REMODELING WORK UNDER WAY AT NEW CITY HALL

JACKSON -- Every day many Jackson residents must descend into what city employees wryly call "the dungeon."

At the Jackson City Hall-Public Library building, people must climb stairs to use the library or descend into the basement to speak with the mayor. City Hall on South High Street was built in 1960.

In 1966, when LaDora Sides came to work, there were three secretaries, the city clerk, the city collector and one part-time employee in the collector's office. Today there are several more people working in less space because installation of an elevator took out an office.

Sides has the worst office of all, her co-workers said. The deputy clerk has worked at City Hall longer than anyone and sits in a small, windowless space eight hours a day. There isn't even room for a chair should someone need to wait for the city administrator, whom Sides assists.

"All I asked for is a window," Sides said. "And at the new City Hall, I'll look out a big window with a pretty view."

Her wish should come true before the end of the year because remodeling is under way at Jackson's new city hall in the old Boatmen's Bank building across from the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse.

It is gargantuan compared to the old place -- three floors of usable space and a huge meeting room for the Jackson Board of Aldermen -- and it has lots of windows.

Deputy clerk Fay Reiminger said she is looking forward to having a convenient, permanent desk. These days she travels from office to office, looking for space to do her work.

"I've been all over this building," Reiminger said. "My job puts me here and there, and I've even had to work in the mayor's office. That looks really good when he walks in wanting to use his desk."

City Clerk Mary Lowry said she will enjoy more vault space. Someone from the state archives is going through Jackson's old records now to see what must be saved and what can be discarded. At the new city hall much of the city's history can be stored for future generations.

The new site will be more convenient to residents: They will be able to pay bills through three drive-through windows and walk in on the ground floor and speak to their elected officials in private.

The remodeling will cost the city $250,000, the building cost $625,000, and another $50,000 will replace old furniture purchased 30 years ago.

City Administrator Steve Wilson said everything was a bargain; the new city hall likely will appraise at $2 million.