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City to go ahead with roundabout at Shawnee, East Main

A second roundabout in Jackson may become a reality early next
summer. During study session Aug. 19, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen gave a
head nod to the city staff to go ahead with the project as soon as possible.
Bids are expected to go out in the next week or so. This is a switch from the
Board’s leanings two weeks ago.


At the last Board of Aldermen meeting, Dave Christensen of PE/Cochran
had recommended that the City postpone the bidding of the roundabout project
until this winter. When contractors are not busy and are planning for 2020,
they will give more competitive prices. Work would then begin on the roundabout
in the spring, when winter weather won’t delay construction.


The problem with the delay was that construction of the roundabout
and MoDOT’s work on the DDI at Center Junction could then happen at the same
time.


Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs, who was absent at the last meeting, said
the City has been planning the roundabout since last November and should move
ahead on the project. By doing roundabout construction this winter, there is a
chance of getting it done before MoDOT closes the northern I-55 ramps at Center
Junction.


Right now, there are about 8,000 cars a day that use E. Main, Hahs
said. During the DDI construction at Center Junction, it is estimated that E.
Main will have 13,000 to 15,000 cars a day. Hahs felt a completed roundabout at
East Main and Shawnee will help traffic flow at that intersection. The current
four-way stop will create a bottleneck, he said. Having a roundabout “will help
some,” he predicted.


“Let’s get ’er done,” agreed Alderman Paul Sander.


If the roundabout takes a full eight months to construct, it will
be done by June 30.


In other action:


• Park Board appointment: The Board of Aldermen approved the
mayor’s appointment of Tom Bolen to the Park Board to serve an unexpired term
ending May 2020.


• Tax rates: The Board held a public hearing to consider the
proposed 2019 general revenue, parks and recreation, cemetery and band tax
rates. Later in the meeting, the Board approved the proposed rates.


Total assessed valuations for 2019 is $239,636,433, up from
$234,467,626 in 2018. The proposed tax rate for 2019 will be $0.8594 per $100
assessed valuation.


• New electric line: The Board agreed to pay $12,600 to Koehler
Engineering & Land Surveying, Inc., of Cape Girardeau for surveying
services for a new 34.5 kV electric transmission line to be extended along the
following streets: W. Main St., Farmington Rd., Independence St., Olive St. and
Eastview Ct.


• Water line: The Board approved a $10,500 task order to Koehler
Engineering & Land Surveying, Inc., of Cape Girardeau for engineering
services under the Water Line Interconnection Project.


• Utility bills: The Board approved a proposal of CSG Forte
payments, Inc., of Allen, TX, as shown on the pricing fee schedule, relative to
providing services for processing utility bill payments by credit card, debit
card or electronic check.


• Liquor licenses: The City granted the following liquor licenses:


~ Backyard BBQ Benefit on E. Adams St., Saturday, Sept. 7, as
submitted by The Backstoppers, Inc.


~ Jackson Jaycees Sand Volleyball Tournament in the City Park,
Saturday, Sept. 14, as submitted by TJ’s Burgers, Wings and Pizza.


~ Uptown Jackson Oktoberfest, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, as
submitted by UJRO.


• Asphalt repair: The Board approved a $63,495.36 change order to
Jokerst Inc. of Ste. Genevieve relative to the 2019 Asphalt Pavement Repair
Program.


• Sanitary sewer: The Board approved a change order of $1,350 to
SAK Construction, LLC, of O’Fallon relative to the 2019 Sanitary Sewer Lining
Program.


• Clean-Up, Fix-Up Week: The Board approved a policy replacing the
current annual Clean-Up, Fix-Up Week with the ability of residents to schedule
one special trash pick-up per year at no cost to them. The new program will
start Jan. 1, 2020.


• Parking: The Board amended the “Parking Prohibited Schedule —
Schedule IX” by adding designations on Colorado and W. Jefferson streets. Also
amended was the “Parking Prohibited on Certain Streets at Certain Times
Schedule — Schedule X” for those same streets.


Other study session topics, including the 2020 Homecomers and a new
pavilion at City Park will be discussed in next week’s issue of The Cash-Book
Journal.

Gregory Dullum has worked for The Cash-Book Journal for more than 25 years. Prior to becoming the editor in May 2017, he was production manager, circulation manager and reporter. Before moving to Cape Girardeau in 1988, he was editor of the Saint Louis Park Sailor, a weekly community newspaper in suburban Minneapolis, MN. A native of Minnesota, he returned there after graduating with distinction in 1978 from Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA, with a degree in mass communications. His wife, Marie, whom he met in college, is a native of Zalma, a small town in southeast Missouri. They have two grown daughters and five grandchildren. Gregory may be reached at cashbook@mvp.net.

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