Gravel Ridge Blog: Proposed Annexation

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Proposed Annexation - Gravel Ridge

Election dates:
XXMarch 11 - Sherwood Annexation
A vote FOR annexation will allow Gravel Ridge voters to have the final say.
XXApril 1 - Gravel Ridge voters only will vote on which city they choose.

Early Voting begins Tuesday, March 4th - see below for more information & locations:

Early Voting will begin at the office of the Pulaski County Clerk, 401 W. Markham, Little Rock on Tuesday, March 4th between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, ending on Monday, March 10th at 5:00 pm.

Early Voting will also be available at the Jack Evans Senior Citizens Center, 2301 Thornhill Drive in Sherwood, for four days beginning Tuesday, March 4th through Friday, March 7th between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Eligible voters must be residents of Sherwood and/or residents of the proposed annexation area of Gravel Ridge. Deadline to register to vote in the March 11 election was February 11, 2008.

For Absentee Ballot information or voter registration questions: Pulaski County Circuit/County Clerk—phone: 340-8683 - http://www.pulaskiclerk.com/
Pulaski County Election Commission—phone: 340-8383 - http://www.votepulaski.net/

March 11th Voting Locations - http://www.votepulaski.net/PDF%20Docs/Sherwood%20Annex%20-NOTICE%20OF%20ELECTION.pdf
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Maps below are of the Proposed Annexation Area of Gravel Ridge. (Click on a picture to enlarge)

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Street List: http://www.cityofjacksonville.net/Gravel%20Ridge%20Street%20List%20for%20Annexation.mht

Public Meeting Dates:
Monday, January 7, 6:30 p.m. - Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, First Baptist Church in Gravel Ridge
Monday, January 14, 6:00 p.m., Jacksonville Community Center
Monday, January 21, 6:30 p.m. - First Baptist Church in Gravel Ridge

Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, phone: 982-3146
Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman, phone: 835-6620 _________________________

Arkansas Municipal League Annexation Guide - http://www.arml.org/pdfs/publications/Annexation_Dec_2007.pdf

Municipal Candidates filing dates (see page 3): http://www.votepulaski.net/PDF%20Docs/CANDIDATE%20FILING%20DATES-WITH%20CODES.pdf

Little Rock Air Force Base: http://www.littlerock.af.mil/library/
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Voting - If you live in the annexation area, you should have received a mailed notice from Pat O'Brien, Pulaski County Circuit /County Clerk.

Call 340-8683 to check your voter registration status, or check online. Pulaski County Voter Lookup Information: http://www.pulaskiclerk.com/search.asp
AR Secretary of State Voter Info (with polling place & voting location):
https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/
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Sherwood Notice of Special Election:
http://www.cityofsherwood.net/news/Sherwood%20Annex%20NOTICE%20OF%20ELECTION.pdf

Ordinance 1765 (annexation): http://www.cityofsherwood.net/ordinances/ord1765.doc

SEARCH Sherwood city ordinances: http://www.cityofsherwood.net/City/CityCouncilMeetings.htm
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Television News Coverage:

Sherwood Voice articles:

Arkansas Online articles:

Arkansas Leader articles:

Jacksonville Patriot articles:

Emergency Services - Ambulance articles & information:

MEMS: http://www.metroems.org/coveragearea.html

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School Information:
Gravel Ridge, Sherwood, and Jacksonville are all in the same school district, the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD). The district's web site is http://www.pcssd.org/, and the district remains under a federal desegregation order. There can be no changes in the school district without PCSSD receiving unitary status. The school district's enrollment is about 64% of the students for which it has facilities, so there is no issue with over-crowding. A new school is being built in Sherwood. A special meeting of the Sherwood City Council was held in January 2008 to approve an ordinance for zoning for the new school.

01/23/2008, Arkansas Online-Judge denies unitary status: http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/jan/22/judge-denies-unitary-status-nlr-pulaski-county-spe/

http://showtime.arkansasonline.com/e/pdf/desegregationorder.pdf

The PCSSD Fall 2007 Report can be found at this link: http://www.pcssd.org/dept/account/MediaReportToThePublic.pdf

Read more about the latest report to the Office of Desegregation Monitoring on PCSSD in the Dec. 26th story in the Arkansas Leader: http://www.arkansasleader.com/2007/12/top-story-monitors-see-grim-prospects.html
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Fire Department web sites:

Gravel Ridge: http://www.gravelridgefiredepartment.com/

Jacksonville: www.cityofjacksonville.net/Fire.htm

Sherwood: http://www.sherwoodfire.org/
Sherwood Fire Department has received a FEMA Grant for $158,760 for equipment: http://www.arkansasleader.com/2008/01/top-story-cities-will-get-fema-checks.html

Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management(OEM) Fire Department Information: http://co.pulaski.ar.us/oem/index_files/Page432.html

Police Department web sites:

Pulaski County: http://www.co.pulaski.ar.us/sheriff.shtml
Jacksonville: www.cityofjacksonville.net/Police.htm
Sherwood: http://www.sherwoodpolice.org/

2008 Sherwood Citizens Police Academy
Sherwood Police Department has set the dates for its 2008 Citizens Police Academy. March 4th will be the first night, and classes will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Graduation will be March 25th. They hope to have a trip and tour to the Pulaski County Jail. The deadline for applications in February 28th. Class size is 20 to 25 participants. Applications are available: Training office, Chief's office, online (www.sherwoodpolice.org), and Dispatch. Please contact Lt. Cheryl Williams at 835-1425, or email cwilliams@ci.sherwood.ar.us
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Crime Data:
U.S. Dept. of Justice - Bureau of Justice Statistics:
http://bjsdata.ojp.usdoj.gov/dataonline/Search/Crime/Local/LocalCrime.cfm

FBI Uniform Crime Reports: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm

Arkansas Crime Information Center:
http://www.acic.org/Registration/index.htm

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 2006 AR communities:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_08_ar.html
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_78_ar.html

Federal Bureau of Investiation (FBI) 2005 AR communities:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_08_ar.html
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_78_ar.html
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City web sites:

Jacksonville: www.cityofjacksonville.net/

Sherwood: www.cityofsherwood.net/

AR Division of Legislative Audit
Jacksonville 2006
http://www.legaudit.state.ar.us/AuditReports/Cities/2006/JacksonvilleCityof2006.pdf
Sherwood 2005
http://www.legaudit.state.ar.us/AuditReports/Cities/2005/SherwoodCityof2005.pdf

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Sherwood Seniors & Youth Services: http://www.cityofsherwood.net/Living/SeniorsAndYouth.htm
http://www.cityofsherwood.net/Living/SportsLeagues.htm

Sherwood Animal Services: http://www.cityofsherwood.net/City/AnimalServices.htm

Sherwood Humane Animal Services
6500 North Hills Blvd.
Phone: 501-834-2287
Email: sac@ci.sherwood.ar.us

Sherwood grading and excavation ordinance 1739 (Prohibits the indiscriminate clearing of property): http://www.cityofsherwood.net/ordinances/ord1739.doc

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Gravel Ridge Data & Real Estate:

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Jacksonville Real Estate & Data:

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Sherwood Real Estate & Data:

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North Belt Information (I-440):

North Belt Maps from AR HWY DEPT:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/Environ/SpecialStudies/R60101/SDEISAlternativesMaps%20.htm

North Belt Large Map:
http://www.arkansashighways.com/Environ/SpecialStudies/R60101/PDFs/SDEIS%20Aerial%20Map%20of%20Entire%20Project.pdf

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27 comments:

Unknown said...: This information is helpful. Thanks for taking the time.; January 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
grfd703 said...: After hearing the "details" offered by Mayor Swaim tonight, I have come to the conclusion that Jacksonville is offering next to nothing for our tax dollars that they don't already pay for. They are only offering to continue the revenue level currently being collected by GRFD by tax base and nothing in addition. Sherwood, however, is offering an additional 200,000 dollars in supplementary income over the 85,000 currently being promised by Jacksonville. This additional funding will be used to hire paid firefighters to man the station and to expand or move to a new station location. Sherwood has already increased their police force by 6 sworn officers and they have an additional 7 planned if annexation goes through. This is a no-brainer for me. I've been a member of the Gravel Ridge Fire Department for 16 years and I only want what's best for this community.

Signed - GRFD703 Captain; January 7, 2008 at 8:35 PM
grfd703 said...: The time on my first post showed up as 6:35 pm, but I actually posted it at 8:35pm. No clue as to why it registered the incorrect time. Several other points I'd like to make about Sherwood vs. Jacksonville are as follows:
1. Sherwood's yard waste pickup doesn't involve bagging. They use a vacuum truck so all you have to do is rake and pile up your yard waste at the curb. Not so with J'ville.

2. Sherwood Police presence is already being seen in the Gravel Ridge area due to their very quiet annexation of some 1600 acres of undeveloped land west of 107. I haven't seen hide nor hair of a Jacksonville City unit in our area.

3. Plain and simple - this is a land grab attempt by both Sherwood, and Jacksonville, in advance of the new 440 interchange coming through. The property values are increasing, businesses moving in and tax revenue possibilities increasing with each passing year. This change will eventually be inevitable and possibly is already. While I DO NOT wish to be annexed into either city, given a choice between the two, I'd choose Sherwood in a heartbeat. I don't have anything against Jacksonville as a city per se, but I feel, as a homeowner and fire department member, that our needs will be better served by the City of Sherwood. I'd like to hear comments from other residents of Gravel Ridge.

Thanks,

GRFD703; January 7, 2008 at 11:16 PM
grblogger said...: It was great to see the turnout at the church, and people voicing their questions and concerns. Some of the answers that I heard at the meeting were different than what I have seen on televised interviews, and in the local newspapers. It was really hard to hear the speakers, and I still have some questions. I am looking forward to the Sherwood meeting. I hope they have a better sound system.; January 8, 2008 at 11:09 AM
grfd711 said...: **Edit** Had to update user name due to not posting in blogs for a long time.

I had to leave the meeting on 7Jan08 early, due to things starting to get out of hand and attending our weekly training session at the fire department. It seems the consensus of folks at the meeting do not want to be annexed. I'm not saying it's impossible, but we have had the chance for quite some time to incorporate ourselves, yet have twiddled our thumbs. I believe Billy Hum may have tried this in the past, as well as somebody else, yet I have not verified this. Regardless, if I have to pick my poison, I agree with my Captain's comments earlier and go for Sherwood. I was not very impressed with Mayor Swaim's presentation, there was lots of hidden meanings or "careful" wording, especially when talking about police protection.

I'm not a home owner, I rent, so I do not know of the pains some folks worry about experiencing regarding taxes. I would like to buy a home, but depending on the way things go, I might have to make a move at some point to the northern part of the county.

In regards to the fire service, I have been a member of Gravel Ridge Fire Dept. for 7 1/2 years. My Captain has made some very informative comments in regards to fire protection and GRFD in particular. For most folks, the fire department is something they don't worry about too much until they need us. Hence, a lot of folks don't know much about us as a department or the fire service in general. I'm not saying these people are stupid in any way, just uninformed. I'd like folks to check our department's website out at www.gravelridgefiredepartment.com.

In regards to ambulance services, I do work for MEMS ambulance service out of the Sherwood substation. If somebody has questions in regards to EMS service currently being provided to Gravel Ridge, I'll be more than happy to try to answer some questions. Link to MEMS website can be viewed at GRFD's website.

I was glad to see some city officials from Sherwood at the meeting. I would imagine they'll be a bit more prepared and make a better presentation than Jacksonville. I'm not saying I don't like the city of Jacksonville or it's officials, but I was not impressed with their presentation.

Looking forward to more comments from members in the community. Speak out and be heard!; January 8, 2008 at 6:03 PM
grfd703 said...: It has been suggested by some that I don't like the City of Jacksonville, it's police department or it's fire department. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have lived in this area since 1988 and I have worked and shopped in Jacksonville probably as much as I have in Sherwood and North Little Rock. My comments last week were directed more at the entire situation as a whole and not at Jacksonville city proper nor any of it's entities. One of my best friends works for the JAX PD and I've never had a problem with the city nor with any of it's fine law enforcement officers. I apologize if there was any misunderstanding. As a homeowner in Gravel Ridge, I hope both cities vote down this annexation thing.

GRFD 703; January 14, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Anonymous said...: Sherwood is offering more services and support to the Gravel Ridge community. Sherwood also has less taxes. I would not vote to raise my neighbor's taxes.; January 22, 2008 at 9:32 PM
adr said...: I am for Jax; January 23, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Anonymous said...: I grew up in Jacksonville and loved living there for a great many years. I have now been a resident of Sherwood for over 20 years.

Jacksonville is stuck with a Mayor that simply has been in office too long, and is not aggressive in maintaining property values or deterring crime.

These are the main reasons that I chose to move to Sherwood. I want safe streets, good lighting, preservation of my property values and most of all strong crime prevention.

All Gravel Ridge residents if they are property owners, business owners or renters deserve to have property values maintained, crime prevention, safety and access to better public services.

I know a great many residents would rather be left alone and I understand that sentiment. But, if both Jacksonville and Sherwood pass this annexation measure, don't you think that it would be better to join Sherwood?

Since Sherwood has lower sales taxes, no additional milage on property taxes other than a special assessment for our fire department it seems like a simple decision. If you must be annexed -come to Sherwood.

Sherwood's average property values are higher, code enforcement and declaring certain property a public nuisance has actually been done in Sherwood. We have a lower crime rate, a better fire ISO rating and most of all, lower taxes.

Just my two cents,
Former Jville Resident; January 23, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Anonymous said...: I wouldn't want to be annexed either, but to attack the JFD and its ISO of 3 is not an accurate represantation of the resources provided by the JFD. Minimum staff-16 per shift with 2 ALS ambulances far outweighs the 12 Part-time FF in Sherwood who pencil whipped their ISO rating and are not even a municipal FD. When Sherwood decides to initiate a municipal FD, $200,000 will be a drop in the bucket compared to benefits packages, retirement etc. Jacksonville FD is a well-established FD and one of the oldest ALS ambulance services in the state with top notch equipment.; January 24, 2008 at 10:59 PM
grfd711 said...: I've also heard that Jacksonville may be adding a third ALS ambulance to their daily line-up, regardless if the annexation happens or not.; January 25, 2008 at 1:06 AM
Anonymous said...: I never attacked the JFD or it's ISO rating. I simply stated that Sherwood has a better ISO rating and when you consider the cost of the county/city partnership and the ability to acheive this rating independently it's money well spent.

Sherwood devotes over $750,000 per year to supplement our combination county/city fire department for staffing and equipment. The $200,000 offered was for the existing Gravel Ridge Fire Department to be able to have 24 hour staffing, thereby better response time, access to more equipment, and backup assistance when needed, etc.

Yes, of course Sherwood will eventually have a municipal run fire department, and, the city has taken steps toward that goal. Two seperate districts were consolidated into one, spending was streamlined, and equipment was upgraded all WITHOUT a tax increase or special property tax mileage.

Sherwood decided to pass legislation in order to give Gravel Ridge residents another choice. It all is in the hands of Gravel Ridge voters.

I am not slamming Jacksonville. But, I am devoted to my new adopted hometown and want the differences between the two cities clearly stated so that Gravel Ridge residents can make an informed decision.; January 25, 2008 at 2:22 AM
Anonymous said...: The only reason Sherwood Fire has an ISO 2 is simply because they use call in (part-time FF) to supplement their response. Making it appear as though they have more people available than they really do. JFD uses call ins too, but only on a major incident. The important thing to remember is how many ff can you put on scene in a matter of minutes which saves lives. Also, JFD ambulances are not subject to being pulled from their district to cover LR and NLR like MEMS does. Sometimes things are not what they appear.; January 25, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Anonymous said...: ISO has standards that ALL fire departments across the United States must meet. See: http://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/0000/ppc0001.html

ISO analyzes relevant data and assigns a Public Protection Classification (ISO rating) — a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program does not meet ISO's minimum criteria.

Only 9 communities in Arkansas are a class 2, and Sherwood is one of those nine. Sherwood firefighters worked really hard to achieve that rating. Gravel Ridge firefighters also worked really hard to achieve an improved rating of 3.

No one should belittle the work of firefighters and their achievements.

If a fire district improves its rating, homeowners and businesses in the community can save money on their insurance premiums. If property owners spend their savings in the community, the extra cash can help improve the local economy,and a community with improved fire protection may find it easier to attract new business, increasing jobs and boosting the economy even more.

In 2000, the Rural Fire Protection Workgroup in Arkansas quantified the economic benefits of improved fire protection for Arkansas communities. The workgroup considered a series of measures designed to improve the Public Protection Classifications of rural Arkansas communities. In its final report, the workgroup estimated the statewide cost of those projects at about $150 million — or $15 million a year for 10 years.

Next, the work group projected the reduction in property insurance premiums when each of 839 rural Arkansas fire departments has improved its PPC to Class 7. According to that analysis, the statewide savings would total more than $100 million per year. More than 425,000 homeowners in Arkansas would share the benefits, with an average annual savings of $235 per household.

The Arkansas workgroup projected increased economic activity at more than $2 billion over a period of 13 years. According to the workgroup's analysis, that economic activity would generate additional state and local sales-tax revenue more than offsetting the cost of the improvements.; January 25, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm well aware of the ISO and how departments achieve lower ratings and the finincial benefit to the community, but for someone to judge a FD strictly on an ISO rating is a mistake. A commercial fire alarm in Jax receives 3 engines, Ladder, Batallion, and an Ambulance. That's Sherwood's entire dept. I'm not belittling Sherwood or Gravel Ridge; I was once a volunteer FF myself, but the fact is your not receiving the equivalent responce level and resources in the two areas. When I was a volunteer FF, I would have loved for a city to annex us and say you can keep doing what your doing and here's some money to help out. $200,000 at the very most would get you 4 full-time FF: congratulations you've got someone to drive a fire truck to the scene but still no guarntee there will be anybody to fight it. And about the $750,000 to supplement Sherwood FD, Wow! try over 5 million for JFD. It's a lot cheaper to run part-time ff. So get ready Sherwood if they ever try to create a municipal FD. Jacksonville is one of the most finincially sound cities in the state. You don't think there will be a raise in Sherwood's taxes? Fantasy. In a community as small as Gravel Ridge, the volunteer FD is a huge voice and as all FF are, very proud of their FD and should be, but be very careful when trying to compare apples to oranges.; January 25, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Sherwood,Ar said...: By the way - the $750k that Sherwood supplements it's combination fire department is in addition to what is collected from the county through a special assessment on real estate taxes. The combination fire department is an excellent example of cooperative partnerships. Also, it should be known that the ff which are full time do have access to health insurance, retirement and other benefits.

I'd never try to compare Jacksonville and Sherwood each individual fire departments. I admire and respect the work of all of the fire deparments, especially gravel ridge! This isn't a discussion board for bashing, it's for information exchange and opinions.; January 25, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Dont' get upset, I'm just stating the facts. Ultimately an annexation boils down to police and fire protection and EMS. Otherwise there are hardly any advantages for any community to be gobbled up by another city. My point was that the city of Sherwood is getting off really cheap for fire protection and it will catch up some day. And another thing, didn't Sherwood just have to pay MEMS a subsidy? JFD charges a lot less for transport than does MEMS. These are the emergency services you see the most of. JFD is closer to Gravel Ridge than both MEMS units. Again, just stating the facts.; January 25, 2008 at 4:34 PM
grfd711 said...: A quote from anonymous:

"$200,000 at the very most would get you 4 full-time FF: congratulations you've got someone to drive a fire truck to the scene but still no guarntee there will be anybody to fight it."

There's going to be slightly more than that; at least $230,000, possibly near $250,000. Also, this will put three personnel in the station 24/7. For a few of us on GRFD, this will allow us to have a part time job filling partial shifts or taking an entire shift. Regardless, the community would be the biggest beneficiary of having a staffed station for quicker responses, provided Gravel Ridge is annexed by Sherwood. If annexed by Jacksonville, then the citizens of Gravel Ridge will be paying for municipal fire protection from Jacksonville and deserve it.

Your typical engine response nowadays has been reduced to three personnel on an engine: driver, supervisor and firefighter. Sherwood and Jacksonville (to my knowledge) both staff their engines in this manner. Fire departments across the country would prefer to have at least four on the engines, but a lot of areas just can't afford it. So, three personnel staffing an engine has become the new accepted standard.

I have been able to work alongside Sherwood firefighters while working my job as MEMS in Sherwood and on a few mutual aid calls as GRFD, and they do a great job. I have also been able to work with off duty Jacksonville firefighters, some who work part time for MEMS ambulance service, and must say they provide a great representation of their department. I believe both departments provide great services.

Regarding MEMS and coverage, yes, MEMS will shift their fleet of on duty units to cover where they need to. Keep in mind, the city of Sherwood signed a contract for response times, not having a truck in the city. Cities will receive priority for coverage, as county will not. If the Sherwood units are on calls or posting closer to the metro area, a unit in the northern part of the county will be pulled to cover Sherwood. In incidents where both Sherwood trucks are running calls in Sherwood, a truck in NLR will be called to cover Sherwood for that time, unless it's busy, then the northern county unit will be called. I'm not saying it's a perfect system, as EMS will always have this challenge, but MEMS will try their best to meet this challenge.

Jacksonville FD ambulances have the setup of transporting to Metro North hospital in their city, thereby reducing turn around times and not transporting outside the city except on rare occassions. Arkansas Emergency Transport will be called if a patient requests to be transported out of the city or for non-emergent issues. At times, MEMS has been called for these non-emergent transfers, but not often. Once, I have covered Jacksonville as a MEMS unit due to their FD ambulances being extremely busy, but this was a rare event. On the flip side, MEMS requested JFD for mutual aid to respond with their ambulance for an accident in the Gravel Ridge community recently when experiencing an unusual high call volume. I'm just trying to say that these things do happen occassionally and the services will do their best to meet the needs, and will call for help from one another, because in the end, the person who is truly sick or injured doesn't care who's name is written on the side of the truck, as long as they can receive care.; January 25, 2008 at 4:41 PM
grfd711 said...: MEMS charged several communities a subsidy, as they are not funded like Jacksonville FD's ambulances are. A large portion of MEMS money was coming from Medicade and Medicare, but due to increasing costs, they had start making these charges. MEMS went for almost a decade before having to charge the subsidies. Also, MEMS is trying to run 38 ALS units, four BLS units, three wheelchair vans, two on duty supervisors, their own communications center, billing staff, training center and operations staff. Takes a bit more money than two ALS units. As far as distance to Gravel Ridge, response time, is about the same between JFD and MEMS. Now, if the unit from the northern part of Pulaski county is responding to Gravel Ridge, that response time will increase slightly.; January 25, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Anonymous said...: Sounds to me like Sherwood would benefit Gravel Ridge volunteer fire fighters more than Gravel Ridge itself. Gravel Ridge Chief and Sherwood Captain: one in the same.; January 25, 2008 at 5:58 PM
grfd703 said...: Sounds to me like Anonymous would say almost anything to further HIS
agenda, to include questioning the motives of the fire department
personnel themselves. Well, let me tell you something sir: I've
given 16 years of FREE service to this community and I don't plan on
stopping. Our fire chief has been doing it far longer than I have.
He's also the Deputy Director of Emergency Management for Pulaski
County. We ALL have to make a living and provide for our families, and unfortunately this sometimes causes volunteer fire departments to have shortages in their ability to cover the community with manpower.
Having the ability to attract FULL time coverage by providing funds
(ie. a paycheck) benefits not only the firefighter, but it also
benefits the community by ensuring 24/7 coverage. Unless you give
your employer your services for free, I suggest you lay off making
comments like the last one you made. You have a real nasty attitude and it's fairly obvious that you have made your decision on which way to go. We get it. If you wish to continue making comments like this, why don't
you come out in the open and identify yourself? It's a lot easier to take cheap shots when you don't have to answer to anyone for your opinion.

GRFD703; January 26, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Anonymous said...: Okay "anonymous" - you wants facts - here you go:

Jacksonville has TWICE the violent crime rate that Sherwood has.

Jacksonville has MORE THAN TWICE the property crime rate that Sherwood has.

Jacksonville has TWICE the sales tax that Sherwood has.

Jacksonville does not clean up blighted areas and allows slumlords to simply board over windows instead of bringing the property up to code or demolish it.

Sherwood does clean up blighted areas and continues to declare properties public nuisances. Sherwood enforces unsightly and unsanitary conditions. This explains why Sherwood has better property values.

Why doesn't Sherwood use Arkansas Emergency Transport? And chose MEMS instead? How about looking at some news reports last year regarding a particular AET responder and other failures of AET. Anytime you want to see a MEMS vehicle how about checking out the parking lot behind Popeyes chicken in Sherwood.

Need more facts?; January 26, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; January 26, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Anonymous said...: I live in Mcalmont and I am really interested in the whole anex thing. I think mcalmont has been treated unfairly. I can't believe we got some crackers from Sherwood trying to mess this whole j'ville thing up for the rest of us. I love j'ville,some of my best homies stay there. All I gots to say is come FeB 5th we going to be going to the polls 3 to 4 times a day.; January 27, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Just vote NO!; January 29, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Anonymous said...: Does anybody know if they are going to hold any more meetings?; January 31, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Anonymous said...: Red Rider - No more meetings are scheduled. Perhaps after the Jacksonville vote another meeting will be offered by Sherwood. Check out today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette - Three Rivers Section. There was an excellent write up about annexation.; January 31, 2008 at 9:25 PM

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Proposed Annexation - Gravel Ridge

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