ALDERMEN AT JACKSON VOTE TO GIVE LEGION 6 DAYS OF HOMECOMERS

JACKSON -- The Jackson Board of Aldermen voted 8-0 Monday to let the Jackson American Legion hold a six-day Homecomers next August. But some aldermen, including Paul Sander, urged the legion's Homecomers Committee to try to limit the event to five days.

Monday's vote was an about face for the aldermen, who voted a year ago to shorten this year's homecomers from six to five days.

Although he voted for the motion for a six-day event, Sander said he personally preferred that it be limited to five days. "It would be better for the uptown merchants if it were five instead of six days," said Sander. "I think six days is too long."

During the past several years there have been increasing complaints voiced by uptown merchants, who say the weeklong homecomers hurts sales because streets are blocked off.

Alderman David Ludwig, who made the motion for a six-day homecomers next year, said the city should try to accommodate the American Legion. "If an extra day will help, I'm all for it," said Ludwig.

The legion said limiting homecomers to five days this year reduced the money they normally raise for community service activities throughout the year.

The board held a public hearing on the closeout of a $500,000, Jackson Trails extension community development block grant project. City Administrator Carl Talley said in addition to the grant money some city money and in-kind donations were used on the project that was completed this summer.

The new street connects Highway 25 with Lee Avenue in Jackson Industrial Park. It gives those who work in the industrial park another way in and out of the complex.

Mayor Carlton Meyer called it "one of our major projects."

The board voted 8-0 to make a second contribution of $3,000 to the I-66 Project Inc. committee. The city made its first $3,000 contribution in 1989.

The board adopted legislation establishing no parking on August Street, from Emma Street north for 250 feet, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The board approved motions for final payments of $36,978.58 to Fronabarger Concreters Inc., for completion of the Bainbridge Road project, and $4,327.50 to Mark Skinner Inc., for completion of Phase 1 of the East Jackson Boulevard water-main project.

The board will open bids on Phase 2 of the East Jackson Boulevard sanitary sewer project at its Oct. 7 meeting.

Acting city engineer Rich Bowen told the aldermen the West Main Street improvement project is ready to start. Bowen said the contractor will complete the storm sewer work before tearing out the north half of the cracked pavement on West Main from Union east to the Goose Creek bridge.

The south half of the street will be repaved after the north half is completed. Bowen said the work should be completed later this year.