JACKSON ROADS TO SPUR BUSINESS GROWTH

JACKSON -- City Administrator Carl Talley says the two most important events in Jackson last year were completion of the East Jackson (Highway 61) widening project and street improvements made possible by a one-half-cent transportation tax.

Talley said both will have a positive impact on the city far into the future.

"One key to the development of a community is transportation," Talley said. "Although there has been a federal highway (Highway 61) in Jackson, there was a lack of credibility associated with the highway because it was felt the two-lane road was not up to standard," he said.

"With the five-lane road out there, it allows that credibility to be exercised and allows new growth in our community."

Talley said widening of East Jackson will spur business growth along the highway from Interstate 55 to the Highways 61-25-34-72 intersection. It also provides for continued growth of industrial development in the rest of the city by providing an improved access to I-55, he said.

Talley said the improved highway will aid commuter traffic between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, and speed up response times for emergency services, especially in the newly-annexed areas along East Jackson. The installation of traffic signals this winter at East Jackson and Donna Drive completed the project, he said.

Jackson voters in January 1988, approved a half-cent sales tax for street improvements. As of Dec. 31, Talley said the transportation tax has produced approximately $1.3 million in revenue, and has enabled the city to complete a number of street improvement. They include Bainbridge Road, the Jackson Trails extension from Highway 61 to the Lee Avenue industrial complex, and improvements to West Main Street. It also enabled a number of asphalt overlays on streets.

More importantly, said Talley, "this tax money frees up other money in our budget for other needed improvements. We can take capital improvements money that would have been spent on street improvements and use it for other improvements and essential services. The transportation tax money enhances the total operation

of the city."

Talley said the city hopes improvements to Green's Ferry Road can be done with transportation tax money and a Community Block Grant. Jackson is applying for the grant and must compete with other communities for it. "The matching (tax) funds give us extra points in the competition," said Talley.

There is no sunset clause on the transportation tax, which means the city will continue to have a dependable source of revenue for transportation improvements and development, he said. "By law, all of the money must be spent for transportation improvements," he said. "That promise was made to the voters by the city council."

He said priorities for improvement projects are set by the city council so that each project will serve the most number of people.

Talley said the on-going construction of water, sewer and electrical services along East Jackson fulfills a promise the city council made to residents and businesses along the corridor following an annexation agreement between Jackson and Cape Girardeau.

Talley said some of the work is now into its third and final phase of construction. "The installation of these services will provide for the future growth of this area well into the future," he said.

The 1990 census revealed Jackson was the only community in Southeast Missouri to show better-than-average growth. Its 1990 population was 9,256, an increase of 1,429 over the 1980 population of 7,827.

Talley said the growth was reflected last year by the number of new housing starts, which grew by about one-third over 1990. He said 65 new homes with a value of $4.7 million were built in 1991, compared to 40 new homes with a value of $2.9 million in 1990. Talley said the upward trend is continuing his year.

Talley said similar growth occurred in business and industrial development last year.

"Jackson is fortunate that the recession has not eroded the activity and momentum that is still going on," he stated. "How long it will continue, I have no idea; but as of 1991, it did not decrease."

Among industrial growth was the ninth expansion of the Lee-Rowan Co. American Linen Service, which built a distribution center for its delivery trucks, plans to construct a commercial laundry.

Talley said the development translates into additional tax revenue, which enables the city to continue to make improvements and provide services. The city's assessed valuation in 1991 was $56,241,866, an increase of $3 million over 1990.

Talley said the rezoning of property along East Jackson Boulevard will provide for orderly growth.

Last year voters defeated a proposal to annex about 900 acres of land into city, most of it between Bainbridge Road and East Jackson Boulevard, northeast of Jackson.

"All I can say is, it should have happened to make sure there is orderly development in that area," said Talley. Now it's been turned into a topsy-turvy, piecemeal, wait-and-see development plan," said Talley. "The people who have been hurt the most by its defeat are the people who own the land."

Talley said the only way a property owner can be taken into the city now is by a petition for friendly annexation, and only if their property adjoins the city. Because of the defeat, the annexation issue cannot be raised again until 1993 or 1994, Talley said.

Talley said long-range studies show continued and steady growth is ahead for the city.