The City of Jackson already has several nice parks for humans to enjoy. Soon, it may have a park for pooches as well.
Parks & Recreation Director Shane Anderson updated the Mayor and Board of Aldermen May 17 regarding plans to create a dog park on the west side of the Jackson Civic Center. Plans were discussed by the Park Board on May 10.
“We’re excited about it,” Anderson said. The park is yet to be designed, but the goal is for it to be at least a half acre, but preferably a full acre in size, Anderson said. Cape Girardeau has a dog park that is just under a half-acre.
The dog park is expected to connect to the nearby walking trail.
The City is working with the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri on the project.
In other action
• Rock garden: Anderson reported that a new stage has been completed in the Rock Garden in City Park. It is made of poured concrete but is made to look like the surrounding rock. It has already been used for a wedding. The project was donated to the City. Penzel Construction did the excavation and set up the site for concrete. Fronabarger Concreters poured the concrete and MSI Electric will provide electricity. Funds were donated by Tim Maevers.
• Public hearings: The Board of Aldermen held three public hearings. No one from the public spoke at the first two hearings.
The first was to consider a text amendment to Chapter 65 of the Code of Ordinances relative to application fees for rezoning, special use permits and variances, as submitted by the City of Jackson.
The second was a text amendment to Chapter 65 of the Code of Ordinances to add term lengths to alternate members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, as submitted by the City of Jackson.
Both of these amendments were approved by the Board of Aldermen later in the meeting.
The third public hearing was to consider a special use permit for a 160 square-foot oversized sign and a 108 square-foot oversized monument sign in a C-2 (general commercial) district, at 2130 E. Jackson Blvd., as requested by Saint Francis Medical Center. A representative from Canedy Signs was available to answer questions. The request for a special use permit was granted later in the meeting.
The Board also set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Monday, June 7, to consider a request for a special use permit for a 100 square foot oversized attached sign in a C-2 (general commercial) district at 2681 E. Main St. (the new K-Coe Isom building), as submitted by Triple Diamond Properties, LLC.
• Appointment: The city administrator’s appointment of Anna Bergmark to the office of city engineer was approved.
• Easement: The Board approved the abandonment of an easement deed at 3310 E. Jackson Blvd., as requested by Donna Schuette.
• Backyard BBQ Fund-raiser: The Board gave a head nod of approval to Marc Ashby’s request for a special event permit and a liquor license to hold the Jackson Backyard BBQ Fundraiser on Barton Street from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. The event will include music performed by a Nashville band.
Formal approval of the liquor license will be considered at the June 6 meeting.
• Softball Field No. 5: During study session, Shane Anderson and Jackson R-2 Girls Softball Coach Shawn Wilding spoke about a donation proposal from the Jackson R-2 Schools to improve the infield of Field No. 5 in City Park, where JHS girls play softball.
