JACKSON ADLERMEN GETS BRIEFING ON PAVING JOB

JACKSON -- For a change, the Jackson Board of Aldermen got an upbeat report on the West Main paving project.

Acting City Engineer Rich Bowen told the aldermen that the contractor, SIS of Creal Springs, Ill., poured sections of pavement between High and Court streets on Friday and Saturday, along with a section of pavement near the Boatman's Bank drive-in teller facility.

Commenting on the quality of the paving work done last week, Bowen said it "may be as good as we've seen poured up there."

Bowen said the remainder of the pavement near the bank's drive-in teller facility will be paved in a few days, as soon as the pavement poured last week cures and hardens.

Bowen said the intersection of High and West Main will be closed today while the contractor paves the south half of the intersection. He said the north side of the street that was paved last week will probably be reopened to traffic on Wednesday.

On another upbeat note, Bowen said the contractor will start tearing out a 10-inch cut of bad pavement in the eastbound lane today to make room for the forms for a new centerline for the westbound lane that's expected to be poured later this week.

About 1,300 feet of pavement in the eastbound lane was condemned by the city engineer because it did not meet grade specifications. As a compromise, the city said it would permit the contractor to remove only the roughest center portion of the eastbound lane and replace it with new pavement to make it align properly with the westbound lane.

But Bowen said after talking with the contractor Monday, he still has doubts about the contractor's plan to complete the job. "If that's what they tell me they're going to do, I'm going to have to say, `No, you can't do that,' and I suspect we'll all be back in here again" for a special meeting between the council and the contractor, he said.

Bowen said the paving can be done to the required specifications if the contractor uses the right kind of paving equipment needed for this particular job. "I've just adopted a wait-and-see-attitude, until they get ready to set up and pour, then I'll see how they intend to do it," he said. Bowen said previously that he would not hesitate to shut down the project if he determines the paving work isn't being done to city specifications.

In other business, the aldermen scheduled a public hearing on the city's 1992 tax rate for Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. No change is proposed from the current levy of $1.05 per $100 assessed valuation.

The board adopted ordinances accepting street improvements on Anna and Eastview. Residents of Eastview will be issued tax bills for $31.22 per front foot for the improvements, while those on Anna will pay $32.37 per front foot for a 33-foot-wide street with curb and gutters.

A request for a block party on Cathy Drive for August 30, between 1-8 p.m. was also approved.

The council approved a partial payment of $24,629 to P&R Developers for work done on the third phase of the East Jackson Water Main Project.

Legislation was also adopted to remove two 15-minute parking zones at the corner of East Washington and Georgia streets.