Jackson's survey

Jackson continues to attract new residents and businesses. To make sure the growth is orderly and to make sure the city provides adequate services, it constantly monitors needs and evaluates ways to meet those needs.

The city has formed a special advisory group called the Community Outreach Board, which tries to gauge interest in various areas of city services and report those findings to the board of aldermen. Recently, the Community Outreach Board sent out surveys to Jackson residents. The surveys asked for comments and guidance in several areas. But the topic of most interest to city officials was the level of support for a new fire substation and a sales tax to pay for it. More than half the respondents said they would vote for an additional sales tax for the substation, and others indicated they might support the tax if they had more information.

In large part, that's what survey's like this provide: more information. Surveys let respondents know about issues that need attention and raise possible ways to address those issues. Thanks to this survey, Jackson residents have been informed that a new fire substation will probably hinge on voter approval of a sales-tax increase. And a majority of respondents said they support that plan.

Jackson has already documented the need for a fire substation to supplement the city's only other station. Because the city is expanding geographically, response times are getting longer, particularly to areas farthest from the main fire station.

Officials still must determine a location and costs for a new substation. They hope to have that data compiled by next year, and a sales-tax vote is possible then. Under that timetable, the substation would likely be constructed in 2007.