COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE HELPS COUNCIL PLAN FOR GROWTH

The semi-annual fix up/clean up week will be Oct. 6-10 in Jackson. This twice yearly service is offered to the residents of Jackson as a means to get rid of unwanted items that normally would not be picked up by our sanitation department. You can leave these items on the curbside and they will be picked up on your normal day. We hope everyone takes advantage of this service and in doing so we all will help keep Jackson clean.

The city recently purchased some power from Marceline. Marceline had overbought power for 1997-98 and we were able to purchase 2000 kilowatts per hour per day between Oct. 1 and May 31, 1998. The purchase of this power at a reduced rate will save the City of Jackson about $35,000. Former City Administrator Carl Talley who now serves as a part-time consultant put this agreement together for Jackson.

The new maintenance building in Brookside Park has been completed. This building will provide badly needed storage space for park equipment. The acreage this building sets on will provide additional parking for Brookside Park events. We hope to have a gravel parking area in place by spring 1998 to help the parking congestion that occurs during ballgames and War Memorial events.

Our annual asphalt overlay program is under way. This program updates existing asphalt streets on a priority basis. This year about 10 local streets will be getting a facelift. We will continue this program on a priority basis in the future. We have a list of streets for future consideration but if anyone has a suggestion on the priority of future overlaying please let me or your alderman know, we will be happy to take your request into consideration.

The updating of Jackson's comprehensive plan is continuing. SEMO Regional Planning reports that considerable progress is being made and that base maps of the city are nearing completion. This is the first update of our comprehensive plan in Jackson since 1981. With the growth we are experiencing in Jackson, an updated comprehensive plan is essential to ensure the future planned and orderly growth of our city. This updated plan should be completed in the next 6 to 8 months.

The council will soon be reviewing and updating our 1997-98 major goals for Jackson. This review on our progress of important city goals enables us to keep close tabs on how our projects are moving along. Many of our major goals are projects that take a considerable amount of time and study. By reviewing and updating these goals on a regular basis the council and the residents of Jackson can have input and offer suggestions as to how we can best complete these important projects.

During the month of October I will be conducting a tour of all city departments and facilities. These tours are held to visit with employees and listen to their suggestions on how we can improve Jackson. It also gives a first-hand view on how the different departments operate on a day to day basis.

The council meets every Monday at City Hall at 7:30 p.m. These sessions are all open to the public and your input is welcome at any time.

Paul W. Sander, Mayor of Jackson