One of the owners of Jones Drug Store in Uptown Jackson was given permission by the City to buy and sell guns from his apartment above the drug store.
Only the applicant, Bryan Kiefer, spoke at a public hearing held during the May 16 Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting. There was no opposition to his request for a special use permit for gun sales in a C-3 (central business) district.
Kiefer said he does not plan to advertise his gun sales but will promote his side business by word-of-mouth.
Because there was no opposition, the aldermen approved Kiefer’s request later in the meeting.
In other action
• Water tower recognized: The American Water Works Association presented its Water Landmark Award to the City of Jackson, designating the water plant tower as a landmark in the water treatment industry.
The water plant tower was recognized as the oldest water tower constructed of all-welded steel that is still in use.
• Electric lines: The aldermen accepted the $357,125 bid from Power Line Consultants, LLC, of Farmington and authorized a contract for work on the Wedekind 73 Pole Replacement Project.
• Bridge replacement: The aldermen approved an $18,860 task order to Koehler Engineering & Land Surveying, Inc., of Cape Girardeau, for engineering services on the Sunset Drive bridge Replacement Alternatives Analysis.
• Bond issue: The Aldermen approved an ordinance calling for a combined waterworks and sewerage system bond election in the City of Jackson for Tuesday, Aug. 2.
• Aldi signs: The aldermen approved a special use permit for oversized signs for two 75 square foot attached signs in a C-2 (general commercial) district at 2502 E. Jackson Blvd., as submitted by Aldi.
• Hubble ford: It was reported that progress on the bridge replacement at Hubble ford in City Park is going well, with work being doneon the north footings of the new bridge.
• Dog park: It was reported that the Park Board has tabled the issue of creating a dog park for 2022 as the public has not expressed a great desire to build one.
• Traffic concerns on Court Street: Traffic and safety concerns in front of Jones Drug Store were revisited during study session. After a customer drove her car through the front window of Jones Drug Store last year, the matter was brought before the Board of Aldermen. Parking blocks were installed in the angled street parking, but that has not solved the problem; sometimes they act as ramps helping cars drive up onto the sidewalk.
Brian Thompson, one of the owners of Jones Drug, will bring a proposed solution for the aldermen to approve at a future meeting.
• Generator services for water wells: Public Works Director Kent Peetz reviewed a services proposal for generator services for water wells No. 4 and 6.
• Public hearing procedure: The aldermen discussed the public hearing procedure. While the state requires one public hearing to be held on matters, in Jackson, two public hearings may be held — one by the Planning and Zoning Commission and one by the Board of Aldermen. It was decided to bring the matter to the Planning and Zoning Commission to get its input on the matter before deciding to make any changes.
• Main Street: City Engineer Anna Bergmark updated the Board on the city’s concrete replacement and announced that work on Main Street will require a complete closure at some time in the future. Currently, one westbound lane is open in the construction area.
