Jackson aldermen discuss speed limit changes at snowed-in meeting

Heavy snowfall did not stop the Jackson mayor and Board of Aldermen from hosting their biweekly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 18. Not including an executive session, this meeting lasted an hour.

During the aldermen’s study session, Gina Raffety, publisher of the Cash-Book Journal, asked them to consider a 15-minute parking space in front of the newspaper’s 210 W. Main St. location. This would allow for easier delivery of packages and easier access for more elderly customers, she said.

Raffety also requested for her company to use the City of Jackson’s logos on items to distribute at expos such as towels, coasters and cutting boards. The aldermen agreed to vote on Raffety’s requests at their next meeting.

Speed-limit change requests

Jackson’s director of public works, Janet Sanders, discussed changing speed limits at certain areas. Near Jackson Junior High School at 338 N. West Lane, a resident requested having slower school zone speed limits only during hours when school is in session with a blanket 30 miles per hour limit the rest of the time.

In a letter sent to Sanders, the school district’s assistant superintendent of safety, Keenan Kinder, disagreed, citing the various activities held outside of school hours.

“If you’re interested in doing this, it would take an ordinance change and some signage changes out there, and if you’re not interested it can stay as it is,” Sanders said.

Cpl. Rick Whitaker of the Jackson Police Department said officers patrol the area as much as possible during school hours. He added some residents have differing opinions on the speed limits near there, which Sanders attested to.

“There will always be some people who think it’s too fast and some people who think it’s too slow,” Sanders said.

She said she would seek additional information on which time frames would most appeal to interested parties.

A different request from local business Wallace & Associate Insurance dealt with concerns about speeding past its 231 E. Main St. office. Sanders suggested widening the existing 20 miles per hour speed limit to a larger section of Main Street to better accommodate crossing pedestrians.

Alderman Dave Reiminger said traffic in that area had increased significantly since the construction of the roundabout at the Main Street and Hope Street intersection. The aldermen would take this issue up at a future meeting.

Regular meeting

The aldermen approved a $26,620 donation from Compton Giving Fund to construct a rink for Jackson Street Hockey. They also allocated $6,900 to Herzog Excavating & Demolition, a Perryville company, to dispose of stockpiled brush.

Additionally, the aldermen approved the voluntary annexation of 1.25 acres at 345 W. Jackson Trail into the city proper. Landowners Semo Land Development aims to develop a light industrial property on the triangle-shaped parcel.