

The ordinance limits the discharging of fireworks, “on private property of the owner, by the owner and immediate family, when discharge is in a safe and sane manner.” “Safe and sane manner,” is defined as, “actions which do not endanger life, limb, or property of those in the area of the discharge.”

Fireworks may not, “be discharged within the boundaries of or within three hundred feet (300 ft.) of any public park owned or maintained by the city.” Also, fireworks may not be, “discharged upon any public street, alley, road, or right-of-way,” … “under or upon a motor vehicle, whether moving or not, or within three hundred feet (300 ft.) of any gas station, gas, oil, or propane storage facility, or other area which is highly flammable in nature.” Fireworks also may not be discharged if the Fire Chief has issued a burn ban due to drought or other conditions.

Clean up when finished:

The revelers are also required to clean-up the mess. The ordinance states, “Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association discharging fireworks under this ordinance shall, upon such discharge, be responsible for clean-up of the discharge site, including disposal of all discharged fireworks, all non-discharged or ‘dud’ fireworks, and the associated debris from the area in a safe manner.”

Fireworks defined:

The ordinance provides a definition of fireworks. Besides the legal and technical definition, examples of what constitutes fireworks is provided. The list includes, “sky rockets, roman candles, daygo bombs, blank cartridges, toy cannons, toy canes, or toy guns in which explosives other than toy paper caps are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them, firecracker, torpedoes, sparklers, or other fireworks of like construction, any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound, or any tablet or other device containing an explosive substance.”

Enforcement and penalties:

Police, fire and code enforcement officers are given the authority to enforce this ordinance. They also have the authority to, “seize, impound, remove, or cause to be removed, at the expense of the owner, all stocks of fireworks offered for sale, sold, or in the possession of any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association in violation of this chapter.”

Penalties start at, “a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a first time offense, a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a second offense, and a fine of not less than three hundred dollars ($300) or more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a third or subsequent offense. Each day of a violation constitutes a separate offense.”

The ordinance also covers payment for damages and the cost of any services provided. “Any damages caused or injuries sustained as a result of any violation of this chapter shall be ordered paid as restitution as part of any conviction for any violation,” it states. Also, “The court may order the reimbursement of costs of enforcement, investigation, fire suppression services, and overtime related to a violation upon conviction.”

Anyone living under a Home Owners Association or Property Owners Association should consult the organization for any additional requirements above and beyond the city ordinance.

Alexander Council approves 2026 Budget; Plans for Christmas

After about 20-minutes of discussion, Alexander council members approved the 2026 budget. It was Council Member Joy Gray, a council member since 2017, who opened a can of worms when she questioned how the budget will handle emergency purchases.

Gray’s concerns centered around the fire department. There are issues with the current building on South Alexander Road. It’s being repaired and improvements are being made on the inside. There’s also a plan to build near the police department at the former Human Development Center, allowing the department to move out of the current structure. Gray is concerned about funding the unforeseen emergency.

“If something comes up later …” Gray said. “Yeah, their budget wasn't shorted, you know. If something came up, like if the equipment or whatever,” (they can fund the emergency).

Mayor Crystal Herrmann said, “I think we're really fortunate and we've all worked really hard with the finances to get to the point where we do have a small safety net in general funds now.”

Council Member Angela Griffin resurrected her suggestion from last year about including a line-item in the general fund for future infrastructure improvements. There wasn’t so much a disagreement that the city should be stashing away revenue for a rainy day, but the how was the bigger question.

At the end of the 20-minute discussion it was noted any emergency funding needs would come from the general fund. And, as in the past, the council will have final approval.

Below is a comparison of the estimated final 2025 Budget and the 2026 Budget. Actual totals for 2025 won’t be available until January or February, 2026. At that time, the council will approve the final 2025 budget.

General Fund Budget

2025

Revenue - $1,154,261.00

Expense - $913,795.00

2026

Revenue - $1,447,401.00

Expense - $1,310,950.00

Parks Department Budget

2025

Revenue - $297,800.00

Expense - $292,000.00

2026

Revenue - $297,800.00

Expense - $292,000.00

Street Department Budget

2025

Revenue - $350,400.00

Expense - $323,200.00

2026

Revenue - $407,300.00

Expense - $405,100.00

Police Department Budget

2025

Revenue - $1,061,730.00

Expense - $1,050,972.00

2026

Revenue - $1,054,400.00

Expense - $1,052,600.00

Fire Department Budget

2025

Revenue - $1,171,400.00

Expense - $1,165,900.43

2026

Revenue - $1,207,650.00

Expense - $1,170,791.00

Payroll Fund Budget

2025

Revenue - $2,195,497.00

Expense - $2,195,497.00

2026

Revenue - $2,063,645.00

Expense - $1,955,645.00

Other news from the December 15 meeting:

Planning and Zoning:

Ample Storage, ARDOT still talking

Mayor Herrmann provided an update on the proposed annexation of a parcel owned by Ample Storage, located along Highway 5. Herrmann said the annexation, announced last month, won’t occur immediately.

Ample Storage is still working with the highway department concerning the widening of Highway 5. The widening project requires the removal of a portion of Ample Storage’s wall and buildings. For the past several years Ample Storage owners have been moving storage facilities away from Highway 5.

Streets and Parks Department:

Christmas in the Park a success; Sewerline exposed

Mayor Herrmann reported, “We had a really successful Christmas at the park. Really enjoyed it.”

“Meanwhile we did have a discovery of the sewer line, that is, that we probably own even though we don't have a sewer” (system), Herrmann said. “We do have a sewer line that runs from the 63 acres (former Alexander Human Development Center) and then it ties in into” the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) in North Alexander.

LRWRA provides sewer service to the Pulaski County portion of Alexander.

The sewer line was pierced when a utility company bored under Highway 111 in front of the entrance to St. Joseph’s Glen.

Police Department:

Monthly report; Christmas with Santa

Police Chief Timothy Preator gave council members a review of the department’s actions for November.

“So we responded to a hundred seventy nine calls for service last month,” Preator said. “Fifty-five of those were reportable. Once again, these guys are out working three hundred and nine traffic stops last month. A hundred and fifty two of those were citations. A hundred and 79 more warnings. Served 22 warrants. Had a three D.W.I. arrests. Fourteen felony arrests and 21 misdemeanor arrests.”

Chief Preator then turned to Christmas. He said a plan was developed to provide gifts to needy children in Alexander.

“We raised money during fall fest for Christmas,” Preator began. “We were kind of in limbo of what we were going to do,” (with the money).

At the suggestion of Mayor Herrmann the Chief said they setup the, “Santa Box out the PD (Police Department). Forty-two letters in 24 hours is what we ended up getting. And they all live in our city. They all live here.”

“(T)hese kids are not asking for outrageous things,” Preator said. “They're asking me; one kid ask for snacks. ... I think what we're going to do, and we was (sic) going to do it today until all this stuff happened next week. Walmart has agreed to help us out on some of the things because there's like 11 or 12 bicycles on the list.”

Preator said he posted to social media for monetary donations to add to what was raised during Christmas in the Park. He said the response was substantial and helpful.

Fire Department

Incident report; More training; Funeral fill-ins

“We ran 58 incidents last month,” Fire Chief Ryan McCormick began. “We are (sic) 310 hours of training that we did.”

McCormick also reported on helping Conway firefighters attend a funeral for one of their own. During the funeral Alexander, and other departments, covered for the Conway Fire Department.

Code Enforcement/Animal Control

No report due to absence

Mayor Crystal Herrmann said Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer Joshua Dodson was unable to attend the meeting. No report was provided.

Financial update

Monthly fund balances report

Treasurer Jennifer Hill provided council members with a report on the fund balances for the previous month.

“So the sales tax was, each of them were $71,367.30. …. October (total) was $214,102” Hill began. “And, your general fund reconciled for November at $1,995,476.35. Your police reconciled at $73,813.43. Your fire reconciled at $335,288.17. Your parks reconciled at $269,126.16. Your streets were at $296,052.79. Payroll was $46,286.45. And the events (fund) at the [sic] $81.17.”

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, January 26, at 6:00 pm in the courtroom of the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). Meetings are open to the public.