Alexander Council approves purchase of police radios

The Alexander City Council approved the purchase of three handheld radios for the city’s police department. The quote from Motorola Solutions for the radios, chargers and other accessories is $16,086.42. The council approved $17,000 to cover the purchase.

During his presentation to council members Police Chief Robert Burnett restated what he has said in previous discussions about the department needing new radios. Burnett reminded council members that the Saline County 911 system and other area departments are having to increase the number of available radio frequencies (channels) due to an increase number of calls. The city’s current hand held radios, and two car radios, are too out-of-date to be upgraded.

These are not the only radios to be replaced. Earlier this year Burnett was given permission by the council to buy three other handheld radios. The price was $9,425.11, for which the city will be reimbursed through a grant program.

Also at the June 20 meeting:

Planning Commission report

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck reported on the public meeting held June 11 in the City Park. The meeting was to receive input from the public on the City’s new Master Development Plan. The current plan was approved in 1982.

Huck told city council members attendance by the general public was less than they had hoped.

“There were more of us (city officials) than them,” he said.

Huck said the next step is for Metroplan to take the information and develop a draft plan. The plan will then be studied by planning commission members, the citizens advisory committee and the city council for input. He said any needed changes will be made and then that version will be presented to area residents at a public hearing. Comments made at the hearing will be woven into a final version, which then must be approved by the planning commission and the city council. He added the plan will not only be in written format but will also include a land use map and a street map indicating areas of potential future development.

Circle K open

Mayor Paul Mitchell announced the opening of the Circle K at North Alexander Road and Highway 5. Although a gas price sign has yet to be installed they are open for business.

The long awaited opening was mainly stalled due to the lack of a sewer line in that location. The closest Little Rock sewer lines are across North Alexander Road and Highway 5 in Pulaski County.

Central Arkansas Development Council

During the “Public Comment” portion of the meeting Annette Williams, from Central Arkansas Development Council, spoke to council members about the services provided by CADC. According to the handout she provided, “The mission of CADC is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential and to build strong communities in Arkansas through Community Action.”

Considering that summer is upon us she particularly noted the utility assistance program known as LIHEAP. Again, according to the handout, LIHEAP, “Provides individuals and families with short term utility assistance.”

To see if you qualify for LIHEAP, or any of the other programs, go to www.cadc.com or call (501) 315-1121.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, July 18 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The public is invited to attend.

Alexander Community Yard Sale

Saturday, June 4; 8AM to Noon

Alexander City Park

Robert Evans off Hwy 111

Come shop for treasures you

didn’t know you needed.

Alexander Mayor sends grant request for paving streets to ArDOT

Alexander Mayor Paul Mitchell told council members he has submitted the grant application to have most of the remaining city streets repaved. The announcement was made during the council’s May 16 meeting.

If approved, this will be the third grant received by the city from the Arkansas State Aid Committee (ASAC), which operates as part of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT). The first two were in 2015 and 2019 for $250,000.00 each. The value of the grant has been increased to $300,000.00.

Mitchell noted cities are available for the grant every three years. A response to the submitted request isn't expected until early 2023.

The streets on this year’s grant request are Main Street; A.C. Wallace, to include widening from E. 1^st Street to 4^th Street; Kent Circle; Valley Cove; Spruce Drive; Holley Drive; Mountain Cove; Iris Cove; Violet Cove; Tulip Cove; Dahlia Cove; Daisy Cove; Cactus Cove; Sunflower Cove; Shirley Drive; and Ashlee Cove. If approved by the ASAC the council will have to pass a resolution giving ArDOT the authority to let out bids in the city’s name. If the low bid is over the allotted $300,000.00 the city will have to make up the difference.

Mountain Drive is also on the list, but in a conversation after the council meeting Mitchell said he has since learned that because the request is only for the damaged portion of Mountain Drive it probably won’t be approved. Under grant rules only whole streets qualify for over-lay. If the remainder of the list is approved Mountain Drive will be the only street not to be re-paved either under the grant program or by the city itself. In that case Mitchell said the city will have to contract the re-paving of Mountain Drive at another time.

The grant is part of the State Aid City Streets program. Cities are allowed access to this program as part of a gasoline tax approved by voters. Revenue from the tax is being used to upgrade interstate and state highways along with city and county streets and roads.

During the same meeting the Alexander City Council approved appropriating $48,000.00 to pave three city streets. The low-bid of $47,514.40 was submitted by Cranford Construction Company of Little Rock. The streets to be paved are the section of Brookwood Rd. between the rail road tracks and Shobe Rd., Alexander Rd. between Third St. and Fourth St. and sections of Cornerstone Road. This project is not part of the State Aid City Streets program and will be funded by transferring revenue from the general fund to the street fund.