COVID-19
showed up a little over a year ago and community events began shutting down to
prevent the spread of the virus. Now, a year later, community events are coming
back.
showed up a little over a year ago and community events began shutting down to
prevent the spread of the virus. Now, a year later, community events are coming
back.
At the Jackson
Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting March 15, plans for Jackson in Bloom and
Homecomers were given head-nod approval to proceed.
Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting March 15, plans for Jackson in Bloom and
Homecomers were given head-nod approval to proceed.
Jenna Clifton,
executive director of the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization, requested
partial street closures for the organization’s Jackson in Bloom scheduled for
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, April 24, in Uptown Jackson.
executive director of the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization, requested
partial street closures for the organization’s Jackson in Bloom scheduled for
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, April 24, in Uptown Jackson.
“Jackson in
Bloom focuses on landscaping, gardening, earth-friendly products and services,
pets, outdoor activities, lots of events for kids,” Clifton said. This year,
there will be a “fun-filled pet space with dogs and cats for adoption from the
Humane Society,” Clifton said. In addition, County Commissioner Paul Koeper
will have a presentation on the importance of bees.
Bloom focuses on landscaping, gardening, earth-friendly products and services,
pets, outdoor activities, lots of events for kids,” Clifton said. This year,
there will be a “fun-filled pet space with dogs and cats for adoption from the
Humane Society,” Clifton said. In addition, County Commissioner Paul Koeper
will have a presentation on the importance of bees.
Jackson’s Park
Day will be the same day, and there may be some collaboration between the two
events.
Day will be the same day, and there may be some collaboration between the two
events.
The American
Legion’s Larry Koehler also appeared before the aldermen to seek street
closures for the annual Homecomers event, beginning Sunday, July 25, and running through 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 1.
This allows time for carnival rides to set up and take down. Homecomers itself
will open Tuesday evening and run until Saturday night, as usual.
Legion’s Larry Koehler also appeared before the aldermen to seek street
closures for the annual Homecomers event, beginning Sunday, July 25, and running through 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 1.
This allows time for carnival rides to set up and take down. Homecomers itself
will open Tuesday evening and run until Saturday night, as usual.
“It’s time to
be proactive and look forward to having Homecomers as if everything is going to
be normal as possible this year,” he said. “People are going to be hungry to
get out and do something.
be proactive and look forward to having Homecomers as if everything is going to
be normal as possible this year,” he said. “People are going to be hungry to
get out and do something.
Two years ago,
there were some complaints from High Street merchants about Homecomers
negatively affecting their businesses, and asking that Homecomers be shortened
so street closures did not last as long. Koehler was asked if there was any
progress solving the conflict.
there were some complaints from High Street merchants about Homecomers
negatively affecting their businesses, and asking that Homecomers be shortened
so street closures did not last as long. Koehler was asked if there was any
progress solving the conflict.
He said he had
met with Clifton’s predecessor and had discussed several possibilities last
spring, before COVID-19 cancelled the plans. “She and I went over those things
again,” he said. “She’s going to talk to the Uptown merchants and see if there
is anything there we can do to try to ease tensions and get a little more
cooperation on both sides.”
met with Clifton’s predecessor and had discussed several possibilities last
spring, before COVID-19 cancelled the plans. “She and I went over those things
again,” he said. “She’s going to talk to the Uptown merchants and see if there
is anything there we can do to try to ease tensions and get a little more
cooperation on both sides.”
One
suggestion Koehler has is for merchants to offer coupons that would be handed
out free to Homecomers attendees. For example, if merchants offered coupons for
$10 off items in their store, at the end of Homecomers, they could turn in
their coupons to the American Legion and be reimbursed, so it would cost them
nothing.
Other
suggestions include having merchants offer “back door sales” if front doors are
blocked, or stay open a couple of hours later to get Homecomers traffic to
visit their stores.
suggestions include having merchants offer “back door sales” if front doors are
blocked, or stay open a couple of hours later to get Homecomers traffic to
visit their stores.
Other
events that will be on again this year will be the annual Legion dinner meeting
April 15, and Memorial Day ceremony.
events that will be on again this year will be the annual Legion dinner meeting
April 15, and Memorial Day ceremony.
In other action:
•
Appointment: The appointment of
Mike Berti as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment was
approved.
Appointment: The appointment of
Mike Berti as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment was
approved.
•
I-55 exits market analysis and retail recruitment: The Board of Aldermen agreed to pay $30,000 to the Jackson
Area Chamber of Commerce for market analysis and retail recruitment services at
Exits 99 and 102 of I-55.
I-55 exits market analysis and retail recruitment: The Board of Aldermen agreed to pay $30,000 to the Jackson
Area Chamber of Commerce for market analysis and retail recruitment services at
Exits 99 and 102 of I-55.
•
Electricity: The Board agreed to
pay Allen & Ho-shall of Memphis, TN, $76,030 to provide engineering
services for the Industrial Substation Circuit Protective Relay Upgrade
Project, Phase 2, and $15,000 to provide engineering services for the inspection and review of the Wedekind
73 electric transmission poles, phase 1.
Electricity: The Board agreed to
pay Allen & Ho-shall of Memphis, TN, $76,030 to provide engineering
services for the Industrial Substation Circuit Protective Relay Upgrade
Project, Phase 2, and $15,000 to provide engineering services for the inspection and review of the Wedekind
73 electric transmission poles, phase 1.
•
Public hearings set: Two public hearings
were set for 6 p.m. Monday, April 5. One will consider a special use permit for
a community unit plan for multiple attached single-family dwellings on a single
lot in a C-2 (general commercial) district located on a 6.41-acre tract on Old
Toll Road as submitted by The Villas of West Park, LLC.
Public hearings set: Two public hearings
were set for 6 p.m. Monday, April 5. One will consider a special use permit for
a community unit plan for multiple attached single-family dwellings on a single
lot in a C-2 (general commercial) district located on a 6.41-acre tract on Old
Toll Road as submitted by The Villas of West Park, LLC.
The
other is to consider the rezoning of a 3.93-acre tract of property on the south
side of Old Orchard Road from an R-2 (single-family residential) district to an
R-3 (one- and two-family residential) district, as submitted by Mastercraft
Development, LLC.
other is to consider the rezoning of a 3.93-acre tract of property on the south
side of Old Orchard Road from an R-2 (single-family residential) district to an
R-3 (one- and two-family residential) district, as submitted by Mastercraft
Development, LLC.
•
Financial impact of Winter Storm Uri: During
study session, representatives from the Missouri Public Utility Alliance
discussed the financial impact to the City of Jackson as it purchased
electricity during Winter Storm Uri, when electricity production dropped
causing prices of natural gas and electricity to skyrocket.
Financial impact of Winter Storm Uri: During
study session, representatives from the Missouri Public Utility Alliance
discussed the financial impact to the City of Jackson as it purchased
electricity during Winter Storm Uri, when electricity production dropped
causing prices of natural gas and electricity to skyrocket.
City
Administrator Jim Roach said the city’s increased cost to purchase electricity
will be paid for out of the electric reserve fund and will not be passed along
to the city’s electric customers.
Administrator Jim Roach said the city’s increased cost to purchase electricity
will be paid for out of the electric reserve fund and will not be passed along
to the city’s electric customers.
•
Hubble Creek crossing: During study
session, the Board was updated on a possible bridge design to replace the
low-water bridge over Hubble Creek in the middle of City Park. The construction
cost is estimated to be $504,000. The design will need to be approved by the
Army Corps of Engineers.
Hubble Creek crossing: During study
session, the Board was updated on a possible bridge design to replace the
low-water bridge over Hubble Creek in the middle of City Park. The construction
cost is estimated to be $504,000. The design will need to be approved by the
Army Corps of Engineers.
•
Fiber optic: Kevin Cantwell,
president of Big River Communications, updated the Board of Aldermen on the
installation of a fiber-optic network (by Circle Fiber) in the City of Jackson.
“You’ll see a lot of construction now,” he said.
Fiber optic: Kevin Cantwell,
president of Big River Communications, updated the Board of Aldermen on the
installation of a fiber-optic network (by Circle Fiber) in the City of Jackson.
“You’ll see a lot of construction now,” he said.
He
mentioned there is a map on the Circle Fiber Web site that shows where
installation is being done now.
mentioned there is a map on the Circle Fiber Web site that shows where
installation is being done now.
He
mentioned that the price Circle Fiber offers for service is not just a
promotional price that will go up in three months. It is the set price. It is
not a bundled price and no contracts are required.
mentioned that the price Circle Fiber offers for service is not just a
promotional price that will go up in three months. It is the set price. It is
not a bundled price and no contracts are required.
He
added that he expects cable installation to be done by the fourth quarter of
this year. He has plans to open a retail/informational shop in Jackson soon.
added that he expects cable installation to be done by the fourth quarter of
this year. He has plans to open a retail/informational shop in Jackson soon.
Big
River is investing about $125 million to bring fiber to this area over the next
three to five years. The service area will stretch from Crystal City to Poplar
Bluff to Sikeston.
River is investing about $125 million to bring fiber to this area over the next
three to five years. The service area will stretch from Crystal City to Poplar
Bluff to Sikeston.
•
Planning and Zoning: Janet Sanders,
manager of the Building and Planning Department, explained recent projects that
have been presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Planning and Zoning: Janet Sanders,
manager of the Building and Planning Department, explained recent projects that
have been presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
•
Court Street safety: City Engineer Clint
Brown discussed a report from the Lochmueller Group which gave five options to
improve safety on Court Street and help prevent cars from crashing into
buildings. The options are to install parking curbs, bollards, enhanced guard
rails or planters; or switch to parallel parking. The report included advantages
and disadvantages but did not include costs for the options. The city staff
will get cost estimates for the options and bring the matter back to the Board
of Aldermen.
Court Street safety: City Engineer Clint
Brown discussed a report from the Lochmueller Group which gave five options to
improve safety on Court Street and help prevent cars from crashing into
buildings. The options are to install parking curbs, bollards, enhanced guard
rails or planters; or switch to parallel parking. The report included advantages
and disadvantages but did not include costs for the options. The city staff
will get cost estimates for the options and bring the matter back to the Board
of Aldermen.
•
Wastewater: The Board discussed
the wastewater facility implementation project. A bond request will need to be
put on a ballot either this November or next April. Mayor Dwain Hahs said he
did not think putting a bond request on a November ballot during an
off-election year was a good idea. It would be the only thing on the ballot.
Wastewater: The Board discussed
the wastewater facility implementation project. A bond request will need to be
put on a ballot either this November or next April. Mayor Dwain Hahs said he
did not think putting a bond request on a November ballot during an
off-election year was a good idea. It would be the only thing on the ballot.
•
Civic Center sign: only one company,
Coast to Coast Signs, responded to the city’s request for qualifications to
construct a sign for the Civic Center. The committee that would have selected
the company from various candidates will now sit down with Coast to Coast to
discuss the sign.
