In study session July 2, the Jackson Mayor and Board of Aldermen heard a report on proposed changes to West Jefferson Street in order to handle parent drop-off and pickup traffic at the new Freshman Center at Jackson High School.
Meetings were held between city staff and representatives from St. Paul Lutheran School and the Jackson R-2 School District on May 30 and June 13.
The recommendation was to re-stripe Jefferson Street, which runs between the two schools, to allow traffic to go both directions and to add student pickup lanes next to the curbs. To make room for the pickup lanes, there will be no parking on Jefferson Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The pickup lane for the Freshman Center will begin at Colorado Street, west of the football stadium, and it will go all the way to the Freshman Center on Missouri Street. Traffic from other cross streets will be allowed to turn both ways onto Jefferson, but will not be allowed to enter the pickup lane.
All intersections on Jefferson Street will have all-way stop signs.
Ordinances making these changes official will be prepared for the next Board of Aldermen meeting July 16. It is hoped that the changes will be implemented by Aug. 7, in time for back-to-school night.
In other action:
• East Main and Oak Hill Road: Progress was made on the East Main Street and Oak Hill Road traffic signal project July 2. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved a contractual agreement with Darrell W. and Cheryl A. Roddenberry to purchase a 1.12 acre tract for that project.
• Meeting date changes: The Board of Aldermen regular meeting of Sept. 3 was moved to Sept. 10 because of the Labor Day holiday. The meeting on Sept. 17 was moved to Sept. 24 because of the Missouri Municipal League’s annual conference.
• Water system facility plan: The Board agreed to pay Strickland Engineering, Inc. of Jackson $60 per hour for providing consulting inspection services under the Water System Facility Plan Implementation Project.
• Water line: The Board agreed to pay $4,919.44 to Mastercraft Development, LLC, to oversize a public water distribution line along Old Orchard Road in the McKendree Crossing Subdivision.
• North substation: The Board was updated on the progress of the north electrical substation near the Civic Center.
Grading and site preparation has been completed and a fence was to be installed around the site last week. The site will sit empty for two to three years until the next phase is implemented.
• North High Street electric line: In study session, the Board discussed the North High Street electric line relocation project. The city is being required by MoDOT to move 11 utility poles that are currently on MoDOT right-of-way. The cost to do the work, $200,000 to $250,000, is not reimbursable.
There are some additional utilities that will also need to be moved. The City is working on locating water mains in that right-of-way.
• MoDOT projects: MoDOT will overlay West Main Street from Farmington to East Jackson Boulevard. The City may eliminate parking near the West Main Street and Farmington intersection.
The placement of a utility pole was discussed because at some time in the future, the intersection may be realigned and the city does not want to move that pole once it is installed.
Regarding the I-55 and East Jackson Boulevard interchange, Mayor Dwain Hahs reported that a “right-in, right-out” intersection on East Jackson Boulevard “is something we can do.”
It was reported that Highway 61 will be resurfaced from Highway 25 in Jackson through Cape Girardeau. Work will start the end of July and be completed by Nov. 1.
Rout K from Kingshighway to Gordonville will be resurfaced next spring.
Work will begin soon on resurfacing Route D and Highway PP in Jackson. Route D will be completed by Aug. 22. The week of July 23, Route D will be completely shut down for a culvert replacement. Route PP will be completed by Oct. 15.
• Wastewater: Kent Peetz, director of Public Works, reported that the Wastewater treatment plant’s capacity will run out in four to six years at the current rate of growth. He discussed projects that will be done to expand capacity and noted, “We do need a rate increase to finance this.”
