The Nick Leist Memorial Band Shell in City Park will get new, larger restrooms this summer. The old restrooms that were built into the bandshell will be converted to storage space.
The Jackson Mayor and Board of Aldermen discussed the Muny Band’s desire to donate new restroom facilities to be constructed between the band shell and the parking lot.
The new facility will be 19 feet by 26 feet and is valued at $20,000. The donation will include a new, larger sewer line.
The Board of Aldermen will officially accept the donation at its next meeting.
• Public hearings: No one from the public spoke at a public hearing to consider the abandonment of a portion of an access and parking easement in Skinny’s Subdivision, as requested by CZL Investments, LLC.
The Board later approved the abandonment. This will allow Blazin’ Car Wash to place a sign in the parking lot of Century 21 Realty near Walmart.
The Board also set two public hearings for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.17. The first is to satisfy a mandate of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources regarding the storm sewer system. The second is to consider the rezoning of a 10.85 acre tract at the east end of Ridge Road just west of Bent Creek Subdivision from R-2 (single family residential) to R-4 (general residential, as submitted by Williams Brothers Contracting, LLC, and BBratz, LLC. The plan is to build multifamily housing across the street from duplexes that are in the Bent Creek Subdivision.
• Financial statement: The Board approved the semi-annual financial statement for the City of Jackson. It is published on page 4B of this week’s CBJ.
• City engineer: The Board approved the city administrator’s appointment of Clint Brown to the office of city engineer.
• Electric substation: The Board approved a $361,000 task order to Allen & Hoshall of Memphis, TN, to provide engineering services for the South Old Orchard Road Electric Substation Project.
• North Industrial Park: The mayor was authorized to execute a general warranty deed to BRS, LLC, of Cape Girardeau for Lot No. 1 of Jackson North Industrial Park Subdivision, Phase 1.
• Williams Creek Sanitary Sewer: The aldermen accepted a $676,731.60 bid from CE Contracting of Ste. Genevieve for work on the Williams Creek Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, Phase 2. A contract with the company was also authorized.
• Sales tax falls: Mayor Dwain Hahs told the aldermen that sales tax revenues were up 11 percent last year, but for the month of January, they are down 7 percent.
• Parking on North Missouri Street: During study session, the Board discussed removing a few parking spots along North Missouri Street by the new courthouse. County Commissioner Paul Koeper said eliminating those parking spaces will improve sight distance for drivers using the new 77-space parking lot in that area and for drivers pulling out from the Sheriff’s Office parking lot. It will also make it illegal for vans to park next to the courthouse. This has been a security concern of Homeland Security, Koeper said.
• Old courthouse: Koeper also mentioned that the County is starting to make plans for the future use of the old county courthouse in Jackson. The first step is to hire a criteria consultant. The County will tell the consultant what it wants, such as a new elevator, restrooms on every floor, etc. The consultant will then relay those requests to a design-builder. The process is expected to get started this year.
• Donate roads: Koeper also mentioned that there are a couple of roads that have sections within city limits that are under the jurisdiction of the County. If the City would acquire the rights of way for those roads, the County would bring the roads up to City standards and donate those portions to the City.
It would be a win-win situation, because the City would acquire more roadway for free, and the County would no longer have to maintain a small section of a county road within city limits.
• Wastewater rates: Public Works Director Kent Peetz compared Jackson’s proposed wastewater rates to those of cities around us. The rates are comparable. Water rates for Jackson customers are set to increase in January 2022 and wastewater rates are set to increase in January 2023.
• Sewer: During study session, Peetz told the Board of plans to improve a lift station at North Union Avenue from a one-pump grinder system to a two-pump grinder system. This will help the sewer system accommodate the new restroom planned for the Band Shell plus one or two additional restrooms should they be built in the future.
• Soccer lighting: A year ago, the City applied for a grant to help pay for lights at the soccer field but was denied. The aldermen were told that we are now in a new grant cycle, and City staff plans to apply again for the grant. The Aldermen will approve a resolution of support Feb. 1.
