The Jackson Mayor and Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance May 20 to address the criminal aspects of medical marijuana within city limits.
Possession of marijuana continues to be illegal in Jackson with the following exception listed in the ordinance:
“It is not unlawful for a qualifying patient to have in his/her possession marijuana that has been legally prescribed to said qualifying patient by a licensed healthcare professional and dispensed to said qualifying patient by a licensed medical marijuana dispensary facility. It is not unlawful for a primary caregiver as defined by the State of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to have in his/her possession marijuana that has been legally prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and dispensed by a licensed medical marijuana facility to a qualifying patient who has designated the person as the primary caregiver in an identification card issued by the State of Missouri. Legally dispensed marijuana shall be kept in a container delineated as medical marijuana under the laws of the State of Missouri.”
In other action:
• Swimming pool rates: The Board approved an updated regulations/fee schedule for the Jackson swimming pool, effective May 25.
Most fees remain the same as in 2018. However, private parties who rent the pool for 1-1/2 hours will now be charged $150 instead of $125 and two-hour rental increased from $150 to $200. Concession stands will be open on request for private parties for $10 per hour, up from $8.50 last year.
The fee for the junior lifesaving class increased from $30 to $40.
• Electric line relocation: The Board approved a $6,650 task order to Koehler Engineering & Land Surveying, Inc., of Cape Girardeau, to provide engineering services for the grading and pad preparation for the electric line relocation that is required by the diverging diamond interchange at Center Junction.
• Water system: The Board accepted the bid of $1,043,927.40 from Nip Kelley Equipment Co., Inc., of Cape Girardeau, relative to the water system facility plan implementation project, phase 2, project 2A.
The Board also agreed to pay Strickland engineering $60 per hour for inspecting the work on this project.
• Liquor licenses: The Board granted a liquor license to the Jackson Elks Lodge #2652 to sell beer and non-intoxicating beer in Uptown Jackson on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 25-27, during Homecomers.
A similar license was granted to TJ’s Burgers, Wings & Pizza to sell beer and non-intoxicating beer at Shelter No. 5 in City Park Saturday, June 22, during the Jackson Jaycees Sand Volleyball Tournament.
• Fireworks: The Board accepted the $11,750 bid of Gladiator Pyro of Poplar Bluff to provide fireworks for the Independence Day celebration.
• Wastewater treatment: The Board accepted the bid of $411,300 from Brockmil-ler Construction, Inc., relative to the wastewater treatment plant influent flow monitoring system.
• Sanitary sewer: The Board approved the existing cooperative purchasing agreement proposal with SAK Construction, LLC, of O’Fallon in the amount of $81,389, relative to the 2019 sanitary sewer lining program.
• Oak Hill Road and East Main Street: The Board amended ordinances regarding stop signs, yield right of way, flashing signals and crosswalks to reflect the new traffic signal intersection at Oak Hill Road and East Main Street.
• Police station: The Board received a report on the progress of construction of the new police station. The project is on schedule. In July, we will see the beginnings of the steel frame erected. Substantial completion is slated for next April 28, with final completion set for May 28, 2020.
• Soccer field lighting: In study session, the Board again discussed lighting the city soccer fields.
• Holiday Extravaganza lighting project: Parks Director Shane Anderson reported that his department is in negotiations with a company to install, take down, maintain and store the lights for the City Park Holiday Extravaganza of Lights. It cost the city $9,867 in 2018. The bid for this year is a little lower than last year: $9,330, and 2020’s bid is $9,703. It was felt the City could save money by having a three-year bid.
If the City decides to add lighting, the additional cost for those changes will be charged according to an itemized schedule. Currently the project lights 127 trees, the foot bridge, Shelter No. 1 and light poles, plus there are spotlights on sponsor banners.
• Columbaria: The Board was updated on the progress of construction of a gazebo and columbaria at Russell Heights Cemetery.
The gazebo is nearly completed and the sidewalks and foundation of the columbaria have been laid.
Each columbarium will be 13 feet long, 2 feet wide and 4-1/2 feet wide with 48 12-inch cube niches (there will be 12 across and four high). There will be three colum-baria built in this phase.
The City is still calculating fees and the rules for engraving (font style and size, etc.) on the doors.
