Jackson may once again be home to a bed and breakfast. The Mayor and Board of aldermen set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, at City Hall to consider a special use permit for a bed and breakfast dwelling in an R-2 (single-family residential) district at 736 Greens-ferry Road, as submitted by Christine M. Pagano.
The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approving the special use permit.
• JPD car camera and training: Patrick Bonnot, a loss-control officer with MIRMA (Jackson’s self-insurance pool) presented two awards to the Jackson Police Department for lowering risk. JPD had applied for a grant for a $5,000 car camera. The grant will reimburse the City 60 percent of the cost of the camera.
JPD also received an award from Bonnot for its officers achieving 100 percent in online training.
• Thank a Farmer: Mayor Dwain Hahs presented a signed proclamation for “Agriculture: Thank a Farmer Week” (Feb. 2-8) to the Cape Girardeau County Farm Bureau Board. A photo and copy of the proclamation was in last week’s issue of the CBJ.
For more information about the week, see the mayor’s column on page 5A.
• Financial statement: The Board approved the semi-annual financial statement ending Dec. 31, 2019. It was published in last week’s issue of the CBJ.
• Soccer field lights: The Board tabled a resolution to apply for a Missouri Department of Natural Resources grant to help pay for lighting of the soccer field.
A lengthy discussion followed in study session. Alderman Paul Sander did not like the proposed arrangement whereby the City becomes “a bank” and JAOSA contributes a down payment of its part of the cost ($75,000) but then owes the City the rest of its contribution ($30,000) and would make annual payments to the City.
• Park concessions: the Board accepted the bid of Rockhill & Sons of Jackson in the amount of 20 percent to provide concessions in the Park Concession Stand Operations program.
• City-Wide Bridge Plan: the Board authorized a $17,000 task order to Smith & Company, Engineers, of Poplar Bluff, relative to the City-Wide Bridge Plan.
• Police station: During study session, the Board was updated on the progress of the construction of the new police station. Construction, which had fallen behind 21 days, is now back on schedule. It should be completed May 28.
• Combined 911 dispatch: During study session, the Board was updated on the combined 911 dispatch center at the Sheriff’s Office. City Attorney Tom Ludwig discussed a proposed agreement between the City and the County to pay for its cost of operations.
If the agreement is approved by the City and the County, Jackson’s cost will be based upon its percentage of computer-aided dispatch calls and will be paid to the County on a quarterly basis.
By combining dispatch services, Jackson did not have to pay the cost of creating an entirely new dispatch center in the new police station; it had shared the cost with the County. It also saved space in the new police station since a 911 dispatch center will not be located there.
Current City of Jackson 911 dispatchers will become county employees.
Eagle Scout project: Nathan Steele from Boy Scout Troop 210 and his father, Rick, discussed Nathan’s Eagle Scout project to build a flower box around the “Welcome to Jackson” sign on East Main Street near I-55.
